Episode 2: The Coldest Sun

January 2nd – 3rd

(BLOG entry in Italics)

The New Year doesn't start really start on New Year's Day. It's just a hangover from the night and year before. The New Year really beings on the second day of the year, that's the day you find out if it's the New Year New Me type of year, or as other people say Same Shit Different Day. What do you say my beautiful watchers? Comment below.

RavenHussar

T3 Collective

Chapter 51: The Deer Hunter

Monday, January 2nd, Morning

The alarm went off, he reached out and shut it off. For some reason it was an archaic clock radio alarm clock, sitting on the nightstand. Slowly he slipped out of the bed and shivered from the unseasonably cold room. He wandered to the window and looked out to the tree line, there was no snow, which meant the weather front that was expected hadn't moved in, yet. Finally, he finished his wander across the room and checked his phone, the weather report confirmed what he thought, it was going to be a frigid day.

J.L. "Huck" Burke wandered into the ensuite bathroom and started the rest of his wake-up routine. Once done he headed back into the master bedroom and then into his walk-in closet. Once in the closet, with the door closed, he could turn on a light because it wouldn't wake his wife up. He stripped out of his sleep attire and started to get dressed for his day. He was going to be out in the woods most of the morning.

It was the second day of the new year, and it was going to be another cold one. Why was this winter being so unseasonably cold? That was his thought as he zipped up his camouflage coveralls. If this is an indication of how the year is going to be, then they're in for one hell of a year. He slipped into his hunting boots and looked over the closet, he made sure he had everything he needed. Shutting off the light, he left the walk-in closet and saw his bride of nearly twelve years sitting up on their marriage bed. He knew Chase was testing her blood sugar.

"Good morning," Huck said.

Chase nodded as she recorded her number, "Morning, Huck," she said and looked up at her husband, "Whoa, where are you off too?"

Huck nodded, "Culling the south herd, they've been attacking some of the farmer's fields," he said, in his mind, it sounded good. It was winter and most of the fields were barren for a few more months.

Chase nodded, "More meat for our table?" she asked, having learned to enjoy the venison or fish that Huck would bring in. When they first met, Huck never mentioned he hunted and fished.

"Or for the soup kitchen," Huck said and walked over to the bed.

"Waste not, want not," Chase as Huck squatted himself down, so they were face-to-face, and put his hands on the sides of her face. That was when he kissed Chase. After they broke apart, they looked at each other, "So, what part of the south range?" Chase asked.

Huck smiled and chuckled. He was going to have to change the subject. "The passion is gone," he said.

"Not hardly," Chase said, taking the bait, and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down on top of her. They embraced and kissed again. After a few minutes, Huck finally got off the bed.

"I really do have to go," Huck said.

"You do enjoy being the game warden, don't you?" Chase asked, almost rhetorically.

Huck nodded, "I guess, I do, and it comes with the land for the house," he said.

"I know about the land, I set up the deal," Chase said, "So again, what part of the south range?"

"Near Kilpatrick Farm," Huck said, knowing Chase would want to say away from where he was stalking the whitetail.

Chase nodded, knowing that the Kilpatrick's were long-term tenants, but also the most standoffish. "Will you be back to see the kids off?" Chase asked.

"I don't know, maybe an outside chance of seeing Col off," Huck said.

Chase nodded and smiled. She knew if Huck was up this early and out on the south range it was serious. Kelly had needed him on the south range right away. But she thought it was just possible that it might be to check on Kilpatrick Farm. Kelly had always said they were her south range problem children. Chase knew her husband well enough to know that he wouldn't tell her anything, just yet. "Be safe," she said.

"Always try," Huck said and left the bedroom.

Quietly he walked downstairs. He had to pass the five bedrooms of his children. He half knew that Brett, his oldest daughter, was probably already up and getting ready for one of her crazy workout regimes. The younger kids would still be asleep, he reflected how he had a child on every level of the local school system. By the time he reached the kitchen he already had planned out how and which way he would approach this problem. Huck filled his thermos from the coffee pot, and started another pot, because he was a good guy like that, and knew if his caffeine-addicted wife and oldest daughter didn't get their fix he was in trouble. Walking over to another walk-in closet he entered a code into the lock and entered his gun room. He pulled on his orange hunting vest, and he took one of his deer rifles off the rack and check on it. Next, he loaded the magazine and chambered a round, making sure the safety was on. He slipped some more ammunition into his pockets and left the room. He made sure the door to the gun room was locked.

