Sorry for such a long wait. I had part of this chapter done, then my life got busy, some really good friends of mine moved away, and then it got deleted. So again sorry for the long wait. All rights for the song "Don't Take the Girl" go to Tim McGraw. I take credit for the story/Chapter.
After
It started out like any other day. They had done it a million other times, what could possibly go wrong. But things where about to take a turn for the worst.
Tommy looked in the mirror, he couldn't believe it. When he was little he had always hated girls, his father would always tease him about liking them and how he'd fall in love. But now hear he stood getting ready for a date with the "girl" he'd fallen in love with. He could still remember the day his father took him fishing.
Tommy's dad was taking him fishing when he was eight years old. They had planned it for weeks and Tommy was so excited. It would just be him and his dad, but plans had changed last minute.
A little girl came through the front gate holding a fishing pole. It was Tommy's cousin Kate. Her parent's needed a babysitter last minute so Tommy's dad had agreed to watch her, which Tommy was not happy about. He stood next to his father and grumbled under his breath.
His dad looked down and smiled, said, "We can't leave her behind. Son, I know you don't want her to go, but someday you'll change your mind."
And Tommy said, "Take Jimmy Johnson, take Jack Tompson, take my best friend Bo. Take anybody that you want as long as she don't go." He pleaded with his father, "Take any boy in the world, daddy please don't take the girl."
She still ended up coming much to his pleading and complaining, but his father was right about one thing. Tommy had changed his mind about girls, or at least this girl. He shook the thought from his mind realizing he would be late if he didn't hurry. He took one last look in the mirror before heading down stairs.
Clementine sat on her front porch steps listening to the birds chirp softly. And the chickens coo in the backyard. It was such a nice day out, the sky was a nice light pink color against the clouds, as the day turned to dusk. She watched as her playful, gray and white boarder collie, "Blake", the one her and Tommy had picked up on there way through Oklahoma, rolled around on his back in her front yard. She laughed at his playful antics, "Hear, Blake!" She called.
The dog perked up his ears at the sound of his name. He rolled over and came running to her. "Good boy." Clem said as he sat next to her. She started to rub her hand up and down the dog's back.
A few moments later she spotted that all to familiar white truck heading towards them. She kept a hand on Blake's collar as the dog barked in excitement, knowing who it was, so he wouldn't try and run in front of the car.
Tommy parked the truck and got out. "Come here boy!" He called. "Go get'em Blake!" Clem let go of the collar and stood up to follow the dog.
Blake ran up to Tommy and ran in circles around him barking happily. Tommy knelt down and scratched his back smiling, "Good boy." He stood up as another figure appeared.
"We where wondering when you'd show up." Clem smirked. "I wasn't that late was I?" Tommy said jokingly knowing she was just messing with him. "Ready to go?"
"Just waiting on you." She told him.
"Then lets go!" He said, walking to the driver's side door.
"Come on Blake! Wanna go for a ride?" Clementine called. She turned to open the back door of the truck. Blake gave an excited yap before hopping in the backseat. She closed the door behind him then got in the font seat herself. Tommy rolled down the windows for the dog, then put the truck in drive and headed down to the drive in.
Clem and Tommy where at the drive in movie parked in the very last row, but they didn't care. There to buys holding onto one another to even care about the show. They had already seen this film, but it was nice for them to get out of the house. The sun had set and the stars where out now. They sat on the hood of Tommy's pick up truck while Blake laid on the grass in front of it.
The movie was about half way through when Clem slid off the hood of the truck. "I'm gonna grab a drink want anything?" She asked Tommy.
He waved her off. "Nah, I'm fine."
A few feet away a bush rustled and Blake's ears perked up. Before Clem could turn around she heard the sound of a gun click. A Stranger came and pulled a gun, and grabbed her by the arm. Tommy immediately slid from the hood of the truck to the ground to face the attacker, but kept his hands raised to not cause any sudden moves. "Tommy don't...!" Clem yelled. Blake jumped to his feet and bared his teeth letting out a warning bark followed by a long, low growl. The stranger gestured to the dog with the gun. Tommy put his hand out in front of Blake telling him to stay back, "Easy boy." Then looked back to the guy who still had Clementine in his grasp. He didn't look much like a robber though he was dressed in dark clothing. More like a homeless old man, with some torn clothing. Tommy almost felt sorry for him.
He said, "If you do what I tell you to, then there won't be any harm."
And Tommy said, "Take my money, take my wallet, take my credit cards." He pulled them out of his back pocket and threw them on the ground. Then he looked at his wrist. "Here's the watch that my grandpa gave me." He said as he unbuckled it. "Here's the keys to my car." He held it up and let the keys dangle. "Mister give it a whirl, but please don't take the girl."
Clem thought in her mind, "The one time I don't have my gun. If we survive this I'll never hear the end of it from Luke."
