Wildflower Redemption

by Leslie P. García

  “Here you go.”

  Luz took it, but pretended to let it fall, and Princess immediately snapped it up.

  “When was the last time you fed my dog, Ross? I can’t believe you have Ann thinking you’re some kind of animal expert.”

  “Oh, I know animals. The two-legged kind as well as the four-legged kind. I got no call to mistreat Ann’s animals.”

  “None of this makes sense.”

  “See all that new wood holding you in?” He chuckled. “Call it panelin’ if you want to. You think the little bit Ann and the others gave me would fix up this place? Dogs is like any other animal—here to be used.”

  Luz leaned her forehead against the mesh. “Let me out, Ross. Just let us out. I’ll take my truck and go home.” She kept her tone soft, just short of pleading, but he was unmoved.

  “Want some more burger?”

  “Not if you’re tearing off little bits and sticking them through, Ross. I can’t—they’ll fall.” She’d been hiding her hands, trying to keep him from seeing how futile her attempts to escape had been, but tried a different tactic.

  She lifted both hands, gripping the mesh, forcing herself not to recoil at how bloody and grimy her hands were after just hours of captivity. “Please,” she said simply.

  He noticed immediately. “Been tryin’ to dig out?” He snorted. “Stupid. If dogs can’t get out, ain’t no way you’re gonna.”

  “I can’t stand being locked up.” She pushed her fingers further through the mesh, scraping them and biting back a moan over the pain that seared through her hands. “Just let me out for a few minutes.”

  He seemed to actually consider it. Hope speared through Luz, and she wished that Princess hadn’t retreated several feet away. If he opened the door, she’d have to get through and try to get away. Unless Princess came with her, she’d have to run first then try to bring help. Briefly her eyes flicked to the closed door across the corridor, and she moistened her dry lips. Please Princess, help me out here.

  “You gonna run for it if I open the door?” Ross challenged, settling his hands on the wooden latch.

  Her heart hammered. Should she deny it? Beg? Not say anything at all?

  She pulled her fingers back. “No. Just a few minutes, Ross.”

  And he laughed. A twisted laugh that made Princess whine from her corner and killed all Luz’s momentary hope.

  “I’m not stupid, woman,” he snarled, hitting the mesh with his fist.

  She silently cursed herself for pushing. Maybe silence would have been better. But it was too late.

  “I’m gonna tell you now how things are gonna be. And you’re gonna tell me yes or no. ’Cause tomorrow afternoon, when the boss comes—you’re only safe if you’re where I put you. Never seen anybody half as bad.”

  “What is it you want?”

  “Gotta show you somethin’.” He walked over to the canvas, picked it up, and backed across the stall, keeping her from seeing the other side. Then, slowly, he turned.

  Luz gasped and staggered back, almost falling, staring in shocked disbelief at the nude portrait of her own mother.

  “What…why do you have that? Who painted it? How—” She lunged at the door, shaking the mesh. “Let me out!”

  “Your momma never cottoned to me.” He ran a hand lovingly over the painting. “She wouldn’t have sat for me if she had her way. ’Course, she was young here.”

  His words snaked through her senses.

  “Your pa worked hard, but that oil business…” He made a snorting sound. “Leavin’ your mom all the time to go off to those oil rigs, even when you were a tiny thing.”

  “Mom would never have posed for that—never!”

  Again the derisive snort. “You think? You didn’t even know your ma, did you, runnin’ off to Georgia the month you graduated, livin’ there until they kicked you out.”

  Luz stiffened, wanting to protest, but what would it matter? He’d talk until he tired of listening to himself. She sank down to the stall floor and crossed her legs under her, tired, too.

  “See, she didn’t want to sit for me. But one afternoon, I’d come over to help do some heavy stuff. Your pa called me clear from Louisiana and asked me to go by.”

  “Your ma offered me a beer while I was working, and I had my own little stash in the truck. I got to talking to your mom, and, well, she was lonely.”

  “You raped her,” Luz gritted through clenched teeth.

