The Sunny Side of the Mountain

by Charliann Roberts

  Suddenly, he grabbed her forearm tightly and spun her around. His eyes darkened dangerously with a beastly, threatening look. While he kept a tight hold on her, she gasped at the sight of a knife in his hand. Suddenly, he lost his footing; she was able to pull away fiercely then slid her arm from his grip. She instantly stepped back, grabbed her pepper spray, and turned around just as his hands reached out toward her. He had a repulsive look on his face.

  “Back off, Jeffrey,” she said, but he just kept coming at her.

  As he leaped forward, she aimed the pepper spray directly at his eyes and pushed down on the lever. He let out a blood-curdling scream, covered his eyes with his hands and collapsed blindly to the ground.

  Cassandra quickly moved away, turned, and again headed north. Her shoes sopping wet, and her jeans soaked and torn at the knees, she found it difficult to run.

  She realized that she entered the pasture at the south edge of Nick’s property. Crying, her eyes swelled, she felt exhausted. She was unable to take another step. Suddenly, she felt ill, and her head was spinning. Her eyes closed, and she imagined she was on a merry-go-round when she collapsed into a bed of grass.

  *

  Nick lifted his head in alert when he’d suddenly noticed Mandy take off, streaking across the pasture. He whistled for her and she stopped, looked back and barked fiercely. She then turned in the opposite direction and continued to run.

  He dropped his end of the barbed wire, and shouted for Kayla to go back to the stable to get help, then motioned for Kyle to come with him. He thought he’d seen a glimpse of something white fall to the ground and when he noticed the way Mandy reacted, he knew something was wrong.

  When he realized it was Cassandra lying there, he told Kyle to head back to let the ranch hands know that he’d need one of their vehicles to carry her back to the house. Kyle stopped, unsure. “Go on, son – I’ll help your mom. Now hurry!” Kyle nodded and ran to the ranch.

  Nick picked up his pace.

  Mandy was already lying beside Cassandra, licking her cheek.

  He knelt over her and felt her pulse.

  Mandy suddenly barked and ran in circles when Cassandra’s eyes fluttered open.

  Shaking, she wept softly while Nick cradled her in his arms and rocked back and forth. “It’s okay, honey. You’re all right now.”

  *

  “He’s going to be looking for me,” she whispered. He’d taken her to his house and had her lie down on the sofa in the family room. Out the sliding door, was a view of the horses grazing in the pasture.

  She told Nick everything that had happened. She was afraid that Jeff would come and find her. “He saw the direction in which I was headed, before I sprayed the pepper in his eyes.”

  “It’s only been an hour, honey. He couldn’t have gotten very far, not this soon.” Nick slowly shook his head as a muscle flicked angrily at his jaw.

  “But the pepper spray should have only lasted for about thirty minutes. He acted like a monster.” She blew her nose in a tissue and wiped the tears from her cheeks.

  “And I saw a knife in his hand. It looked like it was only a pocketknife, but he opened it when he started to approach me. That’s when I sprayed him.”

  “You did the right thing, honey. The police will be here soon to speak with you. They should be searching the area for him by now. I also told them to check for his truck along the creek.”

  Nick loaned her a pair of navy-blue sweat pants and a T-shirt. She’d asked him to throw her torn jeans in the garbage. He saw her looking down at the T-shirt, displaying Garfield on the front.

  “My nephew gave me that shirt for my birthday a few years back,” he said with a grin. “For a year I had to wear it every time I knew he was coming to visit.”

  “It’s cute,” she replied with a faint smile. Still a bit misty eyed, she noticed the room’s décor. She loved the rustic look. The couch was dark brown leather, the armrests made of timber. On the wall above the fireplace was a stunning painting of a log cabin with a river running along the far edge of the property, scenic snow-capped mountains in the distant background.

  “That’s a beautiful painting,” she said.

  “My brother purchased that at an auction a couple of years ago and gave it to me for Christmas. I’ll always treasure that gift. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

  “Where are the twins?” she asked, and sat up abruptly.

