Underneath The Surface
Chapter 25 ~ Transforming Secrets
"A secret's worth depends on the people from whom it must be kept."
Carlos Ruiz Zafron
**Author's Notes: I hope the formatting of this chapter turns out because the last couple of chapters have sure been frustrating! Apparently the host has had some issues, so I'm relieved to know it's nothing I did. That being said, I hope you're enjoying this story as much as I am.**
Emma could see that Genesis' hands had been tied together. "You all right Genesis?"
The girl nodded.
"Turk, step away from the girl."
The big man wiped dried blood from his forehead. "And if I don't?" He snarled and glanced to his rifle that he'd set against a tree.
Emma never blinked. "Then I shoot you and leave your sorry ass here for the wolves and bears. Doesn't matter to me."
"You don't have the guts for it!"
Emma answered his accusation immediately with a shot so close to his feet, the dirt sprayed up into his face. "I'm a Sheriff back home and you aren't the first guy to underestimate me. Want to see what happens when I aim a few inches higher?"
Turk moved three feet to his right.
"So you do have a couple of brain cells. Good. Callie, in my back pocket is a pair of cuffs." Emma never took her eyes off the wrestler as she felt the cuffs slid from her pocket. "Hands behind your back, Turk. I see one movement I don't like and you won't have a manhood to worry about."
When the cuffs were around his wrists, Callie went to Genesis and started working on the rope. "Gen, what happened?"
"I was at the ruins when he surprised me. He pointed a gun at me and told me to walk." Once the rope was off her wrists, Genesis rubbed at her skin and looked at Emma. "Who are you?"
"That's Emma." Callie interjected. "She's staying at our place. Sheriff Stirling asked her to look for you. Thank God you're okay!" Callie threw her arms around her friend.
The two of them hugged for a minute, until Emma spoke up.
"Callie, you want to get some water and a snack for your friend?"
Callie nodded and as she was unzipping the pack she asked, "HIm too?"
"Kidnapping scum don't get privileges like that." Emma replied tightly. "Sit down, Turk."
The wrestler struggled, but sat cross-legged on the ground.
Keeping the rifle still in her right hand, Emma pulled out the radio and keyed the microphone button.
"This is Sheriff Emma Swan to Sheriff Stirling. Come in, Sheriff."
Only static answered her.
"Emma Swan to Sheriff Stirling."
A blast of static with background noise like someone was gargling was still her only answer.
Emma keyed the mic again. "If anyone can hear me, please inform Sheriff Stirling that I have the girl and one extra. I need transportation back. We are on-route to the ruins. I repeat, I have the girl, and one extra under guard. Need transportation. On-route to the ruins. Over."
She held her breath as she listened to the static and watched her prisoner scowl at her. Finally a voice broke through the white noise.
"Swan..."
The signal was sketchy, but a broken message came through.
"Stirling...notified...mother... Stirling...meet at ...the ruins..."
"Better than nothing. Callie, can you take point back to the ruins?"
Callie nodded.
"Good. Genesis, can you take the other pack? I need to watch Mr. Personality here." Emma jerked her chin at Turk. "On your feet. Any dumb-ass manoeuvres and I'll neuter you faster than you can run."
So they headed back with Callie in the lead, Genesis behind her, followed at a distance by a stumbling Turk while Emma brought up the rear. With Genesis carrying the other pack, Emma had slung Turk's rifle across her own shoulders. She watched him push his way through the underbrush, tripping and cursing. With all the noise Turk was making, she couldn't hear the conversation the girls were having up ahead.
"So what happened, Gen? Why'd you take off?" Callie asked.
Her friend was silent as she tried to decide how best to answer. Finally, she said, "So, in biology class, you get genetics, right?"
"Sort of." Callie shrugged. "I understand the theory of it, but I don't get why they tell us brown eyes are dominant, when now a bunch of other scientists are saying no, blue eyes were dominant until only a few generations ago. I mean, make up your mind, right?"
