For Better or Worse

“I’m the one who called,” she said. “The man was at the house when I left, but his truck wasn’t there. Lori’s car is at that house.” She pointed. “I don’t know if he drove it or why he would have it.”

“Are you alright?”

“Yes we’re okay. I was going to the convenience store where other people are.”

“Good idea. I’ll send someone there.”

As she started out again, he was radioing in for additional help. Someone must have already been on the way because she passed two more patrol cars and found a third waiting for her at the store. An ambulance screamed by a few minutes later.

Later she discovered that Alice had made the call when she went to investigate why Lori’s car was there. She found Lori in the barn, raped and beaten, but still alive. They caught the man running through the buffalo pasture, with Brutus barking and nipping at his heels. Apparently he found the idea of jail less frightening than the huge dog.

They stayed with Bill and Katie that night, sleeping on pallets on the floor. It was uncomfortable, but safe. Carmen dreamed all night about being chased by a dog with red hair.

Early the next morning after taking Jonathan to school, she went back to the house and took care of the animals. Apparently the man had never entered the house and no damage was done. It was still eerie walking around the place alone, knowing he had been there.

That night she went to bed exhausted, but sleep eluded her. Like the reverse of a doll, when she lay down, her eyelids popped open. With her body no longer active and demanding attention, her mind was free to wonder. What if Alex never woke up? Would she spend the rest of her life traveling back and forth from a hospital or nursing home? “For better or worse” suddenly wasn’t so romantic. Alex might be alive in body, but he was no longer the man she had married. He was alive, but even that didn’t sound promising. There were, it seemed, worse things than death.

She rolled over and hugged his pillow. It was too soon to give up hope. The doctor said there was no reason for him to remain in a coma and he might wake up any day.