  “They’re out in the barn with Dillon. He’s one of my best ranch hands. They’re helping him brush the horses. Don’t worry, they’re having fun and doing just fine. Dillon’s a great guy. Now, would you like a cup of hot tea? I was about to make one for myself.”

  “Yes, that would be nice. I’m feeling much better now.” She stood and followed him out to the kitchen, sat down and rested her elbows on the table, her chin in her hand.

  Nick placed the cup of tea in front of her. “Are you hungry? Would you like a sandwich? The twins have already had lunch with Dillon.”

  “No, thank you. I’m not really hungry.” She stirred sugar in her tea and stared off into space. Just what will Jeff try next?

  “What’s on your mind, honey? The three of you will be okay. They’ll find him.”

  “Oh, I hope so.”

  “Mandy has proven to be an excellent dog,” Nick said. “I’d say we found you the perfect companion.”

  “Yes, she turned out to be very protective.” She smiled as she remembered seeing Mandy’s face when she’d opened her eyes. “I’m so thankful for the way she reacted, letting you know that I was in trouble.”

  The police finally arrived to inform them that Jeff’s truck was gone. Somehow, he’d been able to remove it from the creek. How, they didn’t know, but he mysteriously disappeared. They’d searched by car and by helicopter, yet came up with nothing.

  “Jeff has always been able to get himself out of trouble, Officer, no matter what he’s done. He’s been a complete mystery to anyone who has ever known him. Perhaps there had been another vehicle following his. I was too frightened at that point to notice.”

  The officers asked Cassandra all the questions they needed to ask, and wrote up the report. At this point, all they could do was to keep a close watch out for him. They informed her that they would have a patrol car cruise through the area about every two to three hours throughout the night.

  They offered to escort her and the twins back to the cabin, and they’d wait for them to gather up a few of their belongings. They would be staying at Nick’s ranch, where they’d be safe for a couple of days.

  Chapter Fifteen

  When the police had accompanied them back to Nick’s house, Cassandra phoned Auntie Em, and advised her to be on the lookout, and to keep her doors and windows locked.

  This morning Auntie Em called to let her know there’d been no contact from, nor any sight of Jeff.

  Cassandra considered it a blessing that Nick was there for them, and was thankful for all he’d done. However, it had now been two days and it was time for her and the twins to go back to the cabin. They’d imposed on his kindness long enough. She didn’t want him to get the impression that they were taking advantage of him. She decided they’d head back in the morning. They had plenty of security now, with the dog, the sensor lights, the security system, and her pepper spray, which had proven to be a lifesaver.

  When she finished packing her belongings so they’d be ready to leave in the morning, she left the bedroom that she and the twins had been sharing. Kyle and Kayla were in the family room, and when she passed by the doorway, she stuck her head in and observed them as they watched a movie. Mandy, sound asleep, was on the rug close by.

  She continued down the hallway to the kitchen, where she found Nick making a pot of coffee.

  He turned away from the counter and faced her.

  “Would you like a cup of coffee when it’s ready?”

  “Yes, thank you.” She pulled a chair away from the table. There was a sliding glass door leading out to the deck in
the rear yard. The sun had just begun to set, leaving a beautiful red and purple skyline.

  He placed two cups of coffee on the table, along with a sugar bowl and spoon.

  “Would you like to move out on the deck with our coffee?”

  “Sure.” She smiled and picked up her cup, stepped out through the sliding door, and settled into one of the thickly padded, redwood lounge chairs.

  “I was just admiring the most exquisite sunset I’ve ever seen.”

  “Ah, yes. It is beautiful, isn’t it?” He placed his cup on the small table between them, then reached over, took her hand in his and with the movement of his thumb massaged the back of her hand.

  “I spoke with the kids, and we’re going to go back to our cabin in the morning.”

  “I really wish you’d remain here for a bit longer. I’d be worried about you over there, after this latest occurrence.”