  “You know when a woman wants you and when she don’t.” Ross seemed intent on torturing her. “She said she didn’t but she wanted me, all right.” He snatched the cup off the stool and hurled it against the stall door. “Then, after, she was gonna go to the cops, but she chickened out. She knew if I didn’t get her, your pa would!”

  “My father would never have hurt her. He loved her.” She raised her head to glare up at him. “He would have killed you.”

  “Yeah, he would have.” Ross chuckled. “And everyone in Rose Creek woulda said your ma screwed around on your pa. See, in a little town like Rose Creek, things are different than in cities. Folks don’t much like a woman who sleeps with someone other than her own man. They think she might go after theirs next, you know? If folks had shunned her, where would your ma and her little girl have been, huh? Your ma knew, too. She knew she’d get your pa or me killed if anyone found out anything. Wasn’t a man more jealous in Texas than your pa, and she knew he’d try to kill me if he found out. Knew ’bout some little traps I kept set around my place. Didn’t want your pa to wind up killin’ me or being killed. She made me promise not to tell him.”

  He put the painting down beside the door, this time on her side. He continued to press close against the mesh. “So, Luz, you might wanna think. Your ma was real nice to me. Sat for this picture so I wouldn’t tell anyone. And I kept my word. Never touched her again. Guess she didn’t want you to think bad of her, either. Or maybe she knew I’d do just what I said if she told anyone, even you. I’d have taken this painting right down to the middle of Rose Creek and made sure everyone knew she sat for me.” A long pause and she heard the wood move slightly outside. “She learned to hide her hatred of me real well. People thought we were the best of friends. Guess in the end she was smart enough to know it didn’t matter anymore. Water under the bridge, and no one ever saw her like I did.” He turned to run a hand over the nude figure in the painting, before turning his malevolent stare on Luz.

  “Now it’s all up to you, Luz. That bastard you’re sleepin’ with—he don’t deserve you. You and your ma sure do have bad taste in men.”

  He spoke in a strangely singsong way, as if trying to reason with her—or with himself. Suddenly she heard the bolt slide back. Adrenaline surged through her. She uncrossed her feet, trying to be careful. When she saw the door move slightly outward, she jumped up and forward. Startled by her move, Princess, too, lunged forward—and the door slammed back, the bolt sliding immediately into place.

  And Ross burst out laughing like the mad man he was.

  “Well, now we know!” he chortled. “Make up your mind by tomorrow morning,” he leered, “’cause you’re out of time. You can be my woman for a time, just mine—or the boss will take you for whatever he wants. For himself or the highest bid or the crowd. You might not think so now, Luz, but I’m a lot better for you than he is.” Whistling, he retrieved the portrait and retreated, turning off the lights in the corridor as he left.

  Defeated and tortured, Luz sank back down, and Princess lay down next to her. She wrapped her arms around Princess’s head and let thoughts of Aaron and Chloe fill her head and heart.

  • • •

  Something was wrong. Aaron tossed his cell on the bed, shoved his hands in his pockets, and walked over to the window. He pulled the curtain back and stared down at the bustle of people below.

  Chloe still slept, turned away from the light he let in, her hand thrown across her face.

  Almost nine. Luz would have answered her phone. She had no reason to ignor
e his call. If she’d lost her phone, she would have found it by now. Probably.

  And there was the feeling in his gut: the one similar to when his aunt died. Beads of perspiration popped out on his forehead in spite of the coolness in the room.

  He’d felt this way when he woke up the day Stella died, too.

  Stop it! Enough being a basket case. Enough constant fear and worry. Enough.

  He retrieved his phone and punched in Ann’s number.

  She answered on the third ring.

  “Hey, Aaron. What’s up? How’s Luz?”

  “You haven’t talked to her today? Or late yesterday? I’m in San Antonio.”

  “That’s right, she told me you were going. No, I didn’t get out there yesterday, and to be honest, I’m in San Antonio too. Doctor again, darn it!”

  “Oh.” He hesitated. “Are you okay?”

  “Sure. Is everything okay with Luz? Should I call her?”

  “No, don’t worry. She must just have been busy.” He glanced again at Chloe. “We’re heading on home anyway.”

  “Okay. Oh, gotta go!” Her phone went dead.

