The Light of His Sword (4 page)

“Find out who he is and kill him.” Walton
barked to Maxwell as he headed for the door.

Samantha clung to Alyssa with an iron grip,
unwilling to release her as they rushed furiously down the highway.
Alyssa forced herself to drive faster and faster, terrified the
elders would overcome Gabe and find them again. How could this
happen? How could they have found her? Her mind raced. She gasped
as she realized she was still on the same highway that led out of
town. She couldn’t have been any easier to find. She had to get off
this road and fast!

Alyssa wrapped her arm around Samantha and
pulled her close saying, “Its okay honey, mommy won’t let Walton
and the bad men get close to us again. Everything is going to be
fine.”

Samantha gazed up at her through tear-filled
eyes and said, “Gabe saved us, do you think he’s okay? Is he a good
guy?”

“I think so, sweetie.” Alyssa whispered
softly. She hoped there were more kind men like Gabe in the
world.

Suddenly, Alyssa’s car began to sputter and
jerk. She glanced down at the gas gauge thinking she’d forgotten to
fill the tank, but it was full. The car began to slow, and the
sputtering became worse. Alyssa’s heart leapt to her throat as she
pulled onto the shoulder and stopped.

Her breathing came in gasps as she fought to
control her fear. She glanced in the rearview mirror. No one was
behind them. Alyssa sat there staring at the steering wheel
desperately willing the car to move forward. She looked down into
Samantha’s big eyes and smiled weakly. They couldn’t just sit there
and wait for the elders.

“I guess we are going for a walk.” She said
as cheerfully as she could muster.

The air was cool, but the bright sunshine
kept them warm. They walked along the side of the two-lane highway.
Alyssa tried not to glance behind them too often in fear of
frightening Samantha. She had no idea how much money the credit
card held. Would she be able to purchase another car? Her parents
brought her to the compound on a bus. She recalled changing buses
in a large city before they arrived at the compound. Perhaps the
card held enough money for a bus or train. How would she find them?
Panic welled up inside her. Why hadn’t she been more prepared? Why
hadn’t she thought to ask her grandmother to send her information
on trains and buses? Why hadn’t they thought of a backup plan
should something go wrong?

“Ouch! Mommy!” Samantha moaned, pulling on
her mother’s hand. “You’re squeezing my hand too hard.”

Alyssa released the strong grip on her
daughter’s hand, not realizing her panic extended into her fingers.
“I’m sorry sweetie.”

A low hum came from behind them, and they
turned to find a semi-truck coming down the highway toward them.
Alyssa’s heart leapt when she recognized it was Gabe’s. He slowed
when he saw them and pulled onto the shoulder just head of them.
They rushed to the passenger door as he swung it open.

“Car trouble?” He asked with a knowing
smile, “I noticed after you left that you were leaking oil. Did it
freeze up on you?”

“I’m not sure; it jerked and sputtered, then
died.” Alyssa said breathlessly, his blue eyes still made her heart
pound.

“Well, climb on up,” Gabe slid back into the
driver’s seat. “I’ve got a bench seat in the back for Samantha. We
can talk about your options while we drive.”

Relief washed over Alyssa as they climbed
into the truck and started down the highway. She glanced back into
the sleeping compartment as Samantha bounced up and down on the tan
bench that also served as a bed. The truck smelled like fresh pine.
Alyssa looked at the gauges on the dash and found a green pine tree
shaped piece of cardboard hanging from a knob on the console.

Alyssa smiled and turned to Gabe saying,
“You seem to have the knack of always being in the right place at
the right time.”

Gabe grinned, concentrating on the road and
answered, “Basically it’s because there’s only one main highway
heading east to Nebraska from this area, and we’re on it. I’m on my
way to Cleveland via Denver and St Louis. Where are you
headed?”

Alyssa hesitated, should she share that
information with him? She chastised herself for being paranoid and
said, “Indiana, to my grandmother’s farm just outside of Muncie,
near a small town called Bryant.”

“South of Fort Wayne,” Gabe answered, “I
know it well.”

