Chapter Nine:Leonie Cooper

Leonie Cooper was a 25 year old woman who lived in the forest, since the tragical death of her finance Steven. Her dad was a Ranger and after his death he inherited her his cabin. After Steven died, she left her old life behind and began her new life in the wilderness. She loved it here and knew this forest like no other.

She was a good friend of Johnny, one of the Rangers and often they bat her to control through the forest, which she did very likely.

The weather control warned this night about a raging storm, still she went out to control her area. She hadn't had a gun, but a knife to defence herself.

Now, she was out there and with each passing minutes the wind blew stronger and stronger. It began to rain and she had problems to keep herself steady, but somehow she managed it.

She was on her way back, when she stumbled over something.

Startled she stopped and shone with her flash light to the wooded ground.

Extremely wet, a male figure laid there lifeless. Despite of the strong wind and rain she decided to help this injured man.

So she kneeled down, feeling his pulse, it was there, but weak and erratic.

Sighing in relieve, she turned him on his back, discovering his tied up hands. Confused she pulled out her hunting knife to cut through the ropes. She knew that she had to head back quickly so that he wouldn't die on her but time was against her.

Distraught she thought quickly on how to bring him to her cabin. She couldn't carry him, but he had to move.

She pulled him up, arms around his upper body and dragged him through the forest. Normally she needed fifteen minutes for this way, but right now she needed forty-five minutes.

Totally exhausted she arrived at her home. With much difficulty she dragged him in her room and in her bed. She got out and took a fresh towel, brought it back to lay it on the nearby table. Next was a bowl with hot water, which was brought and then she stripped him off his dirty and thorn clothes. She was cleaning one of his wounds, when a low moan escaped his split lips. She stopped and sang a lullaby in a soothing voice. Shortly his breathing evened and she finished with her doing. After cleaning and bandaging his wounds, she pulled many blankets over him and left the room. Sighing she sat on the couch.

An hour later, she went back to her guest to check on him. Surprisingly he looked right at her. She smiled and went to his side.

"Hey, how you're doing?", she asked him. Her voice held a warmth in it and Leland felt safe and secure. He knew he could trust her.

"Sore, but alive, thanks to you!", he answered truthfully.

"You're welcome!", she blushed. "By the way, I'm Leonie and before you ask, you're in my cabin. I found you nearly dead and brought you here. Take some rest, I#ll make some soup!", she rambled, turning on her heels and went straight to the kitchen,.

Confused he watched her go. He really liked her smile. Slowly he moved to a more comfortable position, but groaned as pain shot through his ribs. Frustrated he gave up and shut his eyes.

Slowly he remembered every detail o his ordeal with William Mc Shaw. His breath quickened and his eyes shot open frightened.

"No!", he screamed.

Leonie stood before the stove and stirred some chicken soup as she heard his scream. Quickly she took the soup aside and ran back to his side.

Shocked at what she saw, her hand flew to her lips to hold back a gasped.

He was terribly shaken and cold sweat formed on his forehead. His breathing had quickened and tears were running down his handsome face. His eyes were wide open with fear. Carefully, not to scare him furthermore, she went to his side, bubbling soothing meaningless word to him.

"Sh, it's okay. Nobody will hurt you. You're safe here!", she whispered softly and her hand touched his shoulder, but he flinched away.

Scared and pleading he looked at her.

"Please, help me!", he whispered brokenly.

Her heart broke at his sight.

"Don't worry, honey, will do! But it's midnight and a terrible storm is raging outside. I'll contact the station firstly in the morning, okay?", she explained him.

He nodded and tried to smile but faltert.

"You're hungry?", she asked him.

"No!", he rasped out and turned his head away from her, ashamed of his tears, that were overwhelming him.

Sighing she sat down beside him and stroked his away. Now he didn't flinch away. A very long night laid ahead of her. She didn't know what exactly happened to him, but on thing she was certain, he needed help and that fast.

Two hours later, she awoke with a start. Confused she looked around. What did awake her? She strained her hearing and stood up. Quietly she left the room and went to the front door.

She opened it and looked around.

