Holdin' On for a Hero

by Ciana Stone

  She nodded and started walking again. “There was some trouble.”

  Wyatt groaned but didn’t interrupt as she began to tell him what had happened.

  Chapter Eleven

  Iris was out of breath and her feet felt like chunks of ice by the time she found her way to John Wolfe’s house. She gasped in surprise as she walked into the backyard. The house was nothing more than a smoldering pile of rubble. Her car was still parked in the driveway, covered with a thick layer of ash and soot.

  She hurried to get in the car, locked all the doors and took a deep breath. What had happened had frightened her more than she would ever have admitted to anyone. The thing that Wyatt changed into was more like some vicious animal than a man. She wondered why he had called himself Walker, but dismissed the thought as something else claimed her attention.

  Her expression changed to one of rage as she started the car and backed up. If Chance Davenport hadn’t shown up she would have been able to control Walker. It was Chance who ruined everything. Now Iris wasn’t sure she would be able to win Walker’s trust again.

  But he’s still a man, she thought with a smile, remembering the feel of his body on hers. And she had never had any trouble controlling men. You just had to know the right buttons to push. Confidence in her own abilities reasserted itself. He might try to resist her, but in the end he would be like all the others—putty in her hands.

  Chance was the problem. She was proving to be more of a nuisance than anticipated. Iris’ eyes narrowed as she thought about Chance. Perhaps she should have told Greg to kill her and get it over with. No, if we stick to the original plan it’ll all work out, she assured herself.

  Suddenly she was eager to get back to her hotel. There was just one thing she needed before she could set the final phase of her plan into motion and she was anxious to see if it had been delivered to the hotel. As soon as she had the papers in her hands it would be time to close the chapter on the Davenports and the Hollings.

  * * * * *

  Tsa’li and John were sitting in the small kitchen of Tsa’li’s house when Chance and Wyatt entered. “Did Wa’ya come back?” she asked.

  Tsa’li nodded with a frown on his face. John jumped up and helped Chance into a chair. She grimaced as she sat down and John looked at Wyatt in concern.

  “I think you should call Doctor Black,” Wyatt said quietly.

  “No!” Chance exclaimed.

  “Yes,” he insisted quietly.

  “What happened?” John’s eyes moved over Chance’s tangled hair and Wyatt’s coat hanging on her small frame.

  She looked down at her feet, noticing how dirty they were and how scratched her bare legs were. Wyatt looked from his father to Tsa’li. “Walker raped her.”

  A sharp intake of breath from John made Chance look up. Wyatt pulled out a chair for John, who sank into it with a sick expression on his face. “My god.” He propped his elbows on the table and lowered his head down into his hands.

  Tsa’li looked at Chance. “Do you require the attention of a doctor?”

  “No.”

  “Yes,” Wyatt insisted at the same time.

  Tsa’li looked from one of them to the other then walked over and picked up the receiver of the old rotary phone that hung on the kitchen wall by the ancient refrigerator. He dialed a number and waited for several moments. “This is Tsa’li. There is someone here who needs your help.”

  A moment later he hung up and looked at Wyatt. “Fill the tub. She will want to bathe.”

  “Thank you.” She nodded in appreciation to him as Wyatt left the room to do as he ordered. That was exactly what she wanted. To get clean. Just thinking about what Walker had done made her feel ashamed and somehow soiled. She felt as if she should have been able to stop him. She was angry and part of her hated him, but another part of her could not hate him for what he did, because even as it was happening, she could not help but see Wyatt in him. And she could never hate Wyatt.

  She looked up to see Tsa’li staring at her intently and John watching her with a pitying expression on his face. She didn’t know what to say to either one of them so she returned her gaze to the floor. Something had come to mind while she was in the forest with Walker. A new possibility had occurred to her that she had not considered before and it was one that concerned her deeply.

  “Tsa’li…” She didn’t look up as she spoke. “There’s no way to destroy Walker, is there?”

  “Is that what you want? To destroy him?”

