T. T Gristman

By A. G. Moye

Tee as he is called by his family goes back into time to rescue the sister (Joyce) of the inventor of a time portal.
Tee was prefectly happy living up on his mountains that his grandparents left him who had raised him. Unaware that he had to pay taxes on his property, he was caught unprepared for the auction that would sell his home and property for back taxes.
When approached by David, the inventor of the time portal Tee reluctantly agrees to go back in time only for the money that David offered that would pay his back taxes days before the Auction.
Tee finds David's sister Joy was no Joy at all.
She was a rich, stuck up bitch that made his trip back in time difficult at best for Tee.
A tornado took out the power and they were forced to stay longer back in time than planned.
Joy slowly started to change and be more friendly to him causing him to fall in love with her but she was engaged to be married in a few months. She didn't want to do anything that would jeopaardize her chances to marry a handsome rich man. He looked and smelled like a bum.
Upon returning to their own time, Joy walked away from him without even a word of thanks.
Tee then agrees to go back in time to help David out, anything to be gone when Joy married her prince. He had nothing to offer her even if she did like him but she didn't act like she did.
When he returned the second time, he found out that the tornado that took out the power also destroyed his home.
Events with Joy and other changes that occurred in him made him not want to be alone any more on his mountains. He sets out to change and does so including being with others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: A. G. Moye
• Release date: Apr 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301006366

A. G. Moye

Books with a Twist! Born in the cotton fields of Arkansas. Delivered newspapers in Clarksville, Arkansas from 5 to 14 and then moved to California. Work in the metals Industry management for thirty years. I am married with seven children and twenty- two grandchildren along with three great grandchildren. Started writing in 1987 just as a hobby but found I enjoyed it so much that I kept it up even after retiring. My wife, Sammi is my biggest supporter; pushing me to get my books published which I have enjoyed hearing from those that read them that they enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.Currently writing my three book Science Fiction series called Marauder Chronicles. Finished with first two and are published. Writing book three of the Chronicles of the Marauder! To be followed by the sequel to "A Stranger Comes Crawling" and conclusion of the Lightning in the Tunnel series, "Lightning Rages"

Book preview

Chapter One

David couldn’t believe that at age twenty-seven he was stepping into a bar for the first time hoping to meet the notorious T.T. Gristman. David messed up big time, now he needed the toughest man in three counties to help him.

As he walked in David looked around at the haze that covered the bar room. Right in front of him was a man dressed in leather playing pool. He looked mean and rough to David like he could rip his head off and hand it to him! The man looked at David standing in his path, so David squeaked out T.T. Gristman?

The man looked him up and down seeing his trembling legs and hearing the squeakiness in his voice then laughed. He pointed to the back of the room next to the jukebox but he didn’t speak. David looked where he pointed at the man in the booth. The place used to be a diner before it was turned into a bar with booths along the walls with a bar up front that was actually behind David. Two pool tables sat in the center of the floor with another open area that a couple was dancing in to the music.

Giving the man a nod of thanks, David was embarrassed that the man laughed at him for showing his naivety about being in a bar for the first time. The other guy playing him pool laughed as well making David almost pee his pants, they both looked as mean as T.T., maybe if he refused to do what David came here to do, he would ask one of them.

With his legs trembling and threatening to fail him, he made his way through the bar to the back where he heard that this T.T. Gristman sat on Tuesday nights. David heard that he was the toughest mountain man around. It wasn’t real crowded but a few customers were there. Some getting very drunk, but most only stared at him. They could tell right away he never drank in this bar before.

T.T. sat at his usual booth over next to the jukebox sipping on his beer with his one good hand. No one really knew what happened to his right hand but it was useless to him, so he kept it out of his way by using a leather strap to hold it in place like wearing a sling. But let no man think he was a push over. He quit school without graduating to work with his grandfather on the mountain. The Gristman’s owned two mountains along with a part of a third mountain here in Kentucky back country. The grandparent’s property bordered up with Tennessee. T.T. was in his mid-twenties still living up on the mountains when his grandmother died not long after his grandfather became unable to work. T.T. took over running the farm, cutting timber that was the family’s only legal source of income. It wasn’t soon after that T.T. lost the use of his right hand, being right handed it was a struggle for him to learn to use his left but he did. His grandfather died making him even more of a recluse than he had been before. Some local women said at one time he had been quite handsome, but that was years ago. No one knew if he had ever had a woman to call his own, he stayed up there out of sight for over five years after the death of his grandparents. He started coming down to this bar having two drinks that lasted him all night, just sipping on it and enjoying the music. He was never much one for conversation so everyone steered clear of him after a couple of young punks came in barely twenty-one calling him a cripple, poking fun at him. He ignored them for the longest time as the story went until the two got drunk. Finally one called him a coward as well as a cripple and tried to hit him with a pool stick. That was it; all the rage bottled up in T.T. came rushing out.

