- Renee
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That afternoon, Joe met with all the key players to enlighten and discuss the mission plan and objectives. The men who didn’t know the mission were totally amazed at it when they did find out.
The Communication Officer asked who came up with it and the room fell silent when Joe had said Jack.
“You know for a surface sailor and a Captain to boot he was an all right guy” Josh said stated
“He was, I have to admit I learned a lot for him in the short time we was with us, just proves the Lord will give us what we need to do his work.” Joe replied
Laughing, one of the other officers said the only thing he learned from Jack was the smell of a good cigar. They all laughed each seeing the somewhat overweight officer standing on the wind asking everyone who passed him if they had a light.
The room got quite again when Josh asked if anyone knew if he got saved.
“I know Ben had been working on him hard, I guess I should have said more but I felt funny talking to a Captain about his personal life.”
“Me too” he rest of the men stated looking down at the floor.
They all knew it was their new job as Christians to talk to everyone including top ranking officers. They had failed
“OK let’s finish up here so our guest onboard can get some rest.
The Communication Officer asked who came up with it and the room fell silent when Joe had said Jack.
“You know for a surface sailor and a Captain to boot he was an all right guy” Josh said stated
“He was, I have to admit I learned a lot for him in the short time we was with us, just proves the Lord will give us what we need to do his work.” Joe replied
Laughing, one of the other officers said the only thing he learned from Jack was the smell of a good cigar. They all laughed each seeing the somewhat overweight officer standing on the wind asking everyone who passed him if they had a light.
The room got quite again when Josh asked if anyone knew if he got saved.
“I know Ben had been working on him hard, I guess I should have said more but I felt funny talking to a Captain about his personal life.”
“Me too” he rest of the men stated looking down at the floor.
They all knew it was their new job as Christians to talk to everyone including top ranking officers. They had failed
“OK let’s finish up here so our guest onboard can get some rest.
- Alex
__________________________________________________________________
Bob and Leon had totally enjoyed their stay in New York, being from Wyoming, the two men found a different place to hang out and party like there was no tomorrow. But all good thing must come to an end as our vacationers soon found out.
Walking back to their hotel one day, they noticed their bags setting at the front desk. When asked why, they were told they were 2 weeks back on the rent.
Two weeks, each man looked at the other and just figured the other one was playing it. Reaching into their pockets they had enough to cover the two weeks but that left them short on money to get home. And food, the best times of their lives had the door slammed shut real quickly.
The desk clerk looked at the two men and told them that because they had been good guys and caused no trouble, he knew where they could work for a few weeks to get caught up and enough money to get home.
“Work” man that takes away from our vacation but if they wanted to get home and some food they had to do something. The clerk told them to go see a man named Lou down by the 98th street piers tomorrow morning, and don’t eat heavy.
The next morning Bob and Leon made their way down to the piers. As they got closer they started smelling something that made their nosed gage and soon made their stomachs start to turn over. Oh the smell was worse then cleaning out a barn or helping a cow have her calf they thought. Turning the corner and heading down 98th street, they found the cause of the smell and realized that this was where they were headed to.
Lou’s Fish Disassemble Warehouse was the name on the large building. Large trucks sat at the rollup doors waiting to be loaded or unloaded. Men were pushing big carts of fish around while some had fire hoses spraying the docks down of the blood, guts and flies.
Holding the choke down they entered the main door and asked to see Lou.
After talking to the owner, each man was given aprons, hardhats and goggles then told to go to table 10 where they would be shown what to do.
Just barely over the noise, Bob yelled at Leon that they would have to find better employment and soon.
At 5 O’clock, the bell rung and quickly they left the warehouse but not the smell; even after two long hot showers the smell filled their hotel room.
Lying on the bed, Leon had a thought, “Hey Bob you’re a pretty good fisherman, and I can bait and tie hooks pretty good, why don’t we find a boat, catch our own fishes and sell them to Lou, we could fish all morning, sell what we catch and still have time to visit the city before heading back home”
Bob thought for a few minutes, “You know that’s not a bad idea, I bet with a lot of people missing there has to be a boat down on the piers just looking for a new owner. Tell you what one more day down at Lou’s on the cutting table and I would die.”
