Found in the Woods

by LoRee Peery

  “I ran to a shelter, finally free from my husband.”

  “Had you tried to run away before?” a male voice asked.

  “I had called a crisis line for help earlier, but I always blamed myself for bringing on the abuse by doing things that would make him mad. I thought I could prevent him from hurting me by the way I behaved.”

  “But this attack was different?” the disembodied male voice asked.

  “I somehow knew drinking or getting high in order to handle the pain weren’t enough to give me courage to face him the next time.” The woman’s voice grew less quivery with each word.

  “So something changed?”

  The woman cleared her throat. “In the shelter, I saw cigarette burn scars and other scars, some with healing scabs. My scars were on the inside, but I had worn a mask to cover up the hurts at home. In rehab, I turned my life over to God.”

  Aiden detected tears in the faceless woman’s voice. He tuned in and out, depending on what he encountered on the road in front of him, and he thought of Beth. His understanding of Beth’s former life grew as he listened to the woman on the radio. Abuse developed with the power of control. It often involved undermining language. And the weaker person, the victim, lost all sense of self-control or power, concluding she somehow caused the abuser to act the way he had.

  The woman continued, with obvious conviction. “When a person belongs to the Lord, all hypocrisy or the mask wearing goes away.”

  “So you’d say it’s the Lord who is extraordinary enough in you to drop the false front?”

  “The Lord Jesus is my adequacy. I can honestly be who I am. There is no doubt I am an ordinary person whom He equips.”

  Like Beth, Aiden thought. Both women claimed their strength came from God.

  Aiden turned off the highway. Astounded, he pulled over to the side when he saw Beth’s blue Ford, as well as a cruiser, parked on the shoulder near the Whitney place. He unlatched his seat belt and opened his door at the same time.

  They rushed towards each other, their gazes locked.

  She turned to the deputy. “I know I’m in a dangerous situation, but I plan to stay in the cabin.”

  She held out her hand. When he reached her side, Aiden stepped close and enfolded her cool fingers within his grasp.

  “I don’t know what’s going on,” Aiden told the deputy. “But if Beth is in danger, I’ll pitch my tent next to her porch.”

  Deputy Rau, according to his badge, studied Aiden long quiet seconds before he spoke. “And you are?”

  “Aiden Holt, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.”

  “Bode Rau.” The men shook hands.

  “Don’t worry. We’ll find Littlefield, but call us immediately. If Ms. Phillips insists on staying by herself, having you around is a good idea until we catch Mr. Littlefield.”

  Beth’s hand trembled in Aiden’s. He gave her fingers a light squeeze, then smoothed his thumb over her soft skin.

  “We will meet up with Littlefield,” the deputy assured Beth. He nodded at them both, and returned to his vehicle.

  Beth tucked herself against Aiden’s chest. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his chin on the top of her head. She smelled fresher, more feminine than he remembered. He’d missed her, and he let it show in his voice. “What’s going on?”

  “Barton showed up at the cabin.”

  He held her at arms’ length and looked her in the eye. “You’ve seen him?”

  She remained silent for a beat. He observed again, the way she reached deep inside and pulled herself together. Amazed, he watched a steely glint come into her eyes. She drew herself together to appear larger. “Follow me to the cabin, and I’ll tell you about it while we take a walk.”

  “Are you OK to drive? If not, we can leave your truck.”

  “I can drive. Before he left, Barton said Lakota had been shot. Aiden, he must have shot Lakota!”

  “Well, I’m concerned about you. And plan to keep you close. I’ll see if I get an antenna signal to make sure the wolf is all right.” He kissed her briefly on the forehead.

  She held onto his hand until she walked out of his reach. He kept watch, didn’t take a step, while she dragged her feet to her truck.

  Recollection of the radio conversation accompanied Aiden the short minutes it took to arrive at the cabin. God, if You’re real, do You listen to people who don’t know You? Keep Beth safe, please.

  Beth’s treatment by her stepfather and ex-husband remained a bitter pill to swallow. But if he were to believe the woman’s testimony about what God had done in her life, and the way Beth had grown beyond being a victim, Aiden had better let that pill of bitterness dissolve.

