Rebel Soul (16 page)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Mon 2nd July

Ready Baby, Billy’s text read. Emily rubbed her eye’s, it wasn’t daylight yet. Dam she thought, I’m glad, I showered and packed my bag last night she laughed. She quickly dress then text Billy, Yes, I’m ready. She grabbed her backpack off the floor by the door. Then headed to the porch hearing her Moms alarm on the way. She set on the porch swing until she seen Billy’s headlights then started walking toward the road.

     She ran out to the truck, knowing Ed didn't feel comfortable on the property and frankly she completely understood why.

"Hey baby" Billy kissed her as he let her in the driver’s side and she receive his usual pinch on the butt "I love you."

She licked her lips and laughed “I love you to Billy."

He looked excited "Listen to this I have the perfect song to start our trip off with, (The Devil Went down To Georgia) started playing in the CD player.

“Perfect Billy, just perfect,” Emily kissed him, “Georgia bound Baby." She shouted.

“Pedal to the metal Baby” He laughed and shouted, then floored the gas, the truck spun out of the driveway.

The ride to Georgia went smoothly, as they hit the scenic route, shortly after crossing the Tennessee line heading toward the Smokey’s, of course they smoke, drink, sing along the way. They had decided not to take too long sight-seeing on the way down because they needed to deliver the shine, but they felt like they still had enough time to enjoy their selves. Shortly after hitting route 23

Emily shouted “Look” as a large Bobcat jumped from a tree limb running. “It’s beautiful”

“Oh wow” Ed shouted. Emily noticed his eye’s get big.

Be careful Ed it might jump through that window” She laughed.

“Shit that cats big!” Billy exclaimed slowing the truck to try to see it again through the trees.

The day was beautiful, the route was beautiful, with the forest on either side of the road. Emily loved the way Billy always held his hand on her leg as he drove, and on this day it seemed even more special. He was calm, relaxed almost. It gave her sweet sort of tinkle in her soul. She liked the feeling, it was nice.

As they drove along, they could see deer in the forest, a few possum and even a little grey fox ran out in front of them. Billy drove slow as they enjoyed the ride, she even thought that Ed was actually enjoying himself. They were joking and talking about the poker game, their past trips to Tennessee. Enjoyable, the drama, had all been left back home, at least for now.

“Hey look over there,” Billy pointed toward a group of, people surrounding a tree, with their phones out taking pictures. “Wonder what it is?” Billy ask and pulled into the picnic area and they got out, curious.

“Wow look guys” Emily shouted pulling her phone out and walking toward the tree. At the top of the tree was two bear cubs, the tree was shaking as they stared down at the crowd around them.

“Get back here,” Ed shouted at her “Those bear might eat you, dumb ass.”

Emily turned and laughed then snapped a couple of pictures.

“You’re crazy Ed.” Emily and Billy both laughed.

“Let’s eat here.” Billy suggested and took Emily in his arms. “Ed do you mind getting the ice chest.” Billy caught Emily’s gaze in his eyes. “I love you Emily, you are mine forever.” He held her tightly, very tight she noticed and sensed something was wrong.

“What’s wrong Billy?” she ask still held tightly in his grip. He loosed his grip, then held her face in his hands. “I just don’t ever want to lose you Baby.”

“You’re not ever going to Billy” She kissed him “I love you.”

“I know baby, but I get jealous when guy look at you like they could eat you. You’re so dam beautiful and I can’t figure out what you see in me.” She watched as in ran his hands through his hair. “Dam” he said and pulled her to him. “I love you, everything about you Billy, you’re handsome, and charming. You’re everything Billy. My, everything.”

“I’m sorry Baby, It’s just the way Ed has been looking at you today.” 

What she thought. “Billy are you crazy,” She almost laughed but didn’t, she held it back. “Billy, Ed don’t even like me.”

