Alexander Ranch

by Marla Josephs

  I began to run but I couldn’t get away. The bad men were gaining on me and would soon have me. My eyes flew open in a panic and I cried out as I saw the man lying next to me. He had his hand on my shoulder gently shaking me.

  “You’re ok,” he said, snatching back his hand, “You’re safe.” Slowly my eyes closed again and I was asleep. Then someone was touching my brow. It was a gentle caress but strange, fingers but not fingers. My eyes fluttered open again and I went from being confused to remembering. The man was still there. He’d removed his hands from my face and I noticed he had on latex gloves. Then I remembered seeing them before. What was that all about? I jerked, trying to sit up and cried out as pain shot through me. Feebly, I fell back onto the pallet.

  “It’s ok,” The man crooned reaching out again to touch me. Again, he seemed to think better of it and let his hand drop down in front of him. He was sitting up on an elbow angled towards me. “You’re safe. I won’t hurt you.”

  I squeezed my eyes shut for a long moment. This man had not harmed me in – how long had I been here? Well, regardless he’d had ample time if he’d meant to. I let out an involuntary moan and rolled to my side as the persistent pain in my side ate at me. When I’d tried to sit up I’d felt a sharp pull and a blazing pain in my side. I could see the panicked look in the man’s eyes as he saw my pained face and heard my choppy breathing. I was also starting to panic myself. The pain was intense. I tried to take long deep breaths. Deep breaths, however, caused pain so I settled on slow, shallow breaths and focused on managing the pain with mind over matter. I forced my body to relax. Once the pain was slightly bearable, I cautiously rolled to face him. And not knowing what to say, I just looked at him for a long moment. I could do nothing but stare into his clear liquid green eyes.

  “Why am I here?” I asked. My voice trembled and rasped but, I was finally able to speak. I sounded weak and terrified even to my own ears.

  His face was etched with concern and then his eyes widened and he blinked at my words. “I found you on the beach. You collapsed right in front of me-”

  “I know,” I hissed, cutting him off impatiently. My whole body was beginning to flower with pain. My voice was a croaked whisper as I continued. I remembered what he’d said the first time he’d spoken to me. “You’re Jordan and you’ve brought me to your cabin. Why? Why haven’t you taken me to a hospital or something?”

  He looked surprised. For a moment he said nothing. Then words began to tumble from him so fast I had to concentrate to keep up. “Good, you were coherent. Well, because I am stranded here until morning without a car or phone. I’ve been here for a few days with my brother and his kids and I wanted to stay an extra day. My brother had to get back to work and my sister in law is supposed to meet me back here tomorrow, well, now it’s today. She should be here in a few hours. And, I left my cell phone in the car that my brother left with.”

  He stopped talking abruptly as if realizing he was babbling. I didn’t say anything, just looked at him trying to follow his torrent of words.

  After a long moment of silence, he looked at his watch and started talking again in a calm voice. Clearly he’d gotten his thoughts together. “It’s 3am now. If my sister in law, Daisy, is her usual self, she’ll be trying to quietly sneak in here at about 6. So if you can hang in there until then, we can both be rescued.”

  He finished that last bit with what appeared to be an attempt at a reassuring smile. If I’d been in less pain I might have laughed but, as it was, I just stared at him. For some strange reason, watching this man’s obvious discomfort made me feel a little more relaxed. I felt unexplainably less threatened and safer for some reason. Probably because if he were intending to kill me he wouldn’t be feeling uncomfortable about taking care of me or being stranded with me. No, if he wanted to kill me I’d just be dead. I suppose his lack of malice relaxed me because it reassured me I had nothing to fear from him.

  He must have sensed me calming because he seemed to visibly relax and continued rambling.

  “My other sister – in – law, Grace, is a doctor. A very good one. She will be able to help you. From what I can tell you didn’t have any broken bones or any major lumps on the head. I’ve been monitoring you for a concussion anyway though.”

