Seeking Safety (2 page)

******

I am still lying tied on the bed covered only
by the thin blanket with tears streaming down my face. I am so
distraught. Oh God, what am I going to do? Help me, please! Why
didn't I listen to my parents? I'm so sorry Mama. Please forgive
me.

I am completely surprised when a beautiful
young woman with long auburn hair not much older than I am walks
into the cabin. I watch her as she walks across the room and sits
on the side of the bed.

Jasmine Leblanc looks at Melanie's bruised
and battered face and asks, "Oh Sweetie, are you all right?"
Jasmine's heart is breaking. She well remembers her first few days
in captivity. She was so frightened with no one to help her
understand what was expected. Maybe she can help this young girl
ease into her new life. Maybe she can save her from dying.

I nod my head and shyly ask, "Who are
you?"

Jasmine smiles and says, "My name is Jasmine
and I live here at the compound with James Bixby. I've been here
now for five years. Darren asked me to come in and help you clean
up. I brought you something for your breakfast. What's your
name?"

"M..M..Melanie. Where am I?" This woman seems
nice. Maybe she will help me. Hope springs to life inside and my
heart starts pounding with excitement.

Jasmine answers, "This is an anti government
militia compound in Idaho."

"Will you help me get away?"
Please God, please let her help me!

Jasmine replies honestly, "Oh Melanie, you
can't get away. Guards are stationed all around and they will kill
you if you try to leave. You do have a choice to make though. You
have to choose whether or not you want to live or want to die. That
is the only options you have."

I shake my head in denial. "No!! I can't stay
here! I have to get away. Please, Jasmine, you have to help
me,"

Jasmine shakes her head. "No, Melanie. I
won't help you. You see, I choose to live and in order to live I
have to abide by the rules. They are not always pleasant or
something I would normally choose for myself, but I want to live. I
hope you will make the same choice." While Jasmine has been
talking, she has been heating water on the wood stove. She unties
Melanie's hands and feet and hands her a cup of tea. She says,
"Here drink this. It will help with the pain of your injuries."
Jasmine knows the tea will prevent her from getting pregnant too
but she will keep that bit of information to herself for now.

I vigorously shake my head, "No, I don't want
it." I am not about to trust this woman, or anybody in this place.
I am sure that man drugged me. That is why I am in this mess. I
wrap the blanket tightly around my body and start to walk toward
the door.

Jasmine calls to me, "Melanie, please don't
do that. Guards are right outside the door and they won't hesitate
to shoot you. Darren Calloway has issued the order for you to be
shot if you step outside of the cabin. He is the leader here and
everyone obeys his orders without question. Come over here and
bathe and I will help you put on some clothes. As long as we stay
in the cabin you are safe."

I look at Jasmine stunned. I am sure shock is
plainly visible on my face. "Are these people crazy? How can they
get away with killing people at the drop of a hat? It is against
the law!"

Jasmine answers honestly, "These men make
their own laws. They don't recognize any laws of the United States.
Here, I brought you some muffins for your breakfast. Please, come
on over here and let's get you cleaned up."

My stomach rumbles with hunger. I walk over
to the table and take the warm rag Jasmine is offering and begin to
wash myself.. Then I slip the sheath type dress over my head.
"Don't I get underwear?"

Jasmine replies, "Not yet. Once Darren is
satisfied that you are his and will remain here without being
watched, you'll get regular clothes."

"Why can't I use the bathroom to clean up?" I
look around the cabin but don't see a door to another room.

Jasmine laughs, "Honey, we don't even have
running water here. We haul water from the creek that runs through
the back side of the compound."

My mouth falls open and I ask, "Where do you
go to the bathroom?"

Jasmine laughs again and explains, "I believe
you'll find a slop jar under the bed. One of your duties will be to
empty it every day. The men dug a pit a good ways from here where
we empty the slop jars every day. They sprinkle lime on it to quell
the odor. Once you make your decision to live, I'll be happy to
show you the ropes."