  Parked at the cabin, he snatched a couple bottles of water before meeting her at her truck door.

  “Are you ready?” Beth asked by way of greeting.

  “Yeah. Let’s see if we can find that wolf.” And he related the interview. “No way did you or any woman deserve that abusive kind of treatment, especially if God exists.”

  They tramped through the woods. He stepped around her and held back the branch.

  “We all deserve worse, Aiden. We were born sinners.”

  He thought about that for a moment. “Let’s stop, so I can see if I have a signal.”

  She waited with patience.

  “Sin, you say.” He checked the readings for Lakota’s radio signal and shook his head.

  He couldn’t prevent the squint or the way his jaw hardened. “A guy abusing a young girl or his wife is as bad as murder, in my opinion.”

  “And in God’s eyes, a lie is equal to murder.”

  That gave him pause to think further. The signal went off.

  “The wolf must be along the river bank or something. I don’t have any idea where to look for him. But, I came up with an idea on my way back.”

  Beth screwed up her face in a serious expression. “What idea is that?”

  “Ever been to Wildlife Safari?”

  “Never. But I’ve been interested since I heard about the wolves that live there.”

  “Let’s get back to my Jeep. My guess is the wolf has gone close to the top of the highest ridge overlooking the river, where it probably scooped out a hollow in order to sleep and heal. If the wolf isn’t along a bank of the river, it’s holed up in a cave somewhere.”

  At a loud gurgle from his belly, he asked, “Do you mind if we stop for a bite, first? I didn’t take time for breakfast.”

  “Sounds good to me. I only ate a cereal bar.”

  Twenty minutes later, he pulled off at a truck stop.

  Inside, Beth scanned the room. Every booth and table was occupied.

  Aiden exchanged an amused glance with Beth when an elderly waitress, obviously overwhelmed, announced she had a booth.

  The tasty burgers and fries made up for the wait. Beth finished before Aiden, without clearing her plate. He studied her expressions as she inspected curios and what passed for art objects around the restaurant.

  When all color leeched from her face, Aiden followed her wide-eyed glare. The muscular man at the check-out, with wide shoulders that stretched his black t-shirt, turned and zeroed in on Beth as though he had felt her.

  “Uh,” she mumbled, looking at neither man.

  “What’s wrong—?”

  The brute was at their booth before Aiden could finish asking.

  She answered, “Aiden, this is Barton Littlefield.”

  “I see.” He addressed Beth’s past in the flesh. “So, you’re about to leave, right?”

  Barton ran his finger down Beth’s arm.

  She flinched and sank into the far corner of the seat.

  “See ya later, Lizzer.” Littlefield slung the words like a feed sack hitting a truck bed and muscled his way through the door.

  “Not if I have anything to say about it.” Aiden slid out of the booth, cell phone in hand. This time, he’d call the sheriff’s office himself. While he talked he kept track of Littlefield’s movements thr
ough the window.

  ****

  “Thank you for not going after him.” Beth concentrated on keeping her voice steady.

  “Right now, it’s the law’s job to take your ex down,” Aiden said. He stopped at the Wildlife Safari booth and paid the admittance fee. “Is it all right if we don’t slow for the bison and elk, but head for the wolf overlook?”

  “Perfect.”

  As Aiden drove through the canyon, a few males from the elk herd lay perilously close to the trail. White-tail deer and wild turkeys paid them no mind as they wound their way on the rough trail. Their only road delay occurred when they had to stop for a half-dozen pelicans spooning in the middle of the road.

  “I believe God made such creatures just to make us smile,” Beth envied one pair, all wrapped up in one another, without a care in the world.

  Aiden soon crawled on by.

  She spied a couple bald eagles in an aviary on the way to the parking area.

  “It always feels good to stretch my legs after driving.” He circled to Beth’s door and reached for her hand.

  And it always feels good to walk beside you.

  They began their hike. She scanned the sign about the black bears and caught glimpses of a couple in the fenced canyon. The blacker of the two sisters showed off by standing on her hind legs. Children watched from the lookout above.

