Kicked the Bucket

by CeeCee James

  I cringed and rested my forehead on the ground. The earthy smell filled my nostrils. Where was I going to go now?

  “Come out! Come out, whereever you are!” he yelled.

  I jerked as though prodded by a hot poker. There was no way to know if he could see me, but I needed to get out of here. Now.

  Slowly, I inched forward on an army crawl. My lungs burned, and and I tried to hush my gasps by burying my mouth against my arm.

  “Here, chickee, chickee, chickee,” he taunted.

  Rosy mooed in distress and sidestepped. I used the cow’s slow lurching hoof falls to crawl faster. Arm over arm, grass in my eyes..

  Don’t think. Just go. A whimper was starting in my throat. Hot tears burned my eyes. Terror like I’d never felt before ripped through me in waves. I’d barely caught my breath from the last swell when the next breaker started.

  Go. Go.

  “Where are you?” he called, much closer. “There’s no use. I’m going to find you.”

  He sounded like he was at the other end of the feeding trough. I covered my face again as the whimper grew in my chest. He banged the metal trough with something, and it rang through the field. I didn’t have long to consider what it was because he banged it again, this time rubbing the object up and down the metal in a mistakenly sound of a knife being sharpened.

  He stopped moving to listen. The wind brushed through the tops of the tall grass, and they whispered, “Shushh, shush….”

  My heart beat so loudly I was sure he could hear it. How could he miss it?

  A tickle licked at my arm. I shifted my eyes, trying to see, not daring to move more. The itch crept up higher, sharp pinpricks of insectoid feet. It disappeared under my sleeve. My skin crawled, and I fought with the urge to beat at my arm. The tickle continued to my shoulder where it waited. My mind roiled with visions of what it could be.

  He walked closer. I didn’t dare move. His footfalls vibrated through my entire body prone against the damp ground. I squeezed my eyes tight.

  “You know where you went wrong? Scotty said you kept calling him about my little phone call with Officer Nelson. Of course I hadn’t really talked with him. I’d heard his name when I came back to see if my shirt was found. I had to make up an excuse to Scotty in case your neighbor saw me. You should have left it alone.”

  Another step, this time accompanied by a small branch breaking. He was going to find me. How could he not find me? He was going to step right on my ankle, exposed on the dirt.

  Rosy mooed. I nearly screamed at the unexpected sound. My nerves jangled against tense muscles, held tight with every bit of self-control I could muster.

  “There you are,” he whispered.

  I didn’t dare move. Was he bluffing? Did he really see me?

  He took another step, this time sounding like he was moving away. I closed my eyes, praying. My breath reflected back hot against my face.

  Silence.

  A grasshopper bounced in front of me. He stopped inches from my eyes. My breath ruffled the small pieces of vegetation around him. He cleaned his wing and let out a sudden brrrr! In the next second, he sprang away.

  Rosy let out another protesting moo from a distance much farther away. Maybe he was following after her. She sounded annoyed.

  A hand clamped cruelly to my ankle.

  Chapter 22

  I let out a scream and rolled. In the next heartbeat, I lashed my foot out. His face, leering and close as he gripped my leg, was right in range. I caught his nose with my heel.

  He screeched but I didn’t look to see the damage I’d done. Instead I rolled again, as fast as I could, back on to my stomach and then to my feet. I was running before his screaming curse words had ended.

  My legs pumped like pistons. Grass tangled around my feet but my speed pushed me through, snapping the vegetation like paper. I had one goal. To get into the barn. There was something in there I could use as a weapon. Some place I could hide.

  He chased after me, screaming burbled slurs. I glanced back once. His face was a red mask with one hand clutching his nose. I knew what that meant if he caught me.

  He would kill me.

  I turned and ran as fast as I could. I ducked between the fence rails and raced down the path to the barn entrance. I swung through the doors, startling the rabbits in their cage. They thumped in displeasure.

