Chapter 1 - Fourth Installment

Deborah moved along the narrow path as quickly as she could. Again, she could hear the little creatures scramble away from her, except this time it was she who felt intruded upon. It was intensely dark, and extremely cold. With every sound she wanted to drop and hide. She had to control that urge and keep moving forward. It was too late to back down to fear and guilt now.
When she reached the truck she used her T-shirt to wipe the door handle, both inside and out. She paid close attention to the seat belt and buckle. She looked around the cab of the truck one more time, and closed the door with a graceful bump of her hip. Her pulse was racing and her nerves were raw. She half expected to hear someone yell “Freeze!”
She quickly headed down the dusty road towards town. She had not gotten far when she heard voices. Pausing, she determined that they were the voices of the teens Travis had passed on the way in. Either these kids had no curfew, or did not care. Deborah quietly slipped into the shadows of the trees and moved silently through the tall, dense grass. She slowed her pace considerably for fear of being heard, but as she put distance between herself and their little party, she realized they were far too intoxicated to notice her.
Once she reached the highway, she stayed just inside the tree line, approximately twenty yards from the side of the road. She did not want to risk being seen by anyone if a car should pass by. She kept her pace at a safe, but fairly quick jog, as she made her way into town. The terrain was difficult and cumbersome, but she focused on her son’s sleeping form and sweet face, and pushed on as quickly as she could.
Just inside of town, she made the decision to take a detour from her previously determined route home. Although costly on time, it would later prove imperative to her survival. She turned and carefully made her way through ally after ally, and through several ditches. She avoided any signs of life and all forms of light. She completed the last task and headed for home. Over two hours after she left Travis at the river, Deborah reached the empty field behind her home.
A short barbwire fence guarded the pasture that ran the length of the entire neighborhood. Deborah tried to use her leather coat as protection as she climbed through a hole in the fence, but snagged her thigh none the less. She bit her lip to avoid yelping as the rusty thorn tore into her flesh.
Deborah knew that it would be daylight soon, and one of her neighbors was an early riser who liked to drink his coffee on the back porch every morning. She would have to run past his back yard to reach her own, and the pasture offered no cover in which to hide. Taking a deep breath, she ran at full speed through the field to her back yard. She carefully placed her foot into one of the holes in the lattes fence she had put up to create more privacy in her yard. It was only five feet high, but covered the barbwire, preventing Parker from getting hurt while playing. It proved helpful this morning. When she finally reached her back porch, she did not slow down, though her body screamed for rest.
Instead, still standing on the back porch, she stripped to her underwear, and placed all her clothes into the wood box to be burned later that morning. Deborah knew that if she was ever a suspect, she could have no evidence of being with Travis. Burning her clothes was the safest option. She had seen to many movies where some idiot had tried to wash out the stains of their sin and failed. She also knew it was silly to look to Hollywood for assistance in planning a cover up, but she had nothing else to go by.
Deborah took her keys out of her jacket before adding it to the pile in the wood box and meekly stepped into her kitchen. She quietly made her way to Parker’s room. He was sound asleep, and showed no sign of ever being awake. Deborah thanked God for keeping him still and safe.
She then proceeded to take the second longest shower of her life. The water was near a boil as she scrubbed and re-scrubbed every inch of her body. She used a nailbrush and methodically attended to every nail. And although she did not find any blood on her, she decided to scrub the shower too.
Once out of the shower, Deborah inspected the wound on her right thigh. It was fairly deep, but superficial. She treated it with the medicine that Parker hated so much. He was right, it stung like hell. Deborah threw it away and swore to never put him through that pain again. She also promised to pay more attention to his opinions, as he obviously had a justified and knowledgeable view on things.
After dressing in her nightclothes, she went around the house, checking that things were as they should be. She placed her keys back on the hook, and moved Parker’s photo from the table where Travis left it, and placed it back on the mantle where it belonged.
Feeling that everything that could be done, had been, she slipped back into Parker’s room and leaned over his bed. Deborah hurt all over, more now with fear and love, than pain and fatigue.
She pulled back his covers and carefully crawled into bed with him. Cuddling his small form, she thanked God for him and asked for forgiveness. She buried her nose in his auburn hair and repeated her prayer over and over again. Slowly Deborah drifted to sleep, exhausted and resolved in the belief that she only did what had to be done.

