Chapter Twenty-Three

Cass and Billy arrive on the outskirts of the fight and reunite with some of their group. Meanwhile, Derrick grows more desperate. 

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Some of this podcast has been recorded on equipment from the Billings Public Library Co+Lab. Thanks to Renee Barratt of The Cover Counts for the cover design. Music by Mikhail Smusev from Pixabay.

Transcript

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Welcome back to the serialized podcast production of The Scarring Underneath, written and performed by T. S. Dickerson.

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Chapter twenty three. Cass twisted her ankle in a gopher hole and cursed, limping away.

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Okay? Billy asked. She nodded, gnashing her teeth as sweat dripped from her forehead over her eyelid. She looked at the C4, glad they'd had the foresight to pack old towels around it. Even if Billy did assure her it was stable, it bounced a lot as he ran. Besides, he'd said it should be stable. He couldn't truly know if they'd made it right. Well, this isn't nice enough to be heaven, she thought as her ankle twinged and her lungs burned. But it isn't bad enough to be hell. So we're alive. We haven't blown up yet. She hoped her family was as lucky. This is taking too long, she said, her voice almost a roar. I know, Billy called back, breathless. They couldn't keep up this pace. She cursed and slowed to a quick walk, readjusting the various straps across her body. God knows what's happening at camp, they could all be dying as we're stumbling through this field. Sh, Billy said. Cass opened her mouth to yell at him for shushing her, but he repeated the sound more urgently. Cass scanned the field and a movement caught her eye. There were two horses charging toward them, one dragging a harness, and the other saddled. Shit, Cass said, excitement pulsing through her. She began to shrug off her pack and the rifle. Don't move, don't breathe. The horses spotted them and slowed, lifting their heads even higher into the air and blowing their nostrils as they moved. They watched the pair of humans warily. Cass knew she had to be careful if she was to catch them. She steadied her breathing and began to take slow steps forward. Gunshots echoed in the distance. With a low groan she picked up her pace and held her hands out in front of her, palms up. She recognized the horses, but she couldn't remember their names on her life at that moment. Hey, she said, deep and low. Two sets of ears flicked as she spoke. She kept her pace steady in spite of the crackle of urgency that sped through her veins like sparking wire. She was nearly close enough to reach them when a bird flew overhead, its shadow crossing between her and the horses. At the same time a gust of wind came up, rattling a patch of dried grass, and the saddled horse's eyes widened. His head lifted as his nostrils flared. He spun and bolted. Cass's attention sprang to the other animal, and she saw the whites of her eyes as well. With a grunt, Cass leaped forward and grabbed the lone long rein attached at the bit and entangled in the harness on the horse's back. The horse spooked away from her motion and tried to run, but Cass braced her legs and held as the horse pulled against the leather. Easy, she said, letting up on her pressure. She stayed with the pulling animal, sometimes jogging along and sometimes being dragged, her feet catching on the tufts of grass as she struggled to stay upright. Easy, hey, she managed to keep her voice calm as they stayed locked in a tug of war motion of give and take, the animal backing and bracing, and Cass holding firm despite the rain slicing into her palm and filling her hand with blood. When she thought she wouldn't be able to hold for one more jerk, the horse stopped, its front leg shaking as it tossed its head. Cass let out a breath. Good. Nice, she said. She spoke mostly nonsense, taking cautious steps forward, hand extended. She approached the mare at the side of her head, reeling in the rain as she went. When she finally placed a hand on the horse's shoulder, it left a streak of blood against the animal's rich bay hair. She untangled the rein and turned to lead the mare back across the field, to where Billy stood next to the bomb. So, she said, we're about to find out just how good a rider you are. Derek's heart was pumping too fast, and every beat drove spikes of pain through his brain. He deducked into the trees as the first shots were fired and returned to their aggression. He hoped for a clean shot at John and anyone else who knew about his deal so he could make sure all his planning didn't fall apart. But John was not in the front lines. He'd watched as Adam bled out on the road, watched Lena kill two men before she and her father and sister had to retreat into the woods as New Danville's forces passed through the pathetic barricade of wagons Cam had made. It was Cam he tracked through the woods. The man searched and called out for Trista. Hank found Derrick first. Christ, Derrick, Hank said. Glad you're okay. Let's get out of here. The man turned away, gesturing to Derrick to follow him. We'll have to cut our losses and regroup with the survivors. There's no winning the his words were cut off as Derrick's bullet shattered his skull. His body fell forward, and Derrick stepped over it.

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He'd lost Cam, and he squinted through the trees until he caught a flash of long blonde hair.

