If I thought for one miserable minute......

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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#58b
"I want a high level of caution around here," Benny began his reveal. "There are one or more looters or gang members lurking in the neighborhood, probably the guy that knifed Wayne. We are working on finding them, but another problem has taken precedent.
We have the McCann family in town that have been threatened by a terrorist." he fiddled with the tea mug. Finally making up his mind after a long pause, Benny reached for Lainey's casted hand resting on the table. Holding it in his firm grasp, he continued.

"Lainey, this next part concerns you. I am asking you to stay out here, and avoid your Dad. These are my reasons;" Benny absently rubbed his thumb on her fingers.

"Kent is a top notch investigative reporter. Unfortunately, he can sniff out a story, or make one out of nothing."

Lainey was very much aware of that fact. Her Dad had created monsters and ruined lives through his hard hitting, no stone unturned journalism. Many times during her younger life, she had been under house arrest for her protection, or had a bodyguard dog her steps in school and then college.

Teaching in the more rural setting where she had met Clora, Lainey for the first time was enjoying the semblance of a normal life.

"I understand, I really do. More than you think." Lainey said with a sigh. " It's nothing new, to be isolated from my family for protection reasons." she shifted uncomfortably in the chair. "I will leave here, if you want me too." she offered with a heavy heart.

Both Evie and Benny said 'NO!" at the same time. "No," Benny repeated less forcefully. "I want you here." he looked at Evie for confirmation and got the nod he wanted.

"I want you to stay here, please." he looked square on at Lainey's face. "We need help guarding the home place here, the gardens have to go in soon and working leaves a person vulnerable. Would you help us?" Benny was a smart man. Asking for help makes a person feel needed, and much more likely to be agreeable to what they have to do.

Lainey would have walked over hot coals if Benny requested it, but she ducked her head and swallowed hard. Smiling, she said 'yes," with a cow eyed, adoring look at the handsome man.

"I don't like you being out here, isolated," Benny continued in his official capacity. "I'm sending Wayne out here to recuperate, and help guard with Sandy and Lainey."

"Yes!" Sandy did a fist pump with a goofy grin on her face.

"No running," Benny admonished sternly. "I don't want either of you leaving here." He was well aware that Wayne might revert to acting feral to recondition himself. It was a familiar act the mountain man wanna be used to work out his frustrations. Wayne still didn't have a grip on his emotions and tended to act out more than was healthy. "I don't want you pressuring him," Benny warned his sister. "Let him be comfortable, so he will stay."

Sandy pretended to pout, but the effect was ruined by her jubilation as she hugged herself.

"Oh, you can depend on me," she promised with a laugh.

"Yeah, I'll just bet I can," Benny wryly spoke his doubts as to the restraint his sister would exercise.

"I've got to go, I need to speak with Brett and Wayne before it gets much later, Doc gets a bit testy if I keep his patients up late."
Benny smiled at Lainey, ignoring his Grandmother and sister.

Evie touched Sandy on the hand and they retired to the living room. "Ick," Sandy flipped the tips of her fingers like she was shaking off the super sweetness happening in the kitchen.

"Don't be a pot, calling the kettle," Evie shook her finger at Sandy. "You should listen to yourself."

"Oh, I'm not that daffy," Sandy said confidently. "No way."

Evie laughed, genuinely amused at her positive Granddaughter. "Humm, well maybe," she offered.



Benny walked rapidly back to town. The cool night air was refreshing, it had been very warm in the kitchen. Sandy must have loaded the stove to capacity when she heated the tea water.

Brett and Wayne were waiting for him in Wayne's room. Doc gave him a stern look when he walked in, letting Benny know he didn't appreciate the late night conferences. The men discussed the best way to protect the people they cared about, and when Benny suggested Wayne stay at Grandma's, it was well received by the bearded wonder.

"Work's for me," he managed to say with a straight face, "I can manage that, if you can take me out there. I can't walk that far as of yet."

Benny said 'yes, and Sandy tells me that Ev's had a looter."

