Authors: Janet Durbin
Her words slowly sank in. She was glad to hear them, even though she wasn't sure if she believed them. “Who saved us?"
"Would you believe ... Franklin?
Nature frowned, “Franklin?"
"The detective from Atlanta. He caused a lot of grief while we were hunting for you, but we managed to find you anyways. In the end, he made up for his bungling. He shot the asshole that kidnapped you."
"I have to see Web.” She shoved the covers out of the way. She had to make sure he was really alive.
Sandy stood, blocking her way. “You're not strong enough yet. You need to rest."
"If you don't get out of my way, I'll knock the crap out of you."
"Go ahead ... try it."
Nature shoved on Sandy's shoulder while throwing her legs closer to the side of the bed. The woman barely moved. Her left ankle throbbed when it hit the floor.. It was wrapped in a soft cast. Nature tried to stand.. The effort left her winded. She flopped into Sandy's hovering arms. They were the only things preventing her from going all the way down. Sandy hit the call button.
"Can I help you?” The voice said from the call box located on the wall.
"The patient is overly anxious and needs something to calm her down. She's trying to get out of bed."
Nature pleaded with her, “I need to see Web ... I need to see if he's okay."
Sandy held her upright, waiting for assistance. “Not until you're stronger."
"We'll send the nurse right in.” The box squelched when the person speaking turned it off.
The door opened and a nurse walked in with several syringes in her hand. The nursing assistant walked in behind her and helped Sandy put Nature back into the bed. She pulled the lower rail up to prevent any further attempts to escape and flicked on the bed exit alarm. Nature did not have the energy to resist. Sweat covered her brow and her muscles shook from her exertion. They felt like they were made of jello.
She watched as the nurse spun the syringe onto the IV site in her arm and pushed the clear liquid into the vein. She glared at everyone in the room. Her eyelids became as heavy as lead weights. They lowered. She snapped them open. The weights exerted their pressure once more, forcing the lids shut. Again, she snapped them open.
"Don't fight it,” Sandy said. “I'll keep him safe until you can take over.” She grabbed Nature's hand.
Nature felt her sincerity through the grip. She knew Sandy would keep her promise. She disappeared into the drug-induced land of slumber, uttering one word before she slept, “Web."
Three days later, she was able to get out of the bed and into a wheelchair with minimal assistance. Sandy pushed her into the hall, toward the elevators. While they waited for its arrival, the secretary hummed a tune under her breath, her foot bouncing to the tempo. Nature smiled up at her, a finger tapping in response. It was a song from her favorite band. She returned her attention to the elevator when a ding sounded. The wheelchair rolled over the track for the doors and Nature pushed the button for the fourth floor. They were heading to the intensive care unit.
Nature squirmed in the seat. She was anxious, anxious to see Web. This was her first visit since they arrived at the hospital six days ago. Sandy warned her that he still had many IV's hooked up to him and that he had a chest tube. At least he was off the ventilator and breathing fine on his own.
Sandy already had clearance to enter. She pushed the auto door opener and waited until they swung out of the way. She turned to the right after they were past them. Solid walls partitioned the rooms, but glass faced toward the walkway, allowing the staff to watch the patients inside without difficulty.. Nature saw an old woman, her eyes closed, her family hovering at her bedside, and a middle-aged man with tubes coming out of every visible opening. Then, a room with the curtains drawn came into view. She heard voices inside. Several females giggled. As they pulled up to the entrance, the curtains opened.
Nature saw a couple of staff walking around. One was pouring out a pan of water. They smiled when they saw her. “We knew you were coming so had to spiff him up a bit.” Stepping out of the way, the tech asked, “What do you think?"
Her heart nearly flew out of her chest. Web looked at her with his beautiful hazel eyes. He gave her a weak smile and reached for her. Before Sandy was able to push her in, Nature rolled herself to his side.
"Hey beautiful” The words sounded hoarse because the breathing tube had irritated his vocal cords. They were still adjusting to the fact that the tube was out of the way, that they were allowed to work now.
Tears welled in her eyes. She took his hand in hers and pulled it against her face.. “I love you."
