Buck naked in the semi-darkness, Oskar smiled at Jane’s final well-wishes.  He wished he could return the sentiment, without having to go back inside, of course.  That same smile widened as he heard the emphatic sound of a bolted door lock.<br/><br/>Satisfied and relieved, he shifted into his golden eagle guise.  He pranced about, ruffling his feathers and stretching his wings.  Although flying never got old for him, there was always pre-flight checks to fulfill.  Completing a short flight to a nearby fence, Oskar glanced around the cul-de-sac he lived on.  His sharp eagle vision detected no activity, whereupon he flew to one of the taller trees.  With this height advantage, he was able to view the front of his house, and when Jane appeared, he’d spot her instantly.  The rear of his home was also clear to scrutinize.  When the men departed from hiding, he would immediately notice them, too.<br/><br/>With the sun on the rise and already brightening the morning sky, movement from the front of the house.  Jane!  Oskar flapped his wings as he took to the wild blue yonder.  Although at this early hour, it was more like the mild blue yonder.  For now, he flew in looping circles, waiting for the men to make an appearance.  Sure enough, both emerged from concealment, noticing Jane as she headed toward town.<br/><br/>No longer circling, Oskar rode the wind currents, watching the nefarious activity below.  The pair of strangers certainly weren’t attempting to disguise their tailing her, but they did keep a safe distance from their quarry.  And then Jane “spoke,” and it bothered him to no end the anxiety he heard in her “voice.”  That’s my girl, he thought, as he dove toward her, wishing to close the distance between them before answering.  He wanted to be sure she’d hear him, after all.  Oskar emitted a lonesome<i>skreee, </i>then sharply banked right, dropping his altitude even more.  The buildings along the street would mask him from the men’s view, if they so chose to gaze skyward.<br/><br/>Oskar sped toward the back of his house, time being of utmost concern.  That cursed window beckoned to him (or was it taunting him?), as he painfully recalled his pair of botched landing attempts.  Fuck it, he thought.  Jane was out there alone, with no air support whatsoever.  He concentrated and zeroed in on his landing spot.  Air speed reduced, he glided straight through the window, settling on the perch he had fashioned previously.  Nailed it! he triumphantly thought.  Musical notes from<i>Danger Zone </i>rattled through his head.  A quick shift into his human form, and Oskar shut and locked the window.<br/><br/>Hurrying to his bedroom, he started stuffing clothes into a bag.  For now, the only clothing of his that Jane would fit into were his boxer-briefs and t-shirts.  Oskar would purchase clothes for her during their journey.  Fully dressed, he secured his wallet and hustled downstairs.  Confirming all windows and doors were locked, he armed the home security alarm, then proceeded toward his car.  Reversing out of the garage, he waited until the automatic door shut securely.<br/><br/>He floored it, as his all-wheel drive vehicle sped down the street.  Oskar was heading for the area where he had last seen Jane, a few blocks past<i>Grace’s</i><i>Cafe</i>.  And lo and behold, he passed the two men along the way.  He frantically searched the sidewalk for Jane.  They never discussed what action to take next, once it was confirmed how many of the men followed her.  Well, he thought, now was as good a time as any to begin their trek to Denver.  And if the men chose to follow them, then so be it.  A bigger city meant more witnesses and authorities to intervene if necessary.  Thankfully, he finally spotted her, and he could tell that the manner in which she carried herself how uncomfortable she was with the situation and her surroundings.  There was a tugging on his heart strings yet again.<br/><br/>Pulling over to the curb just in front of her, Oskar swung the passenger-side door open and shouted, “Jane!  It’s me, Oskar!  Quick, get in!”