On the Run by M Zeigler (short story to read TXT) 📖

introduce Beverley hillbillies to good old fashioned rednecks who have nothing better than to blow things up?” Bonnie prompts, Devon looks at Bonnie as if she’s sprouted a second head and a fifth limb. “Is that a serious question?” The middle Russian hitter asks with a laugh, her co-workers and a few of the men in the small army chuckle at their remark.

“I don’t know, what are you even talking about you sadistic, broke, trashy, slutty, maniac?” Devon asks shaking his head. “Humor me, and see if you can answer this question at least. What is the best way to makes the best bomb, Tannerite and aluminum dust, black powder, or a gas line?” Bonnie prompts, the moment she gives the third possible answer I instantly know what she is about to do. I look back to where my brother’s should be except they aren’t at the truck, in fact they are running through the corn field behind the diner heading straight towards the old city hall.

“I don’t know, I guess a main gas line, except that would cost a lot of money?” Devon replies curiously. “Correct, so tell me this, what are you going to do now Devon? How do you even know Barrette is still in town? I mean, at this point he could be long gone.” Bonnie says as she starts backing away from Devon who does nothing to move closer to her.

“My offer still stands the one I gave you at the fairgrounds? If you tell me where Barrette is right now, and walk away, I’ll hand you twenty million in cash. We’re family; I don’t want to kill you.” Devon says beckoning someone forward. My eyes dart over to whoever he called forward, two men from the eighty steps out carrying two huge duffel bags crammed with cash. He stops just outside the group and waits for Bonnie to make her decision, looking back to Bonnie I can just barely see that she’s looking at me from the corner of her eyes.

“Those are my only options? Die here or take the money and run?” Bonnie asks trying to make it sound as if she doesn’t want any trouble. “A promise is a promise, give me the location, take the money and run. Go someplace nice, I hear the Bahamas’ are nice all year round, so buy yourself a little house out there and relax.” Devon continues. “Okay, no jokes this time. I don’t, I’m sorry Devon, your right we are family. Barrette is…he’s hiding at his house just up the street. I suggest you go alone though, I know he is watching and waiting for you to come up there. if you go up with your men he’ll set the dogs on you and come out the door shooting.” Bonnie says to Devon who gives a sigh of relief. “I forgive you Bonnie, see? We can still be friends, let’s just put our parents war behind us.” Devon says though I know neither of them truly believes the words he’s speaking. Devon clears the distance between himself and Bonnie; he gives her a brisk hug as the money handler comes forward. Bonnie shoots me a look telling me to get out of dodge; I look towards where I seen Montgomery standing but I find that he’s no longer there either.

Looking back to the corner field I see that the rows are bustling around like people are in there but I cannot see anyone walking around. There has to be a secondary plan going on here, so I take the weapons I brought up with me and head back towards the roof top entrance. I figure that I have to move fast otherwise I face being caught by one of the many people currently after me.

Running out the back door I’m caught off guard by Montgomery hissing for me from the tree line that leads out into the old dirt portion of the frontage road which loops over to the old community center.

“Barrette, come on man. We gotta move!” Montgomery says with a loud hiss, I look around rather confused with the whole situation but I listen to Montgomery and run up into the trees. “What is going on man?” I ask the moment I’m within ear shot. “You’re woman is more of a redneck than all of us initially thought.” Heather says walking down from her pappy’s cabin holding a high end sniper rifle I recognize to be my own.

“Here, take this and wait for the warning.” Heather says just as Richard rolls up in a golf cart. “Where did you get that?” Montgomery demands the moment he sees the thing. “The Adder creek golf resort, get in. We’re going riding!” Richard says sounding like Louis the last time he stole a golf cart from Adder creek. “Those boys are contagious!” Montgomery howls as Heather gives me a kiss on a cheek then looks me in the eyes. “Don’t miss Barrette.” She says then nods in the direction of a third bomb taped right by the massive exposed gas pipe line that feeds the entire town. I also notice that the cover on the exposed line is ajar; realizing what is going on a wicked smile slowly spreads across my face from ear to ear.

“Of course you might wanna head on over to the tree stand over at the stomping grounds.” Heather says nodding across the dirt frontage road where I can see someone has built a tree stand in the very top of the mighty oak that stands in the center of the stomping grounds. Or as I call it, the well protected, well hidden, private property, party place where the cops can’t do a darn thing to shut it down.

“Don’t worry, Montgomery and his boys promised to keep that area neutral grounds.” Heather adds as she runs away to the golf cart. Once Richard has everyone heading towards the community center I give a silent prayer that Bonnie makes it out before I have to take the shot.

