Haystin Hills

By Katrina A Taylor

Haystin Hills is a small city with a population of twenty thousand. When there is a small city, a group of strangers are at times inadvertently connected to each other. But when Grant commits an evil act against an innocent woman to seek revenge for his brother's false imprisonment, it sends a ripple effect through the group of strangers.
Three weeks after Sara’s assault, her best friend, Monica discovers what has happened to her best friend. Monica invites Sara to move in with her while she recovers. After Sara moves in with Monica, the two women go out to a favorite club for a few drinks. The women meet Andrew, Ryan, and Kimber at the club. When Ryan becomes devoted to finding out who assaulted his new friend with Monica’s help, more information is revealed about the tragic event that led to Sara’s assault by an angry Grant.
The strangers get to know each other as the hunt for the truth continue revealing secrets about the group's past. What is thrown at the group of people will cause them to question everything that they thought they knew about life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Katrina A Taylor
• Release date: Nov 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463711422

Katrina A Taylor

Taylor was born and raised in Mississippi. She has two sons and works as a registered nurse overcoming her disability of multiple sclerosis. At a young age, she would stay up all night to complete the book that she was reading. At fourteen, she began writing short stories and poetry. Taylor has published a young adult fiction, Accidentally Awake: Tragedies and two books of poetry, From Inspirational Thoughts to the Heart's Struggles and Deep Reality of My Emotions.

Book preview

Haystin Hills

Katrina A Taylor

© 2018 Katrina A Taylor

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

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Chapter 1

Sara Calbert paced fearfully in front of her living room windows peeking out the closed taupe, wooden blinds every five minutes. She knew that tonight would be the night he would come for her. It was slightly past ten at night, on a drizzling Saturday. But she knew her instincts well and how they are mostly precise. Sara trembled from a chill as she pulled her silk, blue robe tighter with the belt around her body from her shower six minutes earlier. She combed through her towel-dried hair with her fingers, then she pulled her blonde hair into a messy bun with the black band she had around her wrist. She knew the next headlights that beamed through the living room windows would be the man, who had been stalking her carefully in public. He had been stalking her more often and closer in the past few weeks. She had no idea who the secretive man could be, as nobody came to her mind.

After twenty minutes passed, Sara began to relax a little. She decided to sit on the beige sofa, and she stared straight ahead at the slightly soot-coated fireplace with a dark-stained, wooden mantel holding knickknacks with a large, family picture with an ivory frame around the image of an elated family, which was placed in the focal area of the mantel. Sara felt irrational for being excessively paranoid, but that suddenly changed when Sara heard the laundry room doorknob, and the door slowly rasped open. She froze in response to the fear of knowing that she had locked all the doors and checked all of them twice.

Sara tried to control her breathing, but she stiffened her slender body in response to the fear and held her breath to listen carefully to the sound coming from the laundry room into the kitchen, knowing he would harm her. Her heart dropped when she remembered that she left her cell phone in the bathroom. Sara panicked when she heard the heavy footsteps coming closer toward her from the kitchen to the living room. She quietly got up from the sofa and stepped lightly on the dark, hardwood floor to hide behind the left side of the sofa, which is next to the wall. Sara trembled and placed both of her hands over her mouth to muffle any sound of fear that she might allow to accidentally escape. She knew she would be found. The man would finally get her after the past two months of stalking virtually her every move.

Sara, I know you are home, a man’s deep voice boomed terrifying her. Sara closed her tear-filled, blue eyes tightly letting tears slide down her ivory face, but she remained as quiet as possible.

If I have to find you, it will be much worse. Come on out, damn it! the man yelled causing her heart race faster. Her heartfelt it was about to beat entirely out of her chest from the anxiety and fear.

Sara trembled with her body more rigid and gasped for a breath of air a little too loudly in between falling tears. She knew that she had given away her hiding location. She became frozen from fear for a few seconds as she stared at the tall, muscular man in complete shock that he had found her. He was dressed in all black, including a black mask. Nobody came to her mind about who would want to scare or harm her. The man stared back at her for a moment before he reached down to grab her. Sara got up from the floor and ran around the back of the sofa trying to get in the bathroom for her phone, but she was not quick enough. Sara allowed her tears to flow from her eyes down her reddened face as she had never had to fear for her life before today.

