Holdin' On for a Hero

by Ciana Stone

  “I’ll do all that. But I don’t want you going anywhere by yourself. If you have to go somewhere, I’ll go with you.”

  “I’ll be fine. But if it’ll make you feel better, I’ll take Wa’ya with me and we’ll just go to the motel then come straight back here.”

  “No.”

  “Wyatt, don’t be stubborn. I’ll be fine. No one will even know it’s me. Tsa’li said I could take his truck and no one will be expecting me to be driving it. I’ll be back in an hour, tops.”

  “Let her go,” Tsa’li sided with Chance.

  Wyatt frowned at him. “You know, it seems like you and she are getting to be a real matched pair. Do you have any idea what could happen to her if Holling’s boys grab her?”

  “Can you see the future, my grandson? Do you know that is what will happen?”

  “Well, no, but—”

  “Then let her go.”

  Wyatt frowned at the look that passed between Chance and Tsa’li. There was more going on than met the eye. But he knew when he was outnumbered. “Okay,” he relented.

  She smiled and hugged him then turned to Tsa’li. “Could I borrow something to wear?”

  He nodded and left the room. Wyatt pulled her into his arms. “Just promise me that if you see any signs of trouble you’ll turn around and come straight back.”

  “I promise,” she said and returned the embrace. “Wyatt, we’re going to get through this.”

  “You sound so sure. Why is that?”

  “Because I am. Besides, the Uluhsati told me.”

  “You know about the Uluhsati?” He pulled back and looked at her in surprise.

  She laughed and walked to the door as Tsa’li entered with a bundle of clothes. “You’d be surprised what I know.”

  * * * * *

  Chance turned off the road into the parking lot of the motel. She didn’t see anyone around. “Okay, you wait right here and I’ll be back in a few minutes,” she said to Wa’ya, giving him a rub. He lay down on the seat as she got out of the truck. There was a dark sedan parked a couple of spaces down, but she didn’t see anyone in it.

  She headed for the office and requested another key, explaining that she had left hers in her car at a friend’s house. The owner reminded her that she would have to pay for the key if she didn’t return it. Chance assured her she would return it and received a duplicate.

  She walked outside and looked around, then scolded herself for being paranoid. There was no reason for anyone to want to harm her. She walked to her door and inserted the key. She hadn’t even turned it in the lock when a hand closed over her mouth and something hard jammed into her back.

  “One wrong move and you’re halfway to hell,” a man’s voice warned her. “You got it?”

  Chance nodded and let go of the door, leaving the key in the lock. Her assailant pulled her around and nudged her in the direction of the dark sedan she had noticed earlier. She stopped and elbowed him as hard as she could. The hand dropped from her face and she made a mad dash for the truck. Just as she grabbed the door handle the man grabbed her from behind, around the waist. She kicked and screamed, still hanging on to the door.

  Wa’ya was growling and snarling as Chance fought with the man. She managed to get the door open and Wa’ya bounded out. His teeth sank into the man’s arm and he shook his massive head. The man screamed and released Chance, trying to get away from the wolf.

  Chance hesitated, looking at what was happening, then turned and made a dive for the truck. Unfortunately she was too late. Someone grabbed her from behind and picked her up. She screamed and fought as she was carried over to the dark sedan. The back door opened and the man pushed her inside.

  Chance heard Wa’ya’s howl as she fell into the car. She immediately tried to jump back out. The door was slammed in her face at the same time someone in the backseat grabbed her. She lashed out, feeling the satisfying sensation of her knuckles connecting with flesh.

  “Goddamn!”

  She jerked her head up and looked into Greg Holling’s face. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, knocking his hand away as he reached for her.

  “Let’s get out of here,” he told the driver.

  “What about Buster?” The driver looked at the man in the parking lot who was being mauled by the wolf.

  “I said get out of here!”

  The driver threw the car in gear and backed out. Chance grabbed the knob to roll down the window and started turning as fast as she could. “Wa’ya!” she had time to scream before Greg grabbed her by the hair and yanked her backward.

