HD novella

[goinbroke2]

GB walked through the barn and as he passed a window something outside caught his eye. He slowly leaned back to peer out the dirty, dusty window and couldn't see what it was but something..THERE, again something flashed in the treeline. He ducked down under the window and went to the back of the barn, passing Janitor once again who clammed up as he sensed something was wrong. GB went out the back of the barn and hiked himself up onto the low roof of the milking room and walked up to the big roof. He crawled almost to the top when he pulled off his hat and slowly raised his head about an inch a minute. Just peering over the top of the roof he could see something shiny moving in the woods but he couldn't figure out what it was. After a minute of so he slowly dropped back just in time to hear Sara ask "what the hell are you doin on my roof"? GB rolled over and looked down at her. "wow" he thought "nice cleavage" then admonished himself for being a pig...a married one at that. He quietly called down "there's something shiny in the woods out there but I can't see what it is". Sara quietly called back "is it moving back and forth?" "what"? he replied. "Is it moving back and forth"? she tried again. "WHAT"? he said a little louder.
"I SAID IS IT MOVING BACK AND FORTH YOU STUPID DEAF FUCK"!!! GB growled right back "YES IT'S MOVING ALL AROUND"!! Sara yelled at GB "IT'S AN OLD POT WITH BURNT APPLESAUCE IN IT THAT I'M BAITING DEER WITH, NOW GET OFF MY FUCKING ROOF"!

Corene and Flatwoods came out of the house hearing all the yelling, "what the hell is goin on" said Flat. "I'm checking out Sara's deer stand" said GB "now go on back inside". After jumping down off the low roof he said to Sara "better safe than sorry". Sara agreed "oh yes, better safe than sorry" she deadpanned then rolled her eyes and laughed. "Listen" GB said "my stomach thinks my throats been slit, ya got anything?" Sara walked back towards the cabin, "hopefully these guys didn't eat everything, I'll put on some grub cause everybody must be hungry by now".

[Truckinbutch]

'Cmon , Flatwoods , even Janitor has standards . He has improved his station since he started hanging out with us .

Janitor hangs out with you, I just happen by from time to time.
Ga Flatwoods

It ain't do it , neither ! You the one that brought him to the Bench down to the store . No nevermind . We got that child's head adjusted in the right direction . (Hey , Janitor , you don't have to be actively engaged in stillin to jump in here . We see you sneaking around in the shadows )

[Truckinbutch]

Sara walked in with GB in tow and headed for the cook stove . She stirred up embers and built up a fire . While it was gettin going she put on a boiler of coffee and started whipping up a batch of biscuits . While they was raising she sliced slabs of country ham from a shank and pitched them in a skillet to slowly cook . Hand squished them cat head biscuits and slid a pan full of them in the oven as the ham finished . ham slices went into a warming pan on a cooler side of the stove as she fried eggs in the ham grease and then whipped up some red eye gravy . She had the timing down to a fine point . Everything got done at the same time to serve a fine plate of breakfast to everyone in the room that wasn't tied up .
I noticed a tear trickling from one of Tater's damaged eyes and looked directly at him . "Reminds me of my Momma's kitchen ,"he said . The fight had totally gone out of his eyes and stature after us sharing a couple of Cokes .
"You would be welcome to a plate if you want to talk to us . Or would you rather have another Coke ? "
"Cut my hands loose and serve me a plate . Then we will talk . I don't want another Coke .

[Truckinbutch]

Edit :
For those of you nonbelievers out there that doubt the soda pop application . Try it on yourself in a private environment . It will not take long to understand that if someone else is in control that you will have a sudden urge to become friends .

[goinbroke2]

AAARRRGGGG!!!! Lost a whole freaking post dammit!!!!

What year is it? There were references to the 20's to 40's era but then I think TB mentioned "way back in '59 in the coal mines" so I'm wondering, if that's "way back" maybe it's the 70's? Perhaps we'd have an appearance by the Duke boys?

Just kidding...so, what year or time frame are we going to settle on?

[jedneck]

I'd say mid 50's

[goinbroke2]

I'd say mid 50's

OOH, mid fifties Ford with a built up Y block....supercharged 312 t-bird motor...

[HDNB]

GB: "right click" "undo"

i think it was 1953 back there ways^^^^

[HDNB]

The three of them decided to hop a train back to Colarado so they would be rested when they got there. Taking a car would have been more private but with the work ahead of them it seemed to make more sense.
"Say what you want about Chicago, but they got some great rail service outta this town." Jed was pouring himself a shot from the bottle service in the bar car.

There was not a lot of traffic in the lounge, only two other tables with travellers at them and the bartender plus a waiter. The bartender was eyeing Jed like he knew him. Jed hoped it wasn't the same guy serving him when he had run into Coleen and her troubles a few weeks back. The guy didn't look scared like Jed would have expected him to, had he been the same guy that watched him perforate the goon that was bearing down on Coleen.
No, this guy was looking at him more like he was someone he had known from high school, but just couldn't place the name. The bartender made his way over and said "hey aren't you that guy from the movies? William? I mean Bill Holden?"
That caught Jed out. He smiled back and said " You got me mixed up there, son. Name's Johnny. Johnny King." and extended his hand. "I sell Cars down the east side. You wouldn't be in the market for a new or used automobile now would you?
Jed smiled widely and continued to pump the bartenders hand.
The bartender, looking a little awkward, was dancing around trying to look busy glancing over his shoulder. "Geez I apologize for the confusion sir. I best be getting back to my duties" he said as he tried unsuccessfully to retrieve his hand.
Jed was starting to have fun and played it up a bit. "now we are having a big sale next weekend, and I'd be pleased to get you in the the car of your dreams! What did you say you budget was son?" with a big toothy grin he continued. "now you go jot down your address and i'll have our big ol' Cadillac come by and pick you up in style! Say Saturday morning at 11?"
"S-S-Saturday morning at 11? the bartender stammered. "Yessir, let me get you some more ice, sir!" he forcefully extracted his hand and retreated to the bar.

