Tread Softly

Chapter Twenty-two

Scott fell to his knees. Karen was lying motionless on her open sleeping bag, arms and legs spread wide. He pressed a hand below her rib cage. He felt the rise and fall of her breathing, and he started to cry.

'Karen?' he whispered. She didn't stir.

In a boot near her head, he found a flashlight. He turned it on, and shined the light on her face. Her eyelids trembled, but didn't open. Her left cheekbone was swollen. Her face was slick in places. Teeth marks on her cheek, her mouth. It was all blurry through Scott's tears. Sobbing quietly, he backhanded the tears from his eyes.

'Dad?' Julie's voice. 'How is she?'

'Alive.'

'Can I come in?'

'Yeah.'

Julie crawled through the flap, and knelt beside him. 'Is she unconscious?'

'Yeah.' He moved the beam down her body.

Julie groaned as it lit wet shiny places and crooked teeth marks on Karen's left shoulder and breast. 'God,' she murmured.

Fingers had put scratches and red imprints on her skin, but Scott saw no blood, no stab wounds.

'Is everybody okay?' Benny called from outside.

'Yes,' Scott answered. 'Stay out there.'

The marks ended at Karen's rib cage. He nudged Julie. She leaned out of his way and he bent over her body and shined the light on her vagina. There was no blood, no semen. Her legs looked okay.

'Dad?' Julie whispered. 'He raped her.'

He nodded.

'Do you think she'll be all right?'

'I don't. ' His voice cracked. 'I don't know. Here.' He gave Julie the flashlight. 'Go over to my tent. Get her sweatshirt. It's in my sleeping bag.'

Without a word, she hurried from the tent.

Scott found Karen's sweatpants in the space behind her boots. They were folded neatly.

God, she must've been lying here naked, waiting for him. If only Benny had fallen asleep a few minutes earlier… if the rain hadn't come… if he hadn't been so damned worried about everyone else, and simply tented with her all along.

He stroked the length of her outflung leg, slipped his hand under her calf, and lifted it. He slipped the sweatpants over her foot and drew in her other leg. By the time Julie returned, he had the pants in place. Together, they lifted her to a sitting position and pulled the sweatshirt over her head. Scott worked her limp arms into the sleeves. He lowered her gently, and smoothed the cover of the sleeping bag over her.

Julie was kneeling beside him, staring down at the dark bundle. He put an arm around her. 'How are you doing, tiger?'

'Okay.'

'Jesus.'

'Are you okay?'

'Yeah.'

'You're gonna freeze.'

He realized, vaguely, that he was naked except for his jockey shorts. He was wet and shivering. 'I'm okay,' he said.

'I guess the guy's dead.'

'Yeah. I'm sorry it was Nick. He didn't have to. I — it's too bad.' 'I'll go see how he's doing. If you don't need me anymore.'

Scott nodded.

Julie eased away. She brought her own sleeping bag over, and wrapped it around him. 'Benny and I — we'll stay in the other tent.' She kissed him lightly on the cheek, and left.

Benny grabbed Julie's arm as she stood up outside the tent. He stared at her, the rain splashing on his glasses. 'Is she okay?' he asked.

'She's unconscious.'

'What'd he do to her?'

'He knocked her out.'

'I know, but. '

'Why don't you go back to the tent? You're drenched.'

His chin started to shake. 'I gotta know how she is!'

'She'll be fine.'

'Goddamn stinking rotten dirty bastard!'

Julie put her hand on Benny's cold, dripping cheek. 'She'll be all right. You'll see.'

'He won't! He's dead! I wish I'd killed him!' Benny suddenly threw himself against Julie and hugged her tightly. She wrapped her arms around him. He was sobbing out of control. His stocking cap was sodden and cold against her cheek.

Beyond his head, Julie saw Nick sitting on a rock by the dead fire. He was wearing a hooded poncho. He was slumped forward, staring at his feet.

Her own poncho, which she'd left on the ground when the storm hit, was spread over the dead body. It was barely visible through the darkness and sheeting rain. She thought of what was under it, and turned her eyes away.

Flash, in a clear plastic rain slicker, was crouched in front of the far tent, apparently talking to Alice and the girls.

He shouldn't have left Nick alone.

'Come on,' Julie said. 'Dad's gonna stay with Karen.

If you're staying outside, why don't you go get your poncho? And try to find Dad's for me. Okay?'

With a nod, Benny backed away and walked toward the other tent. Julie went over to Nick. He looked up as she stopped in front of him. 'How are you doing?' she asked.

'I still feel a little sick. How about you? Did he hurt you?'

'Bruised me a little. He got Karen pretty bad, though. He raped her.''

'God. How is she?'

'Unconscious. He hit her with something. Maybe the knife handle.'

'Will she be okay?'

Julie shrugged. 'You were great, going after the guy that way.'

'I heard you scream,' he said. His voice sounded flat, as if his mind were far away. 'I saw you on the ground. And your dad hit him. I didn't know what was going on. I just knew I had to get him. I didn't plan to. kill him.' He stared up at Julie with wide, unblinking eyes. 'I don't know. I guess I did want to kill him. I just knew he'd hurt you and I grabbed the hatchet. I feel kind of strange.'

She stepped between his knees and pressed his face against her body. 'Don't feel bad. If you hadn't done it, I think Dad would've.'

'That's what my dad said. He said the guy was 'dead meat.' '

'Here it is,' Benny said.

Julie stepped back. She shook open the wrinkled plastic sheet, and pushed her head through its hooded hole. As she snapped the sides under her arms, Flash approached. He squeezed her shoulder. 'How're you doing, young lady?'