- posted by Cindy @ 12:53 PM (0) comments |

 
Chapter One, Third Installment -

Some time later Deborah came to. She was unsure of how much time had lapsed. But the pain stemming from the back of her head explained why time had escaped her. Unlike movies she had seen, Deborah was not groggy. She immediately remembered everything until the point of pulling the trigger. She turned her head to confirm what she already knew to be true.
The mud was cold on her cheek as she stared at the lifeless body of Travis Myers. His eyes and teeth glowed like beacons unto the heavens. Slowly Deborah rose and stood over him. She was poised ready to defend herself. She was afraid he would jump up and attack her. She was equally afraid he wouldn’t. She desperately wanted to close his gaping mouth. But, oddly, his sharp blue eyes starring blankly ahead did not disturb her. His eyes were as dead in life as they were now.
His right arm was floating in the tide pool at the river’s edge. Deborah suddenly worried that the water was too cold, then chastised herself for such a foolish thought. She shifted her eyes to his face again. The color was gone and for the first time, Deborah saw him as pale and weak. Her gaze followed his frame slowly, searching for the lethal wound.
It was difficult to find, as her gun was small and his shirt was maroon in color to begin with. She almost missed it, yet, just over his heart, his shirt shimmered in the moonlight. Deborah stared, with open jaw. How she was able to strike such a vital target during such a close and short struggle baffled her. She did not remember taking aim or even where the gun was when she pulled the trigger. Still, there it was, a direct shot into the chest.
A calm terror struck Deborah. She stopped shivering and froze like a deer in the headlights. She had to make a decision. What she did now would forever effect her life and especially the life of her son. Once the choice was made, she would have to follow through with, and stand by it for the rest of her life.
Should she turn herself in or try to cover it up?
If she contacted the authorities, would they believe that is was self-defense? He was the hometown hero that could do no wrong. His family was the most influential and wealthy in the county. Would they allow someone to claim their dear sweet son had attacked her, thus forcing her to shoot him? Could she even explain what happened? Could she justify having a gun with her? Even if they believed that he attacked her, would they believe that she had not intended to harm him when she put the gun in her pocket, or when she aimed it at him. She would have to tell them why she brought the gun. Which would ultimately produce the truth about Parker’s father.
No matter how she tried to angle it, she could not see the police or Travis’ family coming to any other conclusion but murder. And, to add to the horror, the secret of Parker’s father would be revealed.
It was a no win situation. She would go to jail, and Parker would be left behind, with the whole town hating him for his mother’s transgressions. His whole life would be destroyed, and she came here tonight to prevent that.
The fear of losing her son overwhelmed her, and Deborah made her decision. She told herself that she could do anything for Parker.
“Even this.” And with no further hesitation, Deborah went into action.
First, she did her best checking Travis for any of her clothing, hair, or blood. She wore no jewelry and was not missing any buttons. She scooped up the gun that laid between them when she awoke, and put it in her pocket. It seemed heavier and more dangerous now. She checked three times to assure the safety was on.
Deborah knelt upstream from Travis and washed her small, shaking hands and thin face. It was as much for her sanity as it was for her security. She knew that footprints would be impossible to make out among all the rocks and weeds.
As Deborah took one last look around, she stopped again over Travis’ limp body.
“Damn you Travis.” She cursed him for past hurts, for coming to her home, for threatening her son, and for attacking her. “Damn you!” Then the air caught in her throat. She realized she was cursing the man she had just killed. She had taken his life and was now damning him. Finally, tears fell from her tortured eyes.
“I’m sorry Travis. So sorry. I never meant for this to happen. I swear. No matter what you have done, you didn’t deserve this. You didn’t deserve to …” she covered her mouth and looked away. Deborah could not endure thinking about it any more, let alone looking at him. She had to focus on what needed to be done, not what she had already done. There was much to do yet, and she guessed there were precious few hours left before daylight.