Billy looked at her, he was serious, but then laughed “He didn’t want that bear to eat you.” They both laughed then Billy pushed her onto the picnic table and kissed her hard on the mouth.

“Hey you two, theirs people around,” Ed laughed as he walked back, breaking them up.

They set down to eat the sandwiches Billy had brought, when Emily’s phone vibrated. It was her Mom, where are you Emily? The text read. The Smokey’s she text back sending her a picture of the bear cubs. Be back tomorrow. You’re in trouble, her Mom send back. Emily put her phone away, deciding not to respond to the message. She knew she was in trouble, nothing new she thought.

The conversation between her Billy and Ed suddenly became serious.

"Billy, Emily" Ed begun "You know this feud isn't over. I don't know what you two think you’re doing together, this can't end well." Emily almost laughed thinking about the conversation between her and Billy just a few minutes before.

"Ed, we love each other." Billy put his arm around Emily then continued, as he looked at Ed. "Emily and I, we can't live without each other. I have watched her all my life, as if she was the only thing that could fill the empty hole I have felt inside. That hole is now full and I am not going to let anyone take that away from me. Emily and I are one mind we know each other well, and we will do things without talking about it. Our souls are mates in heaven as well as here on earth." Beautifully put Billy, Emily thought.

"Or hell" Ed said widening his eyes, then rolling them.

"Maybe, but we belong together" Billy added. Emily felt the same way, she knew Billy was right.

“I love you Billy" he smiled at her. He didn't have to say anything, she thought she could hear him in her mind, I love you to Emily.

Emily was relieved, Ed left the conversation at that as they finished the sandwiches and started sipping on some shine watching the bear cubs in the tree. Emily watched as the tree shook and she wondered how much longer t would stand.

“Oh no look” Billy shouted as he started standing, his face showing fear “Let’s go” he grabbed Emily’s hand as she saw what he was seeing, the Momma bear standing at the edge of the forest. The people at the tree had begun to back away, as she hear a loud roar. Emily almost tripped as Billy pulled her along. Ed beat them to the truck and through the doors open as they scrambled into the driver’s side door. The truck quickly started and Billy spun out. Emily seen something dart out in front of them.

“Watch out” Emily screamed as Billy swerved missing a little red fox then and hit the ditch, pulling easily back out of it.

“I hope that bear don’t eat those people!” Emily exclaimed as they all laughed.

They dropped off the shine, then headed back toward the Smokey’s again. Along the way, they were seeing one sign after another leading to a concert by an unknown band. The Rat Dogs the sign read, $2.00 entry fee, rock music all night. "Want a go Baby?"

"Why not, they may be good," Emily told him as Ed nodded his head sure. Then turned down a dirt road following the arrow on the poster board sign.

The concert was in an open field, in the middle of the woods. The band was good Emily thought, as she listen to a lot of Billy Idol music. Everyone was dancing, drinking, smoking pot, Emily even seen some doing other drugs that she and Billy didn't engage in. Everyone was loud having fun as they danced to (Mony, Mony) when she felt someone pinch her on the butt. She turned and seen the gut standing behind her smiling.

"What the hell?" Emily said and pushed the guy.

"No one touches my girl,” Billy shouted and went after him with his fist closed, one hit knocked him to the ground. Then Emily saw it, the guy reached in his back pocket and pulled out a knife. She quickly jumped in the truck and pulled the gun out from under the front truck seat. Then watched, screaming “stop” as Billy and the man struggled. That’s when she seen the man’s arm go up the blade shinning in his hand, she watched as the man’s hand came back down the blade at Billy’s side, that’s when it happened, she pulled the trigger. "Bang" one shot, the man went down as she saw the blood splatter onto a girls face, the blood from the man’s head. She was in shock, but only for a second as Ed’s voce brought her back to reality.

"Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go,” Ed shouted as he was helping Billy up, Emily saw blood running down Billy’s side. She was panicked, “Is he ok,” she cried

“No you, killed that man Emily.” Ed shouted.

