Samantha's Talent (39 page)

Elaine laughed. "Having our home bugged isn't exciting?"

Samantha smiled at her mother, forced to see the humor in her remark. "Well, yeah, but that wasn't what I was talking about."

"What about Ray? Will it bother you leaving him?"

"I don't think so."

"Are you having some problems with him?"

"Not really problems. It's just... well, he's so dull. He doesn't seem to like but two things. Me and horses."

Elaine had to bite her tongue to keep from laughing. "But you don't feel the same way, do you?"

"No ma'am. I like him okay but not... not like a big romance or anything. The thing is, he's actually pretty smart but he doesn't seem to want to accomplish anything with his intelligence. There's something else I guess you should know about him. He can talk to animals, too. Horses and dogs, anyway. He's not very good at it though, and he's never even thought about talking to any other animal besides his horses." She grimaced. "I think he likes them more than he does me, sometimes.

"You said something about a dog so I assume he talked to Shufus?"

The dog thumped his tail against the floor at the mention of his name and Samantha and her mother both smiled at him.

"Yes, ma'am. It was kind of superficial though. I guess I encouraged him, too, and I'm thinking now that I shouldn't have."

"Why is that, Sammie?"

"I'm afraid he's not going to take it very well when I tell him I don't want to be his girlfriend. Of course I guess that doesn't matter since we're leaving anyway. I know he likes me a whole lot, but I just don't feel the same way about him. I'll hate to hurt his feelings even if I have to email him to tell him."

"Well, you certainly can't force an emotion to be there when it isn't. It really is too bad, though, when you finally found someone who has at least some of your talent, but then find you don't care that much for him."

"It's... ironic, huh?"

"Your word for the day?"

"Yes, ma'am."

"Well, it certainly fits, but the universe never plays favorites. You just have to do the best you can with what it deals you. Is there anything else about him you think your father and I should know?"

She looked away for a moment then decided it would be best to go ahead and confess. "I told him I could talk to animals when he told me he talked to his horses. After I'd done it I realized I shouldn't have."

"You think he'll tell on you?"

"I don't know, Mom. I doubt it. I just got to thinking I shouldn't have because I... he's going to be mad when I tell him I just like him for a friend and nothing else." She laughed sardonically. "Honest, I think I'm the first girl he ever kissed. Besides, suppose someone has bugged their house? Or he searches for me on the internet? Maybe that would cause some of those idiots that were bothering us in Lufkin to start on him. Or suppose he gets upset after we're gone and starts telling everyone?"

"I really doubt it will matter, Sammie. Your dad and I have pretty well decided to leave here with Jennie and Gene and see what they have in store for us. We've decided it's simply too dangerous to continue living here."

"I agree, Mom. Do you think the people that bugged us will pick on Ray after we're gone? I'd hate to think it was me that put him in danger."

"Sammie, please don't worry about that. Those people aren't dummies. They almost certainly know all about him already, the same as they do you."

"Yes, but if they don't, I may have led them to him."

"Don't worry about it so much, Sammie. If that's the worst mistake you ever make you'll be way ahead of the rest of the human race. Believe me!"

"I still shouldn't have said anything." Her face twisted up and she felt as if she was choking on something too big to swallow. She was barely able to hold back a burst of tears.

Elaine noticed. She put her arm around her shoulders and drew her close.

She did begin crying then. "Sometimes I wish I had never been born with that... that talent. It's caused nothing but trouble." She got the words out between a series of sobs.

"Sammie, please don't say that."

"Why not? It's true isn't it?" She drew away from her mother. "You know it is. You've said so often enough."

"I know, and I'm sorry I did. I was wrong to ever say anything like that."

"Why not, when you were right? It's just trouble. You and Dad had to move twice on account of me and now we're having to move again." She realized she had raised her voice while she was crying and turned away from her mother, ashamed.

"Sammie, it's alright."

"No, it's not!" she said, her voice loud again, practically a shout.

