Alexander Ranch Read Free

happening. The one thing I was sure of was, this wasn’t one of the men who’d been after me. What had he said? Something about finding me on the beach? He continued to talk as if he were trying to sooth and reassure some frightened animal that might run or lash out at any moment. Then I realized I must resemble just that.
    “You have no idea how relieved I am to see you awake. I’ve been sitting here scared out of my mind and not knowing what to do to help you,” he went on babbling, as if he didn’t know what else to do. I opened my senses, belatedly, and realized he was indeed afraid. Though I doubted he was afraid of me, he did seem rather afraid of something. Afraid of dealing with me perhaps? I probed cautiously for a few more moments and only sensed sincere concern and fear. He was feeling fear for me I realized in surprise. As if my body had gotten a magic signal to turn off the adrenalin my eyes got heavy and I could only stare at him with groggy weariness.
    “Wait. Don’t go back to sleep just yet ,” he entreated, reaching out to me and then hastily snatching his hand back, as if thinking better than to touch me. Did he have gloves on? How strange. “I was able to get you to take a little water, but I have some broth in the kitchen. It’s chicken broth. I’m not sure I should give you anything solid, but I think you should at least try the broth.”
    My eyes became more alert at the mention of food. I was a bit hungry but didn’t feel I could chew anything. Chewing would take too much energy.
    He continued talking , “I’m going to get up now and go get the broth, ok?”
    I didn’t remember nodding or responding in any way but, a fter a moment, he got up slowly and walked in the direction I assumed was the kitchen. I watched him disappear around a wall and then my eyes closed. I tensed and my eyes opened when I heard his footsteps coming towards me again. I must have fallen back asleep.
    “Here , I’ll help you sit up a bit. Just take a couple of sips,” he encouraged. I didn’t protest when he gently pulled me up and put the mug to my lips. I took a few cautious sips and then closed my eyes and let my head drop back. Holding my head up to sip was exhausting in itself. I was breathing hard as if I’d just sprinted down a track. He patiently coaxed me into taking a couple more sips as I watched him through heavy, guarded eyes. Belatedly I wondered if I should trust him enough to take food from him. What if it was drugged? He gently lowered me back down and we stared at each other until my eyes finally closed and I was asleep again.
    I dreamed again. This time I was running and people were chasing me. Then, a strange voice was there telling me I was safe and everything was fine. I didn’t know who the strange voice belonged to but, for some reason, I trusted it. Each time the scary dreams came I ran. And each time the voice said I was safe . I believed the comforting voice and drifted back to peaceful sleep. Sometimes I drifted along a river or sometimes I didn’t dream at all. For what seemed like endless amounts of time, I would sleep until the bad men came after me again.
    I began to run but I couldn’t get away. The bad men were gaining on me and would soon have me. My eyes flew open in a panic and I cried out as I saw the man lying next to me. He had his hand on my shoulder gently shaking me.
    “You’re ok,” he said, snatching back his hand, “You’re safe.” Slowly my eyes closed again and I was asleep. Then someone was touching my brow. It was a gentle caress but strange, fingers but not fingers. My eyes fluttered open again and I went from being confused to remembering. The man was still there. He’d removed his hands from my face and I noticed he had on latex gloves. Then I remembered seeing them before. What was that all about? I jerked, trying to sit up and cried out as pain shot through me. Feebly, I fell back onto the pallet.
    “It’s ok, ” The man crooned reaching out