  “Do you want to stop and watch the bears?” Aiden asked, slowing his steps.

  “Maybe later,” she answered.

  They passed the onlookers and followed the fence to the platform overlooking wolf canyon. A park employee bent and pulled chunks of raw ground beef from a bucket, then flung them over the railing.

  “There!” Aiden said. Resting his arm on Beth’s shoulder, he pointed to a pair of wolves along the cliff bank.

  Beth tried to take in every nuance when she heard the wolves “talk” to one another with their clicking, glottal throat sounds. Three wolves watched trout land near their feet. Not one ate.

  How-oo. When she heard the howl from a wolf beyond their sight, shivers traveled Beth’s spine. How-oo-oo-oo. Goose flesh rose on her arms. Ow, ow, ow. Her nape tingled. The haunting beauty, the notes of pure happiness of belonging, melded the rightness of the musical wolf voices.

  “Beth, deep inside—” Aiden’s hushed voice penetrated the tears that blinded her senses “—the wolf longs for an answer to his howls from one of his own kind.”

  “I know. Lakota has to be lonely. I imagine him calling out for comfort only a mate could provide.” She wiped at the tears, unashamed. “If he still lives, all I can give him is human friendship and maybe a little protection.”

  She took a step and wobbled. Aiden offered a hand to steady her.

  “Thank you. Thank you for bringing me here. Thank you for understanding my feelings for Lakota. Thank you for offering to protect me from Barton.”

  “I could say it’s all in the line of duty, but it’s come to be more than that, Beth. You’ve come to mean much more.”

  She turned to look him full in the face. She traced an imaginary line over his cheekbone and along his jaw line. Her finger whispered over the rim of his top lip.

  His pupils dilated, his nostrils flared. He covered her hand and kissed the inside of her wrist, all the while, peering deep into her eyes.

  The spine sensory moment was punctuated by the appearance of a magnificent male wolf padding along the trail far below in the canyon. His back was broader and his hair much darker than Lakota’s.

  Beth grabbed Aiden’s hand and led him to the climbing path around the fence. They followed the outside of the tall enclosure until the rocky terrain prevented another step. Rounding the fence and looking down, her eyes filled with moisture. She blinked so she wouldn’t miss an animal, and counted six magnificent creatures file by in a single line. For suspended, reflective moments, they followed bursts of boisterous wolf play interspersed with quiet, nuzzling communication.

  “A wolf’s pelt has many colors of different lengths. The texture differs from that of a dog.” Aiden’s voice sounded hushed when he spoke.

  Before Beth met the pack here at Wildlife Safari, she had imagined them silhouetted against the moon instead of parading through spring grasses. The wolves padded their way single file, graceful long legs on giant paws, oblivious of their audience. Her breath hitched when one wolf halted and looked her in the eye before moving on.

  She was captivated as the wolves crooned, then greeted each other by mouthing chins. A couple sank to bellies, shrinking before the one that was clearly the leader.

  “Alpha male,” Aiden confirmed in a whisper.

  She couldn’t help but feel sorry for the wolves. As much as she enjoyed the show, she wanted to open the gate and turn them loose on Alaskan tundra, or some other wild northern place where they didn’t have to come in contact with humans.

  One female lifted level golden eyes that reminded Beth of Lakota. She believed she and the wolf connected on a primal level. She longed to be an artist, to capture the beauty of the creature, but settled for unchecked tears.

  Aiden moved in closer and reached an arm around her shoulders. The female wolf shot him one swift glance, pivoted, and pranced into the undergrowth, no doubt finally on her way to dine.

  Words were unnecessary as they traversed the rugged path above wolf canyon and the bear enclosure. Their only communication was shown through Aiden’s gestures while they hiked. He was extra solicitous of her safekeeping.

  Beth had no words for what the experience meant to her.

  They reached his Jeep and jounced over the uneven stones as they climbed to higher ground, only to descend and wind through the bison herd. Beth was too awed by her viewing of the wolves to say much. Business didn’t take long. They rode in silence most of the way back to Platteville.

