A Bounty of Pictures

Chapter 6

Seth slams the trunk of his green hand-me-down car after we dump our backpacks inside. Josie props her feet on the dash and scrolls through her social media.  Rachel and I talk about tonight's episode of The Bachelor. Peyton runs to the car with a Trig book flopping behind him.

"Where were you?" Seth asks, still standing outside. His football-printed lanyard spins around against his chest.

"Sorry, my phone died. I had to get math help or I wouldn't have been able to play in the next game," Peyton frowns.

"Good excuse." Seth turns on the car and Peyton sits next to me.

"Let's stop at my house and then go to the field." Peyton suggests.  Seth agrees and turns down the road towards the field and Peyton's house.

Before anyone could start a conversation, Seth takes the key out of the ignition. Peyton's house is nothing I would've pictured. It's almost like Parker's house but smaller and a porch that wraps around. Peyton unlocks the door and we all step into the empty house.
Everyone follows Peyton to the kitchen and Seth swings open a cabinet containing cups.

"Sorry for the mess. Dad and I were running behind this morning." He ties up a loaf of bread and places it in a basket. "Help yourself to anything. I'll be right back." Peyton walks out of the small kitchen, distracted.

Seth washes a crimson red apple from the fruit bowl. Josie turns on music. Rachel and I pluck a few grapes out of the bowl.  Peyton returns to the kitchen, less distracted. "Ready?"

"Sure." Josie hops down from the counter. We leave the small house and Peyton walks past Seth's car.

"I thought we'd walk. It would look weird if we drove." Peyton says stopping at the mailbox.

"I agree." I say continuing to walk towards him.
The shuffle of the gravel driveway behind me shows everyone follows. We walk on the left side of the road as cars breeze by.

"Is it always this busy?" I ask. I don't remember a single car Saturday night.
Peyton looks over his shoulder, "in the afternoon. After seven it's dead."

"I thought there aren't many houses on this road."

"There isn't. There's only eight, but it's also a shortcut to Lakewood." A blue car slows to turn into the long pebble driveway we walk across. Peyton waves and the older woman returns the wave. "Friend of my dad." He explains.

We reach the field and the world seems to spin for a second. I return my focus back to the group who all stare at me. "What?" I ask.

"Well, you were here. Show us what happened." Seth crosses his arms. Rachel finishes a text.

"I think Chloe should start with where she was standing." Rachel says.

I nod, nervous to even think about the tree. I half walk, half drag my feet to the tree. My fingers graze the ridges and imperfections. "This is the tree."

Rachel holds by an eye roll, "this is the first tree you looked at."

"It's the right one. I think I'd remember which tree I was at." I immediately regret saying that so I sit on the ground with my back against the field. Then I turn my head to look at the harvested field, trying to make the memories take over. Nothing comes, but it looks like the right angle. "It's the right tree."

I look back at the group and Seth has the impression that I'm crazy. Josie nods with an odd smile. "Okay, now lead us to the spot in the field."

I stand up, but this time forcing the memories isn't necessary.  I start to walk around the trunk and stop as the man's eyes connect with mine before I take off towards Parker's car. I pinch my wrist to bring me back to reality.
Everyone follows me to the dried field. Dead golden straw covers the field and crack under our feet. Peyton lags behind and Seth slows to walk with Peyton.  We near the end of the field and I turn around. Rachel and Josie look at me with blank faces.

"I don't know. I can't find anything." I say in disappointment.

"It's fine. Maybe flashback to the night." Rachel comforts. I look back at Seth and Peyton, who seem to be laughing, then look back to the tree. The images from the night are mixing with the nightmare.

The hands shake, almost if to slip something between the hands. Voices rise to a quiet shout. Then the gun rises.

My head shakes. "I don't know. I was only focusing on the cars, not where they were."

"Well maybe there's tire tracks or something." Josie suggests. Seth whistles to us and we run over.  "My man, Peyton, here noticed something." Peyton crouches down, looking sad.

"This was my mom's land before she died. I know this field too well and my uncle doesn't cover my mother's field in straw after harvesting it." Peyton picks up a hand full of the straw. My mouth drops. I push more of the dark gold straw out of the way.

"Is that a tire mark?" I ask.

"It's definitely not my uncles tractor." Everyone else falls to the ground and starts throwing the thick strands aside to reveal more tire tracks.

"They pulled in over there."  I point to the sloping dirt road to the field. Josie attempts to run in her tight skinny jeans. We watch her and she shakes her head.

"There's no hay!" She yells.

"Why would they put it in just this one area?" Rachel asks.

"Maybe they were planning to come back or marking something." Peyton suggests.

Sorry to add a note at the end, but I'm currently in an area with bad cell service so I will put a picture in this chapter once I have service or wifi! Thanks for understanding! --Angela