“Me too, hey maybe we could find one big enough so we could sleep on it, save some money for the trip back home”
“Leon you’re the best friend a guy could ever want, your got brains that I never got” Bob said with a smile as he closed his eyes thinking about catching some big ocean fish. Maybe a tuna or one of them swordfishes he read about in the outdoor life magazines.
Tomorrow, Bob just knew would be the start of B&L Fishing Company.
Walking back to their hotel one day, they noticed their bags setting at the front desk. When asked why, they were told they were 2 weeks back on the rent.
Two weeks, each man looked at the other and just figured the other one was playing it. Reaching into their pockets they had enough to cover the two weeks but that left them short on money to get home. And food, the best times of their lives had the door slammed shut real quickly.
The desk clerk looked at the two men and told them that because they had been good guys and caused no trouble, he knew where they could work for a few weeks to get caught up and enough money to get home.
“Work” man that takes away from our vacation but if they wanted to get home and some food they had to do something. The clerk told them to go see a man named Lou down by the 98th street piers tomorrow morning, and don’t eat heavy.
The next morning Bob and Leon made their way down to the piers. As they got closer they started smelling something that made their nosed gage and soon made their stomachs start to turn over. Oh the smell was worse then cleaning out a barn or helping a cow have her calf they thought. Turning the corner and heading down 98th street, they found the cause of the smell and realized that this was where they were headed to.
Lou’s Fish Disassemble Warehouse was the name on the large building. Large trucks sat at the rollup doors waiting to be loaded or unloaded. Men were pushing big carts of fish around while some had fire hoses spraying the docks down of the blood, guts and flies.
Holding the choke down they entered the main door and asked to see Lou.
After talking to the owner, each man was given aprons, hardhats and goggles then told to go to table 10 where they would be shown what to do.
Just barely over the noise, Bob yelled at Leon that they would have to find better employment and soon.
At 5 O’clock, the bell rung and quickly they left the warehouse but not the smell; even after two long hot showers the smell filled their hotel room.
Lying on the bed, Leon had a thought, “Hey Bob you’re a pretty good fisherman, and I can bait and tie hooks pretty good, why don’t we find a boat, catch our own fishes and sell them to Lou, we could fish all morning, sell what we catch and still have time to visit the city before heading back home”
Bob thought for a few minutes, “You know that’s not a bad idea, I bet with a lot of people missing there has to be a boat down on the piers just looking for a new owner. Tell you what one more day down at Lou’s on the cutting table and I would die.”
“Me too, hey maybe we could find one big enough so we could sleep on it, save some money for the trip back home”
“Leon you’re the best friend a guy could ever want, your got brains that I never got” Bob said with a smile as he closed his eyes thinking about catching some big ocean fish. Maybe a tuna or one of them swordfishes he read about in the outdoor life magazines.
Tomorrow, Bob just knew would be the start of B&L Fishing Company.
- Alex
_________________________________________________________________
The two men road in silence each lost in their thoughts. What would they find when they got to town? They stopped by Miss Maude’s house to see if her cat had returned, but found no sign of her beloved companion. Bud sighed, “I really don’t care for cats, but I would have loved to have found her cat. Right now my heart hurts and if it would bring a smile to her face it would be worth finding the thing.”
Kerri didn’t reply and wondered about the property looking for anything out of place or was he looking for Steven? He found nothing out of place and walked to the out building to see if perhaps the cat had hidden inside. The lock hung open on the door and he cautiously opened the door and peered inside. He thought to himself, “What did I expect to find? Maybe a boogey man waiting inside to pounce. I’m becoming paranoid.” He looked around the small room and found boxes that appeared to have clothes from her husband and son packed neatly inside. He picked up one of the boxes and looked inside and found a wedding album and baby books. Miss Maude had been unable to bear the loss of her husband and son so she had moved all memory of them out into this little room. Had she ever come out here and just opened these albums to look at the pictures of her beloved family? He gently laid the albums back into the box and made one last look about the room then locked the door so the room would remain undisturbed.
Bud called out to Kerri, “I don’t find any cat hanging around so are you ready to go?”
Kerri answered, “Yes, I’m ready to go. I guess I was dreading what we are going to find in town and was just stalling a bit.”
The men continued on into town. Bud turned the car down the main street and found Steven’s truck parked in front of the hardware store. He parked beside the truck and reached into the back seat and retrieved his shotgun. Both men slowly emerged from the van and Bud asked, “Kerri, I have another shotgun do you want it?”