"It is, and I'll tell you why. What if Shufus was just a dog and not a friend? Think what you'd have missed. Did you know that me and your father envy you being able to have an animal like Shufus as a friend, a friend who would die for you if he had to? Think about all the animals you've helped Dr. Summers and Whit cure when no one else could have? Think of Betty's poor little Tuffy. He would have had to be put down if not for you. And remember how you saved all those little first and second graders from the rabid wolverine? No one else in the world but you could have done that. You should be glad you have such a wonderful talent. Your Dad and I are, regardless of any problems it might have caused."

Samantha was silent but she couldn't help listening and gradually realized her mother was right for the reasons she listed, but that didn't cover it all. "But why me, Mom? Why was I born with this talent and no one else?"

"Honey, why was Einstein born with a mathematical talent so great that he turned the whole world of physics upside down? Why was Steve Jobs born with a talent that put computers into almost every home and smart phones into almost every hand? Why are great musicians born with their talent but you aren't? Just about everyone has some innate aptitude or ability that they're better at than others are. We don't know why or how these things happen to individuals. Genetics explains some of it but you've already learned enough to realize that's only part of the picture and in many cases the minor part. You know you're born with certain genes but there are so many factors that determine how they're expressed that we may never sort it all out. Just be grateful you can communicate with our lesser endowed cousins, and do your utmost to develop your talent to the best of your ability. There's no telling where it will lead, but I can pretty well assure you that it will be in directions even you haven't thought of yet."

Samantha wiped her eyes while she thought about what her mother had said. Finally, her tear-streaked face broke into a smile. "You're right, Mom. I guess I was just feeling sorry for myself. I'll try to do better."

"You're doing fine, baby. Now why don't you put on another pot of coffee? I didn't get a chance to tell you, but your Dad just got a call. Jennie and Gene are on their way and we need to finish packing. Put everything you'll need for a few months in a couple of suitcases. And don't you worry about how your talent affects us. It won't be but just a few years until you'll be out in the world earning a living, and we'll just be the old folks." She grinned and Samantha returned it.

She hugged her mother and went to get the coffee started and began thinking about what all she needed to take with her on the trip.

Miles away, Ray Zimmerman and his father had finished breakfast and were outside getting ready for the day's work. Mr. Zimmerman was at the corral while Ray had just finished saddling Thunder. The saddle was a gift from his father for his seventeenth birthday. It pleased him immensely for the thought his father had put into the gift. Usually he simply gave him a little extra money and told him to get what he wanted but this time he had gone much further than that. Knowing he usually rode Thunder bareback, the saddle was specially made of light, pliable leather with a saddlebag on each side, the one thing he really missed when on Thunder. The straps holding it on the horse were also specially made so that they didn't interfere with Thunder's breathing or running or any other activity.

The sound of a vehicle drew his attention to the road leading into the ranch house. Visitors other than Samantha were a rarity, one the elder Zimmerman didn't appreciate.

"Go see who they are and whatever they're selling, tell them we don't want any," he told his son.

Ray walked toward the SUV rather than mounting and riding but Thunder followed along behind him.

A swarthy looking man with a stubble of a beard looked at him from the passenger's seat. A similarly bearded man was driving.

"Can I help you?" he asked politely.

"Yes. Act like you normally would and lead us to the old man."

A handgun was suddenly being pointed at his face. The bearded man pushed open the door and, being careful to keep his distance, told Ray to turn around and start walking. Before he obeyed he caught a glimpse of a number of other men in the back of the vehicle. The driver also got out and followed him as he made his way toward his father, going as slowly as he could and trying to think of something to do to thwart the men. The man who had been driving also held a handgun. Both of them kept their weapons to their sides and slightly behind them, out of sight of Mr. Zimmerman. He was taken equally by surprise, just as Ray had been.

"What the fuck do you want?" he asked gruffly. "We ain't got no money."

"Shut up and get to the house. Now, or I'll kill you right here! You too, boy."