  Chance whirled and hit at him and he released her. She gave the two men in the front seat a nasty look then turned her attention back to Greg. “What’s the meaning of this? In case you haven’t been informed, kidnapping is a crime.”

  “Who’s kidnapping?” Greg looked at the men in the front seat with wide eyes. “You see anyone being kidnapped, boys?”

  “Not me,” the man in the passenger seat replied with a laugh.

  Chance paid the man no attention but continued to stare angrily at Greg. “I don’t know who you think you are but I don’t find this amusing and I certainly don’t have to take this kind of crap from you.”

  “What have I done?” he asked in mock innocence. “All I did was pick you up for our date.”

  Chance’s mouth dropped open. There was something very wrong with Greg Holling if he thought he could just go around abducting people whenever he liked. “We don’t have a date.”

  “We do now,” he said with a shrug. “What’s the big deal?”

  “The big deal?” she asked, thinking that he was an even bigger jerk than she had previously thought. “Did it ever occur to you that women don’t appreciate being dragged at gunpoint and thrown into a car? Or do you think that’s cute?”

  “Whatever. By the way, nice outfit. What do you call that—early Salvation Army?”

  Chance wasn’t interested in her attire, although she would have preferred to be wearing her own clothes. The flannel shirt and pants Tsa’li had loaned her were miles too big. She had the sleeves of the shirt rolled up around her elbows and the pants were held on by a belt that Wyatt had poked a hole in halfway down its length.

  “Stop the car!” she barked at the driver. “Right now!”

  The man looked up in the rearview mirror at Greg and Greg laughed and shook his head. Chance turned to him with her eyes flashing. “I demand that you have him stop the car this instant!”

  “Too bad.” He leaned back and regarded her insolently.

  Chance studied him for a moment. It didn’t make sense for him to grab her. What good would it do him? Oh, crap! she thought. Unless he plans on using me to get to Wyatt. But why would he? He doesn’t know about us. Or does he? And if he does then how did he find out? Graham Dickerson? No, he was too scared to talk. Besides Tom has guards posted at his hospital door. Then who? No one else knows…except Iris.

  Suddenly some of the pieces fell together. She leaned back and stared out of the window, ignoring Greg and the other two men as she thought about it. After ten minutes or so she turned and looked at Greg. “So what’s this all about, Greg? The story I’m doing on the casino and all the trouble that’s been going on?”

  Greg laughed at her. “You think we really give a rat’s ass about that casino? Hell, let those red bastards build it. We’ll just burn it down. Yo, Jack, pass me that bottle from under the seat.”

  The man in the passenger seat reached under the seat and pulled out a bottle of bourbon, passing it over the seat to Greg. Greg unscrewed the top and tilted the bottle up to his mouth to take a long drink.

  “Damn, that’s good,” he said as he lowered the bottle and extended it toward Chance. “Want a drink?”

  “No.”

  “Suit yourself.” He took another long drink. Chance wondered just how much he had consumed and if there was a chance she could get him to talk. She cut her eyes at the men in the front seat and changed her mind.
She needed to get Greg alone.

  “So, where are we going on our date?”

  Greg laughed and took another drink. “Best place in town.”

  “Oh? Where’s that?”

  “Just sit back and enjoy the ride.”

  Chance didn’t push it. The way Greg was drinking it would be a miracle if he was still coherent when they arrived at wherever it was they were going. She looked out the side window at the passing scenery and it dawned on her where they were headed. Remaining silent, she spent her time trying to come up with an idea of how to get the information she wanted from him and then escape.

  The car turned onto the drive that led to the Holling estate. The driver didn’t stop at the house but bypassed it and continued on to a smaller house set at the rear of the landscaped lawn. It looked like a guesthouse.

  The driver and the man in the passenger seat got out of the car as soon as they stopped. Greg opened his door and crawled out, holding on to the door for support as the driver opened Chance’s door and stepped back, leveling a gun at her as she got out.

