Sam's Fight For Freedom: The Sam Series, #2

~S.M. Donaldson~

Fight for Freedom

Sam’s Fight for Freedom

By:

S.M. Donaldson

For Bailey

Always do what you are afraid to do.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

Sam’s Fight for Freedom

Sam’s Fight for Freedom

S.M. Donaldson

Copyright2012 by S.M. Donaldson

ISBN-13: 978-1482034738

ISBN-10: 1482034735

This book is a work of fiction. Names, Characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead are entirely coincidental.

Prologue

Fall 2000

I stood there feeling cold and alone as the reality of the letter I’d just read flowed over me. I pooled in the floor like water looking at the letter, I couldn’t bear to pick it up again, I couldn’t even move. How could I be so paralyzed in fear from paper? I’d just fought literally for my life only a few months before. Still I sat there almost catatonic, I didn’t even realize how much time had passed until Chase walked in our room. He sat on the floor beside me, he tried to get me to tell him what was going on, I couldn’t, I couldn’t speak. I just motioned toward the letter on the floor. He picked up the note from the floor; his face turned a scarlet red before he put the letter down. He kissed my forehead and reached on the bedside table for the phone. I could hear him talking but, it was as if he was so far away.

S.J. its Chase… Well, I just got in and I don’t know how long she’s been sitting here but there is a letter from Cameron Jones in front of her. She won’t speak, she won’t move.….. Yes, it’s threatening.…Okay we’ll see you then.

He sat back down beside me, Sam honey look at me. I look up at him, he brushed my cheek. S.J. is flying in on the first flight he can get on. I fell into his chest and started sobbing for the first time since I’d opened the letter. Chase held me so tight and brushed my hair with his hand, It’s going to be alright baby, and he will not get to you. I opened my mouth to speak but couldn’t. Chase lifted me off the floor and took me to the shower. He carefully removed my clothes and helped me in the shower. He gently soaped my body and washed my hair. When we stepped out of the shower he helped me into my robe and walked me to the living room, I sat on the couch and he brought me a tumbler glass full of amber liquid.

For the first time I found my voice.

I thought I was done with all of this. I thought this was all in the past, I’m so stupid.

No baby, that asshole is the stupid one.

Did you say my father is on his way?

Yes, he’ll be here as soon as he can get on a plane.

That’s just crazy, he doesn’t need to come.

I don’t think you have the option, we are not letting you carry the burden alone again.

Chase pulled me to him and held me close for the rest of the evening; Just rest now honey. I didn’t even notice him carrying me to bed after I drifted off to sleep on the couch.

When I woke up the next morning, I could hear voices in my living room. I got up and realized I’d slept in my robe all night. I put on some pajama pants and a shirt and walked out to find my Dad, Chase, Katie and Rich talking on my couch. Katie jumped up off the couch and ran to me.

Oh Sam, I wish I would’ve stayed while you opened the letters, I hate that you were by yourself that long.

It wasn’t that long Katie. It’s okay.

No, sweetie I don’t think you realize how long it was before Chase found you.

I shake my head, I’m confused. What are you talking about?

Chase stands up and walks over to me and places his hands on both sides of my face.

Baby it was 7o’clock when I came in and you’d been sitting in your floor since you opened the mail we are guessing right after Katie brought it to you. Katie says she brought it to you around noon.

I shake my head, I sat there for seven hours?

Chase nods his head. My Dad stands up and walks over to me and wraps his arms around me in one of his bear hugs.

Dad when did you get here?

Well, I caught the red-eye out last night got to Memphis about eleven; Katie and Rich picked me up.

You didn’t have to come Dad.

Yes sweetie, I did. Threats from prison are just as serious as if he were standing right in front of you. You know just as well as I do people carry out threats from prison everyday.

Yeah but what do I do about it?

Well, I’ve looked at the letter and I’m making some calls, a threat is still a threat even from prison and it is punishable. It will probably add a few years to his sentence. I don’t understand how he got the letter out to you, his mail is supposed to be monitored, but it will be now for sure.

Chapter1

Fall 2006

Beep beep beep beep beep! God have I ever told you how much I hate alarm clocks. I sit up in bed ready to throw the alarm clock through the wall, and then I remember Chase will be home tonight. I suddenly smile and have a little hop to my step walking down the stairs to fix myself a cup of coffee. My Doberman pincher runs up to me, down Top down. I get him a treat while I’m fixing my morning coffee. I lean down and pet him, do you need to go out Top? I open the backdoor for Top to run in the backyard and take care of his business. I fix some toast and think about the evening I’ll get to have tonight. I haven’t actually touched Chase in three months. I hear Top wanting in the backdoor, good boy here’s a treat; Chase will be home tonight yes he will. I rub his face and ears. Now go lay down. With that Top scampers off to his bed by the fireplace. I look in the fridge to make sure I have everything for dinner tonight. I turn on the local news, so many places around here are still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, and last year storms ripped up several places on the gulf coast. Ugh this is depressing I can’t watch, I turn it back off and go upstairs to get ready for work.