Taking the pool stick from the kid, he broke it over his knee using one hand then grabbed the punk, his partner jumped in and T.T. using only one hand punched them both until they were unable to stand. The barmaid was finally able to get him to stop before he killed the two. He was banned from the bar for a while even though he never started the fight. When he started coming again everyone gave him a wide berth; even giving him the booth he sat in regularly on Tuesday nights. The barmaids tried to be somewhat friendly with him but no one wanted to get to close.

David glanced around at the bar scene, the smoke was almost choking him but he couldn’t believe his eyes. Like T.T. he never ran around with the other youngsters when in high school or even dated, preferring to spend all his time in his lab. David was an enigma to his family, where the others went to college taking business; he took physics then dropped out. Always a scrawny kid, he wasn’t muscular like his older brother.

David stopped a few feet short of T.T.’s booth, as his body froze unable to take another step. David almost peed his pants when he saw the marks on T.T.’s, that face gave him a mean look and a scowl. Wearing his dirty gangster style hat much like the ones he must have seen in the movies, David was having second thoughts about this; but his worries over his sister made him take another step.

Mr. Gristman, can we talk? David squeaked out trying to stop the trembling in his body and voice.

T.T. looked him up and down then took a sip of his beer before he replied, Sure! rumbled out of T.T. making David tremble even more. Everyone knew he got the marks from fighting a mountain lion with his bare hand and choking it to death. That had happened only recently; but it made him look even more fearsome.

Can I sit down? David asked knowing he needed to sit before he fell down, this time his voice sounded less squeaky but still trembled. T.T. gave a motion to sit without speaking. David fell into the booth as his legs gave way. Struggling to regain his composure, David sat up facing T.T. and immediately was at a loss for words. They sat starring at each other for a couple of minutes before David found his voice.

My name is David Ladderson, I need your help! David said but froze right after he spoke unsure of whether to go on or not.

How’s that kid? T.T. asked bewildered why a perfectly healthy two-arm youngster would need his help. He saw the fear in the young man’s eyes having seen it many times before in others.

I, I did something stupid and now don’t know how to correct it. David stammered.

What’s that? Someone wants to kill you over something you did or did you promise to kill someone? T.T. said followed by a growling laugh. David glanced around but the music was so loud that he knew no one could hear their conversation; plus everyone seemed to be involved in their own little conversations. David could hear some of them trying to talk over the music so they were shouting. He felt safe for the moment.

I did kill someone but it was by accident, or should I say that the accident killed him while trying to kill me! again David looked around to see if anyone was paying attention to the conversation. Except for an occasional glance at them finding it strange this young man was sitting in T.T.’s booth, most ignored them.

Seeing T.T.’s interest had been sparked as he leaned closer to David to hear his every word, David continued. You see he was a savage coming from the past and tried to kill me; but his tomahawk was buried in a coil of highly charged electrical wiring. When he tried to pull it out over a million volts traveled through his body electrocuting him! David looked around again to make sure no one was listening or close as he leaned toward T.T.’s face whispering, I buried him in one of the horse stalls, but that is not why I’m here!

T.T. could tell by his tone that David felt relieved being able to tell someone what he had done. Keeping his face close to David’s, T.T. asked, Why tell me?

David swallowed hard before speaking, That is why I need you, the portal he came through was the same one my sister went through only seconds before he came through!

Now, T.T. was totally confused, What was this portal the young man spoke of and why was he needed? Recalling his name had been David or something or another, T.T. said. Start at the beginning because you lost me!

