The whole bunch of us were sitting around the table at our (me and Rico) house hoisting and talking and fretting about our girls.
Suddenly I heard, "Hawney. We needs yah." Frankie heard something similar and so did Billy Ray and Jack.
I sat bolt upright, and so did the others.
Jake spoke first.
"Guys, something ain't right in Mississippi."
We all nodded assent.
"I think we need to skedaddle."Again we all nodded...and Rico and I got up to go upstairs and pack and the others headed home to do the same, and by a little after 1am we were on the road. Rico and I in my new Escalade, Billy in his with Jake and Antonio, and the rest with J.R. and Johnny.
We drove straight through getting to Natchez about 8:30am-the next morning. We got to the house and pulled up in the driveway parking side by side in front of the 3 car garage. Getting out we headed out front where we came upon 2 young guys and a woman sitting on the front steps.
Antonio as usual spoke first.
"Good Morning. We are friends of Rose and Tess and Ofelia. Rose is a cousin of Lilibeth."
The woman got up and walked up to us, with what we could see were tears in her eyes. "Hi, she said," as she collapsed against Antonio's chest.
Beau and Poke followed Naomi to us and introduced themselves to me and the rest.
Suddenly the sun, previously bright and hot, moved behind an errant cloud and a breeze kicked in...swaying the long almost to the ground branches of the willows in front of us, and adding an almost ominous and somewhat eerie aura to the moment.
I felt a shiver, and Rico put his arms around me...sensing what I was too. Something was wrong here. Really wrong.
She didn't really bawl, but was obviously distraught and we just let her be until she got it in hand.
"Sorry," she said after pulling back from Antonio a bit.
"Don't be," he assured her.
"I am a close friend and this is her son and his friend,: pointing to Beau and Poke. We all nodded.
"I had to go to the store and went early. Had to get bags of dog food for my pups, and took the boys with me. We were gone maybe an hour and a half and when we got back everyone was GONE. Just...GONE."
She stopped...as if the gravity of what she had just said had suddenly landed with a thud on her head.
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