Renewing Lost Love (5 page)

******

Pinky and Stump finally locate the militia
compound just east of Sandpoint shortly after lunch. Flying low
overhead they do not see a truck matching the description of the
one owned by James Bixby. The compound appears to be composed of
four small cabins and one larger one. Smoke is rising from all but
one of the chimneys. Disappointed Pinky says, “Damn! It looks like
we’re too late!” They make several passes around the area but don’t
see the truck anywhere.

Stump says, “Maybe we just missed them on the
road. We came up through Idaho, let’s go back down the Montana side
and see if we see them on the road.”

Hopeful, Pinky says, “That’s a good idea.
Keep your eyes peeled and let me know if you see anything
resembling the truck. We’ll need to stop in Kalispell for fuel so
we may as well stay overnight there.”

They arrive in Kalispell just before dark
where they make arrangements to have the helicopter refueled and
then take a taxi to the hotel in downtown Kalispell that is
attached to the mall. Pinky is discouraged and depressed because
they haven’t seen anything of the truck belonging to James Bixby.
He is thinking, where am I supposed to look now?

After enjoying an early supper in the hotel
restaurant, Stump says, “Why don’t you check with local law
enforcement to see if they have had any reports of the truck
passing through the area? It’s a long shot but you never know.”

Shrugging his shoulders dejectedly, Pinky
says, “I guess I might as well, it can’t hurt.”

When Pinky gets off the phone with the local
police he is practically jumping up and down on the bed he is so
excited. He says, “They had a report of a truck matching the
description of Bixby’s wrecked off the road about twenty miles
south. When they hauled it to the pound and searched the contents,
they found identification for Bixby. They found blood on the
driver’s side window and in the driver’s seat but no one was with
the truck.”

Stump says, “That’s great news! That means
we’re getting close. They must be walking but I wonder why. Was the
truck not drivable?”

Pinky says, “No it wasn’t. It has a broken
axle and a tree limb was sticking through the front
windshield.”

Stump says, “Interesting, did they find any
signs of people leaving the area?”

Pinky answers, “Two sets of footprints headed
south. They radioed ahead to have law enforcement stay on the
lookout for them. I reported Jasmine as kidnapped so if they find
them they can pick them up.”

Stump says, “Let’s get some sleep so we can
head out at dawn.”

******

I have been walking all afternoon and all
night and I am so tired I can barely put one foot in front of the
other. James’ boots feel like they weigh a ton and I can only slide
them along because I don’t have the energy to pick my feet up. I am
freezing cold too. I am afraid to stop moving, afraid I will
literally freeze to death or that James will catch up with me. I
know that unless James was hurt much worse than I think he was, he
will be right behind me. Unless I can find someplace safe and warm
to rest, I can’t afford to stop.

******

James Bixby is furious. His head is pounding
and he has a big lump on the side and a gash that is still oozing
blood. He is freezing cold too. How dare that bitch leave him
bleeding in the truck, the ungrateful whore! He has fed and clothed
her for fifteen years and kept her safe too. He’s going to kill the
bitch when he catches her and he will catch her. She is so stupid
she is leaving an easy trail for him to follow.

He was shocked when he came to in the truck
and found Jasmine was gone. It took him a few minutes to even
remember where they were. He tried to start the truck and drive
back to the road but it wouldn’t budge. Then he had to maneuver his
way around the tree limb that came through the front window and
climb out on the passenger side. When he looked underneath the
vehicle he saw the broken axle so he started walking following her
footprints in the snow.

******

At dawn the next day, Pinky and Stump are in
the air following the highway south. When they reach the area where
the truck was found they begin making broad sweeping passes
searching all of the side roads determined not to miss seeing Bixby
and Jasmine. It is not long until they spot Bixby walking along the
highway alone. They are able to recognize him from the mug shot
furnished by the ATF. Pinky’s heart is pounding with dread. Has he
already killed her? Where is Jasmine? He says, “Oh God, where is
she? Please let her still be alive!”

Stump is scanning the surrounding area with
binoculars and says, “Look Pinky, about a mile ahead. I can see
someone else walking.”