David stayed close to his face as he spoke, You see I invented a method to travel back in time. David stopped talking seeing the waitress coming to the booth. T.T. saw him glance at the waitress, so he downed his drink in one quick swig and motioned to the waitress that he would have another. She gave him a nod but kept coming to the table.

David was relieved that T.T. didn’t laugh at him but kept a serious face like he was listening. David didn’t want to tell T.T. this was the third person he approached. The first one was a car salesman that had a side job as a wrestler. When David told him that his sister had been sent back in time and he needed someone to go get her; the guy started laughing so hard almost falling to the ground while asking if this was a joke, David finally said it was and walked away. The second person he approached was a well-known hunter and tracker. His eyes narrowed when David told him that he sent his sister back in time. He right away wondered aloud if David hadn’t just killed her and buried the body somewhere using this story to try to cover it up. David could see he thought that he had done foul play and this story was bullshit. David left with his tail between his legs wondering how he could get someone to go back in time to get his sister.

What will you have sweetie! she asked David with a big smile. David saw her eyes check him out like evaluating him as a prospect or something. David didn’t know she was trying to guess his age. He looked young, but not too young to be in here.

I’ll have a beer! David said just wanting to get her away from the booth so he could talk more. He had never touched a beer before even though his Dad kept them in stock.

What kind, sweetie? the waitress asked confusing David, he didn’t know there was different kinds of beer. T.T. seeing his confusion spoke up, He will be having what I’m drinking! the relief of David’s face was obvious to both of them. She could tell he never had been in a bar before.

I need to see your ID!

David fumbled around until he found his drivers license and showed the waitress he was over twenty-one.

You looked old enough, but you sure didn’t act old enough! the waitress grinned at him when she handed it back to him after verifying his age. I’ll bring you two beers right away! she glanced at T.T. before she turned to leave. Guessing the young man must be some kind of relative that just showed up, she didn’t pay them any more attention going to get their beers.

David and T.T. both watched her leave before David leaned forward again, so did T.T. since he didn’t want to miss a word David had to say. He wasn’t sure if David was telling him the truth or not. If this was some kind of trick he was playing on him, T.T. made up his mind to rearrange the young man’s face; but he was intrigued by the young man’s story so far and how he approached him. T.T. recognized the terrified look as David had approached him, so T.T. waited to hear the rest of his story.

T.T. was here to drink away his sorrows knowing at noon tomorrow; if he didn’t come up with thirteen thousand dollars, his mountains would go up for auction to pay back taxes. He didn’t have that kind of money and surely couldn’t come up with it quickly anyway. Maybe there was a way he could come up with it if he helped this young man?

I used some remote controlled cameras to send through this thing and it brought me back some weird pictures. I wasn’t sure if I was going back in time or into the future or somewhere else entirely; so I did a few experiments to find out. I finally determined I was somehow opening a portal into the past. David said while watching for the waitress to return. Seeing her coming their way with a couple of beers in cold mugs, David leaned back so did T.T.

That will be six dollars! the waitress said placing a beer in front of each of them.

I got it! David said reaching in his back pocket to get his wallet. The waitress stood there politely waiting for him to find his money. David wasn’t use to carrying any money but today was an exception. He was planning on buying T.T. a few beers and hopefully having him to agree to what he had in mind, hence the money on him. Finally, David found his cash in his front pocket. Taking out a twenty, David handed it to her.

Just keep the change! David said wanting to get her away so he could talk more. She put a big smile on her face as she turned and walked away. Both noticed she put a lot of extra motion in her body as she left smiling. T.T. gave David a grin; but seeing he wanted to talk more not flirt with the waitress, he leaned toward David seeing him lean toward him.

Anyway I sent this one robot out through the portal and left it. A few days later it was back in my lab. I put what I thought was plenty of film in the camera. When I removed the film and started viewing it, it ran out how long ago I don’t know, but it took pictures of anything that moved recording the time. Over two years of pictures were taken before the batteries went dead. How long it was gone was anyone’s guess. David said. T.T. was starting to feel David was just pulling his leg noticing he didn’t touch his beer yet.

Take a drink of your beer while I ponder on this! T.T. Told David. David looked at the beer like it was a snake or something but slowly picked it up taking a sip.

God, how can you drink this? David asked tasting it. T.T. laughed before taking a drink himself. Giving David a long hard look, T.T. spoke.