There was nothing either of them could do. They were forced inside and seated at gunpoint. Both their phones were confiscated and crushed underfoot. While one held a gun on them the other ran through the house and collected Ray's tablet and laptop computer. Those, too were hammered into uselessness. Only then did their attention turn back to Ray and his father.

"Who are you people?" Mr. Zimmerman asked. He was curious despite being scared, more for Ray than himself. Both had accents he couldn't place.

"We're your worst enemies if you don't tell us exactly what we want to know. The first thing, how well do you talk to other animals besides horses, boy?"

"I talk to all animals the same way, horses or otherwise. They're all just dumb animals," Ray said sullenly.

"Don't lie to us, boy. We know what your girlfriend can do. You've seen her often enough that we think you can do the same thing."

"We don't know what you're talking about. Take whatever you want and go," Mr. Zimmerman said.

The man standing behind him aimed carefully and shot him in the hand. It blew a hole through it and spit blood and bits of bone across the room. Zimmerman cried out but then set his lips grimly and tried to ignore the pain.

"She can talk to animals. Ray can't," he said through gritted teeth.

"She can't either, Dad. She's no better than me."

"Do you want me to cripple his other hand? He'll never work with horses again if I do. For the last time, boy, how much of what the girl does can you do? You may as well tell us because we're going for her next."

"I don't know, honestly," Ray said. "No, no, don't shoot Dad again! I'm telling the truth! I can talk to horses and dogs but I've never even tried to see if I could do it with other animals."

The men looked at each other. Neither noticed that Zimmerman had been holding his good hand in a cupped fashion right below the mangled one, as if he was trying to stop the bleeding. Instead he was concealing the fact that the steady blood flow quickly filled his cupped palm and fingers. When their eyes left him he stood up.

The man who had been questioning him turned, ready to shoot again but before he could react a handful of blood was flung directly into his eyes, effectively blinding him. The other intruder began a movement to get around his companion but Ray's reactions were young and swift. His muscled arm swung his fist from the hip with all his strength, a blurring arc accelerated by his shoulder muscles. The blow terminated with an awful sound of crushing bones. Some were from Ray's broken knuckles but most were from temple area of the man's skull. Ray's blow caved it in so badly that he would probably never regain consciousness, if he lived at all.

Zimmerman could use only one hand but he grabbed the blinded man's gun hand in a hard, powerful grip that kept the cylinder of the revolver from turning when he tried to shoot. "Hit this bastard, Ray!" his father shouted.

Ray picked up a heavy, solid glass paperweight. He ignored the pain in his hand and swung it as hard as he could at the man's head. It broke his jaw and caused him to release his hold on his gun. Zimmerman promptly confiscated it and used it to finish Ray's work by hitting him solidly on the head with it.

"Are there any more people in that SUV, Ray?"

"Yeah, Dad, three or four at least. I caught a glimpse of that many."At that moment they heard the sound of voices outside speaking in a foreign language. "Shit," Zimmerman said. "They'll be here in a few seconds, Ray. I can't use my other hand. Undo my key ring, quick and give it to me. I'm gonna run to the back room and lock myself in." The very back room of the house was slightly offset and solidly built for use as a tornado shelter and storage room. It was also where the gun cabinet was kept.

"But--"

"No time to argue, not if you want to save your girlfriend. I can stand them off a long time, at least until you can get to their place and phone for some help. Do as I say now, quickly." While Ray was following his father's orders the old man continued speaking. "I can hold out here for a long time. You go out the back way and whistle for Thunder. When he comes, you cut across country toward Samantha's place so they can't follow. You'll cross the county road but don't stop unless a vehicle is near. You'll see a dust trail if one is. Otherwise keep on and don't stop for anything. It'll be close for you to get away but I'll fire a couple of shots to attract their attention. Now go!"

On impulse, Ray grabbed his father in a bear hug and kissed him on the cheek. His father returned the hug briefly. It was the most affection they had shown for each other since Ray's mother had been killed. "Now go, son. Good luck."