Log Mountain Emeralds

The moon shone bright on Oakview Meadows. The air was clean and crisp on this December night. Peter walked Natalie to the door. The cabin was pitch black, so he felt uneasy leaving her alone and insisted on checking the house thoroughly. When he finally came back down the stairs he carried a second lantern and met a grinning Natalie.

“You took long enough. Feel better?”

“I suppose,” Peter said still looking around.

“I told you I would be fine. There is nothing to worry about,” she assured him. Natalie touched his arm as he set down the lantern. “Thank you for a lovely evening, Peter.”

“I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed myself. May I call on you again?” Natalie slowly nodded and smiled.

Peter stepped closer and cupped Natalie’s cheek in his big hand. He desperately wanted to feel her lips on his, but knew he needed to settle for less. “Good night,” he whispered. As he drove out of her driveway toward home the rusty car sitting back off the edge of the road went unnoticed.

Natalie went upstairs to start a fire in her bedroom fireplace. The cabin was cold and she knew she would have a hard time getting to sleep in a cold room. When she opened her door there was already a warm, crackling fire burning. Peter must have started it for me, how thoughtful. She smiled then removed her brooch and carefully placed it in the secret hiding place in her jewelry box. She dressed for bed and washed her face at the basin under the window. Sitting at her vanity table, brushing her hair, she lost herself in thought of the evening’s events. “What am I doing? I can’t let this happen,” she said aloud. To Natalie it seemed everyone she ever loved, she lost. What if something happened to Peter? She would never be able to forgive herself. Trying to put him from her mind, Natalie picked up the book she had been reading and settled into the big, overstuffed chair near the fireplace. After the full meal she found it hard to keep her eyes focused on the page and soon became drowsy. She padded across the room and turned down the lamp. Just as she began to fall asleep she heard a noise outside and forced herself get up to look out the window. Nothing could be seen but the shadows cast by the bare trees. Must have been that silly raccoon again.

Rollins waited for what seemed like forever until the house was dark and still. He was cold and his stomach rumbled with hunger. That doughnut was good, but not very filling. With very little effort Rollins gained entry through the back door of the cabin. Quietly stumbling through the house his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He made his way to the stairs, each one creaking under his massive weight, breaking the silence of the night. At the top of the staircase he found Natalie’s room without any trouble. The faint light of the dwindling fire illuminated through the crack under the bedroom door.

Natalie stirred in her sleep, uncertain if the noises she heard were in her dream or reality. She felt a draft of cool air and pulled the covers up over her shoulder. Then, suddenly, hearing the floor creak with obvious heavy footsteps, her eyelids flew open. Fear gripped her and set her heart racing until she thought she could not breathe. Her face was turned to the wall so she did not see Rollins approach, but heard him even above the sound of her pounding heart. His shadow loomed above her. She lay there, frozen until he started to reach for her. As quick as lightning, Natalie jumped up and off the opposite side of the bed facing her intruder. “Who are you? What do you want?” Natalie’s voice quivered as she questioned him.

“You might say I’m here on business, but I don’t see why we can’t have a little fun while I’m here.” Rollins lumbered towards her. Not wanting to get trapped in the corner Natalie raced passed him on her way to the door. Rollins lunged out and grabbed her arm as she passed and swung her around with a great force to face him. Natalie lost her footing, but Rollins yanked her up again just as quick as it happened. “What’s the matter pretty girl, not good enough for ya? I don’t think you’re as innocent as you want folks to think. Why else would you be comin’ outta that fancy hotel holdin’ that fella’s hand and all smiles?”

Natalie’s senses were assaulted by the foul breath of the man whose face was all too close to her own. Repulsed and disgusted she tried with all her might to break away from his grasp. Rollins tightened his grip with his right hand jerking her so violently against him the breath was knocked from her lungs for a few seconds. Searing pain shot through her midsection. His left hand pulled her hair back, forcing her chin upward to his stubbled face. “I might not be as good lookin’ as your hotel friend, but I guarantee I’m more experienced.” He pulled her face forward, pressing his full lips onto hers. Natalie gasped and prayed for strength. Desperately struggling to free herself from her captor, his watch caught on her lacy nightgown tearing it from the shoulder and across the bodice. With feline quickness Natalie raised her hand and scratched his face in effort to defend herself. Anger exploded in him and Rollins struck her face with the back of his hand. Screaming, she stumbled backwards, tripping on her gown and fell. Her head struck the hearth with a thud and suddenly darkness engulfed her.