The Toyota truck pulled to a stop in front of the new chain gate securing the entrance to the Renshaws’ property. Light from the headlights reflected off the heavy galvanized links stretched tautly between metal posts planted on either side of the drive. In the center of the gate hung a one-foot square reflective sign with a white background overlaid by large red letters:
Private Property – No Trespassing
In her favorite spot straddling the console between the two front seats, Bella waited with a soft whimper of excitement.
“Hopefully we’ll finish construction before the fall, just in time to celebrate the holidays at the cabin. Think how cozy it’s going to be with a big wood stove, snow on the trees around us, and all this peace and quiet.” Warner glanced at Kendra, who sat in the passenger seat, silent and withdrawn. She hasn’t said a word the entire drive.
“It’ll be a nice change for Mom, don’t you think? Since it’s the first holidays since Dad…died.” He closed his eyes. Nice job! Talking about Dad’s death will take Kendra’s mind off her worries.
“I’m sorry. Mom’s better at this stuff,” he added, glancing at her. “She can help cheer you up when she arrives this summer.” He opened his door to get the gate. It’ll be better when Mom moves here. That would be good for both of them—and our kids—when we have them. The thought brought a frown to his face. How long is it going to take Kendra to get pregnant?
Clambering out of the truck into the typical light Northwest spring rain, Warner felt the weight of recent events bear down on him: the break-ins, his father’s death, roofing alone in winter, and now Kendra’s depression. When will we begin enjoying this place? Unlocking the padlock, he dragged the chain gate to the side. The gate makes me feel more secure. I just hope it helps Kendra get past her fear.
Returning to the cab, he noticed the lines of worry on his wife’s face were deeper.
“How can I help if you won’t talk to me?” he asked. Pulling the truck forward and parking again, he prepared to step out to close the gate behind them.
“A chain’s not going to stop him,” Kendra whispered.
Warner looked over in surprise. “It helps. At least they can’t drive up to the cabin anymore.”
“Doesn’t matter. Nothing we do will stop him,” she said, sounding defeated.
“Honey,” he said in concern, “I know you’re spooked, but trust me. I would never let anything happen to you.”
Closing her eyes, she shuddered. “How could we ever raise a family out here with him around?”
“Don’t let it make you paranoid. Like the deputy said, once we move out here, this’ll stop.”
“How do you know that? That’s not what the bastard said.”
“I know the deputy hasn’t been very helpful, but I don’t think calling him a bastard—”
“What if he doesn’t want to stop? I can’t risk children with that!”
“What? You don’t want kids now?” he asked, incredulous.
The hum of the truck’s heater was all that broke the silence while Warner stared at Kendra in frustration. Please don’t back out, not when we’re so close.
“I… I just feel we need to… to take another look at whether we should raise our family here.”
“But we’ve spent two years building this home for our family! We agreed—”
“What’s wrong with living in the city? We’ve got a nice home, close to schools, and—”
“Is this about where we live… or having children?”
Kendra closed her eyes and a pained expression filled her face.
“What are you not telling me? We’ve been trying to get pregnant for two months—and nothing. Why is that?” he demanded.
Turning away, she faced the window.
“You’re back on the pill!” he accused, feeling his stomach lurch. Her silence was his confirmation. “Damn it, that’s not fair!” He slapped the top of the steering wheel. “You can’t make a decision like that without even talking to me.”
At the sound of Warner’s raised voice, Bella scrambled off the console and jumped into the back seat. Kendra began to tremble, leaned forward, and covered her face with both hands.
“I’m sorry, please—” Warner whispered.
Kendra broke down and began sobbing.
Feeling miserable, Warner leaned across the front seat and wrapped his wife in his arms.
-- : --
Unable to halt her sobbing, Kendra felt Warner’s misplaced anger tear at her heart. “You don’t understand!” she cried. It’s all my fault! I couldn’t do it. “I… want to give you a child,” Her voice raised an octave. “But how can I do that when he could be out there right now!?” She imagined a tingling at her neck as if being watched. What if the bastard thinks I’m sitting here telling Warner the truth? Her breathing became ragged and she tried to silence a soft moan.
Warner tightened his arms around her. “We’ll get through this. I promise. I’ll make whoever did this sorry.”
Flooded with emotion, Kendra was helpless to prevent the memory from sweeping her back to the devastating encounter with her attacker. She shuddered, finding herself again within the dim workshop on the day of the break-in….
She had stood at the foot of the stairs, puzzled by the unfamiliar ball cap in her hands. Looking up at the light streaming through the window at the top of the stairwell, she heard a curse as the intruder leapt from the upper floor and crashed onto the lower steps. Screaming, she fell to one side and stumbled into the small card table. Before getting a good look at him, the man tossed something over her head and threw himself on top of her. Cloaked in the smell of sweat—a jacket?—her muffled shouts continued as she struggled, flailing her arms in self-defense. Still holding the hammer, she felt a lucky shot land.
“Yow! That hurt!” the man yelped. “I wasn’t gonna hurt you!”
