Voices
of
Conflict
by GCS & LK
Chapter Four
He felt the familiar turn; heard the crunch of gravel beneath the tires. Reaching over he rolled down the window and leaned his head out breathing deeply through his nose. He smelled the horses, the hay, and the memorable scents of home. A contented smile spread slowly across his face. Passing the corral he heard the horses beside the fence. He couldn't see it, but he knew went they reached the end of the drive and pulled up beside the house. "Thanks Roy."
"No problem Junior. Let me get your chair and I'll help you out." Roy put the car in park, stepped out, walked around to the passenger side, and pulled open the back door to get the wheel chair out. Johnny already had his door open and was turning to get out. "Wait Johnny, you don't want to hurt your casted leg." Johnny sighed and stopped moving. Roy helped him out and into the chair.
"Is anybody here yet?" Johnny turned his head as if looking around, but not seeing with the heavy bandages on his eyes.
"No, not yet, but Chet, Marco and Mike should be here any time though."
"Roy do you mind taking me out back. I want to sit outside for a while?" He raised his hand and pointed to what he thought was the side of the house. Roy pushed him in that direction.
"You want to go up on the deck?"
"No the hammock, I might take a nap. I'm kinda tired from the trip out here." Johnny rubbed his temple.
"Do you have a headache Johnny?"
"A little, but it's not that bad."
"I'll get you some Tylenol."
"It's okay Roy. I think I just need a nap. I'll get some later if it's not better." Johnny tried to sit up taller so he looked like he wasn't hurting that much. Roy saw through the act, but he would honor Johnny's request for now. He set the brake on the chair and helped Johnny into the hammock. Neither man noticed the figure moving quietly through the woods just a few yards from the hammock. They hadn't heard the breaking branches under his feet. They were too busy with their own movements. Once Johnny was settled in the hammock Roy left him to his nap and went to start setting up for Hank's party.
Jimmy stood very still hiding behind the big tree. He watched as other men started arriving. Folding chairs and tables were set up. More people came out of the French doors that led from the house to the deck. Women milled among the men. Jimmy watched Roy when a pretty petite brown haired woman walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. He watched the two in a loving exchange of kisses. 'He must be married. I can't take him from her like my wife was taken from me. It hurts too much. They're obviously deeply in love. Amber loved me like that. I loved her even more.' Jimmy was lost in his thoughts for a while as Johnny slept.
After about an hour Johnny began making the normal stirrings of someone waking up. That brought Jimmy back from his thinking. He stepped back a little so he wouldn't be noticed. Johnny heard the crunch on the forest floor of movement. "Who's there?" He listened intently and held his breath so he could hear. Jimmy stepped further into the darkness. He too held his breath. "Who is it? I know you're there. Chet if that's the phantom I'm not in the mood." Jimmy struggled to hold in the breath he knew Johnny might hear. Johnny shifted in the hammock trying to tell where the noises were coming from. "I know you're there. What do you want? Why are you messin' with me? It's not funny. You know I can't see you."
Jimmy slowly let out his breath. Johnny sat up alertly. Jimmy took one more tentative step backwards. He couldn't stifle the cough that came out. Johnny jerked in the direction of the noise causing the hammock to tilt and he fell to the ground half twisted up in the hammock and half on the ground. Not being able to see and still startled from the presence of someone who wouldn't reveal themselves, Johnny was a little disoriented when Roy and Chet ran over to help him. He was breathing too fast and his arms were reaching out trying to grab hold of the fabric that was twisted around his cast. Others came over to make sure Johnny was all right. The noises from all the activity gave Jimmy the opportunity to slip into the woods and find a new hiding place to watch from near the barn.
"Johnny are you okay? Are you hurt?" Roy checked Johnny's neck and spine.
"I'm okay Roy I can't get my leg out of this mess."
"Don't struggle Gage we'll get you up," Chet commented as he untangled Johnny's leg.
"Chet, was that you?"
"What are you talking about?" Chet stopped long enough to look over at Johnny who was trying to rise up. Roy held him down.
"In the woods, there was someone in the woods. They wouldn't answer when I asked who it was. I thought it was…." Johnny didn't finish the sentence. He realized he was sounding like a frightened child.
Mike went over and looked around the edge of the woods. He turned and nodded to the group to let them know he hadn't found anyone.
"It must have been an animal or a dream Johnny." Roy patted his shoulder to try to calm his friend.
"No Roy there was someone there. I heard them. They even coughed. I know there was someone there." He hit his fist on the ground. "You don't believe me, but I know. I know there was someone. You think because I have these bandages on my eyes that I don't know when someone is watching me!"
"Calm down Junior. Let's just get you up." Roy and Marco got on either side of Johnny and lifted him under his arms. Chet lifted the casted leg. Together they were able to get him into his wheel chair. "Hank will be here in a little while. Let's get you up on the deck and get you some Tylenol and something cold to drink."
