Rebel Soul (22 page)

CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

Fri 13th July

  Shortly before daylight, Ed finally showed up. Emily saw the look of fear on his face as he glanced between them and the car. Emily nor Billy had gotten out and looked at the car yet, and she wondered what kind of mangled mess it was. They had just set in the car dozing off and on, into unconsciousness, and had been confused at times. Emily feared they both had a concussion. She couldn’t think straight, and her whole head felt funny.

     “Dam, guys are you ok?” Ed ask, his eye’s looked wide to her, plus it looked to her like he had two faces weaving in and out of each other. Pull it together Emily she told herself.

    “Yeah Bro” Billy managed to speak, “Get Emily out, ok man.”

    “I’m not so sure about that Billy. You don’t look ok.” Ed told him as he tried to open Emily’s car door. “This door won’t open Emily, Just hang on, I’m going to have to help Billy out first then I’ll be back after you, ok.”  Ed told her calmly.

Ed went around the car and pulled Billy’s door open, Emily thought she heard to door crack, and then a bang. She looked over to see the door hanging off as Ed got Billy out of the car. Emily watched as Billy leaned on him, slowly walking to his car. Then Ed ran back and helped her across the seat.

“I think I can stand,” she told Ed, as she felt him put his arms around her like he was going to carry her to the car. It hurt to walk but she managed to put one foot in front of the other, she felt very dizzy though, and thought that she might fall and grabbed hold of Ed, and he helped her the rest of the way, another sign of a concussion she thought.

    She climbed into the backseat of Ed’s car beside Billy. “You ok” she ask him.

   “Yeah Babe” he wrapped his arms around her, as Ed started the car.

     “Sorry it took me so long but there’s Cops everywhere. I drove down the road, they had the eighteen wheeler loaded and ready to move. I drove around a little while making sure no cops followed me. We’ll get the car later Billy.” He turned around and looked at them in the backseat. “Shit man, look at you two.” Ed said. “How the hell are you two still alive?”

  They were both bloody and bruised all over, Emily had tied her sweater around Billy’s head and the blood had soaked through it. It was bad, they both looked bad and Emily hurt from head to toe.

   Ed drove straight home, he didn’t even offer to take her home and she was glad. Emily felt nervous about going in his house but she didn’t want her family to see her right now. They would freak out, and she defiantly didn’t feel like an argument or lecture right now.

  She nervously climbed out of Ed’s car and walked inside the house. Andy was setting on the couch and looked up from his paper as they walked in. “Are you two ok?” He ask, his voice was rough but he seemed concerned, his eye glared at them both.

    “Yeah Dad” Billy told him as he held onto Emily tightly. “Emily you can go in the bathroom over there and clean up.” Andy pointed to a room off the left of the couch. “Billy make sure she has what she needs and Ed go over to Cheryl’s and get her some clothes to put on.” Andy told them. “Then Billy get back in here and let me take a look at your head boy that don’t look good.” Then he stood and walked toward the kitchen.

     Billy followed Emily into the bathroom, “Baby, look at you I’m so sorry,” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Hurry up boy” the voice came from the other room. Billy started her bath water then looked under the sink and got out the shampoo, conditioner, soap, a towel and washcloth, then told her there was a blow dryer under the sink if she needed it. She felt speechless and just wanted to relax at this moment, and stared at him, she couldn’t believe the night they had just went through. He kissed her again then left her alone in the bathroom. Emily undressed and looked at her ruined clothes, all bloody and now stained, then she stepped into the bathtub and slowly lowered her aching muscles under the warm water. She hurt, hurt all over.

   Emily wet her hair and watched as the dried blood turned red and flowed into the water as it got wet. The Bruises on her arms and legs were visible, blue, black, red and purple. It scared her to know how close she had come to death. She laid back in the bathtub, it hurt the back of her head as she touched the tub with it. “Dam” she whispered. An eighteen wheeler had hit the car she was in, head on. Head on she repeated in her mind.

