by Karen Ward
With tears in my eyes, I enclose my son in my arms. "Oh Baby, I'm so sorry you had to witness all that. I pray that you come out of all of this safe." I look over at Barry and plead, "Will you promise me that no matter what happens to me, you won't let him go back to that horrible place with Darren?"
"I promise, Melanie. I will do everything in my power to protect him and you." I nod my head and take comfort in his words. Please God, keep us all safe.
******
Darren Calloway trudges through the deep snow along the old logging road. It is barely daylight. He is smiling with anticipation because Melanie is within his reach now. When he checked the GPS this morning it showed the car hasn't moved since last night. It's still sitting about three miles down this old logging road. He decided to walk to their location because he doesn't want to get his truck stuck in the deep snow on this unplowed road. Something obviously caused Melanie to have to stop. Besides, it is probably impassable by vehicle with all of the deep ruts and holes he keeps stepping in.
He can't wait to get his hands on Melanie. He is going to kill the bitch for taking his son and leaving him. He can't imagine what made her think she would get away with it. She has to know that he is going to find them. She knows him well enough to realize she won't go unpunished. Yep, he is definitely going to kill her.
First though, he is going to make her pay. He is going to rape her just like he did when he first brought her to the compound. He remembers what an adrenaline rush that was. It has been a long time since he has felt that awesome feeling. He is going to tie her to the bed just like he did that time. Then he is going to rape her over and over right in front of Eric. He needs to show the boy how a man is supposed to treat a woman. Then when he has his fill of her, he is going to strangle the life right out of her. He's going to make Eric watch every minute of it. He is much too soft. He is going to have to toughen up to make it in his world. He won't have a sissy for a son!
He finally spots the car that is almost completely buried in a snow drift. His heart is pounding with anticipation. Grinning now, he quietly approaches the car and brushes away the loose snow peering through the windows. What? Where is the bitch? Where could they have gone? He jerks open the driver's door. She's not here! Looking around the area he doesn't see any tracks other than his own in the new snow. Damn! That means they left the area before the snow fell last night. Surely he hasn't come all this way to lose them now. Where could they be?
Then he sees smoke rising from a house in the distance beyond the horizon. She must be over at the house across the pasture. Yeah, that's it. She saw the smoke and walked over to that house. That is the only logical explanation.
He will wait until dark and then go collect what's his. He'll get one of the members from the area to help him, just in case whoever lives in the house is watching for him. Heading back toward his truck he lines out his plan in his head.
******
Later that same morning Barry calls the Murray's to update them on the situation. He asks them to pick up some warm clothes for Melanie and Eric at the mercantile in town. He tells them to call when they get back from town and he will pick up their purchases.
When he goes to the Rocking J to pick up the clothes, he takes Virginia with him to stay until the danger is over. Scoot accompanies them and briefs all of the men at the Rocking J Ranch on the situation and their plans. Scoot and the other members of the Drake Security team helped Jacob Murray uncover evidence for Barry's murder trial so they are well acquainted.
Scoot tells the Murrays they are hoping to capture or kill Darren Calloway. Information from their sources within the organization indicates he is traveling alone. He warns the Murrays to stay on their toes and be aware of anything unusual on their property.
While Scoot and Barry are at the Rocking J Ranch, Pinky and Goose head out across the pasture to where Melanie's car was abandoned. Stump stays at the house to protect Melanie and Eric. When Pinky and Goose see the new footprints in the snow they know Calloway is in the area. They didn't find any tracks from any type of vehicle or prints leading back toward the house. All they can do is wait and watch. Covering their own tracks they make their way back to Barry's house to inform the others.
******
While he is waiting for darkness to arrive, Darren Calloway scouts the area around his target. When he locates the front gate of the ranch that is his target, he is shocked at the number of cars parked along the road and the number men with cameras standing around talking to each other. Hmmmm, ever who lives in that house must be famous. Oh well, too bad for them. They shouldn't have interfered in his business! He takes care not to draw attention to himself as he passes by the group of reporters.
The presence of the reporters at the front gate means he and the guys will have to approach the house from across the pasture where Melanie left the car. He certainly doesn't want their pictures showing up in any of those tabloid magazines. He seriously doubts he'll be able get Melanie and Eric back without killing somebody.
******
After Barry returns from the Rocking J Ranch with the new clothes, I take Eric into the bathroom where I plan to give him a good scrubbing in the huge marble bathtub. I can't help but smile when I watch Eric's amazement at the water pouring into the tub. I keep forgetting that this is all new to him. He has never seen electric lights, or running water. He is shocked at how warm the water is without heating it on the stove.
"Mom, how did you do that? How did you make the water hot without heating it on a stove?"
Laughing, "Well, somewhere in this house is a big tank that has the water in it. The tank has electricity to it that keeps the water constantly hot so when we turn the faucet, it runs through pipes to where it its needed. Oh Eric, you have so much to learn about life in the real world. This is only the beginning. They even have machines that wash the clothes and another that dries them without my having to hang them on the line to dry."
"Wow, I can't wait to learn about all this! It is really interesting!"