Johnny didn't speak. He knew they didn't believe him.
Jimmy now hid behind the barn and watched the scene unfold before him. 'They think he imagined it. They don't believe he heard anything in the woods. They don't know I'm here.' He leaned against a tree satisfied with himself for not getting caught. Now he would wait and watch. The party was in full swing now. More people had arrived. Jimmy recognized the doctors and the pretty nurse when they got out of their cars. She looked even better in regular clothes. He watched her go straight over to Johnny. She placed one hand on his good knee and the other on the back of his head as she bent down and kissed him on the cheek. Johnny knew it was her. He recognized her soft touch and her perfume. Jimmy watched them together.
Then the voices that had left him alone all morning made themselves known. 'You could have taken him in the hammock when he and Roy were the only ones here. A rock or limb could have been enough for you to knock him out. What were you waiting for? Now he has a hundred people here. Now we just have to sit out here in the woods like an animal.' Jimmy tried unsuccessfully to shut the voices out.
'Look at that nurse. She cares a lot for him. He doesn't deserve that fondness. He doesn't deserve any love. We don't have any anymore. He took Amber from us. He stole our love.' Tears ran down Jimmy's cheeks. He sat down and leaned against a tree. Curling his knees up to his chest he held his head in his hands and lowered it to rest on his knees. 'But he needs to see us when we do it. Maybe that pretty nurse can help make his eyes better. We need her to help us.' Looking up Jimmy nodded his head. He didn't want to hurt the nice lady. She helped people. It wasn't her that let Amber slip away. It was Johnny. "No," he whispered aloud. 'We'll have to take her too. Now we just need to figure out how to do it. How can we get him away from all these people? We'll have to wait here in the darkness until we get the chance. Patience Jimmy, you have to be patient.'
"No problem Junior. Let me get your chair and I'll help you out." Roy put the car in park, stepped out, walked around to the passenger side, and pulled open the back door to get the wheel chair out. Johnny already had his door open and was turning to get out. "Wait Johnny, you don't want to hurt your casted leg." Johnny sighed and stopped moving. Roy helped him out and into the chair.
"Is anybody here yet?" Johnny turned his head as if looking around, but not seeing with the heavy bandages on his eyes.
"No, not yet, but Chet, Marco and Mike should be here any time though."
"Roy do you mind taking me out back. I want to sit outside for a while?" He raised his hand and pointed to what he thought was the side of the house. Roy pushed him in that direction.
"You want to go up on the deck?"
"No the hammock, I might take a nap. I'm kinda tired from the trip out here." Johnny rubbed his temple.
"Do you have a headache Johnny?"
"A little, but it's not that bad."
"I'll get you some Tylenol."
"It's okay Roy. I think I just need a nap. I'll get some later if it's not better." Johnny tried to sit up taller so he looked like he wasn't hurting that much. Roy saw through the act, but he would honor Johnny's request for now. He set the brake on the chair and helped Johnny into the hammock. Neither man noticed the figure moving quietly through the woods just a few yards from the hammock. They hadn't heard the breaking branches under his feet. They were too busy with their own movements. Once Johnny was settled in the hammock Roy left him to his nap and went to start setting up for Hank's party.
Jimmy stood very still hiding behind the big tree. He watched as other men started arriving. Folding chairs and tables were set up. More people came out of the French doors that led from the house to the deck. Women milled among the men. Jimmy watched Roy when a pretty petite brown haired woman walked over to him and wrapped her arms around him. He watched the two in a loving exchange of kisses. 'He must be married. I can't take him from her like my wife was taken from me. It hurts too much. They're obviously deeply in love. Amber loved me like that. I loved her even more.' Jimmy was lost in his thoughts for a while as Johnny slept.
After about an hour Johnny began making the normal stirrings of someone waking up. That brought Jimmy back from his thinking. He stepped back a little so he wouldn't be noticed. Johnny heard the crunch on the forest floor of movement. "Who's there?" He listened intently and held his breath so he could hear. Jimmy stepped further into the darkness. He too held his breath. "Who is it? I know you're there. Chet if that's the phantom I'm not in the mood." Jimmy struggled to hold in the breath he knew Johnny might hear. Johnny shifted in the hammock trying to tell where the noises were coming from. "I know you're there. What do you want? Why are you messin' with me? It's not funny. You know I can't see you."
Jimmy slowly let out his breath. Johnny sat up alertly. Jimmy took one more tentative step backwards. He couldn't stifle the cough that came out. Johnny jerked in the direction of the noise causing the hammock to tilt and he fell to the ground half twisted up in the hammock and half on the ground. Not being able to see and still startled from the presence of someone who wouldn't reveal themselves, Johnny was a little disoriented when Roy and Chet ran over to help him. He was breathing too fast and his arms were reaching out trying to grab hold of the fabric that was twisted around his cast. Others came over to make sure Johnny was all right. The noises from all the activity gave Jimmy the opportunity to slip into the woods and find a new hiding place to watch from near the barn.