What do you need me for and what is in this for me? T.T. asked bringing it out in the open. He didn’t care what the kid’s problem was; he needed some big money fast!

David took a gulp making a face but swallowed it before he replied. I sent my kid sister through the portal; she is somewhere, when I have no idea but the savage I had to bury came through, so I guess it was around when the Indians lived in this place. I need you to go back there and get her so you two can come back. My sister has a sharp tongue but I still love her. For you, there is ten thousand dollars if you go and bring her back alive.

David gave a sigh of relief like this was very hard for him to say but was glad it was finally in the open. T.T. looked at him seeing him take another gulp like he didn’t notice the taste any longer. T.T. cracked a smile.

"Why me?’ T.T. asked after a few moments of silence.

Because I need someone that comes the closest to a real old time mountain man to do this. It will be dangerous but I need to get her back. David said after taking another gulp. He never sat the glass down, instead held it while speaking then took another gulp.

I’ll do it for twenty thousand but you must pay off the back taxes on my place so I don’t lose it. T.T. said. All day long T.T. had been racking his brain on how to come up with the money to pay the back taxes on the place. The county Sheriff along with three Deputies came up to the mountain and served him papers. Having dropped out of school in the seventh grade, he didn’t realize his grandparents had been paying the taxes all these years and when they died, he inherited the property. He never knew until today the taxes were owed, until the Sheriff informed him that they were putting his land up for auction.

David was feeling the effects of the alcohol already as he slurred his words slightly, It is a deal, I will pay them! David said sitting back with a look of satisfaction on his face the worry was gone about finding someone, now to just do it.

I am glad, my parents would throw a fit if they knew what happened to her! David added swigging down the last of his drink. He was starting to feel very mellow.

David learned of T.T.’s financial woes from his father that made a fortune buying these properties and turning them into places for the rich to come to as their summer homes. From him, David learned about T.T. and his story. Is this plus the Twenty Thousand? David slurred.

No, let’s say this is the down payment, I get the rest of it when I come back. T.T. said thinking for a minute he should have said yes, but didn’t.

David glanced at his clothes noticing for the first time that he wore an old Pendleton shirt that looked worn out with a bib overalls that needed washing; yet he didn’t seem to smell bad except the smell of nicotine and beer.

David watched in disbelief seeing T.T. take out a tobacco pouch and rolling papers, as he one handed rolled a cigarette without spilling any tobacco. Licking it, he stuffed it in his mouth and searched in his pocket for matches and lit the cigarette. To T.T. this was nothing, he didn’t even notice David watching him until after he lit it and took a deep drag.

Haven’t you ever seen anyone roll their own cigarette? T.T. asked annoyed under his scrutiny.

Yeah but not one handed and not spill any! David exclaimed then laughed.

When you only have one, you learn to do things most people do with two. T.T. replied with a chuckle. He left the cigarette dangling in his mouth without dropping it while speaking. Taking it from his mouth, he used the ashtray there. Seeing David was finished with his beer, T.T. asked.

Do you want another one? motioning toward his beer.

No I think I’ve had enough and we should be leaving. Can I give you a ride home? I will pick you up in the morning and we will go pay your taxes! David slurred.

Your right! You have had enough! T.T. laughed placing the cigarette down in the ashtray and finished his beer quickly before retrieving his cigarette.

You can give me a ride to the mailbox on the highway, but no cars can go up on my mountain as there is no road; only a path created where I drag the logs down to the road for the lumber company to pick up.

How do you get around if you don’t have a car or a road?

I walk! T.T. laughed sliding out of the booth. David seeing him getting up; did the same.

T.T tipped his hat to the waitress letting her know he was leaving. David walked behind him shocked at how tall he was. Sitting down, he thought that T.T. was of average height but now knew he was wrong.

Outside, David took the lead going to his car.

Sure you can drive? T.T. asked knowing David was slurring his words back in the bar. He didn’t want to ride with a drunk.

The fresh air seemed to sober him up, as David stood for a few minutes taking one deep breath after another feeling the effects of the alcohol wearing off.

I think I’m all right now! David said as he unlocked the car and motioned for T.T. to get in.

Do you drive? David asked as he buckled himself in. T.T. copied him.

