Burnt (10 page)

“What...” He stopped when he saw the tent.

“I...I don’t know what happened,” she said, feeling tears in her eyes. He rushed to her, pulling her to him. “There’re cuts all over the tent.”

Kevin looked down at the pile. He moved to the tent, looking around to see if anyone was nearby. Kneeling down, he picked up one of the cut pieces and stroked the cuts between her fingers.

“Maybe an animal got to it.,” he suggested.

She stared at him. “An animal? Do you think it was a bear?”

He shrugged, “Or drunken teens looking to play their usual tricks. Remember how crazy it used to be here in the summer?”

Sensing her fear, his arms were wrapped tightly around her.

“It’s going to be all right.”

She tried to relax her breathing, but her heart was still beating out of her chest. It could be an animal, or maybe playful teens, but the danger of it plagued her. She could have been in that tent. If it had been an animal, she would have been killed.

“I...” she started, but then stopped when she saw the police car. The sirens weren’t on, but it was moving quickly. She glanced up at Kevin and saw his eyes were focused on it, too.

“I wonder what’s going on,” he mumbled. “I’m going to get dressed,” he said, hurrying from her.

She didn’t care she was only in his clothes and didn’t have a bra on. She stood back and turned to the road, where in the distance she saw the lights were now on. They were like a beacon leading the way. Kevin dressed quickly and came out of the tent fully dressed.

“Stay here,” he said.

“No...I want to come with you,” Tara answered. She was adamant not to stay behind by herself.

He heaved a sigh. “Who did you say was a pushover?”

Kevin grabbed her hand and the two headed in the direction of the police car. As they got closer, they saw several people standing around one of the campsites. Kevin and Tara approached a couple.

“Do you know what’s going on?” Kevin asked them.

The man turned to Kevin. “Not much, but the news reporters are here and they said something about a man getting murdered.”

“Murdered?” Tara squeaked.

He nodded. “That’s pretty much all I know.”

Kevin glanced at Tara. They both turned to look back to their camp, where her tent was still in shambles.

“It was an animal,” he said again. He didn’t know if he was trying to convince her...or himself.

“What?” the man asked Kevin.

“Oh...” Kevin began.

Tara couldn’t tell if he was going to tell him, but as the words came out she second guessed their theory.

Kevin continued. “We brought two tents and one wasn’t being used last night. When we woke up, we found it shredded. It looked like it was cut up by the claws of an animal or with something sharp.”

The man’s eyes widened. “You better let someone know. It wouldn’t hurt to report it.”

Kevin nodded. “You’re probably right.”

He grabbed Tara’s hand again and they headed closer to the site where the police car and news reporter were. A body was covered and being loaded into the back of a Coroner’s van. They hung back, watching in disbelief, as a woman was on the sidelines crying uncontrollably.

She felt for the woman who had probably lost her loved one.

“It’s so sad,” said a voice behind them.

Tara turned around and saw Brian standing behind her.

“Hey,” Kevin said. Brian nodded his greeting. “Will you stay here with Tara? I’ll be right back.”

“Sure thing,” Brian answered.

When Kevin was gone, Tara turned to him.

“Do you know what happened?”

He shook his head. “Not a whole lot. I was just wandering around the camp area, when I came across this site. From what I can gather, a man was stabbed and then set on fire. It was a grisly murder. We have never had anything like this before.”

Tara was in shock. This seemed like a secluded area, where violence wouldn’t happen. She had said the same thing about their small town. Kevin walked back and nodded.

“Well, they want the tent. They said chances are...it might be connected.”

“What tent?” Brian asked.

They told him the story from start to finish, leaving out the part where they shared the night together. They didn’t need to give all details. Brian’s eyes grew wider with each sentence.

“So, it might not have been an animal to begin with,” Kevin concluded.

“Wow...” Brian pondered. “I’m going to go see if the police need anything. Let me know if you need anything from me,” he said, waving as he walked away.

Tara and Kevin headed back to their camp.

“Do you really think they’re connected?” she asked.

