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For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Back at our home base. “How will we explain this to Jennifer?” asked Misty, “We can’t even contact Jennifer, or Kat. Cristy and I will be fired and we just started working here!” “Yes, we will be blamed for the whole thing,” said Cristy, “they will think we are incompetent!” “Don’t worry you two,” said Galyna, “we are all responsible, not just the two of you.”
“Galyna is right,” added Hannah, “the first thing to remember in a catastrophe is, don’t panic.” “Seems like a good time to panic,” said Misty. “Yes, a very good time to panic,” said Cristy. Then they both giggled. “Okay, now that the panic session is over,” said Misty, “we need to figure out who did this and how they managed to get in undetected.” “Yes, and we need to try and figure out where Steve and the girls were taken,” added Cristy, “and that sure won’t be easy.”
“I will check with my contacts,” said Hannah, “maybe one of them has heard something.” She then went off to make some phone calls. Meowr.= Me can call cats, they can tell Kat. “That’s a thought,” said Misty, “except they can’t come back to help us. Only Steve and Dawn can call Sky.” “Yeah, too bad she can’t come back without being called,” said Crystal, “hey, wait, there’s a large truck and 3 cars pulling into the driveway.”
The girls and cats went outside, some secretly, ready for a fight. Jazzy got out of the lead car with her new bodyguard, a man named Bulldog. “Wow, he’s big like Rock,” said Misty, “maybe bigger. What do you want Jazzy?” “Hold off Misty,” said Jazzy smiling, “I brought you guys a present.” At first the girls were horrified when they saw the coffins, until Jazzy told them that we were all fine.
Jazzy had her men carry us, minus the coffins, into the house. Then she told her men to hang around outside to help guard the house while she and Bulldog came inside to talk with the girls. “Okay Misty, where’s Jennifer?” asked Jazzy. “Um, she and, um, Sky went for a walk,” replied Misty, “and they haven’t come home yet.” “And you haven’t called them about any of this?” asked Jazzy.
“Um, well, uh, they don’t have their phones with them,” answered Misty, “but they will be back any time now.” She tried to smile reassuringly. “You really expect me to believe this?” asked Jazzy, “Jennifer would never go anywhere without her phone, neither would Sky.” “I think we can trust Jazzy,” said Galyna, “you are a terrible liar Misty.”
“Yeah, I know, I have never been good at lying,” she sighed, “Jennifer isn’t here, she is with our rescue team.” Then she explained what their rescue mission was about. “On such a mission, getting those girls out safely is our top priority,” said Misty, “Steve figured we had enough of our team here to keep him safe. Except we didn’t.” Just then those of us that were kidnapped began to wake up, sort of anyway.
Except we just kind of sat there, staring blankly, not able to talk or do anything without being told what to do. “It’s because of that one odd element in the sleeping gas,” said Carolyn, “it kind of attacks the nervous system in a way that puts them in kind of a trance state. Unfortunately being like this Steve can’t ask for help, and that’s a problem, he needs Kat here, and soon, to help him and the others.
Otherwise they might stay in this state the rest of their lives.” But, I was trying. I just could not move my mouth or make a sound. I tried to call Sky silently, but that doesn’t work. I kept trying though, calling her name, telling her I need help, that I need Kat right away. Finally, after what seemed like hours, my mouth opened and closed, but no sound, no voice, not even a whisper.
But I kept trying until I was sweating. “He is trying to say something,” said Jazzy, “he said he’s trapped in himself. He needs Kat. He keeps saying Sky, and help me.” “How do you know that?” asked Crystal. “I can read lips, something that has helped me many times,” said Jazzy, “but why keep saying Sky? It’s not like she can hear him.” “Miracles happen sometimes Jazzy,” said Galyna, “and right now we need one.”
Meanwhile, back with our rescue team. “Stop for a minute everyone,” said Sky, “and please be quiet.” Everyone stayed silent, and listening, but not knowing what to listen for. “I hear something,” said Sky, “but I can’t quite make out what it is. It’s like someone is calling for help.” “Is it Steve?” asked Kat.
“I wouldn’t be able to hear him unless he speaks out loud,” she reminded Kat, “and that’s the only way I can go to him. But stay close, just in case.” “You stay close too Angel,” said Jennifer. She then got Natasha off the lion, and removed the saddle. “Look there,” said Jennifer, and everyone looked. That gave Angel time to return to herself again and she went to stand beside Sky.
