"Madison, Madison!" Her mother's voice was faint in the distance. "Where are you? You need to come in honey!"
The wind was blowing at full speed, and the rain drenched the ground. Standing next to one another, she still had to yell so he could hear.
"Sorry Jake, but I've got to go; I wish you'd come with me to our cellar, but—."
"Just go Madison!" He yelled. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine in here, just go; run as fast as you can. Go—go!
He gave her a soft shove, and watched as she ran back to the house. She turned, looking back at the old barn, thinking about Jake, hoping he would be alright, all alone in there.
As she finally reached the cellar, she noticed her father walking outside, putting his hat and coat on, preparing to search for her.
"I'm here Pa, I'm here!" Madison yelled.
Mr. Brierly gestured with his hands for Madison to quickly get into the cellar. Once everyone was inside, her mother wrapped her up warmly in a thick blanket.
"Madison darling, where on earth have you been?" Her mother asked. "Your Pa and I have been worried sick!—Oh just look at you, you're drenched from head to toe. Where were you anyway?"
"I was out looking for Toby. The storm started, I got scared and didn't know what to do." She said, not wanting to reveal Jake's secret hideout.
"Toby was with your father and I." Mrs. Brierly confirmed. She shrugged her shoulders and continued, "well, never the less, we're all together now. I just hope this storm passes quickly."
"Oh no!" Mr. Brierly exclaimed "I forgot about the small patch of crops I just planted. I need to go cover them up!"
"Please don't go out there!" Mrs. Brierly said, grabbing his arm. "It's very dangerous, and the winds are so high!"
Suddenly, a loud clap of thunder crashed across the sky, startling all three of them; while simultaneously causing the lights to flicker, scaring them even more.
"I'll help you daddy!" Madison said.
"Very well" Mrs. Brierly announced, placing her hands on her hips. "Let's all go then, so we can get this done and over with!"
Mr. Brierly began a countdown, by saying. "Five, four, three, two, one!" and with that, he opened the cellar doors, as the family quickly made their way to their nearby crop field.
Madison's father instructed her to hold tightly to his coat, and not let go until they reached the crops. Once at the fields, the rain soaked Brierly's immediately went towards the small patch of newly planted crops, and began to cover it with a tattered tarp they had in the cellar.
The scene was almost comical, as the family continuously chased the unruly tarps corners back and forth, until they found a few large rocks to secure it with.
Once the tarp was in place, they headed back into the cellar, dried themselves off, and got into a discussion about life, their hopes and dreams. Meanwhile, the storm continued to bombard the small town of Blackwater.
Mr. and Mrs. Brierly spoke on, about the possibility of crop loss, and how they would recover, while Madison was think only of Jake, who chose to weigh out this violent storm all alone, in that small old run-downed barn.
While the Brierly's were taking shelter, Jake managed to move all the furniture up against the barn door, which stopped the wind from slamming it over and over again.
He went to the corner, took out his lucky marble, and quickly began rubbing it between his hands. As it moved between his palms, he could feel the heavy vibration of the thunder as it hit. Curious as to what was going on, he got up, peeked through one of the cracks in the boards and couldn’t believe his eyes. He saw a large funnel cloud heading straight for the Brierly's, and his little barn! He began pacing back and forth, weighing out his options in his mind.
"I don't know what to do!" He thought. "If I stay here, I'm sure to die, but if I go to the cellar, Mr. Brierly will kill me! Either way…I'm dead!"
"Well" He thought, as he threw his hands in the air. "If I'm gonna die, at least I'll be able to see Madison's beautiful face one more time."
With that thought, Jake quickly moved the furniture from the door, and darted towards the Brierly's cellar. As he ran, he could see the twister coming closer and closer to the Brierly's house. Hoping to outrun the massive force of nature, he moved toward the cellar as fast as he could.
He could feel the wind and rains power more and more as he neared the Brierly's cellar, only a few yards away from their house. He saw the twister's size grow larger as it got closer. The tornado was now only fifty yards away, and the cellar was in sight, but Jake made a hasty decision, and chose to stop in his tracks.