They fly past Bixby and can see another
figure walking. The person is of slight build and taking a much
shorter stride. Pinky’s heart is pounding with excitement and he
says, “That’s got to be Jasmine. I can’t tell for sure because she
has a blanket or something covering her hair.”

Stump says, “Well, whoever it is, we need to
help or Bixby is going to catch them. The way they are stumbling it
looks like they are about to drop in their tracks. Land the bird in
that pasture over there. I’ll go and get them and bring them to
you.”

Pinky assesses the situation then says, “No,
that will take too long and Bixby is too close. I’ll lower you on
the cable. Grab her and secure her to you and I’ll fly down the
road a few miles before I sit her down. Make sure to attach the
Kevlar blanket to the cable to wrap up in it just in case Bixby
decides to shoot at you.”

Stump hurriedly prepares the equipment and
then says, “Ready.”

Pinky hovers right over the figure that is
now lying on the side of the road unmoving and lowers Stump to the
ground. He grabs her and radios Pinky to lift them. Stump hears
bullets hitting the Kevlar blanket as they fly away and he is
grateful Pinky thought to have him use it. Pinky flies them down
the road about ten miles and then lowers them to the ground
again.

******

I hear the helicopter and it sounds really
close but I can’t afford to look. James is right behind me. I saw
him from the top of the last hill. If I can just keep walking maybe
I can still get away but I am so tired. Then my worse fear happens,
my foot in the oversize boot catches on an uneven patch of asphalt.
I scream as I stumble and fall to the snow too tired to get back
up. Oh, God. It’s too late. I have failed. James will catch me now.
James will kill me. Tears slide silently out of my eyes to the
dirty snow.

******

James Bixby grins when he sees Jasmine fall
to the snow. Yes! She is within his reach now! He is going to catch
the bitch. His hands are itching to be around her throat. He is
going to squeeze the life right out of her!

******

I am completely surprised when a big burly
man drops from the sky, picks me up, and says, “Jasmine, I’m here
to save you. Just hold on tight to me and I’ll protect you from
Bixby.”

My heart is pounding with fear but at his
words I immediately stop struggling. This man is the miracle I have
been praying for. I don’t know who he is or where he came from but
I am certainly not going to make his attempt to save me more
difficult by fighting him. He is my only hope.

He puts a strap around my waist that secures
me tightly to his body and tells me to wrap my arms and legs around
him. Then he wraps both of us in a blanket and radios to the person
in the helicopter he calls Pinky. The helicopter lifts us off the
ground and we fly away. I hear something hitting the blanket around
us but I don’t know what. It is a hollow sound sort like someone
throwing dried beans against a piece of paper. The helicopter flies
us for what seems like a long way to me then sets us back down on
the ground before raising the cable and landing a few hundred yards
away.

Once on the ground, the big burly man unhooks
the strap from around me. Then he says, “Hi Jasmine, my name is
Stump and I’m a friend of Melanie Brentwood. We’re here to save you
from James Bixby. Come with me.” He starts toward the helicopter
but when I make no attempt to follow, he gently picks me up in his
arms and strides quickly across the pasture to where the helicopter
is waiting.

******

My heart is pounding heavily. I am so tired I
can barely stand much less walk but I am trying. It’s just that my
legs won’t move. I am so relieved when the burly man turns around
and gently lifts me in his arms. Thank God someone is going to help
me, the tears start flowing from my eyes sliding silently down my
cheeks. I breathe a sigh of relief. I am finally free of James
Bixby.

******

James Bixby can’t believe his eyes. That
helicopter is flying away with his Jasmine. He pulls out his 9MM
and fires at them but they don’t stop. Who in the world would pick
up a woman from alongside a highway in the middle of nowhere and
fly away with her? Damn! Now what’s he going to do? He’ll never
find her. Well, he’ll just proceed with his original plan and find
the guys that killed Calloway. Once he takes care of them, then he
will worry about finding Jasmine. Her brother still lives in
Louisiana. He’ll go there. Yeah, that will work.

