Wilderness Paradise Pt. 05

"Rachael?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry. I really do want to talk but I have a meeting in a few minutes; I have to get back to work." I said reluctantly, "Can I call you later?"

"Of course! I'm sorry," she said quickly, "we can talk later."

"Send me the details. My Gmail account is still the same. And ... and, thanks for calling. I mean that. I've missed ..." my voice had softened considerably but I didn't know how to say it. I wanted to tell her how much I had missed her but I couldn't.

She took pity on me, mercifully, "Me too. Give me a few days and I'll send you everything and then we can work out the schedule." She was quiet again and I wondered what she was going to say. "Luke, please call Dad. I think he would love to hear from you. He talks about you all the time."

I was about to respond with something irascible and nasty but held myself in check. My father and I hadn't spoken since I had left.

"I will. Take care of yourself."

"Luke, I ..." she was whispering, "... thank you."

And she hung up the phone. I was so high I could have kissed a bar-headed goose! For those who aren't aware of these soaring birds; those suckers fly over the Himalayas, as high as thirty thousand feet!

*****

That was the renaissance of our relationship; the getting back together as lovers. That trip was focused on Dad and though we talked quite a bit, we never brought up our past. Not that I didn't want to but I could never find the right moment. On the day that I was leaving to get back to Chicago, she managed to get Mom and Dad registered for an Iñupiat Art class so she could drop me to the airport and we could share some time alone. It was transparent but my parents went along with it. Mom was thrilled. I think Dad's fragile health and the fact that time heals all, had softened his perspective. We had bridged our differences. I realized that there was a lot of my father in me and partialities aside, I was his eldest son, his only son.

Rachael and I stopped at a small coffee shop on the way to the airport and spent most of the time quietly studying each other. I felt like a schoolboy on a date with the prom queen. She had changed, she was older, a little slimmer and her hair had lightened. She looked even more beautiful if that was possible – at least she did to me.

"I can't believe it's over," she said looking at me and then into her coffee, her hair which she had cut a bit shorter, cascade around her face, "the week went by so quickly!"

"Yeah, it's Einstein's theory," I said without thinking and realized that it was something my father would have said. I was getting to be more like him than I had ever imagined.

"What? You're so full of it!" she said and laughed, "You sound like Dad and his Chaos Theory!"

She blushed right after she said it. I guess it brought back unpleasant memories reminding her of my indiscretion.

We were quiet again. I kept peeking at her, quick, secretive glances as if to confirm that she was indeed there and not some figment of my imagination. I could feel my heart tightening at the thought of her belonging to someone else. I figured it was now or never.

"Rach, are you seeing anyone?" I had to ask, it had been on my mind the entire trip.

"It's none of your business!" she said, straight-faced and then laughed at my expression, "No I'm not! You should have seen the look on your face!" She sipped her coffee before asking, "How about you?"

Though it sounded matter-of-fact, I knew she was just as concerned as I had been. I was so relieved that I didn't trust myself to speak. And when I did, I replied softly, my voice sounding strangely removed; as if it was someone else who was speaking.

"No, no one."

"You're such a liar, Luke! I know you!" she exclaimed smugly.

"I mean it, sis, I'm not. I broke up with someone over a year ago and I haven't, I couldn't ..." I left it unsaid. How do you tell your sister that no one ever measured up to her and that I couldn't stop thinking of her?

She was quiet again and then did something that made my day, my week, my month ... She reached across the table and took my hands in hers. It was an act of forgiveness and renewal.

"I haven't been able to stop loving you Luke Meacham, even though you hurt me more that you'll ever know!" she said it clearly looking into my eyes.

I was in heaven, flying higher than those fucking geese!

*****

At the Airport, she insisted on parking the car and seeing me off against all my objections. I hated Airport goodbyes, never knowing what to do or say as the time drew closer. I waited until the very last minute before saying goodbye to her. It wasn't very crowded. We had been standing, holding hands when I heard the announcement over the PA.

"I'd better go," I said turning to her.

For a moment it was awkward. She kissed me quickly on my cheek and then when I pulled her to me, I felt her mouth searching for mine. I'm not sure how long we had been lip-locked but it was a long, sensual kiss and both of us needed to come up for air. I stepped back and could see her blushing.