"Johnny are you okay? Are you hurt?" Roy checked Johnny's neck and spine.
"I'm okay Roy I can't get my leg out of this mess."
"Don't struggle Gage we'll get you up," Chet commented as he untangled Johnny's leg.
"Chet, was that you?"
"What are you talking about?" Chet stopped long enough to look over at Johnny who was trying to rise up. Roy held him down.
"In the woods, there was someone in the woods. They wouldn't answer when I asked who it was. I thought it was…." Johnny didn't finish the sentence. He realized he was sounding like a frightened child.
Mike went over and looked around the edge of the woods. He turned and nodded to the group to let them know he hadn't found anyone.
"It must have been an animal or a dream Johnny." Roy patted his shoulder to try to calm his friend.
"No Roy there was someone there. I heard them. They even coughed. I know there was someone there." He hit his fist on the ground. "You don't believe me, but I know. I know there was someone. You think because I have these bandages on my eyes that I don't know when someone is watching me!"
"Calm down Junior. Let's just get you up." Roy and Marco got on either side of Johnny and lifted him under his arms. Chet lifted the casted leg. Together they were able to get him into his wheel chair. "Hank will be here in a little while. Let's get you up on the deck and get you some Tylenol and something cold to drink."
Johnny didn't speak. He knew they didn't believe him.
Jimmy now hid behind the barn and watched the scene unfold before him. 'They think he imagined it. They don't believe he heard anything in the woods. They don't know I'm here.' He leaned against a tree satisfied with himself for not getting caught. Now he would wait and watch. The party was in full swing now. More people had arrived. Jimmy recognized the doctors and the pretty nurse when they got out of their cars. She looked even better in regular clothes. He watched her go straight over to Johnny. She placed one hand on his good knee and the other on the back of his head as she bent down and kissed him on the cheek. Johnny knew it was her. He recognized her soft touch and her perfume. Jimmy watched them together.
Then the voices that had left him alone all morning made themselves known. 'You could have taken him in the hammock when he and Roy were the only ones here. A rock or limb could have been enough for you to knock him out. What were you waiting for? Now he has a hundred people here. Now we just have to sit out here in the woods like an animal.' Jimmy tried unsuccessfully to shut the voices out.
'Look at that nurse. She cares a lot for him. He doesn't deserve that fondness. He doesn't deserve any love. We don't have any anymore. He took Amber from us. He stole our love.' Tears ran down Jimmy's cheeks. He sat down and leaned against a tree. Curling his knees up to his chest he held his head in his hands and lowered it to rest on his knees. 'But he needs to see us when we do it. Maybe that pretty nurse can help make his eyes better. We need her to help us.' Looking up Jimmy nodded his head. He didn't want to hurt the nice lady. She helped people. It wasn't her that let Amber slip away. It was Johnny. "No," he whispered aloud. 'We'll have to take her too. Now we just need to figure out how to do it. How can we get him away from all these people? We'll have to wait here in the darkness until we get the chance. Patience Jimmy, you have to be patient.'
Chapter Five
Dixie could tell that Johnny was tense. Normally it would show in his eyes, but even with them covered in gauze she could see the tightness in his jaw line. "Johnny is something wrong?" She whispered in his ear.
"No Dix, why would there be? I'm at home with all of my friends having a party for Cap. What would possibly be wrong?" He tried to smile, but it didn't quite come off the way he hoped it would.
"John Gage you're a terrible liar."
"It's okay Dix, I don't want to be the center of attention today. We'll talk about it later."
"Okay Johnny, but you let me know if you start feeling bad or tired. I don't want you overdoing it today. I'll see that you get inside and in a bed to rest if you need to." Dixie kissed his cheek again before standing up and greeting the other guests. She planned to keep a close watch on Johnny.
The yard was full of people, some Hank's family, some friends, many firemen, even Chief McKonnikee. Jimmy decided he would mingle among the crowd and see if he could pick up any information about Johnny from them. There were so many people there that he guessed no one would suspect he didn't belong. Walking up to a group he stood listening for a few minutes.
"Hello I don't believe we've been introduced. My name is Beth Stoker and this is my husband Mike. Are you friend or family?"
"I uh….I'm neither actually. I'm here with a friend. I think he may be family." 'What do I do?' he thought 'She'll want my name.' He felt panicked. 'What was I thinking? I should have planned this out better. I'll give her Amber's brother's name. That way they won't find me.'
"And your name?" Beth smiled at him.
"Joe, Joe Sanders."
"Nice to meet you Joe, are you hungry? We have plenty to eat. Come on over to the deck and fix yourself a plate." She took him by the arm and led him to the food.
Hank saw Beth with a man he did not know. "Hey Chet who is that guy?"
