Author Note: As always, I want to thank you for taking the time to read my story and hope you enjoy it. I know I am not the perfect writer, but if you find something that will help me improve or have good or bad comments, please, let me know. Thanks!)
Keni looked at the photos that Sheriff Jones showed her and swallowed back her urge to throw up. The unknown woman in them had been beaten black and blue and blood was everywhere. There was no clue how the hell she had survived for two days of Waylon's insanity, but she had and now she was under guard at a hospital in Oklahoma City.
"The Tulsa police found her wandering near the freeway and called in a helicopter. She was dehydrated and right now she keeps drifting in and out of consciousness. I've asked the state for help. And if we don't find him soon, we're considering calling the FBI." Sheriff Jones took the coffee her mom handed him gratefully. "We're thinking he might be headed to Canada. Henry was telling me about some hunting trips you all used to make up there back when you boys were young. Some cabins or such you all stayed at?"
Dean nodded. "Yeah, but we haven't been there in near fifteen years. I don't even remember the name. Dad might."
"He did. Showed me some pictures and where they are on the map. We're putting the word out to every department between here and the border. God, I never expected to ever have to handle something like this when I took over. And no offense Harley, this is something I would have expected from you or Dean more then I would have Waylon. He was always so quiet, so respectful. I shiver to remember he used to date my Colleen when they were in high school."
Keni could believe it; she wouldn't want him dating her daughter, when and if she had one. Harley looked at her and held out his hand. She was cold and he pulled her close as she sat beside him on the couch. His arm was propped up and he had taken a pain pill before coming down stairs. In another corner of the room Maggie was being comforted by her daughter Heather. Heather had been called home from school yesterday when they had gotten word about the woman up by Tulsa. Dean and Henry had driven up to pick her up and while there had been no sign of Waylon, it was understood that until her brother was arrested, she was staying home. Mike had come as well feeling he needed to add his support to the woman he had chose to marry. Keni admired him for that, and had to admit Heather had found a winner in the soft spoken cowboy.
It was a hard time for the Barnes family and while a part of her still felt like this would never have happened if she hadn't come here, no one would even think of hearing of her leaving. She had mentioned it to her mom and made the mistake of forgetting Maggie was sitting close by. "You will do no such thing; I refuse to believe that this is because you came here and chose Harley over Waylon. That boy was starting to be trouble long before you ever came here Keni, and while I hate to admit it, I knew that he was wrong somehow." She had begun to cry then and it had taken both Keni and her mom's reassurance that neither of them was going anywhere right now, to calm her down.
Henry and Dean had thrown in their words on the subject and Harley had spent almost an hour ranting and raving at her before finally telling her the matter was closed, pure and simple. He had pulled her close and hadn't let her talk for another hour before she finally took the hint and shut up about the matter.
Harley stroked her hair now and she nestled closer to him. She didn't feel well, if from the photos or just the knowledge of what was happening around her, she wasn't sure. She kept trying to wonder why this had all happened. What had sent Waylon over the edge and how could he do this to his family? Wrapping her arm around Harley's chest, she wished she could get warm. It was still warm outside, and the number of people in the house was filling the air with warmth, but she felt as if she were in a freezer.
She shivered harder and wondered if her teeth were actually chattering or if it was her imagination. "Keni, what's wrong honey?" Harley looked at her. "Hey Janie, Keni doesn't look very good."
Her mom came and ran a hand over her head. "Keni honey, you're burning up, come on honey, lets get you up to bed."
She went but she was still freezing and it wasn't until Harley came up and crawled into bed with her that she felt even a bit of warmth. As she fell into a restless sleep, she wondered what was wrong with her. She never got sick.
When she woke, it was raining outside, the water hitting the window and the wind howling. From what she could see, it was daylight, but the dark sky made her feel disoriented and out of sorts. She could hear people talking and Harley's body beside her. She reached for him and looked up at his face. He smiled down at her and bent his head to kiss her forehead.
"Oh yes, much cooler honey, how you feeling?"
Keni considered his question. "Better I guess; when did it start to rain?"
"Yesterday, you've been out for four days hon, the doctor said it was a cross between stress and exhaustion."
"Doctor, you mean an actual doctor who makes house calls...did I get transported to the 50's some how?" He to be teasing her, but somehow she knew he wasn't.
Harley laughed. "Doctor Hanes is long retired honey, but he came over as a friend and checked you out. Suggested we just keep an eye on you and gave us a list of things to watch out for. His son Jasper is the tall, good looking sucker you were making eyes at when he came in to sign my release papers..." His tone was teasing now.
Keni moved to sit up and felt dizzy as she did. "I was not making eyes at him; I was listening to him as he told you what you could and couldn't do. Why do I feel so damn weak Harley...?"
"Well, considering you've been drifting in and out for the last few days and haven't eaten anything besides what soup me and your mom could get down you..." She got the impression he was enjoying seeing her in the same situation he was in.
That might explain why she felt so hungry. "What time is it?"
"Time for you to eat..." Her mom entered the room carrying a tray with juice, toast and a poached egg on it. "Let's see how much of this you can get down and keep down, before we start anything heavier. It's no wonder your body shut down for a while honey, you've had so much to deal with."
Keni began to eat slowly. Her stomach rebelled at first, and then accepted the meager breakfast willingly. "I never get sick..."
"Sometimes your body just does it to you. You needed the rest; you've been going strong since you got here." Harley looked at her. "Doc says you should take it easy for a few days, just let yourself build back up slow."
The idea of taking things easy was something that made Keni frown. She was a typical teenager; she didn't know the meaning of the word easy, like the bull in the china shop, she went ahead slowing down. Before she could protest though, Kate appeared in the door way, "hey, how you doing kid?"
Keni was glad to see her sister looking better then she had in days. "I'm here."
"So are the things you asked dad to ship out, they just arrived. Should I have them bring the stuff up or do you want to have them stack it down stairs. It looks like half your bedroom is on my porch."
The Fed X guys brought them up and stacked the five large boxes in front of the closet. Each one was clearly labeled in her aunt's bold handwriting and there was a letter from her cousin in the top one.
"Hey girl,
I'm sending this with your bedroom because Uncle John wasn't sure if it would get there before the things mom and I packed up for you. So I don't need to ask how your summer vacation went. Is he all you expected him to be? Better, worse? Uncle John said you two are talking about getting married, why didn't you write and tell me, some cousin you are...A bunch of the kids have been asking about you, and I told them you were shacked up with some bad boy Oaky. That set some mouths to dropping let me tell you. I think you broke poor Danny's heart though; he has been bugging me all summer about when you were coming home.
Reggie and I broke up; he decided that with him enlisting in the Marines that it was better if we didn't plan too far ahead, what with things being the way they are. I told him it was cool, I'm not ready to settle down just yet anyway. Not like you who have had one goal in mind as long as I've known you almost, and after seeing the picture of you two together, I can see why you were so hot to see him this summer. Damn cousin, are there anymore like him back there, I may just come for a visit next summer if there are. He is so hot, I am just totally jealous. I snatched the picture to show our friends, and Candy Hawes was drooling so bad over him that I had to slap her a few times to get her to give it back. I swear he will have my class heading for Oklahoma as soon as we graduate in June. Send me more, so I can drool and hate you forever.
Not that I could. You always been there for me, and I love you dearly Keni, I am so glad things are working out for you. Write me soon and let me know when the wedding is and if you need a stand in, I will be glad to fill the job...
