Seneca Falls

by Jesse J. Thoma

  “Justin.”

  “Okay, Justin, we need to get your leg immobilized with our splint and get you out of the woods. We’re going to call and have an ambulance waiting at the track when we get there. They’ll take you to the hospital for x-rays and get this taken care of, okay?”

  Justin nodded. He sat up, and in doing so, his leg moved. He screamed. From a point about midway down his calf, it looked as if there were no bones in his leg. It flopped freely like a sack of skin with nothing solid keeping it in shape.

  They worked quickly to get the splint inflated around his leg. Although tears streamed down his face, he stayed silent, his eyes closed, his fists clenched so tightly they were white. The runners that had stopped continued with the race. Seneca wondered how many other athletes would have stopped. The men that had were guaranteed a last place finish.

  Jay picked Justin up carefully, carrying him as if he weighed nothing. Seneca marveled at his strength. If she had been out here alone they would have had to perform a painful and awkward hop to get him in the cart. They settled him as best they could, trying to cushion his damaged limb, and then headed slowly out of the woods.

  This time Jay drove, and Seneca radioed Kate.

  “Kate, this is Seneca, over.”

  “Kate here.”

  “Ambulance needed at the west entrance to the athletic fields. We have an athlete down, open lower leg fractures.” Seneca hoped Justin wasn’t listening.

  “Is he immobilized?” Kate’s voice was calm but much more alert.

  “Yes, we’re in the cart heading back. Athlete’s name is Justin.” She paused and turned to Justin, asking him for his last name, then relayed the information to Kate.

  “Okay, bring him in. We’ll be standing by.”

  When they finally exited the woods, Seneca was exhausted. They had been on the second half of the course, but still a good way out. She had felt every bump and dip along with Justin. She had desperately wished they could do more to ease his pain. Although he tried to hide it, she could hear his pained whimpers and simultaneously urged Jay forward faster and admonished him for driving too quickly over the many rocks and divots in the trail.

  As promised, an ambulance was standing by when they arrived at the track. Kate did a cursory exam of Justin’s leg. Not much else was needed. The man’s leg was so swollen by the time they had gotten him out of the woods that it was hard to tell where his lower leg ended and his upper leg began. It was also difficult to even see the bone protruding anymore. He raised his hand in thanks as he was loaded up and the ambulance doors were closed.

  “Damn, Kate, you got a good one here,” Jay said, indicating Seneca as he packed up his supplies. “She was amazing out there. Got to the poor guy before I even had time to figure what the hell was going on.”

  Seneca felt herself flush. She was pleased with the praise, but also embarrassed by her reaction in the woods. Jay didn’t know about that.

  “You two good for the rest?” Jay asked, indicating the track meet. The long events through the woods were over and he was off duty.

  “We’re good, thanks, Jay,” Kate said, shaking his hand and sending him on his way.

  Kate led Seneca back to her post at one end of the track. She always set up closest to the jumping portion of the steeplechase, as that was often where people wiped out. Her half-eaten sandwich was sitting on the bench seat of her own golf cart.

  “Jay said you did a great job. So what’s eating at you?” Kate asked.

  “He’s wrong.” She looked at Kate and confessed. “I thought it was a gunshot. His leg breaking was so damned loud, I thought it was a gunshot.”

  “Ever heard one after you got shot?” Kate asked.

  “Once, yeah,” Seneca said, shivering at the memory.

  “What’d you do?” Kate had her arm across the back of the bench seat. It seemed like she was purposefully leaving her arm close enough that she could wrap Seneca in a hug if she needed to but far enough away that she wasn’t coddling her.

  “Started screaming my head off and ran like the devil,” Seneca said, cracking a smile at the memory. It wasn’t funny and certainly hadn’t been then, she could still feel her panic, but she must have looked quite a sight to the people around her.

  “And what did you do today?” Kate had infinite patience.

  “I just reacted. I thought it was Shannon, but I didn’t feel anything. I looked at Jay and we drove on down the path. It was weird. I wonder what Shannon would have done if I came around the corner in a golf cart with Jay next to me. That might have been worth it, actually.”

