Part 241 – Barbara To The Rescue!

No! NO! Ambrose twisted and squirmed. Let me go!

They tightened their hold on him.

He entered their minds and whispered,  I want to let him go. I want to take the muzzle off of him. I want to take the handcuffs off of him.

They looked at each other and burst out laughing. “He’s trying to Jedi mind trick me.”

“Me too, bro! Can’t believe it. Come on! Do it again.”

A wave of dizziness hit him and he fell for it.

Literally.

His body became a limp, dead-weight trying to face plant itself on the floor.

The two men cursed and swore as they tried their best to get him back up on his feet.

The dizziness spell passed. If his mouth weren’t clamped shut, Ambrose would have smiled.

One.

Two.

Three.

He stood quickly, smashing Thug #1 in the face.

“Ahhohgiaaaif!”

He rammed his head into Thug #2’s chest.

“Oofff!”

The scent of semi-sweet chocolate and vanilla bean intensified as Barbara raced around the corner.

Ambrose charged at her.

Panic came to life in her eyes. She started to turn away.

Don’t leave me. It’s me. Barbara, it’s me.

She looked back at him.

Ambrose tripped over a knot in the carpet and landed flat on his face. He drew his knees up under his body and tried to get himself up into, at least, a sit.

He couldn’t.

He lay there, breathing fast and hard through his nose.

He closed his eyes and listened.

Footsteps.

Her footsteps.

Coming towards him.

“Hey!”

Her footsteps stopped.

“Get away from him.”

She knelt before him.

“He’s dangerous. He’ll kill you.”

“He won’t.” she said. Her voice was like soft music in the air.

Ambrose opened his eyes and raised his head.

Her face appeared in his line of sight.

Barbara.

“It’s okay.” She said it so gently.

His arms ached with the need to hold her, to touch her.

Her expression turned all intent and serious as she unbuckled the muzzle.

I want to hold her in my arms and dance to Shania Twain.

I want to fill her days with joy and laughter.

I want—

She unfastened the buckles keeping the metal piece in place and dropped the whole mess of buckles and straps and metal bars on the floor.

He opened his mouth wide and gulped in the fresh air.

Barbara helped him up into a sit. She stroked his face, his hair. “Are you okay?”

“Barbara. You came.”

I want to hold her so much.

“Are you okay?”

“You’re here. You came. I called you and you came to me.”

“Of course, I did. Why wouldn’t I?”

“Kiss me. Oh, Barbara. Kiss me.”

She smiled and obeyed.