The stranger looked back and forth between Clementine, Blake, and the items on the ground. Then he looked into Tommy's eyes and could see the concern for the girl he had in his arms right now. Something he hadn't seen in a while now.
Tommy didn't understand as what appeared to be the stranger battling his thoughts right now. He didn't move, just kept his gun trained on Tommy, and would shift his eyes back and forth between the lot of them. What more could he possibly want? Tommy didn't have anything else to give him, and he knew that neither himself nor Clem had a weapon. He knew Blake would risk his life for the girl he loved, for either of them, but if it came down to that.. He erased the thought from his head. He just hoped the man wouldn't hurt Clementine.
A few moments more of silence other than the low growls coming from the dog. No one else had seemed to notice what was going on, but Tommy didn't dare draw any attention towards what was going on for fear the man might shoot one of them. After a few more seconds of debating Tommy heard the stranger mumble what sounded like the word shit under his breath. He lowered the gun, "Take her." He pushed Clementine forward. She stumbled at the sudden force. Tommy reached out and caught her. They watched as the man slowly backed away into the bushes still keeping his gun trained on them until he could no longer be seen.
Forgetting the man for a moment he moved on to Clementine. "Are you alright? Did he hurt you?"
"I-I'm fine. He didn't hurt me." Tommy replied by hugging her. She accepted his hug and laid her head on his chest. They pulled apart and Tommy kissed her. They stared into each others eyes until something got between them. Clem looked down and laughed as Blake tried to rub up against her, happy that his owners where out of harms way. She knelt down to pet him.
Tommy smiled, "Good boy Blake, good boy. You saved Clem." He rubbed the dogs head. Then he leaned down to get his wallet and watch and other valuables from off the ground, while Clem continued to pet Blake. Tommy put his wallet back in his pocket and strapped his grandfather's watch back on to his wrist. "So, ready to head home?" He reached out his hand to help Clementine up. She smiled at him "I thought you'd never ask." He helped her up and they all got into the truck.
From the bushes the stranger watched them pull away. "That must be some special girl." Then he looked down at an old photograph he had in his hand.
"Where gonna have to tell Wilson about this." Tommy told Clem as they made there way towards the exit.
They stopped at the ticket both and were greeted by Wilson himself. "Well hey there Tommy, Clementine, leaving so soon." He noticed the worried expression on There faces and his smile dropped.
"Actually Sir we have something we need to tell you." And Tommy and Clementine explained everything that had happened.
"Don't worry though. I don't think he'll be coming back anytime soon." Tommy said once they had finished.
"Dammit!" Mr Wilson hit his fist against the open window ledge. "Things have been so peaceful. I'm sorry you kids got caught up in all this. I've been meaning to put in some security, things just seemed to be going alright."
Tommy reassured him, "It wasn't anyone's fault . No one could of prevented it."
Clem spoke up. "The weirdest thing is he just let us go, he didn't even take anything."
He thought for a minute, "Hmm, well a little bit of luck never hurts."
Clem smirked, "I'll say."
Wilson chuckled, "Course I bet your dog there ought to have scared him off." He reached through the window and gave him a few pats.
Tommy smiled, "He sure did. He's a good boy alright."
"Yeah, well, I'll spread the word about the stranger goin' around, but no need to cause a panic tonight. You two be best gitti'n on home now." Wilson said.
"Thank you have a good night ." Tommy waved by and headed down the road back to their houses.
Clem sighed in relief as they where finally headed home. She knew she'd have hell to pay in the morning, if she could even make it that long without telling Luke.
"You sure your all right?" Tommy asked worriedly. He knew Clem was as tough as they come, but she could still be shaken up about what had just happened. It had been a while since either of them had been in danger like that.
"Yeah." She replied. "After all I had you there for me." Just then a whine came from the backseat. Clem laughed, "And mister tough guy back there." She paused for a minute and thought back to what had happened. "Would you really give up everything you have for me?" She asked.
Tommy stopped the car and looked at her, "Of course I would. I would do anything for you. I love you Clementine." She searched his eyes for any doubt but couldn't find any. And with that he leaned over and kissed her lips putting her fears to rest.
Clem smiled once he pulled back and started driving again. She sighed in content and leaned back in her seat. Then a thought entered her mind. "Just next time I tell Luke I don't need my gun, don't be afraid to knock some sense into me."
So I've been wanting to do this chapter for a while, but it just takes so long for me to be interested enough to get started. Usually once I start a chapter I don't stop writing until it's done. Like this one, just spent the last two to three hours writing it. But anyway sorry again for such a long wait, but I'm really excited about this chapter. Hope you like it. Don't forget to leave a review or PM me. Let me know what you think.
PS: Might be starting a new story soon completely unrelated to this story. What are your thoughts?
Secret Life of Writing Out!