  He walked over and pulled Chloe’s blanket off. She mumbled something and pulled it back up.

  “Up and at ’em, young lady! Time to go.”

  Chloe sat up, rubbing her eyes. “I thought we were going to stay.”

  “I changed my mind.” He kissed her forehead. “Let’s go see your pony. And Luz.”

  She jumped out of bed and hugged him. “Let’s go!” She thrust her feet into shoes and reached for the pillow she’d brought along on the trip.

  He laughed. “I think you can change first.” He waved at the bathroom. “Go ahead. I’ll be here when you’re ready.”

  • • •

  Luz woke up when the dog across from her began growling and moving around in agitation. She scrambled up, startling Princess, who stood pressed close to her legs, growling the low rumble that she saved for Ross Thurmond.

  “Well, mornin’, Luz!” The handyman looked into the stall and wrinkled his nose. “Phew! Not exactly fancy quarters, is it?”

  Luz kept her face impassive and tried to control her anger. She needed to be ready to make a move if he gave her any opening.

  “You thought any about our little deal?” he leered.

  The anger came out in spite of her efforts. “I slept in a stall with a dog in our own pee and crap.”

  “But it don’t need to be like that anymore,” he wheedled. “You can live like a queen.” Something sick lit his eyes. “I can paint you, like I did your ma. Just like that.”

  His cell phone went off then, and when he checked the number, he flinched visibly.

  He turned and walked away several paces, but she could tell from the snatches of conversation he was upset.

  She saw him shove his phone back in his pocket and heard his loud, “Shit!”

  Then he walked back and forth in the corridor several times, twisting his cap and kicking at the straw and dirt, his face visibly contorted with rage.

  Finally he came back and perched on the stool, and just sat staring at her, putting his hat on only to immediately jerk it off again.

  “Fuck him!” he muttered, and spit into the dirt at his feet. Then he slipped off the stool. “Got a little problem,” he said through the mesh.

  Did he think she was so stupid she hadn’t figured that out?

  When he didn’t volunteer any information, she prodded him. “What problem?” A mirthless smile touched her lips. “Sheriff coming over?”

  “No, why would the sheriff come? The sheriff and me are buddies, Luz. Patched his roof last month for a quarter what the pros wanted.” He fell quiet for a moment, looking worried. “No, the boss, that’s the problem. Stan—he’s the one that runs things—he just said he ain’t comin’ ’til tomorrow. Gotta feed that monster another day.” He paused again and walked up and down, but in a shorter path. He seemed to be thinking out loud. “And something ain’t right, either.” He stopped and stared blindly at her. “Maybe he plans on tellin’ someone—lettin’ them find me with his dog.”

  Then he shook his head. “Nah, I’m just bein’ an old ninny-man. No one knows ’bout him or me. He’s paid me every penny he ever said he would, too.” The leering smile returned. “I got lots of money now, Luz. Have to hide it so people won’t know. But lots.”

  Then he frowned. “But I don’t like him jerkin’ me around, either.” He gestured at the pit bull’s door. “Old Marco there would as soon eat you for breakfast as dog chow. I ain’t gonna feed him this morning, just in case you try to leave.” He laughed. “I got somethin’ I gotta do. That’ll fix things. I’m gonna send old Stan a message I’m waitin’, just in case he’s gonna try to do anything.”

  Luz watched him disappear.

  Her throat burned and her lips were dry and rough. She felt weak from lack of food and water. Slowly she lowered herself back to the hay on the floor of the stall. What had her mother endured at Ross Thurmond’s hands? She wished she’d read the journal. She hadn’t taken the time, and now it was too late—maybe forever too late. She took a deep breath and tried to relax, tried not to think. If she could find a way out, she’d need her strength.

  • • •

  The trip to Rose Creek never seemed longer. The breakfast they’d eaten quickly in the hotel lobby had only taken a few minutes, and the traffic was no heavier than usual. Still, time seemed to crawl as he drove.

  Several miles away, Chloe suddenly called out and pointed out her window. “Look, Dad! Is that smoke? What’s burning?”

