Gathering Roses

3.

Flashback

"Cass, I'm in love." Maya said dreamily, kicking at the water beneath their feet as they sat on the dock by Quinn's Pub. Cass smiled wanly. She was just getting off of yet another double at Stacey's and had little energy to squeal about Maya's new conquest.

"Who is it this time?" She asked, trying to scrape up some enthusiasm. The setting sun glistened on the waves and in Maya's green eyes as she grinned at Cass.

"Oh, stop. It's not like that." She playfully elbowed Cass in the ribs, and Cass shoved her back. They took sips of their shakes and turned towards each other, now criss-cross on the weathered planks.

"His name's Jedediah. Jedediah Thomas. Isn't that so... noble?" she giggled. "His friends call him Jed."

"Please tell me that's not the Jed that hangs out with Aaron Jones in our psych class." One glance at Maya confirmed Cass' suspicions. "Maya! he's into some bad stuff."

"Cass! He's so cute. Plus he makes good grades and isn't a jerk like those boys. He's different." She smiled. "He held the door open for me after trig yesterday." Cass rolled her eyes. The guy holds one door open and gains the everlasting love and adoration of her best friend. Cass knew from her own upbringing that guys do nice things for girls for one reason, and one reason only.

"Maya, promise me you won't get wrapped up in whatever that crew does behind the dumpsters with Jimmy O'Neil." Their local weed dealer was well-known to the seniors at Washington High. Cass had watched her brother Joey buy from him many times. She didn't ever hear from Joey now other than a phone call at Christmas. He had gotten out of Conley as quick as he could, dragging his girlfriend Heather with him to the West Coast.

"Cass! Of course I won't." Maya shot her a look. "You know me better than that." Cass sighed.

"I know, I'm sorry. I'm just tired. Sleepover at my house?" Maya brightened, and they made their way to Cass' parked car, and drove away into the night.

                    ~          ~           ~             ~

"He's gaining on us." Tucker's voice once again brought her back to the present. She peeked in the mirror. She cursed herself for taking such good care of that car as it rumbled along behind them, occasionally appearing through the cloud of dust.

"How well does this thing drive off-the-road? It's the only place we'll have the advantage." She answered, eyes scanning the thickening woods up ahead. Tucker shrugged.

"Not sure. Never took my plumbing van off-roading for some reason. Guess there's nothing else we can do." With no further warning, he yanked the wheel to the right and with a roar the van began to rumble and bounce through the brush.

"That man is crazy if he follows us." Cass muttered, but sure enough, her trusty brown Civic lumbered along behind them, only slightly slowed.

They dodged tree after tree, Tucker all-the-while wincing as more tools fell from their carefully-placed positions. Emmy no longer was staying calm in Cass' lap and started to whimper.

"Hey, hey, it's all right, sweetheart." Cass soothed, smoothing Emmy's golden hair and pulling her close.

"Hold on. There's a river ahead. I remember hiking to it from Ben's camp. The van will get through, but I doubt your four-cylinder rust bucket will make it." Tucker said through gritted teeth, flinching as a rather large bundle of screwdrivers rained down in the back of the van. Cass didn't even bother defending her beloved ride and just nodded, accepting his plan. The van creaked again as Tucker changed course. The Civic was now close enough for Cass to see the driver. She gasped.

"Aaron!" The memories from high school drifted to the front of her mind. Jimmy's right-hand man. The years had not been kind to him— his unruly beard was streaked with gray and his hands were riddled with scars.

"You know this guy?" Tucker exclaimed, dodging a large boulder. The leaves on the low-hanging branches skimmed the van's roof.

"He was a good friend of Emmy's father back in high school. Well, until Jed turned him in for possession of illegal weapons a few years later." Cass' heart beat even faster. If Aaron was after them, that must mean that Jimmy was behind the pursuit.

"Great. A jolly class reunion." Tucker grumbled, guiding the van up a slight incline. "The river's just ahead." They sped over the hill and down the other side. It took all of Cass' restraint not to scream.

It was not a slow, trickling river. It was a raging, turbulent monstrosity that spanned fifty feet across. White, frothy foam collected here and there on large rocks. It was not a river Cass would have attempted to swim in, let alone cross in a vehicle. She gulped, feeling doomed and filled with despair. This is where she and Emmy would meet their end.

"Hold on!" Tucker called, and sent them spraying straight into the frothy water. 

Cass screwed her eyes shut and clung to Emmy. The small child was now crying earnestly and clutching Cass' shirt. The van struggled on. 

It seemed like half of eternity had passed since they had entered the river. The van groaned and complained, but somehow maintained its forward motion. Finally, the front wheels bumped the shore on the other side. Just as suddenly as it had all started, it was over. Cass breathed a sigh of relief. Only when she opened her eyes did she see that she had been clutching Tucker's arm— the very arm he needed to get them to safety, but he hadn't instructed her to let go. Their eyes met, both still breathing heavily from the terror. 

Their temporary calm was interrupted by a splash. Cass immediately released Tucker's arm and they simultaneously whipped their heads around. The Civic was attempting to cross the river. 

"Go!" Cass yelled above the noise of the water, and Tucker did not hesitate to propel the van forward. But Cass had not yet turned back around when she called for Tucker to stop. 

The Civic was losing the battle. The once-clear engine sounds were now garbled with water, and all forward progression had ceased. The car began to turn parallel to the shore and got swept up in the raging currents. Slowly, it gathered speed and was soon barreling down the river. 

Cass gasped in horror. The sharp bend ahead in the river did not seem likely to carry the car along but would rather shoot it up onto the bank— where a monstrous oak tree proudly stood. Aaron was going to crash. 

The car, now traveling at break-neck speed, quickly ate up the short distance to the nearly-guaranteed death trap. Cass could do nothing but watch, and she covered Emmy's eyes. She was dimly aware of Tucker placing his had on hers as they waited those few awful seconds. 

Suddenly, movement occurred at the moon roof of the Civic. Aaron had somehow managed to get it open and was climbing onto the roof. 

"He'll never make it!" Cass cried, and now she did turn away. She couldn't watch. She covered Emmy's head with her arms. 

With a sickening crash, the Honda smashed into the tree. Aaron gave a mighty leap but his momentum sent him headfirst into the neighboring tree, and his lifeless body crumpled to the ground. 

Tucker swallowed. His hands shook. His heart threatened to leave his body. He removed his hand from Cass', slowly pressed the gas, and drove them to his friend Ben's cabin without a glance back at the awful scene behind them.