Pursued in the Wilderness
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Loretta Eidson
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Chapter One
“What is it this time, Nick?” Brooke Chandler looked at her cell and rolled her eyes.
“It’s important. I need to see you immediately,” he said. “Texted my location. A remote cabin in Chilhowee Mountain. Need you to meet me tonight. It’s urgent. And don’t tell anyone where I am.”
“You can’t be serious. You know how I feel about the wilderness.”
“This one time. I won’t ever ask you again.”
Her stomach plummeted. She had avoided the mountains for years. Bears were vicious, and she wanted no part of them. His insistence got the best of her.
“Fine, but you know at thirty-eight weeks, I shouldn’t be going anywhere except to the hospital. If I drive all the way out there, you’re signing the divorce papers.”
“Make sure no one follows you.” His self-inflicted drama infuriated her.
All her countless arguments met with closed ears. Three happy years of marriage drowned out by four grueling years of coping with his addiction that only grew worse. He’d left her with no other choice. She had to put an end to the turmoil before it affected their baby.
With divorce papers in hand, Brooke scooped her car keys and purse off the counter and stormed out the door. She slid into the car, sent a text to her mom and slammed her hand against the steering wheel, scolding herself for giving in.
Her pulse increased the closer she got to the foothills. The bear attack she’d witnessed eighteen years ago flashed in her mind. If she’d backed away from that cub, the mother wouldn’t have attacked the man who tried to protect her. No doubt, it was all her fault. Her knuckles whitened the tighter she squeezed the steering wheel. Hair on her arms lifted. The man lived, but still, she’d caused his pain. She hadn’t been in the woods since the incident and had avoided animals altogether, wild or domestic.
Her car’s GPS led her along a mountain road. She maneuvered the winding curves where the road grew narrower. The asphalt changed to gravel, and the sun faded behind the trees. Her insides churned. Nick’s truck sat at the edge of a pitted gravel driveway. She pulled in beside it and parked.
The ramshackle cabin teetered at the edge of a ravine and looked ready to collapse. Half of the wooden front porch had rotted and caved in. The screen door dangled on one hinge and missing shingles left the rafters exposed. Dust and cobwebs clouded the windows. How had he found this place? The sooner he signed the papers, the better.
She eased onto the unstable porch. He opened the rickety wood door, yanked her inside and slammed it behind her. The floor creaked with each step. Would it support her weight?
She shoved the papers at him. “Sign these and tell me what’s so important.”
“I screwed up and lost a bet.” He paced and wiped his brow. “They’re looking for me. They want their money.”
“What does that have to do with me, Nick? That’s your problem.” She thrust the pen at him. “How many times have I begged you to get help for your gambling addiction? Face your losses and give them what you owe.”
“Can’t. I’m broke. And now they’re coming after our baby before he’s even born. Said they’d sell him on the black market as payment for what I owe.”
“Don’t threaten me like that.” Her mouth went dry. “Sign the papers and I’m done.” Her hand smoothed over her belly and patted gently. No one would take her baby. She dropped her purse and keys on the small wooden table and marched into the kitchen, where a case of bottled water sat on the dusty kitchen counter. She gripped the edge of the countertop. He couldn’t be serious, could he?
She stared into the forest from the cracked kitchen window. A large wasp nest had her backing away. The threat of nightfall gripped her, and an ache hit her low back. She’d stop at the hotel about fifteen minutes away and make the drive home early in the morning.
A sudden thud and the crackling of boards breaking startled her. A rush of stomping footsteps sent her pulse racing into overtime. She spun. A bearded man jerked Nick up by the collar and pressed a gun to his head. Another man clomped around him, holding a handgun in the air. A third man stood out of sight, but the tips of his brown boots came into view.
“Where is she?” A gruff voice permeated the cabin.
“No. Don’t. I’ll get the money.” Panic rose in Nick’s response. His eyes cut toward her. “Brooke! Run!”
The water bottle slipped from her hand. She darted out the back door, searching for a place to hide.
Her heartbeat thrashed in her ears. Who were they? She stumbled forward and almost fell. Her breath caught in her chest. She grabbed the moss-covered trunk of a large tree just outside the back door and slipped behind it. Her arms wrapped around her protruding belly as she gasped for breath. Her legs shook.
Nick’s words reverberated in her ears. “They want our baby.” She’d half listened and hadn’t taken him seriously. What had he gotten them into?
She peeked around the tree, and her hand scraped across the brittle wooden corner of the cabin. The forest terrified her. She bit her lip. Should she keep running? Had they seen her flee? After Nick yelled her name and told her to run, they had to have known she was there. He had manipulated and lied too many times. She couldn’t trust anyone but herself.
