by S A Ison
“Good to know. What guns do we have here?” Willene asked.
“We’re taking ours, Boggy is taking your Ruger and the AR15. He’ll need the extra firepower for the bed and breakfast. I’ve pulled up Peapot’s rifles, and there is a .38 special and a Sig Sauer that I figure you’ll want to have on you,” he said, pulling the gun from his waist. “I cleaned it and it’s ready to go. I have a long gun up in my room, ready if you need it. There is a lock on it, and the key is on my dresser. Just didn’t want Monroe getting to it,” he said.
“Good. I doubt we’ll need it, and we have the shotgun here as well,” she said. They walked into the kitchen, and Katie and Marilyn stopped. Both looked frightened.
“We’re going to get ready to leave,” Harry said. “Alan, stay here in case something happens. I’ll be counting on you to keep everyone safe.” Alan had been sitting at the table eating wedding cake. His face had crumbs on it, and Harry tried not to laugh when the young man nodded in a dignified manner.
Boggy, Wilber, Earl, and Clay came into the kitchen. Clay went to Katie, took her into his arms, and held her for a few moments. The women began to tear up, though they held off crying. Harry was glad. He was already keyed up. It was a highly-charged emotional moment. They needed to keep frosty and focused on the task ahead.
Harry went to Willene and hugged his twin. “Keep them safe and I’ll get back home. When, I’m not sure.” Then he went to Marilyn and hugged her. She clung to him and wept softly, then kissed him on the lips. He pulled back and looked down into her eyes, then dipped his head and kissed her. He crushed her hard to him, then let her go. He went to Monroe, kissed the child’s head and squeezed the back of his neck, eliciting a giggle from the boy.
Each of the men went to the women, hugging and kissing them goodbye in turn. Earl picked up Monroe and hugged him tight, rocking him from side to side. He kissed his head and set him back into his chair. Though Monroe sensed something was going on, he didn’t seem upset by all the tears. They picked up the packages the women had packed and they all went out to the truck.
Driving down the hill with Wilber, Harry drove to Wilber’s truck. He unloaded Wilber, so the old man didn’t have to walk down the hill. Wilber took Clay and Earl. Boggy rode on with him. They began their drive to the coal mine. The first drops of rain began to hit the windshield. They each had rain gear, except for Wilber. Wilber’d said he’d get his once the men at the coal mine were dealt with.
When they were roughly a mile from the mine, they pulled up and parked their trucks out of sight of the road. From there, they carefully made their way to the mine. There were no signs of people, and the road remained empty. As they drew closer, they split up. It was quiet, and the rain, though light, covered the sound of their steps. Boggy led the way, since he knew the buildings’ locations. Earl had been assigned to lead the other group.
As they moved around the abandoned buildings, Harry kept his ears attuned to all noises. He and Boggy squatted behind a stack of timber. He could see the guards. Both men were sitting inside a truck, smoke coming from the opened windows. The windshield was fogged over, and Harry figured the men wouldn’t be able to see them clearly. Harry set up his rifle. He looked across the large yard and saw Wilber in place. He had also set up his weapon.
Harry dialed in on his target. Though he couldn’t see the man’s face clearly, he didn’t need to. He just needed his head in the crosshairs. He looked up, and saw that Wilber was ready. Clay was beside him, watching Boggy.
“Okay, Boggy. Count down from three,” Harry whispered. Boggy held up his fingers. Clay was to watch and count down for Wilber, who would shoot at the same time as Harry. Earl was to shoot anyone who survived or came to the guard’s aid. They didn’t expect anyone else to be at the mine, but they didn’t want to discount the possibility.
“Three, two, one,” Boggy said softly.
There was an explosion of two shots, nearly simultaneous. Blood blossomed on the windshield as the glass spiderwebbed with cracks. The men waited, holding their breaths. There were no other sounds except the dying echo of the shots, no other movements, no sounds of vehicles approaching. Nothing. Wilber stood and slowly walked out, Clay and Earl following. Harry stood and pulled his Glock, ready for movement or threat. Boggy was behind, watching and guarding his six.
