Chapter 3
Tony kept his eyes on the man with the shotgun pointed at his face.
Damn it, why did I leave my gun in the car?
"How ya doin?" Tony asked with a nervous chuckle.
"You're on our property," The man said flatly. "You have ten seconds to tell me why."
"Okay okay, let's all relax. My car broke down and I was trying to find help. I wanted to get out of the heat, so I stopped to rest. I can just move on now-"
"You're not moving anywhere."
"I don't understand... I was just resting. I'll go and never come back, I promise."
"Grab him, Jimmy."
"What-hey!" Tony squeaked as "Jimmy" pulled him to his feet and wrenched an arm behind his back. "Ow! What the hell! I wasn't even doing anything!"
"We don't like trespassers on our land. My brothers and I are going to show you what happens to folks who put their footprints in our soil."
Tony felt himself being yanked through the cornfield.
I'm about to experience Deliverance for myself... I am so screwed.
"That's right, Boss. We're somewhere in Virginia. No, I don't have my computer. It's in the car. My phone has no signal out here-Tony? Um, that's the other thing I had to tell you... we kinda got into a fight and I walked away. Boss! Stop shouting for minute- okay, okay. Can you have Abby-right. I'll find him. Yes, I promise. Okay, okay, bye."
Tim sighed and hung up the phone.
"Your Boss sounds like a bastard," John observed from his seat at the kitchen table. Tim joined him.
"He can be, but he means well. I've got a friend who can hopefully track my cell phone and find me."
"You could have given him my address."
"Believe me, I thought of that... Gibbs would get lost on these roads just trying to find us."
"That's your Boss' name?"
"Yeah."
"Well, you're welcome to stay here as long as you like. Heidi and I have plenty of space."
"That's very kind of you, John. I accept."
"We can set up a bedroom for you after dinner. Right now, there's work to be done outside."
"Can I help?"
"You know about farm work, kid?"
"I stayed with my Aunt one summer, and she put me to work. It was my father's idea. He said it'd build character."
"Well all right then. Come on outside with me. We'll start with milking the cows."
~*~*~*~*~*~
After being practically dragged through a cornfield, Tony and the three brothers came to a dilapidated old house.
"I really am in Deliverance,aren't I?" Tony whined.
The tallest of the brothers punched him in the gut.
"Shut your hole."
The man with the gun turned around.
"Take him to the barn."
Jimmy and his Redwood of a brother dragged Tony over to a large barn that had clearly seen better days. Redwood pulled the door open and Jimmy brought Tony inside. Redwood came in behind them and shut the door. They dragged him into one of the empty horse stalls, and handcuffed him to a post.
"What the hell is this?" Tony demanded, fighting Jimmy's grip.
"Your new home. Get used to it, pretty boy."
Redwood closed the stall door, sneering at Tony.
"Let me out of here! What the hell is wrong with you people?"
"Right, let you out... that's a good one, pretty boy. Get comfortable." Jimmy and Redwood left the barn, and Tony found himself alone.
How in the hell am I going to get out of this?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
John watched as Tim milked his first cow with gentle hands. Tim seemed to be in some kind of zone as he worked. There was nothing but him and the cow. Judging by that, and the way his voice cracked when he mentioned his father, John deduced that Tim had something weighing on his mind.
John's wife, Heidi, called them in for dinner shortly after the cows had been milked. She served a plate of Chicken and mashed potatoes. Tim thanked her and ate heartily.
Heidi served cherry pie and coffee for dessert. Tim relaxed as he sipped the warm beverage.
"So Tim," Heidi said, sitting down at the table with a cup of tea. "Tell us about your trip. Where are you headed?"
"My friend and I were on our way to Virginia Beach. It was his idea. I knew we should have taken my car, but he insisted on taking his."
"That's when you broke down, right?"
"Yep. He's probably still out there trying to fix it."
"He'd better watch himself. The Cobb boys have property south of here. Not many folks that wander their way tend to come back without a few bruises."
"What? Why didn't you say something earlier? I have to find him."
Tim stood and brought his plate to the kitchen sink. John got up and followed him.
"It's nearly dark... I'm not letting you go out there alone. If the Cobbs find you, that Gibbs fellow will be looking for your body, rather than your cell phone."
Tim rifled through his bag by the door, and came out with his cell phone.
"I thought you said that thing didn't get a signal."
"It doesn't, but it won't hurt to bring it, just in case."
Tim pocketed the phone and turned to John.
"Let's go."
TBC...