Third Half (9 page)

             
In a panic, afraid it could be the two men coming back again,
ready to run her down, she dove out of the way, into the bushes that
lined the driveway.

             
"Sister, are you all right?" She heard Ronaldo's frightened
voice as he jumped out of the car and came to her side.

             
"We've got to get the horses out," she yelled as he helped her
to her feet.  She didn't wait to see if he followed as she raced toward
the back of the barn.

             
Ronaldo was right on her heel.  "What do I do?" he shouted,
eyes wide, as she opened the gate and headed straight for the stable
doors.  "I never rode a horse."

             
"You're not riding them, you're guiding them to safety," she
yelled above the roar of the fire and the shrill cry of frightened horses. 
She could feel the heat coming off the back of the barn and hoped the
dry wood would hold back the flames long enough for them to set the
animals free.

             
She was thankful she had once dated a young man who had
owned horses.  At least something good had come from the
experience.  She remembered he had taught her, that a frightened
horse would become a docile, helpless creature if you covered his
eyes.  Otherwise, sensing the danger, even your own fear, a horse
would not allow anyone to guide them from the security of their
stable.

             
She spotted some horse blankets hanging on a rail and grabbed
them.  "You have to use this to cover their eyes or they won't let you
take them out of the stable," she yelled as she tossed Ronaldo one of
the colorful blankets.

             
She had only a second to worry about his inexperience with
horses as she watched him race past her to the next door and mimic
her actions. 

             
"Don't stand in front of them, or in back of them," she shouted.
"Try to stay beside them!  And close the stable door after you get them
outside or they'll go back inside again."

             
That was all she had time to say as she opened the stable door
to a huge black stallion.  The giant, ebony equine reared his great
head, as she cautiously approached him. 

             
As she tried to toss the blanket over his eyes he reared.  He
came down again hard, then paced nervously.  She came close with
the blanket again but he was too swift.

             
"Do you want to burn in the flames of hell," she shouted,
making one more attempt with the blanket. 

             
Finally she had the blanket over his head so she could guide
him to safety.  As she led the horse outside, and set him free she
realized she must have just tangled with Lucifer, her brother's latest
edition to the stable. 

             
For someone who wasn't familiar with horses Ronaldo had
already led two mares to safety.  There was another stallion and a
mare with foal.  This time she took the mare, knowing the mother
would most likely be protective of her young. 

             
The roan mare's nostrils twitched as she smelled the smoke,
her eyes seemed to roll back in her head, possessing a frightened, wild
look. 

             
"Come on girl," Liane said in a soothing tone, trying not to
show her fear as she approached the huge horse.

             
The mare paced much like Lucifer had, but fortunately she did
not rear as Liane threw the blanket over her head.  "It's going to be all
right girl," she said again as she guided the horse toward the door,
turning to make certain the foal was following.

             
Liane sighed her relief as both made it safely from the stable. 
But she didn't have much time to relax.

             
The sounds of sirens were fast approaching and Liane could
see the red flashing lights from the highway as they turned in the lane. 
             
"Please Ronaldo," she said.  "Trust me, I can't let them know
I'm with you.  Tell them you were alone."

             
She was grateful as he agreed, not taking time to question her
reasons.
             

             
The young man did a remarkable job for someone who had
been raised in the city, possessing no experience with horses, she
thought, as she hid beneath a blanket in the back of his car.  He also
had a strong sense of loyalty for he had not revealed that she had been
there with him.

             
"I had a fight with my girlfriend's father," he explained to the
police officer who was questioning him.  "I decided I needed to get
out for awhile, so I went for a ride.  I just drove, and drove.  Anyway,
I ended up here," Ronaldo said.

             
Liane knew he was taking the risk that he'd be blamed.

             
"I had to slow up for a car that pulled out of this driveway,"
Ronaldo continued when the Police Officer asked for more details.

 
             
"Then I had to wait as another car pulled from the side of the
road after the first car.  About that time I looked over and saw
flickering light coming from down here.  I realized it wasn't light.  It
was flames.  So I turned in the driveway."

             
"A green Ford Taurus was the car coming out of the
driveway." Ronaldo gave the police officer more information about
the cars.  "The one that followed it was a brown sedan.  I think it was
a Crown Vic."