- posted by Cindy @ 7:05 PM (0) comments |

 
Chapter One, Second Installment -

“Ready?” Travis piped. For a moment Deborah thought of running back inside, but she turned and locked the door instead. Facing Travis again, she approached the steps of her cheery little home. As Deborah passed him, Travis took her coat from her.
“Allow me.” He offered and readied it for her to slip on. When she did, he let his hands slide down to her hips. “Glad to see that child birth didn’t effect your little waist.” He spun her around and allowed his gaze to linger on her chest. “And I love the effect it had on your breasts.”
Deborah pulled away from him in a jerk. “You know, I really don’t need a ride Travis. So why don’t you feed this crap to some of your flunkies down at Tiny’s Bar?” Spite filled her words.
“Like I said, I want to talk about Parker’s daddy.” He retorted, knowing it would intimidate her. Deborah lowered her head. “Shall we?” he smirked as he tucked his thumb into the waist of her jeans. When they reached his oversized truck, he abused the opportunity to allow his hand to rest on her rear while helping her in.When Travis rounded the truck, Deborah closed her green eyes to hold back the tears. She refused to cry, especially in front of him.
As they drove away from her safe haven, her thoughts lingered on her son’s well being. Travis turned the radio on full volume and headed across town. It was late and quite cold, so the streets were all but empty. She didn’t bother making up some phony location for him to take her to. She knew where they were headed, and there was no way to avoid it. If not tonight, then some other, he would taker her there, just as he had done so many years ago. “But this time will be different.” Deborah vowed deep in her heart.
Travis drove to the edge of town, turning onto the old highway. He drove at top speed until the large oak marking the entrance of a long dirt road appeared. He slowed just enough to make the turn, and then gunned it again, racing towards the river. He left several cars parked at the make out spot covered in dust and gravel as he blazed by. He continued until he reached his “special spot” as described to many of the girls he took there.
He backed into the nook she remembered all too well. Travis waited for his song to finish before he turned the engine off. While waiting for him to make the next move, Deborah wiped her damp hands on her black jeans. With each moment she gathered the courage she needed to face him. After what seemed like hours, she turned and confronted him. “What the hell do you want Travis?”
“A lush, a slut, and a potty mouth!” he chuckled. She turned away in frustration. Her green eyes were not filled with tears, but fear and confusion. “Let’s go for a walk baby girl.” He demanded rather than suggested.
“Damn him!” Deborah thought as he jumped out. She used the opportunity to slip the purses’ only content into the right pocket of her jacket. One way or another she was leaving here secure in the knowledge that Parker’s father would not invade his life. She slid out of the truck, and with great resentment, allowed Travis to guide her along the narrow path to the river’s edge.
He already had her six miles from town, a total of nine from her home and son. She tried not to linger on the question as to why. Instead she focused on her footing. It was very dark, and the area was damp and over grown with vegetation. Deborah could hear small animals scurry due to their intrusion.
Suddenly, Travis stopped, turned around, and kissed her, hard. Deborah just as swiftly slapped him, hard.
“You’ve gotten feisty with age! I kind of like that.” He barely acknowledged the sting she left on his face.
“Damn it Travis, what do you want? And what do you know of Parker’s father?”
“Well, just suppose I know who his daddy is and think it is about time to reunite boy and dear old dad? Being as how he and I are sooo close and all.” He sounded like a seedy mobster.
Deborah’s head was spinning. “Bull.” She tried to call his bluff. “You don’t know who his father is.”
“Oh yes I do baby, and I think it is about time he gets to know his kid.” Travis stated smugly.
“I won’t allow it. Ever. No visitation, no letters, no phone calls, nothing.” Deborah looked him square in the eyes to make herself perfectly clear.
“Not just visitation Debbie, custody.” He returned her stare.
Deborah felt as if the wind was knocked out of her. She began to feel slightly dizzy as she tried to process what he was saying. Then, suddenly, she realized where this was going. “What’s your price Travis?”
“Who says there is one?” He almost appeared to be dancing with excitement as he realized his game was coming to climax.
“There always is with you, so name it.” She said with a face of stone.
He looked at her with hunger in his eyes. “You.”
Deborah was not expecting that response and froze in shock. He read that as a signature on the dotted line, and lunged. Instincts grabbed Deborah before Travis did. She fought him off with a few quick blows she learned at the community center eight years ago. The night grew darker around them. The anger in Travis’ eyes was pure evil, and Deborah turned equally cold.
“It’s you or the boy.” he snorted.
Deborah reached into her pocket and placed her hand around the handle of a small gun. All she could think of was her son’s sweet face and his future. “Over...” she began.
“What? Over your dead body?” He flashed his sly grin one too many times.
“No Travis,” she pulled the gun from her pocket and held it at arm’s length, ”over yours.”
Shock and disbelief distorted his tan face.
“I will not allow you to destroy the life I have struggled for. And there is no way that I will let you destroy the life of my son. So you have two choices …”
“You bitch!” and again he lunged. Deborah stumbled back and lost her footing on the mossy rocks. All she could see was Travis’ large frame and cruel eyes following her to the ground. But the chaos filled her ears. The weeds and twigs breaking, thunder rolling in from the distance, rocks and gravel giving way under them, and Travis growling.
Deborah pulled the trigger and everything went black.
- posted by Cindy @ 8:56 AM (0) comments |