Then Jennifer suggested they all walk ahead a bit so they wouldn’t have to stay quiet while Sky, Kat and Angel listened. As the others began walking away, the 3 ghosts turned invisible. They thought if it was me calling, it might be better to arrive invisible to surprise the enemy, whoever that might be. “The voice keeps saying I’m trapped in myself, help me, Sky, bring Kat, Sky help me,” said Sky, “it is quite clear now and it must be Steve, but I don’t recognize his voice, so I can’t go to him.”
“Perhaps someone has captured him,” said Kat, “or maybe someone is just trying to fake it, to try and call you.” “Maybe,” said Sky, “I did think of that, but I need to keep listening since it might be Steve.” “Why wouldn’t the team contact us?” asked Angel, “they can use the cats now.” “That wouldn’t get us home though,” said Kat. “True, I forgot,” said Angel. Back home again. “Sky,” I said, though quietly.
Sky, Kat and Angel showed up in the living room with us, but invisibly. They walked back to the kitchen and then came running in. “What’s wrong?” asked Kat. “Steve needs your help,” said Jazzy, “though I’m not sure how.” They quickly told the ghosts what had happened and what is now wrong with me and the girls. Crystal put a blanket over Kat and I so she could begin working on me.
“We don’t get to watch?” asked Jazzy. “Kat likes her privacy,” said Sky, “she insists on doing it this way. I hope she can help.” “Tell me Sky,” said Jazzy, “how did the 3 of you get all the way from Russia to here so quickly? I mean, that’s impossible travel time.” “Remember what I said about miracles?” Galyna responded, and smiled.
“I don’t believe in ghosts or miracles,” said Jazzy, “but I know something odd happened just now. By the way, where did Sky and Angel go?” “I thought I told you already Jazzy,” said Misty, “I’m sorry, they are with our rescue team.” Jazzy stood up and went over to Misty. “Do you always treat your friends like this?” she asked.
“Only the ones we love,” said Misty, as she smiled and hugged Jazzy, “thank you so much for bringing Steve and the girls back to us. Want some hot chocolate?” Jazzy just stood there looking at Misty. “Yes, I would like that,” she answered. Prior to leaving, Sky took Misty into the kitchen and had a talk with her. “Now, do you understand Misty?” asked Sky. “Yes Sky,” she said, “I know what to do.” Then Sky and Angel left, going back to the rescue team.
To Be Continued.
©2025 Steve McLeod.
Jennifer had brought something new that Kat had invented, a new lightweight type of saddle that fits on our lion. That way one of the girls could ride the lion much like a horse, after all, it is big enough. This lion is about the size of a liger, which is a cross between a lion and a tiger and the offspring of such a union can get up around 1,000 pounds.
We weighed our lion and that is exactly what he weighs, plenty large enough to act as a horse in a pinch, like right now. The saddle weighs only 20 pounds and is soft and comfortable to sit on for long periods of time. Natasha is riding the lion since she is the healthiest of the 3 girls. Jennifer also brought some extra strong fabric and the guys cut some poles so they could make nice stretchers for the other 2 girls.
That makes it a lot easier for the guys to carry those girls and they can then walk much faster and stop less to rest. Around noon they did stop, however, and Rock was dreaming of some nice steaks, which of course they didn’t have with them. “Hey, there’s an old farmhouse down the road just a bit,” said Alizea, “maybe we can get some real food from them.” “Doesn’t hurt to ask,” said Kat.
So she, Sapphire and Carine went to see what they could find out. The rest followed along among the trees after crossing the road to the side with the farmhouse. Rock spotted an big, old truck in front of the barn and thought maybe they could borrow, or perhaps buy it, though it doesn’t look like it has moved for a long time.
The girls arrived at the back of the house where an older man and woman were working outside. Sapphire began to speak to them in fluent Russian and the older couple looked across the yard and saw the others among the trees. “You are the people who helped those young girls escape from the penal colony?” asked the woman.
“Yes, we are the ones,” said Sapphire, “but we are not here to hurt you, we were just wondering if you had some food that we could buy.” The woman looked at her husband. “If the police find out we helped,” said the man, “they will arrest us instead.” “So what, old man,” his wife answered him, “those young girls have done nothing and you know it, yet they end up in a penal colony. They are young, they need a chance at a decent life.”