    There was a knock at the bathroom door and Ed yelled in “I’m going to lay the clothes inside the door Emily.”

   “Ok” she answered, as he slowly opened the door and laid the clothes on the floor.

    She quickly finished her bath then cleaned the tub, and dried her hair. She put the clothes on that Ed had laid on the floor, they were a little baggy but fit well enough. Emily was aware of the voices from the other room, she stood and listened for a minute, but couldn’t make out what they were saying.

    Then opened the bathroom door to an empty living room and followed the voices to the kitchen. Andy had Billy’s head laying on the table and was shaving around the wound. “Ed, go get me some peroxide and tape” Andy told him as she looked up at Emily standing in the doorway. “Emily see if you can hold back some of his hair out of my way.” Emily quickly done as she was told. “You two are lucky to be alive” Andy said as he shaved carefully around the cut.

     Emily could see Billy’s face twitch occasionally and knew it hurt. “Yes sir we are.” Emily tried to stay calm and answered him as Ed came back with the peroxide and some white tape. “Billy strip your clothes off and Ed, I want you to take these clothes and Emily’s clothes out and burn them.” Billy stood and took his clothes off. Emily noticed how bruised up he was as Andy quickly wrapped a towel around him and laid his head back on the table. “What happened to all your hair Emily?” She felt uneasy with this small talk, but maybe he was just trying to get Billy’s mind off the peroxide he was fixing to pour on his cut, she thought.

“I got it cut” She answered just as Billy let out a large, “aww”

“Hold on son, hold on I’m just going to clean it out, and make sure there isn’t any glass in it, then I’m going to try and tape it up ok.” He told Billy, then continued talking to Emily, as she noticed how gentle and calm he was with Billy. “You look just like your Mother did at your age, but what I can’t understand Emily, is the way you have been acting. I’ve always thought of you as a good girl. I think you and Billy here need to get your priorities straight. You don’t have to say anything, and that’s all I have to say about it. Now let’s get Billy fixed up here.”

Andy finished Billy’s head as James and John come back with the car. It was a disaster, looking at it confirmed the fact that they was lucky to be alive. The demolished car was smashed to pieces, Emily couldn’t figure out how they had even got it started and drove it the few miles they had. It looked like the truck had ran over the car, it was smashed and dented in everywhere. She felt her tears falling as she looked at the car and even thought she seen a few tears in Billy’s eyes. Billy pulled her to him and held tightly again so tightly, it was hard to breath.

“Oh Baby, If you would have died and I hadn’t, I would not have been able to handle it. I would have to die to. I’m so sorry Babe.” He kissed her. Emily was still unable to speak, she thought it might be shock, she didn’t know, but looking at the car, Billy, herself, she couldn’t imagine anyone living through this. “Let’s sleep at the cave.” He said as he led her into the house. “Ok Billy” she managed to force the words out.

They were both tired and ached, their heads hurt, but after Billy gathered up some food and blankets they headed out to the cave. They walked there hand in hand quietly. Then Billy laid the blanket out while Emily put some sandwiches together. After eating Billy pulled her into his arm and kissed her passionately, she pulled him to her. Her body suddenly aching for him, as he kissed along her neck. The stress of the night before, plus, the wreak that had so demolished Billy’s car and almost taken their lives. Forgotten at that moment. She loved him despite the feud, their families and anything else that might try to stand in their way. She wanted to be with him forever.

  They spend the rest of that day and the next nine days, at the cave together. They had decided to separate themselves from everybody that was trying to tear them apart. Just being together, only leaving to get food, or change clothes and only seeing who they needed or had to see.

      During that time they took long walks in the woods, fished and skinny dipped, while they bathed in the river. They spend time planning to leave, get married, and talked about having kids in the future, and maybe trying to reconcile with their families later so their children would know and love them, but all and all, they were together and to them that’s all that mattered.

