Authors: Willow Brooke
Leland was more excited about life than he had ever been. Stepping away from the Army was the hardest decision he had ever had to make. Brody and the rest of their team had an agreement—they walked together. Being Green Berets, they had traveled and been thrown into a lot of hairy situations. Over the past few years, the government had gotten strict on following the mission and only the mission. After seeing whole towns ran by insurgents who killed, pillaged, and raped with strict orders not to intervene, it became harder and harder for them to do their job. It ate at them all to the point they couldn’t stand it. They had come across a really bad village one day, and refused to sit by and watch. A group of men were opening fire on a school house. The young girls were beaten half to death and sexually violated in front of everyone, dishonoring their name and banishing them from the community. Most were praying to die, knowing if they survived the hell they were going through would be nothing compared to the life that waited ahead. Breaking protocol, they stepped in and blasted the bastards. The team managed to capture the leader of the insurgents, and gathered enough information to know he was low on the totem poll. With enough ‘encouragement’, they could have easily gathered enough intel to find out who was behind it all. After they radioed it in, they had been instructed to release the prisoner. No explanation had been given, just release him without further action and return to base. Either they were trying to cover up something, had bigger plans that needed this man free, or maybe the higher ups didn’t think it was worth their time to take down the militia groups. Whatever the case, it was bullshit.
It cost them a major ass chewing and four months of shit detail, or having to shovel and burn the contents of the porta johns that had been sitting in over one hundred ten degree temps for a week but had been worth every gagging moment. Article 15 threats had been made, and it was clear that if their actions were repeated the brig held a reserved cell for them. Each one had verbalized the heaping amount of bullshit it was to let that warlord go, and they all regretted it still to this day. The Army had become more about politics than bringing justice. Everything they stood for seemed to clash with the military’s ideas of productivity. Refusing to kneel and suck it, or take it in the ass, they all walked away as a family…of brothers and sister.
When they arrived back on U.S. soil, the group had come to an agreement and all stepped away from the only thing they knew how to do. The civilian world had been harder than they thought. Doubts and regrets had already started slipping into their heads, until they had stumbled on these two little women who were now driving away.
Their two dinner guests gave him a sense of meaning and family, and he was infatuated by them both. They had planned to haul ass to Montana to start work and get a jump on fixing the farm up, but this detour was going to take longer, and was well worth it. “Okay, she turned left. Let’s go.” He hopped in and fired up the huge motor, rattling the windows of the diner they had just enjoyed. Brody was sitting shot gun and buckled faster than he could crank it and put it into gear, ready for the covert chase as much as he. It wasn’t long before they spotted her ahead, so he slowed and waited to see where she turned. She drove out of town and down a twisty mountain road, speeding a little too fast for his liking.
“Why is she going so fast? Whether she knows this road or not, she is too tired to be able to react in time if something happens!” Brody’s voice shook with irritation and fear.
“She is doing the speed limit, bro. I agree she shouldn’t be allowed to walk right now given the information we gathered tonight, much less behind a wheel. This is what makes what we are doing justified. We are going to have to have a conversation about the future soon, Brody.”
“I think we are on the same page, but we will. I see the look in your eyes when you look at her, and it mirrors my feelings. After meeting Elizabeth tonight, this is more than us helping her. This is a lot bigger than that.”
“Yes, it is. I think she likes us too… Did you see her squirm a few times when we invaded her space? I went from wanting her for one night to just wanting her. She is special, and we need to tread lightly. We just met her, and need to take things slow obviously, but this could possibly lead somewhere. They have been through more than she leads on I think.” Leland went silent, watching the taillights closely. Headlights peaked around one of the harder curves ahead and his knuckles went white. It was a semi-truck, taking the corner faster than he should have and veering into their lane to compensate.
“Fuck! Leland, she is going to get hit!” Brody leaned forward and gripped the dash, sitting on the edge of his seat both literally and figuratively.
