Without a Paddle

Chad hadn’t even given it any thought when he climbed in the boat, untied the rope from the post on the pier and shoved off. His mind was on her, and on him, and on how terrible she was to have done this to him. No, after his mind had settled a bit and the rage had quieted inside, he was ready to paddle back to shore, but there was no paddle. What was it Dalton had said right before he had run off? “Looks like you’re up Shit Creek without a paddle.”

“Not Shit Creek, Dalton, I’m adrift on the ocean without a paddle, you asshole.”

Of course, none of this was his fault, it was that bitch of a wife that put him in this predicament. It was all her fault, even though he had tried for years to straighten her out. He had done everything for her but she just refused to learn. “Bitch! He yelled out over the dark water, even though she was too far away to hear him. “Don’t matter none, aint never listened anyway.” He added in a normal tone.

Chad sat in the little boat as the huge moon seemed to lift up out of the water. It had been quite some time since he had actually thought about things instead of jumping to conclusions and blaming everything on someone else. As much as he hated to even think it, he knew he was at least partly to blame. Maybe if he had done things different she wouldn’t have left him.
“Yeah, right, like you could ever get into that mushy shit like some of those other guys.” He answered his own thought. “She knew when we got together I wasn’t like that. Real men don’t get into that touchy feely crap, my Pa taught me that.”

Still, his mind wouldn’t leave it alone, and he continued to think as he drifted along the still, dark waters, maybe if he had gotten her flowers more often, or paid more attention to her, things would have been different. He meant well, she knew that. Hell he was always telling her how well he meant. Besides, it wasn’t his fault she did things to piss him off all the time. She should have learned sooner not to upset him, after the first time of getting smacked down she should have understood him, and known to keep him happy. Hell, he couldn’t help being the way he was, a real man’s man, as his Pa always said.

“Now, look at the shit I’m in, and it’s her fault again. Just because things didn’t go her way, she up and leaves me – again.” Chad felt the anger growing inside him again as he thought about how she had left him again, but this time she went and found some guy to shack up with and had filed for a divorce.

But, was it all her fault? Chad thought about how things had gone wrong, time and time again. A lot of times it was over money, or more the lack of money. She worked, but he had a hard time finding a decent job that was befitting him, so income barely covered the bills and necessities. He understood that, but that didn’t give her the right to cuss him out if he spent a few dollars on himself. After all, he was the man of the house and deserved her respect.

But it wasn’t just money, she fought with him over everything, messing up the house, not having food, spending money they didn’t have, going out with his friends drinking. If he stayed home, he had to yell at her for doing everything wrong, she couldn’t keep up the house right, cook right, or even dress right. Then, there was the friends she ran with. They put all sorts of idiot ideas in her head about him. They were almost as bad as her family, but he did his best to keep her from people like that. “Damn negative people just jealous, that’s all.”

This last time it was worse than before. Not that much had changed, he was, after all, still the same person. But, she had grown more distant and never wanted to do anything with him. Not that he really cared, but in the past she at least would ask, or act like she wanted him around. But, after she found out he had been cheating with Erica, she changed. She didn’t say much about it, and then when he came home after spending a weekend hunting with some friends, she was gone.

He had checked around, but no one seemed to know where she was. Of course, her friends probably did, but they wouldn’t tell him anything. He checked at her job, but her boss was a prick and just commented, “So, she dumped your sorry ass, it’s about time. No, I’m not sure where she’s off to, she just collected her pay and told me she had to quit and get away from you. I was so happy for her I threw in an extra hundred bucks as a bonus. Now either buy something or get out.”

His anger flared but he got it back under control quickly. He needed to think this out, and getting pissed wasn’t going to do him any good out here.

He had looked but she was gone and that was that. Then, the divorce papers had come. Of course, the state didn’t’ require any reasons, but she had listed some anyway. He was controlling and wouldn’t let her have contact with her family, prevented her from having friends, did not support them, and was both physically and mentally abusive.

Just like a woman to take things too far. Sure he tried to prevent her from having any contact with her family, they were always trying to get her to leave him. Her friends were the same way, always stirring shit up for them. So he had gotten her to move further away, and did his best to convince her how terrible these people were for her, but she never listened to him. In time, she made new friends, but they were just like the old ones, out to get him. He had even tried to get close to a few of her new friends, but they ran and told her how he had made advances and got started them fighting, again. Why was it, once they started fighting, she wouldn’t shut up unless he smacked her a few times?

