Read Online Joshua (Book 2): Traveler by John S. Wilson - Free Book Online

on the south side.
    After a nervous moment, the oldest woman appeared from the north side entrance and yelled out to her husband, “Andrea tried to sneak out the other side and they shot at her.”
    The old man never took his eyes or gun off Robert, “Is she all right?”
    “She isn’t hurt, just shook up. Beth is taking care of her, she’s hysterical right now.”
    Rob could tell the old man was angry and decided to get the conversation back on track before it became any more emotional. “We have your place covered from both ends, you’re not going anywhere. We’ve got your son and granddaughter. All we want is your food, we don’t want or need to hurt anyone. Just give us the food and we’ll go.”
    “Like I already said, how can I trust you, my son and grandbaby might already be dead.”
    He lifted up a finger as if to say give me a minute, then Rob got back on his radio and spoke quiet enough that the old man couldn’t overhear. “Coyote ...”
    “Go ahead.”
    “Make the girl scream, loud, but just for a second or two.”
    “Copy,” Alton turned to D’Cruz who was still holding the child, one hand wrapped around her and the other clamped down on her mouth. “You heard him, D’Cruz, make her scream for a second.”
    D’Cruz let go of her mouth and then grabbed her by a pigtail and twisted it with all of his strength. She tried not to but at last started screaming.
    Her father was face down in the mud, his arms behind him bound with zip ties, his ankles restrained too. He struggled on the ground as Cornwell held him there with one boot. “You bastards, leave her alone!”
    Then there came an unbearable sound that echoed through the quiet forest, a little girl in anguish, screaming at the top of her lungs. In a moment it ended and only the silence remained.
    The old man lowered his gun, turned towards the sound and back to Rob, now unable to conceal the loathing inside. “I should kill you.”
    Rob didn’t think he could, or at least hoped, “You should, but you won’t. Like I said before, you’re not going to let the people you love die over some food. If I don’t get some cooperation out of you right now, not only is your granddaughter going to be killed, but it will be very unpleasant too. Several of my men would love to make a woman out of her before she dies.”
    The old man raised his gun again and right at that moment Robert wasn’t sure if he was going to live or not. Without taking his gaze off him, Rob brought the radio to his mouth, this time making sure he could be heard, “Coyote ...”
    “Go ahead.”
    “Rape the little girl, all of you. Then kill her. Make the man watch and then kill him too.”
    Enraged, the old man closed one eye and took aim as he started to squeeze the trigger, but his wife came running out on the road, blocking her husband’s shot. “Please, please don’t hurt them! We’ll do whatever you say!”
    Rob was relieved he could have a rational conversation with someone. “You seem like a reasonable lady. So I’m going to be reasonable with you. I know you’re afraid I am lying and your granddaughter and the rest of you will be killed. That’s not an unfounded fear in this day and age. So here’s what I’m going to do to make it easier for you. I will stand here and let your husband hold his rifle on me. Then I’ll have my men bring up our cart. You’ll let them fill it up with all the food it will hold. Once that is done my men will go on their way. When they’re out of range, your loved ones will be released and I’ll leave, the end, and we all live happily ever after. But there is a caveat. You knew there would be, didn’t you? If I or any of my men are killed, or if you try to come after us, all of you women will die horribly. Your men will be forced to watch it too, before they die.”
    She agreed and talked her husband into the deal, although it was obvious he would rather be committing murder. Rob called Peavey and the boys, along with