He grabbed her at the beginning of the hallway and threw her over his broad shoulder to carry her to the first bedroom on the right, which happened to be her bedroom. He threw her on her bed and was instantly on top of her untying her robe. Sara screamed and pleaded with the man to stop and to leave her alone, then a second mask covered man entered her bedroom. Sara broke down in complete terror of knowing she will be assaulted and murdered in her bedroom.

Why are you doing this? Sara questioned as she heard the man behind her unzip his pants.

You are both sick bastards! Sara screamed through her tears.

They both took turns sexually assaulting Sara, within minutes she quit asking them to stop and put her mind in another place, a safe, and calm place. She imagined herself at Calray Boutique, a large boutique she owned with her best friend, Monica. The two of them were doing shipment orders for the next two weeks getting Calray ready for the upcoming holidays. They knew their customers and society well. They always did what their boutique needed to keep the customers satisfied and coming back to Calray.

Sara remained on the bed after she covered herself with her blue robe, she was too paralyzed with fear to move from the bed. The men laughed while they hurriedly got dressed, then quickly left her in the bedroom after the assault. She remained to shake with intense fear, she was frightened to her core that the men would come back to kill her. After twenty-seven minutes of lying on the bed, she slowly got up to take a two-hour shower. She washed away: the stalking, the fear, the assault, her painful divorce, and the horrifying death of her parents. And she cleansed her soul to purity as she cried throughout the long, cleansing shower.

Three Weeks Later

Haystin Hills was a small city with a population of approximately twenty thousand located in Northeast Mississippi that possessed the small-town atmosphere of the old days. The city had all that its citizens needed and wanted. The next significant city was located about forty miles away named Cedar Falls, it was found off the four-lane highway, Highway Ninety-Two. Cedar Falls was where most residents went for more remarkable events, better shopping, and it had more attractions such as museums and a huge amusement park.

Haystin Hills did have all that anyone who lived here wanted with shopping, dining, entertainment, and activities amongst the beautiful hills giving the city its name in 1842. Main Street formed a large rectangle, not the typical city square, in front of many stores and a few community buildings, such as the post office and courthouse in downtown Haystin Hills. The rectangle gave downtown the citizen's favorite city park of Haystin Hills Plaza, which was beautifully landscaped with trees, shrubs, flower arrangements, stone walkways, benches, swings, statues, and fountains that made downtown even more elegant. Downtown Haystin Hills had a north and south parking lot for convenience for the those who were visiting or shopping downtown.

Sara was dressed casually in flared jeans and a pink, long-sleeved shirt, she hurriedly walked along the shops on Main Street, which were decorated in holiday cheer of colorful lights, two stunning Christmas trees at each end of the Haystin Hills Plaza. Each city light pole was decorated with a lighted Santa, silver bells, or holly. Each business door was decorated with a holiday wreath. Sara was on her way to Calray Boutique, which she co-owned with Monica Murray, her best friend who she met in college over ten years ago in Ms. Jenkins’ literature class. Sara and Monica was the perfect team for running the business. Sara had a business degree, and Monica was a paralegal. It was a crisp, chilly Saturday evening. Saturdays, Calray closed early afternoon,w and on Sunday, the boutique was closed all day to give everyone a consistent day off from work. Monica and Sara had always valued a day reserved for family, which was the main reason for the boutique being closed on Sunday. Sara had only been to Calray twice since her assault three weeks ago, she told Monica that she had been battling the flu as the reason for not being able to leave the house to go to work. She had not been ready to face the public, knowing the men who attacked her could be in the crowd of people watching her.

Sara Calbert! Sara heard a familiar and comforting voice yell. It was Monica standing on the sidewalk across Main Street in the direction that she was walking toward. Sara smiled and waved to her best friend.

Hey, Sara! It’s such a pleasure to see you out and about. You must be feeling much better, Monica stated as Sara approached her.

I’m feeling a bit better. I need to check on some orders for the next few weeks for Calray to ensure all the orders are current, to get more shipments for the holidays. I can’t believe Christmas is a little less than one month away, Sara stated feeling a little uneasy about being in public.

I’ll walk with you to Calray. I feel like it’s been a few years since I’ve seen you. I’m pleased that you’re feeling better. I was about to take you to the hospital for being severely sick these last few weeks, Monica expressed.