“Okay, we help,” he said, shrugging his shoulders. The woman, plus our three girls, began making sandwiches from fresh baked bread and, real meat! She also gave the girls some cheese and two fresh pies. “I have to keep one for my man,” she said, “or he will grumble all week.” The girls laughed. While this was going on, Rock and Bear were helping the old man outside doing some chores that he was struggling with.
He could barely believe the strength of the two young men and he was so happy and thankful for the help they gave him. Unfortunately, that big truck didn’t have an engine, so that idea was shot down quickly. They were told a town was not too far away down the road and that they should stay away from it or risk getting caught.
Meanwhile, back at home. It was now evening and I haven’t heard yet from our team of rescuers since their noon visit with the older couple. It’s almost completely dark now so they should be stopping for the night soon. I was getting my evening massage but was exceptionally tired this evening. Perhaps too much worrying and not enough sleeping.
“I think we will have to stop so I can get to bed early Beryan,” I said, “I can just barely stay awake.” “Must admit, I’m nearly falling asleep myself Steve,” she replied, “so an early night is a good i..de..a.” She then fell over on top of me, however, I was already asleep and didn’t notice. Everyone in the room was now asleep actually, and that is not good.
“Take everyone, except this one,” said the head man, “I will leave her behind as a warning not to try anything stupid.” He then proceeded to beat her somewhat and left her on the floor. Then they all left with their prize and were long gone when Storm came to the door and meowed. But there was no answer. He then pressed his alarm button and the girls were at the bedroom quickly…but too late.
They found Beryan on the floor and yelled for others to go outside saying that I was gone, plus my bodyguards! Then they called for Samantha to come take a look at Beryan. Bridgette was there too and she came to check on the cats. Only Muffin, Azura and Ginger were in the room at the time this happened. Carolyn came up too and said the kidnappers used some type of gas to put us to sleep.
It didn’t take her long to identify it, something that could be helpful. A little later that evening several vans pulled up to a loading area at the airport, close to where a private jet was waiting. A man got out of the lead van, and others got out of the rest of the vans. “Hello Raven,” said a woman’s voice, “you have been busy tonight.”
“Well, look at this, Jazzy herself,” said Raven, “I heard you were running around again. How did you manage that one?” “I had nothing to do with it,” said Jazzy, “but someone with a lot of influence got all charges dropped, so they let me go. I wasn’t going to argue.” “Maybe the cops just wanted you out so they could follow you around and discover all your other enterprises,” joked Raven.
“If that’s the case, they will be very bored,” she replied, “now Raven, show me what you have there.” “Sorry Jazzy, this is my trip,” he said, and he went over to the back of the lead van. “Don’t move Raven, or you are a dead man,” said Jazzy calmly, “this is my territory and you know it. Now, what is inside?” Just then Raven and his men found themselves being surrounded by Jazzy’s men.
Raven looked around, then nodded to Jazzy. “Well done Jazzy,” he said, “you obviously know what I have in here, but how?” “When I found out you were here Raven,” she said, “I had you followed. I knew you must have something big planned. But I am a little surprised that you got away with it, considering that Steve is so well guarded these days.”
“I was a bit surprised myself that it went so easy,” said Raven, “but I used to own that house and lived in it for a few years before selling it to some guy named Mandar. I had some secret passages built into the place, and that helped out a lot. Plus my very own brand of sleeping gas. Unlike you Jazzy, I see big money in this guy, you just want him dead.”
“You don’t realize something Raven,” said Jazzy, “they don’t pay ransom for any team member, not even for Steve.” “That’s what they say,” said Raven, “but I bet they would pay and pay big to get Steve back.” “Well Raven, you are not going to find out,” she said, “now, since you did help me out before, I will let you go, this time. But don’t come back.
You chose to work for Lauren and she is now dead. If you come back then you will join her.” Raven said nothing in response to this, he and his men left quietly, boarded his jet and left for parts unknown. Before they left, however, Jazzy had her men check to make sure we were actually alive. Jazzy’s men had already loaded the coffins onto their truck and after Raven was gone Jazzy and her men left the airport…
To Be Continued.
©2025 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 