Ike said, “I’m going to cut across this area to hit another farm to market road, 163, and we’ll take it into Sonora. It should be safe enough.”
“I’m ready, because I need to pee after that drive.”
“We could have stopped anywhere in the brush.”
“I know, and I’m no stranger to it, but there’s something nice about a bathroom, and toilet paper. Rocks and grass and leaves, not so much.”
“Oh, I forgot, you’re a girl.” Ike grinned.
Hunter said, “Think about that when you have to do a Number Two.”
Ike nodded, “Point taken.”
“Just get us there, and don’t dawdle or I might turn this Ford into a lake.”
When they reached the pavement of Farm to Market Road 163 and pulled onto it, Paco sighed in relief, saying, “Tengo que orinar, tambíen, I have to urinate, too.”
Ike said, “You’ll go with me, after Hunter finishes and comes back to the pickup.”
“As you say.”
Ike drove into Sonora and passed through the small town with oil field vehicles parked in front of most of the restaurants on both sides of the street. He stopped at a Stripes convenience store on the left-hand side of the road and Hunter was out before the pickup came to a full stop.
She returned with several bottles of water and various snacks.
Ike said, “You want to drive for a while?”
“Sure.”
Chapter 8
Kelly awoke to the sound of people walking toward her. She huddled under the rock overhang as Consuela curled up in a fetal position behind her, both aware they were hunted. The footsteps sounded steadily closer and Kelly’s breathing turned shallow and fast. It felt like small birds were fluttering in her chest as she watched the man’s legs approaching their hiding place.
Kelly spotted the legs of two women as well, and the man bent at the waist to look at her under the overhang. He frowned, grasping her ankle and jerking her from under the rock with such force she yelped. He said in his high-pitched voice, “You little bitch. Having us out here all night, this is gonna cost you.”
Kelly sat on the ground as he reached under the overhang and dragged Consuela from under the shelter. She kicked at him. He stood her up, holding tight to her shirt collar, then slapped her so hard that her knees faltered as spittle and pink drops flew from her mouth. The woman named Kit, and the tattooed woman, Nadine stood near the man, hands on their hips. Kit looked angry, Nadine looked tired, and the man had an erection showing in his pants as he looked at Kelly. She felt her cheeks get hot and she turned away, choosing instead to look at Nadine. Consuela moved beside Kelly, also avoiding the man.
Kit said, “Let’s go, it’s a long damn walk back to the barn.” Consuela used the hem of her blouse to stop the blood from her nose, but it soon soaked the material and dripped like a leaky faucet as they walked back toward captivity.
Kelly asked Nadine, “Do you have a rag, something to give her for the bleeding?”
Nadine looked closer at Consuela, at the amount of blood still coming from her nose, and said, “I don’t, but come here.” Kelly stepped closer and Nadine pulled out a wicked looking black knife and pushed a button. The black blade shot out of the front and clacked when it locked in place. Nadine grasped the bottom of Kelly’s blouse and cut the bottom third off, leaving the girl with an exposed waist almost to her breastbone. Nadine handed the piece of cloth to Kelly, “Give it to your friend.”
Kelly folded it like a handkerchief and handed it to Consuela, who nodded her thanks and put the fresh cloth to her nose. Kelly felt violated by Nadine’s action, but she didn’t speak about it. The man stared at her exposed skin as he ran the tip of his tongue over his lower lip. His stare made her feel dirty, creeped out, and nervous, like something bad was going to happen.
Kit led the group from ten yards in front. She stopped and checked her phone’s GPS, then said, “Damn.” She turned and looked at Kelly and Consuela, “You two better be worth it when the time comes.” Nadine, who walked beside the girls said, “She’s mad, so you two keep up, and keep quiet, you understand?”
Kelly nodded, and Consuela did the same. The group trudged on in silence after that for the next three hours.
As they walked into the small canyon that housed the barn, Kelly spotted a red Jeep near it, and people she didn’t know standing beside the vehicle.
The man said in his high-pitched voice, “Looks like they brought the big money player with them.”
Kit nodded, “It won’t be long now.”
Kelly moved beside Nadine and said in a whisper, “What does she mean?”
Nadine looked at her a few seconds before saying, “