Outside the house, Huck pulled up his balaclava, making sure it was set over his nose and mouth, and slipped on some hunting shades. Slowly he walked to one of his sheds. Unlocking the shed, he walked in and started the ATV that was in there. While the ATV warmed up, Huck loaded up what he thought he needed to bring for this trip and had a cup of coffee. Once he thought the ATV was warmed up enough, he mounted up and headed out to the south range.

Huck liked helping his little sister manage the family's vast tract. Kelly technically owned it, as her inheritance through their Mom's Family. Huck laughed how Kelly always looked the most like their Mom's family. It helped that when Chase approached Kelly about getting the land that Tree Hill Hall stood on, the remains of the original Tree Hill Plantation House, that Kelly insisted that Huck serves as the game warden. This allowed Huck to raise his family close to Kelly's family. Huck was always close to Kelly, as they were the Irish Twins of the family, and it also let him enjoy the land he grew up on.

Being the Game Warden allowed him to be out in the woods, and to fish, as well, something he always liked. P.J. had been out fishing with him several times, and Brett was a decent shot. Key showed no interest though, and BB and Col were too young for him to teach them. But he carved out a good life here on the Murphy Land. Finally, he reached the spot where he would have to dismount and hoof it. He pulled off the trail and parked the ATV. Getting off the ATV, he collected the gear he would need with him, and secured the ATV. Looking up at the sky, it looked threating, so he covered the ATV with it camouflage tarp. Checking his compass and bearings, he nodded and stalked off into the woods.

As he approached Kilpatrick Farm, he set up where he could overwatch the farm. Carefully he got into the prone position and laid down his rifle. He pulled out his binoculars and scanned around the farm. He lowered them from his eyes and looked at the sky again. Next, he put them back to his eyes and studied the farm buildings.

He lowered the binoculars and checking his watch, he made note of the time. Around the right time the four girls, Holden Kilpatrick's four daughters, left the farmhouse. The girls climbed into a car and drove off. Huck noted there was only one car in the car park. This usually meant that Holden wasn't home, but there seems to be light still on in the farmhouse. Huck reflected it could be on a timer. Huck checked the sky again and turned back to the farm. He studied with the binoculars the farm until about ten minutes had passed. He put the binoculars and stood up. Carefully he slung his rifle and started to stalk down to the farmstead.

Huck was nothing if not careful. It took him twenty minutes to get to the outbuildings. Slowly he peeked into the first one and saw the latest restoration project that Holden had taken on. Saw what you want about the man, but Holden Kilpatrick was good at restoring vintage vehicles, and the heavier the better. He carefully moved to the next building and found it was just an abandoned barn that hadn't seen use in years. Next, he moved to the third building and found the other car in the barn. So, Holden was still here, Huck noted.

Huck next moved to the back of the farmhouse. Removing the rifle from his back he leaned it against the outside wall of the house. He didn't want to scare Holden by entering the house with a loaded hunting rifle. Huck stood to the side of the door and checked the knob, it was unlocked.

Nodding, he carefully opened the door and slipped indoors. Once he was in the house, he removed the balaclava from his nose and mouth, better to not look he was robbing the place. That was when Huck got a nose full. The house smelled, and Huck sadly knew that smell, all too well. It was the smell of booze, piss, and shame.

Slowly he walked through the house, looking for the tenant, Holden Kilpatrick. Finally, he found Holden's form slumped over a table. From the room's doorway, from where he stood, Huck studied Holden to see if he was breathing. Slowly, Huck walked over to Holden and saw very shallow breathing movements. Huck also noticed that Holden's skin had taken a yellowish tint.

Once Huck reached Holden, Huck could smell Holden. It was the smell of a drunkard, the smell of whatever he drank, unwashed body, human waste, and shame, it was a smell that over Huck's eleven-year career on the Tree Hill Fire Rescue Department he learned all too well. After holding his breath for a second, Huck reached over and slid two fingers onto Holden's neck. Looking at his watch Huck took Holden's pulse and counted he breathes. Satisfied that he was alive, just passed out drunk, he carefully slipped out of the room.

Making sure he didn't knock anything out of place, he slipped out the back door. He pulled the balaclava over his face and took up his rifle. He started to walk towards the wood line, faking that he is following a trail of deer.

"Who are you?" A Young Woman's Voice yelled at him. Huck turned to see Holden's oldest daughter standing not too far away. She was still around the corner, so it would take some mental math to figure out where he was coming from. It still didn't matter, as Marie Kilpatrick caught him wandering around. Huck did wonder how much she did see or know. There went the simple in and out he planned. Again, he had to admire her, it was extremely brave calling out someone who was carrying a high-powered hunting rifle.