The men approached the truck and Wilber opened the passenger’s side door cautiously. Clay had his service weapon aimed at the occupants, should any of them be a threat. Then Harry saw him lower his weapon and holster it. He and Boggy came up to the driver’s side and opened the door. In the cab were two faceless men, their faces blasted away by the high velocity shells.
Harry took the arm of the nearest man and pulled him out of the truck. Boggy helped drag him off to the side, behind large barrels. They didn’t want the women from the coal mine to see them. Hiding the bodies was the best they could do.
Clay did the same, and dragged the other man beside the first. He looked up at Harry and smiled grimly. “Phase one, done. Let’s get those folks out of the mine,” Clay said.
They all walked over, and Clay stepped into the cage. Earl and Boggy lowered him down. After what seemed like a lifetime, the cage screeched to life and came back up. With Clay stood seven women, unbelievably thin and coated with black grit. It was all Harry could do to not go over and shoot those men again.
Rage roiled through his blood, and nearly overwhelmed him. His eyes stung, but he blinked the tears back. Tamped down the anger for later, for when he needed it. He pulled off his pack and, opening it, drew out bottles of water and whatever food Willy had packed.
The cage went down again, and he began to hand out the food and water. Wilber did the same. When the next group came up, there were six, and another six came up in the last group. All were wretched, thin and in rags, and heavily coated with coal dust. Though they all wore masks, the masks themselves were heavily crusted. They were all weeping softly, and passing the food around and drinking the water. They stood huddled together, their eyes squinting in the dim light.
Harry spun when he heard a truck coming, and raised his Glock. Around him, Boggy, Earl, Wilber, and Clay did the same. A rusted-out truck pulled into the large yard. To Harry’s relief, he saw that it was Boney and two old men. They all lowered their weapons.
Boney got out and walked over to Wilber and shook his hand. He surveyed the huddle of people and shook his head. “If I could kill them bastards again, I would,” he said gruffly, wiping at his eyes.
They turned as a group when they heard the chugging diesel engine of the bus. They couldn’t see it yet, but could hear it.
“I brought supplies ta give ta them folks. Figure when they git parceled out, they’d be more welcome iffin they brought some food,” Boney said. The two old men who’d accompanied him walked over.
“This here is the Edison twins. They’s gonna be helpin’ us tonight,” Boney grinned.
Harry reached over and shook each man’s hand, and Clay, Earl, and Boggy did the same. They turned and watched as the bus maneuvered into the yard, then stopped. The bus disgorged its passengers, who ran to their loved ones. Harry and his men stood back as families hugged and held on to each other. A slender man walked over to Clay. Harry saw that Clay knew him, and Clay’s eyes tear up.
Clay pulled the man into a bear hug.
“Jesus! Steven, you look like shit,” He choked out.
Steven laughed and patted Clay on the back.
“Brother, you have no idea,” he laughed, but a sob caught in his throat.
“This is Steven Stroh. He’s a deputy,” Clay said to the men around him. They each reached a hand out and shook it.
“We’ll load everyone up and take them to their new homes. We’ve got food and supplies for them. We’re going to be going after Yates and his men after it gets dark,” Harry said.
A big man walked over, and Harry watched him as he shook everyone’s hands. “Not sure if you all know me. I’m David Colman. I heard what you sa
id, and I want to come with you and help you fight.”
“You’re more than welcome,” Harry smiled.
“Mary Deets had her baby, little Howard. They’re both doing good. The baby is small, but healthy,” David told Clay.
Clay shook his head. “Thanks, David. I’m relieved to hear that. I heard what Yates did to Howard. That coward. He’s my target for tonight. You want to come along with me?”
“Hell yes, I do. He robbed Mary of a husband and a father to their son. That bastard has a lot to pay for,” David almost snarled. Harry thought that he’d hate to be on the wrong side of this big man.
It took a bit of time to get the food and supplies passed out, and the people loaded onto the bus. Miles Whitmen, the driver, was given instructions.