  This statement made me want to take inventory. I gingerly reached up to probe my head but stopped as pain shot through my shoulder. I rested my hands along my sides and felt the top of what felt like sweat pants. Confused, my fingers began probing the fabric. I let out a little cry of dismay realizing I was indeed wearing some sort of sweats. I could feel them up and down my legs. But, I hadn’t been wearing sweats. I lifted the blankets and peaked inside.

  “These are not my clothes!” I squeaked. My voice was still low and weak yet the panic was clear. “Where are my clothes? Who-…Who took my clothes?”

  “Relax,” he said softly. He winced, and I could see alarm in his face, though, he appeared to be trying to calm me while trying to keep his own panic under control. He had a doomed look on his face, his voice remained calm and reassuring. “You’re clothes are in the dryer. They were very dirty and soaked, and you were alarmingly cold. So, we got you some new dry clothes to help warm you up.”

  A mix of emotions went through me, embarrassment, confusion, distrust. Definitely lots of embarrassment.

  “Who is we?” I asked suspiciously.

  “Well, I guess I meant me and you. Though, I was the one who got the clothes for you,” he confessed in a tight voice full of discomfort.

  I closed my eyes again, feeling tears begin to gather in the corners and threaten to spill over. I awkwardly turned away and focused on calming my breathing. It had started to hitch as the silent tears threatened. This was just too much. I couldn’t bear to see him or him to see me. Since I could not run or crawl under a rock in shame, my only defense was to close my eyes. I could not bear to look at him. It was as if all of the events of the day, and all of the pent up emotions and fear, were crashing in upon me. I was safe now. I don’t know how I knew, but I knew I was safe with this strange man. He’d done nothing but try to help me. And, if I wasn’t careful I would be blubbering all over him like some half crazed, hysterical female. My emotions were overwhelming and all over the place. What the hell was going on? My mind could not process all that had taken place since I’d left my house to this moment. Something that started out so pleasant and wonderful had turned into a nightmare. The only thing I wanted to do now was to take the comfort this perfect stranger could offer and dump the burden of my jumbled and exhausted emotions at his feet for him to deal with.

  However, I was sure from the obvious discomfort and wariness I’d seen in him, that wasn’t a bright idea. I closed my eyes and practiced meditative breathing. I was bruised and battered. I wasn’t quite sure where I was. Every inch of me hurt, and I was stranded in a cabin with a man who seemed as terrified of me as I was of the situation. And, to top it all off, I was wearing someone else’s clothes. It was too much. For once I was thankful for exhaustion pulling me back into the peace of sleep.

  Chapter 3

  I woke once more in the night. I must have woke with a start which must have startled – what was his name? Jordan? He jolted bolt upright. He was just about to speak but I cut him off.

  "They're here. Please don't let them in!" My eyes were wide and I could hear my own voice was full of panic.

  "Who?"

  "The men who-," I broke off sharply and looked at him with renewed suspicion. Maybe these men where who he was waiting for. Maybe the whole story he gave me earlier about his sister-in-law and brother was all a lie. I was in a panic. The rational part of my mind told me panic would get me nowhere. I needed to think. I forced myself to calm and opened my senses. He just seemed confused. I took a deep calming breath, which hurt my chest, and continued, "The men who were chasing me. Please, don't let them kill me."

  He stared at me for a moment in confusion, then cocked his head and appeared to hear something. He gave
me a confused, assessing look before glancing towards the door and then back at me. He was clearly on alert now and turned his full attention towards the door. I didn’t hear anything, but he was concentrating as if listening very carefully.

  I turned toward the door too now as I picked up the sound of approaching feet. How had he heard them before I did? I'd have to ponder that later. He turned back to me.

  "I give you my word, no one will harm you. You are safe."

  I looked at him for a long moment then released his arm. I hadn’t realized I had grabbed his arm. I had unwittingly been straining to hold onto him and now fell back against the blankets. I still watched him warily but something had eased, just a little. I was shocked to hear two sets of heeled feet approaching the door. He stood and turned to me.

  "Do they know what you look like?"

