Thanks to TerryGibbs, Hanson's Angel, Tewksgirl and Kellylovesdylan for taking time to review your help and words have meant so much to me:-) We are almost done here and I will be on my way to story number two of Jeremiah. Please enjoy...
Chapter 9
"Let her go."
The voice was deep and menacing as Roger turned. Rita was nearly unconscious in his arms as he turned. The click of a hammer on a hand gun, the shift of a shell being chambered in a rifle and the faces… all the faces people from the town of Clear Water Creek standing in a semi-circle around the front door, cutting off an escape, sent Roger into an inner panic. He looked nervously from side to side as he held his hostage tighter to him. Blake stepped to the front of the angry mob that had surrounded the men.
"There is nowhere for you and your bullies to go Roger so you're best bet is to let her go." Blake repeated himself as he pointed his rifle at the man in front of him.
Rita's head lulled to the left as Roger adjusted his arms around her, pulling her closer threatening her with the knife he held in his hand. She let out a muffled moan as he shifted his weight glancing across the sea of faces in front of him. He felt his nerves starting to fray as he heard the clambering of footsteps behind him. In the glow of the morning sun Roger lifted his hostage from her feet with a single arm and began to push the point of his knife towards her chest as he pushed his way forward. He heard behind him the clatter of handheld weapons falling to the ground as pitchforks and various home made weapons were shoved in the faces of the two lackeys following Roger.
"Pick up your guns!" Roger shouted at the men who had surrendered.
The men stared back at him as they considered their own futures.
"Pick them up now!" To no avail the man looked down as they were taken into custody by various people.
Jeremiah, Kurdy, Marcus, Cole and Lacy all stood watching the scene play out from the front of Rita's home. Kurdy took a step forward followed by Jeremiah and Marcus. He starred intently at the man continuing to hold his hostage. Kurdy and Roger locked eyes as Kurdy walked towards the other.
"Let her go." Kurdy stated bluntly. His dark eyes narrowed as he continued to stare never breaking eye contact with the man.
Roger breathed a deep breath in and then out as Kurdy continued his approach. The entire town had encircled Roger and Rita as Kurdy pulled his own knife out.
"You like to play with knives… why don't you take on someone else who also enjoys a good knife fight." Kurdy seethed. "Let her go and I'll give you all the sport you want."
Roger held Rita's bleeding body against his own body like a child protecting a rag doll. Her red hair danced playfully in the cool morning air. Her eyes opened slowly as Roger spun her around to face him; his face twisted with disgust. He savagely kissed her as he held the knife next to her cheek. Rita trembled as her bottom lip was split by the force of his unwanted advance. She struggled to pull away from him but she was no match for the obviously stronger man.
"Were not finished yet…" he threatened menacingly before thrusting her angrily into the direction of Kurdy. The girl fell hard into Kurdy's sturdy arms. He wrapped her tightly into himself as her legs gave out. He sank to the ground with her as she winced, closing her eyes to the pain that cut through her. She opened her eyes as she felt Kurdy gently wipe the blood from her lip. Her face was wet with tears. Her eyes caught Marcus and Jeremiah soon appear on either side of him.
"Kurdy…" she whispered softly. "…please… I…" she closed her eyes as tears continued to streaked down her face. Kurdy gently leaned over and kissed her on the forehead as he wiped a tear away.
"He's not gonna hurt you again." Kurdy picked her up off of the cold ground and left her in Marcus's arms. The powerful ebony skinned man pulled off his long black leather jacket and gently covered her frail body with it. He then leaned his muscular over and pulled a knife from his boot, the razor-sharp edge glinting in morning the sunlight.
"You're a dead man." Roger spat. He bent his legs slightly at the knees and leaned forward thrusting his knife at Kurdy.
"And your mouth is writing checks you're body can't cash." Kurdy retorted as he too leaned in towards his opponent. He smiled a dark crooked smile as he felt the surge of adrenalin tear through him.
--
The two men continued to circle each other, both taking turns lunging forward with the cold steel they coveted. The crowed stood in awe as they watched like spectators in gladiator arena. They would gasp when it looked as if one would be cut or flinch when the other would slip or dip to avoid contact. The tension was overwhelming.
Rita's green eyes fluttered open again. She felt sticky and cold. She was being held tightly in someone's arms. Her head hurt and her vision swam as she tried to make sense of what was going on around them. Once her vision had cleared she clutched Marcus's arm as she realized she was watching Kurdy and Roger in a knife fight. Her blood stained handprint nearly glowed against the light tan material of Marcus's jacket. She looked down to the spot on her leg which continued to burn where Roger had sliced it open. A rag had been tied around the spot on her thigh in an effort to stop the bleeding. She looked up at Marcus and then at Jeremiah who were both caught up in the battle at hand.
