Painer

By Joan Hayward

"PAINER" is a story about two Jaguars that escape from a wild cat Reserve in Florida during a hurricane. Secretly captured and tortured by an exotic animal hoarder, the cats escape making their way to a small mountain town in the forested mountains of Western North Carolina. When a man is discovered in the woods mauled to death the word gets back to the Florida Researchers. They head for the little mountain town to capture and save the cats; however, the sheriff there has a different goal...to kill the cats. Predator on predator, the cats fight for their survival ingeniously out smarting man. In the process the cats also find kindness that brings about soul-searching life changes for those who come in contact with them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781503573192

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Copyright © 2015 by Joan Hayward.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the Holy Bible, King James Version (Authorized Version). First published in 1611. Quoted from the KJV Classic Reference Bible, Copyright © 1983 by The Zondervan Corporation.

Rev. date: 06/16/2015

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

C hapter 1

Piano notes danced on gentle breezes as they were carried through the steep cliffs of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina. The softness of their tones united with the rich colors of the fall leaves while the deep valleys below echoed back their song in kind. Rafe Wilson was practicing his concerto in the wee hours of the morning when his housekeeper marched into the room. Mr. Wilson you need to get some sleep, she ordered. Then she threw open the heavy drapes from the ceiling to floor windows and opened the double French doors to a huge deck built to become a part of the great mountainside it rested upon. Ok. I’ll make coffee.’

Rafe began playing more intensely, When I hired you I never knew you could be such a nag so early in the morning.

You haven’t heard anything yet, she sassed back walking over to Rafe. She grabbed hold of the handles on the back of his wheel chair and gently whispered in his ear, You are going to eat your breakfast now and start your day right."

Rafe mumbled under his breath, Hopeless. Then he grabbed the right wheel and spun it hard, I can push the dang thing myself, thank you. He wandered slowly out onto the deck perching himself against the sturdy railing. Shadows caused by the slowly rising sun peaked through the darkness. Looking down he pondered out loud for a moment, A million things could be hiding in that thick forested mass below us…things we may never know exist. Things that want to hurt us or even kill us.

Lizzie replied, Ooh, you are a spooky character this morning. Then as she left to fetch Rafe’s breakfast he yelled after her.

And just what is wrong with that? It is called the survival of the fittest and all that rot. We’re all God’s creatures you know, snickering, even you.

Rafe looked out again across the awe-inspiring vista. He whispered to himself, If only God could talk. He would tell us of dangers lurking in the darkness. Just then Lizzie returned. She heard Rafe’s comment and quickly set the breakfast tray down and slowly approached him,

God does talk. Just look at this view. It speaks volumes from someone much greater than anything or anyone on this earth. He talks to you through your faith in him. You just put yourself in his hands and He will take care of everything.

Rafe continued as if he had not heard what Lizzie had just said, I like it up here. I can see in all directions. I can never get lost up here. If I were walking through that jungle below I could easily get lost and never find my way out again. Perhaps someone is lost in there right now? Rafe replied.

Realizing Rafe had not heard her comment she whispered soberly as she turned to go back into the kitchen, There is more than one way to be lost, Rafe.

I heard that, Rafe replied soberly, forget it. There is a hurricane hitting Florida. We may get some of it.

Well, if we do, we’re all stocked up. The freezer is full, Lizzie comforted.

While Rafe ate his breakfast another scene unfolded deep in the Picayune Strand State Forest, in the heart of Florida’s cougar country. Four men rushed under a blackened sky to retrieve all of the animals back inside their buildings.

Dan Taylor ran across an open field toward the main animal enclosure, Hurry Charlie. This storm is blowing in early and fast!

Charlie yelled back anxiously, I need help here. The cats are nervous. They won’t go inside.

Taylor ran past Charlie, I brought meat. I’ll go inside and try to lure them in.

Taylor entered one of the cages in the animal enclosure. Two other men opened the gates to two other cages in the enclosure placing meat just at the mouth of their entries. Taylor shouted over the storm to the other men, If I can just get Kali to come in the rest will follow. Then he spotted his beloved cat, Come boy, come, he cried out dangling a fresh piece of bloody meat before the magnificent animal.

The huge cat turned toward Taylor in submission when suddenly a loud clap of thunder accompanied by a lightening strike hitting a tree close to the enclosure set the cats running in all directions of their habitat. Their screams momentarily blighted out the sound of the rushing wind. Taylor relented and threw the meat down calling out to Charlie again, "Its no use. Leave them out there. Get out of there. Go back in the lodge. We’ll meet you there. They will come in on their own…I hope."

~

Dan Taylor headed up the mission at the reserve, along with a handful of other researchers in order to protect and enlighten people on cats currently listed as endangered species. In the process they inherited a Siberian tiger that someone attempted to make a pet out of and a black Jaguar cub that had been smuggled into Florida. Much to their surprise the tiger and the Jaguar had no animosity toward each other and grew to become great friends.

Their attraction to each other intrigued Taylor and his cohorts. Taylor let them eventually live in the same habitat. A year later the Jaguar became pregnant. Over time, she gave birth to two coal black cubs. The first was a male Taylor named Kali¹. He named the second cat, a female, Khulu². Taylor practically raised the cats himself. Much to his partner Charlie’s dismay he kept the strange mixture of cat a secret from the public. He was waiting for just the right time to introduce them to the scientific world.