I sit down at the small table across from
Jasmine. I am very confused. This is more that I can take in at the
moment. I can't believe people really live like what Jasmine is
describing. I pick up one of the muffins and take a bite. "Mmmmm,
these are good! Did you make them?"

Jasmine explains, "We have a communal cooking
shack. All of the women here share cooking and cleaning duties. If
you make the decision to live you will be the fifth woman living
here at the compound."

"You say that like others have died
here?"

Jasmine looks down at her hands before she
answers, "Sadly, that is true. A few other young girls have been
brought here and did not choose to live."

"What happened to them?"

Jasmine shrugs her shoulders, "I really don't
know. I guess they died from the beatings or something. All I know
is they were here one day and then they weren't here the next."

Jasmine stays with me for most of the day,
but eventually she says, "Well Sweetie, I have to go help with
dinner. That means I have to tie you back up."

A wave of fear washes over me, "Please don't
leave me!"

Jasmine smiles sadly, "I'm really sorry but I
have to attend to my responsibilities. I don't want to make James
Bixby mad. I can't help you any more today. I do hope that you will
choose to live, Melanie. Once you accept your fate, it's really not
so bad here. I really hope you don't die."

Ten years later, January
2009

Academy Award winning movie star, Barry
Farrady at thirty-two years old is happier and more excited than he
has been in a very long time. He has just signed the papers giving
him ownership of the ranch in Wyoming he has been dreaming about
for months, the Rock Springs Ranch. He walks out of the Title
Company with a huge grin on his face. As he climbs behind the wheel
of his little red sports car, he is busily making plans for the
renovations he is going to make at the ranch. He doesn't even
notice the Paparazzi snapping his picture and calling out questions
as he leaves the Title Company.

The Rock Springs Ranch is located about
twenty miles outside of Cody, Wyoming and is situated next to the
Rocking J Ranch which is owned by his good friends, Jacob and Jason
Murray.

Jacob Murray was Barry's criminal defense
attorney when he faced murder charges a few years ago. Barry
literally owes his life to Jacob. Without Jacob's representation,
Barry would likely be sitting on death row right now. Jason Murray
is Jacob's twin brother and Barry's financial advisor. The Murrays
have graciously allowed Barry to spend a lot of time with them and
their families at their ranch over the last few years. It was a
critical stress reliever when he needed to get away from Los
Angeles and the madhouse that is the movie business.

When the Rock Springs Ranch was listed for
sale a few months ago, Jacob Murray notified Barry of the
opportunity. He went with Barry the day he toured the ranch for the
first time. Barry will never forget how pleased he was to find a
ranch so nice that would need relatively few renovations. The fully
furnished house is opulent with ten bedrooms all with adjoining
full baths plus two additional full baths. It has two huge living
areas, a state of the art kitchen, an indoor pool, weight room,
study, and a huge stone patio with meticulous lawns that make it
perfect for entertaining.

Barry has starred in six movies since he came
to Hollywood. He shot to super stardom after his very first movie
and has reaped the benefits of his blonde good looks, blue eyes,
and sculpted body. Being a country boy at heart, he can't wait to
leave California and the movie business for good and this ranch is
the perfect place for him to retire.

Barry's first stop after leaving the Title
office is a real estate office near his Beverly Hills mansion. He
signs the papers listing the mansion for sale with all its
furnishings. The movers have already packed up the items he wants
to keep and he sent a truckload of items to charity.

Once all of the necessary papers are signed,
he heads to the mansion where he parks the sports car. He has made
arrangements to donate the car to a charity auction to benefit the
local Children's Hospital. They are due to pick it up this
afternoon. He grabs his pre-packed bag, calls his black Lab, Ringo,
and they climb into his brand new, very practical, silver extended
cab, four wheel drive pickup and head for Wyoming and the Rock
Springs Ranch.

He picks up his cell phone and dials a number
as familiar to him as his own name. His heart is pounding with
excitement and when she answers he says,

"Mom, are you packed yet? We are the official
owners of the Rock Springs Ranch as of this morning and I'm on my
way to Wyoming!"