"I don't know Cap. Maybe he's one of your relatives. I have so many cousins I can't count them all much less call them by name."
"Maybe, but there is something familiar about him; I just can't place it." Hank scratched his head as he tried to remember where he had seen the man before.
When Jimmy stepped onto the deck Beth led him across in front of Johnny. Johnny immediately noticed the man's aftershave. It was the same odor he thought he smelled when he was in the hammock. He sat up straighter and tried to listen to the voices as they passed by. There were just too many people around him talking, and with his eyes covered he couldn't make heads or tails of who it was or where they had moved to. He just knew. The hairs on the back of his neck rose.
Dixie had noticed Johnny's movement and wandered over to his side. She didn't say anything. She didn't have to. Again Johnny smelled the floral scent of his favorite nurse. "Hey Dix do you think you could get me a plate?"
"Of course Johnny. Why don't we go over by the table, and I can tell you what all is there. That way you can pick what goes on your plate." She moved to his side and released the brake on his wheel chair. Careful not to bump anyone with his casted leg, she pushed him toward the food. "Let's see there's chicken or steak."
Johnny was distracted and didn't answer her. He was searching the area for the scent that had assaulted his senses. He was unnerved for some reason, but he wasn't sure why. Could that have been the person in the forest?
"Johnny?" Dixie became worried at his sudden silence. His head was down and tilted slightly to the side. "Johnny?" she asked again. "Steak or Chicken?"
"Uh sorry Dix," he stumbled over his words. "Chicken's fine."
"Johnny what is going on with you today?"
"Nothin'. Is there any deviled eggs? I love deviled eggs." He tried to change the subject again.
"Yes and baked beans, and potato salad. I know you'll want those." She continued to fill his plate.
Beth and 'Joe' came around the table and up next to Johnny whose head immediately shot up. He smelled it again. "Oh hey Johnny, this is Joe he is here with a friend of his, a relative of Hank's. I brought him over for some food."
Johnny listened intently to the breathing patterns of the man. He felt certain it was the person in the forest, but why had he been hiding, watching him. Johnny held up his hand to shake the hand of the curious man he could not see. "I'm John Gage, nice to meet you. This nice lady fixing my plate is Dixie McCall."
"Nice to meet you both." Jimmy quickly shook hands with Johnny. "I'm going to find a spot to eat. Thank you for letting me crash your party."
"Why don't you eat over here on the deck with me?" Johnny hoped to get the man to himself so he could try to find out a little bit about him.
"Well I need to find my friend, but thanks anyway." Jimmy walked quickly away. Beth returned to her husband and Dixie took Johnny and his plate back to where he had been earlier.
"Do you need me to help you with your food?"
"No Dix, I think I want to go inside. I can pull up to the table in there out of the way." Johnny wanted to eat in private. He didn't want everyone watching him eat. He knew he might make a mess and hated to be the center of attention.
"Roy could you help me with your partner? He wants to go inside."
Roy immediately came over concerned about his friend. "You okay?"
"Yeah Roy, I just want to eat inside where no one is watching me spill my food." Johnny chuckled trying to hide his worry about the strange way he felt about 'Joe'.
"Okay Junior let's get you inside." He opened the French doors that led to the kitchen, turned Johnny around and pulled the chair inside. He moved the chairs to make room for the wheelchair and pushed him up to the table. Dixie placed the plate in front of him.
Outside Jimmy took his plate of food and slipped through the crowd pretending to be looking for his friend. The voices in his head began their murmuring. 'You almost screwed this up Jimmy. You should have stayed behind the barn. What were you thinking? He tried to shake off their torment as he continued walking until he was out of sight from the party goers. Once he moved around the front of the house he again moved to the place behind the barn where he could eat the food and watch over John Gage. 'At least now our nurse has a name, Dixie, it's a good name. She's pretty Jimmy. Pretty like Amber. Maybe we won't have to hurt her. Maybe we can let her go after she takes care of John Gage for us. Once she removes the bandages, and he can see we can let her go."
Hank ducked into the kitchen to have a minute alone with Johnny, "Hey Pal I wanted to thank you for the surprise party. This is great."
"You're welcome Cap. I'm glad we didn't have to cancel it after…." He didn't finish. He simply waved his hand over himself in explanation. "It sounds like everybody in LA is here." He chuckled.
"Well John I guess you can hear the size of the crowd. I wish you could see it. There are so many people here I don't think I can thank them all for coming. I don't even know them all. I saw a guy with Beth that looked familiar, but I can't figure out where I know him from."
Johnny wondered if the man Cap was talking about was the same man he thought was in the forest.
"What'd he look like Cap?"
"Huh?"
"Maybe if you described him to me I might know him."
"Don't worry about it John, I'm sure I'll get a chance to find out before I leave. It's early yet."
"Oh….okay Cap." Johnny didn't want anyone to think he was crazy. He just had a feeling something was amiss with 'Joe'.