The cats were magnificent creatures; however, eventually, they became much too difficult for any of the men to handle, including Taylor at times. Although Taylor entered their cage every day to reaffirm their friendship and engage in light play, he was beginning to realize clues of strong instinctive gestures that could kill him with one swipe if he ever made a wrong move around them. He had become very cautious with them, and today was no exception.

Normally the cats would have hurried toward Taylor’s call, but the winds were picking up fast confusing and scaring them. It was best just to leave the meat and head for cover.

As the men abandoned the cats to make a run for their shelter they threw up their arms to shield their eyes. The wind had become so fierce they had to fight against it leaning into it heavily in order to make a single step. Once inside the lodge Charlie dismissed the other two men to the underground emergency dugout under the lodge, You guys get below. Taylor and I will be along shortly. The men lifted a wooden door from the floor. Charlie watched as the men lowered themselves into the shelter. He then looked over at Dan, Did we miss a weather report here Dan?

Dan struggled to get a piece of dirt out of his eye, No. We were not supposed to see anything like this until nightfall.

Nightfall? This looks more like the top of the storm right now! Charlie squawked. It looks like we are in for one heck of a ride. What about the animals?

Dan just peered over his shoulder at Charlie, Ever heard of prayer Charlie?

The men could hear tree limbs breaking against the lodge. Taylor rushed to gather a few more supplies to take into the shelter when something hard slammed onto the roof.

Taylor, come on! Charlie yelled, Get below, now!

As the two men hustled down the steps into the shelter Taylor remembered, Damn, I forgot extra batteries for the flashlights. He turned to climb back up the steep ladder when Charlie grabbed him by the seat of the pants.

Oh no you don’t. You aren’t going anywhere now but down here.

~

The men had eventually fallen asleep as the storm raged through the night. Jasper was the first to wake up. He poked his buddy Sam, Sam, Sam, wake up. I think this bitch is over.

Then Charlie drew a yawn as he woke to the sound of Jasper’s voice. He looked over at Taylor whose snoring was muffled under a brown plain blanket covering his head. Jeez, I slept through that? Dan, hey Dan, rise and shine, Charlie hollered as he poked Dan with the toe of his boot, we’ve got work to do.

As the men re-surfaced into the lodge they were actually pleased with what they saw. The structure held together quite well. They immediately hurried outside to check the animals. What awaited them was sheer bedlam.

Trees were down and dead birds and small mammals created an eerie carpet as they lay scattered about the reserve. Cautiously they approached the cat’s habitat. A huge tree had fallen across the mote crushing the outside iron fence to the enclosure creating a bridge to freedom. Taylor threw his arms out to stop the men from approaching any closer, Did any of you bring a gun? We can’t go any further. Do you see anything? We gotta’ get out of here. Everyone get back to the lodge, and hurry! There is no telling where those cats are.

Charlie just shook his head, How in the hell are we going to handle this? What are we gonna’ do about the cats?

We have to track them down. We are going to have to track them down on foot. They could be anywhere. They could be watching us, who knows, or be miles away by now-watching somebody else. Damnit! Dan yelled.

Safely back in the lodge, Dan reached for two rifles hanging on the wall tossing a third over to Jasper, Grab this tranquilizer gun. Just then they heard something scratching on the front door.

The men froze in silence. The windows were still boarded up so they couldn’t see outside. They had to open the door. Dan waved at Jasper and Sam to get off to the side and take cover with their weapons. Charlie and Dan hastened to the other side of the door leaning tight against it. Dan slowly reached over and grabbed the doorknob. As he turned it he felt something hit it. He paused for a moment as each man met each other’s eyes alerting to their readiness. Dan bit his bottom lip and gave a nod. Then he quickly flung the door open.

Guns aimed and ready to shoot, Jasper breathed a sigh of relief at what he saw in his site. A very muddled and ragged looking Collie stood before them in the open doorway wagging his tail. The dog greeted them with one loud, Woof.

The men laughed happily and ran up to their mascot, Casey. Where have you been boy? Are you hungry?

That’s it! Jasper yelled. Food. We’ll put food out for the cats to draw them back.

Draw them back to what? Dan replied. We don’t have any place to put them right now. But you’re right. They know food is here. At least Kali and Khulu will be back, but any food we put out at this point will have to be set in traps.

This brings me back to the same question. How are we going to handle this? Our truck is buried. What do we do with them when we track them down? We don’t have anywhere to put them. We can’t just sedate them and leave them lying out there. We need the cages and the cages are on the truck, Charlie argued.

Dan agreed, We can still set out traps and then head back and dig out the truck. We’ll use our nets. Then we will just sit here and wait while Casey does the rest of the work for us. Dan knelt down by Casey and began baby talking, Wight Casey? You do all the twacking?

Casey responded with another loud, Woof!

The men set out to lay the traps around the perimeter of the reserve. Then they headed back where they worked from dawn to dark clearing the truck out. Two men worked while two others stood guard with a rifle and a tranquilizer gun. A power generator lit up the site. This was no comfort to the men. The forest was black and they would never hear a cat sneaking