Wooteck and Phil were laughing hard as the bartender retreated to the safety of his bar. "That was priceless, Jed" Phil smiled.
Jed agreed. "No doubt. If you want to be rid of someone, just tell him you are a salesman!"

"So what's the plan?" Eck quizzed Jed.
"Honestly?" Jed raised an eybrow "I'm just playing this by ear. I hope i've got enough regard among the S3 that they will take Uncle Sam's money and fill the likker order so i can get ahead of ths conterfeit scam. I'm really happy you fellas would ride with me on this, I don't know how far and how deep Hazel Williams goes into the department, and I don't want to go it alone. I got some funding on my back channels....But i'm not so sure that she is not fishing the same stream."
"And if She is?" asked Eck.
"That could make things really dangerous, real fast." Replied Jed. "You guys are going to stay in the background. If you can find a big truck we can rent while I round up the likker, that will really help. I don't want you guys running into the the goons that Enrico has up there looking for his likker. We have to get the booze first and get out of town before they find us."
"You know Jed, there is a legal distillery in that town." Phil added. "Maybe we could just buy up his product?"
Wooteck answered for Jed "That doesn't really work. Sugar shine has a unique bite. Thats what people are looking for these days, they want to know they've had a drink. Quality all grain likker is a give away, Enrico would know in a sip that something was up." He continued "If the distillery has some real young white dog, we could maybe make up any shortfall the shiners don't have by blending and adding some heads back in."

Phil took a long pull on his glass and with a look of confusion said "it all tastes pretty much the same to me!"
"This commercial shit has a lot of heads in it, Phil." Explained Jed. "A small craft distiller is still making cuts and earning his customers. Trust me, it's way different."
"Hmmph." Phil glanced at the them and drained his glass.

[Truckinbutch]

AAARRRGGGG!!!! Lost a whole freaking post dammit!!!!

What year is it? There were references to the 20's to 40's era but then I think TB mentioned "way back in '59 in the coal mines" so I'm wondering, if that's "way back" maybe it's the 70's? Perhaps we'd have an appearance by the Duke boys?

Just kidding...so, what year or time frame are we going to settle on?

Ya gotta remember that my reference to me and Brock was a foot note establishing his bonafides , Not part of the main thread . Yep , what we did and did not do might not be exataly the way we tell it ; but , it coulda happened that way .
Generally we picked early to mid 50's to accommodate the mix of old equipment , horses , and old style values . Horses or mules on rough crow flies trails during that period could often beat an automobile by a day or two in point to point travel . Thus the efficiency albeit the extra labor of running a pack string . A viable venue in the western lands to this day .
>Poetic license has allowed us to join eastern and western regions into one entity of isolated mountain communities tied by tradition and family ties . Witness the underlying current of honor and fidelity ammongst community members .
>A group of people living in dwellings makes a village . A group of people living in close proximity and covering each other's backs comprises a community .

[S-Cackalacky]

Hope somebody's got a good line on Jed. HDNB's got him painted up like a modern day hero. He left Pagosa with more different personalities than Sybil - the last being something like the stuff that grows under a rock. Course the story here ain't xacly been on a straight line anyway, so what comes ought to be inerstin'. Them three thugs out there in the cabin ought to be good fit into what's to come. Things go better with Coke.

[goinbroke2]

GB pushed back from the table. "ooohhh my gosh that was good, thanks Sara" She smiled at them all "glad you enjoyed it boys, don't often get a chance to cook for the menfolk, anybody want more coffee or some tea?" "How you doin" she said to janitor. "I'll tell you how he's doin as soon as I finish up" TB chimed in.
In between bites, with his mouth still full janitor nodded towards the bedroom and said "unner the floorboard in your hidy-hole" Sara blanched "you was in my hidding spot?" Her and Corene immediately went to the bedroom and pulled the bed to the side so the leg was no longer holding the loose board down. It sprung a bit, just enough for Sara to grab the end of it and lift it out. "Holy SHIT!" they said together. Everybody jumped up and headed for the bedroom. Flatwood looked back at janitor "and don't you move you sumbitch or I'll plug ya before ya get your legs straight". Janitor never moved, just stared off in the distance and kept shovelling the food in. Flat stayed by the door looking in as everybody else gathered around the hole in the floor. There was ooh's and aah's as one by one they peered in.

[Truckinbutch]

Tater shoveled Sara's grub down his pie hole like it was his 'Last Supper'. Never turned a hair or lost his pace of eatin as the rest of them rushed to the bedroom to look in the hideyhole .
Lookin at me with a measuring look he asked ,"You the one I need to talk to or are you just one of the little Injuns ? '
>I took the slow measure of his look and returned it without a blink . This old bastard was a warrior without question . Stokin up on food when it was before him and watching for an advantage to regain control of the situation .
"let's just consider me your last stop on the train . Whether you live or die will be by my hand . You need no information beyond that . You picked a bad game to buy chips in and how you act from now on will determine whether you are allowed to fold or have to call ."
."You're sayin I might live through this ?"
>"Depends on how you want to act . You've done nothing against us directly that I know of . We stole a march on you to get to the front . We got no reason to kill you unless you want to continue playing for the other team . You see any of them rushing in to rescue you three ? "
>I'd given Tater some petty hard facts to cogitate on . I walked to the other side of the kitchen and took a chair while he sat at the table and sipped coffee while he considered his options .