“Bud, I am not experienced with a gun and would probably shoot my foot off so I think I will leave the gun toting to you,” he quietly answered.
They cautiously entered the hardware store and could see there were things out of place and a box sat in front of the glass case with several things inside. Bud bent down to examine the box, “Kerri, it looks as though someone was gathering material to make either a bomb or just do some harm. Steven must have found this box and gone in search of the person who was taking things out of the store. I wonder if that person is still lurking about?”
“Bud, look over here….looks like whoever was here left in a hurry. These boxes are overturned and a knife was dropped. Steven must have interrupted whatever was going on and chased the person.”
“We only have to follow the trail and we will find Steven,” Bud said.
The men left the store and proceeded down the street. As they came upon the alley Bud raised the shotgun and cautiously looked around the corner into the alley. He let out a gasped and grabbed his chest. Steven lay on his back with his hand resting on his heart. Kerri and Bud leaned over the lifeless body and could see the bullet hole in his chest. They both had tears in their eyes as they gathered Steven’s body into their arms and gently carried him to the van. His body was placed in the back seat of the van and Bud covered him with a blanket. Choking back tears Bud managed to say, “Kerri, I can’t leave until I see if this creep is still hanging around town.”
“I’m with you. Where’s that gun? You can show me how to use it, but if I come upon the person who did this to Steven, he’s a dead man.”
“No, we aren’t out for revenge, but if he draws down on us, we will take him out,” Bud said through gritted teeth.
Each man took one side of the street and began checking every business, but found no one. Kerri’s phone began ringing, “Hello,” he answered.
Shannon was on the other end of the line, “Kerri, Sam should be landing in about fifteen minutes. He asked that you pick him up. He didn’t sound like himself. I got a message from Amy that I will share when you all get back. Did you find Steven?”
“Yes. We are bringing his body back. Looks as though the person who did this terrible deed has left, but we are going to thoroughly check every corner of this town just in case he’s still lingering,” said Kerri with a determined tone in his voice.
Shannon answered, “Be very careful. I love you and will see you soon.”
They said good-bye and Kerri focused on his task. He watched Bud disappear into the mortuary and knew he was going to get a casket to bury their good friend. Bud emerged asking Kerri to help him with the coffin he had chosen. They loaded the box into the rear of the van and lowered Steven’s body inside and closed the lid.
“I’m satisfied that whoever did this is long gone. We’d better get to the airstrip. Sam should be landing any time.” Bud told him.
Bud backed out of the parking spot and brought the van to a sudden halt. “Kerri, we can’t leave his truck here. Will you drive it back?”
Kerri shook his head yes, “Bud, I would rather we stop back later and get it. I want to be with you at the airstrip when we tell Sam about Steven.”
“Ok. I agree we should be together when he is told.”
Bud put the van in gear and they headed to the airstrip. He pulled into the parking area near the hanger and the men sat in silence waiting for Sam to arrive. Kerri turned on the radio and kept turning the dial until he finally found a news station. The announcer sounded extremely excited…..”We have breaking news. The Teodor has triumphantly destroyed a renegade fleet of subs and ships hiding in the south seas……captain and crew are currently on their way to New Babylon to receive a medal of honor from our leader, Teodor Argyos.”
“Whoa, if Sam has heard this news and then with what we have to tell him, too he will probably be devastated. Isn’t that where he was to make his last drop…..to that fleet?" Bud asked.
Kerri could only nod his head yes. Too much to take in all at once. This is what to expect from now on, especially with the Anti-Christ starting to increase his determination to destroy all Christians.
- P4H
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In 24 hours over 2000 jewish men and women had arrived at the wailing wall to ask the two witnesses how to be saved. They now believed the God of Abraham had a son named Jesus. The witnesses rejoiced with each new convert. Theodor was aware of what was happening and had called for a media blackout. But the local cameras continued to roll for historys sake.
They watched and filmed as the witnesses had lifted their hands toward heaven giving praise to God for all that He had done for the people of Isreal and for the removal of the veil that had held them in bondage until now. They asked the Lord to let the waters flow clear again and no sooner had they spoke than the fountains ran crystal clear.
In the days ahead the 2000 new converts would be tested and only God knew if they would hold on till the end.
