The Ranger's Rules

by Lily Harlem

  “Nice.” The one at the cabinet grinned, revealing missing top teeth.

  The other one stared at her, chewing with his mouth open.

  “Come on,” the white guy said. “We can’t hang around.”

  “We only just got here, boss,” the one eating said.

  “Yeah, well, we’re going now and we’re taking her with us. Might be able to get a price for her.”

  “What? No way.” She shoved and banged his arm.

  “Calm down, lady, I won’t do anything you won’t enjoy.”

  “Fuck you.”

  “Ohh, feisty, aren’t you; that’s okay, I like that in a woman.” He chuckled and continued to drag her through the lodge.

  “No, no…” she said, twisting and managing to land a punch on his nose.

  “Bitch!” He released her.

  She pushed backward, lunged for the sofa. She’d have to get to the bedroom and lock herself in. Hope she could hold them off till Dan and Rhett arrived.

  “Oh, no, you don’t. Boss wants you with us so that’s what will happen.” The gap-toothed man wrapped his arm around her waist and hoisted her into the air.

  She kicked and flailed, repulsed by his rotten body odor. “Get the hell off me. I’ll see you in prison for this.”

  The white guy stood before her again. His nose had a streak of blood coming from it and the one eye she could see was narrowed.

  Fear gripped her.

  “I was gonna play nice but you just lost that chance,” he said. “Tie her up and put her in the back of the truck.”

  * * *

  Casey wasn’t sure how long she’d been in the hot truck with her hands bound together. The men had blindfolded her too, which meant she had no idea of the direction they’d been traveling in. She sensed it was dark now as the temperature had dropped.

  But more than being disoriented and cold, she was frightened out of her wits. Trying to hold onto the hope that Dan had heard her well enough to raise the alarm was becoming increasingly difficult. She created a vision in her mind, of Rhett racing over the dusty plains to rescue her and clung to that thought fiercely.

  But what if he doesn’t? What if Dan didn’t hear? Or they can’t find me.

  She tried to rid the negative thoughts from her head, but it was impossible. She’d been taken prisoner by men who clearly had no morals or respect for life.

  She swallowed down the taste of bile. Nausea gripped her and her stomach rolled.

  What the hell are they going to do to me?

  She’d listened to their conversation, though the vehicle was rattly and the engine loud. It struggled up banks and backfired a couple of times. She’d learned the white man was called Ike and the other two did as he told them. She guessed he was paying them a cut of whatever ill gains they caught. One of the other men was called Ezra, she didn’t know which, and the final name she hadn’t caught or heard spoken.

  They’d conversed about drink and women, and spoke of the animals in a way that made her want to slap all of their faces, hard. At one point Ike had swung the car to the left, causing her to slide on the seat, claiming to have spotted a rhino.

  Her heart had flipped, but luckily it turned out to be a water buffalo who’d wandered from his herd.

  Eventually they came to a stop. Much as Casey was relieved to no longer have to cope with the nausea-inducing jolting, she now had to face her fate.

  She was tugged from the car, still blindfolded, and stumbled. One of the skinny men caught her.

  “Watch it, lady.”

  “Where are we? What’s happening?”

  Suddenly the blindfold was removed. Ike stood before her holding a torch. “This is where we’ll stay the night. Not the five-star luxury a fine specimen like you is used to but the best we can provide.” He slid the back of his index finger down her cheek.

  “Get the hell off me.”

  “I’ll do what I want with you.” He leaned closer and his revolting whiskey and tobacco breath washed over her. “You’re mine.”

  “I am not.”

  “And what’s this?” He fingered her collar. “Someone keep you as a pet?” He guffawed as if it were the best joke.

  “That someone,” she said, “will kill you for this.”

  “Not if I kill him first.” He lifted the pistol from his holster and spun it around his finger. “Might have lost an eye, but I still shoot like a cowboy.”

  “Where’d you want the tent, boss?” From beyond the headlights, one of the black men stood holding a roll of canvas.

  “Yeah, there will do, Nat.”

  So the one with the missing teeth is Nat.

