Previously: Bennie took a break from school and went back to visit his folks for the 4th of July town festivities. While there, a local friend gave Bennie a note from an old flame named Kathy. They got together during Labor Day weekend. It was the first time in three years they had seen each other. They met in Dallas, Texas for dinner at Captain's Table, which is half way between Austin, Texas and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He remembered her free spirit way of life and was excited. At dinner, he witnessed a totally changed person. Though they had a good time, she had become a "high maintenance" personality, owns a boutique store and a huge expense account.

So it's been almost six months since then and now, we continue…

It was raining hard. Thunder and lighting every few seconds as Bennie drove back from Oklahoma City where he attended a friend's birthday party. It was a torrential rainstorm, coming down in sheets. Tree branches swayed side to side and visibility was minimal.

It was 3 AM when Bennie drove into his driveway. He was feeling the effects of staying at the party a little longer than he planned and his body was telling him so. Even so, he had a wonderful time. He sat in his car and waited for a break to make a quick run for the front door. He felt fortunate to be home in one piece.

He was inside his apartment, shook the rain off. Just then he heard the phone ringing in the dark.

"Who in the world could be calling at this hour?" he said to himself.

His voice machine picked up before he could answer. He waited to pick up to see who it might be. It was Kat calling to say that she had a wonderful time at Captain's Table. She warned him to expect a visit from her soon. But Bennie was perplexed about why she would be calling after nearly six months. When he called her, there were no returns from her. Bennie had moved on with his life. He began talking to the machine as if it were someone. "Why now? I've moved on." Bennie was too tired to reason why she would want to come up.

Bennie prepared the coffeemaker for the next day before he went to bed. For Bennie, there was something about waking up to the smell of fresh brewed coffee. Ever since the Folgers's coffee commercial, Bennie made sure the Mr. Coffee was prepared with the timer set for 7 AM.

The next morning, the phone woke Bennie instead of the smell of coffee. He got up and answered it.

"Hello. Oh hi, Mom. Not much. Just moving around this morning. That storm wore me out coming home last night. So, I'm sort of taking it easy this morning. How's Pop"?

"He is getting ready for work. Are you coming over this weekend? The creek out back is full. You know how you like going back there and sit on the over-hang and watch the creek flow after a good rain. You might even find some more nice arrowheads."

Bennie loved to watch the little creek full bank to bank. It made him feel connected and grounded on his good fortunes. Sometimes, the rain would uncover artifacts buried in the ground that was left behind by Indians years ago. Once he found a full made arrowhead that may have been used for a Spear. And a pipe bowl. That was a big fine for him.

Still talking, he walked to the kitchen and sat down at the counter looking out the bay window that over-looked the Arkansas River. He waited for the coffeemaker to kick in.

"My cat isn't acting right. I can't seem to make it mind me anymore. Maybe it's going crazy. But that's not what I'm calling you about. I had an odd dream about you being in a fight. I was just checking if you were all right".

"I'm fine. A fight? You know I don't fight, Mom. And yes, I know what you mean about cats. They sure are funny creatures. They ignore you. But when they want something, they curl up next to you."

"Bennie, I got to go. The dog is barking. Good by".

He hangs up after the odd conversation with his mother. He ponders what she meant about the fight.

The coffeemaker began and he quickly dashed for the shower. 20 minutes later he comes out all clean and shiny. He picked up the remote and clicked on the TV. The phone rang again. It was his sister. She was in a panic that she couldn't get through to mom and dad. She told him to turn on the TV and watch channel 10. There was a breaking news of a prison breakout at McAlester State Penitentiary. At the prison, the reporter said there was a manhunt for the escapee. Last known of the inmate was that he was heading east towards the Arkansas border. The police say he is armed and dangerous, the reporter said. He killed a prison guard while escaping.

Bennie calmed her down, said that he just got off the phone with his mother and didn't sense anything wrong when they talked then. He assured her that he would call her back to be sure that the folks are fine. They hang up. He called his mom back and no answer. He called his dad's place of employment. The supervisor said that he hadn't come in and was late. He also said that it wasn't like him to not call in if he was running late for work. Bennie began to worry that maybe his sister was on to something. He watched the news some more and learned that the police have a ten-mile radius roadblock. And his folks live within that boundary

He got out his personal phone book and made a call to their neighbors who live a couple of miles up the main road. They answered and are rather uptight about the breaking news from the TV reports. The neighbors told Bennie that the area was in lockdown watch. No one should leave their house and lock all doors. The escapee was headed towards them they told Bennie.

That made Bennie more worried. He didn't know what to do. His instincts wanted to drive to his folks but it would take him at least two hours, that would take too long. So, he thought of a shorter route of getting there which would only take a little over one hour, through the back-way. Bennie knew the shortcut through the woods. The only problem was that the road had twists and turns that made the drive time seem forever. He had no other choice if he was to know that his folks were safe.

