Moonshine Hollow

Chapter Thirty-Eight

When Rose opened her eyes they were moving. They were bouncing down the road towards town. Rose groaned and sat up, rubbing at her temple. Jon cut his eyes over to her.

"This is all your fault," he said again, shaking his head sadly. "Look at what-" he started to say but stopped as head lights flashed as another truck came around the bend ahead of them. It slowed and stopped in the middle of the road forcing Jon to stop. He glanced behind them once, as though debating turning and running. But Floyd's truck couldn't outrun a bicycle on a good day.

The drivers door on the other truck opened and Rose saw the outline of the sheriff as he began walking towards them, his hand resting on his hip.

Jon cut his eyes over to Rose. "Don't do anything stupid," he warned. "Or I will go back and put a bullet in the brain of the last hillbilly up there.

Rose frowned at him not fully comprehending his words. Jon turned his attention back towards Sheriff Avery just as understanding dawned for Rose. Forrest was still alive.

"Turn off the truck, real slow," Sheriff Avery hollered to be heard over the engine.

"Is there a problem officer?" Jon called back calmly. In his lap, he pulled out his gun and cocked it.

The sheriff continued walking towards them, and Rose fought to swallow back her fear. She was terrified for Sheriff Avery.

"Now sheriff, I am here to get my sister and what belongs to me, that is all. I have the paper work, and just want to return home." Jon's calm facade was cracking, and he worked his grip on his gun. He didn't take his eyes off the sheriff. There was no way Avery was just going to let them leave. He would have recognized Floyd's truck as stolen regardless of whatever paperwork Jon could produce.

"Now, son-" the sheriff started to say coming closer but Jon was loosing his patience and he went for his gun.

"GUN!" Rose shrieked at the top of her lungs.

Jon flinched at her outburst and his moment of distraction was the only thing that saved Avery's life. He dropped his hand to his hip and pulled his gun.

Jon fired before he got his gun all the way up and missed.

Rose shrieked and shoved the door to the truck open. She threw herself out of the pick up. She fell to the hard packed road and rolled away from the truck just as she heard the Sheriff fire his gun. The sounds of gunshots filled the hollow, bouncing off the hills and trees.

Rose pushed herself up on her hands and knees, the rocks and gravel cut into her skin. Ignoring the pain she climbed to her feet and ran for the trees that lined the road. Behind her the sheriff and Jon continued to shoot at one another.

She took off uphill, back towards the store, and back towards Forrest. Her lungs burned and her heart pounded in her ears as she ran as far and as fast as she could. Rocks and twigs cut her feet as branches and leaves ripped at her shirt and pulled her hair. None of it matter. All that mattered was getting back to Forrest.

"Forrest!" she screamed when she burst out of the treeline and saw the store. Her bare feet slipped and slid through the icy mud, but she didn't care. She threw open the door and raced up the stairs, she tried to call for him again but she had a stitch in her side from running and couldn't catch her breath.

Forrest wasn't on the floor in his room. She spun around wildly and nearly ran headfirst into Peter. She shrieked and raised her hands to ward off an attack before she realized who it was.

She couldn't speak, she let out a choking sob and threw herself into his arms. He grunted in pain, but still held her. When she pulled back she could see the slickness of blood on her. She looked back at him.

"It's just bullet burn," he assured her. "He just winged me, I'm fine." He promised, though his breath was coming in short, sharp pants and pain shone in his eyes.

"Where's-" she started to ask but Peter interrupted her.

"I dragged him into your room in case Jon came back to make sure we were dead."

Rose all but shoved Peter out of the way. She threw open her door and chocked out a sob of relief. The relief was so profound she felt lightheaded. Forrest was still alive. Even through her tears she could see the rise and fall of his chest. She moved slowly towards the bed, not trusting herself. Peter had wrapped Forrest's injuries, applying pressure to slow the bleeding.

"I have to go get help Rose," Peter said, but Rose didn't respond. "Rose, Forrest needs a doctor," he continued, trying to get her attention. "Rose?"

It took Rose several moments to realize Peter had been trying to speak to her.

"Lorelei," he finally said, exasperated.

She turned back to him, tears shinning in her eyes.

"Arthur is dead." His words were plainly spoken but Rose could see the shock and pain in his face. Her eyes went back to Forrest, and she gripped his hand. He was unconscious. "I need to get us help or Forrest won't be far behind him."

She turned tear filled eyes to him and nodded. "I can control the bleeding until you get back here with the doctor."

"I already got him."

Both Rose and Peter whirled towards the door. Peter had a gun in his hand and was pointing it at the Sheriff's head before either one of them realized it was he who had spoken. The sheriff stood at the top of the stairs, looking haggard in the predawn light.

Peter let out a sigh of relief and dropped his hand, nodding. The sheriff gave him a weak smile and stepped out of the way of the doctor.

The doctor hurried up behind the sheriff his medical bag in hand. The old man looked as though the sheriff had dragged him out of bed. He moved around her and Peter and started to examine Forrest.

Rose glanced at the doctor, she wanted to be there with Forrest but there was something she needed to know first. "Sheriff?" she asked in a breaking voice.

He turned his tired eyes to Rose. He saw the fear on her face and seemed to understand immediately it wasn't just for Forrest. "He's dead." Avery said simply. "He died out on that road."

Rose let out a shaking sigh of relief feeling for the very first time like she was truly free. She gave the sheriff a grim smile because he was a good man and he would feel guilty for killing someone. "He was a horrible man, my brother." she told him.

The sheriff nodded.

Rose turned back to her room and rushed to Forrest's side. "Is he going to be alright?" she asked the doctor. He looked so pale, even against the white sheets. There was blood everywhere and it continued to spread.

"I need you to stand back. He is very hurt, and he may not make it," the doctor said reaching into his bag.

Rose stepped back and latched onto Peter, holding him tightly. They couldn't lose Forrest. They couldn't. Not after losing Arthur. Rose let her eyes drift out into the hall, but Arthur's bedroom door was closed. She tried to remember the last words she had spoken to him, but couldn't. She turned her attention back to the doctor and Forrest.

"I really need to get him to my clinic," the doctor muttered. But he made no move to do so, instead he immediately began to examine the two bullet holes. One was high on his shoulder, and Rose only prayed there wasn't much damaged from that one, but the other was in his chest.

She closed her eyes and for the first time since her father died, she prayed. Standing in the circle of Peter's arms surrounded by blood and death she prayed harder than she ever had in her life. She thought of the Preacher Franklin's god all fire and brimstone, but she didn't think her god was like that. She prayed to a god who couldn't possibly make her lose Forrest now. Her god wouldn't take both of Peter's brothers from him in a single night. Peter, who had lost everyone he ever loved to death and disease.

She shuddered as the true weight of all that loss threatened to bury her. She began to cry now in earnest. Large silent tears rolled down her cheeks as she watched the doctor work and prayed.