Out behind the barn the voices kept up a constant babble in Jimmy's ears. 'We could keep her. She would take good care of us like Amber did. We could take her far away from here. We'll need to leave anyway once we take care of that fireman.' Jimmy threw his half eaten food against a tree, put both hands on his head and squeezed his eyes shut trying to block out the babble. "Stop it. Stop it. Please," he whispered to himself. "I don't want to hurt her. I don't want to replace Amber. I only want him to suffer for letting her die, just John, just Fireman John Gage."
"No Dix, why would there be? I'm at home with all of my friends having a party for Cap. What would possibly be wrong?" He tried to smile, but it didn't quite come off the way he hoped it would.
"John Gage you're a terrible liar."
"It's okay Dix, I don't want to be the center of attention today. We'll talk about it later."
"Okay Johnny, but you let me know if you start feeling bad or tired. I don't want you overdoing it today. I'll see that you get inside and in a bed to rest if you need to." Dixie kissed his cheek again before standing up and greeting the other guests. She planned to keep a close watch on Johnny.
The yard was full of people, some Hank's family, some friends, many firemen, even Chief McKonnikee. Jimmy decided he would mingle among the crowd and see if he could pick up any information about Johnny from them. There were so many people there that he guessed no one would suspect he didn't belong. Walking up to a group he stood listening for a few minutes.
"Hello I don't believe we've been introduced. My name is Beth Stoker and this is my husband Mike. Are you friend or family?"
"I uh….I'm neither actually. I'm here with a friend. I think he may be family." 'What do I do?' he thought 'She'll want my name.' He felt panicked. 'What was I thinking? I should have planned this out better. I'll give her Amber's brother's name. That way they won't find me.'
"And your name?" Beth smiled at him.
"Joe, Joe Sanders."
"Nice to meet you Joe, are you hungry? We have plenty to eat. Come on over to the deck and fix yourself a plate." She took him by the arm and led him to the food.
Hank saw Beth with a man he did not know. "Hey Chet who is that guy?"
"I don't know Cap. Maybe he's one of your relatives. I have so many cousins I can't count them all much less call them by name."
"Maybe, but there is something familiar about him; I just can't place it." Hank scratched his head as he tried to remember where he had seen the man before.
When Jimmy stepped onto the deck Beth led him across in front of Johnny. Johnny immediately noticed the man's aftershave. It was the same odor he thought he smelled when he was in the hammock. He sat up straighter and tried to listen to the voices as they passed by. There were just too many people around him talking, and with his eyes covered he couldn't make heads or tails of who it was or where they had moved to. He just knew. The hairs on the back of his neck rose.
Dixie had noticed Johnny's movement and wandered over to his side. She didn't say anything. She didn't have to. Again Johnny smelled the floral scent of his favorite nurse. "Hey Dix do you think you could get me a plate?"
"Of course Johnny. Why don't we go over by the table, and I can tell you what all is there. That way you can pick what goes on your plate." She moved to his side and released the brake on his wheel chair. Careful not to bump anyone with his casted leg, she pushed him toward the food. "Let's see there's chicken or steak."
Johnny was distracted and didn't answer her. He was searching the area for the scent that had assaulted his senses. He was unnerved for some reason, but he wasn't sure why. Could that have been the person in the forest?
"Johnny?" Dixie became worried at his sudden silence. His head was down and tilted slightly to the side. "Johnny?" she asked again. "Steak or Chicken?"
"Uh sorry Dix," he stumbled over his words. "Chicken's fine."
"Johnny what is going on with you today?"
"Nothin'. Is there any deviled eggs? I love deviled eggs." He tried to change the subject again.
"Yes and baked beans, and potato salad. I know you'll want those." She continued to fill his plate.
Beth and 'Joe' came around the table and up next to Johnny whose head immediately shot up. He smelled it again. "Oh hey Johnny, this is Joe he is here with a friend of his, a relative of Hank's. I brought him over for some food."
Johnny listened intently to the breathing patterns of the man. He felt certain it was the person in the forest, but why had he been hiding, watching him. Johnny held up his hand to shake the hand of the curious man he could not see. "I'm John Gage, nice to meet you. This nice lady fixing my plate is Dixie McCall."
"Nice to meet you both." Jimmy quickly shook hands with Johnny. "I'm going to find a spot to eat. Thank you for letting me crash your party."
"Why don't you eat over here on the deck with me?" Johnny hoped to get the man to himself so he could try to find out a little bit about him.
"Well I need to find my friend, but thanks anyway." Jimmy walked quickly away. Beth returned to her husband and Dixie took Johnny and his plate back to where he had been earlier.
"Do you need me to help you with your food?"
"No Dix, I think I want to go inside. I can pull up to the table in there out of the way." Johnny wanted to eat in private. He didn't want everyone watching him eat. He knew he might make a mess and hated to be the center of attention.
