Authors: Kim McMahill
Inside, they sat for a moment in the darkness, listening to the sounds of yelping dogs and the comforting chorus of children laughing. They waited in silence. Soon Jessica’s ears adjusted to the sensations of the new environment and her eyes to the modest light from the moon and stars.
“You two stay here and I’ll go check this place out and see if I can find us something to eat and determine if our buddies have returned home. Do either of you know how to shoot?”
“I do,” Megan replied. “My dad used to take me hunting when I was a little girl. He always wanted a boy, so I tried to do my best.”
“Okay. Keep this within reach and don’t be afraid to use it if you have to.” Jack handed the pistol to Megan. “It’s a semi-automatic and you have six shots. It’s ready to go. If you need to, just pull the trigger. Any questions?”
“Don’t you need the gun? You’re more likely to run into someone in the village than we are to be found out here in an abandoned shack,” Megan asked.
“I can take care of myself, but if anyone sneaks up on you two, you’re sitting ducks in here. Try not to let that happen. But, if you’re cornered use the gun and don’t forget you have some seriously heavy firepower on you as well.”
Jessica watched as Megan handled the pistol with confidence. Megan had previously indicated she was no stranger to the weapon, but Jessica still would have never pictured the tall blonde co-ed out hunting with her father in the woods of Alabama and was somewhat envious she had spent that kind of time with her father.
She wouldn’t have cared what she and her father did as long as they could have done it together. Jessica had grown up in a fishbowl and had never spent any quality time with him. He loved her, she had no doubt, but he loved politics just as much and over the years he seemed to forget there was a life outside of Washington D.C.
Jack slipped out and vanished before Jessica could argue with him about splitting up. She and Megan sat with their backs against the wall facing the open door. She glanced down and noticed the pistol lying in Megan’s lap with her hand next to it. She looked ready to draw at a moment’s notice and Jessica’s curiosity peeked.
“I would have never placed you as a gun slinger,” Jessica teased.
“I haven’t shot in years, but when I was young we went out a lot and those are some of my fondest memories. When Dad remarried we quit going. It’s pretty difficult to spend time with him alone anymore, besides when my older sisters married my dad finally got the sons he never had. What about your father? It must be tough finding time with him with both of you having such demanding jobs.”
Jessica could sense sadness in Megan’s voice and figured the change of subject to her own father was intended to avoid talking about what pained her. Jessica was no longer envious of Megan, but felt they probably shared a common desire.
“It seems like the only time I see him anymore is at political functions and fundraisers. I hate those things with a passion, but usually go just to see him. I bailed on him the night before my friend and I left for Mexico. Now I wish I’d have gone, but I just wasn’t in the mood to deal with Phillip. What if I never see my father again?”
“We’ll make it. You’ll see him again.”
It seemed to Jessica that Megan matured more every day. A few days ago she was a sobbing mess and Jessica had worried that Ashley’s death would send her into shock, but now she was a pillar of strength, offering comfort as much as taking it.
“So who’s Phillip?”
Jessica rolled her eyes. Even thinking about him made her tired. “I suppose most people would say he’s my boyfriend, but I’ve lost those feelings for him and right before I came to Mexico he put me in a very uncomfortable position that damaged our relationship, from my point of view, even further. I should have been honest with him, my father and myself years ago, but we work together and our fathers serve in the Senate together. Both families have always assumed we would marry one day. I just haven’t wanted to disappoint my father or cause any problems. It’s been easier to play along than to confront either of them.”
“Oh, I assumed you were here with Jack. My friends and I saw you at the bar with him and his friends the night before the tour. We were pretty jealous. You and your girlfriend seemed to be having a wonderful time with the three best looking men in the bar. The next day you sat together on the bus and he jumped up when you were grabbed at the ruins. When you sleep you always have your head on his shoulder and he has his arm around you.”
Jessica hadn’t thought about Jack that way. At first she thought he was annoying and cocky, and then she suspected he was less likely to hit on her than Dave, and after their abduction, he was the only one she could trust. Now she wasn’t sure what to think. She depended on him and had panicked when she thought he’d left her, but there was something troubling him
¾
something keeping him from getting close to anyone. She hadn’t felt comfortable prying into his personal life, but the longer they were together the more she wanted to find out what haunted him.
A twig snapped outside. Jessica froze and watched as Megan’s hand slid over the gun and lifted it to a ready position. Another twig snapped and Megan’s finger rested lightly on the trigger. Jessica’s heart nearly stopped as flashes of fabric passed by the gaps between the boards of the wall. Jack had been wearing shorts and there was no skin in view as the person walked the length of the wall. The sound of the footsteps stopped just before the person reached the open door. Megan’s eyes were focused and her hand was steady.
“It’s me.”
The sound of Jessica and Megan simultaneously exhaling cut the silence as Jack stepped into view. Megan slowly lowered the gun to her lap and put a hand to her chest.
“Good girl. You could have done it if you had to and you would have saved yours and Jessica’s lives.” Jack knelt down in front of them, set his bundle on the ground and patted Megan’s scraped and bloody knee.
Reclaiming the gun, he re-stashed it in the back of the waistband of the ragged khaki-colored pants he now wore.
“No sign of our buddies and it was easy pickings out there. Sorry I didn’t get you gals anything new to wear, but all I saw were brightly colored dresses hung on the lines and thought you’d prefer your shorts. Didn’t think anyone would miss this one old pair of pants, but they might’ve noticed if I took too much.”
“We need a better system if you leave us again. Megan could have shot you and I wouldn’t have blamed her. We could see you through those gaps and you weren’t wearing what you had on when you left.”