Alyssa gazed at his perfect skin, broad
shoulders, and wavy hair. He truly was the most handsome man she
had ever seen. She said, “I want to thank you for helping us. I
don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t been there.”

“I did what any man would have done, given
the situation. A young lady and her child being harassed by three
men is not something people in these parts will tolerate. Besides,
if you had put up enough fuss and kept resisting, they would have
called the Sheriff.”

“That’s good to know,” Alyssa offered unsure
of how to answer his modest response.

“Do you mind if I ask what your situation
is?” Gabe glanced at her.

“I left our... home to avoid abusive
behavior.” She stammered.

“I understand,” He answered softly. “Your
husband has a wicked temper.”

“He’s not my husband,” She answered quickly,
and with more venom than she intended.

“And Samantha?” He asked.

“She is his child, but not by my choice.”
Alyssa answered gazing out the window beside her.

Gabe whispered softly. “I’m so sorry.”

Alyssa said softly, “Rape is an everyday
occurrence where I come from. I had to get Samantha out before it
became part of her life. The compound is not safe for children.
Walton is a cruel, heartless leader. He allows terrible things to
happen there. I will never go back, and I will never allow him to
take Samantha. When I get to my grandmother’s, I’m calling the
police and telling them everything.”

Gabe’s jaw clenched as she spoke, but his
voice remained calm, “You’re very brave. What will you do now?”

“My grandmother sent directions to her farm.
I’ll have to find another car.” Alyssa answered with
confidence.

Gabe’s expression softened, “How are you
going to do that?”

Alyssa stared at him in silence. She glanced
at Samantha then back to Gabe. “I don’t know.”

Gabe tried not to smile at her naivete,
“Alyssa; you have no idea what the world outside the compound is
like. If you continue to travel alone, the odds are high that
Walton will find you. You’re running blind with no real idea of
where you’re going or how to get there. I think it’s best if you
girls ride with me to Indiana. I’m headed that way.” He shot her a
quick glance. “That bench converts into a bed. My seat reclines so
you two can have the sleeping compartment all to yourselves.”

Alyssa turned to stare out the window.

He continued, “If you don’t mind the side
trip to Denver. I can get you to your grandmothers in a few
days.”

Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. She didn’t
dare look at him in fear she would see the same wicked desire in
his eyes Walton always showed.

Gabe looked back at the road before him and
added, “I’m not asking for anything in return. You don’t owe me a
thing. I’m just trying to help you and your little girl. I don’t
want to see Samantha end up in Walton’s hands any more than you do.
That’s no way for a child to grow up.”

Samantha stuck her head in between their
seats and said, “I like this truck; there’s a kitchen back here and
I like Gabe, let’s go with him.”

Alyssa tried to smile as she turned back to
Samantha. Was Gabe telling the truth? Could he truly want to help
them out of the kindness of his heart? She’d never known kindness
from a man. Other than her father, she didn’t think any other man
could be kind. Could she trust his sincerity? Would he turn on them
at night when the truck was dark and quiet?

Alyssa gazed at Gabe, studying him. They
couldn’t continue alone on foot. She couldn’t risk another
confrontation with Walton. She glanced at Samantha then turned to
Gabe and said, “Thank you, but if we’re going to travel together
you must let me pay for your gas and your meals.”

Gabe grinned at her and said, “Believe me;
you don’t want to pay for the gas for this truck. But I’d be
delighted if you’d buy me dinner each night.”

Laughter filled the truck cab; it was a
sound Alyssa did not hear often. Gabe and Samantha tossed animal
sounds back and forth in a race to be a champion. Gabe seemed to
have an endless supply of traveling games. They counted barns and
horses, white cars, and trucks. Samantha giggled, fascinated by the
variety of license plates from different states.

Samantha laughed the hardest when Gabe
responded to a child in the car beside him and blew his truck’s
horn. The first time he blew the horn Samantha was so surprised she
fell off the bench onto the floor. After their dinner stop,
Samantha settled down on the bench in the back and fell asleep as
the sky began to grow dark and fill with stars.

“You’re very good with Samantha.” Alyssa
said, “She hardly noticed the passing miles. I don’t recall ever
seeing her so happy.”