[goinbroke2]

Flat reached into the hole and pulled up a wad of cash, "must be a couple thousand in this hand full alone" he said. Corene reached in and pulled out a piece of paper, "there is two lists of names on here, one of people and one of horses by the looks of it, Steppin woman, she's your's TB" she said. "Pistol, that's the Bondurant's highland bay, Buttermilk, that's John-boys horse and look, some have x's or checkmarks beside them." Sarah, reading over her shoulder was looking at the people's names, "Ledbetter, and he's crossed out, Brock your on here, GB you're here with an reward of $1000.00, McHale who's crossed out and a couple more I don't recognise."
"What's on the back, Corene?" Brock said. Turning the page over she read a bit and said "it's instructions on who to eliminate, who to get the shine from and even who to bet on in the race....uh oh, and who to get rid of during the race". She looked at TB, "you're on the list of ones to take out during the race"! GB looked at the money, "I guess this is all to bet on the race and then clean up when an underdog wins because the favoured are taken out, I think we can turn this around huh” and let out a little chuckle. “Let’s count this up and see how much we got to bet with”.

TB looked at janitor, “so” and he waited. Janitor never looked at him, just kept eating and drinking his coffee. Sighing he stopped after a minute and looked at TB as the others came back into the room. “So who's the leader” he asked. “Don’t matter who’s the leader, talk or we’ll gut ya like a fresh downed deer” GB said grinning. “Easy there GB, nobody’s guttin nobody just yet” growled Flat. He walked over to janitor, leaned over close and looking him right in the eye growled quietly “do you have any misconceptions about what we could do”? With the fight gone out of him, janitor stared back blankly and just barely moved his head side to side. “Good!” Flat said as he straightened up, “let’s get to it then”.
TB started “How much money is there”? $16,000 was the answer.
“Who sent ya”? “Enrico”.
How many are ya? “Was 5 but Blaine got killed when we took out McHale and Dempsey grabbed a handful of the cash and split before we hit Pagosa Springs”.
How often ya have to report back to Enrico? “Every second day”
On and on the questions went as one by one each had a turn. Janitor answered them all, apparently honestly.
“So”, janitor asked, lifting his chin a bit “do I live”? He appeared ready for either answer.
“Let’s talk this over, see if we can use them” Sarah said putting her hand on Corene’s shoulder and walking back to the bedroom. The rest followed and this time GB stood by the door watching.
“Other two might be hungry as well” janitor said looking at GB. “Shuddap, we still might kill y’all” GB answered thumbing his pistol absentmindedly.

[Truckinbutch]

Bump . Just too damned tired to dick with this tonight . I'll get back in the game in the next day or two .

[goinbroke2]

Plans were being made and all were contributing idea's. Before long GB said he had to take off, "Nothin is happening that quick so I'm walkin back down the mountain to the truck" He was going to cruise over to his old farm and see what was left of it. After Mama making a fuss and the kids crying because of the bullet holes in the walls they took off that very night. It was still his property but he hadn't been around in so many years he fully expected the roof to be all falled in and windows busted out.
He approached the truck and stopped and looked around. It was still hidden but you couldn't be too careful. No trip wires, nothing wired to the truck, no tricks of any sort, so he pulled the branches off and jumped in. GB fired it up and idled back down the hill catching the mirrors on the odd branch sticking out. Back on the road he drove around just reliving his youth, stompin on the gas on the same corners he took sideways so many years before. He crested a knoll and met a black '49 ford. As it passed he saw 4 guys all business looking. Looking at the plate in the mirror he saw it was a government car, revenuer's or FBI he wondered...and where were they going. After they went over the knoll he spun the truck around and decided to follow, see where they were going. He was following the dust trail about two miles when it stopped. He came around the corner and the dust was gone just like that. Hmm, either I was spotted and they jumped off the road, or, they were going somewhere around here. About a mile up the road he turned around and drove back watching the tree line for movement and the grass for signs of tire tracks. He saw the place they left the road and kept going making a mental note of it. "have to tell the others about that I guess" he thought to himself.
He filled up with gas at the pumps and went inside smelling the BBQ chicken on the rotisserie. "Too bad I'm stuffed" he thought, but the smell got him thinking so he grabbed some jerky. He moved the truck from the pumps and then sat there at the end of the parking lot chewing on the jerky watching life go by the windshield. He saw the usual stuff, cars and trucks, horses strolling by with and without wagons. Then he saw the '49 ford drive by, arse sitting way low but only two guys in the front. "well boys, ya got a load of shine on do ya" he said to himself. A faded 36 plymouth went by draggin it's ass as well with the driver up on the wheel like he was about to crawl out onto the hood. It looked like the gubment was taking it's share and allowing whoever it was to keep producing. GB fired up the truck and headed back towards his old homestead once again.

Apparently squatter's were here for a while he thought looking around, windows were replaced and stuff he never saw before was moved in. Must of been a while ago as there was a layer of dust and the yard and field wasn't mowed in a few years. He went upstairs and looked around, out the bathroom window he could see across the field where the creek ran to the large natural pond by the wood line. The memories came flooding back, both good and bad and he had to leave. As he pulled to the end of the lane he stopped and waited as the 36 plymouth went by sitting high and pretty. “Well they’re unloading the shine somewhere close if he’s empty already” he thought. He didn’t recognize the driver, but why would he. He took off back towards Sara’s cabin with several thoughts running through his mind. One being that there is a lot more likker being run out of here than anybody realises I think.

