Beloved Beast

by Cathy McAllister

  He turned round to face her and grinned at her before putting his hand into the boat and taking out a cloth bag.

  “Here!”

  She took the bag and looked inside. In the bag there was a pair of black pumps. She took them out and slipped them on.

  “They fit!” she called with excitement.

  “In that case I’ve definitely found the right Cinderella,” he said with a grin. “Come on now. Get in!”

  *

  Jeanette and Brodie lived approximately half an hour away by boat. They really did have a shop, just as Ramon had said. One could buy all sorts of things for everyday use, like household goods, weapons, tools, clothing, food and lots more. They were all second-hand goods, maybe even stolen, but Crissy did not dare ask about that. Brodie was a man of Irish descent, with red hair and green cat’s eyes. He was not much taller than Crissy and not as muscular as Ramon, but he looked sturdy and gave the impression that it was best not to mess around with him. He was about fifty, but still in good shape. His wife, Jeanette, was about Crissy’s age, so early twenties. She was clearly partly Asian, which one could see from her rich, black, straight hair and her almond-shaped eyes. Both of them had welcomed them enthusiastically and Crissy had helped Jeanette to clean the crabs that Brodie had caught with his fish-trap, and to prepare the meal.

  With the meal there was beer that Brodie was keeping cool in water. Soon they were all a little tipsy. Ramon had put his arm around Crissy and she relaxed and put her head on his shoulder. Brodie was a very funny guy and each conversation ended in raucous laughter. Crissy was surprised by the change in Ramon. When he was laughing so happily he came across as a perfectly normal person. His domineering, slightly arrogant ways were suppressed.

  After the meal the men disappeared to visit a friend who lived nearby. Crissy helped Jeanette with the dishes.

  “How did you meet our beast? Is it true that he found you?”

  “He saved my life,” answered Crissy. “My ex-fiancé had tied me to a stake in the swamp for the alligators to eat me. The beasts would have managed it if Ramon hadn’t turned up just in time and saved me.”

  “A nice ex-fiancé you’ve got there,” stated Jeanette with a grin. “But it was fate, so that you could meet Ramon. You’re doing him good.”

  Crissy looked at Jeanette.

  “What do you mean?”

  “He’s so much more relaxed. I’ve always found it tragic that such a superb man is hiding away here in the swamp. He’s scarred inside as much as on the outside.”

  “How did it happen? A fire?”

  Jeanette nodded.

  “Yes. He got it with the wrong crowd. For a while he was involved in dodgy business with the Mafia. Ramon is of Spanish descent but somehow he had more contact with Italians, which is how come he became involved in their affairs. He made a lot of money, had everything that a man could wish for – a huge villa, cars, women. Then he met Angel. He fell in love straight away and married her immediately. Soon after, she got pregnant. When their daughter was born Ramon wanted nothing more to do with the dodgy business. The Mafia wasn’t happy with his decision. They set his house on fire. Ramon tried to save his wife and child. They were in the room where the fire started. There was no hope of saving them, but Ramon still threw himself into the flames. His servants dragged him out of the house by force. Otherwise he would have died – with them.”

  “Oh my goodness!” cried Crissy in horror. “That’s awful. What happened after that?”

  “He was in hospital for ages. When he was released he wanted to kill himself. Brodie was in town at that time, picking up a few things. He found Ramon. He had tried to poison himself in his car. Brodie found him just in time. He had already passed out. They became friends and Ramon came here. He didn’t want anything else to do with the outside world. Also, he couldn’t deal with peoples’ reactions to his appearance. He looks hard and brutal. But inside he is just an injured man. I know him well. He’s totally in love with you. Obviously he doesn’t want to get hurt again, so he’s probably very rough and domineering – am I right?”

  Crissy nodded.

  “Yes, that’s what he’s like!”

  “He just doesn’t want to lose control, that’s all,” explained Jeanette. “He’s a hard guy, but one who’s worth fighting for if you ask me.”

