Darkness was about an hour away. The northerly breeze made the 35-degree temperature feel like 28. The clear late November sky meant the air would be much colder after sunset. My brother and I were finished with an afternoon of quail hunting on his land. What little snow had fallen so far this season was gone. Just as we decided to call it a day, the dogs barked loud and long. We followed the noise.
With tails wagging, the dogs stood on either side of an unconscious naked woman sitting on the dead brown grass against a tree. Each wrist was tightly wrapped in a chain which went around the oak. A message on her chest read "Too Late!".
I dialed 911 while John ran to his truck. I put my hunting jacket over her then used one round from my 20 gauge shotgun to break the chain. She slumped forward. I felt a pulse and kept the jacket on her. John drove up with 2 wool blankets in hand. We pushed her legs against the torso and wrapped her as best we could.
The sheriff and medics arrived about 15 minutes later. We told them everything we knew. The medics whisked her to the hospital. The sheriff's staff combed the area and found some foot prints and vehicle tracks which didn't match our shoes or John's truck.
Back at John's house, we cleaned and dressed the quail while filling in his wife about the woman. I hurried home wanting to catch the late night news for more information about our discovery.
Nothing appeared in the local papers, radio, TV, or even the internet. We gave up after a few days wondering what her fate was and decided this mystery would follow us to our graves.
About two weeks later, a registered letter arrived in the mail from attorney Meredith Kimbrough. The letter requested I contact her to arrange a time regarding the woman we found. I called John to verify he had the same letter. We agreed I would contact her. I called the office and told her assistant who I was. Within a moment, I spoke with Ms. Kimbrough.
Her voice was pleasant but strictly professional. An appointment two days from now at 10:00 AM was agreed on. We hung up then I called my younger brother to verify the day and time.
We arrived at 9:45. The décor could best be described as "quietly successful" with overstuffed furniture, rich carpeting, dark wood paneling, and plenty of space. Promptly at 10:00, the receptionist called our names and pointed us down a hall. He said to go right in. At the end was a door with her name on a large brass placard. I opened the door and we entered an office furnished like the reception area only bigger. The shelves were filled with books ranging from law texts to genealogy to accounting to forensics.
Ms. Kimbrough stood up, shook our hands, then asked us to sit down in the two overstuffed leather chairs facing her while she looked in her desk drawer. Her attire was professional with a dark blue jacket and skirt contrasted with a white top. Her red hair was in a style which seemed current but also easy to maintain. Her height was just over 5 feet. She laid the folder on the immaculate mahogany desk. After reviewing the contents she seemed satisfied everything was in order. She looked up and smiled slightly.
Lacing her hands she said, "Thank you for coming. My client is grateful you found her. The medics said if she had been chained to that tree over night she would have frozen to death. As a token of appreciation, I am authorized to give each of you a check for $100,000."
We looked at each other not knowing what to say.
John cleared his throat replying, "This is a first. Robert is rarely at a loss for words. So, on behalf of us both, thank you very much. I know my money will be used to pay some old loans and debts."
His speech allowed me time to collect my thoughts.
"If $100,000 will help, then an additional $100,000 will help even more. Would you mind making out a second check payable to John for another $100,000?"
"Robert, I don't know what to say," he sputtered.
"Just say you will take it," I replied.
Attorney Kimbrough asked if I was certain about this and I assured her I was. She swiveled to her monitor and typed up a brief message. Within a few minutes there was a knock and a woman entered the room. She handed the check to Ms. Kimbrough who reviewed it then handed it over to John.
He looked like he was about to cry.
"Why are you giving up $100,000?" she asked.
"Simple. He needs the money more than I do. I don't have the crushing debt he has to cope with running a ranch. I'm not independently wealthy but I do OK. By the way, who is the person we helped rescue? Nothing ever appeared on the news about her."
The attorney said, "My client wishes to remain anonymous. She was taken by an ambulance to a private hospital where she made a full recovery. That is all I can tell you."
A few moments of awkward silence ended as she stood, thanked us for coming, led us to the door, gave us her business card, and wished us well.
John rushed to the bank and deposited both checks. A few days later, he called me.
"Those checks were legitimate! They cleared the bank and I'm getting some debts paid off. That extra $100,000 certainly helped, Robert. Thanks again."
"You are welcome. You would do the same for me if the tables were turned."
"Don't be so sure," he chuckled.
I was glad I entered the attorney information in my cell phone because she called me a few days later.
"Ms. Kimbrough. This is a pleasant surprise."
"Hello Mr. Lawrence. My client still wants to express her gratitude for saving her life. How much would you consider a fair amount?"
"No money is needed. However, I would like to have dinner with her at the restaurant of her choice. I have some questions about why she was on my brother's land and what happened."
"You are definitely not run-of-the-mill. Let me relay your request to my client and I will get back with you."
"Thank you Ms. Kimbrough."
She called 2 days later.
"My client is ready to meet you at Stevenson & Sons this coming Thursday at 8:00 PM. Are you familiar with it?"
"I've heard of it. Do I need a tux or will suit and tie do?"
She chuckled. "Suit and tie is fine. Just be sure the jacket and slacks match and the tie is a conservative pattern. The socks must be dark and shoes black. Sorry, no hunting jackets allowed."
"How did you know I have a hunting jacket?"
"My client remembered you putting one over her."
"I'm surprised. I thought she was completely out."
"Your kind act is one of the few things she remembers."