“Son of a bitch that fucking truck isn’t getting over! Hold on!” Leland punched the gas and sped ahead, closing the gap between them and the girls. They were still a ways ahead, and brake lights signaled their worst fear. Alaina had locked them up, causing her to fishtail and swerve all over the road. The semi-truck clipped her bumper and set her into a fast spin. The car pivoted at least ten times before sliding off the shoulder and disappearing.
“Mother fucker!” Brody and Leland both went verbal, slinging every cuss word known to man around the cab and even adding their own artistic alterations to some. The eighteen-wheeler slowed and drove to a dirt road to stop. Leland screeched to a halt where her car went off and threw it in park, jumping out at the same time. Brody was right behind him, running down the slope that led to a river. The top of her white car was barely visible in the dark, but both dove in toward it without a second thought. When they got to the middle, the car was totally submerged. Both went under at record speed, swimming with all their might. It was hard to see in water to begin with, much less the murky creeks and rivers of Oklahoma. It was almost impossible to see in the underwater in the dark. They both searched and searched, going up for air twice before they narrowed the area where the car was pushed from the raging current.
Brody’s heart thrashed in his chest, scared and amped up on every ounce of adrenaline his body could make. He felt the slick surface of the roof and followed it down, palming the window.
There they are. Hang on just a few more seconds. We will have you out in no time.
His inner dialog continued, running every scenario possible in this situation and the best way to handle it. They had done training exercises like this, only with a load full of soldiers in full battle gear in a Humvee under water. It had been his least favorite, but today he was more than thankful for the knowledge he had learned than any other.
He could see the girls through the window. They had the interior light on, showing that only a small pocket of oxygen still remained. Determination kicked in. His lungs burned from lack of air, driving him that much faster. Fumbling in a hurry, he managed to get his buck knife out of the pocket of his jeans and motioned for them to plug their nose and scoot back. He spotted Leland through the other window doing the same, thankful his battle buddy and best friend was at his side in this situation.
It took a few whacks, cracking only small amounts at a time with each bash, but both men managed to break the older car’s actual glass windows. Water rushed in on the girls, making both squeeze their eyes shut and hold each other tight. Leland reached in and grabbed Elizabeth, having to pry her off Alaina. She reluctantly let go at her mother’s shoves and nods, allowing Leland to get her out of the vehicle and rising back toward surface. Brody did the same, guiding Alaina out the hole and dragging her through what seemed to be never ending water. By the time they surfaced, he was gasping for breath. He looked around and found Leland with a very scared and crying Elizabeth wrapped around his neck, kicking to the shore. Alaina shouted to her to swim, reassuring her that she was going to be okay. “Kick, Liz! Kick, baby! I am right behind you! Keep going, you are almost there!”
Brody grabbed Alaina and wrapped her arms around his neck in the same fashion even after her protests that she could make it and got them to the edge safely. Leland had already carried the young girl back up to the truck and was digging behind the seat for their stash of clothes and blankets. Brody carried Alaina all the way up and set her down on the road. Her knees buckled, sending her hurling to the ground. Brody caught her before impact and cradled her, realizing that shock, fear, and the swim probably sucked every last drop of energy out of her. She was totally unconscious and limp in his arms.
It wasn’t but maybe a couple minutes before sirens could be heard in the distance. Leland handed Brody a sleeping bag before turning to the still crying Elizabeth to wrap her up. He held her tight, soothing her whimpers and reassuring her that mommy would be okay.
When the ambulances, cops, and fire truck showed up, Elizabeth freaked. She was beyond terrified. Leland held her tight, letting her hide in the crook of his neck while the paramedics checked her out. Alaina was placed on a stretcher and given an immediate I.V. followed by a round of smelling salts. When she came to, her first concern was her daughter. “Oh my God, Elizabeth! You have to get my daughter now! Elizabeth!”
“She is right here, Alaina, calm down we got her. Here, see? She is wrapped up like a burrito.” Leland rushed to her side, allowing her to see with her own eyes that her baby was safe and sound.
“Oh thank heavens. Thank you two so much. I don’t know what we would have done if you hadn’t showed up. You saved our lives,” her voice shook as the event’s emotions slammed into her at once. Tears erupted in a bout of heavy heaves, making her evaluation take longer. Brody reached over and held her tight, keeping her still for the medics, and safe and secure in his arms.