They watched and filmed as the witnesses had lifted their hands toward heaven giving praise to God for all that He had done for the people of Isreal and for the removal of the veil that had held them in bondage until now. They asked the Lord to let the waters flow clear again and no sooner had they spoke than the fountains ran crystal clear.
In the days ahead the 2000 new converts would be tested and only God knew if they would hold on till the end.
- Renee
_________________________________________________________________
On the Ranch the Little House
Leon lay on his bed, his hands cuffed to the ever present leather belt. Everyone was in an uproar because a fleet of ships had been destroyed. Leon didn’t understand what was going on and in all actuality didn’t really care.
His heartache over the loss of Belle was foremost in his mind. He hoped that what Shade had told him was true, that Belle was now in heaven with Jesus and happier than she had ever been.
Tears filled his eyes with the thought that he was now alone in the world. There was no one left who loved him. Belle had loved him he knew, although he didn’t understand how she could have.
He shifted on the bed and tried to focus on something else, but the weight of his loneliness pressed on him. If he could have seen the creature that sat in the room with him, the creature that constantly whispered to him, he might have understood why his loneliness went so deep. As it was he could neither see, nor hear the creature, at least consciously. But Loneliness was with him, his constant whispers dragging Leon into a pit of depression.
“How’s he doing?” He heard someone, Skunk he thought, ask.
“He cry’s a lot, and when he’s not crying he stares off into space.” was the answer he heard.
He also heard something else, a snuffling sound. It was coming from outside the window and he thought about sitting up to have a look but couldn’t garner the energy to do so.
He rolled over and watched Skunk and Mo as they looked on the internet looking for more news on the fleet. After several minutes they two men gave up and after asking him if he was hungry headed for the kitchen.
Leon closed his eyes, and tried to dislodge the image of Belle pleading with him, the look of love in her eyes. He heard something softly bump into the side of the house and sat up. Looking out the window, he took a swift intake of breath.
The smell of rancid meat hit his nostrils turning his stomach as he stared into the eyes of the bear, as it bumped its open mouth against the screen.
Leon lay on his bed, his hands cuffed to the ever present leather belt. Everyone was in an uproar because a fleet of ships had been destroyed. Leon didn’t understand what was going on and in all actuality didn’t really care.
His heartache over the loss of Belle was foremost in his mind. He hoped that what Shade had told him was true, that Belle was now in heaven with Jesus and happier than she had ever been.
Tears filled his eyes with the thought that he was now alone in the world. There was no one left who loved him. Belle had loved him he knew, although he didn’t understand how she could have.
He shifted on the bed and tried to focus on something else, but the weight of his loneliness pressed on him. If he could have seen the creature that sat in the room with him, the creature that constantly whispered to him, he might have understood why his loneliness went so deep. As it was he could neither see, nor hear the creature, at least consciously. But Loneliness was with him, his constant whispers dragging Leon into a pit of depression.
“How’s he doing?” He heard someone, Skunk he thought, ask.
“He cry’s a lot, and when he’s not crying he stares off into space.” was the answer he heard.
He also heard something else, a snuffling sound. It was coming from outside the window and he thought about sitting up to have a look but couldn’t garner the energy to do so.
He rolled over and watched Skunk and Mo as they looked on the internet looking for more news on the fleet. After several minutes they two men gave up and after asking him if he was hungry headed for the kitchen.
Leon closed his eyes, and tried to dislodge the image of Belle pleading with him, the look of love in her eyes. He heard something softly bump into the side of the house and sat up. Looking out the window, he took a swift intake of breath.
The smell of rancid meat hit his nostrils turning his stomach as he stared into the eyes of the bear, as it bumped its open mouth against the screen.
- Zags
________________________________________________________________
On the Ranch the Main House
Ryan was sitting on the couch his arm around Becca, while Zoe and Kristen sat on the floor on the other side of the coffee table. Grumpy lay between the two girls his head on his paws.
With a sudden bark Grumpy was on his feet his ruff standing on end as deep growls erupted from his chest.
Maddie had entered the room with a tray of iced tea when she saw the dogs sudden aggression. He seemed to be staring at Ryan and Maddie gave a sharp warning to the dog.
“Grumpy!!”
The dog ignored the warning and continued to growl, his teeth bared.
Renee and Raul who had been playing chess sat motionless, their eyes wide as the dogs growls rumbled through the room, while Trevor, Matt and Shade all reacted by slowly approaching the dog.
