In the Midst of Tribulation (18 page)

Susan walked over to the hall closet and pulled out the crossbow. She handed her the weapon and her fanny pack. "Take these and get her out of here so she can calm down."
"You trust me with a gun near your sister-in-law?"
"Just go with her and when she's done with freaking out, bring her back."
With poor grace, Jay stomped out onto the patio. She looked over at the two pale women and felt a slightest pang. "Ready?" she asked Doris.
"I don't need you to hold my hand."
"That wasn't what I was offering." Jay stopped herself and took a deep breath. "Look, you lead the way. You won't even know I'm there. When you achieve inner peace, I'll get us back home. Deal?"
Doris looked closely at her. "You aren't going to try any funny stuff?"
"No way. Scout's honor, I'm just a shadow."
"Okay." Doris pulled on her jacket Eva handed her and practically threw herself in motion. She stormed past the lake and greenhouse to the secondary trail down the mountain. For a while the only sounds were her labored breathing and twigs snapping beneath her feet.
When they reached the road, Doris stood for a while trying to decide which way to go. Finally, she started walking north. They had covered almost two miles when she turned on Jay. "Why don't I ever see animals?"
"What?"
"I never see any of the animals that the others say they see."
Jay shrugged. "You crash through the woods and scare everything away."
"What do you mean?"
"Take just now. All the way down hill, you made a ton of noise. You didn't watch where you put your feet down and everything in a mile radius knew to lie low until you went past."
"You think I walk badly? How should I be doing it?"
"Put your feet down deliberately. Toe first and don't shift your weight until you know that you're not going to break anything." Jay pointed to a trail that led down to the water. "Why don't you follow the trail and try it out."
The two of them made it down the hill and out into the valley. As Doris continued to walk, she started to talk about all the things that were upsetting her. Her list included the primitive living arrangements, the required manual labor and the fact that lesbians surrounded her on all sides.
Jay pretty much tuned out the diatribe that flowed from Doris' lips like water. She was more concerned about a flock of birds that had taken to the air near them.
"You're not even listening to me are you?"
Jay focused on her accusing eyes. "Um, you think this is all a bad influence on your daughter?"
Looking at her suspiciously, Doris nodded. "Yeah. Right. What do you think?"
"You seem to forget that I'm one of them," Jay responded, as gently as she could.
Doris stepped back from her. "Oh, yeah. So, I bet you're on her side."
"No. I don't believe in the Trek philosophy of lesbianism." At Doris' quizzical look, she offered, "You know, to boldly go where no one has gone before. I don't really believe in recruiting straight girls."
"I'm not questioning my sexuality."
Jay tried to concentrate on the sounds of the forest. "Nobody said you were."
"Then why did she kiss me?"
"Hush for a moment."
"What?"
"I need to listen." Jay had a really bad feeling when she could no longer hear any animal sounds. It felt like the woods themselves were holding their collective breaths.
"What for? We're all alone."
"Not any more, you aren't." The deep voice spoke from the woods. "Now, I have to wonder. What are two nice little fillies doing out here all on your own?"
"We wandered away from the tour." Instinctively, Jay put herself between the speaker and Doris. "We'll just be on our way."
A new voice called out from the other side of the clearing, "Not so fast. We want to get to know you."
"If you're so interested in making our acquaintance, why don't you show yourselves?"
"Forgive our rudeness. We wanted to enjoy the show for as long as possible."
"There's no more see here, so you can just move along." Jay took Doris' elbow and started to move away from the still hidden speaker.
A new voice, deep with menace, came from the direction they were heading. "It's not nice when meat thinks it can run."
Doris froze and they turned back to face the original speaker. "Show yourselves," Jay requested.
The bushes rustled all around them as four burly men stepped forward. They were dirty and disheveled, as if they had been traveling hard for many days. As Jay looked into their dead eyes, she felt a burgeoning fear.
"Turn around and face the tree." The largest and hairiest of the men spoke as he waved a sawed off shotgun at the two women.
Jay tried to negotiate. Raising her hands in supplication she said, "Guys, we've don't have anything of value."
One of the men stepped forward and relieved her of her crossbow. "I like this."
"Consider it a gift," offered Jay. "How about you let us go now?"
"Turn around." The largest man repeated the earlier order. "I'm not in the habit of repeating myself," he said with deadly calm.