  I shut one door and then went for the other. This one was rarely shut. The bottom sagged against the ground and scraped the floor. Heart pounding, I stared out at the field. He was running. He was almost here. With all I had, I shut the door. But how to fasten it? I spun around wildly. My gaze landed on a hoe. I grabbed it and slid the handle between the door handles.

  Just in time. The doors shuddered as he hit them.

  I backed away, watching him smash against the doors again. Where do I go? What do I do?

  I stared around the barn.

  Jasper barked. I ran down to where I heard him. He jumped to peek at me over the pen door. He’d been trapped.

  I let him out and he ran circles around me, happy to be free. I was frantic, searching for a weapon, trying not to trip over the dog.

  Harry had gone to the side of the barn now. He tried the outdoor stall door that we let the goats through. It shuddered under his kick.

  Where am I going to hide? And I had to hide Jasper as well. I looked frantically in the milking stall. There was no place to hide here. Maybe the hay pile? There was no way I could keep Jasper quiet there.

  It was quiet outside again. That was the worst. I didn’t know where he was, what he was thinking.

  I moved furtively into Rosy’s stall. Maybe we could sneak out here and run. I thought of what led out that way—the pond. I shuddered. Maybe we could reach the woods. We could hide and—

  Rosy’s outdoor door shook. It was only a thin piece of wood, held by a simple metal latch. He kicked it again and the whole door creaked. The paltry clasp rattled. The door split. It wasn’t going to hold for long. I had to get out of here.

  Where? Where? Where? Why had I come in here? I was trapped! He was going to get in. There was nothing I could do.

  I spotted the original pail, the one that we’d discovered by the pond filled with flowers. My heart clenched. Then I saw a shovel. That would have to do. I’d sit here on the other side and smash him when he came through.

  It was a horrible plan, and in my heart I knew it. There wasn’t enough room in the stall to haul back and really swing the shovel. It was the best I had.

  The stall door cracked again. I ran to get the shovel. On the way, I saw my escape.

  The loft.

  I used the shovel to wedge the inner stall door closed and then ran over to the ladder.

  “Jasper!” I whistled. The dog was already underfoot. Grunting, I lifted him up and stepped on the ladder.

  It screeched underfoot. There was no time to worry if it would hold our weight. I shuffled onto the next rung even as I could hear the beating against Rosy’s stall door become more rhythmic. He was going to get in any second.

  Jasper squirmed in my arms, not wanting to go up into the loft. He kicked, scratching me. I squeezed him tight and grabbed the next rung. “You’ll be okay buddy. One step. Just one more step.” Whether I was telling him or myself, I wasn’t sure.

  One more kick and the door splintered. My foot twisted and slipped on the rung. I frantically grabbed at the ladder to keep from falling. Jasper squirmed and whined.

  “Here I come!” Harry growled.

  I pulled myself up the next rung. My ankle throbbed. Now I was close to the loft opening. I pushed Jasper through the hole where he scrabbled to pull himself up.

  Harry crashed through the barrier I’d made. His breathing sounded labored and angry. Like a bull.

  I followed Jasper up the ladder and then started to drag it into the opening.

  “There you are!” Harry screamed. I could see him running over. I pulled hand over hand.

  “Please please,” I cried,
my eyes blurring with tears. I had to get this up or all was lost. I grunted and heaved as every tendon and muscle in my arms burned. It was heavy as sin.

  Almost there. Almost.

  Harry jumped to reach the last few feet that dangled. I threw myself backwards, dragging the ladder with me. It was up.

  I lay there sweating, more thankful than I’d ever been in my entire life. Jasper stared down through the hole curiously.

  Slowly I sat up, feeling like every joint in my body was crunching and brittle. “Jasper, come here,” I whispered, patting my leg.

  He looked at me, his ears flopping.

  “Come,” I said again.

  Lo and behold, for the first time ever, he obeyed me.

  “You think you’re so smart,” snarled Harry. “You don’t think I can get up there? I’ve got you trapped. Right where I wanted you.”

  He might be right. But without a ladder I didn’t see how he’d get up here any time soon. I was safe, at least for a minute.

