A hand grabs Wade’s arm as he falls into the abyss. The hand yanks up back up and placed him on solid ground. The wind had picked up; it isn’t as strong as it had been in the first dream, but it feels dangerous. There is a low howling in his ear. Turning, he looks in the direction where he saw his mother earlier. She is no longer there. But he sees children, a lot of children, reaching up from the ground and out to him. Four little boys stand above the ground. The little boy standing in front of them all is Monty. Wade hears his mother’s voice. “They need your guidance, my son. They are lost without you.” How is he going to cross the space without falling into the abyss again? “We got you.” Wade looks back. His mother is behind him. “You have the power to protect them all. Do not be limited by your reality. Visualize the possibilities and your powers will surface.” He looks back at the children; they are out of his reach. To save them, he has to move forward. He looks to his right to see Clem, Bart, SuzieMae, Redbone, Ms. Margie and Lil Joe, all connected, stretching across the opening to make a bridge. “Go, my son, before their strength gives out.” Wade hesitates because he doesn’t want to hurt them by walking across their backs. “You are not heavy, they will survive.” Wade slowly walks on the backs of the people from Bristol to reach the other side. Just when he is about to step on land, a kick in the behind propels him forward.
Wade jerked up in bed. His eyes were wide open. Looking around, he did not recognize anything. Wiping his hand down his face, he chuckled. “That damn Clem.”
“Did you say something about Clem?”
Wade looked over to his left. Rachel was sitting in a chair next to the windows, dressed in his pajama top. “No, I was just dreaming, I think.”
“Well, I’m pretty sure Clem is up to something.” Rachel pointed her finger. “Take a look at this.”
Wade stepped out of bed and walked over to the window. He kissed Rachel on the lips. “You look beautiful this morning.”
“I know. I can’t help it, good genes I guess.” She pointed again. “See the car parked across the street?”
Wade looked in the direction she indicated. “Dark sedan.”
She nodded. “Been there all night. I saw it before we got into bed. I didn’t think much of it when I saw it again this morning, until I noticed that.” She pointed towards the roof top of the jail.
Wade looked. “Is that … is that Bart with a gun?”
“Yep. That’s Bart sitting in a chair with a Smith and Wesson pump-action Model 3000, manufactured in the 1970s. Know what he’s doing?”
“About to shoot Clem again?” Wade replied.
“Nope. But I bet if one of those men gets anywhere near you, Bart will put a round in his ass.”
All Wade could do was smile. The remnants of the dreams were still with him. “I guess this is their way of having my back.”
“Maybe,” Rachel replied. “Lil Joe came in with Ms. Margie this morning. I couldn’t help but noticed he was strapped, too.”
“Really? They know something I don’t,” Wade stated as he walked towards the shower. “I’m going to speak to my brothers. I want to make sure they are prepared.”
“You are highly favored by the gods. No harm will come to you.”
Wade stopped then turned back to her. “What did you say?”
Rachel shook her head and exhaled. “Damn if I know why these things keep coming out of my mouth these days.” She stood. “Let’s get dress and meet the guys downstairs before all the food is gone.”
The two looked at each other and laughed. “I don’t think that’s possible, with SuzieMae around.”
“Right …. did you see all that food on the table?” Rachel followed Wade towards the bathroom.
“Did you see any left on Drake or Lil Joe’s plate?” Wade laughed.
Less than an hour later, they were downstairs in the diner at what was now considered their table with the brothers, making plans. Winston and Lil Joe had joined them.
“Where is Ross?” Rachel asked. “He’s been scarce since we came to town.”
“He’s visiting a few places,” Monty replied. “Are you and Winston working on what you can find out about the Chambers?”
Rachel nodded. “Winston has seen archives on the family history. We’re going to sort through them while you are gone.”
“How far away is the estate?” Wade asked Lil Joe.
“Thirty minutes across the state line,” he replied. “The state line is literally in the middle of the street.” He pointed out the window. “The buildings on this side of Main Street are Virginia. The building across the street is Tennessee.”
“So, what you are saying is if I commit a crime right here and run across the street, you can’t touch me?” Drake asked.
“Legally,” Lil Joe nodded. “But if I catch your ass and drag you back to my side of the street, well, son, I can do anything I want. Including kicking your ass for making me chase after you.”
“I don’t think you can catch me, Lil Joe. Cause there ain’t nothing little about you.” Drake chuckled.
“Want to try me?”
The people at the table looked from Drake to Lil Joe, then back to Drake.
“Naw, I think I’d better stay here.”
“Good choice,” Lil Joe replied as he stood.
Laughter filled the air as they all looked at the expression on Drake’s face.
“You two ready to meet the Chambers?” he asked.
Wade and Monty stood. “Ready.”
Wade walked out with Lil Joe as Monty hung back, talking to Dane. The moment he got into the backseat, Lil Joe took off. They were in the car for less than a minute when Lil Joe said, “You are now in Tennessee.”
“I’m not sure what I expected, but this looks just like Bristol,” Monty said.
“It is just like Bristol, you are just on the Tennessee side,” Lil Joe replied.
“Seems like simple living on both sides. Do they have technology out here?”
“We have a number of technology headquarters located right outside of Bristol. We have the internet. It may not be as strong as it is in some places. We experience dropped calls and things, but not overly so.”
During the drive to the Chambers’ estate, conversation was pleasant. No eventful moments to speak of until they crossed a small bridge. They were approximately ten minutes from the entrance when the scenery instantly changed. One minute, they were driving through a country-type road, and then the next, there were beautiful green hills as far as you can see. The property on both sides was enclosed with black wrought-iron fencing.
“This is beautiful country,” Wade commented.
“Yes, it is,” Lil Joe replied. Pride was clear in his voice as he spoke about the land. “People are quick to call where we live Hicksville. City folk don’t understand why we move so slow or are never in hurry about anything, including when we talk. They don’t see the beauty in the surroundings. It has a tranquility to it that most people will never experience.”
“Is this the Chambers’ estate?” Wade asked.
“From the minute we crossed the little bridge, the land belongs to the Chambers. Right here, where the fence begins, is the actual estate.”