     But on the other hand they both felt as if their time together was getting short, they both now was having nightmares of death, both were having the same dreams at times, crying and holding each other. Emily wondered if the dreams were coming from there subconscious because they were worried about the way the families felt about them being together. She told Billy, let’s just keep standing up to them, plan our wedding and invite them if they come, then they come if not then we really didn’t expect them. “No Emily,” Billy told her.

“Why not” she ask.

“Because, Emily, I don’t want to lose you.” That’s all he would tell her, and she wondered again what he was hiding from her.   They both decided it was time to lay off the alcohol and Billy told her he had a plan, to get money for them to leave on.

    “What is the plan Billy, I need to know?” She ask.

    “I’m sorry Emily but I can’t get you anymore involved then you already are. I might get killed, you might get killed, but Emily, you have a chance to live, if you don’t know.” He cupped her face in his hand, and told her.

     “But Billy, I can’t live without you.” She wondered but didn’t ask him, if the plan involved Low Dog, she didn’t like him. She was scared for him.

“If anything happens to me Emily, you will be ok, you will go on with life, and leave here and be someone special. I know it babe, because you are a very special person.” He kissed her on the forehead. “I love you, Baby.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

Mon 23rd July

     She actually felt great when she woke up. It was the first morning in a couple of weeks that she hadn’t wanted to throw up anything that might be in her stomach. Emily climbed out of bed and headed to the shower with Jr’s hearing on her mind. It was scheduled for this morning and she felt a little nervous about it. Jr was pleading guilty to second degree murder, they didn't yet know his sentence but, Emily felt sad about the whole thing. It would be a sad day in Billy's house the youngest of the family going to prison, but she also felt bad, because her favorite brother was dead and he had been loved by all his family and friends.

Emily and Billy had agreed not to discuss the trial, and they hadn’t. They knew each other’s feelings on the matter and had decided to go to the hearing separate out of respect for their families. She knew this day wouldn’t go down well, and worried for Billy and both families. Like her relationship the thought struck her mind and she shook it off.

Done with her shower she walked to the closet and pulled out a nice pant suit and thought about her relationship with Billy as she dressed. She really loved him, but with her mind now clear from the liquor, she could think straight. The worry about what he might be up to lingered in her mind and wondered if he really, planned on taking her away from here and leaving. She knew he liked the simple life and his roots were deep here in Chestnut but hers were also. They could live a simple life anywhere. She knew he loved her and was serious about spending his life with her, but would that ever happen? She had to ask herself that question.

The nightmares they had both been having, rang danger in her ears, and she didn’t know what to do about it. She had come too far with her relationship with Billy though and wasn’t about to just throw it away. Not Billy, not the only man she could ever see herself loving.

Her phone vibrated, “I love you” Billy’s text said.

“Good luck and I love you to” she send back, and headed down the stairs for breakfast, as her stomach growled. She was starving and really wanted a pancake bad, so bad she could taste it. She was totally disappointed to find eggs and bacon, she looked at her mom and said "I wanted pancakes with some strawberries on top. That sounds good" her eyes widened, and she laughed “with whip cream.”

"Pancakes?" Judy ask and looked at her intently with a wry smile.

"Yes but I will fix them" Emily said as she walked toward the cabinet.

"No honey you set down, I will fix you a couple of pancakes, but I don’t think we have any strawberries" Emily set down and filled her plate full of eggs and bacon and two biscuits, with gravy, as everyone eyed her. “I thought you wanted pancaked?" Josh ask and laughed.

"I do" Emily answered him and rolled her eyes. “I’m hungry,” she shrugged her shoulders.

The family actually had a good morning, no one mentioned the fact that she had disappeared for days at a time, but her brothers focused on teasing her over her appetite, as they laughed and enjoyed tormenting her. But Emily could see the weary look in her Moms eyes watching her every move. Emily thought she knew why, her Mom was staring at her. She was beginning to feel it also, deep in her mind, she knew that she was pregnant, and also knew with or without Billy, she would have to leave Chestnut soon. She couldn’t bring a half Johnson baby into that house, she didn’t think it would ever truly be accepted, at least not for a really long time.