Her hand grabbed her knife as she heard rustling in the nearby bushes.

"Who's there!", she called out, her voice cold as ice.

"Whoa, easy there ice princess, it's only me!", called out a male voice and a second later a man with an lumberjack shirt and an unshaven face stood in front of her.

"Mc Shaw, what you're doing here in the middle of the night, sneaking around?", she asked growling. She didn't like this man. She was suspicious of him.

"Take it easy, babe!", he snarled at her.

"one and for all, I'm NOT your babe!", she grabbed her knife tightly. "Now answer me!"

"okay, okay! I'm looking for someone dangerous! You didn't stumbled on him by any chance, did you?

"No, and who is this dangerous someone!"

"A murderer!"

"Then leave it to the Rangers!"

"Won't you invite me inside? It's cold out here and the storm gets stronger and stronger!"

"No, I won't. Move your butt back to your cabin and leave me the hell alone!", she snapped at him.

"Ok, ok, I'll leave. But be careful!", he grinned and left where he came from.

Relieved she turned back and went inside. Once in the cabin. She closed the door and went to Leland. Inside the room she stood there wondering, if Mc Shaw had something to do with his condition. It definitely wouldn't surprise her. She sighed. She wouldn't leave his side, no matter what.

Leland tossed and turned, imprisoned in his tortured mind. He was once again left in this hell hole, tied to the stone wall.

"You know, Leland, you're good as dead to your father. He thinks you killed two men and one of them was your own brother. Duane Lee, if I'm correct, wasn't it?", he snarled. The cruel words, cutting deep into his heart and soul.

"No, you lie!" he shouted desperate.

"No, I don't!", His evil laugh filled the room.

"He's on the hunt. Hunting his own flesh and blood. Not one second he doubted it wasn't you. He don't trust and believe in you. You're nothing to him."

"No, that's not true!", Leland whispered, tears streaming down his face.

"oh believe me, my boy.", Mc Shaw said, kicking him in his gut. Leland screamed.

She watched him in his nightmare. Not sure if she should wake him or not. It was heart wrenching.

"no...no... please no more!", he cried in his sleep.

"What happened to you?", she asked herself sadly.

Softly she stroked his cheek and whispered soothing words to him. Slowly he calmed down a bit, but his nightmare still remained.

She was at a loss at what to do. How could she help him furthermore?

She could only hope, that the storm would soon be over so that she could call for help.

At the Ranger station

Beth and Dog laid cuddled on the folding bed, holding each other close to give comfort.

Tim couldn't sleep at all. He tossed and turned. His thoughts remained to the hell hole that they had found. Where was Leland? Was he even alive? Or hurt? He wondered himself. In the end, he stood up and went to the kitchen. He needed a very strong coffee and that now! He started the coffee machine and looked thoughtfully out the window. The raging storm weakened slowly but surly. Sighing he grabbed a cup and poured himself some coffee.

"Where are you, son?", he whispered, sipping on his coffee.

The whole family was hurt and the worst part, he didn't know how to help them.

He looked to the watch and it read 4 am.

Only two more hours to go and he could finally go into action.

About ten minutes later Johnny walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of black coffee.

"Couldn't sleep?", he asked worried.

"No, my thoughts are always by Leland!", Tim sighed and took a sip.

"I understand, but you need to rest!"

"Oh believe me I know!", he snapped.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you!", Tim apologized, looking ashamed.

"Don't worry, no harm done!", Johnny smiled and patted him on the shoulder in a friendly manner.

"We will find him!", Johnny assured him!

"I hope so, I really do!", whispered Tim and looked down into his cup.

Two hours later

Dog and Beth stirred and got out of bed.

Stretching they went hand in hand into the kitchen, meeting Tim and Johnny standing by the window.

"Good morning!", grumbled Beth, followed with a big yawn.

Tim smiled.

"Good morning, to you too.. Ready to go?", asked Tim in a serious tone.

Beth and Dog nodded.

!Okay, in half an hour, we're heading out. Be ready by then!", Johnny said and left the kitchen.

Dog looked worried at his brother and raised an eyebrow.

