Family Reunion

6. Finding Out

Carrie hadn't slept in days since her son Buddy had gone missing and she was worried sick as well was the rest of the family. Every day and night the men went out calling for him. But there was no excuse, the women still had to do all the cooking and cleaning. The men still had to do the work out in the fields of the farm. No matter how distraught Tommy was he was angry with himself. The man they had taken and had packaged up in bags was in the freezer. He was kicking himself, that man was more important than his son. But then Tommy began to think, how could his son not stay so close to him. 

" I knew I shouldn't have trusted him." He mumbled to himself. "What was that?" Gabriel spoke. "I said I shouldn't have trusted him. My son, he was supposed to stay close and he didn't. I knew he was too weak." "Tommy! How dare you speak that way about your son. He's only ten after all boy, he will become a man soon. You're wife, she's broken and has been crying every day and night because you didn't watch him. It's your fault." 

"Say that again Gabe." Tommy said while pushing Gabe. "I said it's your fault." Tommy and Gabe were on the ground fighting and hitting each other Tommy got a black eye, while Gabriel got a busted lip. "Stop it! Stop it!" Charles said coming over pulling them apart. "Now that's enough, Thomas go into the house and you Gabe come talk to me now in the barn!" Thomas walked into the house with Carried caring for his swollen red black eye. "What happened?" Charles asked Gabriel. 

"Don't talk to me like a child Charles, I am a man after all." "Don't speak to me that way Gabe. What happened?" Charles spoke with his face growing red. "Tommy was blaming his son Buddy for being left behind, he called him weak and I told him to not speak of him that way. I told him that it was his responsibility to watch his child and he didn't because we were busy with that man." When Gabriel was finished telling his side of the story he had to compose himself to keep from hitting the wall of the barn. 

"It was all of our responsibility. He is my grandson, and I should have been watching him as well, but we can't beat each other up now over this. We got to stay together and find him. I'm thinking of going into town later today and look for him." Charles had his keys ready in hand. "Save me some dinner, I will be back later this evening." "Alright Charles, be safe." Gabriel said patting his back. 

Charles hopped into the truck and drove off not telling anyone goodbye. Carrie was in her and Tommy's room they were staying in and crying. "There, there." Tommy said going to Carrie. "Oh Tommy, I'd give anything to have our son back." She said. "It's my fault, I should have watched him." Tommy said trying not to break himself. Carrie was shocked. Tommy was never this vulnerable. He was always mean, tough and angry and very aggressive. Carrie kissed his cheek. 

"I don't blame you or Buddy. Just, I'm glad you're safe and I believe he is too. He's out there somewhere." She said trying to stop the tears from flowing. "How'd you get so strong?" Tommy said with a smile. "I have you don't I? I'm sorry that I was so weak when you first met me and that I wasn't obedient with you." She said still crying. "It's alright dear, you are a very good girl." Tommy kissed his wife and he laid down with her so they both could get some rest. 

Charles drove around and got to town looking for Buddy. He has asked around to locals if they had seen a little boy, no one had seen anything. He knew it was risky trying to describe his grandson but he was desperate. That is until one man said he had seen a little boy walking around with some older girl. "Where are they?" He asked. "I don't know, they were in here sometime eating I just thought that it was a brother and sister walking around." Said the waiter. "Why didn't you stop them?" Charles growled. "I'm sorry man, really, I just thought that maybe their dad was around or something. I just served them their meals I didn't ask questions." Charles wanted to some how take this man back to the farm and have him for dinner but he wasn't willing to risk being caught. 

Instead he calmed himself and apologized. "It's alright son, thank you though be sure that if they come back to say something please." He said with a smile. "Um sure I will." The young waiter said feeling frightened and scared of him. 

Charles hopped back into his truck and drove back to the farm which it was later at night like ten in the evening and no one was in bed except the little kids. Hunter came running to his grandpa. "Did you find him?" He asked. "No Hunter, I haven't but don't worry. I have some news it isn't much but it's something." He said. "What news?" Everyone asked.

"A waiter saw him, with a young girl older than him he said. He thought they were brother and sister and going around. He didn't stop them but he did see them." "So a girl has my son!" Carrie shouted in anger. "Tommy control your girl." Taylor shouted. "I'm sorry." She said sitting back down. Julie went over to comfort Carrie. 

"I don't think he's in danger Carrie darling, but if they turn up hopefully something will come up soon. I won't ever stop searching for him." Charles said sitting back down. Julie served Charles his plate of food which she warmed up and everyone else went to bed.