I’m standing in my walk-in closet looking for what I’ll wear today…. Hmm I guess this orange blouse and tan slacks. Now shoes…damn it… I looked up at the top shelf. I grab my step stool from the bath room. I reach up to grab my brown chunky heeled dress shoes and a small box falls hitting me on the head. I pick the box up and the papers that fell out of it. Shit out of all the crap that had to fall on me today literally. It was the news clippings and reports from my attack freshman year, looking back this seems like it was light years ago. I haven’t had to think about that young girl in a long time and here she comes around again. I shake my head and stuff the papers in the box and shove it in the back of the closet and finish getting ready for work.

I go by the bookstore and check on things there. Mary did the new order of books come in along with the colligate items we ordered?

Yes, do you wanna look at them?

No, I was just making sure that all of that will be in for this week. Thank you for watching over the store for the next week so Chase and I can spend time together. My Dad and Step-Mom are coming in too so that works out great

Oh sweetie it’s not a problem.

Oh did the new coffees come in?

Yes Sam stop worrying, leave it to me, if I need you I know where I can find you. She shoves a fresh cup of my favorite coffee in my hand. Now get to your other job, before you’re late.

Okay well, I’ll probably stop back by this afternoon.

She shakes her head, I’m sure you will.

This work day seems to be taking forever. I think I’ve whistled and smiled through most of the day. I can’t seem to fight it, I feel like I’m sixteen. There is an aching between my thighs that I can’t ignore. I know Chase is coming home tonight, from his latest overseas adventure. I went to the spa yesterday to be pampered and waxed. I get a little giddy every time, this is silly; he’s been taking these trips now for three years. But still I sit here imagining his touch as soon as he walks through our door; I can almost feel his lips on mine.

My obsessive daydreaming is interrupted by my office phone ringing,

This is Professor Cates.

Well this is Dr. Foster, soon to be Davis

I giggle, You kill me Katie, and you are such a dork.

What I can’t be a little excited?

Of course you can, what’s up?

Well, I know Chase is coming in tonight and I’m sure you have several rounds in the bedroom planned for him, but I was going to see if we could all plan for dinner tomorrow night.

Sure, I’m sure he’s dying to see you and Rich.

Well, Rich has some big news that he wants to share and it took all I could do to talk him out of trying to get Chase tonight.

…Okay, well if it’s Rich’s big news at least I know you’re not pregnant…but he’d have a hard time getting Chase’s attention tonight.

I’m sure that’s what I told him, so tomorrow night say six at the Japanese place?

Yes sure.

Oh and Sam take it easy on Chase tonight don’t wound him, I know you went to the spa yesterday to prepare you fiend.

Shut up bitch, you’d be the same way. Now I’ve got one more class to teach before I call it a day and head home, so I’ll say farewell until tomorrow.

Bye crazy girl.

I walk into the classroom full of mostly freshmen in my creative writing class. Okay everyone we have a week break after today, but I have one assignment for you. I hear the groans from the classroom.

Come on Professor Cates it’s the big rival weekend and Thanksgiving

Yes Mr. Jacobs I understand that, if you remember all of my degrees come from here, so I do know the big game is the weekend after Thanksgiving.

So can’t you just give us the time off?

I’m sorry I can’t but, sit back I think you’ll like this assignment, you get to use a lot of imagination. I step to my dry erase board and begin to write words, Murder, Drugs, Blood Money, Hiding, Extortion, Cops, Family.

Okay I want you to look at the words I’ve written, I want you to write a short story. One that includes all of these elements, you can be the bad guy, you can be the good guy, I don’t care let your creativity run wild. Hands shoot up all over the room.

Put your hands down, I’ll explain. This assignment came to me earlier today while I was getting ready. My father was in law enforcement for many years, I came here to try and leave the cop’s kid life behind, and well it followed me here. My freshmen year I dealt with all of these things, now it’s your turn write how you would feel, if these situations slapped you in the face. I want you to create a story, a villain, a hero, whatever and however, this is called Creative Writing, so get creative. Now as my Thanksgiving gift, you’re dismissed.

I gather up my brief case as the students file out of my room. As I walk into my office to shut down my computer and get ready to lock it up for the week, I sense someone behind me. I turn around, Ms. Jackson can I help you?

Professor Cates, you really went through all of those things your first year here?

Yes I did…

I would like to interview you sometime for the school paper, let you tell your story.

Well, I don’t generally give interviews, why would you want to write a story on this?

I just wonder as a freshman what I would do.

Well, I’m giving you your opportunity to figure that out, write your paper.

You really won’t give me the interview?

It’s not something I like to go into detail about, I don’t particularly like to think on it that much, but I will consider it once I read your paper.

A smile came across her face, Okay, I’ll do my best.

I expect you will.

With that I turn off the lights and lock my office door and head down to my car. As I crawl into the drivers seat of my Toyota FJ Land Cruiser and I buckle my seat belt I thought back about that Thanksgiving break in 1999, wow so much has changed. I smile thinking about Chase being home soon, and the week ahead of us. My Dad and Sheila are flying in, we are going out to the farm, for Thanksgiving and so the guys can hunt. That young girl from back then wouldn’t know anything about all of this family excitement; she’d never had that until she came here.

Oop that’s my Dad’s ring tone…Bad Boys. Hey Dad

Hey my favorite daughter.

That makes me feel great since I’m your only daughter.

Hey, well I was just letting you know everything is still a go for us flying in on Monday.

"Yes Dad, Chase and I will be at the airport to pick you guys up and we are