"Roy could you help me with your partner? He wants to go inside."
Roy immediately came over concerned about his friend. "You okay?"
"Yeah Roy, I just want to eat inside where no one is watching me spill my food." Johnny chuckled trying to hide his worry about the strange way he felt about 'Joe'.
"Okay Junior let's get you inside." He opened the French doors that led to the kitchen, turned Johnny around and pulled the chair inside. He moved the chairs to make room for the wheelchair and pushed him up to the table. Dixie placed the plate in front of him.
Outside Jimmy took his plate of food and slipped through the crowd pretending to be looking for his friend. The voices in his head began their murmuring. 'You almost screwed this up Jimmy. You should have stayed behind the barn. What were you thinking? He tried to shake off their torment as he continued walking until he was out of sight from the party goers. Once he moved around the front of the house he again moved to the place behind the barn where he could eat the food and watch over John Gage. 'At least now our nurse has a name, Dixie, it's a good name. She's pretty Jimmy. Pretty like Amber. Maybe we won't have to hurt her. Maybe we can let her go after she takes care of John Gage for us. Once she removes the bandages, and he can see we can let her go."
Hank ducked into the kitchen to have a minute alone with Johnny, "Hey Pal I wanted to thank you for the surprise party. This is great."
"You're welcome Cap. I'm glad we didn't have to cancel it after…." He didn't finish. He simply waved his hand over himself in explanation. "It sounds like everybody in LA is here." He chuckled.
"Well John I guess you can hear the size of the crowd. I wish you could see it. There are so many people here I don't think I can thank them all for coming. I don't even know them all. I saw a guy with Beth that looked familiar, but I can't figure out where I know him from."
Johnny wondered if the man Cap was talking about was the same man he thought was in the forest.
"What'd he look like Cap?"
"Huh?"
"Maybe if you described him to me I might know him."
"Don't worry about it John, I'm sure I'll get a chance to find out before I leave. It's early yet."
"Oh….okay Cap." Johnny didn't want anyone to think he was crazy. He just had a feeling something was amiss with 'Joe'.
Out behind the barn the voices kept up a constant babble in Jimmy's ears. 'We could keep her. She would take good care of us like Amber did. We could take her far away from here. We'll need to leave anyway once we take care of that fireman.' Jimmy threw his half eaten food against a tree, put both hands on his head and squeezed his eyes shut trying to block out the babble. "Stop it. Stop it. Please," he whispered to himself. "I don't want to hurt her. I don't want to replace Amber. I only want him to suffer for letting her die, just John, just Fireman John Gage."
Chapter Six
Hank's surprise birthday party continued on until late evening.
More guests came and left.
The kids played a huge game of dodge ball in the yard. Some of the "bigger" kids joined in on the game. Chet was the biggest kid out there. If Johnny hadn't been injured he would have been right there beside him.
Things began to settle down and most of the people still there were the familiar A-shift crew and their families and close friends.
Johnny had grown very quiet. Anyone who knew him well was aware that for Johnny to be that quiet he either had a lot on his mind or he was extremely tired.
With his eyes still covered from his injuries the day before it was hard to tell.
Dixie came over beside him. He felt her presence. "Hey Dix," he said quietly.
"You okay?" she asked him as she placed her hand on his forehead pretending to brush his hair back, but actually checking for a temperature.
"I don't have fever Dix," he tiredly told her with a deep sigh.
"I can tell, but you look like you need a break from all this activity. Why don't you let me help you inside to lay down while things finish up out here?"
"Okay." Johnny didn't have the energy to argue. He was tired and the events of the day had stressed him out. He still did not understand why someone would be watching him, and he still wondered if it could have been the same person with Beth on the deck?
"I'll be right back." Dixie walked away to find Roy.
Together Dixie and Roy took Johnny inside to the spare bedroom on the first floor. Once he was settled in bed for a nap, they returned to the party.
Jimmy had been watching from his spot behind the barn for hours. The voices that plagued his mind had quieted, and he was left temporarily with his own thoughts. 'These people are very close. They have enjoyed being here together for the whole day. I could have had that with Amber. I could have had many friends. When she was alive we did things, went to parties. It's not fair that this guy has so many friends, and I'm alone.'
Tears slid silently down his cheeks. 'There he is sitting up there on the deck with everyone waiting on him hand and foot. Well he is injured. It's kind of hard to do much with your eyes covered and your leg in a cast.'
Chet threw the dodge ball and missed. It bounced into the woods by the barn. Chris Desoto ran after it. He spent a lot of time at Johnny's and was not afraid to go into the trees around his yard. The ball came to rest near the tree where Jimmy hid. He tensed, picked up a large stick holding it in the air ready to strike, and held his breath.
Chris ran over and grabbed the ball quickly turning back toward the yard he threw it.
He hesitated for just a minute before returning to the yard. He thought he heard something.