  I glanced around, realizing I was in Freckles’s home. There was a neat bed with a sleeping bag. A quilt was carefully folded over the end, and hanging from the wall was an oil lamp. He had an ice cooler in the corner. I slowly stood and stumbled over to peek inside. It was empty. That’s what I expected, with him at Sharon’s house.

  “Oh, Freckles, how I wish you were here now,” I whispered.

  Jasper promptly jumped on Freckle’s bed and lay down with his nose between his paws. He let out a whimper.

  “It’s going to be okay, boy.” I scratched behind his ears and tried to think. Freckles didn’t have a phone. I didn’t see anything I could use to contact someone. I was way out here in the country.

  Down in the barn it was quiet again, suspiciously quiet. What was he doing? I rubbed my temples. I just wanted this to all be over. I wanted it to end.

  Wanting it to end wasn’t going to help. The only thing I could do right now was to get through it. I was going to survive this.

  I got down on my belly and held my ear to the loft wood floor. I didn’t hear anything. On hands and knees, I crawled over to the loft opening. Jasper’s whines got louder the farther I went. At the entrance, I lay flat on my stomach and listened.

  Still nothing.

  A bunny thumped. That meant he was still down there somewhere. I lifted my head slowly to peer through. Held my breath.

  My eyes just cleared the opening.

  They locked right on to his.

  He smiled. I squealed and ducked back.

  “Hey. Where’d you go? We were having so much fun. Come back. What are you going to do up there?”

  His voice was soothing and friendly.

  “Go away!” I shouted.

  “Aw, you don’t get it? It’s not going to work that way sweetheart.”

  I heard him pace the floor. He shouted up again. This time, the camaraderie had left his voice. “Be a shame if there was a fire.”

  I covered my face and bit off a sob. Without looking back, I half-crawled to the bed.

  For one second, the threat of flames, smoke, and burning filled my imagination. I squeezed my eyes tight, triggered by memories.

  My heart pounded against my ribs, battling my lungs that were trying to inflate. All I could see was smoke, black and inky. No escape.

  No hope.

  Jasper licked my hand. His breath was warm against my skin. I opened my eyes to see him staring at me, his own eyes full of trust.

  Right. Okay. I was getting out of here, and I was keeping Jasper safe as well. I kissed the dog on the head and then walked the length of the loft.

  There were two windows, one on each end. I studied them. One of them had rope spun around a pulley. I turned around. There was that blanket. If nothing else, when it became dark out, I would make a basket somehow and lower Jasper to the ground. He was not going to be trapped in a burning building.

  I studied the metal system some more. Although it was a blackened-bronze with age, it looked like it could hold my weight. Maybe there was a way we could both go down together. Harry couldn’t stay awake all night, could he?

  In the distance I could see my house. A sob did break loose then at the sight of something so precious. My home. I just wanted to be there now.

  My hands trembled from the release of adrenaline. I closed my eyes and took some slow calming breaths. I prayed. I needed my head in the game. I needed to be ready at a moment’s notice.

  I stared up at the pulley again and gave the rope an experimental pull. It was sturdy. The metal pulley squealed but it turned. This was going to work.

  Carefully, I coiled the rope into a circle. I was conscious to make sure there were no knots or tangles. Downstairs was as quiet as a graveyard. I had no idea what was going on. I didn’t want to look again. Catching his attention last time had about killed me.

  Once the rope was prepared and everything as ready as I could make it, I walked to the other window. If need be, how could I escape out of here?

  It was then that I saw what Harry had been doing. He’d stacked hay bales all along the walls.

  That was it then. He meant to burn the place down.

  Everything spun in dizzy circles, and I slumped to the floor. This time fear had its way. I couldn’t battle it anymore, Couldn’t push it away. Instead, I was swept along in a black journey of terror.

  The last time I’d seen a fire like this one threatened, I’d been the only survivor. I’d been a little girl, the witness to an airplane crash. I’d been helpless then, and despite finding the rope, I felt helpless now.