He was afraid the tornado would endanger Madison and her parents when and if the cellar doors opened. He threw himself down on the ground, curled himself in a ball, and hoped for the best. He knew it would only be seconds now until it ripped through the Brierly's farm, and possibly tossing him miles into the air.
After about twenty seconds passed, he picked up his head to see what was taking it so long. To his amazement, he noticed the storm's path suddenly changed course, now headed away from the Brierly's land, and away from Blackwater altogether.
"Thank you God! Thank you, thank you!" Jake yelled, as the downpour began to subside, and the sky started to slowly clear.
Picking himself off the muddy ground, he heard the cellar doors begin to creak open. He knew he wouldn't have enough time to go back to the old barn without being seen, so he quickly ran around to the side of the house and waited.
"Abigail!" Mr. Brierly called to his wife, as he walked out of the cellar. "Go make sure everything in the house is alright, and Madison, come with me. Let's check if there's any damage to the crops."
"Hey Pa!" Madison said, wondering about Jake. "Why don't I go have a look around, and see if everything else is alright?"
"No Madison!" Mr. Brierly said. "You stick with me, just in case that storm decides it wants to come back. I don't wanna have to go out searching for you again."
"Alright, alright!" She said, sighing and stomping her foot on the ground.
"Why don't you go and get the rake from the side of the house, and meet me by the newly planted crops?" Mr. Brierly said as he chuckled.
"Okay Pa" sighed Madison. "Go here...go there...do this...do that!"
"What's that, young lady?" He asked as his daughters reaction brought a smile to his face.
"Nothing Pa. I'll get the rake for you."
Once Madison reached the side of the house, she saw what appeared to be the top of a fuzzy head, poking up between two piles of wood, neatly stacked against the house.
Madison carefully peeked around the corner, and noticed her father had his back to her with his full attention on the crops. She smiled, quietly got down and slowly duck-walked towards the wood pile. She jumped up directly in-front of Jake, completely startling him saying "Boo!" She put her arms straight out in front of her, and began walking like a zombie.
"I am Todd Beven" She said in a hypnotized voice. "I'm here to chop you up into little bits." Then she gasped, and knelt down beside him. "Jake Patterson was scared? You mean to tell me that tough Jake Patterson was actually scared?" Then she made her voice sound like a little girl and continued "Was wittle Jaky waky scared of a little teensy weensy, itsy bitsy, little bitty storm?"
"Alright, alright, stop it, stop it! Quiet down!" He said, now smiling and gently putting his hand over her mouth.
"Madison!" Her father called "Honey, where's the rake? Come on, my crops will be ready to harvest by the time you get here."
Madison grabbed the rake next to Jake, gave him a light peck on his cheek, then quickly took off around the corner running to her father with a huge smile on her face.
Jake, stood there in disbelief, and lightly placed his hand on the exact spot where Madison kissed him. With his painted on grin from ear to ear, he quickly got up, peeked around and watched Madison run to her father with the rake in her hands.
Jake walked and looked around the front of the house, wondering if Mrs. Brierly was anywhere
in sight. When everything seemed clear, Jake began to run as fast as he could to towards town. He hopped and skipped, stopping here and there, to pick up a rock or stick and throw it as far as he could.
Madison's father, was oblivious about her little run in with Jake, he only saw her with the rake in her hands and a goofy smile on her face.
"Madison Brierly!" He said as he shook his head. "What on God's green earth am I ever gonna do with you. baby girl? Go on and play. This storm's not comin' back any time soon, just be careful okay?"
Madison picked up a stick, and pleasantly skipped away, calling for Toby to play a game of fetch.
<><><>
When Jake finally reached the center of town, he thought he'd try to make some money, so he made his way to the backside of the vacant shop at the end of the strip, pulled out his dice, and started rolling them against the building.
It wasn't long until other boy's his age gathered round for a few games of 'back alley dice'. Jake looked at each of the four boys who came to play, then placed ten cents on the ground.
"Okay boys" Jake said, "Who's gonna be the first to lose?"