Looking around thinking it might be a rabbit or something, he stepped closer to the big tree he was near. It would be fun to chase a rabbit.
"Come on Chris," Chet yelled. "We need your help out here."
Chris gave up his pursuit of the noise and ran back to the game.
Jimmy lowered the stick and let out the breath he had been holding.
He settled back against the tree he'd been hiding against. After a while he drifted off to sleep.
"Is Johnny alright?" Hank asked Roy when he rejoined the group of friends now gathered on the deck.
"Yeah, he's just worn out."
"Do you think we need to get started cleaning up?"
"I think that would be a good idea, but I think we should wait a while before we start taking things inside; give him a chance to fall asleep. I'll check on him in a few minutes to see if he's out. Then we'll get started." Roy grabbed another beer and found a deck chair. The few minutes turned into another hour before he checked on his best friend.
Finding that Johnny was indeed asleep and soundly, Roy and the others began the arduous task of cleaning up.
"Kel, why don't we just let Johnny sleep here tonight? I'll stay here with him and bring him back to the hospital in the morning. I'll ask Roy to come by and help me get him loaded in the car," Dixie suggested.
"I think you may be right Dixie, it has been a long day for everyone," Kel Brackett agreed. "I could come out and help you."
"I think Roy would want to check on him anyway."
Dr. Brackett laughed at the thought, "I think you're right. Okay I'll see you at the hospital in the morning then."
Between Hank's men and their families Johnny's yard and deck were returned to their normal state. The tables and folding chairs that he kept for parties were all stored away, and the food all covered and packed away.
Joanne had made up several meals from the leftovers and had put them in Johnny's freezer for when he returned home from the hospital. The kitchen was cleaned and everyone said their goodbyes.
The Desoto family was the last to leave. Joanne had wanted to help make Dixie comfortable. She showed her to one of the spare rooms upstairs, turned down the bed and set out fresh towels in the guest bath.
"Thank you Joanne. We'll be just fine now," Dixie hugged her friend. "Roy if you could swing by tomorrow sometime. I'm off, so there's no rush even if it's noon or after. He'll probably sleep late anyway." She walked them to the door.
Roy carried his sleeping daughter in his arms. Chris yawned deeply. "I think your kids will sleep late too," Dixie smiled at the two children.
"Okay Dix, I'll see you tomorrow," Roy said as he stepped off the porch.
Dixie locked the front door and headed to take a much needed bath. She wanted to soak in the tub for a while. She'd enjoyed herself today, but she was tired. A long hot bath was exactly what she needed.
Outside behind the barn the sleeping man woke to a cacophony of voices screaming in his head. 'Why are you sleeping? What were you thinking? They've all gone. You missed your chance to get him. You're stupid Jimmy. You should have done it while he was in the hammock. You could have ripped those bandages off and done it then. No one was watching him. They were too busy to notice. Now you've really messed up. He's gone back to the hospital and you'll have to go there. You'll have to find a way to get him there.'
He stood and looked around the darkened yard. Everyone was gone, the house dark.
He rammed his hands in his pockets and hung his head to his chest.
Slowly he began to walk around looking at the orderliness of the once crowded yard. Everything was put away. He noticed that Johnny's home was very well kept. He must have been very proud of it to keep it so nice.
'If he hadn't let her die you could have had a nice place like this. You should go inside and see what it's like. Maybe you could still take him and that nurse and bring them here. Maybe you can set things up for when you do. Yes you should break in and get ready.' The voices started again.
"I don't want to break in. I want to go home," he spoke aloud to the darkness.
'You can't go home. You haven't done what you came here to do. You need to get inside and arrange things to bring him back here. It's the perfect place to end it.'
Realizing the voices were right, Jimmy decided to see if he could get inside.
More guests came and left.
The kids played a huge game of dodge ball in the yard. Some of the "bigger" kids joined in on the game. Chet was the biggest kid out there. If Johnny hadn't been injured he would have been right there beside him.
Things began to settle down and most of the people still there were the familiar A-shift crew and their families and close friends.
Johnny had grown very quiet. Anyone who knew him well was aware that for Johnny to be that quiet he either had a lot on his mind or he was extremely tired.
With his eyes still covered from his injuries the day before it was hard to tell.
Dixie came over beside him. He felt her presence. "Hey Dix," he said quietly.
"You okay?" she asked him as she placed her hand on his forehead pretending to brush his hair back, but actually checking for a temperature.
"I don't have fever Dix," he tiredly told her with a deep sigh.
"I can tell, but you look like you need a break from all this activity. Why don't you let me help you inside to lay down while things finish up out here?"
"Okay." Johnny didn't have the energy to argue. He was tired and the events of the day had stressed him out. He still did not understand why someone would be watching him, and he still wondered if it could have been the same person with Beth on the deck?
"I'll be right back." Dixie walked away to find Roy.
