Chapter 13

Jimmy ran as fast as he could with Luke until they both gasped for breath. The night had settled in upon them. He eased Luke down to sit as he sat across from him. He pulled off one of his sleeves and wrapped it around Luke's head.

"Think we lost her?" Luke asked.

"Ain't sure. You feeling ok?"

"I'm still a little dizzy and got one hell of a headache but I'll make it."

"Good." Jimmy said grimacing as he sat back and looked up at the bright moon in the sky.

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah."

"You are hurting."

"Don't matter none. We both are in a mess. How the hell do we get in situations like this?"

"Talent." Luke smiled half-heartedly.

"I've said it before and I'm gonna say it again, why can't we be normal?"

"Where is the fun in that?"

"I'm getting too old for this shit."

"What's the plan?"

"I think we should try to double back and get the horses. Our things."

"What if she is waiting?"

"I don't want to hurt her but damn, I ain't walking anymore. We will do what we have to."

"What was that?" Luke said jumping around.

"I didn't hear anything."

"There it is again."

Jimmy quieted to listen as Luke turned to look at the darkness. Jimmy actually jumped back as the woman leapt from the darkness and onto Luke. She clawed at him and grabbed for his neck. Jimmy pushed to his feet and rushed over. He grabbed her around the waist to pull her off. She turned and punched him in the nose. He let go and fell back. She turned back to Luke. He looked at his father's bloody nose. He charged at her and pushed her back. She hit a tree and fell to the ground in a daze.

"Run, Dad!"

Jimmy and Luke stumbled away into the darkness under the moonlight.

Lou watched as their yard was transformed into a beauty. She was proud of the way it turned out. She hugged Dakota as she watched her young girl's run back and forth between the hay bales.

"Thank you for this."

"It was my pleasure. I love doing things like this. I used to plan big parties and things all the time before, well, you know."

"I think you should get back in it. People can always use the help."

"Maybe I will."

Lou looked out in the distance again.

"I'm sure they are fine and, on the way back." Dakota said.

"I hope so, but you don't know my boys. They can find trouble if they can't find anything else."

"If they aren't back soon, I'll send Buck out to look for them."

Lou nodded.

Jimmy and Luke pushed through the vines. They had walked all night. Jimmy flopped down on a tree stump out of breath.

"I figure we should be circling back to her camp."

"Dad, I think we are lost."

"We ain't lost. We are just taking the long way around. We are getting there."

"If you say so." Luke said.

"Let's get a quick rest then we'll head on."

"What was that?"

"Fuck, really?"

"Yeah. Run!"

They both took off into the trees as the woman ran behind them. They were running when suddenly they tripped. They fell down a steep slope. They rolled and flipped all the way down to the bottom. Jimmy lay on his back trying to regain his breath. He coughed and looked around for Luke. He saw him laying against a tree not far from him. His head was bleeding again.

"Luke? Luke?"

Jimmy went to move over to him when he felt a harsh pain in his arm. He jerked back and looked at it. He shook his head. He tucked his arm close and slid over to Luke. He shook him slightly.

"Luke, get up."

Lucas moaned and started to wake. He opened his eyes to see his father over him covered in dirt. He coughed and curled up in the middle grabbing his chest.

"You ok?"

"I think I landed on this damn tree. Hurt my ribs." Luke sucked air through his teeth as Jimmy helped ease him up. "Are you ok?"

"Think my wrist could be broken. This is shit for the birds." Jimmy looked up as they heard the woman stumbling down the hill.

"God, she just doesn't give up!" Jimmy said pulling himself and his son to their feet.

"You killed my Jenny!" The woman screamed as she climbed down.

Jimmy and Luke tried to run. They staggered along. Luke glanced over his shoulder and saw the woman gaining ground on him. He was in too much pain. He couldn't move any faster. Jimmy wasn't fairing much better.

"Luke! Look out!" Jimmy yelled as he shoved Lucas to the side.

The woman launched herself at him. She missed when Jimmy pushed him down. She flew over him and right over the edge of another deep ravine. She screamed all the way down until Luke heard a thump. He closed his eyes. Jimmy eased over to peer at the sheer drop off. He couldn't see the bottom. He turned back to Luke clutching his arm.

"Luke! You alright?"

"Yeah, it just hurts to breathe right now."

"Well, there is no way that she survived that fall."

"Thank God." Luke winced as he moved.

"It's over. Let's try to find the horses and get to town."