“Well,” Jack pushed his chair out and stood up, “Let’s go.” His face looked grim, Emily noted as he spoke. Not a happy day for any of us Emily thought.

They were taking Dan’s van, the feeling of dome linger around her, as she walked out the door and climbed in taking a seat in the back. She looked out the window and watched the Johnsons drive down the road. She knew the day would be a tough one, on both families.

“Everyone ready?” Dan ask then started the van and pulled out of the driveway heading to the courthouse. The trip was the quietest one, she ever remembered, traveling with her family, and it seemed the longest ride into town she had ever taken. She wanted to scream drive faster Dan, and looked at the speedometer. It read sixty five, he was already speeding. Dam this is taking forever, she thought as she set back in the seat.

She didn’t know if she was relived or not when Dan finally pulled the van into the parking lot and parked. Emily watched as everyone piled out of the van, and walked toward the courthouse. Everyone except her Mom, Emily climbed to the middle seat area as her Mom lit a cigarette and they quietly shared it, then walked into the court house together.

The courtroom was full of family and friends of both side’s. Which was weird to Emily, she knew them all and felt apart of both. She held her breath as she stepped forward, the judge’s seat in front of her, the courtroom small and suffocating, she thought she might pass out, as she grabbed hold of a bench, and looked forward. Her brothers and Dad had saved two seats in the front roll, and on the other side, on the front roll she seen Billy seating next to Ed, behind Jr’s lawyer.

    He looked lost she thought and sent him a text, as she set down. “Hey, I love you.”

“Wish you could be next to me, I need you.” She quickly received from him.

“Sorry” she send back, and glanced across the room at him catching his gaze.

As the judge entered the courtroom, the room fell quite.

"All rise" They all stood until the judge took his seat. He instantly picked up some papers and begun talking.

“This the murder trial of Jr. Johnson for the murder of Joe Canton, do we have a plea" The judge looked across his glass’s and said.

"Yes sir" Jr's lawyer stood and answered him.

"Well let me hear it" The judge looked at the lawyer as if he were tired of this already.

"Jr Johnson has agreed to pled guilty to 2nd decree murder, he will be transferred to a juvenile facility till he's 21 then transferred to a minimum security prison for the remainder of his sentence of not more than 15 years."

"What" Emily heard Josh say somewhat loudly? Emily closed her eyes, hoping Josh didn’t make a scene right here in the courtroom.

"Quite Josh" Judy whispered, but Emily could see Josh’s face and he wasn’t about to let this go.

"Is this agreeable with the DA" the judge ask, already shuffling his papers around as if this was a done deal.

"Yes sir it is" the DA stood and answered.

“What” Josh yelled again as Dan pulled his shirt and they stormed out of the court room.

Emily felt tears in her eyes and she didn't know for who. Her brother’s life was worth more than 15 years, even if it was an accident. She suddenly felt alone and wished Billy was holding her hand. She turned and glanced at him, his handsome face looked hurt and twisted the tears in his eyes were visible, unable to hide.

“I sentence you Jr. Johnson to 15 years in a minimum security prison, you will go to a juvenile faculty till your 21st birthday and then you will be transferred to the minimum security prison to serve the remainder of your sentence.” The judge loudly announced, then tapped his gavel, as the voices in the courtroom raised as if they had been holding their breath. This was over so quickly Emily thought as she remained setting on the bench she had seat down on just ten minutes before. Ten minutes and fifteen years for the life of her brother Joe. Wow Emily thought.

She watched as the Johnsons tried to hug Jr but was soon told no contact with the prisoner. Andy Johnson got into a heated argument with the jailer, and Emily was afraid Andy was going to punch him as she watched him ball up his fist, but the jailer talked him down, allowing him to tell Jr good-by.