"Let's get him in here," Brett suggested," he's a mess right now, but needs to know what's happening."

Ev blanched white, when he was told, but swore quietly under his breath. "Get back as soon as possible," he ordered Brett, while looking cautiously down the hall to where Cheryl was sleeping.

"Back from where?" Benny queried, and got filled in on the latest happening.
 
Hickory7

Hickory7

Senior Member
Love this story, Pac. Thank you for letting us share your story and your personal trials as well. Praying for you.
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#59

The man observed the cabin and it's single occupant for a full day. He smiled to himself, this was going to be easy. That yahoo was so full of himself that he was going to be an easy kill.


Brett was glad Benny had insisted he take a chain saw and fuel. He was cutting the fourth dead fall blocking the road. For the first time in ages, Brett felt alive and happy. He hadn't been aware that he had been so down. The harsh exercise made him sweat and feel better as he cleared a passage for Ev's old pickup.

It took Brett two days of cautious, bone jarring work to cross the mountain and down the other side to the Columbia River. He was totally amazed at the transformation Kent underwent, as the newspaper man became the coldly efficient robot giving orders and having them obeyed.

Brett had everything he had requested and more. A private air service left within the hour to get Ev and Cheryl, barrels of gas and new tires festooned the old Ford and he was sitting on a wad of the correct colored cash within three hours.

"I'm impressed," he spoke to Kent as the man prepared to entered the air ambulance he had chartered. "You get things done. Too bad you don't have the respect of your daughter." Kent flinched, but turned and boarded the plane.

It took Brett four days to drive home. He camped in the old growth Forrest and let the healing properties of nature renew his soul




Benny drove Wayne out to Evie's place along with bandages, instructions, pain and sleeping pills. The heaviest load he carried was information for Lainey, concerning her parents. The messiest job he had as Sheriff, was carrying information.

Lainey didn't say a word as he told her that her parents had left. She simply nodded, and was silent as she finished washing the dishes. Benny looked at Evie and his grandmother smiled back in that sad, empathetic expression she had. Benny grabbed a dish towel and started drying the dishes, working with Lainey.

Finished, he walked outside to sit in the sun with Wayne. "Going OK?" he asked.

Wayne turned his face to the sun and closed his eyes. The warmth was healing, to body and soul. He needed both. Being at Evie's was strong medicine in itself. He could feel the good earth vibrations emanating from this humble house and the woman that shared her love with everyone.

"Yes," he replied to Benny. "It is good."

"Sandy's not giving you any trouble, is she?" Benny pressed his adopted brother.

"On the contrary, she has been avoiding me like the plague. It seems someone threatened her with a spanking if she bothered me and interrupted my healing."

Benny coughed a little, his ears turning red. "Well, I know several people who are most anxious for you to heal," he prevaricated.
"We want an old maverick like you healthy and ready for the upcoming fight." Benny teased.

"Fight huh, expect it soon?"

"At any time," Benny replied soberly. He filled Wayne in on the specifics, stressing the fact that the unknown, but expected assailant might not discriminate when he sighted in on his target. "Just don't go on a runner without telling me. And don't be caught without a gun. It may mean your life, or the life of someone you care about," he warned.

"Never leave home without it," Wayne joked seriously. "If Grandma makes me eat anymore, my vest won't cover me or my special package."

I heard that," Evie retorted as she came out the door with lemonade. I need to put pink pleats in that, do I?"

"Pink!" Wayne gasped in horror. "Gad's, the thought of it," he said melodramatically. "I can't bear the thought ."

"Then you behave," she threatened with a smile. "A little meat on those skinny bones won't hurt you. If we need protection, I want you ready and fit."

"Yesss Ma'am," Wayne drawled behind his beard, secretly pleased that she thought enough of him to boss him around. It always tickled him when Grandma acted so bossy.

"Who are you and why don't you shave?" Trey interrupted Wayne's musings. Benny laughed, and Trey looked at him. "Where is my Dad, Uncle Benny, I'm missing him. I want a burger and fries and Gramma don't cook those things."