Putting one foot in front of the other I head towards the stomping grounds which is only a ten minute walk from here.

As I walk I start to think about how Bonnie got this grand plan past me, I mean she even got my brothers in on this and I don’t know how she did that, my brother’s are loyal! I also have to wonder what she meant by Beverly hillbillies meeting true blue rednecks, the sheer thought of her family moving into this town is a terrifying image. I mean, Montgomery complains about my brother’s stirring up trouble, hah! He hasn’t seen a thing until the Parker’s roll into town; this situation should be proof enough of that.

My thoughts fade to my main task when I realize I’m standing at the bottom of the mighty oak tree in the center of the stomping grounds with a redneck engineered ladder leading up to the deer stand. “I really hope Leo didn’t build this.” I groan as I take hold of the first series of wood planks, my honest thought is that if Leo built this ladder, I’d probably be safe standing right next to the pipe line when I shoot it. The last time Leo was left in charge of building something it was the front porch at our mother’s house and poor cougar, my uncle bills dog took one step out on to the porch and the entire porch fell to pieces, the dog is only twenty pounds.

At the top of the deer stand I have a perfect view of the town and the pipe line, Bonnie is standing directly between the Rand’s house and the left side of the office building I was just on top of. She’s directly level with the parking lot shaking hands with each of the Russian girls, after releasing the hand of the last one Bonnie looks to the Duke and gives him a coy smile and shakes his hand which he brings up to kiss her knuckles.

The hit man holding the two bags of cash hands over both bags and Bonnie speaks as if to thank him, with both duffels in hand she looks at Devon says something then walks over to the Mustang and slides both bags into the passenger’s seat before walking around to the driver’s side where she slides in and fires up the Mustang. She carefully maneuvers around Devon’s still burning Ferrari and drives across the bridge that actually meets up with the dirt frontage road.

I watch the dirt trail flying up behind her until the dust settles and I can tell she is no longer driving; I am left for the longest time wondering what my signal is going to be. And who is sending the signal, hopefully it will be something I can’t miss.

All I know is that Devon just finished up talking to the Duke and is headed my way, he’s already half way through the field behind Rand’s house when I hear the local storm alarm boom to life with Bonnie’s voice. “Gitter done!” Bonnie shouts through the alarm system, that must be my que.

As I scope out Devon with my rifle I see that Richard, Montgomery, and my brother’s are parked down in the tree’s just inside the stomping grounds probably waiting to catch Devon when he least expects to be caught.

“Alright chuck, let’s see who gets the last laugh now.” I say as I line the cross hairs on my target, I ease on the trigger and the shot rings out. I lower the gun the moment I fire the shot just in time to see the bomb explode and ignite the fumes leaking from the gas line.

Thirty seconds later I watch with awe as the entire main gas line in town explodes with all of Devon’s goons standing directly in the middle of the main road. The blast is so large that I actually feel the heat wave way back over here! Devon is a good hundred yards closer than I am which means he gets knocked to the ground face first, looking down I watch with amusement as Devon rolls onto his back, both ears bleeding, eyes wide with fear as he watches the decent sized mushroom cloud tapering off.

Once the rumbling fades away, Montgomery, Richard, and two other guys I can’t quite place come riding down from the tree line they stop around six feet from Devon and exit the golf cart. Montgomery wastes no time in punching Devon hard enough to knock him out. With Devon unconscious all four men help to get him cuffed, wrists and ankles and into the golf cart. Montgomery pauses just before stepping on board and tips his hat in my direction; even though he probably can’t see me I give him a quick salute.

“I do believe that was by far the best moment in redneck and hillbilly history!” Bonnie’s voice shouts up at me from the ground. Looking down I see that she’s standing there with two bags of cash sitting in the back seat of the mustang which is parked just behind her tiny seeming frame. Right now I can definitely say, she looks just like her grandmother would if they had of been born in this time period.

“I do believe your right darlin.” I call back down to her as I start my descent back down the questionable ladder. When my feet land on the ground two minutes later I turn around to see Bonnie already back in the driver’s seat of the mustang. “I hear there’s a party over at the old community center, would you care to join me for a drink?” Bonnie says being incredibly sarcastic.

“Sounds good, what about the town?” I say nodding to the still flaming pit. Bonnie points up to the sky where several crop dusters are swooping down. “Coon called some buddies of his and got some fire retardant.” Bonnie replies as she more slowly cruises down the narrow