I was sick for about three weeks Monica, besides what could a hospital do for the flu? Sara asked Monica. Plus, you know that I don’t handle being sick very well, Sara stated feeling guilty about lying.

Yes, I do remember a few times that I thought you were dying from a simple illness. Once or twice, you did have me extremely concerned, Monica responded with a smile that she was finally seeing her best friend, who was more her sister. Monica was the opposite of Sara with her physical appearance of short black hair, dark eyes, and olive complexion. Sara and Monica have talked numerous times about wishing they could trade physical attributes.

The two friends had much in common regarding personality traits and interests. Sara and Monica were as close as any two sisters could be. Monica was dressed in black slacks with a black wrap shirt with pink and red flowers on it.

Calray Boutique was a high-end boutique for women located in the southwestern section of downtown Haystin Hills. Calray had tall windows covering the entire front of the store with mannequins displaying the trendiest fashion of the current season. Calray was sophisticated and decorative with light-wood floors, lighted displays, and beautiful glass displays for the most expensive items. Calray was for everything a woman could ever need or want. Sara and Monica walked to the back room of Calray where the business aspect of the boutique is conducted. Sara accessed the computer to check on the orders that had been on her mind since last night while Monica sat at the large, wooden table. Monica needed to vent to her best friend about her disastrous Friday night which she thought would have been a great date night with a gorgeous guy she had met a few weeks before.

Monica tapped her clear-polished nails on the table while Sara carefully checked the next two weeks’ worth of orders for the holiday inventory. After a few minutes of touching her nails on the table, she decided to vent to Sara about her disastrous evening last night with her date. Her date was the guy she had been talking about the past two and a half weeks. Although, it appeared Sara was in another world.

It was horrible last night, and nothing went right at all. I knew it was a sign to go home and skip the entire evening, but I made a promise. And my car grew wings and flew effortlessly over the traffic jam near the bridge so I wouldn’t be late meeting Matthew for our date, Monica stated seeing Sara lost in her thoughts. Sara, are you listening to me?

What? Of course, I’m listening, Sara answered as she remembered drifting to this moment during her assault.

I had a date with Matthew, but it didn’t go well. He seemed distant last night for some reason, Monica commented. Last night, he didn’t have much to say.

I’m sorry. I’m not a fan of men these days, Sara responded coldly with a chill.

She had not planned on Monica being here with her while she checked for the next two weeks’ worth of orders. It had Sara spooked a little being around anyone, even Monica. Everything startled Sara when she was alone or when something happened that she had not planned on happening. But her assault was her secret.

Sara, these past few weeks you’ve been completely distant. I want my best friend back. Sara, I need you like the sisters that we have always been, Monica confessed as she crossed her legs.

I have a lot on my mind, and it’s not worth a discussion, Sara responded stiffening her body involuntarily at the thought of Monica knowing what had happened to her.

Oh, Sara, it’ll get better. I know this year has been extremely trying for you. I can only imagine what you’ve been going through this year, Monica reassured after observing Sara’s distraught expression.

Monica, did you know that life stops for nobody? Sara asked with a blank expression in her eyes.

She knew precisely that her statement was more valid than she ever anticipated with the experiences in her life.

Monica knew something had happened to Sara, something dreadful, something that Sara had been hiding from her. She did not understand why Sara would keep a secret from her, she was her best friend. Sara should know that she could tell her anything. She thought that she and Sara shared everything with each other.

Monica, I appreciate you being by my side through everything that I’ve been through this year, especially with my parent’s death. It’s still hard to believe that they’re not here anymore, Sara quietly voiced thinking about the drunk driver who killed her parents in the car accident.

Sara felt the loss of her parents more now than she had ever felt since losing them.

I’m glad the drunk driver was punished for the senseless accident that he caused leaving me without my parents. It feels like yesterday, but it was the night of March eleventh earlier this year. I feel my parents are alive at times, and I began to call one for a quick phone conversation, then I put down my phone in tears.

Sara suddenly felt emptiness crawl within her soul, and she had no idea how to feel whole. She thought back to the car wreck that killed her parents. It was the most awful event that had ever happened to her until recently. Sara could not stop thinking about her parents in the hospital bed barely hanging on to life. It sickened her, and the assault killed the rest of her. Her mom had died from her brain bleed, it had left her mother brain dead two days after the car wreck. She had to make the decision to have her mom disconnected from life support. Her mom was an organ donor, and she carried out her wishes to donate her organs.