"Get used to it Squirt, she's been like that for too many years to change now," Benny replied.

"What is a Squirt?" he wanted to know. "How do I know if I am one, and how do you know?" he asked puzzled. "Does Dad know about one? Can a girl be one or are the only Squirts boys? What about Auntie Sandy, is she one? She's so pretty, she likes me, she said so."

"Phew," Wayne whispered. "Does that kid ever run down? What a chatterbox."

"What's a chatterbox?" Trey wanted to know? "Is that like a Squirt? Am I one of those too? Can Christy be one?"

Wayne felt his eyes cross with all the prattle. He shook his head to clear all the nonsense talk running around in there. His head tipped back against the side of the house and he turned his ear down so all that drivel could run out and stop bothering him.

Benny was observing the look of extreme annoyance plastered on Wayne's face. It was pretty easy to tell Wayne didn't like kids. Now that was a piece of news to him and it might not fit into Sandy's long range plans either.

No, it didn't fit Sandy's plans. Leaning against the corner of the house as she stood guard, Sandy listened to the revelations taking place. She said nothing, but it weighed heavy on her mind.

Benny was aware his sister was listening. He also knew that Trey idolized Sandy and she thought heaps of him. This was going to be interesting.

Evie heard, and wasn't shocked or surprised. Wayne was a person that had no clue what being a human was about. He was so skewed, that he was frightful. Unpredictable, a loose cannon with a lit fuse.

The slight movement in the tree line snapped Sandy to attention. "incoming," she hissed. "At 11 o clock."

There was a flurry of activity, as Evie swept the children in the house. It was a good thing. It was Abby. She had been used, abused and mortally wounded.
 
D

Deena in GA

Administrator
_______________
Ack! Don't stop now!

Btw, Trey sounds like a couple of other kids I know, lol. You nailed that kind of kid perfectly.
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#60
There was no use rushing Abby to town. All they could do was make her final moments comfortable. She kept repeating his long black beard, his long black beard. Her speech was garbled and halting between gasps for breath. There was a rattling gurgle and she was gone.

It got real quiet among the group huddled over the pitiful shell of what had been a live person. "Lainey said, "I'm gonna be sick," she stood up and ran outside the barn. She barely made it outside when Sandy clutched her arm and leaned the other direction.

"Oh my God, can you believe that, she must have been stabbed a hundred times," Sandy spit vomit to clear her mouth. Lainey couldn't answer, her gag reflex was turning her inside out. Leaning weakly against the rough barn boards, she heaved every time she thought about the mutilated woman.

Realistically, Lainey knew about the bad side of life, but this was a little too real. Benny and Wayne came outside, white around the mouth and thin lipped. "Stay out here," Benny ordered needlessly.

Lainey and Sandy nodded their acquiesce, like they never, ever wanted to see something like this again.

Trey was sitting at the table eating a cookie, "that was Mom, wasn't it," he challenged Evie. "I looked out the window when you weren't watching."

"Yes," Evie cautiously answered.

"She looked like she was pretty dead. Like my goldfish and my hamster. They died too. I didn't want them to, but they did. I got real sad. I'm gonna be sad about Mom. Where's Dad, is he dead too? I hope not, I don't want him to be dead." Trey started to tear up, "Grandma, I wanna cry. Can I cry on you?"

Evie held open her arms and got Trey and Christy. One child crying as much as the other. Evie wasn't strong enough to hold both children in her lap, so she asked them to come to the couch. She cried along with Trey and Christy. The three of them wetting more hankies than Evie had in her pocket. Cuddling together, the children cried themselves asleep.

Benny opened the kitchen door and helped Lainey and Sandy to sit down. Wayne came walking slowly in, holding onto the counter till he made it to the chair. Because he didn't know what else to do, Benny put water on for tea. He really needed to be in town in a official capacity and alert the proper people.