"Barrett, why are you in such a hurry?"
laughs Barry's Mom, Virginia. "I can't just drop everything and
leave right now. I have a job you know." Virginia is so pleased to
hear the happiness in her son's voice. It has been a very long time
since she has heard his happy laughter and she has been very
worried. In fact, this is the first time she has heard excited
happiness in his voice since before he retired from the
Marines.

"Nonsense, Mom, just pack your clothes and
come. Anything else you need I'll get for you out here. You don't
ever have to work again so quit your job today. I'll have my plane
waiting for you at the airport. I want you to come live with me at
the ranch!" Barry says determinedly.

"Oh Barrett, you're so impetuous sometimes!
You don't want an old bag of bones like me underfoot. I'll come out
in a few weeks for a visit." Virginia offers soberly.

"Mom, you are not listening to me. I want you
to live with me at the ranch. I will not take no for an answer."
Barry repeats patiently. "Do you want me to come to Georgia and get
you? I will you know."

"No, don't do that! I don't want to have to
fight all those reporters that show up every time you do. You know
how I hate that," a note of panic in her voice. "All right, if
you're sure, I'll pack my suitcases and get the boxes ready. I'll
fly out in a few days, all right?"

"Now that is what I wanted to hear! Let me
know the day and I'll send the jet for you. I'll have the house all
warmed up and a fire in the big stone fireplace. I'll make sure a
car to drive you to the ranch is waiting at the airport in Cody. I
can't wait to see you Mom. I love you!" Barry says happily.

******

I am scared to death. My heart is pounding
with fear, my hands are shaking, and sweat is trickling down my
back even though six inches of snow covers the ground outside the
little cabin. I have to get my nine year old son, Eric out of this
compound and to safety and I have to do it tonight. I don't want
him to end up being the same type of cruel, unfeeling man as his
father.
Please God, give me the strength, the
courage, and the wisdom to escape this place and Darren
Calloway.

I stoke the fire with as much wood as I dare
put in the wood burning stove. Then I gently shake Eric's shoulder
and warn him to be quiet as we tip toe to the door, quietly open it
enough to slide through, and then silently close it behind us.
Eric's father, Darren Calloway, the leader of this militia group,
is passed out on the bed a few feet away and we certainly don't
want him to wake up and catch us.

Not too long ago he came back to the cabin
falling down drunk and raving mad. He beat me with his fists and
then beat Eric with a belt across his back for trying to stop him
from hitting me. Eric's back is a bloody mess. I feel sure I have
broken ribs from Darren's tirade but that doesn't matter. All that
matters is getting Eric away from the maniac to safety.

Once we are safely out of the cabin that has
been my home for the past ten years, I breathe a sigh of relief. I
managed to steal the keys to one of the cars kept just outside the
compound for use when some of the men have to go into town for
supplies. I just have to manage to get to it before we are caught.
I stole all of the cash out of Darren's billfold and stuffed all of
the bread and non-perishable food I could into a pillow case. As we
hurry toward the edge of the compound keeping to the deep shadows I
pray again for our safety.
Please God, keep us
safe!

When we reach the fence around the compound,
I pull the wire cutters I stole from Darren's tool box out of my
coat pocket and cut a hole in the wire just big enough for us to
slip through. Once we get to the other side I push the wire back
together and we quietly climb into the car.
Please God, let it start!

I release the emergency brake and push in the
clutch allowing the car to roll backwards down the slight incline.
I turn the wheel so the car is facing toward the dirt track leading
to the main road then allow it to coast toward the road a good
distance. Once we are far enough away from the compound, I turn the
key in the ignition and breathe a sigh of relief when it
starts.

After we are headed down the dirt track
leading away from the compound I turn on the headlights. When we
reach the paved road I drive as fast as I can away from the
compound. I whisper a quick prayer of thanks to my Dad for having
taught me to drive when I was barely fourteen. I am definitely
rusty, but I remember enough to get by. I certainly haven't had a
chance to learn anything since I ran away from home ten years
ago.