Wild Girl: Chapter 8- Now, Kent

Kent investigates at the Abalo house

I asked the image generator for a “wild girl” and it gave me this

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WILD GIRL

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Kent assessed the stretch of rippling green water before the truck; this stream was narrower than the two previous crossings. Abalo pointed to the right. “Stay on this side and give it some gas right at the end. There’s a deep hole just before where you come up out of the water, and if you hit it, we’ll be in trouble.”

“Got it.” Kent put the vehicle in gear and crawled forward, staying to the right as they approached the muddy bank.

“Now!” Abalo said, and Kent put the pedal down. The truck roared obediently up the bank without incident. 

Abalo slanted Kent a glance. “We call that chuckhole our privacy insurance. Keeps the tourists out.”

Kent shook his head but didn’t reply. 

Overhead, he heard the high-pitched whine of a helicopter flying low. “What the hell,” Abalo said. The windows were already open. He and Abalo stuck their heads out and craned to see. The chopper was black and swift; Kent couldn’t make out a tail number. “This is a no-fly zone. Who’s bringing a bird out here?” Abalo said.

Kent had heard that, years ago, some unknown resident fired a shotgun at the popular helicopter tours that had tried to view the area. The FAA had ruled it too dangerous to take tourists in. “Someone’s taking a chance.”

They drove several more miles, weaving around potholes and over rocks, making their way through a jungle so dense that navigating it would be impossible if not for the road. Abalo leaned his head on the doorframe, his body sagging into stupor. The shock and pain meds had caught up with him.

Kent’s body was occupied with the challenging drive, but his mind was on the wild girl. How did the woman get down here in the first place?  She had to be related to someone in the valley, but why hadn’t she gone to school? And why hadn’t she ever left? What was the brown dye about? 

Abalo’s hostility would only increase if Kent revealed his growing fascination. He’d have to find a way to talk to the wife alone.