Chapter 9 Birds of a Feather #2
“Yes!” Halle felt as if a tremendous hurdle had been crossed. “I want you to live close enough for the boys to continue having a rich relationship with their only aunt. I want them to visit you so often that you’ll almost feel like you’re being taken advantage of.”
“Never!” Jen’s voice was adamant. “I could never see too much of those little stinkers.”
“Then it’s settled. The cottage is yours.” Halle curled both hands around the stems of the bouquet Jen had made for her. “Owen and the boys are going to be ecstatic when you tell them you’re staying, which is an even bigger gift than your flowers. Thank you for both gifts.”
“You’re welcome.” Jen edged toward the door. “I’m beginning to understand why my brother fell so hard for you.”
Halle was so thankful that he had. “When Owen sees something he wants, he goes for it.”
Jen snorted. “He’s always been that way. Speaking of going for things, I’m supposed to be nudging you outdoors. The bakery delivered your cake a few minutes ago, and Pastor Joe is waiting in the front yard.”
“It’s time!” Halle clutched her flowers tighter, thrilled to pieces that she and Jen had made progress toward something better. It didn’t completely eliminate the weird feeling she’d rolled out of bed with, but it helped.
Jen led the way across the living room to the entry foyer. The front door was propped open, allowing the breeze to sweep through the screen door.
Halle could hear the squawk of chickens on the other side. “What in the world?” As she stepped onto the front porch, she couldn’t believe the number of chickens that were clucking, flapping their wings, and puttering around loose in the yard.
Jensen and Kenny were waving brooms, trying to herd the feathered escapees toward the chicken pens. However, they weren’t making much progress.
Owen strode her way and offered her his arm.
“You look stunning, Miss Garrett.” Though his voice was teasing, pure adoration glowed in his eyes.
The way he looked in his beige suit took her breath away.
She’d never seen him in a suit before. Like her, he’d paired his wedding outfit with boots and a Stetson.
Jen shooed a chicken aside to create a path for them to Pastor Joe. He was waiting for them beneath a multicolored rose trellis someone had erected in the front yard—probably Jen.
Halle shook her gorgeous flowers in playful admonition at her groom-to-be.
“I leave you alone for a few minutes, and complete pandemonium breaks out. I’m sure there’s an explanation for all of this.
” She chuckled as she gazed around them at the growing number of chickens in the front yard.
In all honesty, the thought of being surrounded by chickens while they exchanged their vows didn’t bother her one bit.
“There’s definitely an explanation.” He grimaced. “Not a good one, I’m afraid.” He cupped his hand over the one she’d curled around his arm as he led her through the chickens toward Pastor Joe. “Jensen claims they aren’t ours. They showed up out of the blue, and more keep coming.”
Halle didn’t like the sound of that. The weird feeling in her stomach returned stronger than before.
Jen got them situated beneath the rose trellis; then she rounded up the boys. They were having such a ball chasing chickens that it wasn’t an easy task. Their white dress shirts had come untucked from their jeans, and the toes of their shiny black boots were gathering dust and bits of grass.
Rex came to her aid by scooping up the boys—one beneath each arm. He hauled them like footballs toward Halle and Owen.
“Time to straighten up,” Owen chided them in a mild voice. “We’re getting married!”
That got their attention. Their faces spun toward Halle with so much youthful hope and longing that it brought tears to her eyes. Since it was a small family wedding, she threw tradition to the wind and held her arms out to them.
They launched themselves at her in a fervent group hug that knocked a few petals off her bouquet.
“When can we call you Mom?” Cooper inquired breathlessly.
Their father tugged them away from Halle by the backs of their collars. “Just as soon as you let us get married.” His grin took the sting out of his words. His large hands kept them anchored in front of him and Halle as Pastor Joe opened his Bible.
Jen shimmied her way through the chickens to stand beside Halle, and Rex did the same for Owen. Poor Jensen and Kenny continued waving their brooms to keep the chickens from swarming the rose trellis.
The minister beamed a fatherly smile at them. “I’m honored that you asked me to be a part of such a special day for your family. Let’s open the ceremony with prayer, shall we?”
They bowed their heads while he spoke a blessing over them and offered up a prayer of thanksgiving for the vows they were about to make. As he prayed, the clucking of chickens grew louder.
By the time Halle opened her eyes, the number of feathered critters in the front yard had nearly doubled.
Pastor Joe doggedly launched into reading the age-old passage about love from the Book of Corinthians.
“Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It does not dishonor others. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”
He closed his Bible. “According to the Word of God, love is the greatest gift of all, and no one ever loved us more perfectly than God does. In imitation of His perfect love, you now get to pledge your love to each other.” He motioned for them to produce their rings.
Owen patted the boys’ shoulders, and they hurriedly dug the ring boxes from their jeans.
Pastor Joe prompted Halle and Owen through their vows and the exchange of rings. Her ring was a white gold band with a row of tiny diamonds that slid snugly against her diamond solitaire. Owen’s was a matching white gold band with no gems or other adornments.
After the closing prayer, Ryder and Cooper sent up a noisy cheer of elation, while Owen and Halle sealed their union with the sweetest of kisses.
His heart was in his eyes as he declared, “I love you, Mrs. Tolliver.”
She gazed back dreamily. “I love you, too.”
“Now can we call you Mom?” Cooper jumped up and down in excitement.
Owen’s affirmative answer was nearly drowned out by the drone of motors over their heads.