Her father held on to his life for a solid week, and Sara stayed with him night-and-day. It had appeared that her father was going to pull through, even though he had broken ribs, punctured lungs, bruised lungs, and his blood pressure stayed elevated for the first three days, then it dropped remaining dangerously low. Her dad’s blood pressure remained low, but she was confident that he would pull through the trauma of what had happened to him. When her father’s heart stopped beating, and he could not be revived after forty-five minutes. She collapsed in shock as she could not get any air to breathe.

Sara, sweetie, you’ll always have me right by your side as I’ve been throughout all the years that we’ve known each other! Monica exclaimed smiling with her arms stretched open to hug Sara.

Sara backed away a few steps from Monica causing her to raise her left eyebrow in a questioning response. Monica reached out with her right hand and touched Sara on her left arm, but Sara shook her head from the pain and confusion of her assault. Monica slowly pulled her hand away from Sara’s arm.

Sara, what’s been going on with you these past few weeks? Monica questioned with worry. Sara, we’re best friends, we tell each other everything.

Sara shook her head in response to Monica, knowing she could not tell Monica everything anymore because she would think poorly of her.

What has happened to you? Monica asked sternly with concern for her best friend.

The stalker. The stalkers… they… they assaulted me three weeks ago, Sara barely managed to get out her response feeling shaken by thinking about what had happened to her.

No…! What do you mean by ‘they’? Where and when did this happen? Monica asked in complete disgust, feeling nauseated with a headache approaching the left side of her head. But she had to stay strong for Sara.

Two men entered my house and assaulted me. They assaulted me in my bedroom. How did they know that was my room? Was that their plan the entire time from watching me? Sara voiced her questions feeling desecrated all over again.

She could not tell Monica everything. She could never explain the rest of the assault. Monica cried with Sara now that she knew that Sara had been sexually assaulted. They stood in the back of Calray, the boutique where their dreams came true. Monica thought cautiously about what to say and ask, what was and was not safe to speak about at this moment. She wanted to help Sara, but she did not know how to help her, and that made her heart ache terribly.

Monica, I desperately want to talk to you. Right now, I’m having a very hard time trying to figure out why that had to happen to me, Sara explained with much emotion in her voice and in her eyes. Monica, I don’t feel safe in my own home. I haven’t slept for more than twenty hours in the last three weeks. Every time I close my eyes, I hear my locked, laundry room door open, Sara continued remembering the feeling of fear she felt that night.

Did you know him, well them? Monica hesitantly asked.

The men were masked wearing black clothing, and I didn’t recognize their voice. They knew my name, maybe they knew me, but I just don’t know who either of them could be, Sara quietly answered. I want to know why that happened to me! Who are they?

Evil, they are pure evil and remember that evil always has its day. I promise, Monica reassured with anger and sickness within her.

The women remained standing, and Monica stepped closer to Sara. Monica reached and held Sara’s hands loosely to comfort her without causing her anguish from the post-traumatic stress. Sara looked at Monica to give her a brief smile, it was her way to thank her friend for being here when she desperately needed her the most. Sara wanted to tell Monica more but did not know where to begin with her thoughts. She did not want to distress her friend more than she already had this afternoon.

Sara let’s get something to eat. We both need to eat, Monica suggested I know you, and you probably haven’t been eating like you should. We’ll get something light from the deli. We need this time together.

That does sound pleasant, Sara quietly responded trying to feel like herself.

Sara and Monica walked to the front of Calray, and Sara locked the door as they exited the boutique onto the sidewalk. They walked by each other’s side along the sidewalk to the Haystin Hills’ famous deli, Downtown Deli. Downtown Deli had been in business for approximately fifty years and was one of the favorite restaurants in Haystin Hills. They entered the deli and selected a booth in the back, away from the counter for privacy in case the restaurant became busy. The restaurant was neutral in color with off-white walls, yellow floors, a brown counter, and white booths. Downtown Deli had maintained these colors since they had opened. Sara sat down while Monica remained standing.

Would you like your usual? Monica asked.

Please, Sara answered.