Emily’s parents got up to leave and Emily followed them and Ricky out of the courtroom.  Josh and Dan was waiting, outside by the door. The Johnsons were close behind and Emily braced herself, because she knew Josh couldn’t keep his mouth shut, he never could.

"Hey Billy Boy" Josh yelled, buffing his chest out, ready to start a fight. Oh my God, Emily thought as she tried to keep her eye’s to the ground.

"Josh shut-up" Judy shouted at him.

Josh ran toward Billy his finger pointed at him "Your brother kills mine and now you think you have the right to fuck my sister"  She couldn’t take any more of this, the adrenaline filling her body.

"Shut up Josh" Emily screamed.

"You want to fight Josh" Billy pulled his shirt off popping buttons and threw it to the ground, with his fist back, as Josh went to hit him. “No” Emily shouted as she jumped between them, and Josh's fist hit her in the jaw. The blow knocking her to the ground, her jaw instantly stinging, with a solid throb, she thought it might be broke.

That’s when Billy, begun swinging, his fist connecting to Josh like it was nothing, beating him madly, as Emily watched the blood fly from Josh’s mouth and nose, she feared Billy would kill him his anger vivid and unreal to her, like a monster, she didn’t know.

"Billy stop please before you kill him" Emily yelled and cried. That’s when she seen Dan begun hitting Billy in the back. “No” she scream at the sight of the fist and blows hitting the man she so loved.

She jumped up from the ground and pushed Dan with all her might "Get off him, pull them apart, Dan don't hit him,” she screamed so loud it hurt her jaw.

Then she watched as Ed grabbed Dan and they begin fighting. “Oh my God, Emily screamed as she couldn’t keep up with who was hitting who, as Ricky Then Ricky, John and James all joined in.

"Oh my God, stop everybody stop" Emily yelled, as she pushed, shoved, and hit trying to break it up, she didn’t know who to push or hit really, she just did it, as the sirens blaring got closer the ringing in her ears louder. The footsteps of the cops running toward them, pounding on the ground, she watched as they pulled one apart then went to grab another, but the fighting wasn’t stopping and Josh’s face was a horrible mess, Emily just wanted to explode as she set down on the ground and screamed, crying as the gun shot rang in the air, she just knew someone else had been shot.

Her ears rang from the gun shot as she looked at the feet beside her and looked up into the eyes of the deputy that had taken her home the night they had parked in someone’s driveway. To her relief it was his gun in the air and all had fell silent, as the fighting broke up. Everyone stood staring in his direction.

“Everyone’s going to jail except the Jack, Judy, and Andy. I don't want to hear any excuses, because there isn't any,” He shouted, as he picked Emily up off the ground his handcuffs already in his hand.

Emily looked back at her parents as the handcuffs were put on her wrist and wondered about the look that passed between her Dad and Mr. Johnson, it was as if they had been here before. She reached to touch her jaw, then realized she couldn’t with her hands cuffed behind her back, she was pissed. Her jaw hurt badly and Josh's face was a mess. She was mad at Josh but her anger toward Billy was boiling over. He shouldn’t have went off the way he did, and she would tell him so later.

She listened as the officer told her parents and Billy’s dad they could pick everyone up in four hours, and he doubted if any charges would be filed. The deputy then put Emily in the car and got in behind the driver’s seat, then looked through the rear view mirror at her.

"So little lady didn't I tell you, your relationship with Billy wouldn't work. Your families have been enemies for years, don’t you know that?"

"Yes sir, I fully understand" Emily told him.

"Then I don't understand, why you two got together in the first place. Some revenge on your families or something. If you two want to stay together, you need to leave, before one of you gets killed."

She knew he was right. She looked out the window as he pulled away, watching her Mom and Dad get into Dan’s van. She thought about Josh’s words, the anger she had never seen come out of Billy, the fact that she could be pregnant, and the live that she wanted with Billy.