“Maybe she was too dumb to learn to shut the fuck up.” Chad answered his own question. “No, you aren’t dumb, your just stubborn. Hell, it’s like my Pa told me, if you don’t smack a bitch once in a while, she’ll lose all respect for you.”

He had eventually found her. She may not have been dumb, but she wasn’t too smart, either. The divorce listed county and state, so he had a pretty good idea were to start looking. He also knew her car, and what kind of work she did. It was just a matter of time before he found out where she was hiding and talked some sense back into her.

It was her family that had helped the most, especially her mom. She always ran to her mom with problems, and this time it was no different. Chad had started watching mom’s house and eventually seen Heather’s car parked there. It had taken a couple months, but there she was and all he had to do was wait until she left. He did, and soon after it turned dark she came out, kissed her mom, and then left. Chad hung back a ways and followed.

He expected her to pull up in front of some dive of an apartment or a trailer at best, but she pulled into a driveway to a pretty nice house. Chad pulled up on the opposite side of the street and was just about to get out and confront her, when a guy came out, helped her out of the car, and kissed her, then together went inside. He sat in the car and watched all night, but sometime before it got light, he fell asleep. When he woke, her car was gone, so he went back home and planned things out.

He wanted to confront her about her affair. He understood now why she had left; she was screwing this guy all along. He wouldn’t call her on it now, though. No, he would play it her way, telling her he understood why she had left, and all he wanted was another chance. He would do the flowers and give her the full line of bull shit that always worked on her, but once she was back home, he would have to show her what happens to bitches that fuck around on him. Then, he would show her what happens to bitches who think they can file for divorce. He’d work her over good, but he’d be careful not to put her in the hospital again.

Chad had learned over the years how to beat her up good, but this time he would put the fear of God into her, so she wouldn’t ever think about cheating on him or leaving him again. Of course, she’d know that this was his gentle side and if she did either again, he’d kill her.

Chad drifted and remembered how bitter he was. Yeah, he would have beat her good, and he knew it. He felt a chill as the wind picked up a bit. Looking up he noticed the moon was now partially hidden by clouds, but still huge in the sky, just barely above the water. “So I beat her up once in a while. Is that so wrong?” He asked the night.

He knew the answer deep inside, he knew from watching his own dad beating his mom over and over. Instead of listening to that inner voice, however, he buried it deep inside again and sealed it with his own voice, “It’s a man’s right to beat a wife if she’s out of line. Women want it, hell they need it. If they didn’t, they wouldn’t do shit to bring it on.”

Heather had left a couple of times before, but he was always able to talk her back. It didn’t work the same this time, but that was because of that candy-ass guy she was with. Chad knew Heather didn’t have a backbone to stand up to him, not after he had whipped her a few times. But, if he could get to her when he wasn’t around, he could talk some sense into her. Besides, he knew that candy-ass pansy of a guy couldn’t give her what she needed, only a real man could, and Chad knew he was a real man. His Pa had taught him well how to be a real man.

He took his time, hanging out close by, waiting for the chance to catch Heather alone. But, she must have noticed his car and called the cops. Again, it wasn’t Heather, it was Dalton who had either called them or talked Heather into it. It didn’t go over too good, no matter who called. Chad had brought a bottle of vodka with to sip on as he waited, and when the cop pulled up behind him, he didn’t have any way to ditch it. He was arrested for open container and Heather filed for a restraining order.

By the time he got things straight with the law, he wasn’t able to drive. Well, not legally, but that wasn’t going to stop him. He got a buddy to switch vehicles with him, a not so even trade, but you have to do what you have to do. In exchange for a four-wheel drive pickup in great shape, Chad got a rusty little car. But, he knew the cops weren’t watching it, and Heather wouldn’t recognize it. He parked further away and was a lot more careful to make sure he wasn’t violating the restraining order. In time he would get his chance, but for now, play it cool all the way.

Only, Heather’s car didn’t move and there wasn’t any activity around the house. Chad gave it a few days, but they just weren’t around. Chad risked it and went in there that night, through the back door. He jimmied the lock with a credit card offer he had gotten in the mail, that he had brought with just in case he needed it for something like this. Once inside, he was careful not to get in front of the windows or use any lights.

