Hell and Determination (5 page)

 
                                                      CHAPTER EIGHT
Emerging painfully from the bed Jo read the scribbled note of apology that was resting against the clock on the bedside table, it brought no consolation as the pain pierced her lungs, and with caution she retrieved her sweater and jeans. With vain effort she forced herself to dress, placing her long tangled locks in a rubber band.
                      Self-preservation delivered her safely to the kitchen where she made a well-deserved coffee, There was no salvation her mid toiled as she stared through the kitchen window along the mountain pass, in her present state an impossibility when normal no more than a dream her eyes burned as she fought back the tears.
                       Jo swung around and fear gripped hold has the catch released the front door’ her pale face stared in disbelief, her sapphire eyes dazzling with delight as Ben peered his head around the doorway.
“Coast clear?”  He asked in his jovial way.
“Clear,” she smiled rejoicing.” Well have you made your peace with that brother of mine? Or would you prefer another chance.”  Jo’s heart raced with a mixture of fear and excitement, not truly sure if she was having an illusion. “My things are in the dresser drawer,” she stuttered trying to catch her breath as

her ribs pressed against her lungs.
“Jesus.” Ben gasped with exasperation realizing she could hardly move, and the pickup parked half a mile down the mountain pass.
She hung her head there was no time for words, he climbed the stairs two at a time, bundled has much as he could in the hold all that hung behind the door, found her papers that were contained in a leather pouch then made haste their lives depended on it.
                        Jo waited at the cabin door her eyes on the trail that led to the river, where Brandon was hopefully working though she had a terrible gut feeling he would check on her condition.
                         “‘Hold on,” Ben demanded,” ‘wait here it will be a lot quicker if I bring the truck.”
“No I’m coming with you.” Jo protested afraid to be left behind, with her hand on her ribs she struggled to move forward.
“Then take your time, I’ll go on ahead,” giving Jo no time to object, he scurried down the pass to where the truck waited her rucksack over his shoulder.
Ten minutes seemed like a life time as she maneuvered her aching body down the steep mountain trail. The trees hung heavy dropping cold moisture from their winter branches, the brown bear lurked around somewhere she had heard it in the trash can when brewing her coffee, at last the truck reversed beside her, Ben helped her climb into her seat before setting off at speed down the mountain track.
Not a word passed between them during the race towards town, Jo kept her eyes peeled on the road ahead in dreaded fear of Brandon appearing from nowhere, it was not until Ben bore right along the highway  that she became curious to where he was taking her, she was well aware the bus depot was in the opposite direction.
                        Ben smiled “not taking any chances, besides quite fancy the States myself.”
Jo could have devoured him with hugs if only her painful ribs had allowed, her face beamed and