He shrugged. “I don’t know, but it’s possible.”

She hated to admit it, but it made sense.

“Why would they target us?” she asked as fear set in.

He turned to her when they reached the tent.

“Whoever it was, they obviously have anger issues. I don’t know why, but I’m sure it was just some random act. Nothing more.”

She nodded, hoping he was right. He went over to the tent and pulled it from the ground.

“Do you want to stay here while I run this to the police?” he asked, stuffing the larger pieces into the tent sac.

“I suppose so,” she replied.

Tara saw him off, and turned her focus to her backpack, sitting on what was left of the tent floor. Some of her clothes and equipment was scattered around the area.
How close was she to becoming a victim last night?
She thought. The feeling of being violated crept up to the forefront of her mind, even though there was still no concrete information. It was like danger and murder followed them from their small town, and was here now.

Kevin didn’t stay away from her too long and when he got back, she didn’t hesitate.

“I don’t mean to be a downer, but do you mind if we leave?” She didn’t feel comfortable there.

“I understand. No. I don’t mind at all,” he said. He pulled her close to him and kissed her forehead. She felt safe in his arms, but she needed to get away from there. It was time to go home.

***

H
e stood, watching them.  It appeared his plan was working and Kevin and Tara were going to be taking off.  His attention shifted to the cop car, where the Police were about to leave.  He hadn’t intended to kill anyone last night but if it got the job done, then he was glad he made the right choice.

Tara and Kevin were loading up their things into Kevin’s car.  His eyes wandered over her outfit.  She didn’t even have the decency to change into her own clothes.  She was still wearing the clothes she had on when she left Kevin’s tent.

He waited in hiding as the rest of their things got packed into the back of the car. He cringed as Tara turned to Kevin and wrapped her arms around him. Their lips connected and he was left with an unflattering vision.

“Enjoy that kiss now, Kevin,” he grumbled through clenched teeth. “It’s only a matter of time before you break her heart and someone else is left to pick up the pieces. Don’t get too comfortable.”

He snuck over to his car and gave them one more look before driving away from them. His job was done... for the moment.

G
etting back into the swing of things with work and her personal life wasn’t as easy as Tara had initially hoped. The news media coverage of Iron Horse State Park kept resurfacing. Every time she thought she finally was able to get past it, something new came up on television or over the radio. The police had dismissed any possibility of an animal attack on the tent. What was left of the tent was now in evidence for the murder investigation. It was difficult because there was no evidence pointing to a suspect. Whoever it was, they were smart when it came to covering their tracks.

Tara also found it difficult to get the victim’s wife out of her head. The woman was waiting in her tent for her husband to return and he never did. Tara felt for her. She couldn’t even imagine being there. The thought of losing Kevin so suddenly kept invading her thoughts. It left her agitated.

Over the course of a few weeks, things related to the killings improved. Or at least, they did not get worse. The murders in town had stopped, and news of the tragedy at the state park was slowly being put behind them. No new information was released, and the authorities reported nothing about solving the case.

On their return from the camping trip from hell, they had focused on their jobs, and she knew Kevin was working hard on spending more time with Jake. For those few weeks, Tara gave them more space, and quite enjoyed the laid back routine of working her shifts at the petting zoo. Still, she felt Kevin would be there for her if she ever needed him. He would tell her daily at work or by text. He had no intention of being anywhere but at her side to set her mind at ease.

So when Kevin invited her over for dinner and to study, she was happy to have the time with him. She began to give serious thought to committing to a relationship with Kevin as she drove to his place that night.

***

A
s they lounged on the couch in Kevin’s parents’ living room with his arms safely securing her, it felt real. There was also less upheaval about their interim living arrangements. They had both decided to remain living at their parents’ homes. It meant when Kevin finally graduated, they wouldn’t have to bother getting rid of a place to go to Montana. Montana was still the dream.

“Did I tell you I signed up for the class online?” he asked, his hand gently brushing across her arm. “I start next week.”

She looked up at him and smiled. “You did?”