He snooped around, and even though he was tempted to bust up this ass-holes shit, he refrained. “Not now, but in time, Chum, in time.”

He found some papers on the desk, by the printer. Carefully he picked them up and moved over by the window, being careful not to pass in front of it. The street light lit up the room pretty good and here by the window he could read by it. Camping confirmation was printed on the top, then a bunch of smaller print he couldn’t make out. He went back and looked around the desk a bit more, tempted to turn on the computer to see if there were any clues there. “Better not, someone might just see the monitor on and know they are gone.” Chad whispered again.

He didn’t find anything else and was about to leave through the back door when he noticed there was something on the table. When he came in the room was too dark to see after the light outside, but now, with his eyes adjusted, he could make out things better. He strained his eyes to see in the dimly lit room. It was a map and some more printer paper. He grabbed them and shoved them inside his jacket, zipped it up and left.

He didn’t see anyone going back to the car, or even as he drove off. “Perfect.” Once home he looked over the items he had collected. He had a confirmation notice for a campground, some other bull-shit documents that didn’t’ seem important, and a map. Also, with the map, a printed page with directions. “That dumb-ass forgot his map and directions. Well, it’s been a few days, I hope the poor saps aren’t lost.” He laughed.

Chad knew just where to find Heather, he had the name of the campground, a map, and the directions to get there. He wasn’t sure just what he had planned for the two when he found them, but he knew he would think of something. He was up early, packed a few things and took off for the coast. It was only a half a day drive, he figured, but according to the confirmation, they would be there for another two days. Even so, he was hoping to get a chance to confront Heather alone, and if possible, to bring her back with him. But, if that didn’t work out, he would confront the both of them, and if needed, whoop this candy-ass guy.

In his mind, a good beat-down on this bastard would convince her to come home faster than anything. Women, after all, would do anything to prevent some poor bastard from getting his ass beaten over them. Besides, this ass-hole had cost Chad a lot of money and time, as well as frustration. He knew, without any proof, that this guy had seduced his wife and convinced her to leave, it was more his fault than it was her fault, in Chad’s thinking.

By the time he got to the campground, he wasn’t quite as sure if he wanted to confront this guy or not. He had learned his name from the paperwork he had taken, Dalton, but he didn’t know anything else about him. He decided it best to wait a bit longer, and maybe find out a bit more. He stopped and talked to the guy running the campground. “Any openings?”

The old guy looked kind of puzzled but answered back. “Yes, there are quite a few. Kind of slow this time of year and the place is pretty empty. Shouldn’t you have some kind of camper or some gear?”

Chad hadn’t even thought about it, he had the paperwork on the front seat, the back seat was empty, and the little trunk sure wouldn’t hold much of anything. He thought for a minute, then replied, “Yeah, should have some gear, but not really camping, just traveling and need a cheap place to sleep for the night. I’d just pull in some place but you know how things are these days, a guy aint safe.”

“You got that right. So, no tent or anything? We do rent some stuff. Over there at the camp store there’s a list of rental gear we have. I can set you up with a tent site for twenty bucks for the night.”

“Hey, that would be great. A secluded spot would be nice, I’m really beat and would like to get some good sleep without waking up to people driving around.”

“I know just the spot, only a couple other campers over there, none with kids. It’s kind of a side loop down by the pier, close to the water, if the waves don’t bother you splashing. Most folds say they put them right to sleep.”

Chad paid the man for the spot, got directions, and then stopped by the store to see what they had for something to eat. He didn’t want to be out in the open just in case Heather and Dalton showed up. He rented a sleeping bag and a couple of kettles to use for his dinner, bought some hot dogs, buns, and a container of potato salad, some canned chili, a six pack of beer, a jar of peanuts to snack on, some charcoal starter fluid, a lighter, and a bundle of wood.

After he loaded up the car, he drove to his spot and parked. He pulled in so anyone passing by couldn’t look into the car and see him. It also blocked anyone’s view from the road, and the trees and brush around the site added a lot of privacy. He couldn’t have picked a better spot. Best of all, it was close to Dalton’s site, on the same side of the road, and no one was between them. He could sneak over anytime.