  Crissy’s heart beat furiously. The story had moved her deeply. But the thought that Ramon may have feelings for her was somehow unsettling. Did she even want that? Was she ready for a man like him?

  “Let’s get another beer,” said Jeanette cheerily. “It may be a while before the guys get back.”

  When the men finally returned they were very flustered.

  “What’s happened?” asked Jeanette.

  “Crissy and Ramon have to get away from here,” said Brodie. “Spider’s found out that someone’s looking for a girl. A strange bloke has started asking various people questions. Spider thinks he’s been sent by the Mafia. Somehow they’ve found out that Crissy wasn’t eaten by the alligators. Now they’re looking for her. Her name wasn’t mentioned, but Spider could work out from the stranger’s bizarre questions that they’re looking for a small girl with blond hair. She’s supposed to have run away and her family’s looking for her, but obviously that’s a lie.”

  Crissy looked at Ramon with a mixture of disbelief and horror. He put his arms round her and kissed her on the forehead.

  “Don’t be afraid. I won’t let anyone get near you.“

  “But what are we going to do?” Crissy asked.

  “I’ll take you to Brazil. We’ll remove all traces of you and no one will follow you. Everything will be fine.“

  “Brazil? But that’s a really long way away! Can’t we simply …”

  “No! We’re going to do as I say. I know what I’m doing. If you want to survive then you must do exactly as I say every second of the way. Your life may depend upon it – both of our lives, to be precise. Do you understand?”

  She nodded. Did she have any other choice? If Mario’s family was looking for her, then her life was in danger again. Ramon was risking his own life by helping her. So it was only fair that he should decide on the rules. She really did trust him to know what needed to be done.

  “I’ll go to the hut with Brodie to pick up some things, then we’ll get away from here. We have to go further into the swamp.”

  “I’ll get some weapons,” said Brodie grimly, and disappeared with Jeanette.

  “Do we really have to go further into the swamp?”

  Ramon pulled her into his arms.

  “Are you afraid?”

  “Not when you’re with me,” she whispered.

  He kissed her – firmly and with underlying haste. She could sense how concerned he was. She was, too. The threatening danger gave her an adrenalin rush. She rubbed herself against him longingly.

  “We haven’t got much time,” he murmured.

  He held her in his arms and she held onto a tree. No one could see them from the hut. Ramon pushed her dress up and entered her from behind. It took just a few firm thrusts to make them both explode. He put his hand over her mouth to suppress her scream.

  When Brodie and Jeanette came back, Crissy and Ramon were still hot and out of breath.

  Brodie shook his head and Crissy blushed deeply. Jeanette winked at her. Crissy was sorry to lose her two new friends. But at least she had Ramon. At the moment nothing was more important to her.

  “Right then,” said Ramon finally. “Let’s go, Brodie, so that I can get away from here with Crissy.”

  “You women go into the shop and hide. Jeane, take one of the hunting guns and if anyone turns up here that you don’t know – shoot them! Do you understand?” asked Brodie.

  Jeanette nodded. She took Crissy by the arm and pulled her away.

  Crissy looked uncertainly at Ramon and he nodded at her.

  “Go!” he mouthed.

  *

  The men had been gone for nearly half an hour whe
n a humming sound signalled the approach of a motor boat. Jeanette took hold of her weapon and the women exchanged silent glances.

  “No one that I know or trust has a motor boat here,” whispered Jeanette.

  Crissy’s heart began to beat faster.

  “You mean, we’re in trouble?”

  “Looks like it,” mumbled Jeanette and she released the safety catch on the gun.

  She peered through a gap in the wood and saw a boat being secured to the small jetty. A man was getting out and looking around. That must be the man who was asking about her everywhere. Crissy’s heart was pounding so loudly that she was afraid that he would hear it.

  “Hello?” came the man’s voice. “Helloooooo! Is anyone here?”

  He strolled over to the house. They saw his hand move to the back of his jacket. He must have been hiding a weapon there, ready to fire.

  “Hello!” he called again and knocked on the door.