"Love you, too.” He stroked the side of her face with a finger, careful not to rub the bruises too hard. “Never going to leave you again. Hope you can handle that."
"You betcha, mister.” She smiled and the tears overflowed onto his hand.
Sandy and the staff discreetly exited, leaving the two alone. No one had dry eyes when they left.
Three and a half weeks later, Nature sat in an easy chair in the study, the one with the fireplace. A blanket covered her lap to ward off the afternoon chill; she held a cup of hot tea in her hands.. Glancing beside her, she saw Web tip a cup of coffee toward his lips. She took a sip. Her gaze returned to the dancing flames behind the protective screen. The fire reflected throughout the room, making it feel alive. They were waiting
The door opened and Sandy poked her head in. “They're here.” She disappeared back the way she came, the door left open.
Nature set the cup down and removed the blanket. She draped it over the back of her chair before moving behind the one holding Web. Grabbing the handles, she wheeled him to the other study, the one for visitors and company. He leaned forward, eager to see the occupants. Web continued to be dependent on the wheelchair, but rigorous physical therapy helped him get stronger every day. He was able to walk from the front door to the kitchen before he had to sit and catch his breath.
The pair entered to find several people inside. The new sheriff for Garfield County rose to his feet.. He twirled his hat in his hand. It was Officer Spangle, from Brevard County, now Sheriff Spangle. When he came to ask for Nature's help with a case, several weeks ago, he was so taken by the beauty of the area, he decided to move here.. He won the election held after the county discovered the current sheriff could no longer continue at his position. He moved quickly to Web, shaking the extended hand with vigor. He glanced at the woman behind him.
"Mrs. Kranderson ... I mean ... Mrs. Westerly.” He tipped his head instead of shaking her hand.
"Nature, please.” She reached for his hand.
He took it, grinning with embarrassment over not calling her by her correct name. “Dan, please call me Dan."
"Dan. Thank you for coming out today. I know how busy you are, getting to know the new job and all."
"Well, I do have to get to know the people I'll be working with.
All
of them.” He gave her a crooked smile.
"Dear ... we have people waiting.” Web nodded toward the man in a pinstriped suit, with graying hair, standing patiently near the French doors. They could see men in dark suits walking the perimeter beyond the glass. Dark sunglasses hid their eyes.
Nature nodded her head. “Senator Enesco."
"Mrs. Westerly, Mr. Westerly.” The Senator smiled as he said her new name. “I'm glad to see the two of you doing so well.” Looking at the woman standing behind the wheelchair and the man in it, he closed the distance between them. The smile faded as he continued. “I want to apologize for what my son, Jonah, did. He wasn't himself."
Nature gripped the handles harder than necessary.. The mention of the kidnapped son brought back the memories of him as a child, when he was brutally assaulted, before she found him and returned him to his family. It also resurfaced the memories of him as a man ... the man, the one who kidnapped her and almost killed her and Wes in the process. She had not recognized him because of the changes that occurred with healing and aging.
She guided Web next to the couch. Once his chair was situated, she sat down, indicating for the others to do the same. The Senator sat in the chair across from them.. Sheriff Spangle moved to the French doors and peered outside. Nature smiled. The way he stood reminded her of a younger Web. Senator Enesco started talking. She forced her attention back onto him.
"I met Francine before I started into politics. She already had Jonah from a previous marriage. He was three. I felt sorry for the lad; he seemed so shy, so withdrawn, even at that age.” He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and laced his fingers together.
"I wasn't his father, but I tried to be. Throughout the years I was married to his mother, I took his camping and fishing and did all the things a dad did with his son. But, when my political career took off, our outings became less and less. The kidnapping several years later didn't help matters. When he was returned to us,” he gave Nature a half smile, which faded when he continued, “he always clung to his mother.
I thought it was because of the brutal treatment given by the kidnappers.” The Senator's voice broke as he remembered the boy's bruised and swollen face, the cut lip, the battered body, and the charges of sexual misconduct. “I never suspected it was because of Francine. Little did I know she had already damaged him beyond any chance of recovery, that the kidnapping would have little effect on him. Little did I know she was already too far gone herself. She hid it so well."