“Steven, here’s a Glock I took off some asshole. Use if you need it. I figure you’ll need to guard these folks as they get to their destinations. Rest well, brother. We’ll make it right,” Clay said, handing over the weapon along with a magazine.
“Thanks. Are there any more weapons?” Steven asked.
“Yeah. We’re giving one rifle to David, and one to Gideon. We’ve also passed out several .38 specials among your group. That should help defending the homes people end up in,” Clay said.
“Good. Good luck and good hunting, Clay, and put a bullet between Yates’s sorry eyes,” Steven said, his eyes sheening. He coughed, holding a shaking hand to his mouth, as Harry watched. It tore at him. These people had suffered greatly.
His small group stood back as the bus pulled away. The two guards, Bill Hawkins and Richard Bibs, remained behind to help locate and kill the remaining KKK members. The men gathered at the trucks and went over their plans. It was growing late, and the night was beginning to blot out the daylight. The rain had eased up to a drizzle.
“Clay, David, and Earl, you guys can take that truck, if you don’t mind the blood all over it,” Harry suggested.
Clay laughed. “We can use the tarp from Boney’s truck to line the seats. We just need to get the blood and gore off the windshield so I can see to drive.”
“Good enough. While you hunt down your target, me, Boggy, and Wilber will head out to the Bluemont and set up there. We can sit tight there. I figure no one is going to want to be out in this rain. Once you’re done, come over to us. We’ll wait as long as we can. We’ll also try to get a fix on a number,” Harry said.
He turned to Boney, and his brow raised in question.
“Me and the twins will go and hit a few houses we know are in Yates’s circle of cohorts. We should be able ta take ’em out,” Boney grinned, and the Edison twins giggle and nudged each other.
Harry almost busted out laughing at the sight of their unconcealed glee. He hoped he were as lively as them in his senior years. Though elderly, they’d all proven themselves quite capable and competent at killing their enemy, as well as outsmarting them.
Bill and Richard would accompany Harry.
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Clay drove the truck while the other two men kept watch. Earl was sandwiched between the two large men, but he too tried to look out the cracked windshield. They’d done their best to get the bone and brains out of the truck, but it had ended up being a smeared mess.
“I’d wished we coulda cleaned that windshield better, I’ll swear every thang looks smeared,” Earl said as his head bobbed up and down. Clay laughed, and looked over to David, who was looking down at the smaller man curiously. Clay winked at David, and then shrugged his shoulders.
“Well, we gave all the water away, but maybe, once we take care of Yates, we can clean it out a bit more. There are cleaning supplies in one of the closets at the precinct,” Clay suggested.
“That’s sounds like a plan. Glad it’s a gittin’ dark. I feel ’bout neked out here in the open. Though I s’pose no one can see through the windshield,” Earl said.
Clay drove slowly. He was trying to hold off on using the headlights. He’d been thinking about parking several blocks from the precinct. He wanted to take a look at the area. It had been a while, and he didn’t want to go in cold.
“I was thinking about parking over by the bar, The Lazy J. Then we can walk in,” Clay voiced his thoughts.
“That sounds good. There are plenty of buildings around for cover, and it would be stealthier to walk in, than drive,” David agreed.
“I can’t wait to put a bullet in that bastard. Poor Mary, I know she must have been heartbroken,” Clay said, anger lacing his voice.
“She was, Clay, but worst, I think, was being put in that hole. I think Steven may have problems. He’s had a cough for a few months now. I’m hoping it was just a reaction to all the dust, but I don’t know,” David said.
“You’s right as rain ’bout that coal dust. It’s terrible, gits everywhere,” Earl agreed.
“But Mary is okay now? Healthy, I mean?” Clay asked.
“She is. She was too thin by half down there. If we hadn’t have gotten her out when we did, I don’t think either she or the baby would have made it. As it was, the baby was born premature,” David said.
“Christ, Yates has so much to pay for. And we can only kill him once,” Clay growled.
“Maybe we kin kill him slow,” Earl suggested softly.
Both Clay and David looked at him, and Earl looked at each man, smiling. They returned his smile. David began laughing, a low rumble at first.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?” he asked Clay.