  “My, you must be used to getting stood up,” she directed her comment at Greg. “Or is it that you’re used to having women run out on you?”

  He sneered and shoved her toward the house. Once inside he took her to one of the bedrooms. “In here.”

  “Thanks but no thanks.”

  He pushed her inside then followed. “I think you’ll be comfortable here.” He waved his hand around.

  Chance looked around the room. There was no phone and she could see the silhouette of a man standing outside the one window in the room. “Why are you doing this?”

  Greg didn’t answer her. He looked at the man who stood at the doorway. “Don’t let her leave this room. I have to make a call then I’ll be back.”

  Chance watched him weave out of the room then looked at the man who stood in the doorway looking at her. Turning her back on him she crossed her arms and frowned at the guarded window. This was definitely not good.

  * * * * *

  Iris answered her cellular on the second ring. “Yes?”

  “It’s me,” Greg slurred. “We’ve got her.”

  “Excellent.” She smiled. “Don’t do anything yet. Just keep her there. I’ll be in touch.”

  “Whatever you say, baby.”

  “Oh! By the way, John Wolfe’s house seems to have burned to the ground.”

  Greg laughed. “Yeah, what a shame.”

  “So where would he go?”

  There was a moment’s silence before he answered. “Probably Charley’s.”

  “Charley?”

  “Yeah, Crazy Charley. He’s some kind of medicine man or some shit like that.”

  “Do you know where he lives?”

  “Yeah, why?”

  “Just give me directions.” She grabbed a pad and pen. “I’ll fill you in later.”

  She scribbled down the directions then tossed the pad on the bed beside her purse. “Okay, lover, stay close by the phone. I’ll be in touch.”

  She smiled to herself then placed another call. It rang four times before a man answered.

  “Davenport residence, may I help you?”

  “Maurice Davenport, please.”

  “Mr. Davenport is not in at present, may I take a message?”

  “No.” Iris hesitated. “Do you happen to know where I can reach him? This is his attorney in Atlanta, Ms. Waters. It’s very important.”

  “I’m sorry, Ms. Waters, but I cannot divulge that information. However, if you’d like—”

  “I am sure that Maurice will be very displeased when he discovers that our negotiations with Turner Broadcasting have fallen through solely because you would not give me a number where I could reach him!” she snapped imperiously.

  “Oh! Well…well, in that case, I suppose it would be all right. He left early this morning for Bryson. He can be reached at the estate of Mr. Winston Holling.”

  “Thank you.” Iris hung up. She was surprised by that news. Wonder what made him come up here? she wondered then dismissed it. She would find out from Greg what was going on. Right now she had other matters that required her attention.

  * * * * *

  Wyatt was pacing the floor like a caged animal. Ever since Chance left he had been feeling more anxious and edgy. Not to mention the fact that if he allowed himself to be still, flashbacks of what had happened in the forest would compete with older memories, such as what happened in Iraq. The images of what had happened with Iris and Chance were so emotional he forced himself not to dwell on them.

  That gave the memory of Iraq control of his mind. Time and again he would see DJ and Fish as they raped the woman. And each time rage would threaten to consume him. He didn’t understand why the memory of DJ and Fish kept coming to mind. Especially in light of all that was going on in the present. All he was sure of was that the memory seemed to fuel the rage that was bubbling just below the surface and the strain of keeping the rage at bay was beginning to wear him down.

  “Damn!” He pressed the heels of his hands against his eyes in an attempt to dispel the images, then looked out the window. Chance should have gotten back by now. “Where is she?” he asked for the fifth time in as many minutes.

  “She’ll be back,” John replied. “Just settle down. She’s only been gone for—”

  “Eighty-three minutes! She said she’d be back in no more than an hour!”

  “Wyatt, just calm down.” John got up and stepped in his path. “And sit down! That pacing’s driving me crazy.”

  “I can’t!” Wyatt walked around him and headed for the door. “I’m going to find her.”

  “Sit down,” Tsa’li said from across the room.