A sharp bark was all the warning Grumpy gave before he bound forward.
The window behind Ryan shattered as the big cat crashed through, its hind legs catching Ryan in the back of the head knocking him forward off the couch, and knocking Becca to the side.
The force of the two animals meeting stopped the cat in mid pounce and it landed on the coffee table sending it sliding on the hardwood floor into Kristen and Zoe. Both girls were knocked onto their backs, as Grumpy’s growls and the cats screams pierced the silence of the room.
The cat leaped from the coffee table toward Renee and Raul. Raul threw the chess piece in his hand at the big cat, hitting on top of the head. The cat swiped out a paw and caught Raul in the chest sending him tumbling backwards still in the chair.
Grumpy’s jaws clamped around the cats tail sending the cat into an even greater rage. It’s body twisted impossibly as it reached to swipe at the dog. Grumpy let go and jumped back, the extended claws missing their mark.
With a half scream half growl the cat lunged toward Maddie as she spun to find a weapon. It reached out with a paw and caught Maddie in the thigh, leaving four bloody gouges as it’s claws caught her skin. Maddie went down, her hand going to her thigh as a scream of pain left her throat.
Grumpy dove at the cat as it leapt toward Maddie’s back sending the cat sideways so it missed its mark.
Dog and cat slid across the slick floor until they hit the wall. Grumpy clamped his jaws around the muscle in the cats shoulder and the cat let out a scream of pain. Grumpy shook his head to inflict as much damage as he could, but with quick reflexes the cat flinched back and to the side causing Grumpy to lose his grip.
The cat scrambled to its feet, it’s claws digging groves in the wood floor as it took off running across the room, heading for Nathan who had just reached the bottom of the stairs.
Both Zoe and Kristen felt those claws dig into their soft skin as the cat tore across both their prone bodies.
Trevor trying to step out of the mountain lions way, twisted his knee as the cats body slammed into him. Trevor went down, his hands automatically reaching for his injured knee as the cat skittered to the side just a bit, but quickly regaining it’s traction.
With a bunching of muscles the cat contorted its body to execute a 180 turn as it avoided a charging Grumpy. The dog went flying past his target and crashed into the chess table where Renee hunkered on the floor her arms covering her head.
The cat seeing Zoe had rolled over on top of Kristen to protect her from any further attack, pounced on Zoe’s back his claws digging in as it went for the back of her neck with his powerful jaws.
Zoe reacted instinctively and threw her head back into the cats jaw. Zoe heard a satisfying crunch, and then a scream of pain from the lion. Retracting it’s claws the cat spun, again avoiding an attack from Grumpy and leaped across the room in one powerful motion, colliding with Nathan.
Nathan went down under the cat’s weight and momentum, his hands wrapped around the upper part of the cats front legs. He hit the floor squarely in his back, knocking the breath out of him and his grip on the cats legs faltered.
Sensing it’s prey’s weakness the cat let out a scream and went for his throat.
Shade caught the mountain lions head in his hands and with a sharp twisting jerk, broke the cats neck.
Grumpy who had been in pursuit slid to a stop, his ruff on end and growls still in his chest.
Shade tossed the cat to the side and looked down at Nathan. “You ok?”
Nathan nodded dumbly as he tried to catch his breath.
Shade turned and looked around the trashed living room. “Is everyone ok?”
Matt came barreling into the room with two rifles in his hands. Seeing the body of the cat lying on the floor he commented riley, “I guess we don’t need these.”
Grumpy let out another growl and bound toward the broken window and disappeared.
Shade looked at his son, and saw his eyes widen. “The bear.” They both said. Running for the front door both Shade and Matt disappeared outside, chasing the dog, leaving shocked silence in their wake.
- Zags
_________________________________________________________________
Sam banked the plane sharply to the north as he prepared for landing. His emotions were still close to the edge of breaking and he tried clearing his head for the task of setting down the plane in one piece. He lowered the landing gear and checked all the instruments looking at the land below he figured he had ten minutes to get it all together before he had to put the bird down. "Lord, please guide me for I can't do this alone. Please help me remember those brave souls are now resting in Your presence and no longer have to worry about hiding from the evil that is in this world. Give me the strength to keep my faith in You strong and forgive me when I fail. Amen." He started the descent as he checked his bearings carefully. He could see the van parked next to the hanger and felt relief that he would soon be among friends. Pushing the lever forward he prepared to make touchdown. It wasn't the best landing he had ever made and the plane wobbled a bit as the wheels hit the ground. "Steady, Sam.......keep it steady. Focus on the landing," he told himself. He put on the brakes and the plane slowed as he taxied to the hanger. He put his head in his hands and wept. He must get it together and do his maintenance check before he meets his good friends. Slowly he pulled out his sheet and through tears began checking off his list. He looked down to see Kerri and Bud approaching the plane and he wiped his face and prepared to disembark. Leaving the cockpit and moving toward the door opening it slowly he found both men standing beneath him waiting to greet him.