  “Come on,” Ike said, gripping her arm. “I want you where I can see you.”

  “I’ll stay in the car.”

  “I don’t think so.” He tugged her to the front, then used the blindfold to tie the ropes binding her wrists to the bull bars. “I wouldn’t advise running off into the night, you’d be dinner within minutes, but this is just to remind you where to stand.”

  She glared at him. He was so ugly, and with the headlights casting shadows on his face he seemed even more pig-like. Spittle had collected in the corners of his mouth and he had a large boil on his neck.

  “Get to it!” He turned. “And light a fire, it’s fucking freezing.”

  “But boss…?”

  “No one will see, we’re in a dip.”

  Casey glanced around. She didn’t think they were in much of a dip. Although it was dark she could see stars that defined the end of the sky and the beginning of land. But there was no way she was going to argue. A fire might turn out to be her beacon of hope.

  As the men scurried about, clearly doing something they’d done a hundred times, she battled against her binds. At the same time she strained to hear the sound of another car. If she heard something, and she’d managed to get free, she’d take off into the night.

  But unless she had something to run to, she wouldn’t survive long. Ike was right about that.

  How long will I survive here? With these awful men?

  She thought of Buddy, in the pantry. She hoped he wasn’t too scared or hungry or thirsty. Hopefully Rhett would be back to let him out. But thank goodness he hadn’t been spotted by the poachers. At least one good thing had come out of the whole sorry event.

  Soon a tent was rigged and a fire lit. The two black men sat on rocks, a rifle propped between them and began to eat from brown paper bags.

  Ike brought the bottle of whiskey to his mouth and drained the last inch. He then tossed it to one side and burped. “Come into the tent, my beauty.”

  “No chance.” She backed away from his outstretched hand, though because she hadn’t been successful freeing herself, she couldn’t go far.

  “Ah, don’t be like that. We’ll have a great time.” He untied her from the bull bars and wrapped his arm around her waist. “Just relax for your Uncle Ike.”

  She shoved and pushed, twisted and turned, but it was no good. He was too strong and easily pulled her to the entrance of the tent. Once there he gave her a shove and she fell in, banging her knees and slapping her hands on a sleeping bag. Quickly she sat and tugged once more at the binds on her wrist.

  The two black men peered in at her from where they sat.

  She eyed the rifle, wishing she could get a hold of it. She’d have some chance of defending herself then.

  Nat turned to Ezra, offered him something from his paper bag.

  For a moment their attention was off her. She spied a large stone, just outside the tent. It was about the size of her palm. Quickly she reached for it, and tucked it behind herself. Now at least she had something she could call a weapon.

  Ike appeared, minus his shirt. His belly was swollen and his chest hair gray.

  Casey wanted to vomit, but instead concentrated on hiding the stone.

  “I’m gonna take a dump, boss,” Ezra called.

  “Yeah, whatever.” Ike removed his holster, complete with gun, and dropped it to
the ground. He stooped and crawled into the tent next to her, pulling the canvas flap over the entrance to seal them in.

  “If you touch me, I swear, I’ll kill you.” If only she could get his gun.

  “Yeah, you and whose army,” he smirked and reached for her.

  “No.” She batted his arm away.

  “Ah, yeah, I forgot, you’re free and easy with your fists.” He wrinkled his nose as if remembering her lucky shot earlier.

  “Yes, I am.” She aimed another but missed. Trying to throw a punch with her wrists harnessed wasn’t easy.

  He grabbed her forearms and leaned in closer.

  “Get off me.” This couldn’t be happening. She was a photographer from London. How the heck had she ended up in a tent in the middle of Africa with a rapist?

  He tried to kiss her but she moved her head.

  Instead he nuzzled into her neck and leaned over, pressing her down.

  “Bastard, get off.”

  “Mmm, you know you want it.”

  Fury burned through her veins. She couldn’t let this happen. She twisted and drew up her right knee, as fast as she could. She put all her strength into kneeing him in the groin.