  “Then I would say Jay is right. You did a damned fine job. Being scared is okay. Being scared is a good thing, especially when you think someone is popping off a gun nearby, but you reacted just like you should have. One of the things that makes me most proud of you, kiddo, is that even when you’re scared you still keep your head.”

  “I didn’t when I went running out on you the night I hid in the woods,” Seneca said quietly.

  “Oh yes, you did. You ran somewhere safe and when you could, you contacted us. Then, you were brave enough to tell the whole story. Don’t beat yourself up. I’ve only heard a leg break once, but even I thought it was a gunshot and I’ve never heard one before.”

  Seneca leaned back against Kate’s arm, needing the contact but not wanting to break down with everyone so close by. They were still on duty, and she couldn’t let down the carefully constructed guard she’d tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to put up. Like Kate said, she had to keep her head. No matter how much she missed Dylan.

  Chapter Twenty-four

  “What’s up today?” Seneca asked, pulling up a chair and massaging her sore leg. She knew she had been doing that more since Shannon’s presence started to haunt her again. The frequent boxing was also tiring her out, and at times, that translated to a tired and sore leg as well.

  “Softball’s practicing, lacrosse is away at a game, and track has the day off.” Kate checked her schedule to make sure she wasn’t forgetting anything.

  “Coach getting soft?” Seneca asked in amazement. The track coach was renowned for her tough style and demanding practice schedule. A day off was unheard of.

  “Nope,” Kate said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. She leaned forward conspiratorially and whispered, “But ever since that attractive new lacrosse coach started dining with her almost every night, she’s been much more interested in attending their games, home and away.”

  Seneca considered. She actually liked the track coach quite a lot. “Good for her. The newbie is hot! Hey, how did you get out of traveling with them?” There was a part of her that had trouble really being happy for anyone in love. She was in love, but was miserable. Dylan would tell her that was her own fault. Thinking of Dylan made her even more depressed. They hadn’t talked in weeks, and in class she made sure to sit where she couldn’t see her. Otherwise, she just sat and stared at her the whole time. She also tried to get to class late and usually took a bathroom break right at the end and never came back. Running into her was so painful she would rather hop on her bad leg for an hour.

  “T wanted to go.” Kate referred to the other trainer. “Besides, we’re not traveling as much with the teams, budget cuts or some crap. You okay? You’ve got your forlorn ‘Bob Face’ going something fierce.”

  “I have no idea what that even means.”

  “You know I don’t agree with your decision to cut ties with Dylan. You two should be facing this together. And I’m not thrilled that the only reason you didn’t cut me loose completely is because you need the money I throw your way. But I hate that you won’t spend time with us anymore. Lisa misses you.”

  “I’ve told you, I’m trying to protect her. You and Lisa too. I don’t want Shannon to know anything about you guys. Since I distributed the picture, I’ve gotten five calls or e-mails this week from people swearing they saw Shannon on campus. I don’t know if it’s her or not, but what if it is?”

  “Just
my opinion here, but if you aren’t careful, even if you vanquish that demon, there won’t be anything left to protect. How is Dylan supposed to trust that you won’t just ditch her again if things get rough? Partnership is partnership, and it means a hell of a lot more than you’re giving it. Dylan deserves better than what you’re doing to her. I don’t care that you’re calling it chivalry. You’re scared of losing her. I get that. She’s scared of losing you too, but you made that a reality for her. And if Shannon is here, then you two are facing it alone. I don’t know what to tell you about the sightings. Take them seriously, I guess, but don’t make yourself crazy.”

  “That’s not fair,” Seneca said. As she said it, she wondered if that was true. She had pure intentions, but maybe they were still wrong.

  “What part, kiddo? Where am I wrong?”

  “I don’t know,” Seneca said. “I miss her though. It’s tearing me up inside.” She and Kate had been going around in circles about this for the past week. “So budget cuts means no more exciting away games?”

  Kate ignored the change of subject and they prepared silently for the chilly afternoon outside on the golf cart. They strolled down to the field house, squishing through the wet grass. Seneca didn’t trust the nice weather. Next weekend there would probably be a blizzard.