“We are taking her to St. Peter’s Hospital. She is in shock, her body temperature is too low, and her blood pressure is through the roof. I think it would be best to let them thoroughly check her over.” The middle-aged woman patted Alaina’s hand. “Everything is going to be okay, honey. Lean back and get some rest.” Alaina nodded and laid down on her back. “Let’s get you two checked out now.” She crooked her finger at him and Leland, motioning for them to sit on the truck.
“That’s not necessary, ma’am. We weren’t in the vehicle. We watched them go over and dove in to get them out.” There was a slight crack in Leland’s voice, giving way to the relief that consumed him.
“Okay. If it were wintertime, I would insist. However, since the river is warmer this time of year, and the air isn’t cold, there isn’t really a chance of hypothermia. Still, you two get dried off and out of those wet clothes as soon as possible. Now, take your daughter home and get her in a hot bath and to bed. Thank you so much for what you did here today. You boys saved these girls’ lives.” The paramedic didn’t give them a chance to respond. She turned and loaded the gurney into the ambulance in a rush. Her stern voice quickly hushed all of Alaina’s protests before an oxygen mask was slapped over her mouth and nose. She and a male paramedic climbed inside and allowed the other crewmembers to secure it tightly.
Leland snickered, giving Brody a smug look. “Okay, Uncle Brody, you heard the lady. Let’s get Elizabeth warmed up. Lizzy sweetheart, do you have a spare key at your house anywhere?”
“M-M-Mrs. Sanders has one next door,” Elizabeth said through chattering teeth.
“Okay, well let’s get you home and dry.” She didn’t respond, but kept her head nuzzled in the crook of his neck and her arms locked tightly around him. He managed to get her untangled long enough to buckle her in the middle between them and get his own seatbelt on before she leaned over on his shoulder and clung as if her life depended on it. It was obvious she was still in shock, and probably scared shitless. Brody scooted into the driver’s seat, and pulled away. The cops were cuffing the truck driver when they passed by, even though he had been the one to call 911, he had almost killed them both. Whether charges were pressed or not was between Alaina, the cops, and the law.
****
It wasn’t long before they parked in front of Alaina’s apartment with the help of Elizabeth’s directions, and once again Leland hoisted the girl into his arms and carried her in the direction of her silent pointing finger. They knocked on the door of an apartment that was in the same building as where Elizabeth said hers was and waited. A few moments later a very worried looking elderly woman appeared.
“Can I help you, boys?” She immediately caught sight of Elizabeth and gasped. “Oh my gosh, Lizzy baby, what happened? Where is your momma? What is going on?”
“Ma’am, I am Leland Reynolds and this is Brody Williams. We went to dinner with Alaina and Elizabeth tonight and followed them when she left to take Elizabeth to Vince’s for the night. We both noticed how tired she seemed and were concerned about her driving. Thankfully we did, or they would not be alive right now. A trucker took a turn too wide, making Alaina slam on the breaks. Her car fishtailed and took off in a spin, flinging down the cliff into a river. Brody and I jumped in and got them out, but the car was already under water. Alaina is going being checked out at the hospital but should be fine. Elizabeth here said you have an extra key, and we want to get her dry clothing and into a hot bath to warm her up.”
“Oh dear heavens! Yes of course. Follow me. I knew that girl was wearing herself too thin. She has been working herself into her grave since Brian left them high and dry. The no good, worthless, waste of oxygen is nowhere to be found. I am so thankful you boys were there tonight. These girls are my world.”
“It was our pleasure, ma’am. Thank you for helping,” Brody’s words were laced in a heavy southern drawl, giving the clue that his guards were down and he was stressed. It happened in the field on numerous occasions, and was usually Leland’s sign to pull him out and take a break. He was known for working seventy-two hours plus straight, and wouldn’t rest until Leland made him. She led them over to the apartment and unlocked the door, stepping in to flip the lights on. Once everyone was inside, she secured the door and led everyone into the living room.