Page 56 of Canyon of Deceit
Startled, I swung to find the origin of the voice. No one but me in the outcropping of rocks. The horror of fever and infection in my arm seized me, convincing me I’d heard a man’s voice in my delirium. Was God lecturing me? How could someone I didn’t believe in talk to me?
Please, shelter Therese and Alina from harm.
Who was I talking to? Surely not God? Where had the high altitude and my battered body taken my mind?
Perspiration dripped down the sides of my face, and I shivered. I examined what I could see around the makeshift splint. Sure enough, the stitched area above my elbow where Therese had sewn me up flamed hot, red, and swollen. I changed the bandage and applied antibiotic ointment.
Closing my eyes, I drifted into the in-between world of semiconsciousness. Falling asleep between throbs of pain only to waken with my head and arm in a burst of agony.
Therese, are you okay? Have you found the rescue team and Alina?
I craved to hear her voice like a miracle drug. Being alone with her these past few days had ignited old emotions and deepened the longing for a relationship. My attraction spurred me to leave behind a better legacy in death than the one I’d created.
I lay flat under the rock and pulled the blanket over me. Hold on. This was Therese’s blanket. Somewhere out there she’d suffer without a covering to keep her warm. Why hadn’t I paid attention instead of allowing my fall to control every move?
I slid my knife from my front pants pocket and groaned through the movement to sit. My arm hurt like someone held a match to it, but I had a job to do. I stumbled to the dwindling stack of wood and tossed one on the small fire. Soon a semblance of heat warmed me.
A few feet to the left lay dried brush and pieces of kindling. Biting back the dizziness, I made my way over rocks and gathered more kindling and wood, what I could find. One of the pieces would sharpen into a weapon. I glanced about for a narrow limb to use as a crutchand keep my balance. Took me the better part of two hours to find one. More than once, I stopped to endure the damage done to my body. When this ordeal hit the closed file, I’d invest in ibuprofen stock.
Glancing at the sky, I calculated about three hours left of daylight. Time to check out the valley for a friendly park ranger. My body fought each step, and I vowed to clamp the cuffs on Chandler.
Leaning against a waist-high rock, I gave my body a rest and stared out over the landscape. Leaving the items at the bottom of a canyon in my backpack rubbed against my training—a phone at the top of my list. The rescue team carried those essentials, including binoculars. I waved my crutch in the air. “Help.” My voice echoed around me.
Only silence met my frantic call.
My concerns swept back to Therese. I wanted her safe with the rescue team, but what if Chandler had her? I shook and fell to my knees until my head cleared. My response had nothing to do with the wind but my helpless body that couldn’t protect Therese. Chandler’s reputation for torturing made my skin crawl. If he hurt her or Alina, he’d taste the smoking end of my gun.
I limped back to the mound of dirt that buried the agave and used my trowel to dig into the hole. I slid to my knees with the blinding pain in my head, piercing my resolve to man up. Using my knife, I cut into the agave and poked a piece into my mouth. The sticky, sweet substance had a squash-like flavor. I ate my fill, washed it down with rationed water, and covered the agave back up. Therese had said it contained lots of calories and nutrients for the body. Great remedy if it healed the infection in my arm and eliminated the pain.
Loneliness shadowed me and my concern for others. I should be carrying a gun and tracking down a vicious criminal. Instead, I faced a long night and too much anxiety for even a healthy man. I added dried vegetation and kindling to the fire, creating smoke to rise into a star-flecked sky. Using my blanket, I sent ahelpmessage through a series of three smoke signals. Therese would have instructed me to build three triangle fires, but that was impossible.
Every twenty minutes I sent another message until I totaled five messages. In the morning, I’d attempt to carry brush and kindling to the higher elevation, make a fire, and repeat the smoke routine. I’d like nothing better than for a park ranger to investigate who’d broken the rules to build a fire.
God, if You’re real, keep those in danger safe.
THIRTY
THERESE
The dark climb to the hidden cave shoved dread into my bones. No satisfaction filled me for being right about Chandler’s location. Blane dead? It couldn’t be true. My knees nearly gave way. I’d heard the rifle fire, no denying it. Had the dear man sacrificed his life for Alina and justice?
Please, let Alina be alive.
Falin removed the brush concealing the cave’s entrance and a trip wire. He stepped aside for Chandler and me to enter. A flashlight showed a small figure leaning against the left cave wall.
“Alina,” I whispered.
Chandler snorted. “Hey, kid, I brought someone to keep you company.” He pushed me toward her. “Get over there by the kid.”
I stumbled beside her onto the hard ground. “Alina, are you okay?”
She nodded and attempted to talk with a filthy rag in her mouth. A tear trailed down her cheek. I brushed it away with my finger and drew her close. Sobs racked her little body.
“My name is Therese,” I whispered. “I don’t know if you remember me from the Christmas party at the college. Your daddy loves you so much. Many good people are looking for you.”
Chandler whirled to face me. “Shut up, or we can end this now.”He yanked Alina away from me and tied my hands and feet. But not my mouth. “Cause me any trouble, and the kid watches while I peel back every inch of your skin. Your choice. I want to hear you scream.” He pulled his phone from his pocket and disappeared into the night.
I bent close to her. “I’m praying for God to rescue us.”