  She retrieved the golf cart from its storage shed while Kate taped the ankle of a late athlete. They bundled their supplies, training kit, splint pack, ice bucket, and radios into the back and set off for the softball fields. Seneca loved driving the cart. She knew Kate wished she would slow down.

  Practice was uneventful, but their conversation was even more strained than usual. Overall, it made for a pretty miserable workday.

  “Have you thought at all about what you want to do when you graduate?” Kate asked unexpectedly.

  Seneca shook her head. It wasn’t for at least a year, and she didn’t want to think about leaving the friendly confines of this remarkable campus. She shrugged. “I don’t want to have to leave here.” Even with the renewed threat of Shannon, this place felt more like home than anywhere else she had ever lived.

  “What about training? Would you like to keep doing this?”

  “Yes. I love this job. You know I want to be you when I grow up.” Seneca wasn’t really kidding.

  Kate smiled at the compliment. “For the record, I wouldn’t have abandoned Lisa at the first sign of trouble. But I guess we’ve been over that enough already. What I wanted to talk to you about is a friend I’ve got at Springfield. He’s the department head in their graduate athletic training program. I talked to him about you. If you’re interested, I think we could get you caught up on required undergrad courses and step up your training with me. If you meet the coursework pre-reqs and I say you’re ready, you’re in. Think about it. I think you’d be great at the job.”

  Seneca couldn’t believe what a wonderful opportunity Kate had just laid before her. She was overwhelmed at Kate’s generosity and supremely happy that she had that kind of faith in her. She shook her head in disbelief for a second before recovering and launching herself at Kate. She hoped to God Shannon wasn’t watching.

  Kate accepted the hug easily. “Is that a yes?”

  “When can I start? Do you have a list of classes I need? Do I have to take them at Springfield if they aren’t offered here, or can I take them at one of the other schools that are a little closer? Oh, and summer, can I start this summer? Thank you. Thank you, thank you, and thank you. I won’t let you down.” Seneca paused to replenish the air she had just used up with all of her questions.

  “You can take the classes anywhere. I’ll give you a list, and I know you won’t let me down. I wouldn’t have suggested it if I didn’t think you would be good at it.” Kate was smiling as widely as Seneca.

  Seneca didn’t realize how much she had missed her equilibrium with Kate, or how much it had been a steadying influence on her life. It had been hard knowing Kate was upset with her. She took a moment to bask in this part of her world returning to normal. She reached in her pocket to grab her cell phone. She had to text the good news to Dylan. Suddenly, the euphoria of a moment was gone. Her triumph was so much less satisfying given that she had cut off the only person she wanted to share it with. Adding insult to injury, she felt tears threatening yet again. It was as if, now that she finally unclogged the pipes, she couldn’t shut off the spigot.

  Kate must have seen her eyes welling because she started to shift her weight and lean into Seneca as if to comfort her, or provide some meaningful advice. Or perhaps she was about to tell her she was an idiot, once again. Whatever she was going to say or do, however, was interrupted by her cell phone. She checked the display and quickly answered. Seneca was surprised. Kate almost never answered her phone while they were working.

  Kate moved a few steps away from the golf cart, but Seneca could still hear bits of their conversation. Whoever was on the other end, Kate greeted them using “kiddo,” something Seneca assumed was reserved for her alone. She was immediately jealous and a little hurt. Did Kate have other lost young women she was caring for?

  “No, get back inside right now. Leave the bike where it is. You can call campus security later. Can you get back into a classroom where there are a lot of people? I’ll be right there. And, Dylan, lock the door if you can.”

  Seneca started sweating. She must have misheard. Why would Dylan need to lock herself in her room? What was wrong? Why was she calling Kate?

  “Kate, what’s wrong?” Seneca asked. “Is Dylan okay?”

  “Look, kiddo,” Kate said, looking away. “Dylan doesn’t want you to know she’s talking to me at all, but I don’t think that’s fair to any of us, so she’s okay. Someone slashed her bike tires. She’s been getting the creeps, like someone’s been following her lately, so she called me last week. Since you told her to get lost, she didn’t have anyone to talk to.” Kate didn’t sugarcoat it, and Seneca cringed. That wasn’t how she saw what happened. But now Dylan was in trouble and she was calling Kate.