 
Chapter One

She gasped. The knock at the door was loud and intrusive. Deborah dried her dish water hands on her warn black jeans. As she headed towards the front of the house, she passed by Parker’s room and quickly glanced inside. Her eight-year-old seemed undisturbed by the noise. She quietly closed his door to assure he stayed that way. The second rap on the door hurried her step. She quickly pulled the door open and the cold night air hit her face hard. But it was already frozen. She stared into the piercing blue eyes of Travis Myers. It wasn’t until he spoke that her focus shifted to the smirk that was famous around the small town of Willsonville.
“Well I knew you would be surprised, but I wasn’t expecting awe struck.” He ran his long fingers through his shaggy blonde hair. “Although, it a response I am getting use to.” He moved his well formed body towards her, and ran the back of his fingers along her slim arm. She couldn’t speak or move, although she desperately wanted to.
“After all these years, I still give you goose bumps.” he gloated huskily. Every nerve in her body was raw and she felt as if she may vomit. Her knees began to buckle and she finally moved her small frame backward a couple of inches.
She took in his full form. The well fitted jeans, the shirt that was too tight, the snakeskin boots with matching belt. All of it was obviously new. And of course the thick gold chain baring the “TMT” emblem, hanging around his neck, just as it had since Jr. high school.
“Well aren’t you going to invite me in?” Again he flashed his signature grin.
“
You’re back.” She whispered in disbelief, although she had thought of this moment a million times.
“That’s right Debbie baby, the home town here returns.” He brushed past her and into the small living room. She spun around on one heal slowly, grasping the door behind her for support.
“When?” Deborah barely managed.
“Just this morning. I surprised my parents for the 30th anniversary.” No wonder she hadn’t heard of his return, she wasn’t the only one who wasn’t expecting him.
Travis sauntered over to the quaint fireplace and took a photo of her son off the mantel. “I heard.” he remarked with a sigh.
Again she froze, her blood running cold. “What?”
“That you got knocked up right after I left. It sure didn’t take you long to replace me.” He turned to face her, his look stern.
“Replace you?” Deborah’s voice cracked. She spoke barely above a whisper, but it seemed much louder in her small, still house.
“Yeah. And with a drunken one night stand. Hell, you sure rocked this town!” He laughed too loudly and placed the frame on the coffee table. “I’m surprised that there wasn’t a headline that read “Missionary Mary’s Daughter Turns Town Slut!” printed on the front page of the town paper.” Again he shook with laughter.
But his joke wasn’t far from how the town had responded to learning that she had gone on a drinking binge and ended up pregnant. The whispers were more like side walk broadcasts. The most common comment was “Like father, like daughter.” despite the fact that her father had been gone for several years. After some time, the gossip stopped, but not before it drove her mother to an early grave.
At ten she lost her father to another woman, at eighteen her innocence on a riverbank, and at nineteen her mother to shame and heartbreak. Small towns like Willsonville thrived on juicy gossip from stories like these. Unfortunately, her family had produced more than its share of carnage for the feeding frenzy.
Travis’ voice jerked her back into the present, “So where is the little tike?” His eyes shifted to the doorway across the room. She bit her lip and after a slight hesitation instinct took over.
“At a friends house.” She lied.
“Damn, I wanted to meet the little sport.” Travis pretended to pout.
Deborah prayed that Parker wouldn’t wake at the unfamiliar sound of a man’s voice in the house. “Well he isn’t here.” Deborah stated flatly, trying to hide her fear. But she knew he was aware of it. After all, that is why he brought it up.
“Just as well,” he shrugged, “I wanted to catch up, and talk about old times.” He moved closer to her, taking the room in three long strides. She stood glued to the open door.
“Actually, I was just headed out.” Again she lied. It had become easier over the years. Deborah didn’t want him in the house. She had worked hard to build a safe world around son and self, and Travis’ mere presence threatened that.
“Oh really? Well then I’ll give you a ride.”
“That isn’t necessary.” she blurted out. Deborah had no doubt it was clear that she wanted him to leave.
“No, really,” he placed his hand on her slender cheek, “I insist.” She shivered as he twirled a lock of her dark blonde hair around his index finger. “I wanted to talk to you about Parker’s daddy.” His eyes danced in anticipation of her reaction.
She thought of her sweet little boy in the room next door. He was sleeping soundly, safe in some beautiful dream, unaware of the threat that had just been made. She had never left him unsupervised before.
“Okay, just let me get my things.” She tried to sound casual.
“Great!” Travis gloated as he strutted out unto the front porch.
In a trance, Deborah reached into the closet, past the purse that carried her wallet, and above the top shelf. She balanced on her toes to reach the purse stuffed into the small space behind a loose panel in the wall. She grabbed her black leather jacket, and shut the closet door. Retrieving her keys from the hook next to the front door, she looked over her shoulder towards her child’s room. Deborah listened for a moment and envisioned his sleeping form. “You are my life and I love you Parker.” she whispered. Then she turned and closed the door behind her.
- posted by Cindy @ 7:54 PM (0) comments |