Never had the chance to learn! was all T.T. had to say in a tone that told David it wasn’t a subject to talk about. They didn’t say anymore as David drove out to the highway then asked, Which way from here?

Turn left until you come to the fork in the highway then take the right fork! T.T. directed him. David gave a nod and went in the direction he was sent.

Neither spoke as David drove taking the right fork finding himself on a winding road that took all his concentration going up and down the mountains with hair pin curves, keeping his speed down to barely faster than a person could walk.

David was glad no one came along on this narrow road with huge rocks popping up constantly on one side or the other. He had no idea when he was up on a mountain, whether or not he was driving next to a cliff, not being able to see. He was grateful it was nighttime so he couldn’t tell. It would have made him more nervous being able to see the drop offs.

Finally after what David guessed what was ten miles or so, T.T. spoke up.

There will be a mailbox coming up soon on your right, just let me out there!

David slowed down even more, soon a raggedy old mail box appeared supported by posts on each side looking like it had been run over a few times along with a couple of bullet holes in it, but he could tell it was still able to function. That was what got T.T. in this predicament throwing away the mail without reading it. The money from the timber sales went straight into the bank. When he bought something at the store, they billed the bank as per agreement.

This the place? T.T. nodded instead of replying making David look at him. He’s a strange one! David thought but felt grateful inside that at last he had someone to go retrieve his sister. Bringing the car to a halt, David breathed a sigh of relief.

I’ll meet you right here about ten in the morning to go pay my taxes! T.T. said sharply as David stopped the car. T.T. climbed out as David asked, Is there a place to turn around this car?

Go about another half mile and there is a wide spot halfway up the next mountain that the trucks use to turn around! T.T. said just before closing the door. Walking away without another word, David sat there for a minute then drove away while T.T. disappeared into the darkness.

As the car disappeared, T.T.’s eyes adjusted to the darkness very quickly so he could follow the trail up the mountain. Years ago when he was in school they had provided him with a horse to ride up the mountain so he wouldn’t get lost, but it died soon after he dropped out of school.

T.T. went about one hundred feet then went off to a boulder he could make out. In a cache behind it were his rifle and the pistol that his grandfather gave him that was handed down to him by his grandfather. The old cap and ball pistol was the reason he had to fight the mountain lion bare handed. It miss fired so the only thing T.T. could do was try to club the lion with the pistol, but even that didn’t work so he had to use his only good hand to strangle the lion.

With his eyes adjusted, T.T. located his weapons while looking around for any eyes that might be watching him thinking he might be dinner. With his property bordering the National Forest on one side, he had plenty of wild critters that claimed his mountains as well, not recognizing any boundaries. Hearing a wolf or two off in the distance, he listened closely to the hoot of an owl along with any heavy breathing that might indicate a larger danger lurked in the area.

Halfway up the mountain, T.T. saw a lone car coming down the mountain road and guessed it was David coming back after finding the turn around.

David stopped at the mailbox reading his odometer to see how many miles it would be getting back to town so he could find the place in the morning. He wrote it down before driving away.

Recalling how in his younger days before his grandfather taught him to shoot, T.T. was always nervous in the darkness. Now, he listened and watched hearing a sound that was a deer bounding through the woods like something had spooked it. He paused making sure nothing came out after it. The hoot owl went silent but other sounds of the night could be heard as he moved slowly and carefully using all his senses trying to hear, smell or feel danger that might lurk there.

Chapter Two

T.T. and David pulled into David’s parents farm after stopping by the courthouse to pay T.T.’s over due taxes. Right away T.T. could tell the house and grounds were immaculate being tended to by professionals gardeners, unlike his place that showed years of use and lack of attention. He felt out of place glancing at the new silver BMW David parked next to. Even though David didn’t say so he guessed it was Joyce’s car.

Stepping out of the car, T.T. spotted a fancy dressed woman coming out of the house yelling.

David! Have you seen your sister? I can’t find her, her car is here but no sign of her!

No Mom! Maybe she took off with some of her friends going to Florida on spring break! David yelled back but glanced at T.T. knowing he knew the truth. T.T. was glad his mother was far enough away and unable to see David’s face; he wasn’t a very good liar, the guilt was written all over his face.

I called her cell phone but only get her voice mail, I left her a message to call me! His mother yelled.