"I missed that so much," I said, "I missed you, Rachael Meacham, more than you'll ever know!" And

I walked away. Don't ask me why but I felt like the John Wayne riding off into the sunset.

*****

Bella Coola, BC

"Associate yourself with men of good quality if you esteem your own reputation; for 'tis better to be alone than in bad company." George Washington

The idea of a trip to Bella Coola began with just Rachael and me. She was to come to Chicago and we were to have gone together. But then when Kyla got wind of it, she decided to join us and before I knew it, Andrew and Sarah, Rachael's roommates wanted to tag along and that's how it got seriously fucked up.

By then, we had been talking every night, our conversations laced with overt sexual innuendos. This was going to be our trip, where we got back together. I couldn't wait for the make-up sex and told her so.

"You know what's going to happen when we meet, don't you?" I asked her.

"No, tell me!" she replied, tongue in cheek.

"You remember that night when you said you were sore and couldn't walk?" I asked her, my cock throbbing in my PJs.

She was quiet before replying, "Unh-huh!"

"Well, it's going to get exponentially worse! They're going to have to hospitalize you once I'm done fucking you!" I was shagging myself at the thought of the things I would do to her.

I knew I was getting to her. I had that picture of her, in her bikini swimsuit; her fingers buried inside her twat and could imagine her now, lying on her bed, her nightie pulled up, pleasuring herself.

"What are you wearing?" my voice was soft and hoarse, laced with desire.

"The Bugs Bunny Tee," she whispered back. It was an oversized, cotton t-shirt I'd given her years back that she loved.

"And panties? What color?"

"I'm not wearing any ..."

Damn! That was hot. I could picture her cunt, swollen and wet!

"What are you doing?"

"The same thing you are ..." she answered, her breathing soft, ragged.

Oh, fuck! She was frigging herself; her fingers riding between the puffy lips of her vagina.

"I'm going to make up for all the lost time. You'd better be ready to pay ..." I was now beyond rationale.

"Promises, promises," she said in her little girl voice.

"... I'm going to fuck you, little sister, fuck you silly!"

I could hear her through the silence as she readjusted her phone closer to her crotch so I could hear her fingers squishing, working her slit, and then she said so softly I barely heard it, her voice shaking, "Do you like that? I'm so wet for you, baby, your sister wants you ..."

She was back! She loved to verbalize our incestuous bonds and I loved listening to her.

"Oh yes, little sister, I'm can taste you ... I'm going to lick you, fuck you all night ..."

"You'll have to catch me first, darling brother!" she whispered back as we continued with our salacious teasing, titillating, urging and leading each other to the edge of the precipice.

*****

Back to the present: Discovery

And now, before I had a chance to see her, she was gone with some motherfucking maniac on her trail. I made a promise to myself that if he hurts a hair on her head, I'll make it my sole purpose in life to find him, to track him down and kill him - slowly. I'd make sure it took a year for him to die. He'd be screaming every second of the minute, every minute of the hour, every hour of the day and through the three sixty five days of that frigging year! And then I heard

Danny and it shook me out of my dark reverie.

"We're almost there," he called back.

We had climbed up and around, circumscribing the caves and after an hour or so of working our way through dense shrubs and foliage, we arrived above the ledge where Rachael and Kyla had egressed. We were higher up the mountainside and at a thirty degree angle to the cabin.

The view was spectacular and I could understand why he had picked this spot. He was near fresh water and it was secluded. The authorities would have been hard pressed to find this haven. He had given a lot of thought to the location and the manner in which he built his shelter. Even by helicopter, you'd miss it. The place was hidden under the cover of trees and dense shrubs. But from our vantage point, we could see the side of the cabin built into the rock face.

"I never thought anyone lived here," the giant muttered to himself.

Now that we were so close, my only thought was to get to Rachael. There was a part of me that was worried about what might have happened to her but I forced the doubting insinuations from my mind. I had to find her. That's all that mattered.

"That must be his place. I'm going in from the front, you should try the side," I said pointing to the left, "just in case ..."