Brooke peered into the depths of the forest. Where were the bears, coyotes and all the other wild animals? Her muscles tensed. She couldn’t do this. She never wanted to return to the mountains. Not now. Not ever. But she had. Big mistake.
Something crashed to the floor inside the cabin. She jumped back and hugged the tree. A loud thud. Shuffling feet, and the sound of a scuffle. Her imagination went wild. Were they beating Nick and slamming him against the walls? Angry male voices seeped beyond the thickness of the log structure as Nick begged for his life.
“No, don’t, please. I’ll get your money.” Nick’s voice escalated to a high pitch.
The bang of gunfire invaded her ears. Silence.
Her legs caved, and she sank to the ground. She covered her mouth with both hands and smothered the terror-filled scream spilling from her lips. Tears rolled like a tsunami. Had they killed him? Was she next? Would they kill her and her baby? No. According to Nick, they wanted her baby. Panic shot adrenaline through her like an electrical charge, and she sprang to her feet. She couldn’t let them find her.
Brooke wiped tears and blinked. The evening sun dipped lower below the horizon, thrusting her into darkness. A coyote howled and branches rustled. How could she survive out here alone?
The men stepped out the back door.
“Zeke. Told you not to kill Nick until we had the girl,” a gruff voice growled. “Lose her and we lose the cash. You get trigger-happy again and you’re done.”
She sucked in a gulp of air. Nick. Dead? That wasn’t the out she’d wanted. She’d loved and trusted him. He’d been a good husband, managed their finances and made wise decisions for their future, until the last four years. Their savings dwindled to nothing, her diamond jewelry disappeared and his work ethics spiraled. She thought he was her forever soul mate, but his actions proved her mistaken. How could she have trusted him implicitly? She’d been so wrong.
Grief consumed her. They were after her baby. Nick had told the truth. If only it were another one of his lies. Images of what could happen to her and Josiah flashed through her mind. Lamaze class taught breathing techniques to use during labor. Would it help keep her from hyperventilating or passing out?
“She won’t get far in her condition.” The man’s gravelly voice carried into the quiet forest. He coughed and spat. “Let’s grab flashlights from the truck.” They tromped back inside.
“Can’t risk losing her,” she heard one of them shout from the front of the cabin. A vehicle door slammed. “That kid is our ticket out of here.” There was something familiar about his voice, but she couldn’t place it.
She bolted deeper into the thick forest. Each slap of spindly branches felt like arms preventing her escape. She fought her way through them. Her insides trembled uncontrollably.
Had they followed her to the cabin, or were they hiding? Waiting for her arrival? Maybe they didn’t know she and Nick had been separated.
Mosquitos buzzed around her ears. Didn’t matter. She kept running. Her feet stumbled on the uneven ground and leaves slapped her face. The baby kicked her side. I know, Josiah. I know. Oh God, please help me.
Sweat from the mid-August heat soaked her short-sleeved top and rolled down her back. Her capris and sockless sneakers left half her calves exposed. Weeds slashed against her ankles. A quick glance back. Three flashlights shone in the distance, moving slower than she expected. Maybe they assumed she couldn’t run. A dull ache hit her abdomen.
Don’t go into labor out here. She paused and took a few quick breaths. The pain eased, and she pushed deeper into the inky darkness. Flashes of Nick’s pacing and warning before he died overshadowed her vision. He’d apologized profusely before their separation and admitted he’d made a lot of poor decisions. But he didn’t stop gambling and never admitted he had an addiction.
She stumbled to her knees. Heavy sobs sucked the breath out of her as her fists punched the ground. Nausea threatened. She hadn’t wanted him to die, but how could he not know something horrible would happen?
She wiped her eyes with the hem of her blouse and pushed to her feet. With outstretched arms, she felt her way deeper into the woods, making sure each foot landed on level ground. Something pierced her palm. Ouch! A thorn, probably. “Please don’t let it be a black widow, brown recluse, fire ant or whatever else is out here. I can’t stop now,” she huffed breathlessly.
Her pulse pounded hard. The mountains were bad enough in daylight, but nighttime heightened eerie sounds. Frogs croaked, crickets chirped and birds chattered. Were they frightened, too? Calling out for help? Another howl from the distance sent weakness down her legs. The constant reminders of wild animals ran loose. Bears, coyotes, wild hogs, bobcats, wolves, snakes. She flinched at every sound.
An unnerving silence fell over the forest. Her knees almost buckled again. Where were the killers? Tiny dots of light from their flashlights shone in the distance. They’d misjudged the adrenaline surge that pushed her forward.
