She leaned in to stare at the scene that the camera caught.“I saw something, I know I did.”
Outside along the fence...
Rushing toward the treeline, Walter kept looking around.Halting in a skid along the ground, he gazed all around again and that was when he saw her.She was standing beside a tree in the back woods.But something about her didn’t look right.It was almost like she was standing too still.
He searched her stance and noticed her left arm was tucked into her jacket pocket, a jacket that was too light for the weather outside and beyond that she looked tired.
Spotting him, she tried to move but she stumbled and fell to the ground.Rushing over, he climbed the fence and dropped down on the other side.Man, he was going to have to somehow get her back over to the other side.He then had to carry her over to the gate a half mile away.He was winded when he finally came to the front of the Inn.
His brothers rushed over while carrying rifles.Zed went up the steps and opened the door for him.
Walter went through the lobby while carrying her in his arms.Then he made his way to the house part of the Inn.
Hondo growled when he spotted him and the bundle he carried.“Qué carajo, hijo?”What the hell, son?
Walter looked up at him.“By the time I reached her, she was down on the ground.I just brought her back.”He carried her into the living room and carefully laid her down on the sofa.
Andriea joined them with a bowl of warm water and a washcloth.
Hondo stared at her.“How did you know?”
“I saw him on the screen when he scooped her up.”Andriea sat down on the sofa and gently began washing her face.Then she gasped as the water began uncovering bruises, some new, some days old and a few that were beginning to fade.Sadness glimmered in her eyes as she glanced up at Hondo.She shook her head but she didn’t say a word as she continued her ministrations.When she finished, she dried the other woman’s skin carefully so as not to hurt her.She took her time and softly dried her hands gently.
“Well, how is she?”Hondo asked.
Andriea looked up at him.
Before she could speak, Sergi came into the room.He stopped and stared at the woman lying on the sofa.“What is this?Who is she?”
Hondo turned to him and shook his head.“We don’t know yet.Walter found her outside and she had lost consciousness by the time he reached her.”He looked disgusted as he let out a breath and said, “She’s been beaten and left on her own.We’ve never seen her before.”
Sergi nodded then moved closer as he stared at her.“Does this seem almost too rehearsed to anyone but me?”he asked the room at large.“I mean we just realize there’s trouble coming and she shows up like this?”
Hondo turned his head to stare at him.“Senor, I’m not sure I like what you are suggesting.”
Sergi shrugged.“I’m not sure I do either but it might be possible.”
“Si it might be, that’s why I don’t care for the idea.”Hondo shook his head.“But if the Hounds are anything like the Grimms, then it might be possible.”
Walter looked down at the woman on the sofa and said, “Let’s just wait to condemn her, ok?Maybe we should find out who she is and why she was in the woods first.”
Everyone went quiet.
Andreia got up and took the bowl of water to the kitchen.
Walter went over and pulled a chair up to the couch.Sitting down, he simply stared at the young woman.
Zed and Cameron looked at each other and smirked.
Hondo caught the exchange and shook his head.
Now Andreia returned with a tray of coffee and tea cups.She quietly distributed the cups to the men.
The men all sat at the table over by the other sofa to have their coffee.
Walter passed on the coffee as he stayed right where he was.
The young woman on the sofa groaned and thrashed her head back and forth, then she whimpered and stopped.Raising her right hand as if she were trying to stop the top of her head from exploding, she let out another small groan.