Bud was the first to speak, "Welcome home, Sam."
"You are a sight for sore eyes. We are so glad you are back with us," Kerri chimed in.
Sam managed a weak smile, "It's good to back with you, too."
Kerri and Bud helped Sam secure the plane and cover it before walking to the van. Bud was trying to think of a gentle way to tell him about Steven and loudly cleared his throat, "Sam, we know about the fleet. You must be devastated by the news. I'm so sorry. We have even more disturbing news to tell you and rather than beat around the bush.....I don't know any other way to say this.......Sam, Steven has been killed."
The look on Sam's face told them everything. He fell back against the plane as though he had been shot himself. His voice was hoarse, "Lord, the world has gone mad. Save us."
Bud grabbed Sam and held him as he wept bitterly. "Sam, we couldn't find who shot him. We have his body in the van and are returning him home with us. I know this has been a shock and considering what you've already gone through hearing the news about the fleet, we understand your pain. Sam, he has gone home to be with the Lord and for that we can rejoice. Maybe you are thinking this isn't like Bud, but he's better off than any of us because the real danger for us is just beginning. The Anti-Christ is stepping up his efforts to destroy all Christians."
"We must trust God to guide us through these perilous times. We all know the risks for anyone professing Jesus as their savior and that we will be hunted down for those beliefs. It would be much better to die for our beliefs than the alternative. We know who wins the battle and it won't be Satan and his minions. Steven is in a better place and for me, I am glad he is now watching over us," Kerri said through tears.
The three men slowly walked to the van. Sam walked to the rear, opened the cargo door and seeing the coffin, lifted the lid to look at his good friend. He clutched his chest and heaved a big sigh then gently closed the lid placing his head on the top sobbing as if his body was torn into a million pieces. Kerri and Bud stood back allowing Sam to let out his grief.
Bud was the first to speak, "Welcome home, Sam."
"You are a sight for sore eyes. We are so glad you are back with us," Kerri chimed in.
Sam managed a weak smile, "It's good to back with you, too."
Kerri and Bud helped Sam secure the plane and cover it before walking to the van. Bud was trying to think of a gentle way to tell him about Steven and loudly cleared his throat, "Sam, we know about the fleet. You must be devastated by the news. I'm so sorry. We have even more disturbing news to tell you and rather than beat around the bush.....I don't know any other way to say this.......Sam, Steven has been killed."
The look on Sam's face told them everything. He fell back against the plane as though he had been shot himself. His voice was hoarse, "Lord, the world has gone mad. Save us."
Bud grabbed Sam and held him as he wept bitterly. "Sam, we couldn't find who shot him. We have his body in the van and are returning him home with us. I know this has been a shock and considering what you've already gone through hearing the news about the fleet, we understand your pain. Sam, he has gone home to be with the Lord and for that we can rejoice. Maybe you are thinking this isn't like Bud, but he's better off than any of us because the real danger for us is just beginning. The Anti-Christ is stepping up his efforts to destroy all Christians."
"We must trust God to guide us through these perilous times. We all know the risks for anyone professing Jesus as their savior and that we will be hunted down for those beliefs. It would be much better to die for our beliefs than the alternative. We know who wins the battle and it won't be Satan and his minions. Steven is in a better place and for me, I am glad he is now watching over us," Kerri said through tears.
The three men slowly walked to the van. Sam walked to the rear, opened the cargo door and seeing the coffin, lifted the lid to look at his good friend. He clutched his chest and heaved a big sigh then gently closed the lid placing his head on the top sobbing as if his body was torn into a million pieces. Kerri and Bud stood back allowing Sam to let out his grief.
