CHAPTER 72
Elizabeth had hidden her gun in her calf, tied with ribbons from her garter belt. It was a discreet and effective hiding place, ensuring that if anyone went to check if she was armed, they wouldn't find anything.
On reaching the hut, Elizabeth was ready to leave when she was surprised by strong arms that grabbed her tightly. Despair seized her, and her screams echoed through the surrounding woods.
Despite her frantic efforts to free herself, her attacker was much stronger and bigger than her. A violent punch hit her stomach, causing her to fall to her knees on the ground, the pain pulsing through her body as she struggled to catch her breath.
- This is where you belong! You cow ... you have to get down on your knees before me.
- Who are you? Why are you doing this to me? Elizabeth spoke slowly because of the pain.
- I'm your worst nightmare.
- Please! I just want my children. Who are you?
- Your children... laughed the man... I'm Charles Spurlok, and I've come to avenge the death of my brother Julio Spurlok, who went to jail because of you and Jack Thorton.
- But Julio Spurlok was wrong. He bullied a poor widow.
- For today you will suffer, as I did. You will lose those two young people.
- Please. Don't do anything. She was crying.
Charles grabbed Elizabeth brutally by the hair, pulling her violently off the ground. With a sudden gesture, he lifted her up, easily immobilizing her by pulling her arms back.
Just then, a tall man appeared near the cabin door. It was Wade, who revealed himself as Charles Spurlok's brother. His eyes sparked with a sinister mixture of triumph and cruelty as he observed the scene before him.
The two men had cold stares and macabre smiles, and Charles began to speak:
- Come on Wade, get it over with.
Elizabeth watched in horror as the man poured the kerosene and set fire to the cabin. The flammable liquid caught fire instantly, and in a matter of seconds, the flames began to grow, turning the place into a blazing inferno. The intense heat of the flames was palpable, enveloping everything in its devouring fury.
Tied up with her hands behind her back and her feet together, Elizabeth was left lying on the ground, helpless in the face of the terrible scene unfolding before her eyes. As the two men left the scene, their cruel laughter echoed in the air, accompanied by their sinister threats.
- You're in for more pain, they taunted. But first, we're going to let you watch your children burn alive.
Despair and anguish gripped Elizabeth as she found herself helpless in the face of the impending tragedy, struggling against the bonds that held her and crying out for a miracle that could save her and her children from the terrible fate that awaited them.
Her screams echoed in the air amidst the crackling flames, as she struggled frantically, desperately trying to escape the inferno that was consuming her existence. Her world was being torn apart before her very eyes, each flash of fire illuminating her anguish and despair.
The pain consumed her, every breath a struggle against the suffocating smoke that filled her lungs and the agonizing screams that threatened to steal her voice. But amid the chaos and hopelessness, a glimmer of hope appeared when she heard her husband's familiar voice.
Nathan came running in, his face marked by determination and his heart heavy with fear for the fate of his wife and children. Elizabeth could barely articulate the words about the children before she saw Nathan, Robert and Bill bravely dive into the burning cabin.
Elizabeth's despair increased when she saw Cody approaching, deftly cutting the ropes that held her prisoner. But hesitation overtook Cody at the sight of his teacher's impressive strength, forcing him to resort to tactics learned from the mounties to keep her safe in the midst of the fiery chaos.
He dropped her hard to the ground, his own body practically crushing hers as he immobilized her. It was a desperate tactic, but the only way he could find to keep her safe in that moment of chaos and destruction.
The men returned, witnessing the harrowing scene before them. Nathan looked at his wife, his heart clenching with pain and fear for what might happen. Cody warned Nathan to prepare himself, cautioning him about the surprising strength of Elizabeth, who seemed to see nothing but the devouring flames around her.
Cody carefully moved away from Elizabeth, but it was Bill who was shocked to witness the speed and agility with which she stood up, knocking him down. However, Nathan was at the front, ready to contain the hurricane of emotions that was overtaking his wife.
In this desperate woman, he saw a determined mother, willing to face any challenge to save her children from imminent death. Maternal love was an unstoppable force, capable of pushing Elizabeth beyond her own physical and mental limits.
The impact was intense, and Nathan had to struggle to contain his wife, almost being dragged to the ground with her.
- Elizabeth could play American soccer and still take down the best players, he thought, while trying to hold back his laughter at the situation.
But he knew there was a fierce determination behind that physical strength. If Elizabeth could, she would probably try to put out the fire with her bare hands.
And with a lot of skill, he managed to hug his wife tightly, and kept talking until she understood the message.
- The children weren't in the hut, calm down, my love.
It took her a while to understand the gravity of the situation, but when she finally did, tears of relief flooded her eyes, flowing like a torrent in the midst of a relentless storm. Each drop was a silent testimony to her anguish, her pain, and also to the renewed hope that welled up in her torn heart.
Nathan watched his wife crumble before his eyes, her expression fading in a mixture of overwhelming emotions. Her eyes lost their shine, and only the opaque white remained, reflecting the intensity of the despair that consumed her inside. With trembling legs and no strength, Elizabeth fell into her husband's protective arms, finding temporary refuge in his safe embrace.
With care and determination, Nathan lifted his wife into his arms, feeling the weight of her fragility and the strength of his love. Robert, always present and loyal, offered his help, helping Nathan onto his horse Newton. As he rode back to the café with Elizabeth unconscious and pale in his arms, Nathan whispered a solemn promise in her ear, his words laden with an unbreakable commitment:
- I will find our children... I promise you, my love. Each word was a solemn oath, a promise made under the weight of uncertainty and fear, but also fueled by the fierce determination of a father willing to face any obstacle to reunite his family once again.