Brooke gulped down another breath. A light breeze blew and chilled her sweaty body. The sound of leaves tossing in the wind eased her somehow. Smoke. A fire? She squinted in the darkness. There in the distance a light flickered. Hope of survival thrust away overpowering fear. She forced herself to keep moving, one step at a time, being sure-footed. Closer and closer.
How far had she run? Another glance back. Total blackness. Her belly tightened and pulled her to an abrupt halt. She wrapped her arms around her tummy, and focused on breathing. Braxton-Hicks contractions or the real thing? Her instructor warned her these could occur, but would the trauma of her situation and all the running thrust her into labor? Please, no. Weakness consumed her. She fought against dropping to the ground again.
“If I ever make it home, I’ll never come here again,” she whispered. “And I’ll never trust anyone again, especially myself.”
K-9 handler Trent Williston shot up from a deep sleep. His heart raced while vivid sounds of sirens wailing, his own labored breathing as he did CPR, the sight and smell of blood and a woman crying bombarded his thoughts and turned his stomach.
He blinked and looked around, swallowing hard. Must have fallen asleep watching the flames dance in the fire. Another guilt-ridden nightmare. When would they stop?
Rex, his black-and-tan German shepherd, jumped to his feet and barked at Trent’s sudden movement. He stood and whined, wagging his tail.
Trent rolled to his feet.
Rex pushed his nose under Trent’s hand. Trent leaned and buried his face in the dog’s thick fur. The canine’s woodsy scent proved they were still in the Smoky Mountains.
“We had a good workout today. Good boy, you did great.”
Rex nuzzled Trent’s neck and licked him.
“I love you, too.” Trent stretched his arms to the sky, lowered them and rolled his shoulders. Leaves rustled in the trees with the evening breeze. Smoldering smoke from his campfire assaulted his nose.
Rex roamed the perimeter of the camp, stopping occasionally to mark his territory. Trent paced and listened to the whippoorwills sing their evening song in an attempt to get the nightmare out of his mind.
“Can’t believe we’ve been here five days already. Only two more days of bliss, boy, before we pack up and head home. We’ve got some big decisions to make. Stay with the K-9 unit, move to the training center or transfer somewhere where there are no risks? One thing’s for sure, I won’t renew my EMT license. That should put a halt to delivering another baby.”
Rex jumped and rested his front paws on Trent’s thighs. Trent smirked and petted his fur before pushing him away.
“God was supposed to help in times of trouble. Right, Rex?”
His tactical watch vibrated on his arm. Six twenty p.m. was his normal evening jogging time, but nothing was normal about this camping trip. Too much weighed on his mind and had him distracted. Not a good thing when his job required his full attention. He sucked in a deep breath and blew it out with a huff. Taking a sudden vacation wasn’t like him. But Sergeant Owens had insisted on a few days off to pull himself together. Who was he to argue?
“Time to liven up the fire.” He glanced at Rex. “I don’t know about you, buddy, but I need a cup of coffee, a can of sausages and a good night’s sleep. Three weeks of restlessness is getting the best of me.”
Rex gave a short yelp and stepped back.
“Guess you’d like fresh water in your bowl and some food. If you behave, I’ll add a drop or two of my coffee.”
Rex trotted over to his empty bowl and looked back.
“You’re too smart for your own good.” Trent poured half a bottle of water into the bowl and the rest over his head. He shook the water from his hair, then combed it back with his fingers and scratched at his stubbled chin. “Should’ve brought my razor. This stuff itches.”
His mind scrolled through all the supplies he’d packed for this seven-day camping trip away from work, friends and, well, pregnant women. Just him and Rex. No special deliveries. He’d estimated just right. Enough food to get them by for the next two days. Not bad for an unplanned escape to the mountains.
A whiff of coffee brought a deep sniff. Trent slid on a glove and grabbed the metal coffeepot off the fire. He poured the liquid energy into his metal cup, sat on the log and took a big gulp. “Whoa, that’s hot. Probably not a good idea if I’m wanting to sleep.”
Rex eased over and plopped on the ground beside him.
He put a bite of mini sausage in his mouth and pulled his cell from his pocket. “Want to listen to Mandy’s message again? No signal out here, but we can still hear her sweet voice.”
Rex whined.
Trent selected the message his sister, Dana, sent the day he arrived at the ranger’s station and put it on Speaker.
“Hey, little brother, you must be busy or out of cell range since you didn’t answer my call. You haven’t been yourself lately and I’m concerned. I don’t like you going camping alone, and I don’t care how experienced you are, it’s just not safe. Anyway, thanks for stopping by before your trip. Mandy gets a kick out of hiding surprises in your backpack.”