She might have left in such a hurry that she forgot to take it with her, she will call you when she realizes she forgot it but you know her, she is probably partying so much that she will forget to call until spring break is over and she is on her way back here to get her car! David yelled back with another glance at T.T.

The woman looked T.T. up and down then dismissed him with her eyes before going back into the house without another word. T.T. saw women like her; they were so rich that they thought everyone was beneath them. Wearing his dirty old brown hat with bib overalls and a dirty dark blue shirt, T.T. gave himself a glance. David saw the look on his mother’s face when she looked at T.T. so he spoke up.

My dad and grandfather made so much money converting old farms into retirement villages and hideaway homes for the rich, that they think everyone else is low class hobnobbing with the rich!

It doesn’t bother me! T.T. exclaimed but inside it did, he was aware of his inferior status in her eyes. Glancing at riding stables located down the mountain, he could tell they had them far enough away so the smell didn’t reach the house. The absence of trees bothered him. Someone cleared the whole side of the mountain they were living on. All he could see was grass everywhere neatly cut and well manicured with white wooden fences separating each part of the place. The concrete driveway they left coming onto the gravel leading down to the barn, kept going up to the house and curved around it going toward the back of the house. T.T. guessed the garage was on the backside somewhere.

Let’s go inside and you can have a look at my lab! David said. T.T. gave him a nod, following him to the barn. Going to a side door, they stopped as David unlocked the door.

I keep it locked so no one can come in here and do any mischief or wonder what I’m doing! David said nervously locking the door behind them. T.T. could tell that David’s mother shook him up by the questions she was asking. Not lying before, he had a difficult time doing so to his mother along with the guilt he felt that his sister was really lost somewhere in time.

Passing an old rusted looking device with rubber caterpillar treads on it, David saw him glance at it.

That was the device I sent back in time to learn that I indeed had built a time portal. The pictures it took were amazing. I left it back there for a week my time; then found it had been back there for a longer time than that. I’m still trying to calculate out how long ago it was actually there! David spoke with pride about his accomplishment. His nervousness over the conversation with his mother disappeared as he spoke of other things.

As they walked into the main part of the barn, a spider dropped down that T.T. swatted away before he detected it was a fake spider on a plastic string. David laughed.

It is connected to a motion detector, I put it there to keep my sister out of here, she was always coming in here to see what I’m working on bugging me. She came home seeing the door open and came straight here instead of going to the house. That was why Mom never saw her, only her car.

T.T. watched the spider retract out of sight then waved his hat in front of the motion detector and the spider shot out again pushed by a little puff of air right in front of him again.

My sister, Joy came in so fast that the spider dropped behind her and when I told her to get out, she turned seeing the spider then took off screaming and running right through that circle, he pointed at a big horseshoe shaped device that reached from the floor almost to the ceiling. I had it on, she must have thought that it was the back door seeing clear skies through it and ran right into it.

T.T. looked things over as David continued to talk. I had to repair the damage that the savage did before I went to find someone to go get my sister.

How will we get back? T.T. asked looking at things as he spoke.

I’ve designed a belt you will wear that starts vibrating when the field is on so you guys can come back through it. I’m afraid to leave it on; other things might come through like the savage did. I checked it out by having the portal on low power, you can be within five miles of the portal and it will still vibrate.

So we have to return to the exact spot where we came through this field in order to return here? T.T. asked if he understood correctly.

Yes, you will have to remember that spot and I’m guessing come back at the same speed you went through. David said, hoping that T.T. didn’t change his mind seeing him hesitate as the two talked. He already paid his taxes; he couldn’t afford to just throw that money away.

Why do you guys even have stalls, it is obvious that you guys are not farmers or ranchers? T.T. asked taking in the whole barn.

Years back, my parents thought that it would be good for me to join the 4-H and bought me a young bull to raise to groom to win prizes, but it turned out I was more interested in making things, they sold the young bull since I was neglecting it too much. That was where I buried the dead Indian in, the ground was softer and easier to dig where the stalls used to be.

T.T. looked at the ground, he could see that it bore signs of fresh dirt being on the surface. You should throw down some straw down so it don’t look like you were just digging there and attract any attention to it.

David nodded at T.T.’s suggestion.

