Copperhead Road

Chapter:17

We threw our caps up for finally getting through high school. Josh had me in him arms quickly kissing me. We looked back at the stands. This generation of Pettimores has finally graduated high school. I looked closer as Josh kissed me seeing his grandfather topple over onto the ground. I pulled away him catching my gaze before following. Alex and Beau followed. The paramedics came quickly. He held onto me tightly before I nodded. The hospital.

The whole family packed the waiting room. The youngest being a twelve week old baby. The oldest being his grandmother. Josh had me on his lap holding me against him. John Lee and Johnny were talking outside. They came in just as the doctor came out. They both went over. I could see the doctor shaking his head. Josh held me closer. They both came over sharing the news. Josh racked behind me. I rubbed his arms. His grip became deadly.

I reached back running my hand through his hair. He sniffled a bit calming at my touch. I kissed his cheek letting him cry. "Y'all go home. We'll finish up here." John Lee said looking around. I pulled Josh to his feet leading him out to my car. I let two other men ride with us as I drove home. I tried not to cry with me being the driver. The other three looked like they've been through hell.

Once I pulled up in front of the house I let the men out. They hugged Josh before walking up the mountain. Josh held me as close as he could. I finally let the tears cascade down. I rubbed his back. As much as I know this isn't the time, I honestly want to marry this man. I looked up at him. Even though I didn't know his grandfather long he was a great man. I started for the front door as a black truck pulled up to the house.

Josh went right to a couch pulling me onto his lap. I kept my arms around him kissing him as if saying not to worry. I just sat there holding him and kissing him until he was almost asleep. He wrapped his arms around me tightly not wanting to let me go. I fell asleep in his hold until we were woken up. "She needs to go." John Lee said right in front of me. "Why?" Josh asked moving me aside.

"She is being tracked. Gilson is on our trail. He's got the entire sheriffs department on our tails too." I then remembered the envelope. I stood up before telling Josh I'll be back in a bit. I grabbed my keys and went straight to my car. I got in before getting away from the house. I got the attention of the sheriff and peeled out. I led him away from the property and them. I dug through the envelope finding something like a tracker.

I scoffed before pulling off to the lake. I hid my car and went out. I pitched out into the water before going back through my car. The whole thing was wired up. I took pliers cutting the right wires and getting them out. As soon as I was done I got back in and led the sheriff and a few deputies on a high speed chase through the dark. I made it back to his house parking my car in a hidden spot.

I then saw Josh and a few of his cousins talking to him. He was shaking his head at them. He then saw me before going inside. Alex and Beau were two of the guys. They saw me and came stalking over. "Your not welcome here anymore." Alex said. "And yet I had no clue bout my entire car being wired to be found." I told him. "I'll just set it on fire and let it burn." I went back to my car getting back in.

My bio father using me to get my boyfriend's family? That's messed up. I was back at the lake and opened the gasoline tank. I dumped kerosene all over it before lighting a match. I stuck one on the inside along with the gas tank. I stood back as it exploded in a ball of fire. I then began the trek back to nowhere. I can go home and I've been kicked out of my boyfriend's place.

I doubt he even cares. By morning I was passing by that territory of theirs. I walked all day making it to the auto mechanics business. I went in asking if he had any vehicles for sale. "Nope." He said. I saw the name on his tag. Pettimore. "Ok. How's this, this is the worst place to get a vehicle fixed, because no one in your stinkin family can get it through your heads that I never had anything to do with the law. If I did I wouldn't of gotten close to Josh, and would have been doing every in my possession to destroy the family instead of getting close to them." I said before leaving.

Now I've got to stir up a bit of trouble with my cousins. I started for their work. I spotted one of their vehicles breaking into it seeing wiring same as mine. I popped the hood taking the battery and slashing the tires. Then locked it back up before running off. They must have had a deal with Gilson once he found out how close I was becoming to the Pettimores.

By midnight I had reached the house taking that one too leaving it in the same condition. I disappeared from existence in the old barn on Fire Tower road. I slept all night and most of the day. I knew cruisers would be out. I didn't have my phone for the simple fact of being tracked. I searched my entire body for anything else. Nothing else. Now I just need to wait until I'm found.