Chasing Anne

Gunpoint

Mark ducked and pulled Anne down with him as the gun fired. But the shot didn't miss. Searing pain exploded into Mark's back and with a sharp cry, he crashed to the ground, pain racketing his body. Anne screamed and dropped down beside him, rolling him off of his stomach and onto his side. Mark groaned and reached behind himself, trying to feel for the wound. When his fingers touched his warm blood, he knew that the wound was bad. His arm dropped to the ground as his energy was sapped out of him. The pain was too much to bear and there was nothing that he could do about it.

Raymond signaled two men from behind him and pointed to Anne, saying nothing. Anne jumped back, not wanting to leave Mark and definitely not wanting to go with Raymond. She backed up until her feet came to the edge of the precipice and there, she was forced to stop. She looked down over the edge of the cliff and then back at the two men advancing toward her. Mark was trying to struggle to his feet, but the pain he felt made it impossible. He collapsed on the ground, letting out an agonized cry. Anne ran toward him, not caring what would happen. She shoved one of the two men away and dropped down at Mark's side. Stroking his cheek, she wiped away the dirt that had caked onto his sweaty face.

"No," she whispered.

Another gunshot sounded, and this time, it hit Anne's leg. She jerked back as pain burst into the back of her calf. Raymond lowered his gun and smiled.

"Bring her in," he ordered. Anne felt her hands being raised over her head and her body being dragged away from her fallen friend, but she could do nothing and then remembered no more.

Mark slowly came back to consciousness. His eyes remained closed, but he knew exactly where he was. The hospital. He could recognize the smell of the building from anywhere. As he opened his eyes, he quickly realized that he way lying on his stomach and at first, he couldn't understand why. But when he tried to move, he quickly figured out why. His back burned. He tried to think of what he'd done to injure himself and then everything rushed back into his head. The gun, Raymond, Anne, the horses, his attempted proposal, dancing...everything. A nurse came in and he could hear her footfalls on the concrete floor.

"You're awake," she said softly, touching his shoulder.

"Where am I?" he asked, his voice shaking.

"You're in the hospital. You were shot."

"Was there a girl brought in with me?"

"A girl?" the nurse asked.

"Yes, a young woman about the age of twenty four?"

"No, there was only another young man by the name of David."

"Was he shot?"

The nurse hesitated. "Yes, is he a friend of yours?"

"I know his father. We were at his ranch. Is he okay?"

"He's in ICU. Wait about a day and we'll know more. But this girl you speak of, what's her name?"

"Anne. Anne McCourtney. She'd from Eden Prairie Minnesota. She has blonde hair, blue eyes and weighs about a hundred and twenty-three pounds. Have you seen anyone that looks like that?"

"No, but the police are looking for her. There's another young woman by the name of Brianna in the waiting room. Would you like to see her?"

"Yes, she's my sister. Could I see her?"

"You may, but try to relax, okay?"

"Okay, but first, can you roll me onto my back?"

The nurse again hesitated. "I'd rather not. Your wound isn't bad, but I think it'd be better if you stay on your stomach, okay?"