Jack glanced over at the wall and could see where he could have easily gotten himself shot, but he was relieved to learn Jessica and Megan were alert and observant. He had never doubted Jessica, but Megan had pleasantly surprised him over the last couple of days. She too was strong and resourceful and he was developing a deep fondness and respect for her. He’d always avoided tall perky blondes, believing the usual stereotypes, but Megan was nothing like he would have ever imagined. There was nothing ditzy or weak about this blonde.
“I was able to pilfer some bananas, a chicken leg and a couple of tortillas. I burnt my fingers snatching those off the fire, but it’ll be worth it. Sorry, there are only a couple bites of meat each, but it should give us a little boost. Hopefully all those dogs will get blamed for the thefts.”
After they ate, they spread the blanket over them and tried to get some rest. Megan turned away from Jessica, resting her shoulder on the wall, and as usual it didn’t take her long to drift off.
Jessica wasn’t sure what to do. She liked the feel of leaning against Jack when they rested and having his arm around her, but she hadn’t thought about how it had looked or what he thought about her actions. She wasn’t sure if she could sleep without feeling his warmth and she needed to rest in order to keep up her strength and awareness. She sat with her back stiff against the wall, her eyes focused straight ahead.
“You mad I didn’t get you a pretty new outfit?” he teased.
“Of course not, though something clean would have given you my undying love.”
“Then why are you so distant? You’re usually all snuggled up to me by now, but tonight you look as rigid as an ice sculpture.”
She felt like a fool. Ever since they had been abducted she hadn’t thought about how anything looked. All she had thought about was staying alive and escaping. She had been scared, angry and exhausted and had reached out for whatever she could grab. Now that Megan had brought it to her attention and she had to think about her actions, everything changed. Collapsing into Jack’s arms was no longer just a reflex.
“You need to rest. You’ve barely slept since we escaped and you probably can’t sleep with me leaning on you every night.”
“At this point, I’m not sure I could sleep if you weren’t.” He reached over and pulled her close.
Jessica wasn’t sure what he meant, but didn’t fight him. She rested her head on his chest and listened to his heart beat
. Does he just feel obligated to take care of me as he mentioned before or does he find as much comfort being close as I do?
Whatever the reason, she was tired and he felt good, so she closed her eyes and slept.
Sun slicing through the slats in the walls warmed Jack’s skin. His eyes flew open and he reached for his gun before reality settled in. He’d intended to leave the structure before daylight, but had nodded off and overslept. Seldom did he sleep past dawn. Ever since his time in the Service, he’d been an early riser and a light sleeper, so he was surprised at a time like this he could possibly rest at all, much less so late.
He glanced over at Megan and Jessica and both were still sleeping peacefully. His arm ached under Jessica’s slight weight, but he hated to disturb her. She looked as content as an innocent child without a care in the world. Security was something none of them had experienced since that fateful day at the ruins when their lives had been up-ended. He only hoped he could protect her and give her the opportunity to feel safe again, even if that was in the arms of the Phillip who Amber had claimed was Jessica’s “boyfriend that she pretty much despises at the moment.” He suspected once they were safe, “the moment” would pass and she would be gone from his life forever.
Jack gently brushed a few loose strands of Jessica’s soft brunette hair out of her eyes, even though they were still shut. He liked looking at her eyes. They were the most unusual color he’d ever seen and the furthest color possible from Elaine’s warm hazel eyes. Why did he always think of Elaine every time he looked at her? He shook his head and looked up to see Megan staring at him, smiling.
“We need to get going. We should have gotten out of here before daylight.” He ignored Megan’s knowing look.
Megan stood and stretched, pulling the blanket with her. The movement woke Jessica and her eyes fluttered open to see Jack gazing at her.
“Rise and shine, Bluebell,” he said.
She was groggy, but lucid enough to shove a palm into his chest and push away from him. “Don’t call me that.”
He ignored her and stood up. He rotated his shoulder, trying to work the pain out of his arm and shoulder, which had long since fallen asleep.
“We overslept and we’re too close to the village to be hanging out here in the daytime.”
They quickly gathered their stuff and retreated to the relative safety of the jungle’s shadows and the cover of nature’s noises. The animals, birds and insects were already busy with their tasks of survival, creating a gentle hum that was both soothing and convenient. Despite the cacophony of sounds, the jungle inhabitants remained largely invisible among the thick vegetation, which made Jack optimistic they would be just as undetectable to predators.
“I didn’t see any vehicles last night, just a couple old motorbikes, but I did find where the dirt road left the village.” Jack skirted the small assortment of huts in search of the road. “So, if we see any traffic, it will probably be heading in the wrong direction to do us any good. But, on the upside, if the men who came looking for us at Manny’s were here, they’re gone now. The vehicle I saw when I returned the backpack full of drugs was a new, black SUV with heavily tinted windows. I didn’t catch the make, but it definitely wasn’t in the village last night.”
Jessica, Jack and Megan stayed within sight of the rutted dirt road, but far enough away they could take cover if needed. After an hour, they saw a small flat-bed truck loaded with supplies heading toward the village they’d left behind. They ducked behind some trees and let it pass.
“Maybe we can flag it down on its way back if it returns later today,” Megan suggested hopefully. “My feet are blistered and I have a feeling we aren’t anywhere close to Cancún or a decent podiatrist.”
Jack laughed. No one had complained so far. They were simply happy to be alive, but none of them had been appropriately dressed for an extended jungle stay. He felt a little guilty about procuring himself a pair of pants while Jessica and Megan continued to get scratched and bitten in their shorts and sleeveless tops, but he hadn’t seen any pants that would have come close to fitting either one. Megan was taller than any local he’d seen in Mexico and Jessica was thin, but with feminine curves that were difficult not to notice. Maybe if he could have found a young boy’s pair of pants he could have helped Jessica, but Megan was a lost cause.