Benny touched Lainey on the hand and beckoned her outside. He put his arms around her and whispered in her ear. "I have to go. I don't want to leave you, but this what I do, can you be strong ?" Lainey nodded against the strong curve of his neck, breathing in the scent that made Ben the man he was.

Ben backed the SUV up to the barn and had Sandy help him pick up Abby. As he drove into town, a thousand things went through his mind. His first stop was at Will's. He needed some experience in handling what was shaping up to be a major situation.

Ben backed up to the rear door of the clinic, with Will holding the door open. They had unloaded the body when they heard the rattling clank of Ev's pickup coming up the street.

"This just couldn't get any more complicated," Ben muttered half under his breath, as he checked to insure the sheet covered his sister-in-law. Brett ambled up, taking in the covered body. "Whoa," he said, "what happened here?"

"Nothing good," Will butted in before Ben could answer. "Com'on man, I've got some bad news." Brett stopped suddenly, flipped up a corner of the sheet before anyone could stop him, and sagged against the SUV tailgate.

What followed was unprintable and uncool. Doc finally got Brett inside and in a room. Inga raced up and down the hall fetching what Doc requested.

Will and Ben left the covered body and went to find Jennings. They found him elbow deep in soapsuds, washing the nights dishes.
Ben jerked his head in the direction of the door, J looked up and said "Let me snag Dad." hustling, the four of them met outside.

"So it starts," Davis observed quietly. "Have you contacted Alan?"

"Not yet," Ben returned. "She came into Grandma's, and we came right in here."

"I will," Davis offered, "I really would like a rig, I'm not keen on tromping around in the woods in the dark with a crazy killer on the loose."

"Ev's pickup," Will said, "is available."

"OK," Davis raised his head. "Who's at your place for protection?"

Ben explained and Davis shook his head. "I'll alert Alan and be at your place until I am relieved. They need more feet on the ground."

Davis rolled into the cabin parking area. Already the hair was standing up on the back of his neck. Cautiously, he unsnapped his 1911 as he stepped out of the pickup. Leaving the pickup running with the lights on bright, he walked the distance to the cabin.

There was no helping Alan. There had been a hell of a struggle and his son had lost.

Davis swallowed hard against the bile rising in his throat and locked the doors on the old Ford as he bumped back out to the road. At Evie's, he was properly challenged to identify himself as he exited the pickup. Good, he thought. They don't automatically think they know who's driving a familiar pickup.

"Everyone needs to be inside," he announced harshly. "There's a lunatic on the loose."
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#61

"Grandma," Sandy shouted from the door. "Mr. McCann is here, wants to talk to you."

"Ma'am" Davis said seriously, "I have bad news. I am here to bring a message from Ben, that you need to use the utmost caution when out side. There is a killer loose."

Evie shook hands with Davis, "Please, sit down. Coffee or tea?" Davis had been warned, not to drink the coffee unless he liked thick sludge.

"Tea, thank you." he mentioned, as he passed his hand over his face. The scene back in the cabin wouldn't leave his mind, and his knees were weak. No matter how tough he was, that had been his son. Davis was heartsick, worried for J and his family.

"I don't know how to warn you strongly enough, without the details, which are not fit to be repeated" Davis gulped the shocking hot, strong tea. "The killer uses a knife and is merciless."

"God have mercy," Evie murmured, folding her hands on the table. "Thank you Mr. McCann for bring us this warning, we shall be doubly alert," the older woman shook her head at the enormity of the problem. "Please tell Benny that we shall be careful."

"I am not going anywhere," Davis gathered his courage. "I am here to be used as a guard, because of injured and incapable people. How many here can shoot?" he questioned.

"I can" Evie spoke quietly, "and Sandy is quite good. Wayne is good, better with a knife. Lainey is willing but not experienced. We have two young children here. Do you think we should go to town? send the children in with you?"

"I'd prefer to take the children to town, but during the daylight. No one outside during the dark," Davis countered surely. "I'm willing to take anyone in that wants to go. You Miss, would you rather be in town?" he asked Lainey.