Monica walked to the counter to order Sara’s and her lunch. Sara relaxed slightly for the first time in weeks and wondered why she waited to allow Monica to help her, but she did sense an awkwardness with Monica. She recollected why she did not tell Monica, she was humiliated. If she allowed someone too close to her, that person would see her shame, apparently on her face. If anyone stood too close to her, that person would know that her mind was sick. Sara shifted in her seat, and she squirmed a little trying to find a comfortable position. She realized the problem was not the seat but within herself.

Monica walked to the table and sat the tray in the middle of the table startling Sara. Monica frowned realizing what she had done. Sara reached for her lunch and drink. Monica gave Sara a smile hoping to help her know she was now safe. Monica knew she had to talk to Sara about the assault, she knew that speaking about it would help. Monica knew that Sara trusted her and with the confidence and love, Monica could help her begin the healing process. They quietly ate their lunch when Sara surprisingly disrupted the silence.

I have not seen either man after the assault, Sara calmly voiced.

What are you saying? Have they just vanished after assaulting you? Has the stalking quit since the assault? Monica asked bewildered.

I have not seen either man stalking me the few times that I have left home since the attack. I suppose the stalkers got what they wanted and now they are finished with me, Sara bravely confided.

I knew we should have taken the stalker situation seriously. Damn. I’m sorry, Sara, Monica sincerely expressed. I can’t forgive myself for not protecting you. Sara, we can still go to the police and report this. It’s not too late to report what those monsters did to you.

No, Monica! I can’t report what happened. Besides, there is no proof of the assault because I washed everything. Plus, it has been three weeks since the assault happened, Sara explained.

Monica thought a few minutes about the truth of Sara’s statement and knew that she was correct about having no evidence to back up her statement of assault.

Sara, I have a perfect idea. We’ll stop by your house, pack your things, then you’ll stay with me while you get through this. I won’t let you stay by yourself until you’re ready, Monica determinedly stated.

Monica, I appreciate you and most of all, I dearly love you, Sara voiced feeling peaceful knowing she did not have to be unaccompanied and terrified every day.

Downtown Deli was becoming increasingly crowded, which triggered Sara’s anxiety. She wondered if her attackers would come into the deli. She sat questioning how she could run a business if a group of people bothered her, with Christmas less than a month away. She knew shoppers would be everywhere during the holiday season. She could no longer pretend her assault did not happen, because every time she closed her eyes, she experienced her attack over again. Not only did she remember what happened, but she also recognized the way she felt. Sara can only wonder what in the hell was wrong with her. Sara knew she was a sick, disturbed bitch.

Monica got up from the booth to dispose of the trash and put up the tray. Sara unexpectedly began to feel hot and needed to get out of the restaurant to catch her breath with fresh air. Sara walked outside to stand on the sidewalk where she forced herself to breathe the frigid air. She felt relaxed and began to feel better as she could breathe more comfortably. Monica walked outside to join Sara on the sidewalk. Monica checked the time on her white gold band with a round face watch that Sara gave as a birthday present just a few months ago in September.

Monica, I’ll be alright to go home for about fifteen minutes. I’ll meet you at your house when I’m finished packing, Sara voiced.

Are you sure? I can help you pack, Monica responded.

Yes, I’m sure. I’ll only be a few minutes. I have to take care of a few things before I leave the house, Sara answered with a quick reassuring grin to make Monica feel better.

Call me if you have a change of mind. I honestly don’t mind helping you with packing or anything for that matter, Monica stated with a stern expression looking Sara directing in her eyes.

Thank you. I can get everything packed and taken care of myself. I’ll see you in a little while, Sara said as they walked in separate directions.

Sara was rooted in her thoughts that she did not pay attention, causing her to run into a tall, muscular man wearing a brown and white flannel shirt and torn jeans. She looked hard at him in a shocked response as she stumbled backward against the brick wall.

I’m sorry. I wasn’t paying attention. Are you okay? the stranger asked.

Sara panicked. She turned quickly away from the man and ran the short distance to the south lot where she had parked her black SUV. She jumped inside and immediately locked the doors. She was breathing hard and trembling while she pressed the start button to start the engine. She looked out of the driver’s window, and she saw the man watching her intently while he smoked a cigarette. She was sure that he was one of the men who assaulted her. She knew without a doubt.

Chapter 2

Sara drove quickly to her house approximately four miles away from downtown with the feeling of panic and uncertainty of what had become of her life. Now, she felt edgy about being alone in her house after coming face-to-face with her attacker downtown. The misperception she felt was the most disturbing for