in all sorts of pain—pain you’ve never felt. I’m going to give you to the count of three.” said Doby, aiming at Hank’s back.
Ahanu’s face was almost purple as the blood trapped in his head, but held strong under the grip.
“One. . .”
“Hank, just do what he says,” said Patty.
Coreen stayed on her knees by her two partners.
“Out of the way, Coreen. Back up,” Patty yelled.
“Two. . .”
Quickly Patty yanked Coreen out of the way. She fought him, but he was too strong for her weak muscles.
“Three. . .” Doby approached Hank and smacked him in the back of the head with the butt of his shotgun. Hank rolled to the side, unconscious.
“I thought you were going to shoot him,” said Patty.
“Naw,” said Doby, dragging Hank’s body next to Ahanu, who choked his way back into the present. “You’ve got a lot to answer for, son. You better start talking. We can do it here or at the station.”
“My mother . . .” was all Ahanu could sputter out.
“She’s not here, son. We’ve been looking all around, but no sign of her,” Doby said. “You tell us the truth, and we’ll tell you what we know.”
“She’s in her room.” Ahanu said. “She’s there. Did you look for her there?”
“How do you know where she is?” Doby asked, looking back at the cabin.
“I know,” Ahanu said. “I need to go to her. I can’t explain right now. She’s going to die if I don’t get to her.” He scrambled to sit up, but Doby pointed the long barrel directly at him.
“You heard me. You don’t explain, you’re not going anywhere,” Doby said.
“Let him up,” Coreen cried out, squirming under her father’s hold. “He needs to save her. Let him go.”
“Calm down, honey. Calm yourself,” Patty said. “Speak now, son. Your mother can wait,” said Doby. “I looked in her room myself. She’s not there. Now talk already.”
Reaching up and crying out, Ahanu felt all the pain and agony of the world wash over his being. He knew his mother was going to die in a few moments. He could see her blood draining across the floor, spilling down into the cracks. He wanted to go to her, and at the same time, he didn’t want to reveal his true strength in front of those who viewed him as an enemy. He fought with this. “I faked Coreen’s death to buy us time. She was injured, holed up in Betty’s bedroom at that place in town. Let me go now.”
Patty’s jaw fell open at the unexpected news. “Betty?” He let Coreen go. “You were at Betty’s?”
Just as appalled that her father even knew of Betty, Coreen scrunched her face in revulsion. “You know her?”
Patty looked down, distressed, torn at the thought of his little girl being held in that place, that the woman who had recently warmed his heart had known the truth and not told him. His expression suddenly turned angry. “I need to go now.” Ahanu said, watching Patty, watching the confusion in all their eyes. “Wait a second,” Doby said, “All this trouble to hide an injury. The two of you did all this, caused all this chaos and pain . . . for what?”
Ahanu laughed at the sheriff’s words, “Because she was on her way to meet me. Me . . . an Indian . . . oh. . .” He shook his head and laughed mockingly. “Because you all are so accepting of the likes of me. She hates you all, you know.”
“You hate us?” Patty asked his daughter. “You hate us . . .”
Coreen started to cry. “You don’t understand. I just do what you all think I should do. I go on with my days and act the good little girl, like you want me to, but inside I hurt. I love Ahanu. I love him. I knew you would never accept that. I went around with Hank. I did care about him, but I don’t love him. I never have. He’s just there.”
“Coreen . . . Coreen. . .” The distaste in her father’s voice was apparent.
“See? Even now, even after all this. I knew this is how you would be. I’m alive, Dad. I’m alive. Ahanu saved me. I almost died, but he helped me. He deserves credit for this. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. You need to accept that. You need to accept him. We are getting married. I want you to be there. I want you to