A tall lanky boy walked towards Jake and placed ten cents on the ground as well. "I'll play ya Jake!" He nodded.
"Okay Phil, let's see who rolls first." Jake said, giving him a crooked smile handing him a die.
Phil put the die in his hand, blew on it for good luck, then rolled it against the wall, landing a five.
The other boys chanted, oohed and ahhed, knowing Jake now had to beat a five if he was gonna win first roll. Jake gave Phil a wink, rolled his die and landed a deuce.
"Okay Jake!" Phil chuckled, "I get to go first! Give me the dice and get ready to see a seven or an eleven."
The other boys chuckled, and focused on Phil as he rolled the dice against the building.
"Darn it!" Phil looked down and saw the dice which displayed double sixes.
"That's right, come to papa!" Jake smiled, and picked up his twenty cents.
"Wanna play again Phil?" Jake asked placing the change back down on the ground.
Phil smirked. He dug around in his pockets, pulled out his last twenty cents and put it all on the ground.
"I can't believe I'm doing this!" Phil said. "If I lose, Ma's gonna kill me. This money's supposed to buy us some groceries."
This time, Jake rolled the higher die, winning the first toss. "Come on lucky seven!" he said, as he shook the dice in his hand, quickly releasing them and watched as they bounced off the wall displaying a four.
"That's what I'm talking about!" said Phil "You gotta roll another four, or else I get my thirty cents back, plus ten of yours!"
"Well Phil" Jake smiled "here's your four!" With that, Jake rolled the dice which surprisingly displayed another four.
"Oh no!" exclaimed Phil "My Ma's gonna kill me!—I know, I'll tell her some older kids ruffed me up and took all my money."
Phil threw himself on the ground, and began to roll in the dirt, while purposefully ripping and tarring his shirt at the bottom. "So guys—do I look ruffed up?" He asked the other boys as he smiled, displayed his new look.
All the boys laughed together, then patted Phil on the back to wish him luck. As Phil walked away, Jake picked up the coins from the ground and began to play with them, moving it from one hand to the other.
"Who's next?" He asked, placing the money back on the ground.
Game after game, Jake continued to win; all the boys went away one by one, no money left in their pockets. As the last boy walked from the back side of the vacant shop, Jake began to count his winnings. He made one dollar and twenty cents.
"Wow, I did good today!" He said out loud, putting the money in his pocket, whistling all the way to Smitty's store. As Jake walked through the store, Smitty gave him an evil look, and held up a thick stick about two feet long.
"Go ahead Jake!" Smitty said. "I dare you to steal something today. I brought this stick just for you!"
"I got money Smitty" Jake responded with a smile. "One whole dollar and twenty cents!"
"I got my eye on you kid!" said Smitty as he pointed the stick at him.
Jake chuckled and grabbed a small wicker hand-basket to shop. He remembered Madison and her love for chocolate, so he grabbed a couple chocolate bars, some canned goods, a few bottled sodas and some other small items, hoping it would last a few days.
Jake confidently walked up to the register, placed his basket on the counter, and gave Smitty a wink. Smitty glared back as he began ringing the items.
"That will be one dollar and thirty cents." Smitty said.
"But I only got a dollar twenty!" he said, displaying his money on the counter.
"Tough kid. Looks like you need to put something back then, maybe one of those chocolate bars?" He said laughing.
"I don't know Smitty; maybe this can of beans." he said, shoving it to the side.
"Well, if you had a job, you wouldn't have to put anything back, you bum. Now take your things and get out of my store!"
Jake shrugged his shoulders, chuckled, grabbed his groceries, and headed back to the old barn. It was about three in the afternoon when Jake arrived back at his hideout. As he walked inside, he was pleasantly surprised to find Madison and her dog Toby, sitting inside; she held two small cupcakes in her hands.
"Hi Jake. I brought us some snacks!" She quickly stood up and showed him the treats. "See," she continued, as she held them straight out in front of her.
"Thanks Madison, I'm starving, and those look great!" He said.
"Hey Jake, I wanted to say I'm sorry about what happened this morning after the storm." she said, as the two sat down and began to eat.