She looked at Doris and shrugged. Slowly, the two of them turned around.
"Put your hands on the tree."
Doris just stood still. She seemed to be in shock from fear.
Murmuring softly, Jay said, "Hang in there."
"Silence!" he roared. "You do what I say and I order you to shut up."
"What do you…" A crossbow bolt slamming through her back and into the tree cut off Jay's question. The searing pain seemed to block her ability to breathe. She felt Doris' hands on her, trying to lift her up enough so the bolt through her shoulder wasn't supporting her full weight. "Oh, God," she whispered though suddenly dry lips.
"Don't blaspheme," ordered Doris automatically.
Jay felt a powerful urge to giggle at Doris' priorities. "I think we've got bigger problems than my language," she whispered.
Doris was badly frightened. Looking over her shoulder at the four huge and dirty men, she could see the lust in their eyes. In a hiss, she pleaded with Jay, "Stand up. Please, you're too heavy to hold up." When Jay seemed unable to obey her, she got mad. "Lock your knees, damn it."
It was a struggle but Jay finally got her legs under her. She couldn't help the moan that escaped her lips as the shifting caused the arrow to pull at her shoulder.
"Don't leave me," Doris begged.
"Trust me. I'm not going anywhere," she answered.
One of the men stepped forward and wiggled the shaft of the arrow. Jay could feel the bones of her shoulder blade grate together and her knees buckled again. Blinking against the darkness that dimmed her vision, she dug her short nails into the tree trunk and forced herself to stand up again.
"Since you seem to be hung up, I guess we'll start with your friend." The man's voice was oily and the laughter of the men seemed to echo in her head.
"Leave her alone, you bastards." Jay muttered. She moaned slightly when they pulled at Doris. The other woman had a hold on her arm and tried not to be dragged away. Trying not to scream, Jay was almost grateful when one of the men slammed his weapon upon the clinging hand.
Doris released her grip and began pleading to be left alone. There was the sound of clothes ripping and she heard Doris' choked off cough as she hit the ground. Not being able to see what was happening behind her back was making Jay crazy.
Through the haze that surrounded her, she could hear the muffled moans and grunts as the man assaulted Doris. Taking a deep breath, she concentrated on finding a way to get them both out of this experience alive.
Impaled and with her back to the action, she had to hope that everyone's attention was on the sex act in front of them. Bracing both hands on the trunk, she pushed out and was able to pull several inches of the arrow through her. Her jaw clenched tightly against the pain, she did it again. Reaching into the pouch at her waist with her good hand, she drew out the automatic and released the safety.
With a choked cry, she dropped her full weight on the shaft. As it snapped, she pushed her free hand against the tree. Her falling body pivoted as she fell to the ground. On her knees, she brought up the weapon. Almost before the spots cleared from her eyes, she was firing at the men. Like her old instructor taught, she fired twice each into their upper torsos.
The explosive tips on the bullets had tremendous destructive power. The closest lost most of his upper body in a shower of gore. Her shots took the men by surprise and none was able to return fire.
After emptying the clip, Jay ejected the magazine. Bracing the hot muzzle between her knees, she struggled to remove the other clip with one hand. On automatic pilot with her ears still ringing from the concussion, she was able to reload.
Hefting the weapon, she looked across the clearing and saw that nothing was moving. Even the afternoon breeze had died, leaving the air thick with silence and the smell of gunpowder.
Chapter Fifteen - Rescue the Perishing
Down in the human heart, crushed by the tempter,
Feelings lie buried that grace can restore;
Touched by a loving heart, wakened by kindness,
Chords that were broken will vibrate once more.
Words: Fanny Crosby, 1869 Music: W. Howard Doane
It seemed like hours later before the birds had begun to sing again or, at least, before her hearing had come back. Every muscle was tense as she scanned the clearing. She was unsure of whether there were any more members of this gang poised for attack. Ignoring the shivers that shook her frame, Jay forced herself to focus instead on her surroundings.
She knelt in the patch of sunlight and welcomed the sound of crickets and the hum of bees. A squirrel looked down from its perch in the trees and chattered angrily at the mess.
Not hearing anything but the natural sounds of the forest, Jay slid the pistol into her waist holster. Taking as deep a breath as she could without jarring the arrow too much, she forced herself to her feet.