Huck put up his trigger hand, making sure his rifle was pointing in a safe direction, and gently pulled down his balaclava. "You caught me, Marie," Huck said.

Marie didn't relax, "What are you doing here, Mister Burke?" she asked.

"I was tracking the south herd of whitetail, they need culling," Huck said.

"Isn't it a bit early in the year for that, Mister Burke?" Marie asked.

"Not if some of the other tenants complained, it's not, Marie," Huck said, "Anyways, shouldn't you be in school?"

"No school today," Marie said.

"Oh, I heard the car drive off," Huck said.

"We went into town for something for the new restoration," Marie said.

"You're back, where are your sisters?" Huck asked.

"Still shopping, I came back because I forgot something," Marie said.

"I see," Huck said, not totally believing her.

"What are you working on now?" Huck asked.

"Our M5 Light Tank," Marie said.

"Nice, Mister Scott would love to see it when you're done," Huck said.

Marie smiled, "Thanks," she then nodded, "So, the herd has been moving through the property?" she asked.

Huck nodded, "Looks that way," he said.

Marie nodded, "Well good luck in tracking them, Mister Burke. I have to get what I came for and head back," she said.

"Thank you and to you as well," Huck said, and they walked in opposite directions. Huck pulled up his balaclava and disappeared into the woods. He re-slung his rifle and doubled back to watch the farmhouse. Marie did go inside and came out carrying something. Huck watched as she went to the car and left.

Huck nodded and returned to where he left the ATV. He started it back up and he took the time to have another cup of coffee. Looking around he exhaled, and between his breath, the still-hot coffee, and the frigid air he released steam. He had a lot to think about.

Shaking his head, he finished his coffee and put away his thermos. Slipping the balaclava back up he mounted the ATV and headed back down the trail. He was heading back to Tree Hill Hall, but he took a long way back. He checked on the condition of some of the trails and swung by Murphy Beach to check on it. Part of his time was spent at Murphy Beach, having some coffee, and waiting for the kids to be off to school. He also thought about the information he just learned and what he had to do about it.

Checking his watch, he finally started his homeward bound leg. Once he reached Tree Hill Hall, he parked his ATV back in its shed and shut it down. He topped off the fuel and unpacked the stuff he brought. After securing the stuff that belongs in the shed, he closed and locked the shed and headed to the house.

He walked into the kitchen and looked around. Chase was sitting at the breakfast bar having a cup of coffee. Huck nodded and walked over to the gun-room door. He punched in his code and unlocked the door. Walking into the room he unloaded and hung up his rifle.

He finished unloading the stuff that belongs in the gun room and after the stuff was secure, he walked out of the room. He closed and secured the room's door. He walked over to the sink and emptied out what was left in the thermos. Huck looked at Chase and pulled down his balaclava.

"How was Murphy Beach?" Chase asked.

Huck shrugged and zipped down his coveralls. "How did you know I was there?" he asked.

"I saw the way you came back," Chase said.

Huck nodded, "Oh," he said.

"What's wrong?" Chase asked.

Huck sighed, "I was up at Kilpatrick Farm today," he said.

"Doing My sister's work, I see," Chase said.

Huck nodded, "Yeah, Kelly asked me to check in on Holden Kilpatrick," he said.

Chase nodded, "So, how is Mister Kilpatrick?" she asked.

Huck sighed, "He's a drop-dead drunk," he said.

"Is he? How bad?" Chase asked.

Huck shook his head, "He's alive, but it's bad, very bad," he said.

"Oh my god!" Chase said, "How old are his daughters?"

Huck shrugged, "Marie I believe is seventeen, the twins are fifteen, and I'm not sure about Connie, the baby," he said.

"So, what are you going to do about it?" Chase asked.

Huck shook his head, "I don't know," he said.

"I get it," Chase said, "You're going to have to tell Kelly."

"I know," Huck said, "Just not yet."

"So, what are you going to do now?" Chase asked.

"I'm going to get out of my gear and shower," Huck said.

"Okay," Chase said, taken aback for a minute at how cool her husband was acting with the information he just presented to her.

Huck nodded and left the room. Chase waited and sipped her coffee. When she heard the shower started, she knew he needed to be cheered up. A wicked smile crossed her face, and she put her mug down and stood up, leaving the room.