He turned the picnic table so he could keep an eye on the road, but at the same time, could easily turn and hide his face if needed. He thought about making a fire and heating up the chili and hot dogs, but decided it wasn’t worth the trouble, maybe later. He drank a beer and munched on a cold hot dog and some peanuts, then washed them down with a second can of beer.

After he finished eating, he cut through the brush in the direction of Dalton’s site. There was a toilet close to Chad’s site, just a little way down the road. He had passed it on the way to his campsite, but real men didn’t piss in a no-flush toilet, they just whipped it out and let it go. He stopped and wet down a small tree and smiled as he pictured Dalton leaving camp to go take a leak and returning to find Heather in Chads arms when he returned.

He didn’t bother to shake it, just slipped it into his pants. He didn’t notice the wet spot where he had dribbled, he never did. He continued on, but moved slower now, knowing he was getting close to Dalton and Heather. Soon, he could hear them talking, but he couldn’t make out what they said. He was sure they were talking about him; everyone talked about him behind his back.

The brush was thicker here and he was able to get right up close to the campsite. He stood and listened for a while, but still couldn’t make out much of what they said. What he did hear was a lot of mushy, romantic talk used by limp-dicks to impress gals. He moved a bit more and found a spot he could kneel down and see through the branches of an evergreen. There they were, sitting side by side at the picnic table.

Their backs were to him, but he could see they often held each other’s hand while they talked, they kissed often, and he was always touching her when she wasn’t holding his hand. He would reach up and caress her shoulder, her face, or run his fingers through her hair while he kissed her. It was almost enough to make him sick. “What a candy-ass this guy is; he acts like a little teeny-bopper in high school on his first date.” He thought to himself.

He quietly returned to his own site and munched on some more peanuts as he built a fire. He wasn’t concerned about being spotted anymore, not after seeing this guy for himself. He didn’t want them to know he was there yet, but if they did happen to notice, he wasn’t threatened by Dalton. “I know just how to handle this kind of guy. One good punch and he’ll be holding up his hands and crying, ‘Don’t hit me no more, please, no more.’ Yeah, he’ll beg for me not to hurt him. Hell, he’s probably one of them bi-sexual guys that like to dress up in chick cloths and get it in the ass.”

Chad enjoyed his hot-dogs and chili, then waited for dark. He finished off the beer and thought about going for more, but didn’t know how late the store was open. He was eager to get this over with, then Heather and him would be heading back home, Dalton would be nursing a good black eye and a fat lip at the least, maybe a few broken ribs if he did try to fight.

Chad thought about it and smiled, then spoke to the fire in front of him. “I’ll give him a nice black eye and fat lip, but I’m going to work him over pretty good, so he’ll learn a bit of respect and not go running and calling the cops. Yeah, I’ll let him know this aint nothing compared to the beating you’ll get if you cross me again.”

He got up and went a short distance into the trees and pissed again, then went back to his fire. It was almost dark. He put the rest of the bundle of wood on the fire, since he wouldn’t need it in the morning to heat up the rest of the hot-dogs for breakfast. No, he may as well enjoy the fire since Heather and him would soon be heading home. He sat and watched the fire as he played out the coming scene over and over in his mind. Darkness fell and his wait was almost over.

Chad didn’t bother to sneak through the woods, he just walked down the road. He had thought about driving, but decided he wanted to walk Heather back to the car, by her hair, maybe a boot or two to her ass if she whined along the way. He was really going to enjoy this.

Within minutes he was standing in front of their camper. “Nice rig for a pansy, wonder how he can afford a nice truck and camper; probably one of those geeks who works on the computer all day… a male secretary or something.”

He could hear them talking and walked alongside the camper, stopping just out of sight and listening. He heard Dalton’s voice. “Heather, you are so beautiful in the firelight, the way it dances in your eyes and that’s the prettiest smile I think I have ever seen. I wish it was a little warmer at night, and a lot more private, I’d have you down to the water for a midnight dip, no cloths, under that big moon that’s going to be rising soon. Then, we could spread out a blanket and make love right there on the beach.”

“Dalton, you say the sweetest things. I’ve never known a man to be as sweet, kind, and gentle as you are. That alone would be enough to capture my heart, but then you have to be so handsome on top of it.” There was silence and Chad knew they were kissing. “I just love to feel you hold me, to be in your wonderful arms. I don’t think I’ve ever felt safer than I do in your arms.”

