Copperhead Road

Chapter:13

"What do you think your doing hanging out with a Pettimore?" He spat. "Because you don't." I told him. A sting was felt on my cheek. My jaw was grabbed harshly. "If you talk to one again I will make sure you or them, don't ever see each other again. Understand?" He asked. I nodded. He let me go throwing me onto the floor. Then next time I could see I had a barrel of a pistol in his face with the hammer cocked.

"What do you think your doing?" He asked. "Could be doing the Pettimores a favor by getting rid of you." I said. "Put it down." He said. "No. I don't listen to anyone but my mom and uncle." I told him. He tried to grab it. It went off going straight into the right side of his chest. I bolted. He was right on my heels. I slid across the hood and jumped in peeling out. He shot at my car as I turned.

I got to Fireman's Tower road and went right to the barn. I hid my car after getting out and went up to the loft. I looked out the window just watching. I could hear sirens before seeing a black dodge pull up. It looked brand new. Josh got out. He looked ticked off. I watched as he went into the barn. I then heard him climbing up. I watched as he went to the opposite window.

I got up and walked quietly over to him. I wrapped my arms around him placing my hands below his chest along with my head on his back. He reached back rubbing my leg. "What are you doing here?" He asked. "Clearing my head." I told him. He chuckled before turning around and leaning back against the post there. He let me rest against him. He pulled a pistol out of my waistband.

"I knew that was there. Any more I need to know bout?" He asked. I pulled the one out from between my breasts. He took it sticking both out of my reach, hidden. "I know you won't do anything. It's more of a precaution." He said. He kissed me before holding me close against him. His hand was cold against my cheek. I sighed into his touch. Sirens grew louder. "What did you do?" We asked each other.

"The sheriff and deputies never bother us unless they have to. What did you do?" He asked. "When I got home my brother threatened me and I reacted in self defense." I told him. He looked at my cheek the jaw. "What did he do to you?" He asked gently holding my face. "He. He slapped me then threw me onto the ground." I answered. "What did you do back?" He asked. "He grabbed the gun that was in my hand and it went off hitting him in the right side of his chest before he ran after me." I said.

He kissed my forehead just before a deputy came up. Josh stood between us. "Step aside Pettimore. She needs to come with me." The deputy said. I hid behind him farther. "And what if I say she's not." Josh told him. I heard my brother's truck. I clung to the back of his shirt knowing what could happen if my brother go ahold of me. I found a gun in the back band of his jeans. My brother came up obviously not bothered by the hole in his chest.

Josh tensed up at the sight of him. He went to reach back. The deputy made him stop where his hands were. I pulled it out putting it in his hand. He didn't move as the deputy came closer. "Hand me the gun." The deputy told him. He let me take it before showing he didn't have it. I hid it in the waistband of my shorts. "Come with me." He said. Josh was pulled away from me. I looked down as the deputy was busy seeing the pile of moldy straw.

I jumped down landing in the straw. I hid in a stall seeing my brother prowl the building. I set the gun down and practically jumped taking my brother down. He tried to knock me off. Not before I almost choked him. I grabbed an old rope tying his hands behind his back. I grabbed his pocketknife holding it to his neck. "If you want to keep your life, I suggest you skip town and never return and you drop any charges against me. Otherwise you will never be found." I told him leaving him there.

Once I saw the deputy with Josh I created a diversion to hide him with me. I got the cuffs off and handed him it back. I peeked over before going to my car with him behind me. He got into the passenger side as I took off. I was able to fly out going straight to where I knew we were safe. He kept glancing back several times as I found the dead end. I put the car in park looking over at him.

"Please don't say a word. The deputy at the school will get us tomorrow. I'm already telling ya. So unless they find out it was self defense then I'm now involved." He said. I could feel tears trying to fall. He got out before coming around to my side. He had me get out so he could hold me close. "You didn't do anything wrong. If he shows his face around here he won't be alive much longer." He said.

I almost fell asleep standing against him. "Would you let me drive?" He asked. I looked up at him before nodding. He kissed me before letting me get into the passenger seat. I leaned against him as he drove. Once it stopped he got out before coming around. He picked me up and carried me. The next thing I felt was a soft bed and him pulling me to him. "Get some sleep princess your safe here." He said.