Heather Huffman - Jailbird

Jailbird

by:

Heather Huffman

Smashwords Edition

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Jailbird

Copyright 2010 Heather Bodendieck

Cover Image Copyright 2010 HeatherBodendieck

All rights reserved. Without limiting therights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publicationmay be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system,or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic,mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without theprior written permission of both the copyright owner and the abovepublisher of this book.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters,places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of theauthor's imagination or are used fictitiously. The authoracknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of variousproducts referenced in this work of fiction, which have been usedwithout permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is notauthorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademarkowners.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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To my husband, Adam, and our three amazingboys: Dylan, Blake & Christopher. You bring sunshine to myworld and I couldnt ask for better partners in adventure.

I love you all so very much!

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Part One: Rebirth

Chapter One

Of all the things I dreamed of being when Igrew up, a convicted felon certainly wasnt one of them. When mybrother told me scary stories around the campfire, it neveroccurred to me that one day my biggest fears would involve beingsent to the Holeor worsebeing found alone by the Chicas.

But even those fears faded as I found myselfout in the hot, sticky night sprinting across the prison lawn.Bullets sailed past me; one even nicked my ear. I could hear dogsbarking behind me. The shouting seemed to never stop. Guards calledto each other. Inmates cheered me on. I didnt know where I washeaded, really. The prison sat on a 225-acre compound and I had noidea what lay beyond its gates. This part of the state wasnt asfamiliar to me as the bayou I called home.

There were times when I thought that nightwould never end. I managed to throw the dogs off my trail bycutting north in a nearby stream. It didnt slow them down long,but stuffing pieces of my clothes into nooks and crannies bought memore time. Only problem with that it didnt take too long beforeI was streaking through the night in my skivvies.

I came skidding to a halt in front of theswamp. Like something from a bad dream, murky water loomed beforeme. Spanish moss hung from low-lying tree limbs over a black abyssthat was most assuredly home to a gator or two. At the far end ofthe water was a fencea fence that probably had a gap at thebottom.

The baying of the dogs was growing louder. Ididnt have long before Id be cornered again. But with a fireburning in my lungs, I had to rest. The pounding in my brain madeit impossible to think. I stood stock still and waited for mybreathing to return to normal while I considered my options.

If I tried to make it to the fence, I wouldvery likely diepainfully. Inside me stirred the knowledge that ifI stayed I would die just as painfully, only that death would be invery slow increments. There was something to be said for swiftrelease. And for hope.

To my right, a deer appeared from the forest,dipping its graceful head to the waters edge. A creature arosefrom the abyss and pulled the deer into the dark with a crack and asplash. The water seemed to boil with the churning as the gatorrolled the hapless doe. A sane person might have taken that as acue to step away from the waters edge.

I took it as my only chance and dove cleanlyinto the black.

I was too scared to try to see mysurroundings, and it would have been too dark anyway. With my eyessqueezed tight, I swam straight and true towards the fencenotwanting to think about what would happen if I got myself turnedaround. I just kept swimming, expecting to feel the searing pain ofgator teeth on my leg at any instant.

Instead, I felt links of metal at myfingertips after what seemed like a timeless eternity. I grabbedthe fence and pulled my way to the bottom, my lungs screaming forair as I struggled to shimmy through the opening I had found.

And then I was on the other side. With astrong kick, I bulleted to the surface, allowing only my mouth tobreak the water as I gulped in the air. I slowly lifted my head,the commotion on the other side reaching my ears even below water.The guards thought I was the hapless creature being thrashed in thewater.

I wasnt about to stick around to see howmany other gators this watering hole housed. The shore was closenow. With another deep breath, I went back under and swam towardsthe stump of a nearby Cypress tree, pulling myself up quietly.

I hugged the stump close, welcoming the itchybark and waiting for the men on the other side to get boredwatching my demise. One of my mamas stories floated through mymind as I clung to that treeDaniel in the lions den. If guardianangels were assigned to people like me, I was pretty sure mine hadbeen on her toes tonight.

I hugged the tree for so long I might haveeven dozed off. I tried to stay alert, knowing that as soon as thelittle party broke up, I would need to get as far away as I could.The stale water dripping from me seemed to be masking my scent fromthe dogs, but I wasnt too keen on finding out how long my luckwould hold in that regard.

When I was finally alone, I left the safetyof the tree and began to walk. My legs were wobbly now that theadrenaline was starting to ebb from my body. The reality of whatId done was struggling to set in; I did my best to thrust itaway.

Despite the muggy night, I felt chilled tothe bone. I pushed forward until my legs could move no more.Eventually I found a hunters tree stand that offered someprotection for me to rest, and I fell asleep as the first rays ofdawn crept across the sky.

I woke up again when the sun was high,covered in sweat with an aching throat. I stiffly sat up, leaningagainst the wooden wall to ponder my next move. The sunbeamsslicing through the tree canopy reflected off a piece of metal inthe far corner of the stand. It was a small pocketknife, not unlikethe one my brother had cherished as a child. It felt a whole lotlike stealing, but I grabbed the prize anyway. I was sure thislittle knife would come in handy.

A quick peek over the wall assured me I wasstill alone in the forest. Sitting in a tree stand wasnt going toaccomplish much, so I reluctantly climbed down and began lookingfor tree moss. Besides my black hair and eyes, my Coushatta fatherhad given me the ability to track. I might not know where I wasexactly but figured if I headed north it would eventually lead meout of Louisiana and away from the Dixon CorrectionalInstitute.

Just when I thought I would surely diewithout a drink, I heard water in the distance. I followed my earsand was rewarded with a cool stream where I drank my fill and didmy best to wash myself off. What I would have given for a showerand some clean clothes at that moment. For that matter, food wouldhave been pretty welcome, too.

I came across a homestead and stole a t-shirtand a pair of sweat shorts off the line. I felt bad, but desperateis as desperate does. The clothes hung off of my slight frame, butat least I was no longer wandering around in my bra andpanties.

By the time I crossed the Arkansas stateline, Id lost count of the sunsets and still had managed to avoidcontact with another human being. My pocket knife had come inpretty handy. Id used it to cut my hair, dig up roots for dinner,and skin a fish Id been lucky enough to catch.