Halle used her wedding bouquet to shade her eyes as she gazed upward. A trio of drones headed their way from the direction of Aspen Ranch. Every instinct in her screamed that something was wrong.
“Run!” She hollered the word, reaching for the boys to herd them toward the house.
As her warning rang out, the chickens swarmed the rose trellis. Fluttering their wings and squawking to wake the dead, they attacked.
Halle’s wedding bouquet slid from her fingers to the ground, but she didn’t stop to pick it up. She kept her arms around Ryder and Cooper, who were sobbing in terror. She half-carried them in her haste to reach the porch, glancing frantically over her shoulder at those she’d left behind.
Owen, Rex, Jen, and the Carters slapped and kicked at the maniacal creatures and succeeded in stunning a few of them. They lay on the ground, squawking faintly and spinning in circles on their sides.
Owen kicked one of them so hard that it exploded. The pieces fell in muted thuds into the grass—not sinew, bones, and feathers, but mechanical pieces. The chickens weren’t real chickens!
Halle was stunned. Since she’d been raised on a chicken farm, how had she missed that? They were chicken-shaped robots—rather excellent imitations of the real thing.
The dozens of robotic chickens that were still in motion pecked at the arms and legs of the humans fighting them off. Their attack was all too real, leaving minor bruises and cuts on their victims. Pastor Joe joined the battle with his Stetson in one hand and his Bible in the other.
Halle arrived at the front porch and shoved the boys through the door ahead of her. Spinning around, she remained outside the screen door, swinging her Stetson and kicking at the electronic chickens that had followed them onto the porch.
Owen and Rex pulled out pistols and started shooting at the creatures, quickly putting several more out of commission.
Because of her higher vantage point, Halle was able to determine that the robotic chickens were being herded by the trio of drones overhead.
Without warning, the drones started firing bullets that pelted the ground, kicking up dirt and grass. The volley of bullets peppered the ground ever closer to those fighting the chicken robots.
“Watch out,” Halle screamed, pointing frantically at the drones.
She couldn’t tell if Owen heard her, but he aimed his pistol higher for his next shot. It connected with the nearest drone and sent it spiraling toward the ground. It crashed and burst into flames.
Rex brought down the second drone, while Owen shot down the third one. The remaining robotic chickens instantly toppled over and grew motionless, but the danger was far from over. The flames spread along the dry grass, driven by the mountain breeze.
Halle numbly fished out her cell phone and dialed 9-1-1. The answering attendant promised to send a fire truck, but goodness only knew if it would arrive in time to save the farm. She stood riveted, watching helplessly as the raging flames inched ever closer to the porch.
The men unwound the hoses hooked to the water spigots on the side of the house.
Jen helped them. Three arcs of water were soon pouring into the flames, making them pop and sizzle.
Jen glanced up and caught Halle’s eye. “Take care of the boys! We’ve got this!”
The boys! Right! Halle spun around and pushed open the screen door, knowing it might not be safe inside the farmhouse for long.
She needed to get the twins to safer ground.
They’d be sitting ducks in the storm cellar beneath the back porch.
The fishing pond beyond the chicken pens was probably their best bet.
“Ryder!” She shouted the boys’ names, spinning in a full circle in the living room. “Cooper! Where are you?”
There was no answer. She wasn’t surprised. They’d been scared out of their wits by what they’d seen outside. She continued dashing from room to room, calling their names.
As she sped from the kitchen into the hallway, she plowed into a tall, shadowy figure. The impact nearly sent both of them to the floor, but he danced backward and recovered his footing.
“I’ve got you, babe.” His steely arms came around her, but they weren’t Owen’s arms, and it wasn’t Owen’s voice. It was James House. What was he doing here?
“I was so afraid I wouldn’t make it to you in time.” He was dressed in black from head to toe, with a ski mask pulled over his head. All Halle could see were his eyes. They were dark orbs, pooling with regret.
Shock rendered her speechless. Was he talking about the fire? If so, it hadn’t reached the house yet.
“This is all my fault,” he crooned, “but I’m going to get you out of here. I promise.”
“No!” She tried to wriggle out of his grasp, but he hugged her tighter, pinning her arms against her sides. “I don’t want to leave,” she panted, hoping to appeal to whatever humanity he had left. “The fire is spreading. I need to get the boys to safety.”
“They’re gone. I’m sorry.” His voice was oddly sympathetic. “We’re the only ones in the house.”
“Where did they go?” She whipped her head frantically toward the back door.
“I don’t know. I just saw them running.” James lifted her and carried her out the back door. “Let’s hope they keep running.”
“They’re only children!” It was the most irresponsible thing she’d ever heard another adult utter. “Put me down, James!” She wrestled furiously with him. “I need to go after the boys.” What kind of monster would leave innocent five-year-olds to fend for themselves while a fire raged out of control?
“There’s nothing left for you here, Halle. Didn’t you hear the shooting?” He clamped a damp cloth over her nose. “It’s over. The only thing I can do for you now is get you out of here.”
Of course, she’d heard the shooting! She’d been on the front porch when it had started, but he didn’t seem to know that, or the fact that Owen and Rex had shot down the drones before the deadly volley of bullets had reached them.
She kicked and struggled with all her might; but with each sobbing breath, something sickly sweet seeped into her lungs.
The backyard faded, taking the mountain breeze with it. In its place was the stillest, blackest silence she’d ever known.