  A little nudge on my arm made me open my eyes. Jasper was there again. I wrapped my arms around his neck. Once more, he’d saved me from spiraling into a full panic attack.

  “What would I do without you?” I whispered into his fur.

  He panted hot doggy breath onto my face. Feeling his soft fur grounded me.

  “You’re right. Fear always says you can’t. It never has anything positive to say.” And one thing I learned about courage, it wasn’t a feeling. It was doing the action even while scared.

  It was then that I spotted a hammer poking out from Freckles’ small tool chest. I picked it up and held it close to my chest. If worse comes to worst, I’d push the ladder back down through the hole. Harry wouldn’t stay in here if he was burning the place. There were several stall gates and a couple windows. I would get Jasper out, and I would get outside as well. And when I met Harry out there, well, I’d deal with it then. Who knew how it would work out, but I’d make sure he would never forget me.

  Jasper licked my hand and plunked his rear down to sit. “Let’s get it on,” I whispered. “Because I’m ready.”

  It’s funny how life never works out like you think it will.

  Chapter 23

  I spent the next chunk of time wandering between the two windows. I was waiting for the match to be struck. I smelled the air, waiting for that first whiff of smoke.

  Jasper returned to Freckles’s bed and lay down. He didn’t take his eyes off of me as I paced.

  The thing was, after Harry’s threat and his stacking the hay, nothing else happened.

  Then I saw him coming out of the house. I almost cried, seeing him. If I’d known that’s where he’d went, I would have snuck out already. I watched him jog toward the barn and knew I didn’t have a chance.

  I was so upset with myself. After all my brave talk, another wave of hopelessness washed over me. Along with it came a bunch of inner condemnation and name calling.

  “Stop it!” I couldn’t do this. Couldn’t entertain even one moment of regret. I was talking to myself like I was the enemy. I couldn’t do that. Jasper needed me to believe in myself.

  I stared out the window again. He had something in his hand. I recognized Tilly’s tequila bottle.

  He took a big slug from the bottle. The glass winked in the setting sun. He was drinking… how much had he had already?

  I crouched as I watched. What was he doing now? Spinning in the yard,
arms open wide. Laughing.

  Maybe this was my chance. If he got drunk I could surely get away.

  As I watched, I saw something else wink. It was along the road, a sharp spike of reflecting sun from the center of an approaching cloud of dust.

  I stared at it, wishing I could attract its attention. My heart skipped a beat when I saw it turn into the driveway. It was a police car.

  Harry noticed now and turned in its direction. Why was it here? I couldn’t hardly question it, I was so overwhelmed with gratefulness. A police man got out, and Harry set down his bottle in the dirt. He walked over with his hands out. I couldn’t make out what he was saying, but it sounded friendly. A good ol’ boy.

  I started to scream. “Help! In here! Help me! Please! He’s going to burn us!”

  The officer dropped to a crouch. Harry froze for a second. In the next, he was running for the field.

  He didn’t get more than twenty steps before he was tackled. I wasn’t waiting around to see what happened. I was getting out of there and making sure Jasper came too.

  My arms were like rubber. I tried to lower the ladder through carefully, but it slid through my hands and crashed to the floor. Luckily, it remained standing.

  I scooped Jasper up under my arm and carefully climbed down the ladder. I’d already decided that when I got out of here, if things didn’t look right, I was running for the woods.

  I didn’t set Jasper down right away when I reached the floor. He was unhappy about that and squirmed in my grasp. I hadn’t gotten this far to let him go now. Not until I knew he’d be safe.

  I couldn’t see out the front door. It was still fastened with the hoe through the handle. I made my way down to Rosy’s stall and poked my head out of her busted barn gate.

  In this direction there was nothing but the field. An endless horizon of waving grass.

  Jasper yipped.

  “Shh,” I told him. He felt like a bag of cement in my burning arms. I carried him down the side of the barn. Rosy was out in the field, placidly chewing on her cud, without a care in the world. I peeked around the corner.