Chapter 20
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The next couple of days were difficult for Elisha. She found it very hard to sneak away to feed
Mandy and when they were out playing the kids constantly wanted to go in the barn. Nick even
wanted to recreate their tryst in the barn last night. Mandy was being her usual bitchy self
too, trying to bite Elisha as she feed her. Elisha sighed as she washed the lunch dishes. "I
should have just shot her when I had the chance, I had the freaking gun pointed right at her!"
"Mommy?" Elisha whipped her head around, hoping that Brian hadn't heard her conversation with
herself. "Yes, hun?" She dried her hands and knelt down on the floor next to her son, despite
her protesting joints. "Daddy fell asleep." He pronounced this as if it was the worst thing
ever to befall him in his young life. "He was reading to me and he fell asleep on the sofa!"
Elisha covered her grin with her hand. "What were you and Daddy doing this morning? You must
have been pretty busy to tucker him out like that!" She stood, taking his hand in hers. "Let's
go check this out, okay?" Mother and son walked into the living room. Elisha clasped her hand
to her chest, Nick looked so adorable when he was sleeping, like he was still 20 years old.
Rebecca was stretched out on him, her head snuggled into his shoulder. "Well, young Mr. Carter,
maybe this is a sign you should have a nap too. Even Rebecca and the twins are sleeping." Brian
tried to hide his yawn behind his hand. "But, mommy, I'm not sleepy!" he protested. "Uh huh."
Elisha walked him to his room and read him another story. As soon as his head hit the pillow his
eyes closed. Elisha closed the door quietly and checked on the twins. They were sleeping
peacefully as well, and would continue to do so, hopefully, as they had just ate. "I guess it's
time to visit our friend in the barn." she mused. She jotted a quick note to Nick, saying that
she was working in the yard, and left it on the coffee table next to him.
Mandy strained at the ropes that held her. She could feel them giving a little bit and it was just a matter of time before she got them loose. Her head jerked up when the door opened, letting some sunlight in the dreary barn. "Here's your lunch, Mandy." Elisha said, taking the gag off her. "Give me a minute to untie your arm." Elisha bent to work on the knot and Mandy noticed that she had the gun tucked into the waistband of her jeans. "Why do you bring that if you are too chicken to use it?" Mandy scoffed at her. Elisha straightened and stared at her. "I'm not now, trust me. You pull something and you'll have a new hole in your body." Mandy laughed shortly. "Try me." Elisha said quietly. She sat on a bale of hay and watched Mandy eat her sandwich. "I saw Nick out this morning with your children." Mandy said, between mouthfuls. "Keep your eyes off my family!" Elisha warned. "They're beautiful, you know." she continued, as if Elisha had never spoken. "Not as beautiful as Nick and MY children would have been, but they're okay." Elisha stood up and slapped her across the cheek. "My children are the most beautiful children I have ever seen and I doubt someone as hateful as you could have anything beautiful." Sitting back on the bale she saw tears rolling down Mandy's cheek. "Give me a break." she muttered. After a few minutes, Mandy spoke again. "I'm really sorry, I shouldn't have said anything about your kids." Elisha nodded. "I need to go the bathroom. Will you let me?" Elisha considered and then nodded. She had the gun and didn't think Mandy would try anything. She untied her and followed her into the corner of the barn. She could hear some rustling and, finally, a zipper being pulled. "Good lord Mandy, you aren't going to find a clean spot in here, just go!" The zipper sound again and more rustling. Elisha turned her head toward the direction of the sound as Mandy emerged from the dark corner. "Okay, let's go." She pushed Mandy towards the post she had been tied to and started walking behind her. As they passed the doors, Mandy sprinted away and through the door that Elisha forgot to latch behind her. Elisha stood in shock for a moment and then she ran after her. Mandy glanced over her shoulder and saw Elisha gaining on her. She turned her head back around and focused on the house. Nick was in there, she just needed to see Nick and everything would be okay. Elisha increased her speed and jumped on Mandy halfway across the yard. The women rolled around in the light covering of snow on the ground, exchanging punches, bites, kicks and scratches. "Damn it, you are not keeping me from him!" Mandy yelled, punching Elisha in the right eye. She got up, staggering a bit and then aimed for the house again. Elisha's head was spinning but she sat up and aimed the gun at Mandy as best she could with her vision restricted as it was. She waited for a moment and then called out her name. Mandy spun around, she had been certain that Elisha was down for the count with that last punch. A shot rang out and Mandy hit the ground with a quiet sigh. A pool of blood was staining the snow underneath her and Elisha knew she was dead. "Shit!" she uttered, under her breath just before she passed out. |