Declared more than any words could have possibly spoken.
The  scenery was mighty impressive as they headed towards Seattle, Ben sensed the uneasy feeling as she checked the highway behind them for the umpteenth time, he  tried to divert her thoughts chattering about the places he had travelled, during the fortnight he had been away.
“What made you come back? Jo enquired aware it was one hell of a risk he had taken.
‘The thought of you stuck with the devil himself, and with the look of things I wasn’t far wrong either, what happened.
“He believes there was something going on between us.”
“I guessed has much, I hope you're aware he’s not going to lie back shrugging his shoulders. One day we’ll have to answer for this, but we’ll answer to the devil when the time comes.”
                       Jo glanced towards Ben she knew there was a lot of truth in what he had said.
“America’s a mighty big place,” she declared smiling yet in the back of her mind she could here Brandon’s words. There is no place on earth you could hide.
                 “Sure is girl.”Ben smiled, “but never the less once I have seen you settled, I had better be moving on, wouldn't do to prove him right”
                   Jo glanced over her shoulder once more as Ben handed the passports over at the border.
“Have a nice trip,” he commented cheerfully.
                    “I think were safe for now, “Ben whispered with a smile. “Were to girl. “I have no idea, finding it hard to believe we have made it this far.” You had better believe it honey, better carry on till dusk then rest up for the night.
                     Jo felt the burning pain from her ribs piercing her lungs yet felt too grateful to complain.  They travelled along the sea port where she pointed in the direction of Betsy’s diner she would have loved to open her heart to the dear friend she abandoned, sighing deeply reliving the day Brandon tracked her down.
                “You should have turned on your heels and run,” Ben declared as if reading her mind.
Jo nodded in agreement.
                 After travelling another forty miles Ben realized she could take no more. The tank was also low on gas, the service station and motel appeared in the distance. Not very discreet but a chance they would have to take, he swerved from the highway moored the jeep to the side of the motel. “Be back in a jiff,” he quoted making haste to the reception area.
            Jo cringed as she struggled to change position the pain intense and a sickly feeling due to hunger, neither had eaten all day. How she admired his courage, ten minutes passed by before he appeared carrying to large containers with a tray balancing on top.
            “Don’t make me laugh,” she begged as he babbled on about the guy in reception the way he grumbled about cooking so late in the day.
                     After swallowing the pain killers Ben had given her, she tucked into the juicy steak, never had anything tasted so good.” Is that coffee I can smell? She asked swallowing the last piece of meat and her fingers already reaching for the French fries.
“Don’t put on my good nature,” Ben advised jokingly.
“Wouldn’t dream of it, you're one hell of a guy Ben Gibbs I’ll say that for you.”
“I’ll be one hell of a dead guy if that brother of mine could see us now with nothing more than a bedside table between us.”
“Now don’t go spoiling things,” she said disheartened fatigue and a full stomach had almost caused her to put Brandon at the back of her mind” ’Now see what you've done,” grasping the ribs beneath her breast.
                   “You need strapping up,” searching through the chest of draws retrieving a fine cotton sheet, folding it carefully he smiled towards Jo. “Off with the sweater,” he demanded carrying the well folded linen towards her.
“I’ll do no such thing I’ve nothing underneath.” she declared.
‘Then you will have to put your hands over them, “he teased. I’ll strap you from behind, “Ben gasped noticing the severe bruising the bastard had caused as he carefully strapped her ribs.
Jo did as she was asked before settling under the quilt.
                     At the break of dawn they were back on the road again traveling a further four hundred miles, to the state of Oregon.
                    Jo ached though it didn’t show, her eyes sparkling deriving pleasure in the miles they were placing between themselves and Brandon.
                    Taking a break for lunch to alleviate their stiff limbs, was the only tonic needed to face the further four hundred miles before nightfall.
                   Jo was having forty winks and in a hypnotic state when Ben stopped the engine.
“Have you ever felt the sand between your toes? He asked raising his hind quarters given them a well needed rub.
“Where are we?’Jo murmured rubbing her eyes trying to focus, the sun’s rays were blinding, which Jo thought odd for the time of year, she was aware the journey hadn’t come to an end or nightfall would have set in.” North Bend.” he answered.
Jo glanced to her right, “what are we waiting for? She cried out in excitement.
                   Ben observed from the rocks as Jo strolled barefoot along the golden sands, she could turn the head of any man that he was sure off.
                “Come on,” she yelled her arms full length accepting the cool sea breeze.
“Go taste your freedom,” his voice carried over the sound of the waves, wanting to capture the

Magnificent
figure of radiance, her auburn locks blowing in the breeze.
               He wasn't at all certain there could be any permanent future for whom better than he knew his Brothers capabilities. He recalled the day he watched in horror as he shot his Ma’s
man friend, it had been no impulsive act it was a carefully planned and deliberate assault. He knew if he had not arrived at that precise moment the consequences would have been a lot worse.
             His thought went out to Jo and he prayed his brother would never track her down.
“Hey dreamers are you ready? We have a long way to travel before nightfall.”
           Ben’s determination to keep travelling made her uneasy, his compliance was due to much more than his good nature she could sense he was worried she had the same gut feeling. Brandon was out there somewhere tracking them down; she had a vision printed in
her mind of a ferocious fiend in human form hell bent on revenge.
     Ben rubbed his eyes his concentration becoming boggled he glanced at Jo, her drawn appearance told him she was all in, they had passed a motel twenty miles back, he couldn’t risk turning around there must be one up ahead, though he could see no sign of civilization. Only the highway that stretched for miles lay before them.
                Hungry and jaded they swept along the lonely route “There up ahead” Jo announced at the sight of the neon lights in the distance showing signs of habitation.
               The only food obtainable from reception was sandwiches from the display machine, and for someone who hadn’t had a bite since midday they were as welcome has a four course meal.
              Jo showered before turning in for the night she felt overtired and quite restless she needed to wind down.
Ben had collapsed face first on the bed, dead to the world around him, his blonde curly hair blowing softly with each gentle snore the width of his shoulders relaxed against the fine cotton sheet, Jo smiled