  I shook my head, my eyes watching his every move.

  “I don’t think so. I had my hat on and turned away from them to run,” was my whispered reply.

  “Good. Stay down, cover up, and play sleep,” he said in a take charge voice. He didn’t sound afraid or timid now. He sounded totally in control and in charge. I gingerly turned and buried myself under the blankets. I could hear them moving around on the porch and trying to peep in the window. Finally, a soft knock sounded. He picked up a piece of fire wood and then swung the door open a crack surprising both of the rough looking men standing on the porch.

  “Oh my,” Jordan said, blinking and adopting a sleepy but jovial voice, “I thought I heard something moving around out here. Thought maybe it was a raccoon or something.”

  “We're sorry to bother you. We lost our, uh, sister earlier today and are just so worried about her,” one of the men said, clearly lying and doing a bad job of it. His companion glared at him, but the first man forged on, “We’re just checking with anyone around here to see if someone has seen her. But, there don’t seem to be many people around here.”

  “Your sister, huh?” Jordan reacted, appearing instantly concerned. For a moment I was afraid he might believe the lying slime ball. “I haven't seen anyone around here. And yea, it's a little early in the season, so most of the cabins are still empty.”

  “You're sure you haven't seen anyone wondering around here?” The second man asked trying his best to get a peak around Jordan into the cabin. I could just make out their reflection in the small decorative mirror in the entryway.

  Jordan turned to him giving him a meaningful guy to guy grin, “I haven't seen anyone, but I've been a bit preoccupied for the last 24 hours, if you know what I mean.”

  The men chuckled and it made my skin crawl as both men looked my direction and grinned with knowing looks. I didn’t dare move. I was buried under the blankets but, if they’d tried to see me through the mirror, they might be able to make out my eyes watching them. But, neither man even noticed the mirror.

  Jordan went on, winking conspiratorially, “The Mrs. and I have finally had 24 hours together without the baby.”

  “Well, we are so sorry to have interrupted,” one of them leered back.

  “Not a problem,” Jordan replied easily. His voice seemed slightly clipped now, but his face had an indulgent smile. “She's sleeping now. Got to let her get her beauty rest before we head back in the morning. But, hey, if I see anyone I'll let you know. What does your sister look like? Do you want to leave a number where I could reach you? Have you called the police?"

  Both men looked uncomfortable now at Jordan’s rapid fire questions. The first man spoke up hastily. “No, that's alright. She walked off in a huff this afternoon and we just got a little worried when she didn't return. She might already be back to our camp wondering where we are.”

  “Are you sure? I mean, it's past three in the morning,” Jordan said with the deepest concern.

  “No, no. Go ahead and get back to your wife. Our, uh, Janine has a temper and sometimes it takes her a while to work off a mad,” The first man reassured Jordan. He had a forced smile on his face now, and the two began to walk backwards and out of my limited view as he continued to speak, “Besides, like I said, she might already be back wondering where we are.”

  They were off the porch now and Jordan gave them a wave as they began to walk away. Then, he closed the door and turned back to me on the floor. He rounded the sofa and as his face came back into view I could see a mixture of relief and embarrassment. Was there also some amusement lurking there? His skin held a slight flush.

  “See, I told you I’d take care of it,” Jordan whispered, smiling his glorious smile at me. He sat back down on his pile of blankets next to me. “So you can stop looking at me with that wary expression and maybe trust me a little.”

  “Your wife?” I asked. I could feel embarrassment and amusement warring on my face.

  “Well,” he said, burrowing deeper into the covers, “I had to establish that you were someone I knew very well. And, who would question how well a man knows his wife?”

  I nodded but didn’t say more. He had a point. But, something about the way he said it or the words themselves sparked a flicker of unease. He gazed into my eyes as if trying to read something there until I looked away.

  “So, do you actually know them?” he asked.

  I shook my head. “I don’t know them. I was hiking through the wooded area along the water. And, I suddenly came into a small clearing just as one man pulled the trigger and shot another man who was on his knees.”

