The picture was in a heavy oval frame. It had been part of Willy's few possessions. He didn't know why he kept it. Maybe it was of his brother John. His eyes locked on the eyes that stared down at him from behind the oval glass. The accusing look on the face in the picture made him uncomfortable. Was it John his brother? Was it Willy himself? They were twins. Why weren't both of them in the picture? A chill ran up his back and he felt a strange loneliness.
Laying on the dirt floor, Willy began to regain consciousness. The pain was dull, and breathing was hard. He tried to focus his eyes; slowly, he began to remember being shot as he had opened the doors. He heard voices, but they seemed far away. Moving his head to the right, he saw a pair of shiny boots. A rifle barrel hung loosely down beside the boots. The dream had come true. Slowly he tried to clear his foggy brain. Voices came to him in his dream. He couldn’t move his body, but turning his head, he saw the wheels of Bonnie’s car. Looking under the car, he gasped as his eyes met hers. Laboring for each breath, he tried to form words with bloody lips. Bonnie lay bound and gagged on the dirt floor of the barn watching him. Her body shook as tears and fear welled up in her eyes. The sight of her lying on the floor, looking at him, helped clear his mind. “Lord, what have I done now? I have killed the only person I have ever loved! All my manipulation has cost Bonnie her life!’ he thought as he lost consciousness again.
“McDonald, if you take them out of here, you will surely be stopped. This country is crawling with Texas Rangers!” Bart said.
From behind McDonald, a voice said, “Boss, we got another problem. There are people up at the house again. Walking around the car McDonald looked through the crack in the wall. A U.S. postal truck had pulled up to the house, and a woman and man got out. It wasn’t long until a boy stepped out and began to explore the yard.
“Hey, Boss, is the post office delivering people now?” McDonald sighed and said, “I’m surrounded by idiots.”
Bart looked around the barn and up in the loft. He said, “McDonald, this place is half full of hay! Let’s light it off and get out of here!”
McDonald walked back to Willy and looked down at the unconscious figure, and said, “Smitty, you and Bart light it off before the kid comes sniffing around the barn. Everybody else, head back to the cars now!”
A line of men left the barn through the side door, making their way back through the woods where the cars were located. Bart and Smitty piled bales of hay against the doors and walls to make sure the barn went up quickly. Bart quickly lit bales of hay around the barn. He knew how quickly barn fires could go up, and how the local farmers would rush to stop the spread of a big fire. “Smitty, we need to get out of here fast! The fire will attract every farmer from miles around!” he said.
Willy regained consciousness and lay watching Bonnie struggling to get free. Fear and despair were in her eyes. Just like in his dreams, there was no hope of getting loose. He tried to roll over, but it was no use; he was too weak. Once the fires were lit, Bart waited at the side door for Smitty to exit. Just before he left, he turned and looked back at Willy. Their eyes locked, and Willy knew those were the eyes in his dream. This time the eyes were real, and he saw no mercy in those dull grey eyes. Almost before they could get out of the barn, the fire was rising on all four walls. McDonald and his men ran down the trail to get as much distance from the barn as they could.
“Boss, that is one big barn! The fire will be seen for miles! We need to get out of here!” one of McDonald’s men said.
McDonald replied, “As soon as Smitty and Bart get here, we leave!” In a few moments, the two men came running down the trail. “Okay, Gentlemen! Let’s get out of Texas. Bart, you will receive a nice surprise in the mail. I think you and I need to rekindle a working relationship when this blows over.” McDonald’s men loaded into the car and headed for the main highway.
Bart headed for town to make an appearance. His shoulders dropped from the stress. ‘That was close!’ he thought.
The fire began to climb the walls all around the building. The smoke was boiling and filling the building. Unable to move, Willy thought of Bonnie lying on the other side of the car.
‘OH GOD! NOT BONNIE! SAVE HER!’ he prayed. Looking back at Bonnie, he saw nothing but love in her eyes. Their eyes locked one last time as the smoke thickened. Willy’s eyes dimmed, and he lay still.
In spite of the evil, this story creates lasting memories of soul-searing redemption and how the love of God can change the hearts and lives of even those on the dark side.
Lynda B.
Book three delivered an unexpected and exciting conclusion! The good news is that James E. Ferrell left room for more, and I cannot wait!
Robert N
Doing Time in Texas reaches its conclusion in the courtroom. There is drama as witnesses are called, and the plot twists are revealed. You won't want to put it down!
Nancy J