Chapter Five
Phyllis and Billy returned from the store around 10 AM, just as Sam had finished getting dressed. He helped Phyllis put the groceries away, as best he could, considering he didn't know where anything was supposed to go. He then went outside, sat on the porch, and watched as Ben and Billy worked on and cursed at the old blue clunker of a car in the yard. This was entertaining for a while, but Sam soon grew restless and started worrying about when and how the accident occurred.
He got up and went for a walk around the field in front of the house. He walked up the dirt road and stopped at the sign that said, "Entering Cahaba River Wildlife Management Area." Just then, a voice called to him. "Jacob!"
Sam turned around to see a plain-looking but pretty girl with light brown hair and freckles. He recognized her as Misty from Jacob's picture.
"Hey, Misty," Sam said.
"My mom said you fell out of your tree stand yesterday. Are you okay?" she asked, looking concerned.
"Uh, yeah, I guess so," Sam answered.
"Good. I got real worried when I heard about it, but I'm glad you're okay." She pointed beyond the sign. "You gonna go back out there?"
"Uh, hopefully not today. I don't think I'm quite ready to try-"
"Bubba!" Billy called as he came running up the dirt road. "I've been looking all over for ya! Hey, Misty."
"Hey Billy," Misty grinned. "Well I gotta go. I'll see y'all later," she called over her shoulder as she ran down the dirt road toward the house Sam presumed was hers.
"Ooh, I once had a thing for a girl named Misty," said Al as he walked through the sign toward Sam. "She was a waitress at this little diner just outside town. Boy, you shoulda seen her 'Daily Special'..." Sam shot him a "stop it" look, and Al responded by waving his cigar around and saying, "Okay. Sorry, Sam"
"Well, you gonna go get ready?" Billy asked.
"Ready for what?" Sam asked.
"To go back out there and see if we can get us a big deer!" Billy said, patting Sam on the shoulder.
"Does it have to be today?" Sam asked.
"Aw, Bubba, you're just scared you'll fall outta that tree stand again," Billy responded.
"No, I just don't feel like today's a really good day to go back out there. Maybe we can wait till tomorrow, okay?" Sam suggested.
"Look, Bubba, if you're scared, I'll just go by myself," Billy offered.
"No, Sam!" Al interjected. "You can't let him go alone! Ziggy says he'll still die on the four-wheeler!"
"Okay, I'll go with you. But we gotta wear orange while we're out there," Sam insisted.
"Orange! Bubba, we've never worn orange! You know that!" Billy exclaimed. "The whole point of wearing camo is to be invisible. Why would you ruin that by wearing orange?"
"So other hunters can see us," Sam answered.
"When's the last time you ever seen or even heard another hunter out there?" Billy asked as he pointed beyond the sign.
"Um... well, uh," Sam stammered, looking to Al for help, but receiving none.
"Exactly! There ain't nobody else out there! Heck, it hasn't even been open that long! Now, I'm going, with or without you," Billy said as he started back toward the house.
"Sam!" Al exclaimed.
"Billy! Wait! I'm coming," Sam called as he ran down the dirt road after Billy.