"I'm scared cross eyed," Lainey admitted, "but I'm staying. I wouldn't leave Mrs Hanson alone."

"I'm staying, I won't leave Grandma," Sandy anted up.

"I'm here, Grandma is the only person to ever treat me decent," Wayne declared.

"OK," Davis gaged the group. "We need to have a person with the children at all times, even when they are sleeping. Safety first." he stressed.

"I'll sit with them," Lainey offered. I hurt my hand and it's bothering me, I'm not sleepy."

Davis agreed, "thanks."

Wayne tapped his fingers on the table nervously. "I'm about done in," he reluctantly admitted. "I'm hurtin so bad I've got to lay down."

"Do it," Davis urged. "You can spell us later, after you rest."

Evie and Davis wound up sitting at the table. "Pardon me Ma'am, for barging in and taking over like this, I found my oldest boy tonight. He'd been killed." Davis's voice shook a little and he banged his fist on the table.

Evie reached out and placed her hand on the clenched fist. "I'm sorry Davis, that's a pain that never goes away."

Davis turned the woman's hand over. Rough, calloused with an obviously old, broken little finger. The hand of a working woman, no rings, no fancy nail do, just caring and compassion.

With a sigh, he placed the old gnarled and vein knotted hand back on the table. "Thank you for the kind words," he was finally able to say. He squeezed her hand gently, aware that the enlarged knuckles were full of painful arthritis. Just as his were.

Evie nodded, suddenly weary with all the day had thrust upon them. It's a pity, she thought, I simply don't have the stamina I used to have.

"Can you stand watch?" she asked Davis, "I'm always up early, I'll take over at first light."

"Fair enough," he replied as he settled out of sight behind the kitchen door.

Sandy prowled the house, familiar with the layout. She had changed her shirt for a black one, a mere shadow as she moved back and forth with nervous energy. She had helped Wayne, he was so weak he stumbled and fell several times moving to her bed.
It was a funny sight, the wild haired bushy bearded mountain man in her narrow single bed. The old chenille bedspread with it's pink roses marching in a line disappearing under his cheek.

Evie was true to her word, at dawn she came into the kitchen to start coffee.

"No action," Davis reported. "Let me get a couple hours sleep and then I want to take the kids to town."

"Sure," Evie agreed. "Use my bed, the others are occupied."

"Oh, I couldn't put you out," Davis protested, as he yawned.

"Suit yourself," Evie retorted. "Either sleep in the bed, or sleep standing up."

Davis chose the bed. The gent smiled to himself as he stretched out and put his weary head on the pillow. It had been a long time since he had been in a lady's bed.

Trey and Christy woke up hungry and full of talk. They started chattering when they hit the kitchen and worked up a full head of steam all the through pancakes and eggs. Evie counted the eggs Sandy had brought from Ev's, enough for breakfast at least. She
cast a troubled eye over at Ev's place, worrying about the undone chores.

Standing at the kitchen sink, the grey haired queen of the Hanson manor, surveyed her domain. Nothing seemed amiss, no unusual movement just a slight breeze to ruffle the greening trees, no lurking bad guy waving a flag. Nothing distinguished this day, from any other. A fine day, a gift from the Lord. A day to make the best of. Evie was thankful.

Wayne struggled into the kitchen, having changed places with Sandy. The children were delighted to have a fresh body to irritate, and they commenced making it happen. After a solid half hour of question after question, Wayne stood up with a haunted look in his eyes. He couldn't take it any more. The kids were driving him crazy.

"I've got to go to the barn," he gasped, trembling and starting to sweat, "I can't take this, let me out," he was practically yelling.
He limped to the door and rushed out as quickly as a man in his condition could hurry.

Evie started to protest, but Wayne had that 'special' look about him. The look he would get when he was up against a problem he couldn't solve and turned panicky and disturbed. He was certainly worked up and about to lose his grip on reality. Better to let him go. He might not be a physical match for a killer, but he was a psychological one.

