Chapter Thirty Six

Jayme felt the splitting headache as she started to wake up. She felt the vibration and movement of the vehicle before she opened her eyes and knew she was in someone’s car. In her lap, she felt Bella’s weight and knew she was laying across her legs. Just as she wondered what happened, Jayme looked over and saw Jim in the driver’s seat.
Jayme felt more in danger now than she did with Scott and fear instantly passed over her like walking into a brick wall. Jayme closed her eyes but couldn’t stop the tears that pushed through or the shakiness that suddenly encompassed her. Breathing deeply, Jayme tried to hold back the anxiety that threatened to take her over. She had never been more terrified in her life as she was right now.
Reaching up, she felt the point of impact where the blunt object hit her head. There was a considerable sized knot and it was very sore, but it wasn’t bleeding. Jayme remained speechless and tried to grasp her location. But the countryside they traveled through was not familiar to her. She had no idea where they were. She had no idea how long she was unconscious. She had no idea how far they had traveled.
“Oh, I see you’re awake.” Jim said.
Still Jayme didn’t say anything, she didn’t even acknowledge him.
“So, you’re not going to say anything? Things will be a lot better for you if you’re nice and cooperate.” Jim said.
“I’ll never cooperate with you.” Jayme blurted out, both angry and scared.
“Have it your way, but that’ll make it hard for you. I have a short temper right now.” Jim said.
“Where are we going?” Jayme asked.
“Nope, you’ll see when we get there.” Jim said.
Jayme said nothing else, just sat in the passenger seat mute. Another twenty miles he drove before turning down a dirt road. Finding a two-track driveway, Jim turned down it and followed it a quarter of a mile back into the woods to a small shack. It was old and rickety but appeared to have been lived in recently.
“This is where you’re taking me? This little shack?” Jayme asked.
She knew it was miles from anywhere, a place where no one lived for miles around. For her to escape, she would have to go through miles of thick, dark forest. But that wouldn’t stop her, she would endure anything to escape again. And she would. She could never be kept for long.
As soon as Jayme reached for the doorknob, Jim grabbed her by the wrist and gripped tightly, hurting her. “Ouch!” She shouted.
“No, you’re getting out on this side, with me. And don’t get any ideas, I’ve always been fast and can outrun you.” Jim said.
Drawing in a deep breath, she knew he just shot down her idea. “Well, come on, let’s go then.” She snapped at him.
“Don’t get an attitude with me, Jayme.” He said, sternly and pulled her from the car as he climbed out.
With his hand still tightly around her wrist, Jim pulled Jayme to the small cabin where he opened the door. As she walked in, she smelled the whiskey. It blended with the dusty smell of the cabin. “You’ve been on a three day drunk, it smells like.”
“Yeah, I’m out and now I needed entertainment. That’s why I got you.” He said as he pushed her toward the bed.
Tripping over the carpet, Jayme landed on the bed, using caution not to land on Bella as she was carrying her. “You asshole.” Jayme said.
“Don’t go there.” Jim said. “If you want to see the asshole come out of me, I’ll show you, but I don’t think you want to see that part of me.”
Jayme turned and sat on the bed. “She needs diapers.” Jayme said.
Jim simply pointed in the opposite corner where there were three boxes of diapers and a box of diaper wipes. Also, there were new clothes for her in grocery bags. At least that made Jayme happy, for a moment. “Thank you, Jim. She said and walked to the items.
Opening one of the boxes, she pulled out a package of diapers, throwing them on the bed, across the room. Then she opened the box containing the wipes and took out a package, throwing them on the bed too. Grabbing the grocery bags, she took them to the bed. Laying Bella down, Jayme opened the package of diapers , extracting one. Then she proceeded to change Bella’s diaper, dressing her in new clothes.
Swaddling Bella in a new blanket, Jayme held her to her chest and offered her breast. As she looked up and saw Jim watching her, she covered herself with another blanket to be more private as Bella ate.
“I remember a time when you wouldn’t have covered yourself up. I believe you would’ve ended up in bed with me, hadn’t I revealed my true identity.” Jim said.
