Riding Hard

by WildePublishing

  Chris revs the wheeler and we ride back into the woods. She's a mad woman, veering left and right and jumping hills and creeks. I hold on tight. The ride rocks my body and makes my bruises sting, but I grit my teeth and never let go.

  Through the trees, we see the light of the burning limo. "There!" I yell. "He's over there!"

  Another ten seconds, and she comes to a stop in the woods not far from the crash. I jump off. I run past the trees and to the bush where I hid Rex. I fall on my knees next to him. I shake him. "Rex wake up! Rex!"

  Rex moans. His head sways in my arms, but he doesn't open his eyes.

  "Rex!"

  Chris kneels next to him. She checks his body, feeling his ribs, then his legs, then his arms. "Nothing feels broken." She checks his head. "There's a knot. He could be concussed. Come on! Help me get him on the wheeler."

  We drag Rex’s massive body to the four-wheeler. "Lila," he moans. "Lila..." We set him in between us, Chris at the front and me behind Rex.

  "Lila?" Chris asks. "That you?"

  "Yes," I answer.

  Chris shakes her head as she starts the wheeler. "Damn, lady, you've got a lot of explaining to do."

  Rex in between us, my arms wrapped around him to keep him safe, I ride with Chris back to her cabin. And I pray it's not too late.

  REX

  Lila? Lila? "Lila!"

  I jolt awake. My eyes dart left and right. I find myself in a small bedroom. The walls are made of shaved logs, a few paintings of dogs and mountains hanging from them. The bed is stiff and there's a quilt over me. Through the small window, I see it's night. There's a faint light coming through the doorway. And just as I'm about to sit up, Lila step into the doorway.

  She's carrying a glass of water and a wet rag. She drops them both when she sees I'm awake. She runs to my side and grabs me. "Rex!"

  I wince in pain.

  She lets go. "Oh, no. I'm sorry. You must be hurting like hell."

  I shake my head. "Not at all." I grab her arm and pull her to me. I pull her lips to mine and kiss her hard. We moan. And we kiss, again and again. I hold her face to mine. "You saved my life, didn't you?"

  She smiles, some tears forming in her eyes. She kisses me. "Yeah. I owed you a favor, remember?"

  Nothing else in the world matters right now while I have her. I kiss her. I pull her over me and put my hand on her leg. "Damn it, you're sexy when you're a hero." I breathe harder, and my body starts to rage through the pain in my muscles and head. I could take her right now, throw her on the bed and make love until my head explodes. But...

  "Ahem," says a familiar voice. In the doorway, Chris Daniels stands. She seems different than I remember. She's grown her hair out, but she has the same build, strong and broad with a stern expression on her face. "Mind if I interrupt?"

  Lila stands up. Chris enters. She comes to my bedside, a smirk on her face. "Rex Copper," she says, "You crazy bastard. What kind of trouble did you bring on everyone this time?"

  I can't help but smile when I look at an old friend. I sit up, take Chris's hand and give her a "bro hug." We pat each other's backs hardily. I tell her, "Chris 'Danger Daniels, you daughter of a bitch. I'm glad to see your ugly face."

  Lila laughs at us. She wipes a tear from her eyes. "It's good to see you guys are so close."

  I lay back down. I take Lila's hand in mine. "Baby, did you tell her everything?"

  "Everything," Chris says. "And I mean everything. Your girl here isn't exactly a steel wall when it comes to getting information." She punches me lightly in the arm. "Got some good dark beer in the fridge, Rex. Want one?"

  I smile. "What do you think, dumbass?"

  ***

  It's the same night. I sit at Chris's kitchen table with Chris and Lila. Lila is in my lap. She's quiet while I drink a beer. I know everything now, the whole story of how she saved my life. She cried a little when she said she shot the rider, and I hold her close to me.

  Chris leans back in her seat and drinks a beer with me. She dips on it, sets it on the table and taps her finger on the end of the bottle. "Lila," she says, "You did what you had to do. That man would've killed you. You survived. You didn't do anything wrong."