As soon as we reach the helicopter, the man
who said his name is Stump gently sets me into a seat and shows me
how to strap myself in. Then he hands me a headset and shows me how
to place it on my head and adjust the microphone. The pilot takes
off as soon as Stump is seated. Once we are in the air and clear
the area, the pilot speaks, “Jasmine, are you all right?”

The voice coming through the headset slides
over my tattered nerves as smooth as warm caramel over ice cream
stirring a long ago memory. I know that voice! I can’t see his face
because his back is to me and he is wearing some kind of helmet so
I can’t see his hair but I know who that voice belongs to. I
whisper unbelievingly, “Keith, is that you?”

Smiling to himself, thrilled that she
recognized his voice, Pinky says, “Yeah, it’s me. I love you
Precious.”

Tears are streaming out of my eyes and down
my face. “Oh my God! How did you know? How did you find me?”

Pinky says, “We’ll have plenty of time to
talk once we get to the ranch, Sweetheart. I’ll tell you
everything, I promise. Why don’t you lay back and get some sleep,
we’ll be at the ranch in a few hours.”

I am so relieved to be safe from James Bixby
and so happy, Keith came to get me! Oh No! Keith came to get me and
now he is going to see my ugly grotesque face! He’s not going to
love me when he sees how ugly I am now. Oh God, how am I ever going
to tell him all of the horrible things I have done? He is going to
hate me! My happiness turns to fear and dread. The tears start to
fall again but for a different reason. It’s not long though before
my exhaustion drags me down into a deep slumber.

******

As I slowly surface from the depths of
slumber, the first thing I notice is the sweet smell of roses. I
feel so safe and warm and I slowly become aware of the soft,
luxurious bed beneath me. Stretching languorously, I struggle to
remember where I am. The last thing I remember is the big burly man
picking me up off the side of the road and carrying me to the
helicopter. My heart starts pounding and I hesitantly open my eyes
and look up into the smiling face of my old friend, Melanie
Brentwood. Melanie says, “Hello Sleepyhead!”

“Melanie, is it really you?” I ask
unbelievingly, relief flowing through my body.

“It’s really me, welcome to my home!” She
pulls me into her arms for a warm hug.”I’m so happy you are finally
safe!”

I look around the beautiful room my eyes as
big as saucers. Oh, my! The walls are painted a pale green and the
bed is covered with a thick dark green down comforter. In the
corner is a big comfortable looking dark green leather chair and
ottoman with an afghan in several shades of green thrown across the
arm. The drapes over the window have a white background and a dark
green abstract design. I see a bathroom through a connecting door.
Looking back at Melanie, amazed I ask, “Do you really live here?
This is beautiful!”

Laughing Melanie says, “Just wait until you
see the rest of the house! Oh, Jasmine, I am so glad you’re here!
Are you all right? You look pale and I see faint bruising around
your eye.”

“Oh, you know ... just the usual beatings and
stuff. Otherwise, I’m all right. The last six months haven’t been
too bad really. I think I may have a couple of cracked ribs and the
black eye but overall I’m good. I can’t believe I’m really here!
Are you sure I didn’t die and go to heaven?”

Melanie laughs again, “Believe me I felt the
same way you do the first morning I woke in this room. You’ll get
use to it. What did you think when Pinky and Stump dropped down out
of the sky and flew away with you?”

Tears immediately spring to my eyes and flow
down my cheeks, “Oh my God! I forgot about Keith! I don’t want him
to see me like this! Please Melanie, help me!”

Melanie smiles with understanding and says,
“Oh Sweetie, I’m afraid it’s too late. He carried you in here from
the helicopter. He wouldn’t let anyone else help him. I’ve never
seen anyone handle another human being with more love and care. I’m
sure he’ll be back soon. He sat here beside this bed, never leaving
you for hours and only stepped out a few minutes ago to get
something to eat.”

For the first time, I look down at what I am
wearing and see a beautiful white silk nightgown. My eyes as big as
saucers, I ask, “Did he dr..dr..dress me?”

Nodding Melanie says, “I told you, he
wouldn’t let anyone help him. He insisted on taking complete and
total care of you. Honestly, I’m really surprised Barry was able to
convince him to step away long enough to eat a sandwich.”