  At the moment of impact a satisfying expulsion of air left his lungs accompanied by a yelp. He rolled off her, curling into a ball, his eyes closed and he drew up his knees. “Bitch!”

  She grabbed the stone, held it tight, and as he went to catch her arm she brought it down on the side of his head.

  The sound of stone hitting skull was sickening, but her strike had the desired effect. He lay there motionless, his mouth parted and his eyes closed. A trickle of blood rolled down from his temple.

  She hoped she hadn’t killed him. She didn’t want that on her conscience. She tugged at the binds with her teeth, desperately tearing at them and wriggling her wrists. She needed her hands free. She needed that pistol and the keys to the vehicle.

  The rope slackened and she finally released herself. After a glance at Ike, she crawled to the edge of the tent.

  “You alright in there, boss?” Nat asked.

  Gripping the stone, she flipped back the canvas.

  Nat stood in front of her, his foot on the pistol and holster she’d been planning on grabbing.

  She stood. “Your boss has had a great time, he’s sleeping.”

  “I don’t think so.” Nat reached up and gripped her right ear.

  “Ouch!”

  “Let the lady go, now,” Rhett’s deep voice penetrated the darkness.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Casey could hardly believe what she’d heard. It was Rhett. He was here. He’d found her. “Rhett,” she gasped.

  “Step away, asshole,” Rhett demanded. “Now or I shoot.”

  Nat did as he’d been asked. He then turned and raised his hands.

  Casey wanted to weep with relief.

  Rhett stepped into the light of the fire holding his rifle high. It was aimed at Nat’s head.

  “There’s three of them,” Casey said, but as she spoke, Ezra appeared from the darkness and hurled himself at Rhett’s back.

  It took Rhett by surprise, knocking the rifle from his hands. It cartwheeled through the air, landing by a small shrub.

  The two men tumbled to the ground. Ezra was smaller than Rhett but he was a tornado of energy, throwing punches and kicking and biting.

  Rhett landed a hard one on Ezra’s chin, but it barely slowed him.

  Nat rushed for his rifle.

  Casey saw him move, and dashed for Rhett’s weapon. She’d be better with that than a pistol. It was what she was used to.

  She grabbed it, but watched in horror as Nat took aim at the two men rolling and fighting in the dirt. They got dangerously near the fire and as they did so Nat took a shot.

  An explosion of dust burst upward.

  He’d missed.

  Rhett grunted and appeared to get a couple of good throws in.

  “Rhett!” Casey called out, standing and moving back toward the tent. From there she had a good angle at Nat.

  She took aim at his head. Her hand trembled. She couldn’t shoot him, not to kill.

  But he’s going to kill Rhett.

  Nat was aiming again, this time he’d have a clear shot. Rhett was on top of Ezra and about to strike.

  She dipped the tip of the rifle and aimed at Nat’s hand. Then without wasting another second, she fired.

  Nat yelped, the rifle flew forward and landed near the fire. He gripped his hand as blood spurted from it. “Argh!”

  Rhett threw a hard punch, slicing his knuckles over Ezra’s cheek. He finally got the better of the smaller man who slumped, the fight leaving him as he went unconscious.

  “Ah! Ah!” Nat was hopping about.

  Rhett appeared to quickly assess the situation. “You okay, baby?”

  “Yes, but you got here just in time.”

  He stood, then half staggered, half walked, holding his side, to the fire. He grabbed the rifle Nat had dropped.

  “Oh, God, are you okay?” she asked.

  “Yeah, son of a bitch.” He rubbed his jaw.

  Suddenly Casey was aware of a stomach-turning, cold pressure against her temple. The business end of a gun.

  “Your woman here is a feisty bitch.” Ike was behind her, his hot belly pushing into her back and his revolting breath washing over her face and neck.

  Rhett’s eyes widened in horror. “Leave her the fuck alone.” He pointed his rifle at Ike.

  Terror gripped Casey. She was sure she’d be sick, or her knees would give up, one or the other.

  “What, just like that? Let her go? I don’t think so,” Ike scoffed.