  Crissy and Jeanette watched him go into the house.

  “What do we do now?” asked Crissy.

  “If he comes over here, I’ll shoot him!” answered Jeanette without hesitation.

  “But we don’t know if it’s really him. It could be …”

  “No!” interrupted Jeanette. “It is him. He doesn’t belong here and he’s just walked straight into our house. If he’s not up to no good, what else can he be doing here? The fact that he’s come here, especially in a motor boat, means that he’s not a passing visitor. Believe me, either the bloke will kill us both or we kill him first.”

  A short time later the stranger came back out of the house. He looked at the shop where Crissy and Jeanette were holding their breath in anticipation. Slowly he walked towards them. Jeanette got into position and aimed the gun. Crissy’s pulse was racing and she felt sick. When the shot rang out she automatically closed her eyes. Jeanette fired a second shot.

  “I got him,” she said and shook Crissy gently. “It’s over. You can relax now.”

  “Relax? You’ve just killed a man,” said Crissy. She had now opened her eyes, but she avoided looking at where the man was lying.

  “I had to. Him or us!”

  “I know, but I still feel bad.”

  “You only feel like that the first time,” Jeanette comforted her.

  “Does that mean that you’ve often …?”

  “I shot my stepfather. That’s why I’m here.”

  “What ... What did he …?”

  “He beat my mother again and again, and he abused me and my sister from when we were small. One day he was about to assault my brother. He was only three. I saw red. I took his gun and blew a hole in his black heart.”

  “What happened then?”

  “I ran away. There was no way that I was going to go to prison. I’d rather die. I was standing on the bridge, ready to jump. Then along came Brodie.” She laughed. “He has a sixth sense when it comes to people wanting to kill themselves. Anyway, he got me down off the bridge and we talked – for hours. I went with him. I was only thirteen. Somehow I was ready for him to want sex from me, but he didn’t touch me. We lived here together for years and he was always decent towards me. Then it finally happened – I fell in love with him.” She laughed. “He was my hero. He still is. When I was nineteen I couldn’t stand his restraint any longer.”

  “What did you do?” asked Crissy. “Did you seduce him?”

  “Yes,” said Jeanette enthusiastically. “He was so different to anyone else. He wanted me, that was obvious, but he was too decent. I had to go a long way to get him to the point of no return. He’s a very tender man. He doesn’t like to come across that way, but he’s the gentlest man imaginable. I know he’s a lot older than I am. But that doesn’t bother me. I love him.”

  “I totally understand. I’m glad he took you down off the bridge back then.”

  The two women embraced.

  “I think it’s sad that you two have to go away. There are no other women of our age here. It was so good to meet you.”

  “I hope we’ll meet again,” said Crissy.

  “I hope so, too.”

  Jeanette picked up her gun and stood up.

  “What are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to check that the bastard’s really dead.”

  “You think he might not yet be …?”

  “I definitely got him, but he could still be alive. If he is, then I must finish what I started.”

  With clammy hands Crissy watched Jeanette go over to the man lying on the ground. At any moment she expected the man to suddenly get up and grab Jeanette. What should she do if that happened? She did not have a clue about weapons. She neither knew how to undo the safety catch, nor how to shoot.

  Jeanette had reached the body. She kicked it and waited. Nothing happened, then she bent down to feel the pulse. She did not seem to find one, so she got up again and held up her thumbs. Crissy sighed with relief.

  In that same moment she saw it – she cried out, and Jeanette looked in alarm. Crissy rushed out of the shop. Relief spread right across Jeanette’s face as she realised that Crissy was smiling and waving with joy. She turned round and saw, too, both men mooring the boat onto the jetty.

  “Ramon!” shouted Crissy, and she ran past Jeanette to throw herself into his arms.

  He caught her and hugged her tightly. When she began to sob he stroked her back comfortingly.

  “It’s OK. I’m here now. Everything’s going to be OK. Stop crying. The bastard’s not going to hurt you any more.”