After his bath, I apply antibiotic cream to the lacerations on his back. Crying the whole time I spread the cream, I apologize again for not being able to stop his father from hitting him.
Eric responds, "Mom, it's all right. You couldn't have stopped him from hitting me any more than I could stop him from hitting you. It's not your fault. I love you Mom."
I am crying openly now, "Oh, Eric, I love you too. If something happens to me, please never forget that I love you."
After Eric returns to the great room where Barry is waiting, I decide to pamper myself with a long soak in a tub full of bubbles. I really didn't realize how much I missed the comforts of home until now. Having a huge bathtub to soak in is real treat. After my soak I spend extra time blow drying my hair and applying a thick layer of moisturizing lotion to my skin. Wow, I could get use to this!
******
As darkness approaches, Barry makes beds for both Eric and I on the floor of the great room in front of the stone fireplace. After Eric is settled on his pallet, Barry pulls me to the side,
"Melanie, do you know how to shoot? Well, even if you don't I want you to take this." He hands me a two shot derringer. "It only has two shots, so if you use it, make them count. All you have to do is pull back the hammer then pull the trigger." He shows me how to pull back the hammer and then points out the trigger.
I look up into Barry's deep blue eyes. I am sure he can see the fear shadowing mine. My hand is visibly shaking as I take the derringer from his hand and place it in my pocket. Barry lays his hands on my shoulders to comfort me.
I step into his embrace taking comfort from his strength. "I am so scared. Darren is crazy and I can't even imagine what he is going to do. What if he brings a bunch of members from the area to help him?"
"I know you're scared, Melanie, but don't forget you're not alone anymore. Scoot and the guys are prepared for multiple adversaries. Don't worry." He just stands in front of the fireplace holding me not saying anything.
After a few minutes I pull out of his embrace and go to my pallet and sink down to my knees. Barry turns out all of the lights in the house and assumes his position in his favorite chair with Ringo at his feet.
In the dark Barry asks, "Melanie, would it help to talk about it?"
I take a deep, shuddering breath and have to grab my ribs to keep from crying out in pain. After I again gain control of the pain I whisper, "I really don't know, I have never told anyone about my life at the compound." I pause for a few minutes and then begin speaking into the darkness, "Darren Calloway is a horribly cruel man. He brutally raped me that first night in the compound when I was only fifteen. It was horrible for me. I had never really even been kissed and I was a ... a... virgin." My voice cracks on the last word. I take another steadying breath and continue, "When I woke up from the drugs, he had me tied to the bed, naked and spread eagle. He beat me when I resisted and raped me over and over. During the day he left me tied to the bed so I couldn't escape. The only time I wasn't tied was when one of the women came to help me bathe and eat. She told me he had guards posted outside the door with instructions to shoot me if I stepped outside the cabin. The same thing happened every day and night for weeks."
I take another calming breath. I am surprised by how easily the words are flowing from deep within. "If it hadn't been for the support of that one special woman, I would have died during those first few days. She convinced me to accept my situation. She told me I had to choose to live and I did. With her help, I learned the only way to survive was to cooperate, to submit to his sexual advances and do everything he asked of me without complaint."
I take another breath, "Life in the compound is very primitive. The winters are harsh and the only source of heat is from wood burning stoves. We cooked over open fires or on the wood stoves. None of the cabins where we lived had indoor plumbing. The only functioning toilets were in the communal shower house and it is relatively new. The only electricity is to the compound office and communal shower. The women aren't allowed in the office at all and are only allowed to shower once a week.
"Anytime Darren got angry about anything, I was his punching bag. When he would drink alcohol, the beatings would be worse. As I said before, the night we left Eric witnessed him beating me. He tried to stop his father, and Darren beat him too. He kept hitting him and hitting him with a belt across his back." I can't stop the tears that are slowly seeping out of my eyes. "I knew I had to get Eric out of the compound or he would end up being just like his father."
After her story, Barry says, "I am so sorry Melanie that you and Eric had to go through that." Then all is quiet.
After I finish my story, I feel cleansed. It seems that telling Barry about the heavy burden I have been carrying lifted it from my shoulders and allowed me to share the weight with him. I am grateful.
******
Darren Calloway has enlisted the help of two militia members from the Cody Wyoming area by the names of James Bragg and Billy Newman. They meet at the roadside park and make their way down the old logging road through the deep snow to where Melanie's car sits abandoned. He picked James Bragg because he has always seemed a little slow to catch on to things and Calloway feels he is expendable. Billy Newman is a friend that James had asked to help. Darren didn't know he was coming until they arrived. He really doesn't know him very well but he can't be very bright if he is friends with James Bragg.
Calloway says, "Guys, the way I figure it, whoever owns that house is going to be expecting me, so be very careful. Both of you go straight toward the house. I am going to circle around and come from the other direction. Give me about a half hour's head start so I have time to get into position. If something happens to me, kill Melanie and take Eric back to the compound where he'll be safe. Do whatever you have to do to rescue Eric."
James Bragg grins and says, "You can count on me Darren." He is so excited that the boss has asked him for help. That means he is well thought of in the group.