Wayne made it to the barn, did a sweep of the inside and sat heavily on the old splintered chair. It was blessedly cool, dark and quiet. The quiet he so desperately needed. The kids made him feel trapped, jittery and jumpy. Their noise crawling up and down his nerves until he thought he would explode.

It took intense concentration for Wayne to bring his breathing under control, and hold his frayed abilities together.

It was then he noticed the back tire on Ev's pickup had been cut. Ahh, a focus for him to work on. Wayne smiled, at least to him it was a smile, for any onlooker it was a twisted sneer of evil. A grimace of cold blooded intent to release pent up emotion.

Evie patrolled her kingdom while the night guards slept. Keeping Trey and Christy inside and occupied was a challenge that was wearing her down. She finally sent them downstairs to play dress up in the old clothes trunk. Lainey did her best, reciting all the rhymes and jingles she knew, playing games until she was worn out.

She watched Benny drive in the drive way. Clora was with him. Evie closed her eyes in thanksgiving prayer, Thank You Lord, she breathed. Thank you Lord.

Benny pulled in next to Ev's pickup, his head turning as he observed the cut tire.

Evie went to the door and stepped out into the morning sunshine to greet her grandchildren. Clora rushed up to hug the fragile form of her grandmother.

"Is Davis here?" Ben asked, "He has a sad situation."

"He was at the cabin last night," Evie said softly. "He knows."

"YES," the harsh voice broke in, "He does know that his scum of a son is dead." from the corner of the house where he had been hidden by the pickup, an apparition stood up and pointed a huge black gun in the direction of the huddled group.
 
Phantom

Phantom

Contributing Member
Oh good chapter I'only can say

Sic em!! :fprt: Inky :fprt:

I wonder where Wayne is waitng for this at ...:bg:
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#62
The man looked like a extrema religious fanatic with his clean shaven head and long bushy black beard. He was agitated, waving the gun in one hand and in the other, a wicked long blade with a curve on the end. He was spouting a long abusive spiel of threats. Using the gun to nudge them together, he hesitated when he saw Benny's hand slowly slide for his service weapon.

"Ahh, you wish to die first," the sing song voice at odds with the cold flat brown eyes touched here and there with rage and maniacal hatred. "Dog!" the man thundered; "spawn of Satan, I spit on you!"

Benny slowly moved Clora and Evie behind him, giving them what protection he could.

Quick as a snake strike the fanatic man reached over and backhanded Evie across the mouth, sending the old woman to her knees.

"Lessons," he muttered as he kicked in her direction, "You especially need a lesson old woman." he leaned over to wave the knife close to her face. "A new smile perhaps," he sneered. "A bright red smile to help you into the hell waiting for you."

Benny kept inching over, keeping the women behind his strong body.

"Stop there" the man ordered, reaching up to slash the front of Ben's uniform with a flashing arc of the knife. The line left open, welling with bright drops of red blood.

Evie came up from her knees snarling worse than the dogs that were going nuts in the house. The barking growing more ferocious and desperate as the extremest continued. The door bowing and flexing each time Inky hit it with his weight.

"I'm warning you old woman, it will be a pleasure to see you die, slowly," he drew out the word. Slashing in a millisecond, he drew the tip of the blade across Evie's cheek. The curving line blossoming blood instantly.

Four things happened all at once. Wayne woke from his pain induced stupor to see a man hit his Grandmother. Before he thought, he reached for the blade that was his constant companion and launched it into the man's back. It buried to the hilt, sliding between the ribs to enter the heart from the backside.

The second happening was a shot from the direction of the front porch that hit the enraged assailant in the face. Lainey was defending her man, aiming for the radicals body mass and missing by as much as a foot.

Third, Sandy threw open the kitchen door and pulled the trigger on the Mossberg, hitting the man exactly where she aimed.

The fourth was the enraged Newfoundland jumping for and catching the man by the throat.

There was a fifth happening, but Junior's lunge and bite happened about ankle height.

