The Travels of Tary Noland: State of Pain

By Dewight Crowley

Book 1: A lone drifter with a troubled past is drawn into a mountain feud, between an oily Sheriff and a sadistic redneck crime boss after committing a simple act of chivalry. Befriended by a good deputy with an evil plot for revenge, the drifter faces his demons with the love of a beautiful woman.

He wanted to be left alone, remain invisible, now his past and present collide, forcing him to travel through pain, misery and grace, in preparation for a deadly reunion. Realizing that not only does he walk through the valley of death, he has been residing in it all his life. Eyes now opened, he will fear no evil, for in order to fight it, he needs to become a greater evil, for his brand of justice is absolute.

Kill them, Kill them all.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: May 19, 2017
• ISBN: 9781365975653

Book preview

The Travels of Tary Noland: State of Pain

The Travels of Tary Noland:

STATE of PAIN

Copyright © 2017 by Dewight Crowley

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or scholarly journal.

First Printing: 2017

FOREWORD

A lone drifter with a troubled past is drawn into a mountain feud, between an oily Sheriff and a sadistic redneck crime boss after committing a simple act of chivalry. Befriended by a good deputy with an evil plot for revenge, the drifter faces his demons with the love of a beautiful woman.

He wanted to be left alone, remain invisible, now his past and present collide, forcing him to travel through pain, misery and grace, in preparation for a deadly reunion. Realizing that not only does he walk through the valley of death, he has been residing in it all his life. Eyes now opened, he will fear no evil, for in order to fight it, he needs to become a greater evil, for his brand of justice is absolute.

Kill them, Kill them all.

The Travels of Tary Noland

State of Pain

Tary Noland is not his name, rather an alias created at 16 hitchhiking cross-country. Sitting on the side of a forgotten highway, looking at an address book, containing three names of girls he had recently met while working a carnival. He recalled each of their encounters, getting aroused by the memories. Turning to the first page of the little book to where it said Name, he stared at it the blank space, subsequently realizing he could write anything thus being anyone. The idea of starting over as a new person turned him on. He met a guy named Terry in jail, whose name he liked. Therefore, he pulled a pen from his backpack writing TERRY filling in the space. Then thinking about a good last name, he looked at Address he mused about it a second, then wrote, NO LAND for he is a drifter. He looked at it a few seconds, and then read it out load, Terry Noland it sounded like a real name. Then he recalled that in old English, from reading the bible that Tary means to wait or to stay awhile. He decided TARY NOLAND was a cool drifters’ name. Since that day he would use is real name when needed, otherwise the people he met, knew him as TARY NOLAND.

For the last ten years, he traveled around the country hunting rocks and minerals that he sold at Flea Markets as a means of support. Accepting that, unless finding a bountiful deposit, he would never be rich, he learned to get by regardless of his circumstances. Gaining knowledge through experience to seek and identify the many varieties of minerals found during his journeys. He has attained bags of corundum- from sapphire to ruby - from western North Carolina, fire opals from New Mexico plus agates and a variety of stones from everywhere he wandered. Often trading with other Rock Dealers and Collectors, to acquired precious and semi-precious stones from around the world such as Rubies from Africa, Chrysoprase from Australia and Amethyst from Madagascar.

He would often tell people, If money were to ever fail so that people started trading in rocks again, I’d be rich

When asked how he got so many rocks, he would reply, a rolling stone gathers no moss, but the rock collector gathers a lot of stones

CHAPTER 1

Spring 1992

Tary Noland sat in the front seat of his van staring at the Smoky Mountain sky. The billons of stars sparkled in the moonless night as he slowly exhaled the pot smoke from his lungs. The sensation was spiritual, it felt as though he was flying through the heavens with the stars, just wandering around checking things out. He floated through the Big Dipper then glided over to Orion’s belt, then jet to another constellation in his cosmic trip. As he inhaled another hit from the glass bowl, he thought, This was great! he had pot, money, merchandise what more could a man need? he thought about it for a moment then answered out loud with a cloud of smoke A WOMAN!!