And, before he could respond, I was off. I went down the incline; rapelling as quickly as I could then crouched and made a mad dash across the small yard to the front door. I noticed that it wasn't closed; it was open just a crack. There were an eerie stillness inside the cabin and I began to worry. My mind raced with questions. Was Rachael in there or did he have her sequestered somewhere else. Where were Kyla and Sarah? Where the fuck was he?

I looked for the giant and saw him bounding in from the side and decided to go in. I pushed the door open, slowly, but it creaked on its rusty hinges, the noise splintering the spectral quiet and I half expected some crazed ogre to leap out from the shadows. But there was nothing; no noise, no movement or regressive activity, nothing! All I heard was the incongruous sounds of birds and insects blending with the hissing rustle of leaves in nature's mocking symphony.

It was dark in the room and I crouched lower allowing my eyes to adjust before cautiously making my way to the open archway on the right. I passed some pots and pans and pressed myself, back against the wall, and waited, listening for the slightest movement. Hearing nothing, I spun and dashed into the room.

The bed was the first thing that I saw and mainly because the room was barren except for it. And then it registered: Kyla! As soon as I saw her, I was filled with relief followed by apprehension and shock. She was tied spread-eagled and her clothing was strewn in a scrambled heap besides the bed. She was covered in a fur quilt.

Her eyes fluttered open when she heard the big man stumble in after me, his thundering feet sure to raise the dead. He couldn't help himself.

"Ohhhh ..." she sighed, "Luke ..."

"Ssshhhh, it's okay, you're safe," I said while the giant cut the ropes binding her to the bedposts.

When she sat up, I hugged her and felt the quilt falling away. I was sitting on side of the bed aware of my fingers against her bare back, her breasts pressing into my chest and knew that she was naked.

"Are you okay?" I asked; my concern obvious.

She didn't answer. The unmistakable smell of sex that hung tenuously in the air told the story.

"I ..." she started and then reached under us, pulling the quilt back up to cover herself, "My clothes, please hand me my clothes."

The giant picked up the pile and sorted them meticulously. He did it quickly and efficiently and with consideration before handing them over to her.

"This is Danny. He's a friend." I said when I saw her looking at him.

"Daniel Benn, ma'am," he acknowledged, tipping his huge head.

She took the clothes from him without saying anything and waited. We turned our backs to allow her some privacy. I knew that the fucker had hurt her and I was now determined to hurt him back. I had known Kyla all my life. She was family and this asshole was going to pay. He was going to die.

"We'll get him, don't you worry, little man, we'll hunt him down," the giant muttered knowing exactly what I was feeling.

"Where's Rachael?" I asked; my heart in my throat, terrified of the answer.

"Rachael and Sarah are in the next room, they're safe ..." she said, "... you've got to hurry. He's gone to find Andrew, to kill him!"

As soon as she confirmed Rachael's safety, I felt an overwhelming relief. My mind kept went blank except for a single thought: Rachael's fine, Rachael's fine, Rachael's fine ...

"Luke, he's gone to kill Andrew! He said so," she reiterated with urgency, paused and added, "to me!"

"What?" I asked not sure if I had heard right.

The giant had already left and I could hear him lifting the crossbar off of the support brackets and the door creaking noisily open.

"He's gone back." she said again, "He knows where Andrew is; he's going to kill him. You need to hurry, Luke, I'll be ..." she stopped, "Go on, we'll be fine now."

Her shirt was ripped, with buttons missing. She was tying the ends in a knot around her abdomen just below her breasts. I saw teeth mark and bruises on her breasts and neck. My heart went out to her when I saw her fingers trembling. I stroked her hair gently back.

"How long ago? I mean, when did he leave?" I asked.

"About twenty five to thirty minutes, I think. I, er, I ..." she answered, "... I can't be sure."

I heard more shuffling of feet and when I turned around the giant was standing behind Rachael and Sarah but all I could see was my sister.

She was in the doorway, disheveled and tired but looking as incredible as ever. For a moment all else faded and we were alone, the quantum of time and space had compressed to an infinite nothingness. We looked at each other, eyes locked, and then she was in my arms. I held her so tightly I could feel her body flexing, melting into mine. I kissed the side of her head, overcome with relief, thrilling to the warmth of her breath against my neck. I finally had her back. I wished we had been alone but I was never letting her go again.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Sarah with Kyla, hugging her, cooing to her, gentle affirmations the way only women can. It was an emotional reunion for all of us.