Davis came busting out of the house, waving his 1911, ready to avenge Alan's death, but stopping because Inky was standing over his target.

"Dear God," Clora stooped to help Evie up, and almost tipped over herself.

Lainey took one look at what she had done and burst into tears, verging on the hysterical. Ben calmly folded her under one arm as he used the other to right his Grandmother and sister. Sandy came over to lean against Clora and Davis, always the gentleman, offered Evie a clean, folded handkerchief for her cheek.

"Anyone know who this murdering scum might be?" Davis bellowed as the fright slowly started wearing off.

"Yes," Evie said sadly. "It's Pete."
 
Phantom

Phantom

Contributing Member
Oh wow
Way to go Inky ....Go get em..... Pinky :rdog:

Maybe that should have been seen comming...

Great chapter.....and they keep comming so quickly too.
I kinda want to think it's almost over but then i keep thinking
there still much more to come.
One chapter closed but so many more still open.

Keep up the great writing!!!
 
D

Dreamer

Veteran Member
Pete??!!?!!?? Is that why Inky didn't react to the intruder coming close to the house? I hope that Lainey is alright with what she did - hopefully it helps that she was one of 3 to 4 likely mortal wounds.
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#63

"Who's Pete," bellowed Davis, still coming down from the adrenalin rush.

"My son, the kid's father." Evie said in a small voice, her knees buckling and dropping her to the ground. Inky belly crawled over and refused to let anyone help her up. He growled, even showing his teeth at his beloved Sandy, when she reached for Evie.

It took time to get the huge dog to stand down from guarding his mistress. Wayne came from the barn, using the chair like a cane. Thump..step. Thump step. It was nerve racking listening to him come across the yard, scuffing through the gravel.

Wayne's eyes were open and vacant. It looked like nobody was home inside the living, breathing person. He stood close to Evie, and tears spilled from his eyes as he gently touched the red stained handkerchief. Wayne reached down and touched Inky on the head and the dog got stiffly up and moved enough to let Davis help Evie to her feet.

Junior however, had different ideas. He stood his ground and growled at all the humans that tried to help Evie in the house. Finally Sandy bent over and picked him up, his little puppy legs scrambling in the air like a Wiley E. Coyote cartoon. Slowly the entourage moved into the house. They got Evie and Wayne into chairs, Sandy, Clora and the still sobbing Lainey fussed over Benny, stripping off his shirt and cleaning the cut.

In a moment of silence, a very young voice said haltingly, "can we come up now. I really gotta pee, real bad."

Clora urged both kids up from the basement. "One at a time, Christy you use the bathroom, Trey let's go out the front door and you can pee outside." That was enough enticement to get Trey moving with alacrity.

"Don't look," he warned Clora. "Turn around so you can't see me." he shuffled his feet. "Girls don't watch."

"I'm not looking," Clora promised. She didn't like looking at the body of her father either, so she shut her eyes.

"Can we go back in," Trey kinda whined. "I'm hungry."

"Sure, how about a cookie?' Clora asked and got a happy nod from the five year old. Personally she thought the idea of eating anything would turn her stomach inside out.

Grandma had mint tea, and she needed a good big cupful.

Patched up, Benny asked Davis and Sandy for help loading Pete in the back of the Sheriff's SUV. The Suburban equipped with several blue tarps just for such emergencies. It took Clora to help move the hard muscled dead man up into the rear compartment.

None of Pete's children felt any emotion as they rolled the body in the tarp. It was just a body of a killer.

"I've got to go to town," Benny said with determination. "Will you help Lainey?"

Both girls agreed instantly. "I think you should take Wayne in to see Doc," Sandy requested. "He's not right. Something has happened to him mentally, and it's scary. He's not trustworthy to be around the kids."

Benny didn't want to fool around with coaxing Wayne as he knew it would take a while, but he couldn't put the kids in danger.

"How about I stay," Davis offered. "You and J can take care of all the official business without my help."