“Not him, Billy.” She shouted.

“I’m find Emily,” Billy moaned as she put a jar of shine to his mouth giving him a drink.

"Shit, shit" Ed yelled as he raced the truck out of the concert. “Always, with you two, what the hell, can't you two go anywhere without it involving the law or guns? Shit" he screamed hitting the steering wheel as he maneuvered around the curves at a high speed.

“Shout up Ed,” Emily screamed, as she searched for something to cover the wound with. “Where was you, why wasn’t you helping him, Dam-it Ed?” She screamed again as she, pulled her shirt of and held it to the cut. It wasn’t too bad she decided, as she applied pressure.

“I was Emily, you was so focused on shooting the guy, you didn’t even see me, Hell I have the dam guy’s blood all over me. Shit.”

“Dam-it, will you two quit screaming at each other.” Billy moaned. Emily kissed him “I’m sorry Billy” she said still applying pressure, then she lit a joint and held it to his mouth. She hoped the pot and the shine would kill his pain and hers, as she remembered the blood hitting that girls face. Oh God I’m in trouble now.

“What are we going to do?” She whispered to Billy. He looked up at Emily and smiled,

“It’s going to be ok.” Only he could say that after getting stabbed she thought. “Tell Ed to call, Steve, we can go there, till we get this all sorted out Baby.”

Emily went to open her mouth to speak. “I heard him.” Ed told her, as he pulled off the road.

Steve and Tim were Billy’s two oldest brothers. Emily figured Tim was about twenty seven and Steve the oldest about twenty nine, maybe thirty. They were always in some kind of trouble she had heard, fighting, and DUI’s mostly. They had left town a year earlier to avoid court. At least that’s what she had been told.

Ed got out of the truck and she could see him talking on the phone. “Do you need some more shine Billy she ask as she held the jar to his mouth?”

“Let me see if I can set up.” She watched as his face twisted in pain as he pushed his self-up.

“Aw-aw” he moaned, as he set up and his side started bleeding again. Then she released her shirt was on Billy side, as Billy’s eye’s grew big and he tried to laugh. “It’s a wonder Ed can drive, no wonder he’s so up-tight.”

Emily rolled the window down “Hey Ed, through me my backpack will you.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Tues July 3rd

It was well after midnight, went they pulled to the side of the road. They had been driving for hours through the winding mountain roads. Ed had drove the whole way somewhat recklessly, and Emily didn’t know what they were going to do. They were lost in the middle of nowhere. Ed got out of the truck and slammed the door, and bend over with his hands on his head, she could tell he was upset, so was she. “Hand me Billy’s, phone mines dead.” He told Emily. She did what he ask, giving him a, what are you doing look. “I‘m calling Steve,” he told her without her having to ask. “For directions.” He added. They were now in West Virginia. Not somewhere she thought she would be going on this trip, but plans had changed, she thought.

She looked down at Billy, his head was cradled in her lap and he was still bleeding from the knife wound, it didn’t look bad, but Emily was still worried.

     “I’ll be alright" he told her as she held him and started to cry. She traced his face with her fingers, she didn’t know what she would have done if the guy had of killed Billy. She had shot the man though, shot someone’s son, maybe husband or boyfriend, Possibly a Dad, she didn’t know, but she really believes he would have killed Billy if she hadn’t of pulled the trigger.

      “I killed him Billy,” she whispered in his ear, as she cried even harder, she was worried about Billy but the image of the blood, splattering from the man’s head as he fell to the ground was vivid in her mind. She knew he was dead before he hit the ground, no one had to tell her so, it had been obvious to her, and she couldn't believe she had killed someone. Emily wiped the tears from her eyes and stiffen her body, she had to block it all from her mind and be tough, just like she had been raised. Be tough Emily, forget it.

“I know” Billy whispered back to her.

    Ed climbed back in the truck, and looked at Billy, “You all right Bro, looking a little pale there.”