“If you mean putting him down in that hole, then yes, I am,” Clay laughed. Earl joined both men, smacking his knees. Soon they were all laughing, the tears coursing down their faces.
They shortly brought themselves under control. Clay wiped at his eyes. An intermittent giggle threatened to surface.
“You know, Earl, I didn’t know you had a hateful streak in you,” Clay laughed.
“All I kin thank of is that bastard hurting Monroe and his momma. I cain’t think of enough ways ta kill him. But I think if it lasts a long time, he’ll have all that time ta think ’bout it,” Earl said, all humor gone from his tone.
“True, brother, very true,” Clay said, and slowed the truck down. He pulled around to the back of The Lazy J. He turned off the engine and the men sat quietly, listening to their breathing. Clay opened his door and David did as well. Earl clambered out, trying not to catch his prosthetic leg on the lip of the truck.
The rain was now light and intermittent. They followed Clay, going behind buildings and through alleyways. They took a circuitous route, stopping and listening.
“Seems like a ghost town,” David said softly.
“I think it is,” Clay answered.
They advanced to the back of the building that housed their prey. Clay signaled the men to either side of the back door of the precinct, and then, with his weapon ready, he cautiously opened the door. Earl followed, and David brought up the rear.
Clay paused at each door he found. He pulled out a small LED flashlight and clicked it on. His hand resting on the door knob and with the flashlight, he illuminated each room. David closed each door quietly, and they went on to the next.
They cleared all the rooms on the lower level and went up a flight of stairs. They entered the main level and froze. They heard voices. Clay recognized Yates’s, but not the other. He motioned Earl and David to the left and right of him.
The men proceeded quietly, keeping to the wall. David was to ensure no one came up from behind. They got to the door to Yates’s office and could hear him talking to someone. Clay took a deep breath and then opened the door, his gun targeting Yates, while Earl and David came behind, their weapons zeroing in on the other person in the room.
CHAPTER TEN
Boney drove slowly. He had the addresses to their targets. First they were going to Murphy Tweet’s home, which was just on the outskirts of town. The twins were silent as they drove. His eyes were sharp as they kept watch out the window. There were no signs of life on either the road, or in the buildings and h
omes.
“I ain’t seen a candle in the window for a while. Seems like this whole town is dead,” Ralph said softly.
“It sure does, brother. Spooky too,” Abram agreed.
“You sissies, hush. Keep focused on the task at hand,” Boney warned. He had to admit, it was spooky. He shivered a little, though it wasn’t from the damp chill that permeated the truck. What bothered Boney was that he didn’t know if Tweet had a family in his home. It would be tricky. They didn’t want to kill the wives, and especially not the children.
He slowed the truck down and pulled off to the side. Shutting off the engine, he looked over to the twins, who were barely discernable in the dark.
“We’ll go in, take a gander in the window. Iffin they’s kids, I’ll knock on the door. I’ll pretend I’m lost or something. You boys keep your guns sited on the target, but fir Christ sakes don’t shoot, ’cause you’ll end up hittin’ me.”
The brothers nodded their heads, and the men got out of the truck. They walked the three hundred feet up the road, using a shielded flashlight. None of them needed to break a hip on this mission. When they got to the yard, Ralph went one way while Abram went the other. Boney walked slowly up to the house. Several lights flickered in the windows.
Coming around to the side of the house, he found an old milk crate. The yard was littered with trash. He had to step over numerous objects and prayed he wouldn’t give off his position. Going up to one of the brighter windows, he set the crate on the ground and climbed up. The sight that met him both broke his heart and made his blood boil.
Two small children were asleep on a torn-up couch, looking much like two tiny puppies. Even from his vantage, he could see they were thin. Murphy and, Boney assumed, his wife, were at the table, where a lantern sat. Both were passed out, needles lying there on the table. They were junkies, and their children had been left to witness their use and fend for themselves should they wake.
He fought the tears of anger back and stepped down from the crate. Not bothering to shield his flashlight, he made his way back to the front of the house. He waved the twins to him and waited as they made their way over.