Gratefully as she plaited the damp dowdy strands before climbing into bed.
As she eventually drifted into a state of moral insensibility her nightmare began.
                   Brandon loomed over her naked torso his fingers manipulating her throat, why the hell did he not get it over with? Instead of torturing her, his dark eyes displayed a red burning glow, the aroma from his body smelled repulsive her skin crawled as he grabbed the soft tender breast. Her screams wouldn't come to the surface; just an ailing groan and a stricken whining that forced Ben from his well-deserved sleep.
                Jo lay shaking her fist tightly gripping the sheet, perspiration flowed from her brow.
At first glance she appeared to be suffering physical pain then the excruciating sound from her throat brought him to his senses. Conscientiously he gently shook her from the nightmare that put the fear of God into them both.
              Ben lay awake long after he had consoled Jo, his mind toiled with the dark of the night.  Only the Lord was aware of what she had suffered at the hands of that crazy bastard, it was evident from childhood he had a malicious streak, mischievous his Ma used to call it till the years passed then Pa was to blame for all the abuse he had put him through, only when Pa passed away and left the logging

Business to his sons did Ma realize how controlling her eldest son had become.
          He recalled his last day at the timber yard when Brandon accused him of having an affair with Jo, Giles had been in hearing distance when he stated he had been forced to have the child aborted, because he could never be certain it was his. Jo had been oblivious to the tales that surrounded the men. Sure to God Giles could have defended his sister's honour and what now when they realize she’s gone.
            Jo studied the map that Ben had purchased as they waited in the small dining area for breakfast. Her index finger rendered has a ruler trying to calculate how many miles to the inch.
Ben laughed as she declared it was almost six hundred miles to San Francisco. On studying the map for himself he had to admit her conclusion correct.
“San Francisco sure as nice sounds to it, don’t you think,” Jo asked dreamily.
“If you say so,” Ben smiled tucking into the mixed grill before him.
“Yes I quite fancy San Francisco,” Jo muttered as she dipped the toasted soldier into her egg.
Ben glanced from the table his eyes resting on Jo. “And what do you intend doing for a living.
He enquired.
Jo declared with a deep sigh, “I’m going to find a Job with prospects and work my way up the ladder.”
“You sure said that convincing,” Ben smiled.
“Well I mean it and when I have made my first million dollars, I’m going to pay you back Ben Gibbs for being there when I needed you the most. Do you realize, you’ll always be my hero.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” Ben joked wiping the grease from the corner of his mouth with his napkin, stating it was time to hit the highway.
             
                    The fatigue Jo felt from the twelve hour journey soon resolved and jubilation swept through her body as Ben paid the four dollar toll has they entered Golden Gate Bridge.
He glanced sideways her sapphire eyes sparkled revealing fine lines of enchantment, he rejoiced noting it was the first time he had ever seen her so full of life, it seemed as though her batteries had been recharged and the past no longer threatened her existence, if only it could stay this way, he prayed turning his gaze back to the road.
“Oh Ben it’s fascinating,” he agreed smiling at her enthusiasm, deep down he knew the city was no place for him.
                    Dense fog suddenly appeared from nowhere as they neared the end of the bridge bringing the traffic to a standstill. “That’s all I need,” Ben grunted his fingers tapping the steering wheel.
Jo felt a chill with the damp atmosphere, though compared to the Rockies it was remarkably mild.
For twenty minutes they seemed to be going nowhere then the fog lifted as quickly as it came down. The city lights lifted her spirits again.
                That night Ben reserved a suite till the end of the week, only five minutes walking distance to Golden Gate Bridge and the Fisherman's Wharf, Chinatown and Downtown.
Their room was spacious containing fridge, microwave, coffee maker and television.
Jo spent the morning strolling Union Street shopping area, the elegant designer wear left her in awe.
            Ben had purchased the morning chronicle; he had assured Jo they were financially okay. In the meantime she made a list of the most likely Job prospects.
The following day near Union Square they toured the shopping Mall, Ben insisted on buying Jo a new suite that would impress anyone jurisdiction.
When she appeared from the changing room in a light grey soft suede outfit, he was spellbound the shop assistant had pinned the lengthy strands on top of her head. She seemed more mature quite