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Cass gripped a fistful of the mare's mane to steady herself as Billy used her arm to slide down from his spot behind her. His legs gave out as he landed, and he fell. The tote full of explosives bumped against his chest and bounced onto the ground beside him. Cass saw him flinch at the same time she did. She shook her head. Oh yeah, she said. You're so sure it's stable. The horse was fidgeting, her flesh jumping at the sound of every gunshot. It had been a rough ride. The makeshift reins Cass had fashioned from the broken driving rein had been too short, pulling Cass's arms and body position forward until she crouched like a jockey on the mare's neck. Billy had clung to Cass, cursing in her ear, his accent heavy the whole way. The box of C four had dug into her back, a constant reminder they might blow up, and the mare had been squirrely, requiring the best of Cass's skills to keep her moving toward the sound of the fighting. The shots were fewer now and more worrisome, as there were long pauses between them. We need to see what's happening in there, she said, nodding to indicate the woods. Her shaking fingers undid the bridle and freed it from behind the horse's ears. She rubbed the mare's muzzle and whispered a thank you as she turned away, leaving the horse free. She had opened her mouth to suggest they hide the bomb, when Rylan came running through the trees, screaming. Her frantic steps were halted as a gunshot sounded and a bullet burst through her calf. Her leg cranked around unnaturally as she went down, her screams slicing along Cass's spine. A man stepped out into the sunlight, after the wounded woman, rifle aimed. Cass pulled her gun from its holster. Hey, she shouted. The man looked up, but didn't have time to react before Cass put a bullet through his heart. As he fell, his gun fired again, and Cass heard the mare's retreating hoofbeats behind her. She retrieved the rifle and returned to find Billy helping Rylan tie his long sleeved shirt over her wound. The woman eyed him warily, but he pretended not to notice. Cass had a moment of doubt about bringing him into the wooded campground with her. Chances were high her own people would be as quick to fire on him as the enemy. What about the bomb? he asked. Cass's answer was lost as another scream drew their attention. It was Darcy this time, ducking behind a tree far too skinny to provide any real cover. Clutching her bleeding arm she slid down to the ground. Cass turned, already aiming her pistol toward the rough area Darcy had come from. She spotted him and prepared to squeeze the trigger. Just before she did, a spot of darkness burst over the man's gut. He sunk forward onto his knees, clutching at his stomach as blood poured between his fingers. It's Weylon, Billy said. Cass looked down, only now realizing he had looped an arm around her waist as if to pull her out of harm's way. He released her and ran forward, reaching Darcy just as her father did. Is she okay? Cass called out. Weylon nodded as he slung his daughter's good arm around his neck. Hardly bleeding, Billy called, applying pressure to the wound. Weylon eyed Billy as they helped the girl out from the trees. Where's Lena? Cass called. I don't know, Weylon called back. The numbness had taken Cass sometime earlier, as she and Billy had hurried toward these woods, hearing gunshots and imagining what might have happened to their friends. But as the possibility of losing Lena swarmed her, a surge of hot anger brought feeling back to her limbs, and with it, urgency. Cass helped the men lower Darcy to the ground near Ryland. My brother? she asked. Lena was looking for him, Darcy answered. She ran off to find him. She said she needed to tell him something, Weylon added, as he frowned at the plastic tote packed with towels. What is that? C4. Ignoring his open mouthed disbelief, she said, Weyland, are they all spread out like this through the trees? Cass's voice was growing desperate. After all the trouble they had gone through to bring the bomb here, it would be useless if their enemies weren't together in roughly one spot. Weylon shook his head. No, they've captured some of us, so a lot of them are standing guard by the lean twos, that's where our people are. Billy returned, carrying a pistol and a knife he must have taken off the body of Darcy's shooter. The knife, his arm, and much of his white t shirt were stained with blood, and Cass let out a gasp when she saw him. He quickly shook his head. I'm fine, he said. He wasn't dead. He met Cass's eyes and offered the gun to her, his hand shaking. He is now. Weylon stepped between Cass and Billy and leaned in close to her. You trust him? he asked, jutting his thumb back over his shoulder to indicate Billy. He didn't kill Drew, Cass said. I swear it on my life. On all our lives, Darcy said, an edge to her tone Cass had only ever heard from Lena. Cass swung the hand that held the pistol down toward Darcy's head, stopping mere inches from her face. Darcy flinched, then glared up at Cass. Cass held the look, her own eyes fierce. On everyone I've ever cared about. She watched her words register with the girl. Take it, Cass said, loosening her grip on the pistol. Darcy took the weapon, and Cass turned back to Weylon, whose face was surprisingly passive. He stepped out from between Cass and Billy without comment. We need to get that bomb up to the lean to, Cass said, taking a moment to remove the detonators from her pack and tuck them in beside the C4. And we need to get our people out. The guards, Waylon said, checking his ammunition. I know. We need a distraction. Cass rolled her shoulder and stood up straighter. Find Lena, Darcy said. She's distracting. I do need to find my daughter, Weyland said. And Cam, Cass agreed. She glanced back at the bomb. Okay, listen. Darcy and Rylan, crawl over there by those bushes for cover. Keep brick with you. Weylon and Billy move the bomb. Find a place near the lean to, but out of sight. With one last check of the dead man's rifle, Cass turned to Weyland and fixed him with a commanding stare. Waylon, I need you to stay there. Wait for the distraction and get our people out. Weylon shook his head. I'm going for my daughter. No, you have to trust me, Cass said. The captives might not follow Billy, they won't trust him, but they'll follow you. For all we know, Lena's in there. No she's not, Darcy said. Cass nodded. Still, you have to trust me to find her for you. Cass turned to Billy and glanced at his hip where the fire starter she'd given him still hung from his belt loop by its carabiner. You stay with the bomb until I come for it. I want to help you, Billy said, shaking his head. You have both sides gunning for you, she said. You can't help if you're dead. But you can guard the bomb and light it when the time comes. I want to stay with you, he said, although the fight had left his voice. Cass glanced at Weylon and then closed the distance between herself and Billy. She lowered her gun to her side and wrapped one arm around him, laying her head against his chest. She felt the blood from his shirt soaking into the hair by her temple, but he put an arm around her back and she didn't care. Stay alive, she said. I love you, he said, loud enough to be heard by the others. Cass froze for an instant, and then her duties came rushing back to her. Pulling away, she said, get moving. Then she darted into the trees without looking back. Thank you, thank you so much for tuning in to chapter 23 of the Scarring Underneath. A new chapter releases each week. Learn what projects are coming up next on my Facebook, Instagram, and Blue Sky pages. Links are in the podcast description.