[Truckinbutch]

This pile of shit keeps getting deeper and deeper . The more information we get , the more involved the plot becomes . What had been a simple horse race seems to have become a plot for a takeover bid in our community .
>I got Brock , Corene , and Flatwoods out to the barn to help take care of the stock before GB decided to leave .
>"This news has put rust on the blade , for sure . I got to address this with Forrest and he is expecting me back for the second load of corn . I fail to believe that he would be part of this kind of cheating . I think that me, Brock , and Jaye need to trail the pack string to Blackwater Station for the second part of the deal and I'll discuss this with him . You all good to go with watching these guys until we can get back ? "
>Flatwoods , out of character as it was thought it was a good plan . Corene agreed . Then Flatwoods asked me if I really cared if Tater and Janitor were still alive when we got back . I assured him that I would be SEOUSLY concerned if anything happened to them while I was gone .
>That said , Brock and I headed for my place to make up a pack string ...........

[goinbroke2]

GB only went a few miles when he came upon the 36 plymouth on the side of the road with a flat rear left tire. He pulled over and rolled up behind the car. Getting out he hollered "Can I help?"
"Ifn ya got ajack mister" came the reply from the pimply faced driver. GB reached behind the seat and pulled the bottle jack and handle out and walked up to the car. "These tires aren't made for carrying such a load, I told your boss you needed a truck like I got instead of cars"
"Who said that" the kid asked?
"What" GB said dropping the jack by the car.
"What did he say to you about my car?"
"Oh nothing, I was telling him the best way to haul is with something made to haul"
"Well this ol girl can haul, let me tell you" he said with a grin.
Just as GB was about to slide the jack under the car a roar of gunfire opened up a mile or two away. He looked at the kid who was looking towards the sound, "that's where you guys are isn't it?" GB asked.
"Holy sheeit" the kid said "them guys who said they was feds gave me a bad feelin, I knowed they was lyin'".
"How many was there anyway, I only ever saw four of them at one time" GB pushed. The kid looking for support or feeling vulnerable or whatever started babbling like he was talking to a long lost friend. "Yup, they was four of them and had govment plates and badges and everthang. They said they was from New York but one of the boys swears he saw an illinois license in his wallet when he was showin his badge. Stumpy said the tall one sounded like he was from Chicago and I believe him".
"Jump in the truck kid, whoever won might come this way and if it's the wrong ones they'll start shooting once they recognise the car".
GB and the kid jumped in the truck and started driving. "if we meet a car, you duck cause they won't recognise me". They drove towards where the battle had finished only minutes before, watching the woods for signs of movement. Smoke was billowing up and they could see flashes of flame through the trees. They drove on by and stopped down the road. "well this is a sitiation now isn't it" GB said. "what do we do now" the kid asked.
"Well, before we investigate, I need to know exactly who was there, from both sides" said GB.
"There was the four g-men, Stumpy, Ben, Josh and Eb."
"That's it, where is everybody else" GB asked
"Only other is the Boss and Mr Forrest never comes here, he stays back his way".

They turned the truck around and drove back towards the spot they seen the fire and smoke. Turning in he stopped the truck and checked his pistol. "ever shoot a gun kid?" he asked. The wide eyed expression told him no. "Here, gimme that back, you might shoot me" he said.
They got out and walked towards the woodline following the tire prints. "STUMPY, BEN" the kid called but there was no answer. As they walked into the woods a ways they saw the bodies. It was a hell of a fight and no only people but trees, cars, likker pile, heck everything had bullet holes in it as everything was used as cover. The kid found Eb's body and just beyond was a g-man and Josh. After a few minutes all eight were accounted fore, but none were alive. The fire quickly died out with only a few small fires smoldering away in the middle. GB ran back and grabbed the truck, drove it in and loaded the remaining likker on. 19 cases, not much but free was free. "Well kid, let's get the hell outa here" The drove back out leaving everything else exactly as they found it then grabbed branches and wiped away their tire tracks. "We'll have to tell your boss what happened" GB said "let's get your tire changed and you can tell Forrest" The kid looked at GB "Mr Forrest you mean" GB looked back at him "what's his first name"? The kid cocked his head "John, why"
"No reason, I always thought Forrest was a first name not a last that's all". GB thought, oops, made the wrong call there, thought it was Forrest Bondurant we was talking about. "Who the heck was John Forrest" he wondered. "Where was all your likker going anyhow" GB asked casually, "up North"?
The kid just just shrugged his shoulders "dunno, I just had to take it to the drop off point across the State line". "We better go check that place out too, make sure everything is ok and all" GB said.
"Sure" the kid said "should be ok though, truck just took a load so there's probably nothing there".