His niece’s dainty voice sounded in the background. Trent adored her and imagined her jumping into his arms with those long curls bouncing against her shoulders. Listening to her talk warmed his heart. Someday he’d have a family of his own.
“I wanna talk, please, let me talk.”
“Mandy wanted to talk to you. That’s why I’m calling,” Dana said.
“Hi, Uncle Trent. Did you find your surprise? Are you coming to my birthday party? Can Rex come, too? You put a whole muffin in your mouth.” She giggled. “You’re funny. Mama won’t let me do that. I want a baby doll with a puppy for my birthday. Are you coming?”
Dana took the phone. “Seriously, Trent. Be careful. Call us if you need anything. Love you.”
He clicked off the message and dropped the phone back into his pocket. “You know what that means, don’t you, Rex? We’ve got to find a doll with a puppy if they make one like that.” He paused and pointed at his canine. “Don’t let me forget her party next week. Turning five is a big deal and we’ll be in big trouble if we’re not back to eat cake and ice cream with her. Besides, I promised I’d be there.”
Trent finished off the sausages and took another sip of his coffee. He set his cup on the log. He traipsed into the tent for his night goggles, grabbed a nutrition bar from the backpack, along with a meal pack for Rex, and his Do Not Pet K-9 vest. The goggles had proven an asset while doing night training exercises in the woods with Rex. He slid them over his head.
Rex danced around him and barked.
“I know, I’d rather head straight home when we leave here, too, but I’m a man of my word.” He grabbed his coffee and emptied the cup. “Well, maybe not.” He swiped his hand across his lips. The image of a pregnant lady tossed from her mangled car out on the interstate flashed through his mind. Stop. His knuckles whitened in his fist. Would he ever be able to get that image and the events of that night out of his mind?
Trent sat by the fire reminiscing the past few days. Trekking seven miles over the level-nine hiking trail four days ago held its challenges, but he loved the scenic views of mountains peeking through the clouds and stretching across the sky as far as he could see. The enormous rock formations and ravines below. Trees, vines, wildflowers and ferns everywhere. Not to mention the occasional glimpse of a bear or deer in the distance.
Conquering steep inclines along the trail enhanced his opinion of a successful climb. Today was no different. The exercise helped strengthen his muscles and keep his mind off his dilemma. The whole reason for this trip, getting a grip on his emotions and the hollow feeling in his gut.
The days had flown by. He wiped sweat from his forehead. Rex munched on his beefy food and lapped his water from the bowl Trent had packed in the backpack. A twelve-point buck sprang from his bed one day and bounced light-footedly deeper into the forest. Such a majestic sight.
He stared into the woods. How could anyone deny God’s existence with all the beauty around him? And yet, where was God when he needed him most? Rex barked, drawing him back to reality. “I know, I know.” He packed up their trash, stuffed it into a trash bag, placed it in the tent and began reorganizing the supplies in his backpack.
Mandy’s surprise package fell out. He’d looked at it earlier in the week. What did she think he’d do with a small doll holding a baby bottle, wrapped in a soft blue blanket that swallowed her? He shook his head and smiled at Mandy’s innocence. Just glad none of his coworkers were there to rag him about having a doll. With everything stored back in place, he set the backpack inside his tent.
Rex trotted toward him. Trent took the vest off his dog and set it on a log. He put the leash on him and walked through heeling techniques and verbal markers. Rex aced them all. He never ceased to amaze Trent with his intelligence and prompt obedience. His faithful friend for life. He unhooked Rex’s leash and tossed it aside. He sprayed his arms and neck with mosquito spray before gathering more limbs for the fire.
Within a few minutes, the fire crackled again, and flames danced. Darkness surrounded the camp. A coyote howled in the distance adding to the ambiance of the forest. His two-person tent sat empty. If he only had someone special to share the joys of nature, and everything he loved about the mountains.
“Peace, at last.” He threw his arm over Rex and rubbed his fur. His thoughts drifted back to the wreck and his part of the rescue that went all wrong. His partner said the preemie’s death wasn’t his fault, but he blamed himself. He was search and rescue and should’ve been better prepared. Sorrow stirred in his gut.
Only two more days and he’d have to choose the direction of his career. Indecision gnawed at him. Trent kicked back by the fire and looked up. The stars twinkled as the stillness of the night settled in. Thankfully, there were no pregnant women to deal with in the woods.
Rex lay at his side. He reached down and tossed the fur on his canine’s head and sighed. Rex jumped to his feet, faced the woods, and let out a low growl. Trent followed his canine’s lead and stands, searching to see what Rex had heard.