  Fearfully, he tried to pin the plume of smoke in relation to Luz’s home. Too far over, he was fairly sure. The way smoke could play tricks, probably not even near Rose Creek. But he changed plans abruptly.

  He would take Chloe to school. Just in case.

  He slowed for the exit ramp and turned in toward town.

  “Aren’t we going to go to Luz’s house?” Chloe protested immediately.

  “No. I think school first, and then I might come pick you up early.”

  They arrived at the school a few minutes later, and he gaped in astonishment at all the trucks and cars. Students spilled out of the building in an orderly way, climbing into parents’ vehicles and being taken away.

  He couldn’t breathe for a minute, thought that any minute he’d see the carnage of Alabaster, the crush of emergency vehicles. He gulped air, and acrid smoke bit into the back of his throat.

  Mrs. Carter hurried up, and her expression was reassuring. She didn’t appear particularly concerned about whatever was going on.

  “Mr. Estes! We didn’t think Chloe would be here today, so we didn’t send you the bulletin.”

  “Bulletin?”

  “We need to dismiss the children—just a precaution. There’s a bad brush fire out on the property beyond Ross Thurmond’s place, and when the wind whips up the way it does this time of year—well, it’s just better if the kids are at home so their parents can keep them safe if the fire turns some crazy way. Sometimes acres and acres are affected.”

  Damn. He couldn’t keep Chloe until he checked in on Luz.

  “Excuse me, I need to speak to Mrs. Gonzalez.” The principal left him standing there with Chloe and went to explain the situation to another parent.

  He’d try Mrs. Baker. He’d have to waste precious time, but—

  “Hello, Aaron. Chloe.” Emeralda Salinas came over, smiling at them. He’d dressed her down for the incident with Chloe, but she was here.

  “Esme, could you watch Chloe for me? For maybe an hour or so?”

  “Sure,” the counselor said without hesitation. “If Chloe doesn’t mind.”

  Chloe didn’t look happy, but she didn’t argue. Thankfully.

  He didn’t have time.

  “What’s up, Aaron?” she asked, reaching out to corral Chloe’s hand.

  He didn’t want to answer, but supposed he should. She answered for him, though.

  “You’re probably
dropping in on Luz,” she said. “The fire’s not out that way, Aaron.” She paused. “Chloe, can you ask Ms. Baker to give you my purse? See, she’s over there by the door and she said she’d keep it for me.”

  “Okay,” Chloe agreed and raced off.

  “Esme?”

  “I didn’t want to scare Chloe.”

  “What?” Aaron looked over at his daughter; she was already on her way back, stopping to say something to one of her classmates.

  “It’s weird. A pilot looking over the fire found two trucks out in the middle of the pasture where it started and is burning the worst.”

  “Trucks?

  “One is Luz’s. The other is Ross Thurmond’s.”

  “What? How?”

  “No one knows, and the firefighters are trying to cut their way in. The only guess I’ve heard is that one of them drove over there to check on property or an animal.” She shrugged, puzzled. “Hopefully they’ll be okay.”

  Her voice held no real assurance.

  “I’ve gotta go.” He hugged Chloe and kissed her. “Listen to Ms. Salinas,” he ordered. “I’ll be right back.”

  He climbed into the SUV and maneuvered out carefully, mindful of all the children and parents and unwilling to scare Chloe. As he drove, he turned over what Esmeralda said. Why would Luz have been out in the middle of nowhere? Since yesterday?

  No. Maybe her truck had been stolen. Or she’d believed someone’s hard luck story and loaned it out. He’d go by her house, and she’d be there or at the barn. He’d be able to breathe again.

  But even as he slowed and signaled a turn, he knew.

  She wasn’t home. She wasn’t dead in her truck. Ross had her.

  Ross, you bastard. What have you done to Luz?

  • • •

  Luz woke to the overwhelming stench of something burning. She staggered to her feet, disoriented, and looked around; there was no sign of fire, but the smoke smell made her gag. When had she dozed off? And what was burning? Brush? That was a common hazard around here and Rose Creek was suffering through a draught. Brush could be sparked by passing motorists or—or someone intent on hiding a crime.