After turning around in an opening in the bush, the kid and GB were convinced there was nothing there. GB followed the kid's plymouth looking in the woods the whole time expecting the worst. They drove into Pagosa springs and parked at Jimbo's cafe. "This where Mr Forrest is?" GB asked. "Yeah, but I don't ever talk to him, Eb or Josh always talked to him here. I saw him a couple times when they came out to the car to talk". "Let's go see if we can find him" GB said. They went into the cafe and Jimbo called over "howdy, what'll it be gentlemen?" The kid grinned and said" aw we ain't no gentlemen, Jimbo" and laughed. "We're just looking for Mr Forrester". Jimbo gave a quizical look "who?" "Mr Forrester" the kid replied, you know, he always wears that time piece with the gold chain. He's quite the business man according to hisself, has some businesses in Muckalee creek." Jimbo took this in then the light bulb went off "you mean Marcel Leadbetter? Wears the vest with the timepiece even if he's not wearing a jacket? The piece of shit who sticks his nose in the air when he talks to people he doesn't like? THAT Mr Forrester"?
"Um, uh," the kid stammered "yeah that sounds like him, he around"?
"You don't read the paper boy"? Jimbo asked "He burnt to a crisp in his own car"
"Mr Forre, uh, I mean, Mr Leadbetter is dead"? the kid said more to himself than anyone else. He looked at GB who just shrugged and gave him a "who knew?" kind of look. "What do I do now, I ain't got a job now, Eb is gone, Josh is gone..." GB grabbed him and rushed him outside. "Listen kid, you can't tell anybody you know they are dead or you'll get tied into it. Nobody knows what happen out there yet and if they was g-men the law gets mighty testy when you shoot their own. If it was the mafia from Chicago, well, they don't like their own getting shot up either. Either way, it would be bad for your health to breath a word about what you know. We'll load 18 cases into your car and you can sell it wherever you can to get you by until you get another job. I'm taking the other case, just because".

They drove up the road and turned into a woods road. A short distance later they stopped and transferred the cases. GB pulled a bottle and pulled the cork and took a sniff. "WHEW! lotsa heads in this" he took a little sip but quickly spit it out. "change of plans kid, you sell all 19, I don't want none of this shit, who made it?"
"Josh was learnin from Eb, he was gettin better too"
"Anyway" said GB "I gotta go, see ya kid". He jumped in his truck and backed up a bit then swung into the woods, turned and was gone.

After parking his truck and covering it up again he trekked up through the woods to Sara's. He stood still just inside the treeline to make sure all was quiet. As he stepped forward Flat barked "c'mon, been watchin ya for 5 minutes, get down here and help haul some wood in the cabin". Startled GB barked back, "I knew you were watching" he lied, adding under his breath "you old bastard".
" Got a story for ya" GB said as he met Sara and Flatwoods by the door.

[Truckinbutch]

You ketched the ball , Bubbie . Don't stumble when you are runnin with it .

[goinbroke2]

GB finished the story and Flat said that TB and Brock headed out to Blackwater Station. Now by road it was 2hr's to drive around and then up over the mountain, taking horses straight through the pass they could do it in 2hr's as well but it was 10 miles or so instead of about 60. They had left at most 15 minutes before and had to marry up with the pack string so if GB hurried...A quick explanation that the Bondurants weren't involved in any plot or whatever and he had to intercept TB before he accused Forrest and caused a real stink made GB take off running back down the mountain to his truck again. "DAMN SARA" he called over his shoulder, "PUT IN A REAL ROAD WILL YA"!

Huffing and puffing he jumped in the truck and floored it and let the branches fly where they may. Tearing down out of the woods he hit the road sideways in 2nd gear with his foot on the floor and the dualies throwing gravel. When he hit fourth he was clocking near 65mph and the telephone poles seemed like a picket fence. He snapped the wheel and dropped to third as he just clipped the apex and drifted through the turn. A couple turns later he was on the "4 mile road" heading for Coyote hill. The angle got steeper and he could leave it on the floor and still only hold 4100rpm. The flathead was singing but GB kept a watch on the temp guage as it started to rise a bit. He crested a knoll with enough speed to get airborn then saw a deer on the side of the road with two fawns, the deer froze until the truck hit the ground with a crash and then almost backflipped getting back into the woods. The temp was up to the H on hot but he could see he was almost to the top on the mountain. Two long sweeping turns to the right and the angle increased yet again, he dropped to third and the rpm went back above 4000. Sweat broke out on his forehead cause flatheads just don't like to rev like that and it was on O now. He could smell the heat and the windshield was starting to get misty from the steam coming out of the overflow. He reached up and pulled the lever back and forth to operate his wiper blade as he crested the top of the mountain. After only 300ft he nosed sharply back down the other side and looked at the guages. Oil, still 35psi, Amp, good, temp..past the T of "Hot"! Damn! He took his foot out of it and let momentum carry the truck down the hill and still twice the safe speed. Each corner threw gravel far into the woods as he barely kept control. It was another 6 miles before there was a long enough straightaway for him to look at the guages, it was back to A in "normal". As he entered the foothills and the road leveled out a bit he fed it more throttle keeping it wound tighter than a watch spring.
"BLACKWATER STATION 2 MILES"
After driving like a maniac for so long the speed seemed somewhat normal so when he blew into the station at 55mph on the same roads horses, mules and people were sauntering along, there was a fair bit of commotion. Dragging the wheels he slid to a stop in front of a wagon train heading out to the South. The horses were a little jumpy and they were all giving him the stink eye. Ignoring them he spun the wheel and drove into the ditch and up towards where the trail exited the woods. Letting the truck idle to cool down he jumped out and walked over to a couple of guys tending their horses.
"Seen a train come through here in the last little while?" he asked. The tall thin guy with a hawk like nose said "yup, right there" pointing to the train just leaving. "No, this one is hauling...actually, have you seen Forrest Bondurant around or any of the Bondurants?"
"Yup, he's in that group over there" pointing to a group of men standing around talking".
GB thanked him then went back to the truck as TB and Brock must not of showed up yet. He waited about 40 minutes before some horses and wagons came into view. He quickly drove through the field up to where the train was coming out of the woods and saw Brock. Tooting the horn he waved and drove over. "Where's TB?" he yelled out the window. Brock motioned that TB was farther back so GB got out and stood there waiting as the horses slowly shuffled by.