"Did you sleep at all?"

Tim shook his head, Dog knew him too well.

"I couldn't sleep!", he sighed and Beth hugged him tightly.

"Come on let's get ready!"

They left the kitchen to change some clothes.

Right at that moment the telephone rang and Johnny hang up.

"Ranger station, Johnny Matthews speaking... Oh hey, Leonie, how you're doing... Okay, what happened?... What? Are you sure?... okay stay were you are, we're on our way... Bye!", he ended the call and turned to the Chapman family. Three pairs of confused eyes starred at him. He grinned.

"Good news! That was Leonie Cooper a good friend of us. She found Leland last night in the middle of the forest. He was unconscious but alive and she took him in.!", he explained and look in unbelieving faces.

"Is he okay?"m, asked Dog shaking.

"Some scratching, bruising and cracked ribs. He#S resting now, but we have to hurry. Mc Shaw showed up last night. He could come back every minute as we speak."

"What are we waiting for, then?", asked Dog and rushed out of the station, closely followed by Beth and Tim.

Johnny came to them a minute later, because he had called the paramedics.

A few minutes later they were racing through the forest to Leonie Coopers cabin.

At Leonie's cabin

Leonie hang up the phone. Slightly relieved that help was on the way.

She went to her room and was greeted with a soft smile.

"Hey!"

"Hey, to you too. How you're feeling!", she asked worried.

"I don't know. Everything hurts!"

"Understandable. By the way, help is on the way very soon!"

"Thank you!", he said smiling and reached for her hand. Smiling she took the offered hand and squeezed it.

"You're welcome!", she whispered softly and kissed him on top of his head.

Leland closed his eyes comfortably and sighed.

"Will I ever see you again?"

"Maybe!", she whispered smiling mystically.

Standing up, she left the room.

Once outside, she was met with a riffle pointing in her face.

Mc Shaw stood in front of her with an evil smile.

"Hi Leonie! I would like to meet your new friend in there!"

"What do you want from him? He has suffered enough, don't you think!"

He laughed

"That's none of your business sweety!, he snarled madly.

"Take your knife out and put it on the table there!"

She did as he ordered and put the knife on the table.

"Good, now go to him!", he ordered her around. She turned around and went with raised hands to the room.

She entered it and looked warningly at Leland. He sighed but he understood, the nightmare wasn't over yet.

Mc Shaw followed Leonie closely and grinned at the injured man.

"Hi there! Did you really think you could escape me so easily?", he spat angrily.

"No but I hoped so!", mumbled Leland.

"Now get up!", Mc Shaw ordered.

Slowly Leland was fighting to get out of the bed but failed.

"You're so pathetic, Chapman. Help him!"

Leonie nodded and went to aid him.

"Everything will be alright!", she whispered in his ear.

He nodded softly and with her help he stood up and in front of his nemesis.

"Now, get you butt outside!", Mc Shaw shouted angrily.

Leonie stood by Leland's side and helped him to get outside.

Hardly they made it, a Jeep came to a halt in front of them. Leland was barley concious but he tried to held on. Unbelieving Mc Shaw came to an abrupt stop as he spotted Dog in the car. Rage and frustration rolled through Mc Shaw as he grabbed Leland by his neck an squeezed. Helpless Leland grabbed weakly the arm around his neck and was fighting to get some air in his lungs.

Dog, Beth and Tim starred upset at the scene in front of them.

Only Johnny kept his cool and held his riffle on his target.

"It's over Mc Shaw!", he shouted.

"It's over, when I say it is! Hello Duane, it's been a long time!"

"Why?", Dog whispered brokenly.

"Don't you dare, Chapman. You took mine, it's only fair, that I take yours, don't you think?"

"No, please, don't!", begged Beth with tears in her eyes.

But Mc Shaw only laughed and squeezed tighter.

With every passing minute Leland got weaker. Leonie, who stood behind Mc Shaw this whole time, saw her chance and tackled Mc Shaw to the ground. His grip loosened and Leland fell to the ground. He tried to stay concious, but he failed and he knew no more.