"Rumor has it that you dumped my sister. Claiming she is a whore. Who the fuck you think you are saying such things about my little sister?" Cory said his eyes darting around. If they could shoot bullets Darryl would have been the second Crawford to be buried in the family plot in the past year.
"Hey, I am just saying the truth. I caught her sucking Paul Green's dick. Right here in this very yard. To be exact, over there. That night after the party." Pointing to the white shed his father kept his tools in. At dusk, it was a perfect hideaway for anyone to screw around in.
"Come on dude. You expect me to believe that fucking bull."
"Yeah, I do man. I hate to say but rumor also has it that all your sisters are big whores. Not one of them knows how to keep their panties on. Come on, didn't Annie just have a kid last year. I know the stork didn't drop her off."
Banging the table his, fist a bright crimson, Cory knocked down the pile of cans. His face equally flushed as if he were going to explode into a million pieces. The boy who never so much lifted a fist against anyone was ready to do the deed. Reaching across the table grabbing one of the squashed cans smashing it into Darryl's face. He could still feel that incisive metal rip his flesh as its rigid edges cut his skin.
"You fucking asshole!" Standing up Darryl pushed the table over the top of it landing on Corry's lap.
Till this day Darryl never recalled feeling such a rage as the one he experienced in that night. Every part of him went into a black abyss, one that would keep him hostage until after the event was over. A silent observer through the whole thing wanting to stop, it was almost as if someone else was in charge as he bolted across to the white shed. There standing against the metal shelf not touched since the last hunting trip he quickly grabbed it off the hook. His vessels filled with rage and fury one that wouldn't be quenched until this was said and done he aimed straight for the stomach of Cory. In the back of his mind, that night he could hear his father begging him to stop: it is not worth it son. You are better than this. I raised you to be a man of worth, not one who hurts or kills. Despite this, the enraged fury welling within wouldn't relent until Cory was seen doubled over in pain. One quick jolt of the trigger the sound of the cracking of the bullet entering Cory's torso his muffled cries piercing through Darryl's clouded memory and there was no going back. Laying on the ground Cory's eyes rolling into the back of his head clinging to the blood wound was more than Darryl could take.
"No!!!!!! I am sorry Cory!!! I am so fucking sorry!!!!" Darryl screamed his facial muscles tightening as he relived every horrifying moment of that night.
"Darryl, sweetie. What is it? I need to know, Darryl, and now." Mia stood next to him panting as she must of ran down that hill in lightning speed.
There was no going back on this. Years of being evasive would finally come to an end. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his father again standing there in his crisp navy blue suit and dark tie. His eyes shining a glorious blue silver almost like silver dollars, he spoke to him in a soft melody. Son, it is time to tell her. You must be upfront. Trust me, she will understand.
"I have something to tell you." Darryl said as he motioned to the grass beneath them. "Let’s sit, this may take awhile."
Chapter 6
As they walked up the long winding path that led from the base of the south mountain into the heart of the forest, Darryl couldn't believe he was still with Mia. Any other girl would have heard his tale and just cleared out dumped him, good looks or not. Mia was special in more ways than one Darryl realized. With her soft-spoken approach, her nurturing spirit and compassionate desire to help mankind, she had a gift, an aura, that he has never seen in anyone before. It probably was one of the reasons she succeeded in the profession she was in.
Holding hands as they traveled through the thicket that has been a part of this area probably since the beginning of time, Darryl felt his lover’s tiny hands cling to his, depending on him for guidance. This was the part he wanted to play -- to be a man of confidence and strength. He never wanted her to see the feeble side of him again. Though he wasn't entirely cool with the idea of seeing Cory and talking with him about what occurred in that terrible night, it was essential for him so that he could move on.
"Darryl, look. It's adorable." Pointing to the top of the oak tree was a pretty bright blue jaybird. Its long black beak almost invisible against the dark tree branches, the creature just sat there observing all that surrounded it.
"It sure is, honey. I know you want to get a picture right?" Daryl asked knowing all too well that Mia would want to take a snapshot for her class.
"You know it."
Walking closer so she could get a better shot, Mia tip-toed along the path. But the sound of leaves crumbling under her feet was enough to wake the little feathered friend up from its trance. Darting its eyes directly at Mia but not appearing to be frightened in any way it made a boisterous cackle probably calling out to its young or mate, Darryl thought. How interesting wildlife can be sometimes, he thought. Just when you think a creature is going to flock away from you or disappear, it shocks you by just standing there holding its ground. He wasn't entirely surprised, though, as this was their home. He and Mia were just visitors after all.
Snapping the camera's tiny black button its quick click sound ensuring that the picture was taken, Mia smiled as she observed the image on the device's clear screen. Always on teaching and learning mode, Mia was looking for new things which she could bring to her classroom. This weekend trip would provide a wealth of material she could use probably for the rest of the term.
"Did you get a good shot?" Darryl asked.