  “Boss, she shot off my trigger finger.” Nat held up his right hand. Sure enough, his index finger was missing. He quickly covered the bleeding stump again, and hopped from one foot to the other as if running on the spot.

  “Fuck it. He’s my best shooter,” Ike snarled. “You’ll pay for this.”

  “It was her.” Nat pointed his whole arm at Casey. “She did it.”

  Ike rammed the gun harder against her. “Like I said, bitch.”

  Casey closed her eyes. Any second now it would all be over. A bullet would go through her brain. What she felt now transcended fear and terror. It was blind panic that left her catatonic.

  “No, no, don’t hurt her. Please…” Rhett said. “I’ll do anything.”

  “So she is yours.”

  Silence.

  Ike chuckled.

  “Yes, she’s mine. And I’ll kill you for this.”

  “I don’t think so. I’m the one in control here. Put your weapon down, and kick it this way, you son of a bitch.”

  Casey thought of her parents, of her friends. How they’d grieve and wonder what had brought her to such a place. She pictured Rhett, smiling at her, feeling as if they didn’t have a care in the world. If only she could go back to that. It was the last image she wanted before she died.

  “It’s down,” Rhett said.

  A scraping sound indicated Rhett’s rifle had been kicked toward her.

  Casey opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry. Her knees were weak.

  Rhett stood, hands upturned, just ten feet from her. A drip of blood slid down his chin from a gash on his cheek. “It’ll be okay, baby,” he said, taking a step closer. “I promise.”

  She held in a sob, but it grew in her chest, suffocating her, and she had to let it out even though she didn’t dare breathe.

  “Shh, now,” he said. “I’m here.”

  “You’re here for another ten seconds,” Ike snarled. “You’re going to watch your woman die, then you’re going to join her.”

  “I do not think so,” a familiar deep voice boomed around the camp.

  Casey was aware of Rhett’s attention slipping to her right. It took a moment for her to register the new voice belonged to Dan.

  “Put the gun down, scum bag,” Dan said. “Or I will blow your brains out.”

  The end of the gun
lifted. Casey’s legs gave way and she staggered forward.

  Rhett caught her and pulled her close, tucking her head beneath his chin and hugging her tight. “I’m here,” he said. “I’ve got you.”

  She gripped his shirt and clung to him, but kept her eyes open and searched out Dan.

  He stood at Ike’s side, his arm locked straight and his pistol directed at Ike’s temple. He held Ike’s gun in his free hand.

  Ike was stock still, his arms hanging limply. Fury flashed in his eyes.

  “It wasn’t me. I do nothing,” Nat said. “He make me do it all.”

  “Shut it, you little weasel,” Ike said.

  “Fucking hell, this is something else.” A man, dressed in Amakala ranger gear, appeared from the darkness. He, too, held a gun along with several sets of handcuffs. “Quite the party.”

  “That’s Malo,” Rhett said.

  Casey didn’t answer. She was relieved it was over but the horror of events had started a shake in her belly that was spreading outward. Within seconds she couldn’t stop trembling and her eyes filled with tears.

  “Hey, hey,” Rhett said, stroking his hand down her back. “You’re safe.”

  She slumped against him as Malo cuffed Ike and then Nat.

  “Don’t forget that one back there,” Rhett said, his arms still tight around her body.

  “Oh, yes, we will get him.” Dan tucked his gun into the waistband of his trousers. “You should take Casey back to the main lodge?”

  “No,” she managed, though even her voice was weak. “I want to go back to Rhett’s lodge.” She looked up at him. “If that’s okay.”

  “Yeah, of course it is.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

  “Oh,” Dan said, his eyes widening. “Didn’t realize you two were…”

  “I’ll take her back now,” Rhett said firmly. “You two can handle this, right?”

  “Of course we can,” Malo said. “And a good night’s work it is, getting these asswipes out of circulation.”

  “Won’t be gone long,” Ike said with an arrogant huff. “What can you pin on us? Nothing, that’s what.”

  “How about kidnap?” Dan said.

  “Breaking and entering,” Rhett added.

  “And attempted rape,” Casey said quietly.