Chapter Thirty Seven

Rex knew he could’ve arrested Scott for the kidnapping of Jayme and Bella but it was a losing battle. Scott was her husband and Bella was his daughter. Besides, Scott’s freedom was beneficial to Jayme’s kidnapping, at least Rex knew Scott would spend his time looking for her. The more people looking for her, the better her chances of being found. And the sooner she was found, the better it was for her and Bella.
Rex left the station and followed Scott miles away, to a motel where he watched Scott enter room number Twenty two. It was the last room on the strip, adjacent to the outside wall. Although he had no jurisdiction in this town, Rex didn’t care as he walked up to the motel door and knocked.
Opening the door, Scott saw Rex standing there. “I told you she’s not with me.” Scott said.
“Then you won’t mind if I have a look around?” Rex said as he pushed his way through the door.
“Nope, help yourself.” Scott said and stepped aside. “Look, I love Jayme. The last thing I want to do is hurt her or see her get hurt.”
“But she is getting hurt. She has been hurting. Since the day she came home and found you dead on the floor. She was doing well to deal with it, then suddenly, you come back into the picture. And at a time when she’s vulnerable and I’m trying my best to support her.”
“I appreciate you supporting her like that, but it was never my intention to be shot and nearly killed. I love Jayme more than anyone can fathom. I wrote my vows for her, they were from my heart. I haven’t forgotten them. And neither has she.” Scott said.
“I refuse to fight you over this. The decision is ultimately hers. She will choose who she is to be with.” Rex said. “It doesn’t matter what either of us says.”
“You’re probably right. I’ll just have to show her why she fell in love with me.” Scott said.
“And I’ll show her why she’s loved me her entire life.” Rex countered. “Now, let’s set these arguments aside for the sake of Jayme, shall we?” Rex stated in a question. “I’m not going to stay here and argue with you, I’m going to be out patrolling the roads, searching for clues.” Rex reached in his pocket and pulled out a business card, handing it to him. “Call me if you think of anything that will help.”
Scott refused to take the business card. “Like hell I will. You’re the last person I’d call.”
“Whatever…” Rex said and walked away, stuffing the business card back into his pocket.
Rex searched all night with no progress. He was exhausted but knew he wouldn’t even be able to close his eyes. He was too wrapped up in their disappearance. Parking his patrol car in a wooded area, he shut off the car and leaned his head back. He tried to close his eyes but the tears passed through. It had been a long, long time since Rex has cried about anything.
Jayme stayed mostly on the bed for the entire day while Jim hung around the house, not giving her a chance to get away. It didn’t matter to her that she had to travel through miles of forest, or more, to escape her captor. It didn’t matter that it was getting dark out, if given the chance, she’ll take it, no matter the time of day or night.
Sitting on the bed feeding Bella, she peered out the small window and saw the sun had set and it was quickly growing very dark outside. Jim lit two lanterns, giving light inside the cabin. But the lanterns didn’t help much with the chill that was passing through the room like a breeze.
Reaching into a barrel in the corner, Jim removed a quilt and handed it to her. Jayme looked up at him and forced a slight smile. “Thanks.” She said. With one hand, she unfolded and spread the quilt over her, still feeding Bella.
As Jim walked out the door, Jayme tried to watch and see what he was doing but he walked out of view. She didn’t get up, just stayed seated, feeding Bella. A few moments later, he walked in with an armload of wood, dropping it before the fireplace. Before he put all the wood in the fireplace, he used a shovel and bucket to clean out the old ash and soot.
Within minutes of starting the fire, Jayme could feel the heat. It wasn’t terribly cold out, but for late May, it was chilly. Jayme watched Jim, constantly keeping her eye on his whereabouts. After getting the fire going good, Jim extinguished the lanterns. The only light was the glow of the fireplace.
Jim walked up to the bed and reached down to pick up Bella. “No!” Jayme said and stopped him, grabbing her daughter.
“I’m just moving her so I can lay down.” Jim said.
“Well, then, we’ll move to the chair.” Jayme said, holding Bella.
“No, that’s not necessary.” Jim said.
“Oh, but it is.” Jayme argued.
“No, it’s not.” Jim said, trying again to take Bella, successfully.
Jayme stood up but Jim pushed her back down onto the bed. “You stay right there.”
Turning around, Jim laid Bella on the chair then turned back toward the bed. Reaching underneath, Jim grabbed a chain. Trying to wrap it around Jayme’s ankle, she pulled her leg back and kicked at him. Jim punched her in the knee, disabling her for a moment. It was the time he needed to successfully wrap the chain around her ankle and fasten it with a padlock.
