On Ice (46 page)

“
His father. He took Sara and he has a gun,” Maddy said rapidly. “Rene followed them.”

“
Oh, my,” the doctor breathed, then yelled in an ear-splitting tone, “Sheriff. Get in here right now.”

As if by magic, a rotund man with gray sideburns wreathing his red face propelled himself through the door in double time.

“
What’s all this, Doc Lorelei?” he asked, squatting beside her. He glanced suspiciously at Maddy, then at Seth.

“
Probably a concussion,” she said, inspecting his head. “I’m sending him to the hospital for x-rays. Might have an intra-cranial bleed. How’re they doing with Father Paul?”

“
He’s loaded. They’re working on him in the ambulance.”

Lorelei moved over to begin her inspection of the man called Ben. The auburn-haired woman kept up her moaning, but moved aside for the doctor.

“
Honeybee, you hush up now. That catterwaulin’ is gettin’ on my nerves and I’m sure it’s not doin’ old Ben any good. Why don’t you make us some hot tea?” Deftly, she snipped away layers of clothing, exposing the hilt of the knife embedded in a purplish wound while Honeybee located the teapot.

“
Whoa!” the Sheriff said. “That looks mighty bad.”

“
Yeah,” she snorted. “Why don’t you go get the fellow who did all this and that way you won’t scare my patients?” Her terse words jerked him to an upright position. “I think that lady in the pricey fur coat can give you some information.”

“
Yes, Doc,” he said, and approached Maddy.

“
Hey, you by the door,” Lorelei called to Terrence. “Yes, you. Get me one of the ambulance guys in here. I need some help.”

Terrence obeyed while Maddy retold the story to the sheriff. As he took notes on a small pad, she looked up to see Honeybee staring at her with a shocked expression.

“
So, the perpetrator was the schoolteacher’s husband? Why would he hurt his own kid?” The sheriff paused, pencil over pad, as though his question was reasonable.

“
He’s a crazy, abusive son-of-a-bitch. Rene ran away because she was afraid this might happen. Don’t you think you should go after them before anyone else gets hurt?”

“
Yes. I ah, yes.” He got heavily to his feet. As he lumbered to the door, the ambulance attendant and another man burst through it with Terrence bringing up the rear.

“
Where’s Rene?” the second man demanded. He gave Maddy a long, appraising look.

“
I’m Maddy,” she responded to the unasked question.

“
I figured as much. I’m Brett. What happened to Seth?”

“
His own father beat him up,” the sheriff interjected. “Can you believe it?”

“
Where are Rene and Sara?” Brett asked.

“
Mark’s got them.” Maddy said. “He has a gun.”

“
So do I,” Brett said tersely as he strode out the door. The sheriff followed behind him.

“
Terrence, see if you can help,” Maddy directed.

Terrence nodded, bounding after them.

Abruptly, the woman named Honeybee ran to join the men.

Maddy heard the sound of motors revving in the clearing and several powerful vehicles pulled away from the cabin.

“
Excuse me, Ma’am,” the ambulance attendant knelt beside Maddy to examine Seth. He lifted Seth’s eyelids, shining a small flashlight in them. He took the boy’s vital signs, communicating into a radio. Another man brought a gurney and they loaded Seth on it.

“
Wait! Where are you taking him?” Maddy demanded.

“
Hospital, Ma’am.” They fastened a series of straps and buckles and pulled the gurney to its full height.

“
Where is this hospital?” Maddy asked.

“
In Barlow Gap, Ma’am.” To the doctor, he said, “The second ambulance is about five minutes away, Doc.”

“
Go ahead, then. Ben and I will wait for a first class ride.”

“
But, I--” Maddy paused, feeling indecisive for the first time in her life.

“
Go with Seth,” Lorelei advised. “There’s nothing you can do here.”

“
But, what about Rene?”

“
She’s got plenty of people intent on trying to help her. All Seth has is you.”