             
Liane suspected Ronaldo was telling it exactly as it really had
happened.  She knew the green Ford Taurus was the one driven by the
two men who had trashed her brother's house, and she felt certain they
had been the ones who started the fire.  She also had a good idea who
was driving the brown sedan.

             
The police officer asked for Ronaldo's licence and registration. 
Ronaldo came back to the car to get the registration from the glove
box. 

             
"Stay low," was all he had time to say before the officer came
to the car.

             
"What you got in there?" the officer asked.

             
"Not sure
–
like I said, it's my father-in-law's car," Ronaldo
replied.

             
Liane swallowed hard, hoping the officer would not check for
himself.  If he did, it would put an end to her search for her brother. 
Maybe even an end to her freedom. Just as she heard the sound of the
back car door opening another voice sounded close by.

             
"Yoh! Jake," a man called.  "They're calling you on your
radio."

             
The officer seemed to be gone an eternity.  Liane was
beginning to get claustrophobic beneath the thick blanket.  Add to that
the combined smell of perspiration, acrid smoke, and something
equally unpleasant she must have stepped in.  She was beginning to
feel sick.

             
"Looks like you can go." The officer's voice came again from
beside the car.  "Just got confirmation on that car you saw leaving."

             
"Sister, are you in some kind of trouble?" Ronaldo asked when
they were safely back on the highway and he had pulled to the side so
she could get back into the front seat.  "If you are, maybe I can help."

             
"Thank you, Ronaldo," she said as she turned to the young
Puerto Rican man beside her.  "You have already helped more than
you'll ever know.  There's only one person who can give me the
answers I need now."   

             
"Yes Sister, then you want to be dropped at the church when
we return to the city?"

             
"The church?" She looked puzzled.  "Oh, no, the convent will
be fine." She realized again, that as a nun he had taken for granted she
would pray for her answers.

             
"Sister," Ronaldo said, gently shaking her until she awakened.
"We're back now."

             
"Oh . . ." She sat up, surprised that she had dozed.  The last
she remembered, she was trying to sort out all the things she had
learned, and wondering what it all meant. 

             
"Thank you, Ronaldo.  It hardly seems adequate after all that
you did tonight." She took out the money she had promised him,
feeling she owed him so much more.  "And you remember to speak to
Manuel about that job."

             
"Yes, Sister, as I promised I would."  He smiled.   "I always
keep my word.  Didn't I prove that tonight?"

             
"Yes, you certainly did," she replied, shivering at the thought
of how close she could have been to being apprehended by the police. 
"I also will keep my word and pray for all of you.  Although I'm
certain things will be much better soon."

             
"And I hope things will be better for you too, Sister," Ronaldo
said with sincerity.  "I have a feeling you may need prayers even more
than we do."

CHAPTER FOUR

             
Stealing her way into the building, she was careful to close the
door gently before turning to head down the long, dimly lit corridor to
her room.  Just by luck she made it there without being noticed.  She
knew she not only looked a frightful sight, she smelled like one.  All
she wanted to do now was take a bath and get ready for bed.

             
She slipped into the communal bathroom, wishing she could
add some scented bubbles to the hot water, feeling she deserved the
treat after all she had been through that night.  But of course, she
knew better.  Nuns would hardly have a supply of that sort of luxury.

             
She sighed and slid into the water, allowing the heat to relax
her aching muscles.  Her long hair was tied on the top of her head, but
she released it, knowing it also needed washing.

             
A long time later she returned from the bathroom feeling
refreshed in body, if not in spirit.  She was just about to slip beneath
the sheets when she realized in all the excitement she had forgotten to
stop to get some money from the automatic teller machine down the
street.

             
She knew she had to go yet tonight.  She had given the last of
her cash to Ronaldo and was certain she was going to need money if
she hoped to survive the next few days. 
I do deserve a few luxury
items.

             
This time when she returned she wasn't as lucky as the last.

             
"Ah, Sister Mary Catherine," she heard the Mother Superior's
voice.  Turning, she tried to hide her look of defeat, also the small
bottle of floral scented foaming bath oil she had just purchased at the
all night market.

             
"Yes, Mother Superior," she nearly whispered, trying not to
show her nervousness.

             
"I see you were restless and couldn't sleep."

             
"Yes, I have very much on my mind."

             
"I hope your walk has helped alleviate some of your tensions."

             
"Yes, I think the fresh air helped."