"TB" GB called "it wasn't Forrest". TB stopped his horse and GB filled him in on everything. Once done they went back down the hill, across the field to where all the Bondurant's were standing. GB shut off the truck and sat there waiting for them to talk. "well" GB thought to himself, one crisis averted, what's next in this crazy town"
He got out and took a bucket from the trough and filled it with water, refilling the rad. "better check the oil while I'm at it and check for any damage after sliding off that one corner and dragging her belly in the dirt". GB had the side panel of the hood up when he heard a voice from behind him."two carbs? what's an old wreck like this need two carbs for?"
"For blowing the doors off the piece of shit you're driving" GB responded. Turning around he saw one of the younger Bondurant boys grinning. GB laughed and accepted the bottle of whiskey from him. Bringing it to his nose he smelled heads. "well what do you know about that" he thought to himself, I think I remember this taste. "hmmm, not bad" GB lied. Something else to keep in the back of my head for now he thought. "Talk to TB, he can get you stuff 10 times better than this"

"TB" GB yelled, "I'm heading back, want me to pass anything on, get ya anything, whatever?"
"Naw, we're good, just make sure Flat remembers what I told him before I left"

With that GB idled back to the road and started a nice calm drive back to Sarah's.

[goinbroke2]

All right, somebody else help out here. All kinds of storyline to work with, dive in with both feet, shoot somebody, steal a horse, peep through the window at...uh, never mind..

Got a horse race to set up.
Chicago mafia seems to be sniffing around, they'll prolly show up looking for their guys/hootch etc.
A Bondurant had some of that shine Josh made, unbeknownst to anybody else, just outside Pagosa Springs.
Phil has his own stuff happening.

It's all going to come to a head either in Pagosa or Muckalee creek.

Now somebody else write dang it, I'll fill in time to time but I'm starting to hog the novella.

[corene1]

All right, somebody else help out here. All kinds of storyline to work with, dive in with both feet, shoot somebody, steal a horse, peep through the window at...uh, never mind..

Got a horse race to set up.
Chicago mafia seems to be sniffing around, they'll prolly show up looking for their guys/hootch etc.
A Bondurant had some of that shine Josh made, unbeknownst to anybody else, just outside Pagosa Springs.
Phil has his own stuff happening.

It's all going to come to a head either in Pagosa or Muckalee creek.

Now somebody else write dang it, I'll fill in time to time but I'm starting to hog the novella.

Gotta tell ya that Sarah Isn't going to get any good roads any time soon as she lives high up in a solitary meadow in the Skodie mountains that is only accessible by foot or animal. That's why everyone is hauling shine by pack mule. It is a full 2 day hike to her place from the nearest trail .

[goinbroke2]

Well no wonder GB was huffin and puffin running back and forth to his truck! He went as far as he could before the softwood closed in. Dang it, he's goin to get a chainsaw and make a trail, he saw a Indian motorcycle in Muckalee creek for sale and he does still have $1200 or so left in his pocket....

That would prolly piss Sarah off though, nothing like solitude.

Maybe get a helicopter just back from the korean war....land GB right smack in the middle of her field....see if Flat see's THAT comin!

An old biplane would have a short take off/ landing distance too...

I got lotsa idea's, just don't want to screw up the story too bad.....or as much...or still?...

[S-Cackalacky]

GB, I think it's already been established that this story breaks all the physical laws of time and space. Don't worry about it - we'll make you a super-human (GB, "the flash").

[corene1]

You guys are too funny! I can see GB in that Flash blurr like in the old comics!

[goinbroke2]

