The Haret (The Haret Series) (21 page)

             
They continued walking and with every lonesome howl of a coyote, and every hoot of the owls the memory crept its way closer. She began to sense the presence again as cold gust of wind forced its way through the trees, moving the hair away from her face and sending more leaves fluttering down in front of her. Then just as that fateful night she sensed movement to her left. Someone was there! The wind blew again scattering the clouds away from the moon allowing the soft beams of light to break through and illuminate a figure walking towards her, smiling…just the same as before. The memory crept closer breaking through the fogginess of her mind just as the figure stepped into the light from the shadows.

             
Felicitas gasped.

             
“Ian!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

             
“Drop your gun boy!” Grant held his revolver high pointing it straight at Ian’s head. He had heard rustling seconds before Felicitas saw Ian step from the trees and within a flash pulled his gun and cocked the trigger.

             
Ian aimed his gun at Grant.

             
“I think we played this game yesterday cowboy. I should have shot you then.”

             
Grant grit his teeth.

             
“Instead you shot a defenseless woman; you couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn. Now put your gun down before you hurt someone else.”

             
“Not until you release my girlfriend.”

             
Felicitas was too shocked to speak.  Ian stepped from the shadows just as the memory of that night returned. He was the figure in the woods and Grant was right he wasn’t who she thought he was. He seemed to have fallen from the sky that night, landing ever so gently a few feet away. It was when she stepped in closer to him she saw a pair of membranes fold and disappear into his back. Smoke billowed from his mouth and there was an evil about him frightening her to the point of speechlessness.  His presence tonight had the same affect. She stepped into the light, her body trembling with realization but something inside her warned her to keep the secret to herself. She tried to control the fear in her voice as she gave into his masquerade.

             
“Ian what are you doing here?”

             
He kept his gun on Grant but cast a quick eye on her.

             
“I came for you Babe. You okay?”

             
“I’m fine Ian really. It’s amazing you came just please put your gun down.”

             
Ian’s hateful glare sent a chill through her.

             
“Step away from him Taz.”

             
“No.” She said inching closer to Grant. “I won’t.”

             
Grant kept his aim but gently pushed Felicitas away from him and toward Sharon.

             
“You don’t want to duel with me boy ‘cause I’ll win. I’m giving you fair warning drop it now or I shoot in three seconds.”

             
Ian began a slow count mocking Grant.

             
“Ian Carlton drop it now!” Sharon used her mother voice.

             
Ian never took his eyes off Grant.

             
“I’m not dropping it. He may have you two fooled but not me. I don’t trust him.”

             
Sharon limped over toward Ian, her bare feet numb from the cold and bloodied from the rough terrain.

             
“Then give it to me.” She held her hand out for the gun.

             
Ian gave a sarcastic laugh.

             
“No offence Mrs. Rebold but…”

             
“Give it to me!” She snapped and Felicitas thought for a moment her mother turned into Bilbo Baggins asking Frodo for the coveted ring. Ian handed her the gun and shook his head.

             
“You two are being duped.”

             
Felicitas felt the truth in his statement came more from his pretense, like a prophetic word about the deception he was living out in front of them all. She wanted to tell Grant that Ian was the one she saw that night but dared not to. Not now anyway. Not when they were alone in the woods with shadows lurking about more than likely telling the drakes of their whereabouts. She thought it best for Ian to believe she didn’t know.

             
Another rustling in the trees and Grant and Sharon both aimed into the darkness. A bouncing beam of light held by Esther shined brightly into Grant’s face.

             
“Damn it. Lower your light you’re blinding me!”

             
“Esther! My God you too?” Felicitas almost laughed. “How in the world?”

             
Sheriff Edwards stepped into view a sly grin spread across his face.

             
He pulled his radio from his belt.

             
“Found them. Looks like they’re okay.”

             
There was a bit of static and then Rosie’s voice.

             
“Praise the Lord! How far out are you?”

             
“About an hour or two.”

             
“Hurry back. The place is crawlin’ with the police and reporters. They got a chopper in the air and several search units on the ground. Won’t be long before someone finds you.”

             
Rosie’s words gave Felicitas comfort but not as much as what Esther pulled from her heavy backpack. Felicitas collapsed on the ground gulping the fresh water and devouring her sandwich.  Egg salad had never taste so good.

             
Esther played nurse and removed the first aid kit and tried to clean up her cuts and scratches concentrating on the more serious ones. Grant took one of the large cloth bandages and began wrapping Felicitas ankle while Ian continued to glare from the distance making a comment that he wished Grant wouldn’t touch his girls leg.
              Sheriff Edwards squatted down beside Grant and lowered his voice.

             
“Drugs were planted in the truck.  Some big wigs from Nashville called in the FBI ‘cause of the circumstances surrounding you and a minor.  I can‘t help you anymore FBI’s superior to local law. I‘ve been hearin' some things over the radio and they’re comin’ after you. You might wanna scoot now why you got a chance.”

             
Grant bit down hard on his jaw. “I’m not leavin’ her…not in these woods.”

             
Sheriff Edwards spit out a brown stream of Tobacco juice and raised his eyebrow.

             
“If they arrest you, they’re gonna take you all the way to Nashville and lock you up. You won’t be able to protect her then. Better leave her for a little while now than for good. I can keep an eye on her until you two meet up again.”