       “I’m fine, just get us to Tim and Steve’s, I’ll be fine.”

      Ed glanced at Emily, “Were about three hours away, listen, I know I get upset about things, but it’s all going to be ok.”

He started the truck and they took off.

They reached Tim and Steve's, without getting lost again, a small shack in the middle of the woods far away from anyone. It was around three in the morning and they were all tired as Tim and Steve met them on the porch. Ed walked around to the passenger side to help Billy, but he waved him off saying,

“I’m fine it's not deep I can walk,” but Emily still kept a hold of him as he slightly leaned on her.

Billy introduced her to his brothers, “Steve, Tim, This my girl Emily” Tim smiled at her and extended his hand for her to shake.

“What do you mean boys bringing a Canton to our hideout?" Steve ask.

Emily looked at them with the most evil look she could muster up. “If you won't tell anyone that I just shot and killed a man. You don't have to worry about me.” Billy laughed and hugged her, as she helped him up the porch steps and inside.

“Nice girl” she heard one of them say behind her.

After entering the house, they set down and talked for a while. Emily looked at the brothers all setting in the same room together, it amazed her at how much they all looked alike, just like her brothers she thought. Tim seemed more like Billy, wild and free, but on the other hand Steve was more intense like Ed, just hanging on the verge of wildness.

She listened as Billy told them the story about the shooting. The words “Then Emily shot the man, and I’m sure he was dead before he, hit the ground.” Burned her ears as she heard someone actually speak the words, and made it true in her mind. They talked about painting the truck and changing the tags. They didn't think anyone had got the tag number, it was dark, everybody was drunk and high, plus most everybody was focused on the man Emily had shot. Emily had shot, the words stung her ears again, burning, blazing. Be strong Emily, she told herself.

“Well let’s get some sleep and deal with this when we are better rested.” She heard Tim say as he glanced at her “Why don’t you two take my room.” He nodded toward the door next to, the chair she was setting in with Billy.

“Let’s go Baby.” Billy whispered in her ear, as she stood, then he took her hand and lead her into the bed room. The bed looked, so inviting as she fell down onto the sheet less mattress, and took in a deep breath and ran her hand across her head, as Billy stared down at her.

"I killed somebody, Billy. I just aimed the gun and shot him. What’s wrong with me?" She cried. He laid down beside her.

"Baby, it was him or me you know that." He pull her tightly into his arms.

"I love you Billy." She rolled toward him.

"I love you to babe, let’s take a shower, I need to get cleaned up and I know you want to take a shower with me, don’t you Babe.” He smiled at her. She looked at him smiling, she had dreamed about him in the shower with her, and yes she wanted to.

He took her hand and led her to the small bathroom connected to the bedroom and started the water as she stepped in. He climbed in the shower behind her, and held her close to him as they let the water flow down their bodies and wash all the stress of the last few hours away. Wash my sins away, Emily thought as the water flowed down her face. It felt wonderful, she felt her body melting as the water ran down her body with the touch of his hands, he ran his hands along her stomach then up to her breast messaging them as he kissed the back of her neck.

Then he led her to the bed and laid down beside, the music from the radio beside them played in her ears, the mood was perfect, as (Def. Leopard sang love bites.) Yes they were crazy, crazy in love. They made love till past day light, their bodies becoming as one. Then drifted off to sleep.

* * *

"Hey get up?" Ed threw open the bedroom door and said. Emily felt his eye's on her body as she reached to pull the sheets up.

“He just eyed your body babe" Billy laughed hugging her tightly, as he tickled her stomach.

"I know Billy but I don't think we should shoot him,” she laughed.

"Let’s take another shower together” he kissed her on the neck smiling.

“Sounds like a plan, I’ll race you" she jumped up and ran toward the shower.

Finished with their shower they walked into the living room. “There’s coffee in the kitchen if you guys want some" Tim told them. Emily got a cup for her and Billy both. “One question" Tim said "What the hell are you two doing together?” He looked at them in wonderment.