"No… stop…" tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she couldn't get her voice much above a whisper. Her head ached and as she tried to lift her self from the protective grasp she felt her head spin again. She was so dizzy as she thought she would throw up at any moment. A sharp buzzing echoed within her ears as her chin began to sink again. "Please… don't hurt… don't hurt him…" she cried in her wispy lost voice.
A slice cut into Kurdy's left arm bringing a gasp to the crowd. Rita felt a hand take her blood soaked one. Marcus wrapped his arm tighter around her midsection and her shoulders as in an effort to warm her and hold her together he could feel her start to quake from the cold. The two men collided like a two bulls their bodies slamming uncontrollably into one another. Kurdy had blocked another attempt to slice his bare arm and then BAM! Both men had lost their knives and were pounding at one another. Kurdy grasped Roger by the neck and lifted his knee to make contact with Rogers face. The impact sent Roger flailing backwards to the ground. Roger then rolled sideways and caught Kurdy's legs bringing him to the ground face first. Kurdy swiftly rolled onto his back in time to catch Roger bringing his knife down towards Kurdy's chest. Kurdy brought his defined right forearm up catching the edge of the blade letting out a hiss of pain at the same time. With his left arm he grabbed his own blade and sliced it across Roger's face drawing a shout of pain and the two separated. They both regained their footing and began to circle again.
The blood dripped like rain from Roger's face as he stared coldly back at Kurdy. His skin was soaked with perspiration from the battle at hand. He was somewhat satisfied with the damage he had made to his opponents arm's both of which continued to ooze with blood. Roger wiped his face as the two circled again. Roger wasn't going to let her just walk away again. She was his property. He wasn't going to lose her to this man or anyone. She was going to be his again and that was that.
Kurdy was done with the situation surrounding Jeremiah's violent assault by a man hell bent on ruling with violence. He was pissed about the purposeful violation and callous slashing of a person… a female who had done nothing to him. Rita meant something to Kurdy and he wasn't letting Roger hurt her again… not ever.
Roger lunged towards Kurdy who had just regained his footing. Kurdy slid easily to the side and caught his attacker around the neck with his arm. The two men dropped to the ground where Kurdy continued to hold Roger in a choke hold, cutting off the others air supply. Roger let the knife slip from his hands as he clawed at the arm squeezing the life from him. He gritted his teeth as he began to slow down until his arms fell limply to his sides. He had lost all consciousness, his head drooping forward. Kurdy gave one last squeeze to be sure the man was out. Kurdy shoved the man to the side as he started to stand up. His face dripped with perspiration as he struggled to his feet.
"Get him… outa here." Kurdy announced breathlessly as he trudged over to where Marcus held Rita and dropped to his knees in front of the girl.
Kurdy pulled her into his arms. Rita's eyes opened to see Kurdy in front of her. She lifted her blood soaked hand and ran it slowly over Kurdy's cheek leaving a trail of crimson in its path. Rita closed her eyes tightly as fought through the lightheaded feeling that accompanied the loss of blood she was experiencing. She continued to shake as Kurdy pulled her tighter towards himself. He took her hand in his own. He felt the chill of fear race through him at the chill of her once warm skin.
"Cold…" she murmured another tear escaping down the side of her face.
"Oh GOD we need help… Marcus… Lacy…" Kurdy lifted Rita into his own aching arms. Kurdy dashed towards the house followed closely by Marcus and Blake who had to help Jeremiah as he struggled on his stay own feet.
--
"She's lost a lot of blood." Lacy responded looking down at the ground as she fought back tears.
"What do you mean?" Kurdy asked feeling the agony of the situation in himself.
"I mean…" she took a deep breath, "… there's nothing else I can do. She needs blood and I can't help her."
Kurdy continued to stare wide eyed back at Rita's older sister. Nothing… can't do… there has to be something. Kurdy felt his anger beginning to rising in himself as he looked around the room at those surrounding him. He ran his hand over his grimy face. He looked at the flakes of dried blood from Rita's hand running over his face. He then looked over at the mattress in the corner. Cole sat on the floor next to his youngest sister wiping a cloth across her forehead. Kurdy watched him talking softly to her as he ran a finger across her cheek and through her hair.
Marcus looked down at the table in front of them and then over at Jeremiah sleeping on a mattress in the corner. His face was still covered with dark bruises; his skin looked even more pallid than before. Jeremiah let out a deep cough that sounded bad to the leader of Thunder Mountain. There had to be something they could do for…
"Can she travel?" Marcus asked quickly.