  “I’m not trying to guilt you into talking to Dylan, or make you feel bad,” Kate said, softening her tone. She had always been pretty good at reading Seneca, so it wasn’t surprising she could pick up on Seneca’s feelings now. “I just want you to know what’s going on. I’m going over there to drive her home from class. You’re welcome to come along, but don’t expect a welcome mat from Dylan. She’s pretty pissed at you.”

  Seneca’s mind was racing. This news about Dylan was upsetting enough, but it was also painting a disturbing picture when taken with reports of Shannon sightings from some of the athletes. Seneca had dismissed them because they hadn’t been near her dorm room, classes, or the athletic fields, and if it really was Shannon, surely she’d be in the areas where Seneca usually was.

  “I have to take care of something,” Seneca said. She was scared. What if all her careful planning and attempts to keep Dylan safe had backfired? What if it really made more sense for her to be at Dylan’s side, where she might be able to protect her, rather than far away and out of the loop? Shit. “Can you tell Dylan I love her? I’ll call her in a little while. I think I’ve been so stupid. Please keep her safe, Kate.”

  Seneca took off in the golf cart at top speed. She didn’t bother heading back to the shed where they usually housed the cart during off hours. It would take her too long to lock it up and then get across campus to her room. She careened straight across the soccer field, onto the narrow jogging trail that encircled the athletic fields, and across the footbridge that separated the fields from the rest of campus. Once on the real roads of campus, the cart really picked up speed. Luckily, the small cart had a horn, something she’d never had to use before, or she would have run over more than one pedestrian.

  Once upstairs, she grabbed the sheet of binder paper where she had scribbled each potential Shannon sighting. She pulled the laminated campus map off the wall and set it on her bed. Using a Sharpie, she put a dot on the map for each potential sighting. Sh
e recoiled at the finished product. There was a heavy concentration around a building where Dylan had almost all of her classes. A few of the dots were directly outside Dylan’s dorm, and one was outside the office of Dylan’s advisor’s office. Shannon was here and she knew about Dylan. Seneca held the paper in front of her face and looked at it until her anger boiled to the point she couldn’t see the ugly dots anymore. She tore the paper into four pieces and slammed them down on the table. She grabbed her cane from the closet, quickly changed into her heavier, sturdier boots, and grabbed a pair of fingerless gloves she often wore while working. They were the closest thing she had to hand wraps in her room. She picked up the phone to make a long overdue call.

  Chapter Twenty-five

  Dylan replayed the conversation with Seneca in her mind. It had been a few days, but the fear in Seneca’s voice still gave her the chills. Shannon was stalking her, there was no question about that, and the police had been unable to track her down. Dylan had four websites open on her computer but couldn’t remember anything about them. She was supposed to be preparing for job interviews at three companies, but her mind had been elsewhere for more than an hour. If she was honest, it had been elsewhere longer than that.

  Seneca had tried to rush over and search every bush and shrub near Dylan’s dorm room, but that was silly. Clearly, Shannon wasn’t interested in seeing Seneca, at least not yet. And for the moment, Dylan wasn’t interested in seeing Seneca, either.

  It probably made sense for Seneca to keep her distance and for them to not give any indication that they knew Shannon was watching Dylan, like Kate said. But that wasn’t the reason Dylan had told Seneca to stay away. When Seneca’s world had come crashing down, she had used the pieces that were left to wall Dylan out. That hurt every time she thought about it. No matter how noble Seneca intended her actions.

  Dylan sighed. She’s been down this road too many times already. What she really needed to do was prepare for her job interviews. She looked at the first website and scanned the company’s mission statement and history. She pulled up the job posting and scanned it. She started to panic. She couldn’t think of a single skill she could offer this company. She had very little experience, was just coming out of school, and wasn’t even sure if this was the field she wanted to be in long-term. She thought again about what her mother had said. She and Seneca had talked about what they would do if they could be anything they wanted. Maybe it was time to revisit that.