  She looked up at him and for a moment was caught in his dark eyes. She searched herself for the answer to his question then shook her head. “No, not really. I only want him to leave Wyatt in peace. But I don’t know how we’re supposed to convince him to do that when he’s so full of hate and rage.”

  Tsa’li nodded thoughtfully. “Yes, that is so. But even against hate and rage there are weapons that are effective.”

  “What? If you know then please tell me.”

  “The answers lie within your own heart.”

  She looked at him in perplexity and frustration. She didn’t know how much more she could take. She felt like she had already reached the end of her rope and it was badly frayed. Wyatt came back into the room. “The tub’s ready.”

  He helped Chance up and walked her into the bathroom. As soon as they left the room, John looked over at Tsa’li. “I’ve already lost one son. I don’t want to lose another. Is there a way to set Walker free without destroying Wyatt?”

  Tsa’li reached over and put his hand on top of John’s. “There is always a way, my friend. One only has to see the path and follow it.”

  John sighed and looked away. “Well, that makes about as much sense as anything else I’ve heard lately.”

  Wyatt was pacing the kitchen floor when the doctor entered the room. “Is she okay?”

  Doctor Black nodded. “As far as I can tell. Barring any unforeseen internal damage, or disease, she should be fine.”

  “Internal damage? Disease?” Wyatt’s face paled. “What do you mean by that?”

  “Just what I said. Wyatt, without x-rays and such there’s only so much I can determine. And she refuses to go to a hospital. She could have internal damage and god only knows what diseases she got from… Well, the point is I’ve done all I can.”

  Wyatt looked at his father. “We have to talk her into going to the hospital.”

  “She does not need a hospital,” Tsa’li said, standing from his place as the table.

  “With all due respect,” Wyatt argued. “I think in this instance modern medicine is better equipped to deal with—”

  “She does not need a hospital,” Tsa’li repeated and left the room.

  Wyatt looked from his father to the doctor. “Do you think she should be in the hospital?”

  Doctor Black shook his head. “At this point, no. Aside from some bruising she appears to be undamaged. I would advise rest, however. And I would advise that she be tested for HIV in a couple of weeks. In fact, periodic testing over the next six months would be wise. In cases of rape where there was no protection used, there is always the chance of contracting some such disease.”

  Wyatt nodded and said nothing. No one had told the doctor who the man was who had raped Chance and he was not going to try and explain it now. He knew that she wasn’t in danger of contracting HIV from him. Until he had been with her, he had made a religion out of safe sex. Oh, shit! Iris! The thought of what Iris and Walker had done made him feel sick. He could have put Chance at risk.

  Doctor Black looked at John. “How’re you feeling?”

  “Better. Thanks for coming over. How much do I owe you?”

  “Nothing. John, I know what all of you are trying to do and I want you to know that you have my support. The Holling family has been riding rough-herd over all of us far too long. It’s time for it to stop. If there’s anything I can do to help, you just let me know.”

  “Thanks.” John shook his hand.

  The doctor turned to
Wyatt. “That’s some woman you have there, Wyatt. I’d hang on to her if I was you.”

  “I intend to. Thank you.”

  The doctor left and Wyatt looked at his father. “I better go check on Chance.”

  He went into the bedroom to find Chance sitting up in bed and Tsa’li sitting beside her. Both of them looked up as he entered. “Chance, I wish you’d change your mind and let me take you to the hospital.”

  “I don’t need to be in a hospital,” she argued and slid off the bed with the sheet wrapped around her. “I’m okay, Wyatt. Really.”

  Wyatt looked at Tsa’li and Tsa’li stood. “I gave her something to help her body heal. She will be fine. She just needs rest. Take her to the place of healing and remain with her for three days. When the third sun sets return here.”

  “See?” Chance smiled and walked over to Wyatt. “Tsa’li wouldn’t lie to you.”

  Wyatt looked at his grandfather. “When must we leave?”

  “Now. Gather what provisions you need,” Tsa’li replied then looked over at Chance. “I will find clothing for you. As soon as you are dressed you must go.”