Maddy nodded, following the attendants as they put Seth’s stretcher in the ambulance beside the flaxen-haired priest. When they had Seth’s gurney secured, one of the attendants reached down a hand to Maddy.

“
You can ride here, Ma’am.” He pulled down a small jump seat close to Seth’s head.

Maddy clung to the tiny perch. The doors closed and the ambulance crept into motion. A siren sounded in the distance as they turned onto the main road running past Sad Horse. Their own siren wailed in counterpoint as Maddy was carried farther and farther away from Rene.

She held Seth’s hand as a crushing weight settled on her chest. She had come here to protect Rene from Mark’s rage, but she was too late. She prayed that Terrence and Brett would be more timely.

~*~

Rene saw them a hundred feet ahead. She had closed the gap due to her relatively light weight and the fact that Sara was not cooperating with Mark in his dark purpose. He floundered through the snow trying to maintain his grip on her slippery jacket while she kicked and squirmed. The derringer was nowhere to be seen.

The river, not yet frozen up, sounded louder. She touched the lump in her pocket for comfort. The Glock scraped against the extra clip. She would be lucky to get one clear shot at him, but she believed in being prepared.

Her breath was ragged. The cold air burned her lungs. She had to get closer to have a chance of hitting him. Nadine said that any hit would knock him down. She only needed to disable him so he couldn’t kill Sara.

Mark turned to look at her and she thought he was grinning. Her eyes watered from the cold. Yes, she heard him laughing. Good, let him laugh. It might slow him down.

“
Mommy! Mommy! Help me,” Sara called to her.

The sound of Mark’s laughter grew more shrill.

“
Right!” he said sarcastically. “Your mommy will save you. She’ll cry and whine and that’s going to protect you.”

“
I hate you!” Sara shrieked. She was crying in earnest now. Her short arms and legs swung wildly as she struggled to free herself.

Rene kept moving, though her legs felt like logs. The cold sank into her joints, slowing her down. The layers under her jacket kept her torso warm, but her limbs were in agony. Exhausted from her desperate pursuit, Rene pushed herself onward through the snow. The sound of her daughter’s heart-broken sobs infused her with new energy.
I have to save Sara. I have to save us both.

~*~

Terrence jumped in the back seat of the Hummer behind Brett and the auburn-haired woman called Honeybee. Unarmed, he didn’t know what he could do to prevent Mark Desmond from inflicting more harm, but if he got the opportunity he would gleefully break Mark’s neck.

The two in the front seat were silent and grim. The Hummer bounced and plunged over the deep ruts, then slowed as Brett headed the vehicle off road. The huge tires slid and then bit into the snow as several other trucks fell into line behind them. The sheriff’s flashing lights died when Brett stuck his gloved hand out to wave them off. Terrence nodded to himself, acknowledging Brett’s authority.

“
There!” Honeybee pointed ahead where two, no, three figures were displayed in sharp relief to the stark white background.

The taller one struggled with a child in a bright neon red parka, while the other floundered toward them.

“
We’re in time, then?” Terrence said, more to himself than to his companions.

Brett parked the Hummer behind a stand of pines. “Not necessarily,” he said. “That’s the Sad Horse River right behind them. I pray they don’t fall in.”

Terrence felt like someone had hit him in the stomach. “Is it deep?”

Brett and Honeybee opened the doors as silently as possible.

“
It’s plenty deep, but the water temperature would kill them before they had a chance to drown.” Brett reached behind Terrence for a hunting rifle.

Other vehicles pulled close to them. A man and a woman with impossibly red-orange hair loped toward them. They, too, were armed with high-powered rifles.

The Sheriff and deputy joined them as well as several other men.

“
Hank, Bernie, Buddy, Frenchy,” Brett acknowledged as they neared. “Don’t startle them. It looks pretty intense. He’s got Sara.”

Nodding grimly, they took aim at the tallest figure, standing close to the edge of the rushing river.