Genesis snorted and nodded. "I'd like to know where I get my dark hair from. My mom's is light, and I know she doesn't dye it."
Callie stepped over a fallen log. "Then I guess it's from your father."
"You're lucky, you got to spend most of your life with yours." Genesis said. "My mom just keeps saying that we don't need anyone. I asked her the other day if blue eyes ran in my family, and she could only tell me that her family all had brown eyes. She doesn't know what runs in my father's family. Who has a kid with someone without knowing stuff like that?"
Callie nodded. "Did you ever just come right out and ask her who your father is?"
"Yeah, I finally got tired of being given a run-around answer and asked her outright."
"Didn't go well, huh?"
Genesis made a face as her dark hair got caught on a branch. "You could say that. We fought. I got frustrated and left. I was only going to be out at the ruins for a little while, just till I cooled off, you know? But ..."
"Yeah, I get it. Turk found you." Callie stopped and looked her friend in the eye. "Truth time, Gen ... did he hurt you?"
"No, just scared me, really. He stopped one time, he was pissing on a bush, and I gave him a push into it and started running back, but he caught me. He slapped me, but only once. I'm just so glad you and Emma found me..."
Callie swallowed the lump in her throat and hugged Genesis again. "Me too." She whispered. After a moment, she turned and led the way through the trees once more.
"Sheriff!" A man came running across the field shouting, and Stirling had to squint to try and see who it was. It didn't take long before he identified Gerrold Scanton.
"Sheriff...they...made...contact..." The young man wheezed out.
"Slow down and catch your breath before you pass out."
Gerrold shook his head. "Sir, she made radio contact...she..."
"She who?"
"That sheriff...from the States...you sent...out." Gerrold was still breathing heavily.
"Sheriff Swan made radio contact?"
Gerrold nodded. "Yes sir. She was trying...to reach you but...she said... she needs a ride out."
"Did she find Genesis?"
Gerrold had regained control of his breathing. "Yes sir. She said she has the girl and one extra under guard. She said they were headed for the ruins."
"One extra?" Stirling asked him. "Under guard?" He turned to look across the field at the line of trees, trying to work out what Swan had meant. He was silent for a minute, and Gerrold used the opportunity to catch his breath better. Finally, the Sheriff turned back to him. "For some reason, she has more than just the girls with her. Round up the deputies, tell them to meet me in the trailer in twenty minutes. They are to come armed and on their ATV's."
"Yes, sir. Are you going to tell her mother?"
"Damn straight I am. Might be my only chance to ever be a hero in her eyes."
"Sir?"
"Nothing, just do as I've asked."
"Yes sir."
The lawman turned to a nearby ATV, turned the key and drove toward the farmhouse where an anxious mother waited.
When she heard the motor coming closer to the house, Genesis' mother stepped out on the porch. Once he had stopped the ATV and killed the engine, Sheriff Stirling mounted the wide steps.
"Don?"
"Olivia..."
"Oh God, tell me she's okay!" She sobbed.
Stirling stepped toward her and wrapped his arms around her. "Shhh...she's all right. She's been found. One of Patty's guests is a sheriff from Maine. Callie seems to trust her...she asked her to help look...they found her. They're on their way to the ruins now. I have to ride out and meet them. She's okay."
Olivia Taylor leaned her head against Stirling's chest and wept with relief. He let her cry for a couple of minutes before he finally spoke. "Liv...I have to get out there. She'll be home soon." He felt her nod against him, and she sniffled before stepping back.
He ran one hand down her arm. "I'll have her back soon, but Liv ... maybe it's time we finally tell her. There's no reason to keep fighting. Just give her the answers she wants. It gets harder to keep this secret every year."
"I don't know if I can, Don." Olivia looked at the floorboards beneath her bare feet.
"Just think about it, ok?"
She sniffed and nodded.
Stirling wiped a tear from her cheek. "I don't want to keep this secret anymore, Liv."
Then he turned away and went to bring Genesis home.
To be continued...