"Listen, I'll go," the giant said coming over to us and when Rachael looked up at him, he grinned, his eyes crinkling up, shining like chips of aquamarine, white teeth flashing, "Well, hello missy, I knew we'd meet again!"

She blushed and said with a smirk, "Oh, it's you!"

She had brushed him off when he had approached her in Bella Coola – that seemed like a lifetime ago. Damn! I don't believe this – my sister was attracted to him. But she still clung to me her arms around my waist.

"You take care of her," he said to me and then did a poor imitation of the Terminator, "I'll be back!"

Rachael and I couldn't help but smile, his expression was priceless. But, deep down I knew the big man wouldn't be able to make it back quickly enough. I was in denial. I didn't want to leave my sister. Danny would have to go around the big rock, the one he christened, Mother's Hell, while I could chimney back down and that would shave thirty minutes off the trip. Thirty minutes that could mean the difference between life and death. The only chance Andrew had was if I went alone. Fuckin' Karma!

"No, you stay. I'll go. I'm faster and I now know the way. Just make sure they are safe."

He didn't object. He was pragmatic and accepted things for what they are.

"Okay, you don't worry, little man, they're safe now. I'll bring them back," he said reassuringly and then held out his knife, "Take this. You may need it."

It was his Bowie knife with a twelve inch blade and a handle made from carved walrus tusk. It was given to him by his father and was something he cherished. It was a real knife and not the Swiss Army pocket miniature that I had. I was touched by the gesture but I shook my head. It was of no use to me.

"Keep it, big man, you may have to catch and skin dinner – these gals can eat," I said motioning to Rachael and Kyla.

I could feel Rachael clinging to me, her fingers digging into the sides of my waist but I pulled her hands away as gently as I could and whispered so that only she could hear.

"Don't worry, baby, nothing's going to keep me away from you, nothing!"

There was very little time and I didn't want my mind fogged with distractions, especially emotional distractions concerning my sister.

The last thing I heard before entering the shaded embrace of the trees was Rachael calling out softly, "Luke, be careful ... I love you ..."

It was a lover's exchange and I wondered what the giant would make of that.

There was one thing in my favor; the element of surprise. The maniac had no clue that I was on my way back.

*****

Contact

I backtracked to the waterfall and was about to stop for a quick drink when I saw someone bent over splashing his face. My initial reaction was that it was him, the lunatic who had grabbed the girls, but when he stood up and turned I was surprised to see Lester Cooley. What the fuck was he doing here? And whatever happened to Bill Jacobs and his friends?

I would have confronted him except I didn't have the time so eschewing the break I kept going. I couldn't help but wonder about those businessmen and Jeff, the kid who was Cooley's assistant. Something wasn't right but I couldn't put my finger on it. It just smelled of rotting fish. I was concerned enough for Jacobs and his buddies that I decided to detour quickly by their campsite.

When I arrived there, it was deserted. The tents were gone and all that was left was the scattered ashes from the previous night. I looked around but there was nothing to indicate any foul play. I didn't have time so though it didn't feel right, I moved on.

I was making pretty good time and even traversing down the treacherous rock; the one Danny had baptized 'Mother's Hell', went faster than I had expected. He had named it while peeing on its base, and was short for 'Motherfucking Hell of a Rock' – except the big man never cursed and had called it, "Mother-bleeping Hell of a Rock"! He left it to me to fill in the expletive. I smiled at the memory! I realized that I was taking a real liking to him and felt conflicted about Rachael and him. But that was going to have to wait.

I was about a fifty yards from Rachael's campsite when I saw someone walking around the tents. It wasn't Andrew. The man's face paint and camouflaged outfit was a dead giveaway. It was him! The fuckin' kidnapper and rapist!

I froze, making sure I didn't make any noise. I was hidden in the shadows of the large Cedars, behind their enormous trunks. I felt the adrenalin rush and had to fight to keep my excitement in check. I didn't want to spook him off – that would create a whole new set of problems. I inched closer, crouched low making sure that he was always in my line of sight.

There was no sign of Andrew and that was good. The last thing I needed was for him to come out to explore the sounds around the campsite.