So, he poured himself a cup of coffee, got changed. Threw some clothing and toiletry into his duffle bag for the weekend. He got in his car and headed for the shortcut. In route, he used his cell phone to call his sister. He recalled the frantic tone in her voice. So to avoid further hysteria, he told her that he was driving to his folks for the a couple of days and to check on them.

Bennie was driving eastbound on Interstate 40 and tuned in AM 1540 for the all-news radio station. There were no updates since he last heard on the TV. The worse case scenario raced through his mind but he was calm and controlled about what could be, knowing that his dad was able to handle most anything. At least that brought some ease to Bennie. He drove on past Sallisaw and made a quick detour southbound for the shortcut road. He was about twenty minutes away when he saw a roadblock ahead. He was stopped by the lone patrolman. The officer had been given orders to not allow anyone to pass through regardless, unless the party showed good reason. At first Bennie showed all the proper credentials that might give him a pass beyond the roadblock. He told the officer that he was going to see about his folks just inside the danger parameter. Then he recognized the officer's last name from college. They were OU classmates from 1982. Charles Choate of the Choctaw Nation Police force. After a few minutes of exchanging some history between themselves, Charles felt that Bennie was safe to make an exception and called for backup. And within minutes a backup arrived and that relieved officer Choate to escort Bennie to his folks place. They drove there in the patrol car. Moments later the two arrived at the farm on the hill.

Bennie rushed out before the car came to a complete stop. The officer shouted to get back in the car until he made sure the coast was cleared. Bennie noticed the barn gate was open and the horses were out roaming the pasture which was unusual. And then he saw his favorite dog lying just inside the gate. The pickup truck was still parked next to the tractor. Bennie was very restless. The officer took every precaution to make sure the place was secured. And it was. And summons Bennie to search the grounds for anything suspicious.

The first place Bennie ran was to the barn to see about Spotty his dog. Spotty had been killed with a hay hook. The officer saw Bennie was shook up bad over the lost of the dog. Then they searched the house. Neither were prepared for what they saw. It was ransacked like tornado had come through. Silence fell on Bennie and his worse conclusion was starting to become real. But was quick to see a bright side that there were no signs of blood nor his mom and dad. Which assured him that they were still alive.

The officer called on the radio that there were signs the escapee had been there and gone. And no signs of residence anywhere, he reported. While he was reporting, Bennie snuck out the back to look where they may have gone. The officer looked around and noticed Bennie was not anywhere. He called for him only to hear the wind blowing in the nearby trees.

Out of anger and frustration, Bennie disappeared towards the creek to find peace of mind in all this madness. On his way down the trail he noticed a handkerchief that belonged to his dad. And that alerted Bennie that they trekked that way to the creek. He looked back to the house whether to inform the officer of his discovery or not. But Bennie couldn't risk loosing time if he waited any longer. Bennie was desperate to find his folks. So he decided to wait no longer.

Bennie squatted next to the handkerchief on the ground. He scan his palm over the cloth and looked ahead. Almost if to feel any sense of what the cloth might reveal to him. He studied the air around him for any movement ahead. Then he got down on his hands and knees to raise his senses of an ancient Indian tracker. A sense of calmness came over him. Then he rose to his feet and began slowly to the creek where he felt at home. He was now hunting a prey.

He crept within view of the cove where the creek flowed under the over-hang. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary. He studied further and decided to make his way around up behind the over-hang. He made his way through thick brushes but was careful to not make any sounds that might alert the escapee if he should be in the area. Bennie was finally atop where he spent many a hours just sitting and absorbing nature at it's finest moments. Again he sat to study his surroundings. Down below he noticed two figures sitting back to back. They were his mom and dad tied together and blindfolded. He grew stiff and watched awhile longer.

His cell phone goes off at the worse moment. He quickly turned it off. Just then a flock of birds fly off to the sound of the phone. His heart felt it would explode in his chest. His mom and dad rear their heads to the sound of the birds too. All of the sudden the armed escapee ran out from under the over-hang to see what is above him.

Bennie had no time to think. He stood up from his squatted position and dived straight on top of the inmate. They both fall to the ground and the handgun is thrown from the gunman's reach. They both scrambled for the handgun. Bennie grabbed him from behind and pulled him towards him. The handgun is within the inmates reach and just when the gun is in his full hand-grip, Bennie throws dirt in his face. Temporarily blinding him. But not enough to keep him from putting his finger on the trigger. The inmate rolls on his back and points at Bennie. A split second to pull the trigger, a rifle shot rang out from up the trail. It was officer Charles shooting the inmate.

Silence falls all over. The gun fire echoed up the creek. The officer ran to the rescue. Bennie was so glad the Indian Calvary arrived when he did. He was looking at death ten feet away. He untied his mom and dad. And they all hugged and cried tears of joy.

There was a moment of silence. Seeing the dead man lying nearby, his mom urged Bennie that he better get back to the Rez and see his grandmother about having a ceremony to clean the evil medicine. She added that he shouldn't wait too long.

"What about you and dad?"

"We're Okay. It's you I'm more concerned about."

Bennie quickly turned on his cell phone and called his sister that everything was Okay.

The End