Copperhead Road

Chapter:10

I woke up to a pounding at my bedroom door. "Go away." I grumbled. Then next thing I knew I was being squashed by heavy weight. "Luke get off of me." I yelled. "Man. It's bad that I've just been called my brother." I landed a nice kick to his ribs while trying to get out from under him. "Seriously Bo. You weigh a ton." I told him. "Do not. I only weigh two fifty." He said. "Still a freaking ton to me." I said.

"So a little birdy told me your dating Josh Pettimore." He said. "How did you find out?" I asked. "Oh I'm friends with his oldest brother. He and I got into a lot of s*** when we were in school together." He said. "Funny thing about that. I smarted off to him then played the 'I'm the one your brother likes' card." I said. "What did you exactly say?" He asked. "That I was out for a joy ride with my cousin. Then he said that I better watch my mouth. After that I told him Josh had said the same thing Monday night." I said.

"Yeah. You better watch your mouth. Especially around John Lee the third." He said. "I know. I've been told by two Pettimore boys to watch it." I said. "I've also been told not to go down Copperhead Road without a Pettimore by the youngest of John Lee's boys." "Yeah. Heed the warning. If you ever go down that road on purpose, I will be the first one to tan your hide. Then I'll let your boyfriend know and see what he thinks." Bo told me.

"So what do you wanna do today?" He asked. "Let me get dressed and eat something then I'll tell ya." I said. He got up off my bed and went out of my room. I quickly got dressed in a swimsuit and a pair of cut off shorts along with a low cut tank top that barely showed my belly. I then slipped my boots on and went into the kitchen. I quickly made myself something to eat before scarfing it down.

I then brushed my teeth and grabbed my phone and keys before running out to my car. I was about to ditch Bo when he jumped in the passenger seat. "Thinking about spending time without me?" He asked. "Nope." I said before driving to pick Mariah up. I made Bo get in the backseat to let Mariah have the front. "Been a while since I've seen you." She said.

"I know. Eight years. At least. Went to college on a football scholarship and rode it all the way to my eighth year." He said. "Oh how's the wife?" I asked. "Left me. Took the two year old with her. Don't know why she did. So I decided to move back in with my dad and brother." He said. "She wasn't really nice." I said. "No she wasn't. Should have let you jack her up before she left." He said as I pulled to a stop.

"Where are we?" He asked. "Hope you wore or brought swim trunks." I said getting out. I grabbed two towels and the first aid out of the trunk. Then walked the well worn path Mariah and I used all summer with Bo tailing. Once at the rocks I took my tank off then boots and shorts. I saw the water level dropped a bit since a week ago. I saw where I wanted to jump and went for it.

I landed just right in the water in a ten diameter circle of sharp rocks. "Have fun getting out of that." Mariah yelled. I found a wide enough gap and went through it. Red surfaced. I felt pain in my right thigh. I swam for a flat rock and pulled myself up. A gash from my right hip down to my knee bled clearly. "Toss me a towel." I yelled. Bo and Mariah looked over the edge.

"Oh my gosh!" Mariah yelled. Bo quickly tossed the towel down. Along with two shoelaces from his tennis shoes. I quickly wrapped my leg tight and attempted to climb up. I couldn't and Bo doesn't know all of the foot holes and such. "I'm stuck." I yelled up. Male voices filled the air. "Wait someone is missing." Alex. I looked up seeing Bo pointing downward.

Then five other faces appeared over the edge. The towel was already almost soaked. "How come you couldn't go down there?" Another guy asked. "I don't know my way around the rocks." Bo said. I looked away at the water. Boots hitting rock made me look the opposite way. "Arms out." Josh said. He was in swim trucks and boots. I did so and he pulled me to my feet. "Keep the weight off your right leg." He said letting me go.

He then crouched down low enough for me to put my arms around his neck. "Let me know exactly where it is." He said picking mum on his back. "Outer side from my hip to my knee." I said. "Hold on sweetheart." He said before starting to climb. Once up Alex and Beau pulled me up ahead of Josh. "Set her on the bed of the truck." Josh said as he put the tailgate down.

Alex had Ben able to pick me up without causing any more harm to my leg. Once I was sat down Josh started taking the towel off. "No. No. No." I said trying to scoot away. Unluckily for me my cousin was blocking my exit. Josh got the towel off and took another pressing the skin folds together. "We don't have anything for this." Mariah said. "No peroxide or rubbing alcohol." She said.

"This is going to hurt. Lay on your side." Josh said. "Let's get her to the house. It's the closest place." He said. He got into the back with me sitting against the side. "I'm going to drop Mariah off before heading that way." Bo said. Alex and Beau both got into the bed with a familiar face. "Got it." He said. "Man we've got to stop meeting at the worse times."

"Oh I don't think he was properly introduced." Josh said. "That would be John Lee the fourth. Otherwise known as Johnny." "And I know her name. Blaze." Johnny said. "Well hold her still while I do this." Josh put an arm around the upper part of my torso. "Might wanna grip my hand." He said. I looked down seeing Alex and Beau helping Johnny with a jar and the towels. Alex was holding the bottom half of my legs.

Josh took my hand in a firm but soft grip. Right when I felt pain I squeezed his hand. "You good. We're almost there." He said softly. A towel touched my leg. "I'll try to hold it together until we get to the house. Keep it still." Johnny said. Josh moved closer letting me lay my head on his thigh. "Your good." He said once more as the truck turned. It stopped a few seconds later. "Don't move." Josh said.