  “Jeane,” Brodie called over, worried. “Is everything OK?”

  He rushed over to her and embraced her.

  Jeanette was shaking. Now that the men were back she no longer had to play the tough woman. The relief spread. Everyone was happy that they had got off lightly. Whilst Jeanette and Crissy packed a few supplies and other useful things, the men dealt with the corpse. The alligators or the crabs would ensure that the body soon disappeared.

  4

  On the Run

  They had been on the run for two days and, as Ramon had stated, they were penetrating even more deeply into the swamp area.

  “We shouldn’t stay here too long,” said Ramon. “It’s not safe here. Mind that you don’t get too close to the water. There must be an enormous alligator here.”

  “How do you know?” asked Crissy. “It looks so peaceful here.”

  “I just know. So do as I say.”

  “OK.”

  A loud cracking sound came from the bushes and both of them turned round in shock.

  “What was that?” asked Crissy, frightened.

  “I don’t know but I’ll have a look,” said Ramon and he took his long hunting knife from his belt.

  Crissy immediately felt uneasy. A sudden wind arose and blew the cypress tree branches about. Crissy was just about to take off the sunhat that Jeanette had given her, because of this wind, when a gust blew it off her head. She jumped back, not heeding Ramon’s warning to stay away from the bank. As if from nowhere a huge alligator rose from the water and she screamed. In her panic she stumbled over a tree root and fell down. The massive, scaly creature caught her and pulled her into the dark water. It pulled her straight under the surface and Crissy tried hopelessly to free herself from its deadly grasp.

  Suddenly Ramon was beside her and at first she thought he was an apparition that she had dreamt up. But he clasped the alligator’s mouth and managed to open up its jaws. In an act of pure desperation Crissy managed to get out of the alligator’s mouth, leaving only her rucksack behind. Ramon signalled to her that she should go to the surface. Crissy had lost her bearing in the dark water. She could only see well enough to make out Ramon’s silhouette, although he was right next to her, wrestling with the alligator. She just paddled in the direction that he had pointed in, and hoped that it was upwards. It actually got lighter and she saw the surface. Panting, she surfaced and pulled herself to land with the last bit of energy.

  “Ramon!” she sobbed. “Ra
moooon!”

  Again she was filled with panic. If he had managed to conquer the beast, then he should have surfaced ages ago. It was impossible for him to stay under water for this long, as well as fighting with an alligator.

  “No! Damn it! No, no, no!”

  When she had already given up hope, a head suddenly appeared above the surface and Ramon climbed, spluttering, onto land.

  Crissy cried out in joy and pulled herself together so that she could help him. He was bleeding from a horrible wound on his thigh.

  “Ramon! Oh my God! You’re alive! I’d already given up hope.”

  He grinned pathetically.

  “I’m not tasty enough for such a beast. That bastard won’t attack any more, anyway.”

  He took her in his arms.

  Crissy looked at the water with repulsion.

  “Do you think that another beast like that one will come along?”

  He shook his head.

  “No. That was a loner and this was his territory. No other alligator would dare to come here. We’re safe for a while. Are you hurt?”

  “Only a few scratches. The main thing is that the beast took my rucksack.”

  “Thank God!”

  “I was so afraid for you,” said Crissy.

  “I’m OK.”

  “But you’re injured!”

  “That’s nothing. And one more scar won’t be noticeable.”

  She sobbed and he cradled her like a small child.

  “Everything’s going to be alright. There, there. Everything’s going to be alright.”

  He kissed her – at first very gently, then with consuming passion.

  “Ramon, I need you,” she sobbed and pressed into him. “Please!” she begged, with tears in her eyes.

  Ramon let go of her and closed his eyes. He breathed out deeply and then he looked at her seriously.

  “Crissy. I specifically told you not to go near the edge. It nearly cost you your life, and mine, too. We’ve lost a rucksack containing important things.”

  “I know,” she sobbed. “And I’m sorry. I promise to do exactly as you say from now on.”

  “Crissy. I’m going to punish you for doing that.”