CHAPTER 13

“You know,” Cynthia said, “a lot of times I’ll just let the food burn. Alex always scrunches up his face and takes over. Gives me a good laugh, and a good meal.”

Tess laughed heavily as well, the morning coffee was rich but over roasted; still it was better than nothing. The fire was stoked just enough to allow for the pot to boil over.

Tess couldn’t remember the last time she’d had a good night’s sleep. The Cliff Walker den was nice, but she spent the entire time wondering if Connor was okay and today was no different. She’d try to lie in bed to sleep but would just toss and turn for a couple hours before getting tired of her predicament.

When she walked out of her cabin to escape her insecurity, Cynthia was already starting the fire and trying her best to relax. They’d been chatting since. It was nice being able to talk to someone closer to her own age.

“I’d try that with Connor but he doesn’t even know how to boil water,” Tess joked.

Cynthia laughed louder than she probably should have because Beth walked sleepily out of her cabin while rubbing at her sore, tired eyes.

“Morning,” Tess said.

“Coffee?” Cynthia offered.

Beth nodded while Cynthia poured a tall cup. She made her opinion of the coffee known after taking her first sip by immediately spitting it to the ground.

Cynthia shook the pot and handed it to Tess.

“It’s empty, which means it’s your turn to fill it up this time,” Cynthia said.

Tess groaned but still went about the task. She was alarmed when she heard Crunch clomp his way along the wooden planks and began relieving himself over the balcony.

The sound of a truck engine filled the air from all directions and that would only have meant one thing, Alex and Connor were back. Tess continued to work the hand pump in earnest while Crunch urinated into the wind.

The truck that arrived wasn’t anything she recognized. She furrowed her brow in confusion but was snapped from it by a loud thunk.

Crunch fell over lifelessly on the patio with Scab standing triumphantly over him. He spat on Crunch’s body while dropping the log he’d hit him with.

The truck pulled to a stop to cover their only escape.

“What the hell is going on, Scab?” Tess asked.

“It’s simple. Get in the truck or find out the hard way what a silver bullet feels like,” Scab said, drawing a pistol from within his pants.

Cynthia started laughing.

“It’s a joke, right? Come on, Dad. Get up-”

Boom!

Scab fired the gun, the crack echoed against the trees. Tess was terrified. Was he for real? She didn’t want to find out.

“Get in the truck, now!”

The cabin doors opened. The other bikers looked just as confused as Tess and Cynthia.

“You come out and I shoot you,” Scab said, menacing them with the business end of his pistol.

“What the hell, man? What’s gotten into you?” asked one of the bikers.

“Gotten into me? What got into you? This dumb bastard,” he kicked Crunch on the ground, “he treats you guys like servants. Torque wants us to do what we should be doing. We’re goin’ to run this mountain. Ain’t nobody goin’ to get in our way. Not the cops, not the bears, nobody.”

“But, you followed Crunch!”

“Yeah, I followed him. Followed him so I could make sure I’d get the chance to put him in his place. I’d shoot him myself if someone else didn’t already claim it,” Scab said. He kicked at Crunch again. Stomping on his back. Crunch didn’t wake up.

The barrel of the gun returned to face Cynthia and Tess.

“You’re his daughter,” Scab said, “But, you know what you look like to me? Live bait.”

“Dammit, Scab,” Cynthia said. She was beaten. Tess watched her as she was helped into the back of the truck by the driver.

“You too,” Scab said, motioning to the rest of the women, “and get that girl out here as well. I’m sure one of you people will have the answers that hunter needs.”

Beth couldn’t even bring herself to tears anymore, she’d cried herself out. Greta came out shortly to join her and together they marched into the truck.

“You’re making a big mistake,” Tess said, “Connor is going to come after you.”

Scab marched over; his wiry body towered over her. He leaned in close.

“You think I give a damn? Your boy is probably already dead!”

Connor, dead? There was no way he’d be dead yet. He promised he would come back. Tess’s heart broke. Scab grabbed her by the hand, leading her to the truck.

“If he isn’t dead yet, you’ll make some fine insurance.” Scab laughed a sickening laugh. He shoved Tess into the back, getting in to join them. “Let’s get the hell out of here,” he shouted at the driver.

The truck backed down the dirt path between the trees. Scab leaned against the canopy of the truck bed, gun in hand. There was no easy escape. Even if the women overpowered him, there was nowhere to run that was safe. For now, they were along for the ride.

Tess shed a tear for Connor while the truck rumbled down the road.

Please be okay.