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The Butcher of Madison County

Chapter four

4:45 AM the next morning

Dean showed up at the prison door and after showing his ID was let in and escorted to the warden's office. He was then told that he would be allowed on the trip but only as an observer. No matter what he saw on the trip he was to keep his mouth shut and not interfere. He was to let the guards discipline the prisoners anyway they saw fit. After he agreed to the rules he was taken to the room where the prisoners and the guards were waiting for the van to take them to the mountains. The prisoners were lined up against the wall standing at attention while the guards sat around drinking coffee and eating breakfast. Dean's relief at seeing his brother immediately turned to anger when he saw the purple bruise on Sam's cheek. He had only been there for a day and already gotten into trouble. Dean knew he had to swallow his anger and try to fit in with the guards; he walked over and introduced himself as Wade Walker. The guards shook his hand and offered him a seat.

"So I guess the warden told you the rules?" Kevin, the guard in charge asked.

"Yeah, he went over them."

"The main thing to remember is that these men are our prisoners, they're not one of us. They are here to learn a lesson about respect and team work; they're not to be coddled. What you see on the trip stays on the trip, is that clear?"

"Hey I'm only here to check out the program and see if it might work at Blackwood. What you boys do out there is your business, not mine."

"As long as you remember that we'll get along just fine." Kevin then introduced the other guards to Dean… Mason, Joe, Steve, and Rob.

6:00 AM

Once the van arrived the prisoners were marched out of the prison for the two hour drive to the start of the trail they would be following. Each prisoner was first fitted with leg irons which according to the guards would be removed once the prisoner showed that he could be trusted to obey the rules and not cause trouble. The guards rode in the front of the van on comfortable seats, while the prisoner's leg irons were chained to the floor of the van and the prisoners themselves were forced to ride on hard metal seats facing each other and in silence.

8:15 AM

They arrived at their destination and the six prisoners were taken off the van then forced to carry all of the equipment they would need on the trip, tents, supplies, and water while the guards walked empty handed. The prisoners were instructed not to talk to any of the other prisoners and to only talk to a guard if the guard spoke to them first. They were to address the guards as sir and the prisoners would be addressed as to whatever number they had written on the back of their jumpsuit, no names were to be exchanged. Almost immediately Sam saw that one of the smaller prisoners was having trouble carrying his share of the supplies which were two large containers of water. Sam walked over to Mason, one of the guards.

"Sir, Prisoner Four can't carry that much weight, its way too heavy for him."

"Did I speak to you first?" Mason asked.

"No sir but…"

"We haven't even walked but a few steps and you're already breaking the rules."

"I'm sorry but…."

Dean walked over to the guard.

"What's the problem?"

"Prisoner Five is talking out of line. What do you think we should do about it?

Dean glanced at Sammy but quickly looked away.

"What did he want?"

"He informed me that Prisoner Four was having trouble carrying his load."

Dean looked over at the prisoner who was obviously having trouble carrying the heavy containers.

"Well he's right; it does look too heavy for him."

"What do you suggest we do?"

"All the prisoners are pretty well loaded down, why don't we give them a hand."

"Well I have a better idea." Mason walked over to Prisoner Four and took the containers out of his hands. He then walked over to Sam and put the bottles in front of him. "If you're so concerned about him then you can carry his load as well as your own."

Dean was about to object, the load Sam was already carrying was heavy and it would be almost impossible for him to carry any additional weight, but Sam caught his eye and with a little shake of his head warned Dean off. Without another word Sam added the bottles to his load and joined the other prisoners. Dean didn't like it but he knew he had to keep his mouth shut if he didn't want to turn the guards against him. He looked over at Mason and smiled his approval.

"Well that's one way to handle it."

"It's the only way."

Dean watched as Mason walked back to his fellow guards, he had a bad feeling this was going to be a long trip.

TBC