Gb got to the intersection and could either go right, back towards pagosa Springs and sara's, or left and go into Muckalee creek. He was tired, hungry and it had already been dark for 1/2 hour or more. He turned the wheel and headed for Muckalee Springs and the Saloon that had rooms above it. He parked the truck amongst several horses tied out front on the hitching post. Several locals were watching him from the veranda so as he got out he looked back at the truck, "STAY" he said in a stern voice. As he walked up the steps he muttered "don't need no stinking rope for my horse" and went inside.
It was 1885 all over again, the piano banging, scantily clad girls sashaying around and goons in the corners on stools with rifles laid across their arms. He stood there with the doors swinging behind him as he looked around. He walked to the bar and asked about the rooms. "Charge by the hour mister" came the reply. "Any hotels in town" he asked. "where you think you are mister, this is it, now you want a drink or you going to flap your gums all night" He choked down an obviously watered down whiskey and felt a hand on his shoulder. He straightened his right arm tripping the lock and letting the pistol slide into his palm as he turned to the left to see who it was. She was beautiful, in an ogre kind of way. One lazy eye, ears that stuck out like car doors left open and the few teeth she had left were either dark brown or outright black. She looked at GB sideways with a girlish giggle then in a deep husky voice asked "are you the one they call flash?" GB's eyes went wide and he shouted "lemme show you" as he flew up the staircase not looking back. In his room he bolted the door and slid the bureau up against it. After washing up, he pulled fresh or at least supposedly clean sheets from the closet and changed the bed. There was a knock at the door. "need some company in there honey?" GB wasn't sure if it was the ogre or some other troll so to be safe he responded "no thanks, I've got a goat, a spoon, two condoms and a bag of flour so I'll be fine" There was a pause and then a "umm, uh, ok mister, uh.." then he heard footsteps down the hall. He got into bed and seemed to have just closed his eyes when somebody hammered on the door and there was yelling in the hall. "open up you pervert, we don't condone them practices around here" The door rattled and realising it was locked, the owner started kicking the door. "Well, looks like I won't get any sleep here" GB said as he pulled on his clothes and crawled out the window. He walked across the roof of the veranda and crawled in the room beside his. He entered the hallway to see a crowd of a dozen or more people around his door all talking and pushing, out for blood. "he should be thrown in the stockade" one said "hang the pervert" another added. GB joined in "let's shoot the fucker in the head and eat the goat" he yelled. It got all quiet and the crowd turned around and looked at him. Sensing his humor is what got him into this mess and probably wouldn't help get him out he looked at the guy beside him and yelled "eat the goat, what is wrong with you?" At that the crowd turned on the guy and started pushing and poking him and GB slid through and down the stairs. Near the bottom he met the ogre coming up with a decidedly uglier sister in tow. Not wanting to be cornered he looked at the sister and said "tell her what you told me, go ahead, say it to her face" The ogre stopped mid step and turned to the sister who had the look of a deer caught in the headlights. "wwwhat?" she stammered. GB pushed on "tell her to her face she's a third class trollop who only gets pity sex" At that the ogre rifled a hard left into the sisters nose flattening it and flipping her over the banister onto the table beside the staircase. Poker chips and beer flew as the table crashed over on it's side depositing the sister in a bloody heap on the floor. GB ran down the stairs past the ogre. As he ran past the sister he yelled over his shoulder "don't take that off her, hit her back". There were four guys at the table when the ugly sister landed on it and all four turned and hit somebody. Suddenly the place was in chaos, bottles and chairs were flying as well as fists. GB ran to the swinging doors then casually walked walked through and commented to the guys just getting up off their chairs on the veranda "lively little place gentlemen, a bit much for me though being a preacher and all, good night". He drove into Pagosa Springs and found the hotel. "Perhaps a different tact this time" he thought to himself.

[Truckinbutch]

The staff tasked with editing this rough draft into a marketable novel are going to be the ones that drive themselves to drink (short drive and gas prices are coming down ). Cut loose your wolves , all of you . As another documentable thought ; my dad and a bunch of his buddies pooled their pennies and bought a Curtiss Jenny war surplus aeroplane in 1939 for $2 crated and shipped to the B&O railroad terminal in Fairmont ,WV . He was 12 yrs old as were most of his friends .
>An older neighbor , later to become Col . Elmus F. Parker ,USAAC flying the Hump in Burma , showed them how to assemble it . It never flew because the engine was faulty . Prolly why i still got a dad .
>Col Parker was a piece of work in his own right . Post War 2 he clandestinely air dropped a jeep , a deuce and a half and who knows what other contraband on his farm while flying "training missions ".

[corene1]

It was early morning and Sarah ,Corene and Flatwoods had already had their breakfast, Sarah was making some simple food for the three prisoners. Flatwoods had noticed Corene was on the quiet side this morning but figured she would talk if she needed to.. Sarah had given Tater a plate of food and was getting the other 2 plates for the guys in the smokehouse. As Sarah left the house Corene turned and watched her from the window then without any notice she started talking, not looking at Flatwoods just out the window. You know when GB came to live with us my mother gave him my bed and made me sleep on the floor, said he needed some tender loving care, he would do things and blame them on me and mom would believe him and punish me. I don't think she liked me much so I spent most of my time with my dad, maybe that is why I came out like I am. She then turned around and sat next to Flatwoods at the table. You know this all started out as fun and games now there are a bunch of fellas dead, at this rate it is only going to get worse. We have been lucky so far and none of us have died but it is going to happen sooner or later, we aren't invincible you know. I think we need to take these thugs to town and get everyone together and send them back to their boss, because you know he will just keep sending more of them. Let these guys tell him that I or some of us will show his croanies how to make a proper still and how to make some decent drinkable liquor for them to sell , but somewhere else far from Pagosa springs. I know he has the man power to do his own operation. As far as the Feds go . I don't think taking their deal on making whiskey for them is a good idea. I know everyone wanted to cash in on the deal but as soon as their operation is over they will know everything about us and come in and bust every last one of us to cover their own butts, You know that Jed is only out to do what is best for him and to hell with everyone else. If they need whiskey let them buy it from a distillery or set up their own operation , god knows they have the money and manpower for that. All of us here In Pagosa are just pawns to be sacrificed, I am sure of that now. The money blinded us for a bit but money is not what I am after here. I have never had much and have worked hard for what I have as everyone else here has and I am happy with that. Our wealth is in our hearts and our souls not our pockets, we should be sitting at the bench telling lies and drinking each others whisky that we made for us and our friends not for the Government and for money. If Pagosa Springs become the battleground between the Feds and the Mob our way of life is done forever. She stood up and grabbed her day pack and started putting in some biscuits and jerky. Flatwoods I just want you to think on this she said as she slung up her big gun . Where do you think your going girl? Going to go cut some trees down in the trail and stop any type of vehicles from driving up here , GB's got it looking like a race track and it is to easy to follow now. Sarah has a big one person saw in the shed and a couple sticks of dynamite too. Maybe make a rock slide to make it permanent. Going to that old still site them boys was using to, and going to burn it to the ground so there won't be any trace of it after winter is through with the ashes.You take care of her, she is a good person with a heart of gold. She turned and headed off the porch to the shed. Flatwoods couldn't help but chuckle when he heard her say . " I miss that damned old monkey" He watched as she went to the shed got the saw and the dynamite and then she just faded away into the thick mountain mist like a ghost. Flatwoods knew this is where she belonged.