             
Grant looked up from bandaging and surveyed the area and shook his head.

             
“Okay, I’ll hide for tonight then I’ll contact you with a location where we can rendezvous.” He looked at Felicitas. “You hear all that?”

             
She shook her head and decided now would be the best time to tell him about Ian but before she had a chance Ian came over and jerked the bandage from Grants hand.

             
“I can take care of my girl myself. I’d rather you not touch her.”

             
Then before Sheriff Edwards realized what was happening Ian pulled the gun from his belt and pushed it into Grant’s back.

             
“Give me your gun now!”

             
Felicitas pulse quickened she stood up fast knocking the first aid ointment from Esther’s hands.

             
“Ian what are you doing?”

             
“Savin’ your life, that’s what I’m doing.  Maybe you weren’t paying attention but I overheard everything they were sayin’. This damn Sheriff just told him to run so he wouldn’t get arrested. He’s helping him! I knew they were all in cahoots. They were already planning a secret meeting place where they can run off and take you with them again. You heard it too didn‘t you Esther.”

             
Esther nodded.

             
“Yes I did.”

             
Felicitas was angry that Ian was deceiving Esther and trying to pull her over to his side but she played along. The last thing she wanted was for Ian to know she was on to him, especially while he was holding a gun on Grant.

             
“Ian your mistaken, you have no idea what’s really going on here.”
              “I know a lot more than you think.” His lips curled into a snarl. “Sharon give me your gun too.”

             
Sharon sighed and pushed the hair from her face. “Ian Carlton I’m tired and cranky and cold and dirty and I want to go home. I’ve already shot and killed two men today and if you delay us anymore I’m going to make it a third.”

             
Ian’s mouth laughed but his eyes didn’t.

             
“Look I don’t want to hurt anybody but I will if I have too. Nobody wants Taz back home more than I do but neither you nor her are in the place to make decisions right now. I’m sorry but I’m the only one with any sense so I’m taking over till the cops get here. Now give me your gun.”

             
“I won’t until you take your gun out of his back. Accidents happen or have you forgotten you shot my mother yesterday trying to be the hero.”

             
Ian cocked the gun causing sudden panic. Felicitas screamed at him to stop and Sharon immediately threw her gun in the dirt. Ian ordered Esther to bring it to him since she was the only one who didn’t know how to fire a weapon and was actually no threat at all.

             
Esther was eager to help and once all the guns were in his keep he stepped away from Grant and told him to sit on the ground. Grant’s glare sliced through Ian and Felicitas knew if Grant got the upper hand again Ian would be history. Ian gave a sneer and Felicitas wondered if he realized he was giving everyone a glimpse of his true character. His actions seemed like the well thought out plans of a con man and not like a guy in a band who accidentally got control of a gun. He ordered Sheriff Edwards to give Felicitas his handcuffs and told her to cuff Grant’s hands behind his back.

             
Felicitas mind raced searching every possible way to get out of the situation. She knew if Grant was not able to get away then once the cops came he would be taken away and jailed. She figured Ian knew Grant to be the guardian and it was his plan all along to make Grant look like a sexual predator. That is why he made her journal public and why he didn’t shoot Grant when he had the chance. Once Grant was out of the way he would play the loving boyfriend and have complete access to the baby. She stood up cringing from the pain, in her foot. Now that she had rested it for a while it hurt much worse. She pressed her lips together tolerating the discomfort.

             
“Ian you’re really pissing me off right now. If you don’t put your gun away I’ll break up with you and you will never be able to see me again. You hear me. I’ll get a restraining order and everything.”

             
“If that’s how you really feel Taz then break up with me. I’ll be hurt but at least I’ll know you are safe. Once the drugs leave your system and you can think clear again, you will know I only did this because I love you.  Now cuff him or I’ll have Esther do it.”

             
“There are no drugs in me Ian and I’ll take a blood test to prove it.”

             
“Great do a blood test when we get back, but for now you can either handcuff him or I’ll shoot him in the leg so he can’t run, it’s your choice.

             
She jerked the cuffs from Sheriff Edwards’s hands and knelt behind Grant. She needed to tell him the truth about Ian but knew he was keeping a close watch on both of them. If only the clouds would cover the moon again and give her the cover of darkness for a few seconds.

             
She leaned in close to Grant and placed the cuff around one wrist snapping it closed just as the diversion she desperately needed came. The sound of an approaching chopper pulled Ian’s attention to the sky. A bright search light beamed down on the area blinding everyone instantly. Ian shielded his eyes and Felicitas took the opportunity and whispered into Grants ear.

             
“Ian is who I saw in the forest.”

             
The words no more fell from her lips when a SWAT team stormed the area holding their guns held high as they yelled the order for everyone to get on their knees and put their hands on their heads.

              Felicitas didn’t cuff Grants other wrist hoping if there was any chance at all that he might escape. She knelt beside him her hands behind her head as the riflemen surrounded the small clearing. The entry officer shouted into the group.

             
“Who is Sharon Rebold?”

              Sharon raised her hand.

             
“I am.”

             
“Keep your hands on your head!” He barked his command. “Is your daughter Felicitas here?”

             
Sharon shouted over the roar of the chopper.

             
“Yes.”