“Damn you…” Jayme said as the pulled at the chain and lock.
“That’s my insurance that you don’t get away again. Even while I’m sleeping.” Jim said and laid on the bed, patting the bed beside him.
Jayme turned and walked away from the bed, seeing how far her reach goes with the chain. Walking to the door, Jayme stopped, knowing that was as far as she was able to go. Turning back around, she went to the chair and picked Bella up. Sitting in the chair, she held Bella in her arms. Scooting down, she tried to get comfortable in the chair.
Staring off into the fire, Jayme’s mind drifted off to another time and place. To a time when her and Rex shared their first kiss. Although she was detained, the thought of Rex still made her smile and she knew longed to be with him. She stared at the fire until her eyes burned. She closed them and leaned her head back.
Opening her eyes again, it was light and chilly as the fire had burned out. She realized she had fell asleep. Looking down, she saw Bella who was still in her arms but wide awake. Jayme looked over and saw Jim still sleeping. She wondered what time it was.
Rising out of the chair, she nearly fell to the floor but caught herself. Her body was stiff from sleeping in the chair. Gathering the strength to walk, Jayme went and grabbed a diaper and the wipes. Laying Bella in her lap as she sat in the chair, Jayme changed her diaper and cleaned her up.
As she fed Bella, Jayme looked over and saw Jim moving around in bed. He was waking up. Pulling the covers back, he saw her but said nothing as he got up and headed for the front door. Jayme heard the stream hit the ground and knew he was urinating.
“Hey, I’ve got to pee.” Jayme said as Jim came back into the cabin.
Looking over at the bed, Jayme noticed the keys that fell from Jim’s pocket. But she said nothing and didn’t move. “Damn it…” She heard Jim say. Then he walked to the bed and picked up the keys. Turning around, he unlocked the padlock connecting the chain to her ankle. Standing back up, Jim reached and took Bella from her. “Go to the bathroom.” He said.
Jayme hardly trusted him with her daughter but she had no choice, Jim used her as leverage. Walking to the door, Jayme went outside and toward the outhouse. Coming back into the cabin, she immediately took Bella from Jim. Seeing Jim walk outside, Jayme went to the window and watched as he walked around to the back of the property. Jayme went to the other window and noticed the storm cellar built into a large hill. She saw Jim go in and out of it. She had never noticed the cellar before.
Walking back toward the cabin, Jim carried a bucket and a package wrapped with paper. Using the outdoor cooking setup, Jim started the fire and built it to reach the grate. Using two pans, he unwrapped the package that contained bacon. In the bucket was some eggs. Jim sat at the fire and cooked them breakfast.
Feeling nauseated from her circumstance, Jayme nibbled on the food, not eating much. It left her feeling worse. Going into the cabin, she laid down on the bed, Bella beside her. Jayme laid there most of the afternoon and into the evening, until she had to use the bathroom. Leaving Bella on the bed, she walked outside to the outhouse and relieved herself.
As she walked out of the outhouse, Jayme looked at the cabin but walked toward the cellar, frequently looking toward the cabin. Opening the cellar, she found shelves containing canned goods. On the floor, there were coolers. Opening them, she discovered the meat with the ice that was nearly melted. She knew he would need more ice soon. He would have to go into town for that.
As she came out of the cellar and closed the door, she looked toward the cabin and saw Jim standing beside it, watching her with his arms crossed. She began walking toward him. “I was just curious.” Jayme said.
“That’s fine, I was just curious too.” He said and waited for her to come to him, then walked beside her and back into the cabin.
“You’re going to need ice.” Jayme said.
“Yes, I know. I was just thinking what I could do about that.” Jim said.
“You’ll have to go to town.” Jayme said.
“Yes, I know, but what am I going to do about you? I think I Know…” Jim said.
“What’s that?”
“Come back into the cabin.” Jim said, and walked back into the cabin, holding the door open for her. “Sit on the bed.” He said as she came inside.
Jayme shook her head. “No.”
“Now, don’t disobey me, I will get angry.”
“What are you going to do?” She asked.
“I’m putting the chain on your ankle.” Jim said.
Jayme picked up Bella and sat in the chair instead. She struggled a little but eventually let him put the chain on her leg, locking it with the padlock. Standing up, he reached down and quickly snatched Bella from her arms before she had much of a chance to fight.
“Jim!” She shouted. “No!”
“Yes, this is how it’s going to be. We’ll be back in twenty minutes or so.” Jim said and walked out of the cabin.