[Truckinbutch]

We was just on the edge of Blackwater when that GB feller intercepted us all full of himself with his 'Fresh News" that Forrest Bondurant wasn't behind queering the upcoming race . The boy is a bit lacking in the idea of integrity .
>However , he did give us the hit list for the race that placed dollar values on all of us and Forrest and his folks that I brought to the table when we all sat down together .

[goinbroke2]

The window was open and a warm breeze blew in when GB awoke. Getting up, he stretched then looked out at the smoke in the distance. A train was coming and by the darkness of the smoke, was hauling quite a load. He brushed his teeth, dressed and ambled down the stairs to breakfast. He was mopping up the last of his eggs with a piece of toast when he heard the bell tinkle as the door opened. He recognised Larry as soon as he walked in. Behind him was Uncle Moe and a third guy he didn’t recognise. Flipping his paper up in front of his face he threw some change on the table then turning as he got up walked to the door leading to the bar. He wasn’t sure if they would recognise him or not but didn’t want to take a chance. The train was still unloading and he noticed a car of horses. He walked across the road to look at them when he saw the sign posted. “Horse Race Saturday”. He finished reading the whole poster noting it was Jimbo who was covering bets. GB patted his pocket where the $1100 or so was, eager to make some money.

He walked to the trading post/grocery store and picked up the phone. GB called Mama to fill her in. She was used to GB just up and gone for a couple or three days at a time so it wasn’t nothing new, but it had been a while. She was a strong independent woman who ran the homestead but had no trouble hiring two mechanic’s when GB was gone to Korea in 50-51. She also ran the still and kept the still hands in line better than GB cause she wouldn’t stop every once in a while to “test the product” (which usually ended up with him gone for a couple or three days) No, the only issue was GB took the truck which she needed to haul the grain and sugar and the shine. She got the grain delivered from the farmers Co-op and even the sugar was delivered from the store, but hauling the likker to the buyer was a problem and she was pissed. GB eventually got off the phone and went to back to his truck. He drove a bit different route each time but the woods were still getting tore up a bit and tire tracks and broken branches were starting to look obvious. He didn’t get very far this time when he saw trees laid over and ground tore up. “What the heck happened here?” he thought. Backing back out of the tree line he pulled in behind some brush and took a closer look. Somebody obviously made a heck of a mess and wasn’t too subtle about it. He walked a good distance back and forth along the foothill leading up the mountain and it was certainly impassable. Returning to the truck he headed back into Pagosa Springs.
Being naturally nosey, GB had taken up a spot on the top of the hotel and just watched. He saw a guy pull a glass jar from his coat pocket and take a swig then pass it to his buddy. He wasn’t the only one watching because within minutes there was a goon of Moe’s sidle up beside him and take a pull. Then they got to serious talk by the look of it. Once the one GB named turd left, GB crawled down from his spot and talked to the guy. “He like your likker?” GB asked. The old guy perked right up defensively “course, why wouldn’t he?” “Ask you to supply him?” GB questioned. The guy gave GB the eye, “Yah but I cain’t make DAT mush” he slurred. “How much did he want?” 20 gallons a week. “hmmm” thought GB, “that ain’t too much”. “What if I got you a set up to make that much?” GB asked “I’ll be a silent partner, I’ll buy everything and you make it and sell to him?”
“I’d need help, cain’t do all that meself” he countered”. His buddy piped up, “if there’s money in it, I kin help” “I magine you can” he laughed “I magine you can”.
“Tell you what” GB said, “you talk to that guy and tell him you can supply, then go to the trading post and get what you want, I’ll set up a tab for ya”
“Ah how pray tell am I gonna get everthang back to Otter Falls?”
“Otter Falls?” GB asked “you’re from Otter Falls?”
“Well course I am” he answered, “only here for the horse race this coming weekend”
“Fine” GB said, “same deal, I’ll load my truck and haul it to Otter Falls for you.”
“…little eager ain’t ya mister” he said “I make money by seeing opportunities and actin on them” GB responded holding out his hand “Deal or no?”
The thought for a split second then threw his hand out “hell yeah, we just got to work out the money side now” then thinking to himself “if nothing else I’ll get a new set up out of the deal”
“What’s your name mister, I’m going to the trading post to lay some cash down”.
GB went to the trading post and put $200 on tab for a “Clay Morrison”.
Things were slowly coming together.

GB handed the money to the stable boy, “It’s all fed and good to go is it?”
“Yes SHE is” the boy responded. GB ignored the sarcasm and led the horse out of the stable and hopped on. This time it took him almost a full hour to reach the spot where the ground was tore up on the hill. “I’m renaming you gluebag” GB said to the horse, “hope you can climb” While the horse was no runner, it was strong and sturdy and must have been part mountain goat the way it traversed some of the man-made rock slides they came across. After stopping at every stream and piece of grass and every loud noise, they finally crested the mountain near Sara’s cabin. “Hallloooo the cabin” GB yelled.
He stepped out of the treeline and ambled over to the barn.
Corene and Sara walked over and GB told them of the destruction he’d found, “had to get a horse” he said. He was relieved to find out it was Corene who did the remodelling.
“Horse race on Saturday” he said, “Jimbo’s covering bets and there’s a trainload of people and horses just showed up in Pagosa”. Uncle Moe and Larry are here along with some goons. He told them of the plan to get this guy from Otter Falls supplying Chicago.