"Yes, sir. This will be perfect for our science lesson next week. We will be discussing different animals that live in the world. This picture along with a little research will have my little kiddos excited for the whole lesson. I can't wait to see how they react." Mia's face glowed as she began to run off the ideas for her new lesson.
"Well, let’s see what else we can find, shall we my sweet?" Darryl held out his hand.
"Couldn't agree more."
Continuing their path up the trail enjoying every minute of their adventure, Darryl saw the perfect spot that he wanted to make hot passionate love to Mia at. Amidst a sea of long stemmed bushes was a clearing where they could lay down and explore each other's bodies. The idea of caressing Mia's tender body and inspecting every area of her fair skin flesh began to play on his mind. Slowly, he would run his tongue up and down her navel licking every spot leaving not one part untouched until he reached her shaven pussy. Pink and moist her clit would await his tongue's far-reaching touch.
Just as he was about to suggest their love nest, he heard the distant rumble of thunder. A gust of wind spiraled in from above the skies shaking the trees about as if they were mere twigs. Piercing through the break in foliage, Darryl saw silver streaks of lightening illuminating the pale gray skies. A heavy downpour exploded from the saturated sky above pelting him and Mia with its unrelenting speed.
"Dammit!" Darryl yelled. Of all places, this was one area you didn't want to get lost in.
"I am sure we can figure our way back to the car, honey. I think it was that way." Mia hollered pointing in the northern direction.
Mia's sense of direction was one skill set she clearly didn't have. The last thing Darryl was going to do would be to take her word for where they came from. This, coming from the girl who got lost going to the local supermarket, was a chance Darryl wasn't willing to take.
"Honey, we're over here." Taking her back down the rugged path they came from, Darryl was sure the car was at the bottom of the trail.
Howling fiercely, the biting winds sent piercing hail from the roaring skies above. Tiny pellets of ice came from every direction stinging Darryl’s skin. A sea of blurriness surrounded him as buckets of rain blinded him. Clinging to Mia's hand her little fingers trembling with fear and he assured her they would soon be in the car.
The fact of the mat
ter was that he truly felt lost and confused himself. For the first time since growing up in these parts, he had no fucking clue where he was. There was nothing but swaying trees and wet mushy mud and soaked grass everywhere. It was like walking in quicksand -- their feet constantly falling knee deep into the shallow ground created by the endless puddles. He had forgotten how bad these parts flooded out. The mountains were nothing but an endless waterfall during these downpours sending a brown mush down the inclines. He can't recall how many summers he and his family had to evacuate due to flood alerts.
What seemed hours was probably only minutes as the heavy rains trickled down to a faint drip. The gusty winds settled a bit as the storm quickly moved out of the region. The clamorous roar of thunder suddenly seemed to be miles away as it traveled to the next region where it would cause havoc.
Darryl's sense of confidence returned as the storm quickly ceased. Wiping his eyes off his vision, still blurred from the rain, he looked around to see if he could recognize the path. But a quickly developing fog only added more confusion to an already upsetting experience.
"Fuck!" Darryl yelled disgusted at himself for not being more prepared for such an event.
"Honey, look over there." Mia motioned towards a black rickety roof protruding through the thickness of the fog.
"Oh, thank God. Maybe we can find shelter or someone to help us." Darryl replied hoping that their entire trip wasn't going to be a waste. If they could find a shelter and dry off, then they could move on and get out of here before it got too late.
Chapter 7
The closer they got to the building the more Mia thought she should have never said anything. The chances of anyone with life living in that place were next to none. The building was on its last legs and that was an understatement. Sinking into the ground the structure was a shabby white metal that had a bunch of battered windows with more cracks and holes in it than a car imploded by a bomb. An eerie squealing noise sent a shiver down Mia's arms as she envisioned a hungry family of gray furry mice crawling about the insides of the place searching for little crumbs of food. Flapping in the wind, compliments of the abandoning storm, were brown shutters, the paint peeling in huge chunks falling onto the grass beneath it. The shutters, made of some sturdy wood that obviously held them in place all these years, had tiny rusty nails drilled in the bottom of them. That endless motion of the shutters working against the rusty nails had been the culprit behind the squeaking noise.
"Maybe we should try looking somewhere else," Mia suggested. The thought of even entering this place gave her the creeps reminding her of the time she went with her best girlfriend Ginny into a haunted house down the Jersey shore.
"No, we're not turning back. I am wet and tired. I am sure you are the same. Listen, trust me on this. We are safe here. I just know it." Darryl said.
Walking up to the property's main entrance this area was equally neglected. Long blades of grass surrounded the front suggesting that no one had taken a pair of clippers or a lawn mower here in probably a good many years, Mia surmised. The front door had a statue of a dead squirrel on it. Its tiny little jet black eyes stared at Mia. Standing on its hind legs, its gray fur bristled all around its lanky body as if it were killed seconds before it realized it though revolting to look at Mia kind of felt bad for the poor thing.