Gabe flashed Alyssa a brilliant smile that
made her heart skip a beat. He said, “Samantha is a very smart
little girl. She’s going to grow up to be an exceptional young
lady.”

“She’s always been fearless in her search
for knowledge.” Alyssa explained, “We’ve read every book in the
compound several times including the old set of encyclopedias we
found in the attic.”

Gabe’s smile vanished as he asked, “I’m
surprised they allowed that.”

“They didn’t know,” Alyssa offered quietly,
“I was six years old when my parents brought me to the compound. I
knew the outside world. I knew there was more to life than the
compound. After my father died, my mother secretly began to educate
me. She taught me to read and write in the early hours of the
morning when most of the others were asleep. We did the same for
Samantha.”

“Why did your parents go to the compound?”
Gabe asked.

“My father was in the army. He was wounded
in a transport explosion. His entire unit was killed. His face and
neck were badly burned. He had a hard time adjusting to normal
life. When he came home he had trouble finding a job.” Alyssa
began, “The compound offered him a good salary and a house if he
would live on site as the maintenance man. I remember how excited
he was. He said it was a new beginning for us, out in the country
with fresh air and religious people. We sold everything we owned
and brought only a few personal belongings with us. When we arrived
the elders were very happy to see us, the entire compound came out
to greet us. Then things changed. They insisted we convert to their
way of life. They took away my books and toys. When my father
refused to attend their worship services, they beat him and
declared the cottage was only for guests. We were forced to move
into the dormitories. They took me away from my parents and forced
them to work the farm. My parents were separated like the others.
There were separate buildings for the children, men, and women.
Only the senior elders had their own quarters.”

“Why didn’t you leave?”

“The elders wouldn’t allow it. The gates
were chained and padlocked. I don’t think my parents realized until
then the fence was topped with barbed wire and guards patrolled the
perimeter.” Alyssa answered glancing back to make sure Samantha was
still asleep. “One night we tried to escape, but we didn’t get
far.” Alyssa’s voice caught in her throat. “I believe they killed
my father that night. I never saw him again. My mother was never
the same after that night.”

Gabe nodded and said, “Your father was a
brave man. He died trying to save his family.”

“I miss him so much,” Alyssa whispered, “And
my mother too.”

Gabe reached out and touched her hand. “What
will you do once you reach the farm?”

“I don’t know,” Alyssa answered with a
frown, “I haven’t thought that far ahead, but my grandmother says
we will be safe.”

“What kind of farm is it?” Gabe said.

“She has a sharecropper who farms 300 acres
of her land. Mother told me it’s a working farm. She has sheep,
half a dozen pigs, chickens, a handful of dairy cows, a sheepdog
and about a dozen cats.” Alyssa laughed as she spoke. “It sounds
wonderful!”

Gabe chuckled and added, “The perfect place
to raise a child.”

“Do you have any children?” Alyssa asked,
gazing into the darkness before them.

Gabe concentrated on the dark road before
them. They traveled on the same narrow two-lane highway as before.
The sky twinkled through a haze of clouds. Yet the sliver of a
crescent moon could not offer light to the farm fields and forests
around them.

“I was not blessed with the privilege of
having a child.” He said turning to gaze at her.

When their eyes met, Alyssa felt the
familiar pang in her stomach. “Are you married?” She asked.

“My work is my life.” Gabe’s eyes seemed to
change to a darker shade of blue as he stared at her.

The sun sank toward a horizon filled with
tall evergreens and distant hills. Gabe pulled his truck into a
large truck stop and said, “Why don’t you two go inside and grab us
a table in the restaurant while I fill up the tank?”

When he strode into the restaurant, the
waitress was at their table with glasses of water and silverware.
Gabe smiled at the tall, thin waitress with curly dark hair and
said, “Hi Julie, how are the kids?”

“Gabe!” Julie said with a high-pitched
squeal and gave him a quick hug. “They’re doing great, Lexi’s rash
has cleared up and Skylar is doing much better in school now that
he has a new teacher.”

“Good to hear,” Gabe answered sliding into
the booth next to Samantha. “Did Frankie find a job?”