He raised his eyes to meet the couple watching him. “When I found out how sick the boy was, I insisted on counseling. For years, we bounced from one psychiatrist to another, with the same results. I kept this fact from the papers. I wanted to spare the boy more public shame later in life. Finally, when nothing seemed to be working, I insisted he be institutionalized. His mother wouldn't hear of it. She saw nothing wrong with him. Since I hadn't adopted him when we married, I had no say in the matter. I decided it was time to leave. I couldn't stay where I wasn't wanted. Jonah was eleven when I divorced his mother."
"I heard about the mutilation of animals and the case from eight years ago, the one where the girl was raped and killed. I didn't believe it was him. I couldn't,” the Senator continued. “But after he moved from the area, the killings stopped. It seemed like too much of a coincidence."
"Why didn't you contact the police?” Web asked. His voice still had some of the hoarseness from the hospital stay. Nature saw his posture stiffen with anger.
Enesco sighed. “I don't know. I guess I couldn't believe that quiet shy little boy could do those kinds of violent acts.” He sat back. “His mother moved a lot and I lost track of them. I occasionally heard about them from other people. But, when I found my current wife Gene, I quit looking. I had a new family and my political career to worry about. I didn't want something from my past to come back and bite me in the ass."
"How do they feel?"
"What?"
"The bite marks covering your ass."
Standing, the senator clasped his hands behind his back and paced around the chair to the area behind it. “I said I was sorry. If I could make it all go away, I would."
"That doesn't help the ones he killed, or almost killed ... now does it.” Web was glad he was still dependent on the chair. If he'd been able to, he would have crossed the room and knocked the shit out of him, thus getting himself into deep trouble. He grabbed Nature's hand and held it tight. She squeezed it in understanding.
"No ... it doesn't.” His eyes diverted toward the floor. “You know,” he paused.. “I learned his mother died at his hands. He did the very same thing to her; he killed her while having sex, making her suffer a long time before she died. Ironic isn't it?” A tense silence followed his statement.
Nature broke the silence. She rose to her feet and extended a hand toward the older man. “Thank you for coming, Senator. I know how uncomfortable this must be."
Enesco came around the chair and gripped her hand in his. “I'm sorry for your suffering. If I can ever do anything for you, you just let me know, okay?” He released her and walked to the glass doors. He halted next to them and added, “If you're ever in California, come by and see us. Gene would love to meet you.” He exited before she had a chance to reply.
"Nature, Web. See you soon.” Sheriff Spangle put his hat on and followed the senator out.
Web turned on her the moment they were alone. “What did you do that for?"
Nature walked to the side of the wheelchair and squat down. “Web, he's suffered enough. The media's having a field day with this. They're accusing him of knowing about it all along and doing nothing. All because the killer was family at one time.."
"Well ... he just admitted that."
"No, Web ... he said he suspected. One can't be put away for suspicion alone."
"But..."
"But nothing!” She stood and placed her hands on her hips in irritation. “It's over ... move on. Don't bring yourself down by dwelling on something you can't do anything about!"
Web stared at her in shock. He chuckled, “Man, you and Sandy are two peas in a pod. I don't know how I'm going to make it with the both of you giving me verbal whiplash."
Mollified, Nature got up and moved to the back of the chair. She guided Web into the hall. They passed through the kitchen, heading outside to the patio. Sandy joined them.
"Feel better?"
"Now that you mention it ... Yeah,” Nature said with a smile.
Web glanced up at her, “Speak for yourself, woman. I won't feel any better until this cavernous pit called a stomach is filled.
Sandy grinned. She went inside and brought three plates out to the table. Sandwiches and chips covered each. After setting them down, she sat opposite Nature, Web parked between them. All three stared at the rays of the setting sun, admiring the beautiful scenery, eating the food in quiet contentment.. No one wanted to disturb the wondrous display with idle chatter. Sandy took the dishes inside to get drinks when everything was gone. The phone rang while she was there.. She picked it up, listened, then began to write information on a notepad next to the phone.