He was about to close his eyes when a meteor shot through the heavens that exploded over head, casting the whole sky in an eerie green light. He thought cool as the light faded, then mumbled one of these days for after several meteor-wrongs, he has yet to find a real meteorite. Shortly after that, the moon began to crest, lightening the heavens, blotching out many of the stars around which he was dancing. Stoned and getting sleepy, he crawled to the back of his van to go to sleep. It had been a fun day for the drifter.

Charles Bubba Chambers walked through the parking lot of his bar, The Cross Roads, he looked up in time to see the same meteor that Tary saw. He thought it was cool, nevertheless did not reflect on it. It had not been a fun day for him. It started out normal enough, though as the day went, the crazier it got.

The first bad news came when Damian Cross informed him that the band he booked for tonight, Justin Heat was busted in Asheville for possession of pot, which Damian gave them as part of the booking deal, a pound of their best Hydro.

They ain’t getting out anytime soon, Damian told his boss.

You said you had everything sewed up? Bubba stared at the Yankee musician turned promoter.

It was, then again who could have known this would happen? he thought he was going to get his ass kicked or worst, having seen it happened for lesser fuck ups.

We can get the opening band to play a longer set Bubba Junior chimed in trying to save his friend.

Charles wanted to kill him, although it was getting harder to just kill people anymore. Too many damn Yankees, Floridiots and halfbacks were moving in so the remote places to hide the bodies were disappearing. Besides, Damian was the best promoter he had ever had. He did not like him, he did not like anyone, however he was good at his job. The sound system and light show he put together was top of the line, now the bar was doing the best it had ever done. Last week they had Dr. Hook, even if he was getting a bit old making his voice crack a little, it was a good show that brought in an older crowd. No, he would not kill him, all the same, Damian would be punished, if he did not fix it.

No let them be the main act, just get another opener, Bubba said without malice, looking relaxed walking over the girl that was sitting on the arm of a sofa watching the men talk. He ran the back of his fingers over her cheek, she smiled up at him. As anger flashed across his face, Bubba balled his hand into a fist, punching her hard on the cheek he had caressed. She fell unconscious into the sofa. She is one of Damian’s cute little girlfriends, the mean bastard thought she was dumb to believe this twerp would get her a record contract. Bubba looked hard at Damian before leaving the office.

Damian looked at Junior thankful that he escaped the wrath. Holy shit, bro, what the fuck does he expect. he raised his hand to wipe sweat from his brow when he saw it shaking. Look holding it out in front of him.

Junior watched it shake, laughing, You better get a good band, a whole lot better than those dumb asses you booked last month

Pig Collar? Damian asked.

Yea, they sucked, even before he threw up on stage he gestured to the young girl on the couch, You need to do something about her

Damian looked at the 14 year old like she was just a piece of furniture, let her sleep, I’ll deal with that, after I deal with this flipping through his rolodex.

Charles walked to his office upstairs only to get more bad news. Officer Dobson was waiting for him. Knowing this weasel never had good news, he walked in What?

ICE got a few of your workers last night, The police officer told him.

How many? he asked not too concerned.

Twelve the cop smiled.

TWELVE…Shit It was planting season, so needed the workers. you can’t get them out?

Not this time, they have a new bitch in charge who is out to make a name for herself. shaking his head. He found it hard to work with women, cause like most men, he did not understand how they operated.

I’ll make a call Bubba sat at his desk, what about the mines?

Dobson nodded his head, he is interested in the proposal

AND? the bar owner held his hands out, flipping his fingers palms up with a come out with it, gesture.

The cop responded with a shrug, He’s interested getting up to leave.

Bubba wanted to hit the asshole, the blood filling his face. One of these days he thought. However, said please let me know what he decides, won‘t you? in mock sincerity.

You bet the cop nodded at the man with satisfaction. He pissed him off, knowing very few people could do that and still walk out.