"After the storm?" He asked in a puzzled voice, pretending not to know what she meant.
"You know, the kiss on your cheek. Just forget about it, okay?" She said blushing and looking down on the ground.
"Okay Madison, sure, no worries!" He agreed, knowing despite his feelings, he must play along.
Jake wiped his sticky fingers on his trousers, and stuck out his right hand for a handshake. "Friends?" he asked.
"Yes, friends!" She said as they shook hands.
The tension seemed to subside, as Jake and Madison went back to joking as usual. "Here you go!" He said taking out the chocolate bars. "I got one for you today, when I went to town."
Madison immediately furrowed her brow, twisted her mouth to the side and put her hands on her hips, knowing he must have stolen them.
"Don't worry Maddie, I paid for em'!" He said giggling.
"So…" She smiled as she took the chocolate. "You're calling me Maddie now, huh?"
"Well…" Jake replied "If it's okay with you?"
"Yes, that's fine. I like it, it's kinda cute—Maddie." She repeated again trying to conceal a full smile.
<><><>
They must've lost track of time; it was now seven p.m. and Madison's parents were out looking for her. She was always told not to wander too far from home, and never to go to that old spooky barn.
"I bet she went looking for that stupid dog again!" Mr. Brierly said to his wife. He grabbed his shotgun, "I'll be back soon, I'm gonna go find that girl!"
"Go easy on her Nate." Mrs. Brierly said, rubbing her husband's back. "She's probably just out exploring, that's all."
"Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of!" exclaimed Mr. Brierly, kissing his wife's cheek and grabbing his hat.
"Be careful Nate. It's getting dark out!" She yelled, cupping her hands around her mouth.
After searching for a few minutes with no luck, Mr. Brierly was about to ask his wife to help, when all of a sudden he spotted a faint orange glow in the distance. It appeared to be coming from the old deserted barn.
"Madison Brierly!" He thought "How many times have I told you not to go to that old barn; let alone build a camp fire in it!" He shook his head, and started making his way towards the orange light.
As he neared the old barn, he could hear Madison talking to someone. "Madison Nichole B
rierly!" He thought, as he grit his teeth together, "You'd better be talking to that dog of yours!"
he flung the barn door open, startling both Jake and Madison, who's mouths and eyes were wide open; Mr. Brierly's face turning beet red.
"Madison!" He shouted, as he took off his belt. "Get your dog and go back to the house now! I'll take care of you later, me and Jake need to have a little talk!"
Madison started to plead with her father, but her words were instantly cut short. "Get to the house girl!" He demanded. "I'm not gonna tell you again!"
"I'm sorry Jake, I'm so sorry!" She cried as she grabbed Toby and ran back to the house as fast as she could, tears streaming down her face.
Mr. Brierly paced back and forth in the barn, his face still red, his lips curled in tightly to his teeth, while breathing so deeply, it's a wonder he didn't pass out.
"What have you done to my little girl, Jake Patterson?" He huffed, pointing his index finger in Jake's face.
"N-N-Nothin' sir!" Jake said terrified, his body shaking like a leaf. "W-W-We were just talkin' that's all. Honest Mr. Brierly, just talkin'."
"Boy!" Mr. Brierly snapped. "I'm gonna teach you a lesson you won't ever forget!"
Then with death in his eyes, he was ready to whip Jake with his belt, and while walking towards the frightened boy, he quickly looking around the barn. Puzzled by what he saw, he put the belt down.
"What the heck happened in here?" He asked in a stern voice. "Who fixed this place up?"
"I did, sir." Jake repled trembling. He was now curled up in a ball, with his arms covering his head.
"Stand up boy!" said Mr. Brierly. He grabbed him by the arms to help him up. "I ain't gonna hit ya! You're tellin' me you fixed up the Beven's old barn, huh?"
"You know about Todd Beven?" Jake questioned, slowly regaining his composure.
"Of course I know about Todd Beven!" He said, chuckling "He was quite the hero. There are some newspaper clippings around here somewhere, but I guess you've already seen em', huh?"
And Along Came Jake Page 3