  I shuddered at the memory but continued. Jordan became very still as I spoke, all amusement gone. I told him everything I could to make sure he understood that I didn’t have any idea who they were without giving anything away about my ability.

  “The man who did the shooting had his back to me but the other man was at a sort of diagonal. I came upon them at the upper right of a clearing. I had made my way around to the lower left of them and passed them before they spotted me. Then I took off through the trees.”

  “Are you sure they didn’t see you?” he asked frowning.

  “I don’t think they got a good look at me. I got to the water and jumped in, letting it carry me down stream quite a ways. They didn’t immediately start after me on foot, if they came after me at all. The last I saw of them, they were looking down into the water where I’d jumped in. Then the water carried me around a bend and they were out of sight. When the current slowed and I could stand, I followed along the shallows of the river edge trying to stay under the trees as much as possible until I came to the clearing. That’s where I walked out and saw you.”

  I looked up to see how he was taking this litany of babble I’d just released. He watched me with that assessing gaze of his. He seemed thoughtful as if he were trying to assess the truthfulness of what I’d said. Then, he finally spoke.

  “But, they shot you,” he stated calmly.

  “That was after they shot the kneeling man. I must have gasped or something because they turned towards me. That’s when I turned and ran.”

  “What else do you remember?”

  “Nothing,” I lifted my shoulders with a shrug and then regretted it as pain spiked in my shoulders. I hissed the last words out between my teeth, “I woke up here, with you.”

  I didn’t know what else to say and I guess he didn’t either. He looked slightly more relaxed now but thoughtful.

  “Try to get some sleep,” he encouraged. “We have a few more hours before Daisy gets here, and you need all the rest you can get.”

  He offered me more water and broth. I took a little of both and then lay back down. He was right. I was worn out and sore. I rubbed my hand gently over my side where it ached and realized it was bandaged.

  “You wouldn’t happen to have a pain reliever would you?” I asked hopefully.

  “I do, but I’m not sure I should give you any,” he replied dubiously.

  “Please?” I begged.

  He frowned thinking it over, then sighed and stood. He walked into the kitchen without a word and came back with two little pills
. He handed them to me and helped me sip some water. At this point I didn’t care what type of drug he might be giving me as long as it would take the pain away. If he gave me a knock out drug I wouldn’t be able to feel pain, right? Besides, after this last situation with the two strangers, I figured my previous assumption was correct. If he had wanted to harm me he would have done so by now. Despite the pain, I was sleep in a matter of minutes. As I slept I heard strange voices and noises.

  Chapter 4

  “Bless your heart, Daisy, it’s 10 minutes to 6,” I heard someone say. I became immediately alert as I realized someone had come into the cabin. I could hear shoes coming towards me and then stop. I didn’t dare move, however. I was frozen in place with fear at the sound of a new voice. Had that been the voice I’d heard in my sleep.

  “It’s not what you think,” came Jordan’s whispered voice. Then, I heard the rustling of the covers next to me. I couldn’t see anything, only hear. I wanted so badly to turn around and see who Jordan was talking to. But, I didn’t want them to know I was awake yet so I concentrated on breathing evenly.

  “Then, what is it, Jordan? Do explain,” The woman’s voice sounded amused. Had he called her Daisy? This must be his sister in law I realized as the fog of sleep began to dissipate.

  “Let’s go in the kitchen so we don’t wake her and I’ll explain,” he suggested sounding so relieved. I felt relieved also knowing that they didn’t suspect I was awake. I wanted to hear what they had to say.

  “Can you check her first? She was shot,” Jordan asked anxiously.

  “Shot!” Daisy’s voice rose, all amusement gone.

  “Shh!” Jordan admonished. “Yes.”

  I felt warm fingers touching my head where it peaked out under the blanket, and a soothing warmth flooded through me. My pain subsided a little. Then, the fingers were removed and I heard footsteps walking away. Moments later the murmur of voices could be heard farther away and my eyes fluttered open. Jordan’s voice reached me and he sounded both relieved and agitated.