  Finally, Beth turned to study Aiden. He sat tension free, guiding the steering wheel with one wrist. Yet the crease between his eyes meant he was concentrating on something other than driving.

  “Thank you again for today. I want to praise the Lord for the way He reaches down to earth and grabs my heart. Observing the wolves, listening to them, somehow penetrated my very pores. I’d say, on a spiritual level. I want to push myself out of the way and see only God and the glory He surrounds me with. Our afternoon made up for worry about Lakota and made me forget Barton for a while.”

  Aiden slanted her a smile, and then cupped her shoulder. “I have to give it to you. When you talk about deity, you seem so fulfilled, like nothing is going wrong in your world. I fight to put that perspective of yours into the right corner of my mind.”

  “I can be frail. Jesus is everything I need at any given moment. Strength, courage, shelter, inspiration to rise above anything I could have ever imagined. He enables me to go forth, carries me on His wings of love, so I can face whatever adventure He has planned.”

  “I don’t have an answer for such deep thoughts right now, other than I’m glad you have Him.”

  They remained quiet until they arrived at the cabin. She jumped out without giving Aiden the chance to come to her door. They met in front of the Jeep.

  “I don’t think you really need to move your tent closer. You aren’t that far away from the cabin, now. The way sound travels, if I scream in the night—”

  A high-pitched scream of terror tore through the trees, raising the hair on her nape.

  9

  Little Grace Seymour ripped through the trees and slammed into Beth, wrapping her arms around Beth’s waist.

  She knelt and held onto the girl until the trembling stopped. “Are you hurt?”

  Grace only shook her head.

  “Is someone after you?” Aiden demanded.

  Beth studied his fisted hands.

  She appreciated Aiden’s softened voice when he tried again. “Grace, are you afraid of your father?”

  The girl didn’t answer. She pressed into Beth with more force. Her small body trembled.

  “Can you tell me what
happened?” Beth prompted, while smoothing her hand in circles over Grace’s narrow back.

  Grace expanded her lungs. Beth felt the child’s attempt to gain control of her emotions. Her back shook one final time. Then she heaved a shaky exhalation. “’S not my dad. A man. A big, scary man jumped out at me.”

  “Did he say anything? Try to hurt you?” Aiden asked.

  Grace pulled back and glanced towards his face, then away. “No, Mr. Holt. He laughed. But it sounded ugly. He yelled at me to scat.”

  “What did he look like?” Aiden voiced what Beth wanted to know.

  “He’s giant. Big like you, but scary. Yellow hair, really short. And he had an ugly mark on his face.”

  Beth shot Aiden a nod of confirmation.

  Barton.

  “I’m sorry you were frightened. But you’re safe with us, now. Were you coming to see me?” She wanted to be refuge for the girl.

  “Yes. I miss Lakota. I had a dream that he’s hurt and bleeding. Have you seen him?”

  “We haven’t seen him. And I’m sure that if Lakota is hurt, God will watch over him.” Beth led Grace to the porch, where she urged the girl to sit on the edge.

  “I’ll go inside and get us some cold lemonade. Then I’ll tell you all about the amazing wolves Aiden and I saw earlier today.”

  During pink lemonade and a Wildlife Safari wolf-pack tale, they took turns relating their experience. Grace listened with rounded eyes. When their tale was done and their glasses empty, it was time to walk Grace back home.

  On their return, they detoured to gather up Aiden’s tent and campsite belongings. All the while, they surveyed the trees, keeping a lookout for danger.

  She could tell Aiden had a hard time keeping his pace slow for her.

  “You’re amazing. You know that ba…” Aiden raised his eyes to the trees. “Sorry. He put you through hell. You know Littlefield is close, yet your courage and strength took over and you made that little girl feel so safe. You inspire me by what you’ve gone through.”

  “I wondered how long you were going to keep your feelings to yourself. I can tell you’re holding yourself back, and it comforts me. But I can’t take the credit for being any kind of strong or courageous person. I set myself aside and allowed the Lord to be strong through me. For Grace’s sake.”