He nodded. “I figured this way, we could keep working until graduation. And we can quit just before we move to Montana. If you want, we could get a place there together once we settle down. It can be a new beginning.”

She smiled– it sounded like a great plan.

“You have the best ideas,” she said, falling into him and kissing him. She fell back against the couch as the intensity of the kiss heated up. She ran her hand through his hair, massaging the back of his head. A moan escaped her lips when he slipped his hand under her shirt and began to massage her breast through the bra fabric. His hands slipped up under her bra, pinching her nipples and unleashing her desire. She wanted him.

They had been so caught up with the tragedy the past few weeks. It felt like they had lost a small bit of their connection to each other after the camping trip. She hoped he could sense her need as his lips pulled from her.

“My parents are gone and my room upstairs is calling our names,” he whispered.

Tara didn’t need time to think, quickly nodding. Kevin jumped up and pulled her to her feet. They both laughed as he wrapped his arms around her stomach and staggered out of the living room. They were almost at the stairs when they heard the front door closing behind them. Tara turned to the door where Jake was standing and staring at them. She was so aroused and didn’t want to stop the flow, but she also knew she couldn’t just ignore him and pull Kevin upstairs.

“Hey, Jake!” she said, trying to not sound disappointed.

“Hey,” he replied, staring between the two of them. “What are you doing?”

Tara turned to Kevin, her eyebrows raised slightly. They weren’t about to confess anything to Kevin’s younger brother.

“I wanted to show Tara something upstairs,” Kevin replied nonchalantly. “What are you up to?”

Jake looked around, shrugging. “Not a whole lot...a little of this, a little of that.”

“Well, don’t let us interrupt you,” Kevin replied, beginning to head up the stairs.

“Good seeing you, Jake.” She smiled, following Kevin upstairs. She felt strange going up when his brother stood watching them, but she was too riled up with desire after waiting for weeks to see Kevin. Not much else mattered.

“Is this weird?” she whispered to Kevin as he pulled her into his room and shut the door.

He laughed. “You mean having sex right next door to my eighteen-year-old brother? He’s not a kid anymore and I’m sure he’s not stupid either.” He moved to her and slowly inched up her shirt, pulling it up and over her head and letting it fall to the bedroom floor. “Does it bother you?”

She grabbed onto his shirt and undid the buttons as they talked, moving on to undo his jeans zipper.

“What do you think?” Her hand slipped into his jeans, rubbing over his erection. His eyes looked pained, but the smile on his lips told a different story. She looped her fingers in his jeans and slid them and his briefs down his body so Kevin could do the rest and kick them off.

“I think I’m one lucky guy,” he replied, smiling as she grabbed his shirt and flung it over his ripped body.

He wasted no time turning her around to undo her bra. Dropping it on to the floor, he reached for her panties and ripped them off with a needy force.

“Oh...playing rough, are we?” Tara purred, guiding his hands to her breasts so he could have his way with them as she busied herself massaging his shaft.

“Let me help you out,” she teased, pushing him down on the bed and laughing as his eyes widened. She loved that she could catch him off guard as they explored each other’s sensual side.

Tara brought her tongue to the tip of his cock and gently ran her tongue over the sensitive edge. He groaned, falling back on his pillow and laying there. She couldn’t help looking at his reaction as she took all of him in her mouth, gracefully moving up and down over his length. Her own arousal grew as she felt him twitch inside of her mouth. His hands reached for fistfuls of her hair as he guided her up and down.

“Oh God, Tara...” he groaned, bucking his hips up to meet her face.

Her tongue swirled sensually around his bulge, taking in every inch of his meat. “Yes...” he moaned, unable to hold back the pleasure building up to his orgasmic rush. As she frantically teased, sucked and tasted in her rhythmic beat, his thrusts became more vigorous.

“Ah...” he moaned.

Tara knew from his raspy groan that she was seconds from tasting his release. “I...I...I’m going to explode,” he panted. His voice caused her to move with more zeal, until he had no choice.

“Fuck...” he cried out.