  “I don’t want to burden you any longer. You’ve been very kind, and now it’s time for us to leave. We’ll be okay. After all the things you’ve done for our safety, I really believe we’ll do just fine. Also, Mandy has already proven to be a great guard dog.” She gently retrieved her hand, to brush off an imaginary piece of lint from her shorts.

  He sighed heavily, shoved his hands in his pockets, his shoulders hunched forward, and a glimpse of disappointment appeared in his eyes.

  Overwhelmed by the torment over the past few weeks, she closed her eyes, feeling utterly miserable. She slowly raised her head, opened her eyes and spoke calmly. With a soft smile of tenderness, she attempted to explain to him that she needed time. She cared about him deeply, but she needed time to erase the pain that Jeff had caused her.

  He looked up at her, and openly studied her face. “I understand. It’ll be a slow recovery after all you’ve been through; I just want you to know that I’ll be here if you should need help. For anything at all, just call me no matter what time, day or night, okay?” He gently lifted her chin with his fingertips.

  “I know that,” she said quietly.

  Together they stood and went back into the house when they heard the twins laughing.

  “Who wants an old fashioned root beer float?”

  *

  It had now been three weeks since her horrid ordeal with Jeff, and Cassandra had become quite confident that he’d finally given up.

  They’d soon have to head back to their house in Woodland. The new school year will begin the day after Labor Day. All three of them would like to stay in Pinewood Hills, but they were also anxious to get back to their friends, Cassandra included. She missed Shannon and their morning coffee. They still had a bit of time left to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet before returning to suburban life, and she planned to do just that.

  The twins had taken Mandy outside earlier for her final evening walk and they’d returned quite exhausted and were soon sound asleep. Mandy was sprawled in Cassandra’s bedroom doorway, her doggie bed next to the door, where she remained alert through the night, as though guarding all three bedrooms.

  When she was ready for bed, Cassandra sighed deeply. A sense of strength had come to her, and her despair lessened. She climbed into bed.

  Life was good… at least that’s how she felt when she drifted off to sleep.

  *

  One hour passed; Mandy slowly lifted her head from the floor, and let out a low growl. Her ears suddenly perked up in alert. Her growl increased in volume. Cassandra rolled over and, not realizing what had barely awakened her, she fell back to sleep. No one was aware of Mandy’s cautious behavior. She slowly crept down the hallway, her head down low, as her nose led her around in the dark areas of the living room and kitchen. When she heard nothing more, she returned to the bedroom. Lying down close to Cassandra’s bed, her eyes remained open, as she guarded her family.

  Suddenly, Mandy rose and growled loudly, then barked fiercely, running back and forth from the hallway to the bedroom window.

  Cassandra leaped from her bed and the twins came running into her room.

  “Shhh…” She put her forefinger to her lips. Kyle held the dog still, quieting her down to just a growl.

  “What is it, Mom?” Kayla whispered.

  “I don’t know, but by the appearance of the shades, you can tell that the outside security lights didn’t activate.”

  Mandy continued to growl as Cassandra grabbed her phone and punched in Nick’s number. He’d still been awake and when she described what was happening, he told her to keep as quiet as possible and to move into the bathroom, and remain there, away from any windows. He was on his way.

  She silently guided the twins and Mandy into the bathroom where they sat down and quietly waited for Nick to arrive. She tried to smile when she looked over at Kayla, her arms wrapped around Mandy’s neck. Mandy kept her watchful eyes on the door, issuing a low growl, while Kayla’s face was snuggled deeply into her fur.

  *

  Nick decided to go by foot, the distance being a mere mile. He’d always been a fast runner, and it would be better to eliminate any noise. With his rifle in its holster, strapped across his shoulders, he ran briskly to the south, cutting across the pasture. He approached their property line, and quietly moved along the edge of the rugged drive, when he noticed movement in a shaded area at the rear of the cabin. The sky was cloudless, allowing the full moon to give out a clear, bright view.

  He glimpsed someone reaching upward, toward the rear door, which entered into the kitchen.