"I'll get the tire changed," Clora ticked off her chores. "I'll do Ev's, and Davis and I will get Alan and bring him in."

Davis nodded, suddenly not able to speak.

It took Sandy coaxing with all her might to get Wayne in the Chev. She belted him in and shut the door. Benny was in motion before she could hardly get her foot out of the way. She understood he didn't want to give Wayne the opportunity to get back out.

Ruby went with her as Clora went to Ev's to do chores. Coming up to the pig pen, she went to open the gate and promptly threw up. Slaughtered pigs lay every which way in the mud. Senseless destruction, a terrible money loss for a homestead.

Ruby raised her hackles at the smell of so much blood. Clora was afraid to look at the calves and chickens, but they were alright. She fed, gathered the eggs and checked the house. The door window was broken and it had been entered. More destruction inside, pillows had been ripped open with a knife, a looter looking for a stash of money.

Clora couldn't stay, Davis was changing the tire and there was still a horrible job to do.

Sandy volunteered to go help bring out Alan, and Clora was thankful. Alan had been a big, tall man, and she wasn't looking forward to tugging and pulling on a dead body. Clora broached an idea to Davis. "Would you consider letting us use the backhoe bucket to move the body. I don't think we can move him otherwise."

Davis took a deep breath and simply said "yes."

"I'll get the hoe and meet you at the cabin. Watch him Sandy," she said private and low. "He's shook up plenty and trying not so show it."

Sandy whispered back that she would, and for Clora to hurry. Checking the water and oil and fuel levels before turning the key, Clora levered the outrigger to the up position and released the brake. The Cat whistled a bit and she pulled back on the throttle to rev the motor. It took 20 minutes to get to the cabin.

Sandy was totally white faced, and in short order, Clora was too. Davis finally laid over the hood of the pickup and cried. The girls rolled the body in the tarp Benny had left and rolled it to the loader bucket. Carefully and as gently as her inexperienced hand could move the controls, they placed Alan in the pickup bed.

Sandy took one remaining look at the cabin, liberally doused with blood inside and said, "I'm gonna burn this sucker down. I'll take the hoe home when I'm done."

Clora got in the glove box and gave her the box of matches Ev always kept there. "Be careful and do a good job," Clora told her sister.

Clora pulled up in front of the diner. She went inside to talk with Tammy. "He's not good Tammy, it's like the life is going out of him. I want to take him over to Doc's,"

Tammy shot the orders to her kids, and got in the pickup cab, scooting the limp form of her father-in-law over. "Oh yeah, you did a good call Clora, he needs a doctor."

Benny was at the back door when they got there, J appeared and gently helped his Dad in the clinic. "Doc is the Medical Examiner, he need's to do a death certificate," Benny explained as he and Brett moved the tarp rolled bodies.

"I've got to get back to the cafe, thanks Clora, we owe you big time," Tammy trotted back to her 24/7 job.

"Sandy's burning the cabin," Clora arched her back and neck as she stood beside the pickup. Both brothers looked instantly to the West where the smoke was roiling up over the tree tops. Brett started to object, and stopped when Clora said, "a person would never want to go in there again, dear God Brett, Pete cut the guy's head off."
 
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Dare7

Senior Member
Oddly enough, I absolutely knew it was Pete as soon as he smacked Evie. I could probably speculate as to why but I'd rather not - ugly hate filled memories from my childhood that are still manifesting in even uglier ways - so I just knew.
 
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wab54

Veteran Member
Now, If I knew what the deal with Pete, the three women, the hoodlums and the children was, It would make a lot more sense.


What are the hoodlums after and how do the others tie in?


WAB
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
Wab54
This story is book #2 of the Saga of Evie.
Most of the questions you have are in book #1 Pride Goeth Before a Fall.
 
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Deena in GA

Administrator
_______________
Wow. Just wow. And with your usual skill, even in the midst of horror you bring out that little, so-true-to-life boy who needs to go to the bathroom that makes us all smile.
 
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