That was the cue Chad was waiting for and he stepped out from his cover and laughed. “You won’t feel safe for long, bitch. Once I teach this candy-ass a lesson about fucking another man’s woman I’m going to show you what happens when a whore steps out of line.” He had more to say but never got the chance.

Dalton was up and in front of him before he had the words out of his mouth, and one right cross from this candy-ass had his jaw throbbing and his mouth shut. Before he even knew what hit him, Dalton come back up with his left and drove the wind from him, then that right moved in a blur and connected with his side.

Chad couldn’t breathe, he was off balance and stumbling, and the whole side of his face hurt. Dalton was standing in front of him, slightly crouched and had both hands up in a fighter’s stance. Anger and hatred boiled up with fear inside Chad. This candy-assed pansy had damn near knocked him out with that first punch. He clenched his fists and swung them as quickly as he could, trying to connect and knock this guy off center. There wasn’t any style, no aiming, just wild swings as fast as he could.

Chad was running out of air fast, still couldn’t draw a deep breath, and was feeling the tiredness creep into his arms from all the swinging, but none had connected enough to even cause Dalton to waiver. Instead he back-stepped, side-stepped and blocked each attempt Chad made. Then, before he could even see it coming, Dalton’s fist connected with Chads nose and mouth. Straight in and with the force of a jackhammer.

Chad felt his nose give and his lips split. He could feel his front teeth in his mouth and spat them out about the time Dalton’s left connected with his gut again. He couldn’t help it, he doubled over just as Dalton came up with a swift upper-cut and drove him right over backwards. Lying in the dirt behind the camper, he scurried on his back trying to get under it for shelter form the beating he was getting.

“Go ahead, crawl under there like the varmint you are. And stay there until the police arrive, if you know what’s good for you. I’ve been gentle so far, but you come out for more and I’ll hurt you bad, shit-head.”

Now that he was safe, at least for the minute, he could hear Heather on her cell phone. Dalton was right, she had called for help and it wouldn’t be long before they arrived. With no other choice, Chad couldn’t do anything but wait for them to show up. He knew if he tried to come out from under the camper, Dalton would beat him senseless. This was no candy-ass, momma’s boy like he had thought.

“What the hell are you, a professional fighter?” Chad hissed between broken teeth and bleeding lips.

“Nope, just an average guy who knows a little bout standing up for himself against ass-holes who beat helpless children and women.”

“I aint ever beat no kids.” Was all Chad could think of to answer back, then added, “Heather, look at what you did, I’m beat and stuck under a camper.”

Dalton replied instead of Heather, “Looks more like you’re up Shit Creek without a paddle, Chad.”

No more was said for quite a while. By the time the car pulled up in front of the camper rig, Chad had managed to catch his breath. Dalton and Heather both walked past the camper and started talking to the lawman. He heard Heather say, “I have a restraining order against him for stalking me. He’s hiding under the camper, thank God Dalton was here or I’m not sure what would have happened. His eyes were so crazy, I thought he might try and kill us.”

Then he heard Dalton saying something about giving him a few good knocks when he attacked, but other than bruised, he’s not hurt. Chad didn’t wait to hear the rest, he wormed his way further towards the side his campsite was on. Then he rolled out, got up and ran like hell into the brush and woods. He started to head to his campsite and his car, but decided it may not be a good idea to try and leave, they would know it’s him and chase him down.

He turned away from the light ahead and went deeper into the brush and darkness. Then suddenly he was on the sand and there was the pier in front of him. He wasn’t sure if the cop, or cops, were chasing behind him, but he wasn’t taking any chances. He ran straight to the pier and grabbed a rope, pulled it loose and gave the freed boat a mighty shove before jumping into it. It moved rapidly away from the pier and the lights, heading out into darker waters.

Finally feeling a bit more secure, he turned and looked, expecting to see the cops and Dalton standing on the pier waving their fists at him. Was there another boat? Maybe a motor boat that can catch me. These thoughts flashed through his mind, especially one with Dalton chasing him down and the cops and Heather standing and laughing as Dalton pulled him from the boat and beat the shit out of him. He let out a big sigh when he seen the pier falling quickly behind him, and there wasn’t anyone on it.

