AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Probably. But I'm willing to try it. He's just an old man."
"Thank you, Paul."
They drove by the jewelry shop on their way out of town, but there was no sign of life.
It took at least a half-hour to make it to the church. Owen had been talking to Paul the whole time, responding to him, but he was on autopilot, thinking of her. He was worried about her. He thought of her being hurt. John had definitely alluded to her being hurt. Owen was completely preoccupied with it. But he went out of his way to be good company for Paul since Paul was doing so much for him. He would have gone alone, but he felt a hundred times better with Paul by his side.
They conversed during the whole drive. Paul was an outdoorsman, and they connected over fishing and wildlife. Owen had been exposed to the best in life. He had taken regular ski trips growing up, and his family had a million-dollar cabin in the Smoky Mountains. Despite being busy with theater, Owen had spent a lot of time outdoors growing up.
He pretended to not be concerned about what they might come up against with the preacher, but he got more and more concerned as they began to approach the property. He didn't have any real reason to be alarmed. The house was normal enough. Paul had to turn down a side road to access the driveway, so Owen hadn't been able to see the house when they first approached. He was actually kind of relieved once he did see it.
He saw her truck in the driveway along with two others. The outside of the house could have been in better condition. It was being maintained to an acceptable level, but it needed work and it was old.
There was a gate across the driveway. It was one of those chains that was about three feet off of the ground. Paul could have driven around it and gone through a ditch and the grass, but he stopped his truck like he planned to get out.
"It's posted in about five different places for us to keep out. I'm willing to get out and walk to the door, but I don't think we should drive around this gate, I think that's just asking for trouble."
"Yeah, I know, I assumed I would walk from here. Are you sure you don't mind coming with me?"
"No, I don't mind."
They stepped over the chain and started walking up the driveway. It was a white house with a small three-step stoop in the front made out of red brick. There was a very small landing with an overhang at the front door, but on the side, there was another door, one that was under a carport. Owen noticed it when he saw movement under there.
It was Corey's mother, and she came out of that door and moved quickly toward them, almost jogging. Her thick dark hair was down, hanging over her shoulders. She moved with her arms stiffly by her sides. When she came out from behind the truck, Owen could clearly see that she was carrying a pistol.
"Hey there, Ms. Jones, we don't want any trouble," Paul said, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender and calling out to her the instant they saw it. "We just came to talk to you and Stanley."
Her face turned to a mask of scorn and she sternly put a finger over her mouth, telling him to keep quiet.
"Shhh!" she scolded in a rough tone. She used that same finger to make a sweeping, pointing motion, urging them backthe way they came. "Go on and get out of here!" she said, speaking oddly quietly. It sounded like almost an empty yell. Her face was yelling, but the voice didn't match it.
"We just wanted to ask you about Corey!" Owen yelled. He pretended to be dumb about it, but he was yelling specifically because she was being so quiet. "Is Corey here?" he continued, yelling louder.
She angrily pointed the gun straight at him, still walking their way.
"Whoa," Paul said stepping back with his hands raised.
"I've already told this man to leave us alone," she warned, looking straight at Owen and whisper-yelling.
He wasn't scared of her.
He probably should've been, but he wasn't.
"I just want to talk to her for one minute," Owen said reasonably, in a lower tone. He stared her mother in the eyes, begging her to understand that he didn't want to hurt Corey.
"My daughter is not coming out here for you or anyone else."
Owen noticed more movement at the door that was under the carport. He glanced that way, hoping he would see Corey, but it was just an old man. He had on layers of clothing, with a robe. Owen knew it was Stanley. He could see him from a distance as he stood at the doorway, squinting at them. Owen focused on Betty again. She was a lot closer to them now, maybe only twenty feet away, pushing them back.
"We're not gonna come any closer. You can put the gun down," Paul said reasonably.
"I tried to call the church several times."
"My daughter doesn’t want anything to do with you."
"That's fine. I just wanted to speak to her one time. That's all I wanted—to speak to her. I don't even need to come near her."
"There's no need for that," she said. "Just go on and leave us alone."
