The Forge of Darkness (Darkness After Series Book 3) by Scott B. Williams Read Free Book Online

house right now,” Uncle Benny said. “You get back there and tell April and Samantha what happened and get that wheeled firewood travois we built and pull it out here. We’ve got to get Tommy back to the house but we’ve got to move him gently. Rolling him back on that thing is the best way I know to do it.”
    “But what about that other stranger that’s still out there, Uncle Benny? He could still be waiting for a chance to shoot you and David too. He might come over here.”
    “I think whoever shot Tommy is probably trying to get away right now. With all your shooting on top of me killing his partner, he probably figured he was outnumbered and high-tailed it. But I aim to catch him before he gets far. I’m the only one that can do it and I don’t think it will take long. David can stay here with Tommy until I get back, or if y’all get back first, go ahead and move him to the house. Don’t wait for me. Now go!”
    Lisa had never seen Uncle Benny look so serious. His eyes were practically burning with fury, and she understood his rage. Although she hated for him to go alone, what he said made sense. They needed to get Tommy to the house where they could see what they were doing to try and save him. It was going to get colder out here after dark, especially in this rain, and he probably wouldn’t last long if they didn’t get him home.  
    Lisa knew that April and Samantha would have heard all the shooting too and must be worried; wondering what in the heck was going on. If Mitch and the others were back they would surely come to investigate, but they couldn’t count on that. She and Stacy both gave Uncle Benny a quick hug and she looked at Tommy one last time before she turned and took off, wiping the tears from her face as she ran.

    * * *

    The boy running back to tell the others had not gone far when he heard more shooting from behind him. The first shot sounded like his father’s rifle, but then there was something else, and then the rifle again. He hesitated but knew better than to disobey his father’s order. Thankfully, he didn’t have to go a half-mile before he ran into six of the other hunters. They were on foot and already coming down the road to investigate, having heard the gunfire.
    “We heard shooting,” the first to speak said.
    “Yes, we found a herd of cows. My dad got two of them and hit another one. He said to come back and tell Mr. Drake and the rest of y’all to get on down there with the horses. He said tell him to send somebody back to tell the others too. He said there would be a feast tonight and that we’d round up the rest of the herd tomorrow. There was some more shooting after I was already running to get you, but I don’t know what that was about.”
    “Did you see anybody around there where those cows were?”
    “No, but my dad says there must be a house nearby. That’s why he wanted me to hurry back and get everybody. He says we’re going to have a new place to stay and plenty for everybody to eat for a long time!”  
    Before the man could reply, even more gunfire echoed through the woods from the direction from which the boy had come. But this was a popping crack rather than the thunder of a deer rifle. And it was round after round, going off in evenly spaced, one-second intervals.
    “What the hell?”
    “That sounds like a .22. That’s not Kenneth or his boy, Kenny. We’d better get down there and see what’s going on!”
    The man who’d been questioning the kid turned to him with another order. Jimmy, we’re going to slip on down this road and see what’s going on. Your old man and your brother might need some help. You run on back the way we came and get Mr. Drake. You’ll find him and the others waiting with the horses. They’re back there around the last couple bends to the west. Now get!”

Eight  

    W HEN A PRIL HEARD ANOTHER rifle shot some fifteen or twenty minutes after she had gone back inside, she knew something unusual was going on.