  He slid his rifle from the holster and quietly moved with caution. He inched forward and his boot came down hard on a twig, causing a sharp loud crack. He moved quickly and crouched behind Cassandra’s SUV, remaining perfectly still.

  The man quickly stepped out from behind the cabin and looked to the north end of the property.

  Nick was about two hundred feet away from him, and he could see that the intruder was about six feet in height and wore a stocking cap pulled down, covering his hair.

  Holding a 9mm pistol in his hand, the man aimed it in the area from which he’d heard the noise. He didn’t know Nick was behind the vehicle and out of sight.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “Hold it right there!” Nick shouted.

  The man stood still. He hadn’t yet identified Nick’s exact location.

  “Drop your pistol to the ground,” Nick said, “or your hand will be right down there on the ground along with it.”

  The man looked around, trying to place where Nick was positioned. He backed up slowly, while he still pointed his gun in the general direction of Nick’s voice. Suddenly, he turned and headed toward the woods, on the east side of the cabin.

  Nick shot his rifle into the air, hoping it would cause the man to drop his pistol when he took off through the brush. The guy didn’t seem to have any experience handling a gun. He fumbled with it when he’d looked around, trying to locate Nick.

  Once he knew the intruder was gone, he ran up to Cassandra’s door and knocked hard.

  “Cassandra, its Nick, the intruder is gone. Everything is okay. You can open up now!”

  A moment passed before he could hear them running toward the door. Cassandra opened it wide, as she tightened the belt on her robe.

  “We were so afraid you’d been shot,” she said when he entered the cabin.

  Mandy kept circling him, tail wagging, and she appeared as though she had a smile on her face.

  “Is everyone okay?” He looked from one to the other, as he double-checked the lock on his rifle, placed it back into the holster and stood it against the wall.

  “We’re fine, but - ”

  “We heard a gunshot, Nick,” Kyle said. “Did he take a shot at you?”

  He explained that he’d shot his rifle into the air. “I’m hoping the gunshot frightened the guy, and may have caused him to drop his gun. If the police are able to find the weapon, his fingerprints will be on it. He wasn’t even wearing gloves.”

  “Was it Jeff? Were you able to see who it was, or what he loo
ked like?”

  “He seemed to be about six feet tall. It was too dark to see his face. He also wore a stocking cap that completely covered his hair.”

  “It was Jeff, I’m sure.” She shook her head and turned away. “I dialed nine-one-one,” she said. “They should be here any minute. “Come on, kids, let’s get dressed before the police arrive.” She rushed down the hall behind them.

  “You can make a pot of coffee, if you’d like,” she called over her shoulder, then headed for her bedroom.

  *

  “Yes, Auntie Em, it was him. I was sure of it before the police even arrived. They found his gun lying beneath the branch of a tree. It had Jeff’s fingerprints all over it. When Nick fired his rifle into the air, he’d disappeared quickly into the woods, and his gun must have dropped to the ground. The police had just missed him. They’d turned onto the dirt road, but by the time they arrived, Jeff was long gone.”

  “My goodness! How were they able to identify the fingerprints so quickly?”

  “It’s the new technology, Auntie Em. If a suspect is on file, which Jeff certainly was, they can identify his fingerprints in an hour. That’s remarkable, isn’t it?”

  “It is, dear. I knew that man was a coward, Cassandra. I was never afraid to tell him off when I had the chance. Well, I’m certainly glad you’ll be back here in another week, although I wish you’d return right away. I miss the three of you so much, and of course, that includes Mandy too. I thought you’d be safe up there, but I was so wrong.”

  “No, Auntie Em, you weren’t wrong. It was a very good plan. We’ve had a wonderful time, and it would be a great place to live year round, but we all miss you and the twins want to get home to their friends. They’re anxious to return to school for their senior year. We’ll see you next week.”

  They said their goodbyes and she closed her phone then headed for her bedroom to finish her work. Once this report was completed, she’d have the rest of the week to relax before they had to return to Woodland.