~*~

“
Mark!” Rene shouted, raggedly. “Mark, I know you don’t want to hurt Sara. You want to hurt me.”

“
Come join us, Rene and we can all go out together. Just one happy family.” He gripped Sara with one hand, fumbling in his pocket before drawing out the derringer.

“
No! Mark, don’t hurt her.”

“
It’s over, Rene. Just as you said, it’s over.” He laughed bitterly. “You’ve ruined everything.” He raised the derringer to Sara’s head.

“
Mark! Look!” Her heart felt like it was going to explode. “I have a gun.” He gazed at her coldly. “I have lots of bullets and I’m going to kill you.”

“
I’m going to kill your daughter. I’m going to break your heart. No matter what happens, you’ll’ always remember that I killed her because you betrayed me.” He turned to Sara. “It’s your mommy who’s making me do this.”

“
No, it’s not! It’s your choice. You have only one bullet, Mark. Wouldn’t you rather kill me?” Rene’s throat was raw from shouting in the harsh cold.

Mark turned his narrow gaze at Rene.

“
See the gun? I’ll cut you to pieces, Mark. Me. I’ll be the one to kill you.” The shock registered on his face. “You will die by my hand. Isn’t that ironic?”

Sara fell, landing in the soft snow. She floundered to her feet and took a few hesitant steps toward Rene.

“
You have a choice, Mark,” Rene rasped out. “If you don’t kill me, I will kill you.” She felt her voice gathering strength. It rang out across the expanse of snow stretching between them.

Mark seemed to be wavering. He aimed the gun at Rene. She flexed her stiff fingers and tightened her grip on the Glock, pointing the barrel at his chest.

Sara whimpered as she stumbled toward Rene. Mark and Rene both turned to see a circle of vehicles by a copse of trees. Mark aimed the derringer at Sara’s bobbing parka.

Sara was in Rene’s line of sight. She sidestepped to get a clear shot, but Sara veered toward her.

“
Okay, Mark,” she shouted. “You win. Just kill me before that crowd of people gets to you.” Rene spread her arms wide, allowing him a clear target. “My boyfriend is there and he won’t let you live. He’ll have me and you’ll be dead.” Rene had no fear of Mark. She knew what he would do now. She dropped to one knee, her arms spread wide.

“
No. I can’t let that happen. Mr. and Mrs. Desmond will die together.” He carefully took aim.

Rene waved at Sara. “Lie down, honey. Lie down in the snow.”

Sara sniffled, but obeyed as Mark pulled the trigger.

~*~

CHAPTER THIRTY

Horrified, the onlookers heard the shot and saw Rene fall back. Sara's plaintive voice screamed, “Mommy!”

Terrence stood among them, stunned by the brutal act they had witnessed. Several people raised their rifles, but Brett held up his hand.

“
Let me get Sara.” He walked toward the sobbing child. “She doesn’t need to witness anymore of this.”

“
Oh, my God!” the orange-haired woman whispered.

Other murmurs were heard as the group shook themselves out of their stupor. What happened here wasn't supposed to happen. Terrence always thought he could save her. He shook his head, a stranger and unable to take comfort in the friendship of the community. He mourned alone.

~*~

Rene lay in the snow, her hair making a damp pillow for her head. The sound of the shot deafened her for a moment. Now she heard footsteps crunching through the snow. Was Mark coming to confirm his kill?

No, she wasn't dead yet. It hurt too much. A throbbing pain in her breastbone kept her from passing out. She was in too much pain to die. If Mark was coming to finish her off, she would have a surprise for him. Her fingers gripped the Glock. She took an experimental breath. Yes, she could breathe. The footsteps stopped by her head. Rene opened her eyes, surprised by Brett’s agonized expression. He seemed surprised that she pointed the Glock at him.

“
Help me,” she whispered, reaching for him.

“
Rene, thank God! Are you hurt?” He offered his hand and pulled her to a sitting position.