MERCEDES, jj maybank

65.

ANGEL OAK

"Guys, we're coming up on Freedman's Church," Pope tells everyone as they drive past it. "It's the church he built for all the slaves he freed."

Trinity was sat on JJ's lap, at the front with him, leaning her head on his shoulder and playing with the rings on his left hand that was resting on her lap.

John B was taking the Twinkie literally through the middle of nowhere. The only things that were in this part of the Island were lakes, swamps, and fields, and alligators.

"John B you need to let me take the Twinkie to my Dad so he can fix the windscreen," Trinity says looking at all the cracks.

"Why didn't you offer sooner?" He laughs.

"Why didn't you ask?"

"There it is!" Kiara exclaims over the talking and points to the biggest tree in the distance, "Angel Oak."

They were close. They had one long trail to follow through the woods and then they should be there.

"Oh shit, tides coming in!" John B shakes his head looking at the road that was covered in puddles. "Um..."

"Hey, wait a second, look, they already came through here," Pope points at the tire marks in the mud. "Those have to be Limbrey's tire tracks. Guys, we gotta go!"

JJ puts his lips together, "Mmmm, what you thinking chief?"

"I'm thinking it's looking a little dicey."

"Yeah, I'm gonna have to agree with that statement." JJ nods and adjusts Trinity's seating.

John B turns his head to the passenger seat and looks to Trinity, "Daughter of the mechanic, any suggestions?"

"Guys, clearly they made it," Kie says before Trinity has a chance to even open her mouth.

"In a two-wheel drive? I don't know about that."

"Why are y'all acting like you're not gonna do it anyways?" Sarah asks with a smile on her face. "Like when have y'all ever done the safe thing."

"She's got a point, so Trin, tips?" John B asks, gripping the wheel.

"Uh, go hard and fast,"

JJ purses his lips and looks away, out the window, "Yeah John B, hard and fast."

"JJ, you know what I meant," Trinity says closing her eyes, and sighing as he laughs under her.

"Mhm, yeah, speed is your friend here John B,"

"Yeah, better way to word it," Trinity smiles and looks out at the mud.

"So, put her down in second and hammer down, brother!"

"Stay in the middle!" Trinity tells John B as he's following John B's instructions.

"Alright, ready?" John B asks everyone and they all hold onto something steady, "Here we go."

"Come on, punch it! Speed is your friend, you're not going fast enough—"

"I'm in second!" John B tells JJ.

Trinity watches the pathway, holding onto the dashboard, "It's gonna slide!"

"You're fishtailing already!"

"I know!"

Pope leans forward from the back, "Not to put any pressure on you, but if you don't make it through, we'll be stuck forever."

John B pushes Pope head back, "Put your head back there,"

Then they all cheer as they make it past fine. "We're alive." Kie smiles.

"I told you we'd make it."

JJ taps the dashboard, "That's my girl."

They soon pull over at the side of the road, "Angel Oak is right through here." JJ opens the passenger door and Trinity jumps down, followed by JJ.

As everyone's getting out Trinity looks into the swamps which doesn't go unnoticed by JJ, "Alright. Word to the wise, definitely know that gators nest back here, so keep your eyes peeled. You don't wanna step on a mama gator that's the last thing you wanna have happen,"

"They have nests?" Kiara asks, following Pope and John B.

Sarah looks at where the Twinkie was being left, "Yeah, this seems like a good place to park." She says sarcastically.

"Alright, you don't wanna be a Pat Womack, she had her calf chewed off by a gator," JJ reaches for a long stick and turns to look at Trinity, "You know that right?"

Trinity laughs, "Good story,"

"What, Tee, I'm trying to keep you safe here," He points at her. "I wouldn't want to see my cute little girlfriend be eaten by a gator!" He says in a jokingly tone, earning light laughs from his friends.

"Pat Womack didn't have any encounter with a gator, J,"

"Yeah, Pat Womack was injured in a car accident but I hear you," Kiara adds.

"Okay, just live in ignorance," JJ says, following the trail. "But like, she had her calf chewed off by a mama gator, I know for a fact. They like the brackish water." He points at the swamps below them and grabs hold of Trinity's arm, "Make sure you don't, fall in!" He teases, pretending to push her in but still holding her tightly.

"JJ!"

"Careful!" They scold him.

Trinity pulls her arm out of JJ's grip, "Don't do that!"

"Wait! Hold on! I see something!" JJ looks down into the water and shakes his stick around.

"What are you doing?!" Kiara looks at him like he's a madman.

"Yeah, JJ, terrific idea." Trinity shakes her head, "Why don't you go in and dance for them?" She suggests warning and snide looks from JJ.

"I was just making sure it wasn't a gator, alright?" He says.

Trinity laughs and shakes her head, walking past him and following and Pope.

In the distance, it sounded like there was a construction site near them. Pope turns around and hushes all his friends before getting close to a hiding spot and watching Limbrey's men and Rafe, driving diggers and looking for the cross.

"I don't see shit!" Rafe says. "You sure this was the right spot?"

Limbrey nods and tells them to carry on, "It's there. The garment will be in the cross, and the cross will be at the foot of the tree!"

"Alright, well, whatever we find I get my cut," Rafe says flatly.

"Okay well, now what?" Trinity whispers. If Limbrey finds the cross then it's over for them.

And then the digger scrapes across something solid sounding, "Stop! Please! Did you hear it?" Carla shouts.

They all watch as Rafe and the men carry something out, "They got the cross?! What do we do?!"

"What can we do?" John B flips JJ's question, silencing him.