- P4H
__________________________________________________________________
On the Ranch the Little House
The bear pressed its mouth to screen again and Leon leaned his face closer to the screen. His nose almost touched the screen when he heard someone whisper his name fiercely.
“Leon!”
The urgency in the whisper caused Leon to turn his head. He saw Mo and Skunk both standing frozen just inside the small living room. There was horror on both men’s faces.
“What?” Leon asked.
“Get away from the window!” Mo whispered, his eyes wide.
“Why?”
Skunk opened his mouth to speak, but no words would come out. He just raised his arm and pointed.
Leon turned his head and looked at the bear again. It was puffing breaths in the window, Its breath smelling of rotting meat. It opened it’s mouth and Leon could see particles of fur and meat stuck between the bears teeth. “Your breath stinks.” Leon said to the bear.
“Leon!!!” both Mo and Skunk whispered desperately.
Leon leaned back and turned his head to look at Mo and Skunk again. “What?”
“Get away from the window. Just lay down and roll off the edge of the bed and crawl over here.” Mo whispered loudly.
Leon stared at Mo and looked at Skunk. He saw the mangled sandwich in his hand.
“You smashed your sandwich Skunk.” Leon stated.
Skunk looked down at the sandwich and dropped it to the floor and waved Leon over to him. “Just do as Mo said.”
Leon just looked at Skunk, and then feeling the bears breath turned and looked at it again. He could see the bear pressing its mouth harder against the screen. The screen began to tear and Leon suddenly felt hands on his arms. The yanked him backward hard and he could hear the faint barking of a dog. He saw the bears nose as it came through the screen, then window was slammed down on the bears nose and Leon heard it roar in pain. He could see it shaking it’s head outside the window as he was dragged across the room. He heard the sound of breaking glass and looked to see the bear had smashed it head through the window. It scanned the room and locked eyes with Leon. It was in that moment that Leon realized that the bear was real and not a figment of his imagination.
Leon sucked in a breath and scrambled to his feet. “It’s real!!” He shouted.
Skunk and Mo pulled him into the kitchen as Leon shouted over and over, “It’s real!!”
“Yes, it’s real. Now shut up!” Mo shouted giving him a hard shake.
They could see the bear squeezing it’s way in the window and Leon began to shake. “It’s real. It’s real.”
“We know!!” Someone said.
Leon felt his hands drop down to his sides and realized that someone had released his hands from the cuffs.
Suddenly a dog was barking and the sound of growling filled the small house.
The bear jerked it head around to the side and began backing out of the window, it’s angry roar drowning out the furious barking.
Headlights shown in the window and as the bears head disappeared they heard someone shout. “Down Grumpy!!!”
They heard a dog’s yelp and then a gunshot, followed by a loud thump against the side of the house.
The bear let out roar of rage and then more gunshots followed.
“Get it Dad!!!” they heard Matt shout.
“I can’t see, it’s running into the sunset.” Shade shouted back.
They heard the sound of more gunfire and then all went silent.
Shade and Matt burst through the door to see Mo a butcher knife in one hand and a 9mm in the other.
Skunk had a boning knife in one hand and a bread knife in the other.
And Leon was leaning against the counter a paring knife hanging limply in one of his hands. He looked at Matt and said, “It was real.” before he fell over in a faint.
The bear pressed its mouth to screen again and Leon leaned his face closer to the screen. His nose almost touched the screen when he heard someone whisper his name fiercely.
“Leon!”
The urgency in the whisper caused Leon to turn his head. He saw Mo and Skunk both standing frozen just inside the small living room. There was horror on both men’s faces.
“What?” Leon asked.
“Get away from the window!” Mo whispered, his eyes wide.
“Why?”
Skunk opened his mouth to speak, but no words would come out. He just raised his arm and pointed.
Leon turned his head and looked at the bear again. It was puffing breaths in the window, Its breath smelling of rotting meat. It opened it’s mouth and Leon could see particles of fur and meat stuck between the bears teeth. “Your breath stinks.” Leon said to the bear.
“Leon!!!” both Mo and Skunk whispered desperately.
Leon leaned back and turned his head to look at Mo and Skunk again. “What?”
“Get away from the window. Just lay down and roll off the edge of the bed and crawl over here.” Mo whispered loudly.
Leon stared at Mo and looked at Skunk. He saw the mangled sandwich in his hand.
“You smashed your sandwich Skunk.” Leon stated.