Slamming her wrist painfully onto the table’s edge, he forced her to drop the improvised weapon. Then, wrenching her arms down, he pinned them between their bodies. Unable to break free, she felt the taut muscles of his flat stomach while he gripped her jaw with his free hand.
“Please don’t hurt me!” she pleaded, feeling ashamed for begging.
“Hey, butthead!” the man yelled, ignoring her as he leaned toward the stairwell. There was no response. “God-damn-butthead-up-stairs!”
“You mean me?” a second man replied.
“Who else? Get the hell out a here and wait in the truck.”
Kendra lay beneath the powerful man and tried to regain control of her fear. Why didn’t I keep my keys handy? But then the hammer didn’t do any good. Where was the truck? Her mind was a jumble. Why didn’t I run when I saw the open doors?
A harsh scrape came from above, followed by the thump of heavy footsteps as a second man hustled across the upper floor. She heard the stairs creak as he rushed down them, then the noise of him crossing the room, and the gravel underfoot as he left the workshop. Thank God they aren’t going to gang—she couldn’t finish the thought. With a whimper, she fought her rising terror. At the sound, her captor ground his stiffening erection into her pelvis and she began to weep.
“Dumb bitch,” he growled. “What am I s’posed to do with you now? All ya had to do was climb back in your fancy car and drive away. Now look what ya done to yourself.”
When the man wedged his knee between her legs, forcing them apart, she cried out, “No! Don’t!”
Her emotions frayed while jagged breath blew against the silky material over her face. Then it struck her—I’m being assaulted! With a shudder, she tensed her arms and legs and tried to twist sideways, only managing to excite her attacker more. Don’t… don’t think about him holding me, pressing onto me. She felt helpless, ashamed—and a brief, uncontrollable thrill. Oh, God! Humiliation overwhelmed her.
“You gettin’ frisky? So’s you know, I like it rough,” he said, grinding his hips harder.
“Stop! What… what do you want?” She tried to steady her muffled voice.
“What do I want!? You and that prick to get the hell off this property. That’s what I want. We was fine before you outsiders stole the place. Think you gonna push us out of our own valley?”
She felt his hot breath on the material covering her face. “We don’t… all we want…,” she stammered. Please don’t let this become a nightmare.
“My family already lost everything once—and I ain’t letting it happen twice.”
“You’re… hurting me.” She felt a sob rise in her chest. How can we ever live here—or raise children here? “There’s cash in my purse. Take it… and my credit cards. My PIN is—”
“You fucking listening?” He cuffed her on the side of the head before dragging her roughly off the table onto the hard concrete floor.
“No!” Wrenching sideways, she scraped her hip on the concrete and tried unsuccessfully to wriggle out from under him.
“Shit, you think you can buy me off like some redneck at happy hour?”
When the man straddled her and wrestled her arms over her head, she felt the cold from the bare floor seep into her shoulders. “When… when my husband finds out….”
“Ain’t you a piece of cake. Tell anyone, your husband, even that dog’a yours, and I’ll know. And if you was thinking the law’s gonna protect ya, think again. It was my family settled this valley along with the deputy’s—and we still look after our own.”
For a second, he tightened the jacket over her head until she couldn’t breathe. He knows the deputy? She nearly fainted before he relaxed his hold. He knows everyone.
“Word gets back to me you opened that pretty mouth…,” he traced her lips through the material with his thumb, “…and one night, when you least expect it, you gonna wake up and find me standing over you in the dark. I took your husband down once—I can do it again.”
Took Warner down, like in a fight? But when—? Kendra slumped as the truth sank in. This is the ‘bear’ that attacked Warner. Why did Warner lie to me!? To protect me out of some asinine ‘guy duty?—men are bastards.
“Tell that husband of yours to finish the cabin and sell out. The old man you bought the place from might even buy it back. I bet a smart lady like you can be mighty convincing when she’s got the right motivation.” He rubbed his bristling chin hairs across the soft skin below her earlobe.
Chills ran like centipedes down her back and arms. This bastard can’t get away with this! But how can we stop him?
“Roll over.” Sitting back on his knees, he kept a firm hand on her neck. When he stood up he removed his grip, and she heard a soft scrape and a metallic clank as he picked something up off the concrete floor. He’s taking the ball cap and hammer.
“You just going to leave?” she asked, rolling onto her side. Is he toying with me?
“That an invitation?” he asked, laughing.
She tensed, remaining silent. I want this over… but will it ever be?
“Close your eyes and keep ‘em shut.”
Without questioning, she complied, and a moment later he ripped the material off her head. She felt the cool air of the workshop brush one cheek and the grimy dirt of the concrete floor press into the other. If I can just see his face!? Do it! Open your eyes! Identify the bastard and end our nightmare for good.
“Remember, sweetheart, long as you’re here I’ll be watching. One fucking word and I’ll be back for you….” His voice faded as he retreated, “Remember, next time is for keeps.”
She snapped back to the present with a shudder.
My one chance to put the bastard away—and I was a chicken-shit. Who’s fault is that? My fault. I couldn’t do what I needed to then… and I can’t tell Warner now.