Sweetwater Redemption

Chapter 12: A Silent Song

It took nearly the whole trip back to the farm before Toni said a word to Cheryl.

"Sucks about the truck being smashed, right? I guess that means when this is all over we can pick a new car out together."

Cheryl smiled as she set Toni down when they approached the edge of the farm. There was nothing to do but humor her, so Cheryl nodded and pulled up the best fake smile she could manage to give.

"Absolutely, my love. We can go to my warehouse and pick one out as soon as you would like."

"Your warehouse?" Toni asked, mildly bewildered.

"Oh yes, my mother and father purchased an old warehouse on the back of Thornhill's property. It's underground, but it has just about anything you could think of there. You can take your pick then."

Toni shook her head and stopped walking before swinging around to face Cheryl head on.

"Are you really just now telling me you have an underground bunker of luxury cars we could have been hiding in this whole time?"

"No, I'm telling you an underground garage exists, but the last time I stepped foot on the property I was shot and, technically, killed. I didn't want to take the risk that it may have been found and put you in danger. So, once this is all over, and Hiram's head is on a spike, the warehouse is all yours."

Cheryl had more to say, but before she got the chance, the sound of angry and unified voices reached her.

"Something is happening on the farm, get behind me and we will go check it out together." Cheryl offered, knowing Toni wouldn't allow her to investigate on her own.

Toni agreed and they walked towards the sound together, quickening their pace until they were close enough for Cheryl to make out what the voices were saying.

Cheryl stopped dead in her tracks, doubling over in laughter.

"What's so funny?" Toni asked.

Cheryl struggled to stop laughing long enough to fill her in for several seconds before taking a cleansing breath and gathering her thoughts.

"Our friends are a bunch of bumbling idiots, that's what's so funny."

"Bumbling idiots?" Toni clarified.

"Yes, without a doubt. However, we love them despite their clear status as bumbling idiots."

Toni still didn't understand, so instead of trying to explain, Cheryl picked her up and blurred to the barn. Once there, the voices were clear enough for even Toni to hear.

Above all the voices was Sweet Pea, who held a shotgun high above his head.

"We will not let Hiram, or those we once called family, to take any more of us. I don't care how hard we have to fight, or who we have to take out to get to them. I won't let Toni and Cheryl be kept as prisoners. Who's with me?"

The Guardians that surrounded Sweet Pea all roared in solidarity.

"Many of us were locked away in Hiram's dungeon. Let us remember what he did to us, and never let it happen again."

Sweet Pea gain elicited another roar from the crowd, but when he opened his mouth to speak again, Cheryl couldn't let him continue, he was too good of a friend to her and she couldn't let him worry any longer.

Cheryl blurred to the stage and gently prodded Sweet Pea's shoulder.

"While greatly appreciated, there will be no need for a rescue mission today. As you can see, we have already rescued ourselves."