"We love each other" Billy told him, as he drank his coffee. “Look at her Tim, wouldn’t you want her if you could have her.” Billy smiled at Emily and his checks turned red.

“Aw you blush Billy,” She teased him like he does her when she blushes.

"And the Cantons and Dad are just letting this go on?" Tim ask, still questioning them.

"That’s two questions, and no" Billy told him, as he glanced at Emily.

"So what have you boys got planned?" Steve ask them, changing the subject.

"Well like we talked about last night, paint the truck, change the tags, maybe dump it and find another way back.” Billy shrugged his shoulders as if he had a ride in mind.

"Are you asking us to take you guys back, Billy?" Steve ask, looking up from the joint he was rolling.

"Well Dad would be glad to see Yuns and tomorrow is the fourth of July, you know, road trip with the brothers." Billy laughed as he held Emily in his lap.

"Oh my God, you can't go anywhere with these two” They all looked Ed's way as he talked visibly upset, throwing his arms in the air. “You might as well expect to run, anytime you are with them. They have some kind of physic gravity between them.” He emphasized with his hands. “You never know what to expect next, you go in a restaurant to eat and end up running out, go shopping and end up in a police chase with Emily of all people driving the getaway truck, she wins a poker game and everybody draws a gun, you set down to eat and run from a bear, now she kills someone, hell far."

"Oh Ed." Billy laughed, then smiled at Emily. “We couldn’t help the bear thing. You still think we shouldn't shoot him Baby?" Billy caught her gaze with a smile.

"I don't know Billy he called us crazy" Emily returned his smile.

"And he knows an awfully lot about us" Billy said smiling at Emily, she blushed as they laughed.

"Fuck this, I'm going outside, when you guys decide what we’re doing, just let me know.” Ed slammed the door behind him. Emily and Billy were still laughing, “Emily you got any friends we can set him up with he seems a little uptight.” They both laughed harder "Woo Hoo" Billy shouted.

"You two are, crazy" Tim shook his head.

“So what do you say Bro’s? You coming home with us.” Billy ask.

Tim and Steve decided to drive them back, and spend the 4th with the family. Then head back to West Virginia and paint the truck, someone would pick it up later.

Once in the van and on their way, "Just don't stop anywhere that these two ask you to stop, or even let them out of the van." Ed told Steve and Tim.

“What’s your problem Ed? The man had a knife in my side, you didn't react like this when Jr, shoot her brother, Joe.” Billy leaned across Emily, looked Ed in the eye and said.

"That wouldn't have happened if it hadn't of been for you two" Ed told them. There it was out in the open, the argument had been over her and Billy. Emily felt like crying, and leaned closer to Billy. He pulled her close and whispered in her ear “its ok Baby, its ok.”  She felt chills run through her body, pure icy cold and started to shiver. Billy comforted her, holding her tight as she cried. She cried for Joe, and she cried because she had actually killed someone. She cried because she loved Billy and she knew it probably wouldn't end well, as everyone kept telling her, but she couldn't let him go. She knew at this point it was live or die for both of them. They had come to far together.

“I’m sorry Emily, it was more about the dog, then you and Billy.” Ed tried to apologies “Really, I didn’t mean it, Hell I’m just worried is all. We all might be in some major trouble.” Emily could see that Ed was serious as he apologized, she closed her eyes. This is a nightmare her mind told her.

The whole van grew quite as if, the sadness could be felt all around. “I understand Ed, I’m sorry I have stressed you out so bad.” Emily told him and No one else spoke, as they rode quietly toward Chestnut Kentucky.

When they stopped at the end of Emily’s driveway to let her out, Billy hugged her tight, “are you going to be ok baby?"

"Sure Billy, I guess I just needed a good cry, I love you, see you tomorrow"

He kissed her good-bye. “I love you too"