Charles watched him leave, for a good looking man, he sure ain’t got no ass, he mused though he does have balls.

He made a phone call, getting replacement workers, did some paper work, wrote some checks, scanned the schedule for the employees working tonight and was satisfied. Therefore, with nothing left to do until tonight, he went to one of his whorehouses to get laid. I’m in the mood for something black he mused as he left the bar.

Damian hung up the phone after booking a band, though they squeezed him for more money and pot then normal. He decided to make up the difference himself rather than face Bubba about it. The little girl on the couch was beginning to stir so he went to her, when she started crying.  Now all concerned, he sat down lifting her head, her face swollen and red. He was 24 years old, with a fondness for younger girls, they were easier to manipulate, satisfying his needs better than older girls. The more naive, the better he like them, this being one was the most naive he ever had. He had heard there was a girl that was a pretty good singer at church, so he pursued her. He loves church girls, for they have been filled with fairy tales about if you are good, good things happen what crock of shit. Bubba wasn’t good in any way, yet he owned the town and has been, literally, getting away with murder for years.

He gave her some pills, for the pain holding her until she started to calm down. He ordered some flowers from the florist then gave them to her when they arrived, by then she was feeling no pain, forgetting about the punch she received. He was all set for tonight, so he took her out the back way bringing her to his place.

Later when Bubba returned he saw the marquee had been changed. Jack of Diamonds would open Trust Act was switched to the main event. He needed a good night. He was unable to get aroused by the whore, even after he beat her. He wondered if he needed some pills to help give him an erection. Then dismissed it, naw, it’s the whores fault, he decided.

The show turned out good, in that he did not have to kill or even punish Damian. It was a little after midnight, he had a little too much coke that had his heart beating too hard, so he headed home early. The meteor held his attention for a few seconds, he got in his truck then drove off.

Deputy Sheriff Godfreed Fears sat in the parking lot of the BI-LO, finishing some paperwork. He looked up in time to see the meteor pass overhead, it exploded, the sky light up then faded to black, he said Cool Then started the police car, pulled out of the lot heading to the Cross Roads, the first of several passes he will make there tonight. Bubba passed on the road in the opposite direction waving his middle finger at the Deputy. The officer yelled at him ONE OF THESE DAYS although the large redneck did not hear him with the windows up and Hank Williams Jr. blaring on the cassette player.

He wasn’t mad about getting finger, he was mad that asshole was alive or not in prison. The Deputy hated him more than any man he knew, he often thought about killing him, himself. Someone like him did not deserve to live, he told people when they asked about him, shocking the listener, for the deputy seemed to be the nicest person they would ever meet.

Sheriff Rayburn smiled at him when he said it during the interview, he felt that was why he was hired. The Sheriff told him about a young girl who killed herself after one of Bubba’s Special Parties so was willing to bend the law, in this case to get the asshole, I did not say that the Sheriff quickly added, smiling.

Godfreed smiled at him, conveying that he understood. Nevertheless, they have not been able to pin anything on him. The new Deputy was partnered with Deputy Jackson Chambers who taught him the ropes, the ins and outs of Jackson County who he came to respect. Although he liked most people, Godfreed respected few.

Sheriff Rayburn was sitting outside the mines when he saw the meteor, he said, That was cool then looked at Deputy Dobson for his reaction, who looked up from the paper he was reading.

What? Dobson asked.

The Sheriff shook his head never mind. So what do you think?

Looks good, he as production and distribution worked out he looked up from the report, adding, there are plenty of Mexicans coming in to work it and the way he is planning it, it will be a cheap labor force

It’s forced labor, slavery. You don’t have a problem with that? he eyed the calloused man.

Why should I? he asked perplexed.

The Sheriff shook his head saying One of these days….. he did not complete his thought, listen it’s late, I got church in the morning and you need to be on patrol, you don’t want Deputy Fears to write you up again, do you? he smiled at the look Dobson shot him.

I wish you’d never hired that half breed he looked disgusted, "six years now and he hasn’t