  "I don't want to talk about it," Lila says. She looks down. She steals my beer from me and takes a large swig. "I feel sick."

  Chris leans on the table. "Can't tell you how many messed up things me and Rex had to go through when we were in the corps. You see a lot of shit when you're in combat."

  Lila eyes meet mine. She seems to reflect the same sadness I feel when anyone talks about my violent past.

  "You're right to feel sick about it," Chris says to Lila. "Killing someone, that'll haunt you. No matter who it is."

  Lila’s fingers curl into her leg.

  I grab Lila's hand and hold it tight. "Chris, let's not talk about it."

  Chris flashes me a look of surprising resentment, lips tight and eyes glaring. "Alright. Fine. So uh, how long you guys staying?" She leans back in her chair. "Eventually cops are gonna start searching the area. I'd say this place will be crowded by morning."

  "We'll be gone by morning," I answer fast. "We just need a place to rest a night. Then, we're out." I lower my voice and nod to Chris. "Can't thank you enough for taking us in, Chris."

  Chris nods. "Don't worry about it."

  Later in the night, Chris goes to sleep. It's what Lila and I should be doing. But we're too restless. We rummage through Chris's old clothes in the guest bedroom closet. Lila is quiet as she puts on a pair of jeans and a plain white shirt.

  "Lila," I say. "Lila, are you okay?"

  She doesn't answer.

  I approach her. I put my hands on her waist. I kiss the back of her head. "Lila?"

  "Of course I'm not okay," she says. She trucks her arms. "I killed a man tonight. Rex, I don't know if I can live with that."

  I pull her to me, wrap my arms around her and kiss her. "But you saved me. You did what you had to do, and you saved me."

  After a moment, she turns around to me and lays her head on my chest.

  "We'll be out of here tomorrow." I kiss her head. "And when we're across the border we'll be safe. I promise."

  We lay down in bed. I hold her close to me. We fall asleep, and I watch her. I'll do anything to protect this woman, even give my own life.

  EIGHT

  LILA

  I open my eyes. My body feels heavy and tired, but I see Rex beside me, still holding me in his arms. "Lila," he whispers. "Lila, it's time to go."

  We get up and pack a single bag that Chris let us have. Outside, it's quiet in the woods. It's just before sunrise. I'm starving, so Rex makes me toast. It feels like it's all I can handle right now.

  Chris comes into the kitchen. She's dressed in the same clothes she went to bed in, like she never even really went to bed. "Rex," she asks, "Come take a walk with me. For old times sake. If this is the last time I'm gonna see you for a while, then I wanna at least have a heart to heart."

  Rex looks at me. "Will you be okay here?"

  I nod.

  He kisses my cheek. He whispers, "There's a gun in our bag if you need it. I won't go far."

  And then I'm left alone in this cabin, watching Rex and Chris walk down a narrow trail into the woods.

  REX

  The sun is coming up over the horizon as Chris and I take a stroll through the cold. "A heart to heart?" I ask her. "Don't tell me you're getting soft on me, Chris."

  She laughs and punches my shoulder. We talk about the past, nothing too important, while we walk through the woods. We make it a half mile to a ridge, and we stand at a steep cliff. Beyond it is a near hundred foot drop into a ravine. Chris stands at the very edge, eyes forward, looking out at the sunrise. "We've been through a lot, you and I," she says.

  I nod. "Yeah, we have. Wish you could've been there at the start of this mess with Mark Suns. It could've been over a lot sooner."

  Chris backs away from the edge. "Do you love her? Lila Suns? Do you rea
lly love her, Rex?"

  I laugh, a little confused. "Why are you asking that?"

  "Because there's something I need to tell you. It's the real reason I brought you out here."

  Something doesn't sound right in her voice.

  "After all we went though in combat, I don't know how you held onto any hope that people are worth anything." Chris's voice becomes cold. "Even the ones that we love."

  I turn around and face her. My fingers turn to fists. My instincts tell me I've been betrayed. "Chris, what did do you do?"

  "You're not the only one with ties to Mark Suns." She lowers her head, and she keeps her eyes on me.