Skunk looked down at the sandwich and dropped it to the floor and waved Leon over to him. “Just do as Mo said.”
Leon just looked at Skunk, and then feeling the bears breath turned and looked at it again. He could see the bear pressing its mouth harder against the screen. The screen began to tear and Leon suddenly felt hands on his arms. The yanked him backward hard and he could hear the faint barking of a dog. He saw the bears nose as it came through the screen, then window was slammed down on the bears nose and Leon heard it roar in pain. He could see it shaking it’s head outside the window as he was dragged across the room. He heard the sound of breaking glass and looked to see the bear had smashed it head through the window. It scanned the room and locked eyes with Leon. It was in that moment that Leon realized that the bear was real and not a figment of his imagination.
Leon sucked in a breath and scrambled to his feet. “It’s real!!” He shouted.
Skunk and Mo pulled him into the kitchen as Leon shouted over and over, “It’s real!!”
“Yes, it’s real. Now shut up!” Mo shouted giving him a hard shake.
They could see the bear squeezing it’s way in the window and Leon began to shake. “It’s real. It’s real.”
“We know!!” Someone said.
Leon felt his hands drop down to his sides and realized that someone had released his hands from the cuffs.
Suddenly a dog was barking and the sound of growling filled the small house.
The bear jerked it head around to the side and began backing out of the window, it’s angry roar drowning out the furious barking.
Headlights shown in the window and as the bears head disappeared they heard someone shout. “Down Grumpy!!!”
They heard a dog’s yelp and then a gunshot, followed by a loud thump against the side of the house.
The bear let out roar of rage and then more gunshots followed.
“Get it Dad!!!” they heard Matt shout.
“I can’t see, it’s running into the sunset.” Shade shouted back.
They heard the sound of more gunfire and then all went silent.
Shade and Matt burst through the door to see Mo a butcher knife in one hand and a 9mm in the other.
Skunk had a boning knife in one hand and a bread knife in the other.
And Leon was leaning against the counter a paring knife hanging limply in one of his hands. He looked at Matt and said, “It was real.” before he fell over in a faint.
- Zags
________________________________________________________________
On the Ranch the Little House
“How did you know?” Skunk asked Shade as Leon hit the floor.
Matt had rushed forward to try and catch Leon but missed. “The mountain lion was at the main house and then Grumpy took off out the window and me and dad figured he was after the bear.”
Mo’s knees gave out and he slid down the counter and sat on the floor. “Oh.” Was all he could say.
Skunk just looked at Matt confused. “The mountain lion was at the main house, and you left it there?”
“It’s dead.” Shade said shortly. “Get Leon. Everybody’s going to the main house. That bear got away.”
“It did?” Mo said.
“Yeah. Hurry up. Several people got hurt at the main house, including Maddie. I wanna get back to the big house. Now!” Shade ordered.
He leaned down and picked up Leon and turned toward the door.
“Just let us get our stuff...” Skunk started, but Shade cut him off.
“Leave it. You can get it tomorrow.”
Matt helped Mo stand up and the three men headed out the door.
“Grumpy!!!” Shade shouted.
The dog came limping and after depositing Leon into the bed of the pickup Shade gently lifted the dog in.
After everyone was in he gunned the engine and roared back to the main house.
“How did you know?” Skunk asked Shade as Leon hit the floor.
Matt had rushed forward to try and catch Leon but missed. “The mountain lion was at the main house and then Grumpy took off out the window and me and dad figured he was after the bear.”
Mo’s knees gave out and he slid down the counter and sat on the floor. “Oh.” Was all he could say.
Skunk just looked at Matt confused. “The mountain lion was at the main house, and you left it there?”
“It’s dead.” Shade said shortly. “Get Leon. Everybody’s going to the main house. That bear got away.”
“It did?” Mo said.
“Yeah. Hurry up. Several people got hurt at the main house, including Maddie. I wanna get back to the big house. Now!” Shade ordered.
He leaned down and picked up Leon and turned toward the door.
“Just let us get our stuff...” Skunk started, but Shade cut him off.
“Leave it. You can get it tomorrow.”
Matt helped Mo stand up and the three men headed out the door.
“Grumpy!!!” Shade shouted.
The dog came limping and after depositing Leon into the bed of the pickup Shade gently lifted the dog in.
After everyone was in he gunned the engine and roared back to the main house.
- Zags
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