Chapter 11: The Strength of Family (Part 1)
Old Man Jack's Fish Camp
2 Hours Later
After an extended period of romantic intimacy with Rachel Thundercloud, Ricky awoke in his bed at the cabin, a still nude Rachel sleeping soundly and comfortably next to him. He kissed the small of her back, at which point she groaned with warm contentment before the also nude Ricky climbed out of bed and quietly made his way to the bathroom.
He promptly relieved himself and was in the process of washing his hands when he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror. It then dawned on him that he was still in his full birthday suit with not a towel or bed sheet in sight to cover himself.
Ricky just shrugged it off after feeling a slight tinge of shock, figuring it was completely okay since there was no one around but him and Rachel for the time being.
Meanwhile, however, Dawn and Timmy had returned to the cabin, obviously unbeknownst to either Ricky or Rachel.
They came up onto to the porch and were in the process of crossing towards the front door when they both caught sight of the still completely naked Ricky through the window, who himself was in the middle of crossing back towards the bedroom.
The young couple both burst into laughter, at which point the color had drained out of the now mortified Ricky's face and his evidently very self-assured nude stride had all but immediately switched to an embarrassed sprint back towards the bedroom.
Then, Timmy and Dawn came through the door and sat down on the couch. A blushing Ricky emerged from the bedroom a few minutes later. He was now dressed in his Get Sporty athletic shorts and white tank top, and he was followed out into the living room by a now awake and bathrobe-clad Rachel.
Ricky chuckled as he sat down in the recliner opposite the couch. "Epic timing, guys" he said.
Rachel then came over and sat down on Ricky's lap. "Yeah," she said, "You sure picked a great time to come back."
Neither Dawn nor Timmy said anything in response, but instead just high-fived each other. "I told you," Timmy said to Dawn.
Rachel gave them a very perplexed look. "Told her what?" she asked.
Timmy chuckled. "That your and Ricky's attraction would be just as strong as ours," he replied with a smirk as he put an arm around Dawn affectionately.
Rachel grinned as she turned and kissed Ricky's cheek. "Well," she said, "If being really sweet, wonderful people is a genetic trait, you Harpers definitely have it."
Dawn nodded. "Thanks, Rachel" she replied, "That's very kind of you."
"And to think," Ricky added, "When Dawn and I first came here, all that we were looking to do was open up a camp for kids."
"And what you ended up getting was the both of us," Timmy candidly replied, "Funny how life works out,"
"Heh," Ricky replied, "You said it, dude."
Everglades City, Florida
8:15 PM
Meanwhile, Sergeant Thundercloud had been called to assist a sheriff's deputy in nearby Everglades City, Florida. Collier County Deputy Mary Walsh had pulled over a white 1970 Cadillac Eldorado after she had observed it swerving on Plantation Parkway.
Thundercloud parked his 2018 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor SUV behind Deputy Walsh's Collier County Interceptor and got out to find Walsh walking toward him.
Deputy Mary Walsh was a brunette white woman in her mid-40's of medium high whose hair was put up in a neat ponytail. She was dressed in her dark green Collier County Sheriff's Department uniform.
"Hey Tim," Walsh greeted, "Thanks for coming out of your way."
"Not a problem, Mary" Thundercloud replied, "Why did you ask for me specifically?"
"I was on patrol out here when I saw this Eldorado weirdly swerving all over the place," Walsh began explaining as she gestured to the stopped vehicle in front of them, "I ran the plates and found that it was registered to a fella named Thomas White with an address on your reservation."
Thundercloud nodded with realization as he and Walsh started walking back toward the car. "Oh yeah," he replied, "Tommy White died of a heart attack three years ago. He left his house and his car to his grandson, James. He's twenty-two now. We've had some trouble with him drinking and driving before."
"Alright," Walsh said, "I haven't seen who the driver is yet. I wanted to wait for you."
Thundercloud made his way to the Eldorado before taking his flashlight out of his duty belt and shining it into the driver's-side window.
He saw 22-year-old James White partially slumped over toward the steering wheel. James was a 5'3 Miccosukee man with a black buzzcut who was dressed in a baggy white hooded sweatshirt and dirty blue jeans with even dirtier running shoes. The smell of alcohol emanating from him was so strong that it nearly repelled Thundercloud and Walsh.
"Hey James," Thundercloud said, elevating his voice so that James could hear him, "It's Tim Thundercloud. Can you hear me?"
"Y-yeah", James replied with very slurred speech, "What's up?"
"I think you've had a little bit too much to drink again, buddy" Thundercloud said, "Step out of the car for us, please, okay?"
James vigorously shook his head. "N-no," he slurred, "I'm not going back to your damn cell. I w-want to go home." He then reached to shift the Eldorado back into "Drive."
"No!" Thundercloud shouted, "James! Don't do that!"
By the time he had gotten those words out it was too late. James had already gunned the engine and was starting to drive away, at which point Thundercloud hustled alongside the car on foot. The determined sergeant had just about reached the passenger door.
"Tim!" Walsh hollered as she sprinted to catch up with Thundercloud, "No!"
The Eldorado was floored at a higher speed, sending Thundercloud careening facedown onto the pavement and knocking him out cold. Walsh caught up to him just as the Eldorado sped away.
"Oh Jesus," Walsh said as she carefully turned over the unconscious sergeant, "Tim! Tim! Can you hear me?"
Thundercloud said nothing as Walsh grabbed her radio and called for help.