Opening the door stood a tall thin man with pepper gray hair and tanned cheeks as if he weren't from these parts. He had vivid turquoise eyes -- looking into them reminded a never-ending current of a gorgeous river. Dressed in nicely ironed jeans, a crisp red shirt sporting the name The Buckets in dark lettering, obviously some sports team in these parts, the man was the complete opposite of what existed around here. His hair was neatly combed and parted as if he were a businessman of sorts in a previous life.
"Can I help you?" The man spoke so refined too as if he were raised in some influential neighborhood.
Mia was caught off guard. Why would such a gorgeous older man be stuck in a dilapidated shack that was practically inches deep in the muddy foundation? Not only was he well-dressed he was quite handsome and strong. She couldn't help but notice his firm chest muscles poking through the top of his shirt his wiry gray chest hairs peeking through.
"Sir, we’re sorry to bother you. Me and my wife here were on a hiking trip and well, we got caught in a terrible storm that just passed and we were wondering if we could just stay long enough to warm up and rest a little bit." Darryl hated asking others for help, Mia knew that for a fact, but they were in a dire situation with nowhere to go and not a clue where their car was at this point.
"Oh heavens yes. Please come in. Sorry if I was so stern sounding. I don't get many visitors in these parts. My name is Hamish and yours, sir and young lady?" The man put out his hand. Mia couldn't help but notice the flashy gold watch on his wrist. Judging from the glistening diamonds and sparkles the jewelry was worth a few thousand dollars.
"Oh hey, yeah sorry. I am Darryl and this is my wife Mia. Nice to meet you, sir." Darryl responded returning the handshake.
"Nice to meet you too, miss." Hamish said to Mia reminding her of a butler or another servant that has met their new guests for the first time.
"You too, Hamish." Mia replied not able to get out of her inquisitive mind why on earth a man so well dressed and refined would be living in such a rundown place.
Totally opposite of the exterior of the home Hamish's interior decorating was not much to write about but it definitely was a far cry from the outside of the place. The walls were made up of a fresh smelling pine wood, their glossy brown surface illumining the room thanks to the warming embers of the fireplace in the center of the room. Polished maple brown floors had that hardwood surface that would require countless hours of mopping and vacuuming. However, it seemed, good old Hamish lived here alone -- being there was no one else present -- and such worries probably didn't concern him, Mia thought. In the center of the room was an eloquent shiny white Formica dining room table complete with cushioned beige chairs. In the center was a red bowl with imitation fruit their resplendent glow enough to tempt anyone who didn't know any better to try a piece. Dangling above the table was an impressive silver chandelier. The scintillating lights were like looking at the city's skyline from a far distance.
"Wow, I must say, Hamish, you have such a nice home. This is gorgeous." Mia had to say something feeling guilty for judging the property from its exterior looks. The old adage "never judge a book by its cover" was so true in this case. Lesson learned.
"Thank you, my lady. I keep it looking frightful on the outside to keep any loons from straggling through. Trust me, I have had my share here." Winking his eye she gathered that he had a lot of resources he needed to protect.
"Man, did you catch this Hamish?" Darryl, impressed as much as Mia, walked over to the further end of the dining room where a soaring statue of a bear with heavy gnarled sepia fur stood.
"Yes, sir I sure did. It was just last year right up in the Northern Mountains." Motioning in the direction of one of those bullet holed windows which on this side of the home were translucent and gave a bird’s eye view of the yard and surrounding area around Hamish's home.
"That's impressive, man. Is that what I think a Grizzly bear?" Darryl's schoolboy excitement amusingly reminded Mia of one of her first graders when they saw Santa Clause at Christmas. It was so refreshing to see that a grown man could still be fascinated.
"I tell you what, you two look soaked and hungry. Why don't I get you guys some clothes and fix you something to eat? I’ll tell you all about my story over in Northern Mountain over dinner."
"Sounds like a plan Hamish." Darryl said.
Beckoning them both to the back of his kitchen which was equally decorated with pine wood walls, mementos of chefs their pudgy bodies holding different plates of food. The gigantic statues made out of ceramic appeared to weigh enough that moving them would be more than just a simple chore.
Hamish's bedroom attach
ed itself right off the entrance of the kitchen. There was a dull blue wallpaper that appeared to be peeling in several places. Hanging off the wall in an oval gold frame was a woman with stunning auburn hair and clear tawny eyes. Though she had an albino complexion it wasn't terribly pallid. Hanging around her neck was a spaghetti thin gold necklace with the image of the blessed mother in a purple picture frame in the center. Her dress, a champagne blue, was simply breathtaking, Mia thought. A dress like that with its silky refined material clearly cost hundreds of dollars. Judging from the picture with the brunette background it must have been painted years ago.
"I see you're admiring my mother's picture. She was an amazing lady. A woman of grace and beauty is all I can say. That picture was painted back in 1965 right before she got sick." Hamish spoke in a clearly different tone almost like that of a pastor speaking at a funeral.
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