By the time Kenny dragged Gunner’s body into the barn, the single-engine plane had touched down at the lip of the clearing and was headed his way. He covered Gunner with hay near the fuel tank and headed toward the trapdoor. Peering down the narrow stairs, he yelled for Step. The sound of his voice didn’t echo so much as it died in the darkness.
Looking up, he watched as the light from the plane drew closer. He almost fell back when Dani, Bones, and an old woman appeared in the entrance to the barn.
“Bones? What’re you doing here?”
“Step brung me.”
“You know her?” Dani asked.
Kenny nodded and then said, “Who’s the old lady?”
“I’m a child of Jesus. Your worst nightmare.”
“She owns this place,” Dani said, rolling her eyes. “Where’s Step?”
Kenny motioned to the open trapdoor. “Down yonder. I was just gonna fetch him.” He looked past her at the growing circumference of light. “Y’all should make your way into the woods. Get out of sight until we know what we’re dealing with in that plane.”
Dani looked quickly toward the aircraft. “And if it’s Boss and his men?”
Kenny descended halfway down the stairs. “It’ll save me the trouble of hunting that son-bitch down.”
“You don’t know what’s down there. If there ain’t but one exit, you’ll be trapped.”
He considered her point and then quickly climbed up the stairs. “You’re the owner?” he asked as he approached the old woman.
“I’m a child of Jesus.”
He grabbed her by the arm and shoved her to the trapdoor. To Dani he said, “You and Bones make your way through the back of the barn there. Get to the woods quick as you can. This old lady will make sure I find my way below, or I’ll make sure she meets up with Jesus before this day is done.”
The old woman yelped as Kenny dragged her to the trapdoor.
Dani hesitated and then guided Bones to the back door of the barn.