No one comes in here anyway! David remarked.

Well if your sister don’t show up after spring break, I’m sure the cops will be all over the place! David’s face showed his fear of what T.T. just mentioned.

Did your sister take her purse when she went through? T.T. added.

No, she had nothing on but short shorts and a sports bra! David recalled what she was wearing; she had nothing in her hands.

You better find it and hide it or your mother will find it and know your lying. The cops will be here sooner in that case!

I didn’t think of that! David exclaimed.

T.T. walked over to a desk seeing paper and pencils there and started writing. David came over curious about what he was doing.

I’m making a list of things I want you to go get for me to take with me! T.T. stated making David breathe a sigh of relief that he was going through with it. You will take me back to the mailbox, I will go home and collect a few other things I will need while you go shopping. I will be in the trees back from the mailbox waiting on you after you shop. Then we will come back here and do this!

David nodded listening to what T.T. was instructing him to do, he was happy to let T.T. take charge. Handing David the list, T.T. turned to leave, David stuffed the list in his pocket and followed.

On the drive back, T.T. asked, What does your sister look like and tell me a little about her so I will know her when I see her!

In the glove box are some pictures of her I figured you would need to see so you could spot her. As far as what she is like, I’m not really sure, to me she was a pain in the ass most of the time being my kid sister always wanting to know what I was doing and why was I doing it. My mother taught her to be a snob, she thinks her shit don’t stink but other than that, I don’t really know her that well especially when she went off to college after graduating.

T.T. opened the glove box. Right away he could tell she was a good looking young lady, one of those that never would give him the time of day. T.T.’s only sexual encounter had been before he lost the use of his right arm. He was in the backwoods checking on trees to be cut down like his grandfather showed him when he came upon a young woman floating in a stream naked on a hot summer’s afternoon. The water hadn’t been deep enough to stand up so she was floating on it. He sat down and watched her for the longest marveling at her beauty. She must have seen him watching her. Finally she asked him to join her. He was a little shy at being nude in front of a female but the water looked so inviting and it was hot. He joined her and one thing lead to another. He never saw her again or even knew her name. He went back several times that summer but she never returned.

Getting his mind back on what he was doing, T.T glanced out the window as David came to a stop by the mailbox. I’ll go get the items you want then return here! David said as T.T. opened the door to get out.

He paused and looked back at David, If you take to long, you can find me over in that clump of trees taking a nap! T.T. motioned to a clump of trees and then laughed. He wondered if this citified young man even knew where to get some of the supplies but that wasn’t his concern, only that he did.

The sun was on its way down when David pulled up by the mailbox and honked not seeing T.T. The car horn brought T.T. awake, he looked seeing David; T.T. grabbed the stuff he brought with him. Going to the car, he opened the back door and tossed the stuff in. David saw the Winchester and his eyes got big. Climbing into the front seat, David’s eyes got even bigger seeing the handle of the pistol T.T. had in his front pocket sticking out.

Do you really think those are necessary? David asked nodding toward the pistol.

Let’s just say it is best to be prepared than not! T.T. said sternly telling David that was not a point to discuss. David shut up and as soon as T.T. was seated drove away fast. The day was wasting, David could see his sister being eaten by wild animals or killed by savages back there.

I got all that you had on the list but my sister don’t eat beans and stuff like that! David said after a few minutes of silence while he turned around to go back to his house.

She will or be mighty hungry! was T.T.’s grumpy reply. David’s eyebrows arched but said no more. He had wanted to send along some canned goods but it wasn’t on T.T.’s list, so he didn’t.

T.T. could tell by David’s face that he had something on his mind.

Spit it out! T.T. stated.

I just hope that we are in time and nothing has happened to her! David exclaimed after letting out a sigh.

The look on David’s face caused T.T. to reply, We will cross that bridge when we come to it.

David seemed to fell better having said what worried him out loud.

They drove the rest of the way to the barn without speaking. At the barn, T.T. started emptying the back seat while David took stuff out of the trunk before going over to unlock the barn so they could take it inside.

The closest I could come to a brown knapsack was one at the army surplus, David remarked but T.T. wasn’t listening, he was busy filling the pack with everything that he and David brought.

David was shocked to see T.T. swing the backpack on his back and fasten it one handed in