Renewing Lost Love Read Free Page B

through gritted teeth. “I knew
him. He was a weird guy that lived in the same area as Jasmine and
me in Louisiana. He was several years older than me and a lot of
years older than Jasmine, at least ten. He always kept to himself
and never bothered anybody that I knew of anyway. I know Jasmine
wouldn’t have given him the time of day. She was scared to death of
him.” He pauses then continues, “Now that I think about it, he
disappeared about the same time she did. We just never put it
together because we always believed she died in the swamp.”
    Melanie says, “Pinky, she told me that he
kidnapped her. He knocked her unconscious and dragged her away. I’m
sorry but I don’t know all of the details. Jasmine helped me to
adjust to life at the compound when Darren first carried me there.
I would have died without her help. She also showed me which plants
to pick in the forest to boil to make her special tea to keep me
from getting pregnant again.”
    Pinky nods and says, “Jasmine’s grandmother
was into alternative medicine. They believed in all the herb and
plant stuff. Maybe it paid off for her after all. Melanie, do you
know where they were going when they left Idaho?” A flicker of hope
sparks to life inside Pinky’s heart. Is it possible Jasmine might
still be alive? Is it possible she might still love him? He has to
find her!
    “No, I don’t, I’m sorry. I only remember
Bixby had a huge argument with Darren about merging with a group
from Montana. Darren threatened to kill him if he ever saw him
again, so he took Jasmine and left. We didn’t even get to say
goodbye to each other.”
    Eric interrupts, “It was Flathead Lake Mom. I
remember because I thought it was a stupid name. They were arguing
about a group in Montana on Flathead Lake.”
    Bear has been sitting in the corner of the
office listening to the exchange. He only recently joined Drake
Security after his son, Stump, located him living near Kalispell,
Montana and convinced him to seek treatment for the Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder he suffered after serving in Vietnam. He says,
“Flathead Lake is near Kalispell. I heard talk about a militia
group forming around that area a few years ago.”
    Pinky looks over at Bear, “Do you still have
contacts up in that area? Can you find out where their compound is
located?”
    “What are you planning to do Pinky?”
interrupts Barry.
    “I am going to find Jasmine, get her out of
there or die trying,” answers Pinky without hesitation.
    Smiling at Pinky, Barry says, “I take it this
Jasmine means a lot to you.” Everyone is stunned at the emotion in
Pinky’s voice. They have never seen any emotion in him much less
about a woman.
    Tears in his eyes, Pinky says, “Yeah, I have
loved Jasmine since we were in grade school together. It nearly
destroyed me when her brother told me she was dead. She was only
fifteen at the time. I joined the Marines to kill myself after her
death, and I would have too if I hadn’t met you guys. You guys gave
me the will to go on.”

CHAPTER 2
    I moan quietly, the pain in my ribs so severe
I can barely breathe. I roll to my side and slowly push myself up
into a sitting position on the edge of the bed. I am shaking from
the freezing cold and I need to add wood to the stove.
    As I try to stand on wobbly legs, the pain
shooting through my middle causes me to double over and grab my
sides. My ribs must be broken this time, I can’t ever remember
hurting this much before. I can tell my left eye is nearly swollen
shut because I can’t see out of it and my jaw hurts every time I
try to move it.
    I have got to get up and brew my special tea.
James raped me again last night after he finished hitting me and I
don’t want to get pregnant. Bringing a child into this situation is
unthinkable. It is better James continues to think I am barren.
    I slide off the bed, my legs crumble beneath
me and I fall to my knees painfully jarring her ribs. I cry out in
agony and slowly pick