  Wyatt didn’t argue but left the room. Tsa’li provided Chance with a pair of worn jeans that were too large, a soft white T-shirt and a well-worn flannel shirt, both also too big. She strapped a belt around her thin middle to hold up the jeans while Tsa’li located a pair of old knee-high lace-up moccasins that had belonged to his daughter, Sarah.

  By the time Chance was dressed, Wyatt was waiting in the kitchen with one large backpack strapped over his broad shoulders and another in his hand. He and Tsa’li were engaged in a low-toned conversation that ended the moment she entered the room.

  “Sundown of the third day you begin the journey home,” Tsa’li instructed.

  Wyatt inclined his head, gave his father a pat on the shoulder and walked to the door. Chance gave both Tsa’li and John a kiss on the cheek and followed Wyatt out.

  “You sure you’re up to this?” Wyatt asked. “It’s a good four-hour hike, maybe longer in the dark.”

  “I can make it,” she assured him.

  Wyatt wasn’t convinced she was being completely honest, but decided to take her at her word. He’d keep an eye on her and if she started to look like she was struggling he’d either stop or carry her.

  Twilight had fallen by the time Wyatt and Chance reached their destination, a stand of old oaks bordered a deep lake, sheltered at the base of the mountains. They were miles from the nearest sign of civilization and it was high unlikely they would encounter anyone. For all practical purposes, they had the wilderness entirely to themselves.

  Chance was shocked at herself. Here she’d just been forced into sex by some spirit inhabiting the body of the man she loved, and she was admiring his long muscular legs, tight ass and brawny arms. The fact that he was her lover filled her with a glow that was incomparable to anything she’d ever felt before.

  Wyatt set about building a campfire and soon flames were dancing in tongues of gold, nearly a match to the last streaks of light slanting across the sky. She found the small brown bottle that Tsa’li had prepared and instructed her to drink when they made camp. He said it would help her body to heal and soothe her. It tasted bad enough to either heal or kill, but she drank all of it.

  Wyatt spread out one of the bedrolls then turned to her, taking her in his arms.

  “Chance, I don’t know how to start apologizing for what happened. I swear on all that’s holy that I’d never—”

  “Shhhh.” She raised two fingers to his lips to still his words. “I know, Wyatt. I know. It wasn’t you and I don’t hold you accountable. Besides, it’s done. We survived and we’re together. Nothing else really matters now, does it? I mean, here we are, surrounded by all this beauty, alone like there’s no one else in the world. Do you really want to waste the time we have on that?”

  “No, but—”

  “But nothing,” she said firmly. “Now, since we are all alone, are you going to just stand there, or are you going to kiss me?”

  Wyatt felt such a surge of relief and love wash through him that it made him feel weak in the knees. With infinite tenderness he lowered his lips to hers. Chance sighed as his tongue gently invaded her mouth, and wrapped her arms around his neck, wanting nothing more than to melt into him so that they became one and the moment would last forever.

  * * * * *

  When Chance woke, she was confused. The sun was past its zenith in the sky. Had she slept that long? She rolled over and saw Wyatt coming up out of the water of the lake. Water glistened on his bronze skin and ran in rivulets from his long hair, creating tantalizing trails of liquid light on his magnificent body. He was not aware she was watching until he drew near the fire and picked up a towel he had draped over a branch.

  “Hmmmm, nice show,” she said. “Can I get an instant replay?”

  “Well hello, sleepyhead.”

  She sat up and stretched, the covering falling away from her nude form. “What time is it? How long have you been up?”

  “For two days,” he replied, drying his hair.

  “Two days?” She couldn’t believe it. “I slept for two whole days? Damn, what was in that stuff Tsa’li gave me?”

  Wyatt chuckled and walked over to sit down on the bedroll beside her. “I have no idea, but it must have been good.”

  “Well, no duh!”

  “How do you feel?” he asked.

  She realized that she felt fine. Reaching down between her legs she tested to see if she was still sore. It wasn’t. “It doesn’t hurt!” she exclaimed, and tested again by inserting two fingers into herself. “Not at all!”