“You’re sadly mistaken.” Jayme said. “I don’t put out that easily. I didn’t know you well enough and see, look how you really are.”
“How am I, really? Do you really know me?”
“Apparently not.” Jayme responded.
“Before I discovered my wife was having an affair, I was the nicest guy you could’ve met. But when I found out, something inside me snapped.”
“Yes, exactly. You’re unstable.” Jayme said.
Jim looked at Jayme with a look that gave her chills. “I’m not unstable. Why does everyone say that.” His expression turned angry. “Don’t ever say that to me again.”
“Sorry.” Jayme said, suddenly terrified.
Jim stood up and swatted at the coffee cup on the table, knocking it to the floor. It bounced off the wooden floor and did not break. Jayme closed her eyes and listened as he walked toward the door. She heard the door open and the footsteps transfer to the porch. Then the door shut. She opened her eyes and drew in a deep breath. Through the window, she saw him sitting on the front porch.
The small cabin had only one door, leading to the porch. There was a small window in the back, where the small kitchen was. The side had a bigger window but it would be difficult to pass through with Bella in her arms. She remained on the couch even after Bella had finished eating. Laying Bella beside her on the bed, Jayme laid down, looking down at her daughter.
In a soft, quiet voice, she spoke to her daughter as tears ran down her face. “I promise I’m going to get us both home safely.”
It seemed like hours Jayme laid on the bed, just thinking and longing to be home with Rex. It was just before dark when she heard the door open and Jim walk back inside. “I don’t know about you, but I’m getting hungry.” He said.
Jayme didn’t say anything, just laid with her back to him. By the noise he was making, she assumed he was preparing to cook something to eat. But she wondered where the food came from as there was obviously no electric or plumbing in the small cabin.
“I have to use the bathroom.” Jayme said.
“The outhouse is outside.” Jim said as he gathered the items and walked to the door. “Come on, I’ll show you.”
As Jayme picked up Bella, Jim shook his head. “No, she can stay right there.”
With a sigh, she knew it was his security measure and left Bella on the bed. Following him outside, she saw the open fire with the grate over it. It was where he would cook dinner for them both. He pointed toward a small shack where she would release her bodily waste.
Returning to the cabin, Jayme went straight to Bella’s side and found her safe and awake. She knew it was time to feed her again. After changing and feeding Bella, it was time for her to eat. She really wanted to refuse, and would’ve if she wasn’t so hungry. By the taste of the meat, she was eating venison. She didn’t care, she grew up liking venison.
Rex was frantic, trying to find Jayme and Bella. He wasn’t sure who’s attempt caught her, whether it was Scott, or Jim. All Rex knew was that Jayme and Bella were gone. He searched everywhere he thought they may go, including every hotel within one hundred miles.
Cruising the streets in his patrol car, Rex stopped to get gas at the usual station. Just as he walked into the store, he passed a man who fit the description of Scott. “Scott…” He said and turned toward the man to see him turn and look at Rex. Suddenly he took off running, Rex running after him. Catching him just as they reached the grass beyond the curb, Rex jumped on him, taking him down.
“Where is she?” Rex asked as he held Scott to the ground.
“I don’t know, I don’t have her. She’s probably with Jim.” Scott said.
“Of course you would blame him…” Rex said. “Where is she?” He asked again.
“I don’t know…” Scott said again.
Thinking he may be right, Rex got up and helped Scott to his feet. “So, you’re Jayme’s husband?”
“Yes. You must be Rex.” Scott said.
“That’s me.” Rex said.
For long moments, they both stood there, in an awkward moment. “So, if you don’t have her, where would Jim take her?” Rex asked.
“I don’t know… but when I find out…” Scott said.
“You can fight Jim all you want, but in the end, she’ll come home with me.” Rex said.
“I don’t think so…” Scott argued. “She married me, remember?”
“I’m not going to stand here and argue with you when the woman we both love has been kidnapped by some lunatic.” Rex said. “I’m going to find her.”
“Not if I find her first.” Scott said and walked away.