  I take in a sharp breath. I already know what she's going to say. "When did you call him?"

  "Last night. He'll be here any minute. And that's why I got you out of there. Rex, I may not have faith in anyone anymore, but I still have respect for you. This is your chance. Get out. Get to the border and get away from all this."

  My teeth clench. I'm no longer looking at an old friend. She's a traitor, and an enemy.

  "Let him take his wife back. That's all he wants. He'll kill you if you're here when he arrives." Chris takes one step towards me. "So get out now. Rex, you know it's the smart thing to do."

  My eyes narrow. "You know something, Chris? After all those things we went through in combat, there is one thing I learned. All that matters is the ones you love." I stand up tall, shoulders raised and ready to fight. "I'm not leaving without Lila. I'll die first."

  Chris nods. "I thought you'd say that." She pulls her knife from the holster on her leg. "Have it your way, Rex. Mark will pay me double if I give him his wife, and your dead body."

  LILA

  I drum my fingers on the wall while I look out the window into the woods. "Where are they?" I ask myself. They've been gone too long, and my stomach is starting to churn with nerves.

  Finally, I hear the doorknob turn at the front door. "Rex!" I turn and run four steps towards the door. But when it opens, I freeze and my blood runs cold.

  It isn't Rex and Chris.

  It's Mark. Beside him is James. Behind them are three other of Marks goons, all dressed in suits and armed with hand guns. Mark smiles evil at me. "Hello, wifey, did you miss me?"

  REX

  Chris lunges at me with the knife. I dodge, grab her arm and we lock into a battle of strength and endurance. "Should've just brought a gun, Chris," I say. "Could’ve made it easier on yourself."

  "Figured you deserve a fair fight before you die." She knees me in the chest and sends me sailing away from her, stumbling towards the edge of the cliff.

  LILA

  I turn from Mark. There's a door out the back bedroom. I race into the bedroom where Rex and my bag is on the bed. I slam the door shut and lock it. I grab the gun out of the bag. I throw open the back door. I'm about to run, when one of Mark's goons blocks my way, his gun already aimed at me.

  Behind me, James kicks open the bedroom door. He and Mark walk into the bedroom, and I'm cornered.

  "Don't make this harder on yourself," Mark says, still wearing his smile.

  REX

  Chris charges me with the knife. She nicks my arm. I punch her. She punches me. She kicks. I duck. I swing. She slides left. We near the edge of the cliff. She's too wild and unfocused to notice how close we are to going over. She lunges for a jab. I dodge, grab her and throw her off the ledge.

  Chris screams. Arm out, she reaches for anything that'll save her, and it turns out to be me. I don't know what makes me do it, but I reach out and catch her by the arm before she falls. I hit the ground and my upper body hangs off the edge of the cliff while Chris dangles from my hand.

  She knows she's gone. She struggles a little, but she looks at me, not a trace of hope in her eyes. "Rex, just let me go."

  I could do it. I could let her go and let her die. Another bad guy would be dead. And maybe I should, but I'm not that same man anymore that can kill easily. I swing her left, grunt and let her go.

  She yelps as she plummets only ten feet to a narrow ledge below. It's just long enough to stand on, just sturdy enough to hold her. But there's no room to turn around and nothing to grab to help her climb. She's trapped now. "Rex!" She screams.

  "Sorry, Chris. Just can't let you die." I stand up. "You can thank Lila for that." I turn and sprint back through the woods to get my woman out of that cabin before it's too late.

  "Rex!" Chris screams through the woods, but her voice fades fast into the distance.

  LILA

  I sit at Chris's kitchen table. I keep my hands on the table because Mark told me to. "I want to see those hands at all times, you treacherous tramp," he tells me.

  Mark digs through Chris's liquor cabinet to find whiskey. He sets two glasses on the table and pours us drinks. "Where is Chris? She should be here to get her payment." He looks down at me. "Though I must say, I don't believe you're worth what she asked for." He sits down near me and swigs from his whiskey. He lights a cigarette, blows smoke in my face, and his eyes narrow. "And that bastard detective... Where are they, Lila?"