Together Dixie and Roy took Johnny inside to the spare bedroom on the first floor. Once he was settled in bed for a nap, they returned to the party.
Jimmy had been watching from his spot behind the barn for hours. The voices that plagued his mind had quieted, and he was left temporarily with his own thoughts. 'These people are very close. They have enjoyed being here together for the whole day. I could have had that with Amber. I could have had many friends. When she was alive we did things, went to parties. It's not fair that this guy has so many friends, and I'm alone.'
Tears slid silently down his cheeks. 'There he is sitting up there on the deck with everyone waiting on him hand and foot. Well he is injured. It's kind of hard to do much with your eyes covered and your leg in a cast.'
Chet threw the dodge ball and missed. It bounced into the woods by the barn. Chris Desoto ran after it. He spent a lot of time at Johnny's and was not afraid to go into the trees around his yard. The ball came to rest near the tree where Jimmy hid. He tensed, picked up a large stick holding it in the air ready to strike, and held his breath.
Chris ran over and grabbed the ball quickly turning back toward the yard he threw it.
He hesitated for just a minute before returning to the yard. He thought he heard something.
Looking around thinking it might be a rabbit or something, he stepped closer to the big tree he was near. It would be fun to chase a rabbit.
"Come on Chris," Chet yelled. "We need your help out here."
Chris gave up his pursuit of the noise and ran back to the game.
Jimmy lowered the stick and let out the breath he had been holding.
He settled back against the tree he'd been hiding against. After a while he drifted off to sleep.
"Is Johnny alright?" Hank asked Roy when he rejoined the group of friends now gathered on the deck.
"Yeah, he's just worn out."
"Do you think we need to get started cleaning up?"
"I think that would be a good idea, but I think we should wait a while before we start taking things inside; give him a chance to fall asleep. I'll check on him in a few minutes to see if he's out. Then we'll get started." Roy grabbed another beer and found a deck chair. The few minutes turned into another hour before he checked on his best friend.
Finding that Johnny was indeed asleep and soundly, Roy and the others began the arduous task of cleaning up.
"Kel, why don't we just let Johnny sleep here tonight? I'll stay here with him and bring him back to the hospital in the morning. I'll ask Roy to come by and help me get him loaded in the car," Dixie suggested.
"I think you may be right Dixie, it has been a long day for everyone," Kel Brackett agreed. "I could come out and help you."
"I think Roy would want to check on him anyway."
Dr. Brackett laughed at the thought, "I think you're right. Okay I'll see you at the hospital in the morning then."
Between Hank's men and their families Johnny's yard and deck were returned to their normal state. The tables and folding chairs that he kept for parties were all stored away, and the food all covered and packed away.
Joanne had made up several meals from the leftovers and had put them in Johnny's freezer for when he returned home from the hospital. The kitchen was cleaned and everyone said their goodbyes.
The Desoto family was the last to leave. Joanne had wanted to help make Dixie comfortable. She showed her to one of the spare rooms upstairs, turned down the bed and set out fresh towels in the guest bath.
"Thank you Joanne. We'll be just fine now," Dixie hugged her friend. "Roy if you could swing by tomorrow sometime. I'm off, so there's no rush even if it's noon or after. He'll probably sleep late anyway." She walked them to the door.
Roy carried his sleeping daughter in his arms. Chris yawned deeply. "I think your kids will sleep late too," Dixie smiled at the two children.
"Okay Dix, I'll see you tomorrow," Roy said as he stepped off the porch.
Dixie locked the front door and headed to take a much needed bath. She wanted to soak in the tub for a while. She'd enjoyed herself today, but she was tired. A long hot bath was exactly what she needed.
Outside behind the barn the sleeping man woke to a cacophony of voices screaming in his head. 'Why are you sleeping? What were you thinking? They've all gone. You missed your chance to get him. You're stupid Jimmy. You should have done it while he was in the hammock. You could have ripped those bandages off and done it then. No one was watching him. They were too busy to notice. Now you've really messed up. He's gone back to the hospital and you'll have to go there. You'll have to find a way to get him there.'
He stood and looked around the darkened yard. Everyone was gone, the house dark.
He rammed his hands in his pockets and hung his head to his chest.
Slowly he began to walk around looking at the orderliness of the once crowded yard. Everything was put away. He noticed that Johnny's home was very well kept. He must have been very proud of it to keep it so nice.
'If he hadn't let her die you could have had a nice place like this. You should go inside and see what it's like. Maybe you could still take him and that nurse and bring them here. Maybe you can set things up for when you do. Yes you should break in and get ready.' The voices started again.
"I don't want to break in. I want to go home," he spoke aloud to the darkness.
'You can't go home. You haven't done what you came here to do. You need to get inside and arrange things to bring him back here. It's the perfect place to end it.'
Realizing the voices were right, Jimmy decided to see if he could get inside.
