Four Travilers. Chapter One The Man In The Woods.

                                Chapter one. The man in the woods.

Tall trees surround the winding road through MT. Elbert. In the Rockies. It  was a little past nine at night, as a  class B, RV went through.

In the RV driving, sat a woman about twenty five of age. Her long blond hair was pulled back in a low pony tail. She was wearing a brown sweater and dark blue jeans.

The rv park that the woman wanted was still about half an hour drive. The woman, Alice Blake, glanced at the short blonde haired woman, sitting by her .

The seconded woman, Bella Tanner, Alice’s sister. Was looking out the window, watching the scenery go by. Just like she had been doing for the last two hours. She was wearing a fancy purple shirt and black pants.

Shaking her head, Alice glanced in the rearview mirror. In the back of the RV was Alice’s other two sisters. Casey Tanner and Donna Tanner the youngest .Both girls were reading books, and not noticing anything.

Casey was wearing all black, while Donna was wearing  tie- dyed. All three girls were blonde, with green eyes.

Alice sighed deeply. Her trip was not going as planned. This trip was supposed be a bonding thing. The girls had been best friends growing up, but between jobs, relationships and family, they had drifted apart.

This cross country trip to Maine, for a family reunion, was going to be a way for the girls to take a break from all that stuff.

Alice looked back at the road, just in time to see a man step in front of the RV. Alice slammed on the brakes, sending her three sister forwards.

“What on earth was that for?” Casey asked sitting up.

“Alice hit a man!” Bella stated matter a factly.

The four girls piled out of the RV, just as the man pulled himself up from the  ground, using the bumper.

“I’m so sorry!” Alice said taking his arm and supporting him, while Casey supported him on the other side. “I didn’t see you.”

He just groaned.

“My word!” Donna said “He's bleeding.”

“You made him bleed?” Bella asked looking at Alice.

Alice looked at the man, and sure  enough, blood was coming out of his left shoulder.

“Set him down.” Alice ordered Casey.

“Why?” Casey asked as she helped set the man down. As they did he groaned loudly.

“Because he's bleeding, duh.” Bella said  matter-of-factly.

“He’s been shot.” Alice ordered. “Donna! get me some of the worst towels we’ve got.”

Donna ran back to the RV. “How do you know that he’s been shot?” Bella asked, as Donna came back with towels.

Alice pressed one of the towels to the man's shoulder. “I was a cop, remember, I've seen a lot of gunshot wounds. I've had some myself ”  

“Not to  mention that her husband's a cop also.” Casey added.

The man began to mumble something, Alice leaned forward but she couldn’t hear what he was saying.

“Someone call for help.” Alice said looking up. Trying not to sound scared or panicked. “The bullet went through and through.” she said half to herself.

“I just tried” Donna said stuffing her phone in her coat pocket “There wasn’t a signal.”

“No signal!” Bella, almost shouted.

“Now what?” Donna asked looking down at her two older sisters and the man.

Alice looked up at Bella and Donna, both girls were pale and looked worried. Not that Bella would ever admit it.

“Bella can you drive the RV?” Alice turned and asked her sister.

“Of course!” Bella said haughtily “My fiancé made it.”

“You drive then.”  Alice looked at her other two sisters. “Donna go get the door. Casey, help me get him in the side. We’ll take him to the gas station we passed.” Why not the rv park half an hour ahead? There should be a manager and phones, etc

“That was hour's drive from here.” Bella stated, then paused before almost shouting. “We can’t take him with us!”

“Why not?” Alice asked, looking confused at her sister.

“He’s a stranger.” Bella said “He could be a serial killer, for all we know.”

“I’m not a serial killer.” The man said through gritted teeth. “I think.”

“You think?” Bella questioned “See, we can’t take him with us!”

“We are not leaving him here.” Alice stated.

“I agree with Bella.” Casey said “We can’t take him with us.”

“What is wrong with you!” Alice almost shouted. “He’ll die, if we leave him out here.”

“But he might kill us.” Bella replied.

“He’s been shot.” Alice stated “He couldn't do anything, even if he wanted to!”

“I might not like the idea.” Donna interrupted “But I agree with Alice. We can’t leave him out here to die.”

“Of course you would agree.” Bella jeered.

“What does that mean?” Donna shot back at Bella.

“KNOCK IT OFF!” Alice shouted, then in a quieter voice she said. “I know that this is not working the way we wanted it to. But we have to work together, as a team, like we use to do.”

The three girls went quite. Taking a deep breath, Alice said in her calm mother-like voice. “Let's get this man some help. Okay?”

The three girls nodded their heads. Bella got in the driver’s seat of the rv and started the engine. Donna ran to the door and held it open for Casey, Alice and the man.

Inside the RV, the girls set the man down on the couch. Donna went up to the passenger seat with Bella .

Alice sat by the man. Casey opened a cupboard and brought out their first aid kit, and handed it to Alice, she started work on the man. They also wrapped a blanket around him.

Bella turned around the RV, and started down the road. Alice tried her best to stop the bleeding. Easier said than done.

“Is this a best friend road trip?” the man asked. Alice knew he was trying to focus on something other than  his shoulder.

Now that they were in the rv with better light, Alice could tell the man wasn’t much older then herself. He had black hair, and brown eyes. Under the tan trench coat he was wearing a suit, with a tie.

Smiling a little Alice answered “Something like that. We’re sisters.” pointing at herself she continued “I’m Alice. What’s your name?”

The man opened his mouth to answer, but stopped with a puzzled face. He thought for a second then answered. “I think it’s Wess.”

“You THINK it’s Wess?” Bella repeated, glancing in the rear view mirror “How are you not sure of your name?”

“Uhhhhhh……” The Man thought for a second “I don’t know. I don’t seem to remember much.”

“Great. Amnesia.” Casey muttered.

“Do you remember what you were doing in the forest?” Alice asked Wess. He shook his head. “How bout who shot you?”

“I’m sorry. I don’t remember.” Wess said slowly.

“Do you remember anything?” Casey asked hesitantly.

Wess thought for a moment. Shaking his head he said mournfully “ No.”

As they drove, a still quite settled in the Motor home. None of the girls had a response to, well everything. Wess dozed on and off, as Alice tried to keep him comfortable, and alive.

To be continued.