"What?" Lacy asked a puzzled look on her face.
"Can she travel… can we get her back to Thunder Mountain. We have blood there and we can help her there. Besides we need to get Jeremiah back he's sounding pretty bad right now." Marcus jumped to his feet nearly knocking the chair over behind him.
Kurdy looked up at the normally reserved man. He too stood up and looked across the table at Lacy who was still puzzled at Marcus's idea. The words were still sinking into her head. Lacy handed the cloth in her hand to Kurdy as she stood up and walked over to Marcus.
"You're gonna take her away from here?" She asked softly looking over at her younger sister still being taken care of by their brother.
"Yeah… if you think she can handle it. Were a day away from the mountain." Marcus stated.
Lacy closed her eyes as a tear slid down her cheek. She slowly opened her eyes and continued to watch Cole as he held Rita's hand in his own. He kissed her on the forehead and continued to talk quietly to her. Rita would occasionally moan softly as her body balanced on the edge of life and death.
"She should be okay… just keep her warm and keep fluids going." Lacy responded running her hand through her hair. "One more thing…"
"Yes?" Marcus responded.
"Keep her safe… she's been through so much already. I didn't make it easier on her when we found her again. She's the best of the three of us and she deserves better." Lacy answered in hushed voice.
"She'll be fine." Kurdy answered a relief sound to his voice.
"You can come too." Marcus invited. "We can always use more medical help at the mountain."
"No, thank you but I'm needed here. Blake asked if I would be interested in helping as a healer or doctor I guess." Lacy tried to smile.
"There's a lot that needs done her and Cole and Lacy are gonna be helpful to the whole town." Blake interjected as he put an arm around Lacy's shoulder.
--
Marcus and Blake walked Jeremiah over to the door of the Rover. He moved slowly as he coughed harder. He had started to develop a fever that had had Lacy concerned about travel, but he was a day from Thunder Mountain and real medical care.
Jeremiah clinched his teeth as Marcus helped him into the passenger seat of the Rover. He felt sick to his stomach and his chest felt like it would explode with each breath.
"GOD it hurts." Jeremiah panted as he finally got situated on the passenger seat. "I can't believe you're driving either."
"Well… Erin has been working with me and I'm a little nervous so ease up." Marcus retorted as he laid a blanket lightly over Jeremiah's legs. The smaller man let out a sigh as he laid his head on the back of the seat. He could feel the cold from the opened back of the vehicle. The air was crisp as it continued to chill him.
Kurdy carried Rita to the Rover. She was wrapped tightly in heavy blankets. Cole and Lacy followed carrying a couple of bags containing her belongings. They placed them in the back of the Rover after Kurdy got the two of them situated in the rear. He pulled Rita close to him using his own body heat to keep her warm.
"Keep her safe." Cole choked out as he fought back tears. He leaned over the edge of the truck and kissed his baby sister gently on the forehead. Rita opened her eyes halfway as she looked at her brother. A single tear glistened in her eye and then spilled over the rim as she heard her brother speak to her. "I love you baby girl."
"I… love you… too." Her voice was weak and strained and she soon closed her red fever bright eyes and fell back into sleep.
"Take care of her." Lacy whispered to Kurdy as she kissed him on the cheek.
Kurdy smiled at Lacy and Cole and nodded. "I will and thanks for all your help."
"Take care." Cole patted Kurdy on the shoulder.
"Marcus, were still here for you all." Blake affirmed shaking the others hand.
"Thanks that's reassuring to know." Marcus answered nervously. "I'm not sure if were going to be safe with me driving this thing."
Blake chuckled as he watched the tall man scramble into the drivers seat of the military vehicle.
"Just relax and remember, that's your ignition there, your gears there. On the floor is your gas on the right and brake on the left. Take your time and remember not to change the radio station while driving." Blake responded with a laugh.
"Yeah." Marcus was less than amused as he turned the ignition and the engine roared to life. He was about to drive and he had to drive… with two sick people on board. Guess this takes care of the I wanna be a firefighter complex from childhood.
"Don't wreak us Marcus." Jeremiah murmured his head on the window glass of the door.
"Funny Jeremiah… everybody ready?" Marcus asked.
"Let's go." Kurdy demanded.
"Here goes nothing." Marcus stated as he threw the vehicle into gear and they headed away from Clear Water Creek towards Thunder Mountain.
Please read and review... thanks to all who have read too... I am grateful that you have taken time to read my story...