  Wyatt turned and looked at him and saw the hard mask that served as expression for Tsa’li’s lined face. Suppressing a curse, he took a seat.

  * * * * *

  Iris was only ten minutes away from where she had been told she could find Wyatt when she picked up her cell phone from the car seat. Her call was answered on the second ring.

  “Hi, honey,” she said excitedly when Greg’s voice came on the line. “I need you to do something for me.”

  “What?”

  “I think I know the perfect way to get Wyatt’s attention. This is sure to get him headed your way. First of all, send some of your boys over to keep an eye out at Tsa—Charley’s,” she corrected herself. “I want to know the moment Wyatt leaves.”

  “And second?”

  “I want you to call me right back and we’re going to act out a little scenario for Wyatt’s benefit.”

  “What kind of scenario?”

  “One that’s going to send him into orbit,” she said with a smile then began to explain.

  * * * * *

  While Greg was on the phone, Chance was pacing the floor of the bedroom where she was under guard. She could not figure out what was going on but she had to before someone else got hurt. If she didn’t return to Tsa’li’s soon, Wyatt was bound to go looking for her, and when he found the truck abandoned at the motel he would know something was wrong.

  She jerked around as Greg entered the room. He was holding a glass in one hand, and he appeared as if he would not be standing much longer if he continued to drink. Chance thought that maybe she could use his condition to her advantage. Forcing a smile to her face she sat down on the end of the bed. “So, what now? Or is this your idea of an exciting date?”

  Greg sneered and walked over to stand in front of her. “Well, to be honest, your attire doesn’t exactly inspire me.”

  She looked down at her clothes then shrugged. “I didn’t exactly have time to change. If you’d like I’ll go back to the hotel and get cleaned up and into something…more appropriate.”

  “Oh, I don’t think that’ll be necessary.” He dismissed the suggestion and downed half his drink. Chance watched him suspiciously as he turned and walked to the door. “I have a call to make. Why don’t you put your pretty little head to coming up with
some way we can entertain ourselves?”

  She wanted to spit at him but instead she remained still and silent. She had to find a way to get out of there.

  * * * * *

  Wyatt was off the couch and out the door before the truck stopped in front of the house. Billy Hawkes jumped out and ran to the house at full tilt. “They’ve got her!”

  Wyatt didn’t ask who Billy was talking about. He didn’t have to. John appeared at the door. “Come inside,” he said, taking Wyatt’s arm.

  Wyatt allowed John to pull him inside but he didn’t sit down. “Tell us,” Tsa’li said as soon as Billy entered.

  “I was just driving by and saw them! One of Holling’s men was shoving her in the back of a car and another was in the parking lot being mauled by this huge wolf. I followed the car and when I realized they were headed for the Holling estate I headed over here.”

  Tsa’li nodded but didn’t comment. John looked over at Wyatt who was pulling on his coat. “Wyatt, call Tom. Let the law handle this. Kidnapping’s a felony. We’ve got him dead to right this time.”

  “And just what do you think Tom can do? He’s got no authority in Bryson. You’ve been hammering me to get involved ever since I got here. Well, I’m involved so why the sudden change of heart?”

  “I haven’t changed my—never mind, just call the police in Bryson.”

  Wyatt’s laugh was devoid of humor. “Yeah, right. Like Holling doesn’t own every one of them. I’ve got to go after her, Dad.”

  “No,” Tsa’li spoke up.

  Wyatt turned to him with an expression like a thundercloud on his face. Tsa’li stood, seemingly unaffected by Wyatt’s anger. “It is not time.”

  “Not the right time? Grandfather, there’s never been a more right time. I have to save her.”

  “Sit down,” Tsa’li ordered.

  “No, not this time.”

  He and Tsa’li locked eyes. For several long moments there was a thick silence in the room as they stared at one another. Suddenly Wyatt whirled around. The sound of a car engine came from outside. He ran to the door and flung it open. Almost as soon as he did, he turned around and slammed it shut again. John looked at him in surprise.