The Family: Ties That Bind (VOL. 2)

Chapter 30

"Tell me what happened." 

"I already told you three times."

 "Well, tell me a fourth," Loretta persisted, unable to accept what she was hearing.

I wiped the blood off my face. My nose hadn't stopped dripping since Dwight decked me a good one. "They came into the room and took Thomas, okay? I-I tried to stop them, but...but I wasn't strong enough. They were talking to each other about flagging someone down on the road. They must've snuck through the cornfield when y'all weren't looking. How did you not see them carrying him away?!"

Each time I told the story, the more real it became that Thomas was gone. Worst of all, it was my fault. I know I did what was best for him, but it sure didn't feel like it. I stayed strong and stoic for as long as I could, but now there was no holding back the tears. I was a blubbering mess and had been for the past couple of hours. 

The twins had loaded up into Drayton's truck and went out patrolling the roads for Deetz and Dwight. Bubba was told to search every last inch of the property and meet his brothers at the gas station. Us women had to stay home and wait. How could Loretta stand it? I wanted to join the hunt just to steer them further away.

"You poor dear." She took a handkerchief out of her pocket and dabbed at my bloody nose. The state of my face troubled her. She offered to get me an ice pack more than once and I refused each time. Not only because that "ice-pack" was likely a frozen hunk of people meat, but also because I'd rather have her company instead of being left alone. "Don't worry. They'll bring 'im back to us."

"I'm trying but it's so hard. They have to bring him home, Loretta. They just have to." I crumbled into her arms and she cradled me. As crazy as she was ninety percent of the time, she had her moments of clarity. Right now I needed a mother's embrace and hers was the closest to one I had available. 

She brushed her hands through my hair. "Don't cry, darlin'. They'll find our boy and bring 'im home. Have faith in your family. Until then we just gotta keep prayin' for 'im. Prayin' for 'em all. And trustin' in God's plan. Might not understand why he let 'em dirty thieves snatch our little angel away, but everything works out for 'is purpose. Just know He'll make them kidnappers suffer worse than we could even try. They'll burn in hell for what they done."

Drayton's truck came speeding up the driveway on two wheels, carrying the boys in the back. Chop didn't wait till the vehicle stopped before jumping out. Loretta and I had been waiting on the porch for them since they left and never left our post even when the sun went down.

Chop bounced aimlessly, waving his arms, and hollering something along the lines of "Pigs! Pigs everywhere," but it was hard to tell with how fast he was blabbing.

Drayton slammed the truck door so hard the vehicle shook. "These damn kids of your done it now, Ma! They really fucked us over this time!"

Loretta didn't bother correcting him on his foul language. "Where's Tommy? Where's my grandson?"

"Why dontcha ask those half-wit igits you insist on claimin' as kin?" He stormed past Loretta, blood boiling. 

Nubbins used Bubba as a crutch. He was looking pretty roughed up. Some sort of white powder covered his clothes and wood chips clung to the knots in his hair. "Why dontchu ask COOK why he just sat in 'is truck the whole time an' never lifted a damn finger to help. Good for nuthin COOK is what he is!"

"Good for nuthin COOK," Chop repeated. "The pigs are gonna fry us like fish sticks and it's all COOK'S fault."

"SHUT YOUR GOD DAMN MOUTHS! I shoulda left all three of you stooges there for the coppers. Y'all the reason the kid's gone! Yall the reason we gotta leave our home!"