Chapter Forty-One
Nate stabilized the cart and pulled the burlap hood off Maris's head. It reeked of onions and whatever it had held previously.
"Maris? Maris? Can you hear me?"
She did not respond.
He was relieved that she had a strong pulse despite her pale pallor. The whiteness of her skin was accentuated by the large red whelp on her cheek and below her eye.
His cut hands kept dripping blood on her and leaving ghastly smears.
Nate untied her bloody wrists, hastily wounded by how quickly she was tied up. He winched with pain as the rope irritated his own fingertips and deep cuts. She didn't move a bit as he picked the rope strands out of the cuts.
He gently picked her up and carried her to the porch of the dormitory.
A night watchman rode up, "Heard a shot? What happened to the lady?"
"Please go check on her driver. He was knocked out inside—shot—-please he's a good man." Nate pleaded.
He nodded but stared back at Nate and Maris with suspicion. He didn't move trying to ascertain the situation.
Nate gave him a brief description of what had happened so the man would understand.
"There is a dead man behind the home. Man who shot him took off on foot. He was kidnapping this young lady. I shot him in the leg. Here is my gun. While I was trying to get there, someone finished him off."
Nate handed him his gun. The man put it in his waistband deciding to trust Nate's story.
"What happened to you?"
Nate looked down at his bloody hands and soaked shirt, "Window. Trying to get to her,"
Two groundskeepers came around the corner to investigate.
"Help this man with the lady."
They helped Nate make Maris comfortable as the watchman finally checked on Grover. They pulled out some blankets from inside and covered her. They pulled a white sheet out to bandage Nate's hands.
—-&—-
"Going for the doctor. He's still on campus. Got the bleeding stopped. Bullet passed right through him."
The watchman finally came out from checking on Grover.
"Is he ok?"
"He lost a lot of blood but he's coming around. Asking for a Nick?"
Nate looked up still cradling the unconscious Maris, "Yes, he and Jarrod Barkley across campus. Longleaf dormitory."
Several more men showed up as the groundskeeper went for the brothers. The doctor showed up and went inside first to check on Grover.
—-&—-
Jarrod and Nick ran as fast as they could with their sons trailing them to the other side of campus. The sight of the listless Maris in Nate's lap startled them to think the worst. She had Nate's blood all over her.
"Is she?"
"No Nick, she is breathing very well. Knocked her out with something. She's sleeping—-deeply still. Doc said to give it twenty minutes when he was shown the bottle the man used."
Chip and JT watched with terror in their eyes. They were untypically silent as they observed the scene before them.
Nate motioned over to the man covered in a saddle blanket, "Jarrod? He's dead. I shot him in the leg but his partner finished him off—- guess he was afraid he would talk. Went off on foot. Didn't want to leave Maris and Grover."
Nick carefully traded places with Nate as he continued to explain what he knew. He cradled Maris's head and placed it on his arm.
"Grover?"
"Inside. Shot. Going to make it. Looks like they were set up—-surprise. Jarrod, there is evidence in the wagon. Pushcart. Chinese fireworks labels."
Nick rubbed the huge bruise swelling on her cheek as he listened to Nate. His jaw was clenched and taut—he kept his steely eyes on Maris. And he did not say a word.
—&—-
The groundskeepers came out of the dormitory with Grover on a makeshift blanket stretcher.
"Nick! I am real sorry. I tried to take care of Miz Maris. I tried. Is she alive?"
"Grover, you did your best. Gave yourself up for her. She is alive. Will be coming around. Thank you friend for keeping your word to me. I won't ever forget."
"Thank ya. Nick. Let her know I tried."
"I will. You take care and I will be there soon to check on ya."
Maris made her first sounds and moaned, "I am here honey. Not leaving ya."
"Uhhh. Swans—"
Nick squeezed her hand and gave her a smile, "Yep swans."
They brought another wagon around after Grover was taken to the hospital. Nick picked up Maris without help and placed her in the wagon. He jumped in the back with her.
Jarrod patted his shoulder, "Let me take care of this. You get Maris to Nate's. I am going to do my damndest to keep your name out of the police report,"
He nodded in solidarity. The groundsman helped Nate up into the front seat with his damaged and bleeding hands.
Jarrod walked back to the constables and gave the rest of the statements; no one asked the name of the man in the back of the wagon. Jarrod was relieved.
He walked through the crime scene again and looked through the wagon. He noted all the evidence and looked around for the possible hiding places of the accomplice—-the murderer of the kidnapper.
"The shed? The woods? Why was this dormitory completely empty? There are quite a few missing pieces of the puzzle? And all have Autonberry written all over them."
He walked through a second time and then rejoined the boys.
"Pappy? Where is James David?"
"That's the question we would all like to know, Son."