  I start to shake. I feel helpless. I'm surrounded by his goons, and Mark keeps his gun ready.

  "I don’t know," I answer.

  Mark sighs. "Now that's a damn lie. Don't try it. Lila, you may be my wife, but I'm not above hurting you to get what I want." He nods to his three goons. "Get outside. Search the area. He's gotta be somewhere around here."

  The goons leave the cabin, guns ready to shoot and kill Rex.

  My stomach drops. Rex doesn't know they're here. He'll be a sitting duck when he comes back.

  Mark grins at me. "And you Lila, we're going to have a long talk on the way back to Manhattan."

  "I'll never go back with you," I blurt out.

  Mark slaps me hard. He leaves my face stinging. "Oh, darling, yes you are."

  REX

  I'm careful to stay hidden when I get back to the cabin. I see a black car parked in the dirt driveway. "Shit," I whisper. "They're here."

  Three built men dressed in suits exit the cabin. Mark's men. They each carry a weapon. I'm screwed if they get the drop on me, so I stay crouched and out of sight. Luckily, I know what Chris keeps in her shed.

  As the men spread out in front of the cabin, I circle the grounds until I come to the backside. I quietly sneak to the shed and enter. At the back, Chris keeps a loaded rifle. I grab it, just in time to hear footsteps approach the shed.

  I duck behind her four-wheeler. At the entrance to the shed, one of the goons approaches. Slowly, he enters and scans the room.

  I hold my breath. Sweating, clinging to the rifle, I wait...

  He takes another step. Then another.

  "Carter," a goon calls out from outside. "He in there?"

  I watch him turn around to face the shed entrance. "No, it's clear."

  I stand and cock the rifle. The barrel is aimed at the back of his head. "Drop the gun," I order.

  The goon sighs. He drops his weapon and raises his hands. "You're not getting out of-"

  I whip him in the back of his head with the butt of my rifle. He goes down, out cold. I grab his gun and put it in the back if my jeans. Senses sharp and eyes wide open, I creep out of the shed. There's two more of his goons to take down.

  I hurry behind the cabin.

  LILA

  I can't go back with him, I think. I won't.

  Mark stamps his cigarette out on the kitchen table. He finishes his whiskey and pours more. "I don't understand why you don't want this, Lila? I can give you the world. I can give you everything. And all you want is to run away with this animal."

  My eyes dart left. Through the kitchen window, I see Rex crouched behind the trees and making his way across the grounds. My heart beats faster. I almost jump out of my chair I'm so happy. But I keep my cool, and I keep my eyes away from the window so Mark won't suspect anything.

  "Here's what's going to happen," Mark says. "You're coming back with me, and you're going to stay as my wi
fe. And I'm going to rule this business like the king I am. And you'll never get away again." He gulps his whiskey.

  Just then, gun shots sound outside. First two, and then an endless pop of fire and yelling.

  Mark stays seated. He nods to James. "Get out there and take care of him."

  James smiles. He cocks his gun and leaves us, thirsty for blood.

  Mark looks back at me. "This ain't over yet."

  My fingers curl around the glass of whiskey before me. Adrenaline starts pumping through me. The fire inside me is burning and I'm ready to fight. "I'm not the same woman you married, Mark. I'm not the kind that just rolls over and does what she's told so she's taken care of."

  "Oh yeah?" He laughs. "Then what kind of woman are you?"

  I grip the whiskey glass tight. "The kind that fights."

  Another round of shots and screams sound from outside. Mark looks away for a single second. I take my chance. I thrust my whiskey into his face.

  Mark yells and covers his eyes.

  I slam the kitchen table into him and knock him back onto the floor. I push the table on top of him. He reaches for his gun, and I kick it away.

  REX

  The goons are down. I crouch behind a tree and listen to the beautiful sounds of them crying out in pain, shot in their arms and legs. When I peek around the tree, I see one man left: James. I don't waste time. I aim and fire.

  James barely dodges the shot and runs into the woods. He ducks behind a tree and calls out to me. "Not letting go of the gun this time, Detective."