We take more dirt roads, with horrible turns. I glance at Sam, he wears a content smile.
“We’ll be there soon enough babe.” Sam says as he comes to the end of the dirt road. He pulls onto the highway, as we pass a church he points and says, “A woman got shot in there. Some man pulled up there, walked with a nine and shot her twice.”
My eyes widened, “Why?”
“He never gave his motive or reason.” He shrugs. He points out the new dollar general, “That’s new, my cousin told me that it was just put there about a month ago.” I nod my head, listening to him. He points out an older, abandoned store. “Mr. Billy Pat used to own that when I was little. I got free candy when I came with my mawmaw. When I became a teen, an eastern indian man owned it, Zach. He was cool, we joked around alot. He lost funding for I guess, so he had to shut down.” Sam says.
We then make harshish left turn into a driveway. The entrance was a steep hill. Sam eased down it, easing over rough bumps. We stopped at the first trailer house. A mixed woman stood outside with a little boy and younger girl. Sam turns the truck off.
“Who’s this?” I ask.
“Oh right, Maddie. My cousin.” Sam smiles at me and unbuckles us both. We get out, I walk around the front of the truck to Sam’s side. “Hi Maddie!” He opens his arms.
“Sam! I thought that was you.” She hugs him tightly. “You must be his boyfriend.”
“Yeah I am.” She hugs me, I hug back.
“Nice to finally meet you Colby.” We both laugh. I glance at Sam who is playing with the kids.
“Sam, where you been?” The little boy asks.
“I know bud, it's been forever. I have been working all the way in Cali.” Sam smiles at the boy. “Cam, you’re still five right?”
“Nope. I’m ten now.” Cam says proudly. Sam looked like he wanted to cry.
“Gosh time has flown by.” Sam stands back up. “Where’d rainy go?”
“Here!” The little girl runs out from behind Maddie. She runs up to Sam and her arms go up. Sam picks her up and she hugs his neck tightly.
“Mads, how old is she now?” Sam asks, lifting the girl onto his shoulders.
“She’s five now.” She answers.
“They’re cute.” I say. Maddie nods.
“Thank you. These kids have always been attached to him.” She smiles at me then back at Sam.
I watch as Sam set the girl back down.
“Cam, Rain, I’ll come back and play with you both before I leave alright?” Sam says giving both of the kids hugs. He stands up and walks back to us. “Alright Mads we are going to see pawpaw and then mawmaw.” They hug. She hugs me.
“Love you.”
“Love you too.” We climb back into our seats. Sam starts the truck and moves forward slowly, turning down a slight hill again. “My pawpaw lives down in here. I spent a lot of time playing in the red mud, clay, and the hollers.” He stops in front of the house and honks his horn before turning off the truck. We walk up to the porch, as a dog starts barking. I jump a little. “It’s alright babe, he won’t bite.” Sam takes my hand. “Mike shut up.” Sam fusses at the dog. The front door opens.
“Samuel! Oh my god.” The older man hugs Sam tightly. “Come in.” We walk inside. The man, I’m assuming, is his grandpa. He sticks his hand out and we shake hands. “So son, who’s this?” He asks.