Black spots swam before her eyes. It was a real effort to remain conscious but she could not rest. She needed to assure herself that the men were no longer a threat. She was terribly concerned about Doris. The dark woman had made no move to get out from under the body that was pinning her to the ground. Stumbling over to the prone bodies, she dropped to her knees again and pushed the almost headless form until it rolled off.
"Are you okay?" asked Jay, peering into Doris' open eyes. The woman was sobbing silently but made no other moves. "Doris! You've got to snap out of it and help me."
There was no reaction and Jay spared a moment to visually check the other bodies. She softened her voice and told her, "Doris, honey, they can't hurt you anymore."
Wanting to make sure that statement was true, she laboriously climbed to her feet and went around the clearing. Gritting her teeth, she leaned over to check each man for a pulse.
Dizzy with relief and blood loss, she returned to Doris' side. Touching her gently, Jay pleaded with the taller woman. "Please, you're safe now. Come back."
Getting no response, Jay looked up. The sun was well on its journey across the sky. "You've got to wake up. I can't carry you," she muttered. "I can't carry me." Closing her eyes, she tried to calm the frantic beat of her heart.
She didn't know how long she had knelt there when she felt a hand on her leg. Snapping her head up, she was glad to see Doris' dark eyes on her.
"How?"
"They're dead. Come on."
"He was so heavy and it hurt."
"I know, but we need to get out of here."
"I thought I was going to die." There was wonder in her voice.
"But you didn't. You've got to hold onto that now. You're not dead and you need to help me."
Doris focused her attention on Jay. "How did you get free?"
"I broke the arrow off. Can we go now?"
Doris sat up and pulled the tattered remains of her shirt together. She kicked out at the dead man lying across her legs, nearly sobbing until she was free. She flinched when Jay touched her shoulder.
"We really have to get out here."
"Why? They're all dead." Doris looked around the clearing at the carnage. Flies had begun to be drawn to the blood and were buzzing around the wounds and staring eyes. "What do we have to worry about? You've killed them all."
"Maybe." Jay tried to get to her feet and failed. She shook her head and pushed against the ground, almost smiling when her knees locked and she finally stood. "We need to go."
"Why?"
"Look around, Doris. None of them have camping gear or packs."
"So?"
"So, it means their camp is somewhere else, most likely, with folks who are going to come looking for these guys because they heard the shots or because they don't return when they are expected."
Doris surged to her feet and looked around wildly. "How many more?"
"I don't know. We just need to get away from here."
Looking down at herself, Doris started to cry again. "My clothes." She tried to pull the torn pieces of her shirt together. Unsuccessful in her effort to cover up her chest, she turned her brown eyes on Jay.
Jay turned to look at her. She couldn't believe that the state of her attire was a major issue. "Sorry. I thought upper body shots were safest. Take his pants, he's about your size."
"You're kidding me. I can't take his pants."
"Then make do with what you have." Jay sagged against the support of a tree trunk. "Make it quick, though."
Doris scrubbed the heels of her hands over her eyes. "What's the almighty rush?"
"I'm starting to fade. We have to start moving soon."
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that I'm fucking bleeding here and we need to get out of here before I pass out." Jay had stepped away from the tree when she started speaking. Dizzy, her legs buckled on the last word.
Jumping forward, Doris was able to take most of Jay's weight and ease her to the ground. For a moment, she just stared at the unconscious form in her arms. She panicked and shook Jay, crying, "Wake up! Wake up!"
Jay groaned and tried to pull away from the vise that was squeezing her. When she opened her eyes, she saw Doris' face. "What?"
"Oh, thank goodness. You fainted."
"And you think shaking someone with an arrow through them is a good way to wake them up?" Jay snapped as she cradled her arm against her chest. Glancing over at Doris, she saw her crying in remorse. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that." Jay gritted her teeth and slowly made her way to her feet. "Let's just try to make it back to the house without killing one another, okay?"
"I'm sorry."
Jay didn't answer. She stood swaying for so long that Doris asked, "Hey, I thought you wanted to go." She lightly grasped Jay's wrist. "Hey?"
Her entire body jerked and Jay pulled away from her. Raising a trembling hand to her forehead, Jay swallowed. "Sorry. I keep phasing out." She shifted slightly and grimaced.