  Wyatt fell back on the bedroll with a groan. “God almighty, woman!”

  “What?” She looked at him with wide eyes.

  “You’re definitely trying to kill me.”

  “What did I do?” She was completely confused.

  He laughed. “What did you do? Well, how about sitting there with your fingers up your … christ, woman, don’t you know men fantasize about that?”

  Chance felt a flush work over her skin. “Oh!”

  “Now don’t go getting all shy on me,” he said with a husky growl in his voice. “I was diggin’ it.”

  Chance couldn’t help but smile. “Well, then maybe there’s more where that came from. But it’s gonna cost you, Wolfe.”

  “Anything,” he agreed. “Whatever you want is yours.”

  “Better be careful with those promises. I want a lot.”

  “The deal stands,” he said and turned on his side to watch her. “Now where were we?”

  “Ready for a swim?” She asked.

  Wyatt sat then stood, pulling Chance first to her feet then up into his arms. With long sure strides he walked into the lake, wading out until the water reached his chest. Chance squealed and clung to him. “Jesus, that’s cold!”

  “Refreshing,” he corrected as he released her and she sank fully into the water.

  “Cold!” she argued even though it was not all that cold.

  “Invigorating” he returned with a grin.

  “Chilly,” she replied with a mischievous smile just before she climbed up on him and pressed him beneath the water.

  Wyatt grabbed her and pulled her under with him. Their lips met and for a few moments they remained beneath the surface, surrounded by silence, locked in the kiss.

  When they surfaced, he shook his hair back, carried her to the bedroll and lowered down with her still wrapped around him, sitting on his lap.

  “Time for us to go,” he whispered against her neck.

  “Not yet,” she pleaded.

  “Tsa’li said twilight.” Wyatt had no more desire to leave than she, but knew they must.

  Chance drew back to look at him. “No matter what happens, Wyatt, I love you and I always will.”

  “It’s going to be fine,” he assured her even though he was far from certain. While he was here, in the wilderness with only her, he could contr
ol the thing within him, keep it at bay. Back in the world, he was not so sure. But he had to strong for her. “Believe me, Chance. It will be okay. It has to.”

  “Why does it have to?”

  “Because I’ve waited too long to have you and I won’t let anything come between us. Ever. You’re mine, Chance. Now and for always. Call me a pig, call me what you want, but you’re mine and heaven help anyone who tries to take you away from me.”

  Chance smiled and placed her hand on the side of his face. “No one could ever do that, Wyatt. Because I am yours. I always have been. I love you.”

  Wyatt wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight and saying a silent prayer that their wishes were not in vain.

  * * * * *

  It was after midnight when they reached Tsa’li’s house. They let themselves in and quietly made their way to the spare bedroom. Not wanting to awaken Tsa’li, they silently undressed and climbed into the bed. Chance lay staring into the darkness for a long time, thinking about all that had happened, and wondering what was to come. Little did she know that Wyatt was doing the same thing. It was nearly dawn before either of them drifted off to sleep.

  The smell of coffee woke Wyatt. He tried to slip out of bed without waking Chance, but she had a death grip on him even in sleep.

  “Hmmmm, coffee,” she murmured then opened her eyes. “God, I’m starving!”

  Wyatt smiled and rose. “Get dressed and I’ll go scare up some breakfast.”

  Neither of them had to bother. Tsa’li and John were both waiting in the kitchen when they entered, fresh from the shower, but with Chance still wearing Tsa’li’s old clothes.

  No one had much to say during breakfast. Chance shoveled down a plate of eggs, three slices of toast and two cups of coffee. “God, that was good,” she sighed. “Now, I hate to be the downer, but we need to pay attention to the matters at hand.”

  “Which—” she held up her hand as Wyatt started to interrupt, “means that I need to go get some things from the motel. And Wyatt, you need to take John shopping. His house is destroyed and he’ll need some things. Also, you need to call the insurance company about the fire and tell them that the adjuster hasn’t shown up yet.. And tell Sheriff Smith that John and I both will testify to what happened.”