CHAPTER 5
Mac whipped around in her seat to scan the road behind them. Eyes wide with fear, it was a few seconds before she could discern the vehicle. The dark, ghost-like shape hovered behind some distance, partially lost in wisps of mountain mist. Gradually, it emerged out of the greyness, the distance between the two cars closing by the second.
"IT LOOKS LIKE THE SAME CAR!" Fear pinched Mac's voice to a squeak.
The black vehicle (some kind of Ford, Em thought) was now trailing them by just a few yards, and still coming. When it was some ten feet from her rear end it held that position. She attempted to make out the driver and any other occupants but what with the mist and her car's spray it was impossible to see any details of the car's interior. As Mac and Em watched in fearful silence, the tailgater began to weave back and forth. For what seemed like long minutes it continued its erratic behavior.
"Watch out," Em said. "I think it's going to try passing us."
Suddenly the dark shape pulled out from behind the McLaren and accelerated. It fishtailed through the snow like a salmon swimming upstream. Em held her breath, as she was sure Mac did, as she watched the car gain on them, then draw level. Either it was intentional or the driver lost control in the deeper snow, but Em watched in horror as the car swung madly at them. Mac shrieked. Em's eyes darted from the encroaching car to the road ahead, and to the edge of the road.
Instinctively she was steering the McLaren away from the other vehicle but she could see that any second now she could easily lose control in the snow banked on the road side. Em took her foot off the accelerator and gripped the steering wheel, white-knuckled.
Mac screamed and covered her eyes as her friend fought to keep the car on the road. The McLaren's speed dropped off noticeably as the snow dragged at the tires. The tail end began to fishtail. Em's eyes were riveted on the road, when suddenly, the other car came into view ahead as it whipped in front of them. Two or three laughing faces peered at her from its rear window.
With a waggle of its tail, the car accelerated and dissolved in a spray of dirty snow. Seconds later it was lost to sight altogether as the mountain mist swallowed it. Em's breath exploded from her; she had been holding it for the entire time. She was shaking; her hands still gripped the wheel and hurt from the tension, as did her arms. Em noticed her legs trembling.
"Fucking louts!" The expletive fairly exploded from her as Em glared ahead and tried to relax. "If I ever see their faces again I'll fucking lay them out cold." The promise was forced out through grinding teeth and made more to herself than her friend. "That couldn't have been your mystery car—all the way from Florida?." It was more a statement than a question.
"It was the same sort...and color. But I don't think it was the actual car." Color was beginning to flood back into Mac's face. "Shitheads! What made them pull a fucking stunt like that? We could've been killed!"
"Testosterone. But if I get my hands on the driver he'll wish he never had balls." Em looked across at Mac. "Are you okay?"
"I could do with a restroom, but apart from that I'm alright...I guess." A tremulous smile eked across Mac's face, then she uttered a nervous chuckle. Em couldn't help joining her in the quivering mirth as the adrenaline rush began seeping out of her system, leaving her drained and suddenly tired. They were both laughing quietly.
"The lodge isn't far now. Let's get this bloody show back on the road." With that said, Em gradually edged the McLaren back away from the roadside and increased its speed again, while giving silent thanks to the gods for keeping them safe.
**********
That was fucking close! the driver of the trailing car thought. Those fucking snow jocks nearly lost it. After trying the same fucking stunt on me, you'd've thought they'd learned their lesson. Guess not. Well, no real harm done...I guess. The girls probably pissed their pants, though. A soft chuckle sounded as a mental image of the two women squirming in wet pants came to mind.
The McLaren, with its two women occupants, moved further ahead as the following driver dropped the car back a bit more, allowing the forest shadows to help cover its movement. I should've guessed she would head for the lodge. If I hadn't thought she would've suddenly changed her mind, I would've headed out earlier and been there already waiting. Oh well, what the heck, I probably would've just frozen my arse off waiting for her to turn up anyway. At least this way I'm toasty warm. A gloved hand reached out and stroked a sinister-looking rifle. Soon, baby, soon.
**********
Route 7 wound its way down the Front Range towards the township of Estes Park. Tall timbers thinned as they neared the town, passing through streets lined with houses and light industry buildings. Route 7 became S St Vrain Ave, named after the white water river they'd followed out of Lyons up into the Front Range.
Their road joined Highway 36, made a long sweeping left curve, with a golf course and lake to their right, and touched the edge of downtown Estes Park. As the car cruised through the intersection of 36 and 34, to their left they had a view down E Elkhorn Ave through the middle of town lined with storefronts. They took Hwy 34 north, skirting downtown.
Most of the town's people appeared to live this side of town because they drove by more houses, most with cared for yards. As they continued northwest, the houses dropped behind and the countryside became an open valley dotted with pines mainly, with a low range of waves of large rock formations on their right. The road made another long left curve and a few houses materialized on their left with a backdrop of thickly wooded granite cliffs rising up behind. The two women were now 1 mile west of town, and entering the Rocky Mountain National Park.
"Finally." Em swung the McLaren off the main road and through a majestic timber gateway marking the entrance to the exclusive mountain lodge just as soft downy snowflakes began drifting out of a soft blue-grey sky. The black Mercedes-Benz 300 purred along the lane as it snaked its way through a dense pine forest. Signs of recent ploughing were evidenced by the fresh banks of snow piled to either side of the narrow road. Mac gazed about in wonder at the dark green trees quickly receiving a soft blanket of white. Suddenly she sat bolt upright in her seat despite her belt restraint.
"A deer!! Look, Em, a deer!" Mac was like a young city girl making her first trip into the country. "Another one! There's a whole bunch of them!" She twisted about in her seat, endeavoring to catch glimpses of the gentle creatures as they moved quietly among the trees feeding on clumps of mountain grass and shrubs. "Oh, Em, this so beautiful."
Mac's eyes glistened.
