Ella & Vlad at the end

#15 - what was that

With time to kill Ella trekked west of the city to a conservation park. While cleaning up paws and muzzle from a tasty meal of fresh raccoon, her hearing detects a distant shot.

Ears turning to locate the sound she hears a definite distant shot further west.

No other shot heard Ella figures someone hunting and resumes cleaning. Wonder how far away that was? She glances towards the farm and back to where the sound came from. Definitely not from or around the farm. Vlad should be sleeping by now and wouldn't even have heard that. Hope he answered me. Maybe tonight go back and see if I can get help from Miles.

Recalling Miles hand around hers Ella views her paw envisioning her hand, Miles - Kremer, seems like an interesting man, for any time. Recalling a past lover's touch pictures Miles caressing her.

From the west she hears another boom draws her senses towards the noise, noting its' not the same place or sound as the shots previously heard.

A third sharper bang urges her to sit up focusing that way. Marauders. Her mind picture's some modern age, highwaymen chasing down and killing others on the roadways.

Hours until nightfall Ella decides to investigate hoping to make it back for her clothes before then.

***

Racing along the bumpy dirt road in the green Land Rover Filomena spies the red transport truck lying on its side in the ditch. Seeming like there's a fire to her the dust is still settling, "oh my god, Vlad!"

Wanting to stop before passing the wreck Filomena applies heavy pressure to the brakes. Braking hard causes the SUV to skid towards the ditch and truck. Releasing the brake peddle while spinning the steering wheel the other way Fil slides the Rover for the opposite ditch. Turning the steering wheel back Fil closes her eyes tight and stomps on the brakes. Spinning the SUV one hundred eight degrees back around sliding into the ditch, skidding to a halt just past the truck's long trailer.

Watching the chaotic driving Vlad took for cover behind the trailer's top. Seeing the Land Rover stop in a second dusty cloud Vlad figures more kids and rushes over drawing the revolver.

Grabbing the driver's door handle of the Land Rover Vlad jerk's hard on it but the door is locked.

Seeing the dark eyed driver he figures just kill them anyway Vlad draws the guns' hammer back while aiming at the driver.

With foot still locked on the brake and hands gripped tightly on the steering wheel Filomena begins to open her baby blue eyes. Thankfully upright and intact she realizes a gun is being pointed at her. Cringing she turns to see who is about to shoot her, "Vlad?"

Putting finger to trigger glimpses her blue eyes preventing him from squeezing, "Filomena?" Realizing she's in the Rover from the garage he turns the gun barrel from her while safely releasing the hammer, "Oh sorry. Your pretty blue eyes saved you there. In the heat of things just thought you were more of them and your poor eyes are all dark from the late night."

Shakily she looks into the mirror and sees it, "oh thanks. I was so worried for you, I had to come chase after you." Calming, she takes her foot off the brake causing the Rover to roll forward.

"Whoa Fil! Brakes or put'er in park!" Vladimir hops backwards a pace.

She grinds the SUV into park. "Oops sorry. All worked up here. I'm not use to all the shooting and car chase stuff. Think I prefer it on TV."

She goes to unlock the door but opens the window, "oh my - I'm so frazzled I don't even know what I'm doing here."

Pointing at the door Vladimir softly suggests. "Just pull the handle it should unlock. But if you unlock the doors I'll hop in the passenger seat and we can get out of here before anyone else comes."