The truth was, no one thought about the water as an escape route. The police called in another car to assist them in their search of the campground. They knew he had to have driven in, and they had the only exit blocked off, it was just a matter of time before they found him. They drove through the mostly empty park with spotlights, while others worked through the denser brush and areas with trees where someone could hide.

Now, the pier was out of site, hours had passed and Chad couldn’t even see the campground. Way off to the right he could see some lights, likely a town, but it was miles away. How far had he drifted? Sooner or later he had to drift back to shore, right? He wasn’t dressed for the cool nights, he didn’t have a jacket, just a t-shirt, sweat pants, and tennis shoes. He shivered in the breeze as it picked up a bit more.

“I hope to hell it’s blowing back towards shore.” He spoke in a normal tone and could barely understand himself. He reached up and felt his face. It was still throbbing and he could see blood by the moonlight as it dripped onto his shirt. His nose had stopped bleeding, but it was smashed bad. His lips still bled some, and felt like hamburger to his touch. He ran his tongue over his teeth, three or four were missing, he couldn’t tell because they were too jagged where they broke off. “Fuck!”

His gut still hurt, but not as bad as where Dalton had caught him on the side. “Bastard must have cracked a rib.” He hissed and then spat a mouthful of blood into the water.”

He went to the front of the boat and reached down to the water, trying to paddle the boat with his hands. He didn’t accomplish much, just got his busted nose to start bleeding again. It hurt too much to squeeze it shut, so he just let it bleed all over his shirt. He looked around and seen a red light blinking off to the left. Instantly he thought it was another boat, after all, what the hell else would it be out here.

He again leaned over, not paying any attention to the blood running from his shattered nose into the water and paddled with his hands as hard and quick as he could. The boat turned in the direction of the other boat. He sat up and waved his hands. He tried to yell to them, but he couldn’t handle the pain that shot through his jaw. Instead of calling out, all he could muster through his broken jaw was a muttering string of unintelligible words. “They’ll think I’m some kind of idiot if they hear me before they see how messed up my face is.”

He continued to paddle the best he could, as blood ran down his face and into the dark water. Where the hell is that big bright moon he thought as he paddled through the chilly water. “I need the moon out so they can see me, damnit!” He cursed up at the cloudy sky.

He looked for the light and was glad to see it was much closer. They must be moving towards me even as I paddle to them, he thought. He tried to call out again, but this time just a simple, “Help me!”

There was no response, even though the boat was now less than twenty feet away. Then, the moon broke through the clouds and lit up the area, reflecting off the rippling water on the sign floating in front of him. It was just a buoy with a sign, not a boat. As he floated nearer he could make out the lettering by the red flashing light, “Caution: Sharks No Diving!”.

Great, sharks now too. Chad was beginning to get scared, something he often did, but he had successfully hidden this fact from himself for many years now. He was sweating and shaking as he looked around and couldn’t see anything except water all around. The moon was completely out now; a big, bright, full moon shining down on him, all alone in a little boat, floating out to sea.

Chad began to cry. At first it was just a few tears, then it was a shuddering, full cry that shook his whole body. He let himself wail out his pain and despair to that big moon for a few minutes, maybe a half hour; he wasn’t sure how long. But, as always, the anger and hatred began to boil up inside of him, and then he heard his Pa yelling at him to stop bawling like a damn girl and act like a man. He sniffled a bit then wiped at the tears with the back of his hand.

Then the anger had hold again and he looked up towards the heavens, “What the fuck, you just going to leave me out here like this while that bitch fucks another man? Give me a god-damned break already!”

He looked down at the water as he tried to think of what he could do. He didn’t really notice anything at first, not until the little wooden boat he was in shuddered under a pretty big bump. Then, his eyes registered what was moving in the water – sharks. Chad didn’t know much about them, but he did know they could scent blood and he had left a trail of it while he paddled for that worthless damn sign.

“That’s just great, I’m stuck out here in the middle of fucking nowhere with a bunch of fucking sharks and that bitch is snuggled into the bastard’s arms that beat me up, screwing him. What’s next?”

Chad barely finished asking when another shock ripped through the boat, sending it over and him into the water. He barely had time to scream before the first shark had his leg and was pulling him under. Then the rest moved in.