A Town Called America by Andrew Alexander Read Free Book Online Page A

disagreed with the romantic relationship he and Chris had formed. Rick had made it very clear that their relationship was none of Shawn’s business and that he didn’t appreciate Shawn’s opinion.
    Shawn was extremely defensive as he struggled to hold back his overwhelming anger and growing hatred for Rick. He knew his feelings toward Rick really had nothing to do with Rick at all. He knew he was just jealous, but it didn’t matter. He always had been good to Chris, and now he thought she didn’t think he was good enough for her.
    He did, however, have a plan in place. If they wanted to shove their relationship in his face, so be it. If Rick wanted to steal his girl, he was going to steal the one thing Rick prided himself for the most: his RV fortress.
    The two men made their way to a single-story home at the edge of the forest. Kneeling in the mud next to Shawn, Rick didn’t have to tell him to stay put; Shawn knew just by the look on Rick’s face what he wanted him to do. Shawn moved into position, sitting near the edge of what once had been a home’s back lawn, which by then was nothing more than overgrown weeds and trash. He sat there as a lookout; his only function was to inform Rick if he saw anyone.
    Quickly and quietly Rick made his approach to the house. The tactical movement—a feeling he had long missed from his time in the army—surged through his body. It was a mixture of adrenaline and a slight sense of fear. His mind raced with a thousand thoughts.
    He stopped at the outside wall, took a breath, and focused. A moment later he was inside, clearing the house from room to room with an efficiency usually reserved for SWAT teams.
    After Rick had cleared the two floors of the house to ensure no one was present, he and Shawn cut the carpet from the living-room floor, and using nails they’d found in a kitchen drawer, covered the windows in the living room with boards to ensure no one would see light from the fire they’d soon build. Then they cut out the subflooring as well, until they reached the concrete slab.
    It took quite a bit of work, but in the end, the concrete foundation allowed them to make a fire without the danger of burning down the house. They used the wood from the subflooring to start the fire, and wood from the trees outside would keep it burning through the night but only after they made sure the windows in the rest of the house were all open so as not to smoke themselves out.
    The only sound was that of the rain hitting the metal roof of the home they now occupied. Both sat in silence, eating green beans out of a can.
    While they were eating supper, Shawn began arguing about Chris once more. It didn’t take long for Rick to tune him out and ignore everything he was saying. Eventually, with a full stomach, Shawn fell asleep. Soon after, Rick, feeling the warmth of the fire on his face and hands, sat listening to the sound of the wood and also drifted off.
    By morning the fire had died out, and the house had become as chilly as it was outside. Rick woke up and sat up, taking a moment to remember where he was. He looked around the room and immediately noticed that Shawn wasn’t there, but just as quickly, he put it out of his mind as he tried to focus, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. It was then that he staggered to his feet and began to wonder where Shawn’s bag was. After walking across the room, Rick found a note written on a piece of cardboard.
    Rick, you both can go to hell. When you see me again, it’ll be after I tell the world about your little fortress
.

TEN
    S hawn was lying on the ground, bleeding from the wound that was now draining the life from his body, just as Rick was reaching the top of the hill. Chris climbed down from the deer stand, and the moment her feet hit the ground, she raced toward Rick. She ran into his arms and wrapped herself around him. With their bodies so close together, it was an embrace neither would forget.
    “I shot him…He’s dead. Shawn