Billy Newman is not too sure about this whole mess. He thinks he and James are being set up as the fall guys and he doesn't like all this talk about killing people. He has been having doubts about Calloway for a while now. He thinks the man is probably crazy. He originally joined the group when James did because he was fed up with the government and the high taxes but they are doing absolutely nothing to change things. Most of the time all they do is sit around, complain, and drink beer.
He only came tonight because his friend, James Bragg asked him to help. He didn't know what this was about until now and he doesn't like it even a little bit. He realizes though that he is trapped. He has no doubt that if he tries to leave Calloway will kill him. He shakes his head in disgust.
******
The Drake Security team members are watching from the upstairs bedroom windows. All have night vision goggles and with the moonlight reflecting off the snow, they see two me approaching the house from several hundred yards away. They watch them advance from tree to tree.
Pinky, the sniper in the group takes his shot at the larger of the two men when he is within one hundred yards. The targeted man falls to the ground dead before the sound of the shot even reaches the other man's ears. That man, Billy Newman, immediately falls to the snow face down, spread eagle, and throws his gun several feet away.
Darren Calloway is slowly advancing toward the front of the house when he hears the sound of the rifle. He stops, shakes his head in disgust then continues toward the house. Damn! He had hoped to be inside before any gunfire erupted. That was just one shot so maybe at least one of those two idiots got through to the house.
Scoot and Goose head out to check on the kill while Pinky keeps his rifle trained on the other man. Scoot radios back to the house. "Neither of these are Calloway. Be alert." They bind Billy Newman's hands in plastic cable ties and start leading him back toward the house.
Newman balks and says, "No man, I don't want to go in that house. Calloway is crazy and he's going to shoot up the place. He's coming in from the other direction." He doesn't have any qualms about ratting on Calloway. He had been right. He set up James and him and now James is dead. The bastard!
Scoot says as he pushes Newman toward the house, "You know you really don't have a choice in the matter. Be grateful we spared your life."
He radios Stump and Pinky to let them know Calloway is coming from the other direction. Stump assures him they have already spotted him.
My heart is pounding with fear. I jump when I hear the first shot and begin shaking from head to toe.. Oh God! Please keep Eric safe!
Eric is lying quietly on his pallet on the floor in front of the fireplace. His body jerks when he hears the first shot. Please God! Don't let my Dad hurt my Mom!
Ringo growls and alerts Barry to an intruder in the house. He is in position and waiting with his weapon drawn. All of the lights in the house are out and Barry also has donned night vision goggles. The only light in the great room is what is coming from the remnants of the fire in the fireplace. Barry places his hand on Ringo to keep him quiet and still. All of a sudden they hear a loud crash in one of the rooms at the front of the house and the sounds of a struggle. I scream and throw my body on top of Eric sobbing.
After a few short minutes, all is quiet. Stump calls, "All clear." He managed to get Calloway from behind before he ever reached the great room. Once Calloway is positively identified and verified as deceased, some of the tension leaves the group. They don't let their guard down though because they still aren't sure they won't have more intruders to deal with even though their captive assures them otherwise.
Once I am sure that Darren Calloway is dead, I burst into tears, sobbing with relief. Barry sits down beside me on the sofa and pulls me into his arms. "It's over, Melanie." He holds me wrapped in his arms for a long time while I cry.
Eric is watching silently from his mat on the floor. He is so relieved. He hated his Dad for the way he used to hurt his Mom. Now he can't hurt her anymore. She is finally safe. Thank you, God!
******
Billy Newman watches from the chair where he has been secured. Observing the men that captured him, he realizes he, Calloway, and James never had a chance. These men are obviously professionals and very skilled at what they do. He is relieved to be still alive.
Once they turn on the lights in the room, he can see the bruises on the woman's face and he sees how she grimaces every time she moves. He doesn't have a good view of the kid, but it looks like he has black eyes. Damn! Calloway must have beaten them pretty badly. He knew the man was crazy. It turns his stomach. He doesn't believe in hitting women or kids. He believes when a man hits a woman, it is a sign of weakness.
He is relieved this is over and he is still in one piece. Maybe with luck he can get his life back on the right track.
A short time later a group of agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms arrive at the ranch. Once they question everyone, receive answers to all of their questions, and verify the identities of the dead men, they load Billy Newman up in their vehicles and haul him off to jail.
******
Before noon the next day agents from the government's witness protection program arrive by way of the Murray ranch to take Eric and I to a safe house until other arrangements can be made.
As we are leaving, I turn to face Barry, "Thank you so much Barry. If you hadn't found us that first night, I would be dead by now." I rise up on my tip toes and brush a quick kiss across his lips then I turn and get into the back seat of the black SUV with dark tinted windows.
Barry is so shocked by the kiss that he is speechless and frozen in place. He just stands in the drive with Scoot and the other guys and stares at the car as it drives away. Never in his life has any kiss, much less one so brief, affected him the way Melanie's kiss just did. He has never felt the immediate zing of sexual attraction with any other woman. It was like she touched his lips with an electrical wire that sent a charge all through his body. Wow!
