Now, now. No need for that kinda language. We can still talk as friends here.
Zeke jammed the torch into a makeshift sconce on a nearby wall and proceeded to pick up his freshly sharpened knife, along with a large spoon.
This can go one of two ways for ya, villain. Either you can tell me what I wanna know and I'll untie ya and use this here spoon to scoop ya up a nice big bowl of that there stew... or...
Zeke lowered the spoon and held up the knife.
Well... heh. Let's just not let things come to that, shan't we??
Zeke surreptitiously reached into his pocket and cradled a small chunk of amber with a mosquito inside. He'd like to say that Amber herself gave it to him, but it was really something he went out and bought the next day at the local gift shop. He had asked the shopkeep if they had any fossilized butterflies instead, deeming it much more fitting to her memory, but no luck.
She was...she was the most beautiful woman I ever seen in my entire life...
Zeke felt a lump form in his throat and quickly fought back tears. Signs of weakness would do him no good here.
Ambuh. Her name was Ambuh. I believe you two were acquainted, villain, were you not? I don't have a doubt in my gosh damn mind that you know where she is right now!
Zeke sends the spoon clattering to the floor, leaving only the knife in hand.
I'm sorry to hear you say that, Toddy. That's some real good stew you're passin' up on! Caught those rabbits fresh this mornin'.
Or was that yesterday morning? Everything's been a blur lately.
I was that guy! ME! And I tell ya what, we fell in LOVE! Chances are we woulda ran off together the very next mornin', that's how strong our connection was! But in the black of night, when we was walkin' back to my place down that dirt road east of Bob's honkytonk, she up and disappeared! WHOOSH! Things like that don't just happen. I believe--no, I KNOW--there to be some foul play involved. And I want ANSWERS!
Zeke chucks the knife into the floorboards right in front of Toddy in an attempt to rile the sonuvabitch up.
I might've got a little over-emotional there. I've gotta keep a cool head. But dammit, how can I when it comes to that girl?
Zeke strode up to the knife and went to yank it out. Unfortunately he had lodged it pretty deep in there and had to wiggle it several times to get it out. All the while he could feel Toddy Villain staring and judging him, which just made Zeke even angrier.
He picked up the knife and held it to Toddy's face.
You best be watchin' your mouth when you talk about her. I know what I saw. She didn't run. She was taken, somehow. Are you really meanin' to tell me you don't have any kinda idea what could've happened there? THINK!
Look, I'm a reasonable guy. You give me something, I'll give you something. On my honor. So start singin', fella.
Zeke laid his hand on Toddy's head and rustled his hair.
But if the song you're singin' is feelin' a bit...outta tune...well...let's just say we'll have ta change the track, one way or another.
Zeke grabbed the spoon off the floor and took a heaping scoop of stew out of the pot. Little flecks of rabbit and carrot got caught in his beard as he casually gulped it down in one go.
Zeke tapped the knife against Toddy Villain's nose.
Now that's an interestin' yarn you've spun there. Mighty interestin' indeed. But I can't help like feelin' you're holdin' something back...
Zeke hoisted the knife above his head and thrust it downwards...to cut off Toddy's hand bindings.
...but in any case, I'll give ya a chance. One chance. But believe you me, if I find out this intel is bad then...I'll be back in town in no time flat.
City folk? Amber didn't strike me as the type. Is this man trying to pull the wool over my eyes?
As Toddy gets up, Zeke leans against the doorframe, making it clear he's still only leaving when he says he can.
Emily Matthews, huh? Of...Ore...uh...gen? I ain't passed no geography classes but the basic levels, but I do remember that being an awful long way from here. Maybe you's right. Or maybe...you're trying to send me a long ways away from here to get me outta yer hair.
Zeke grabbed a nearby flask of moonshine to wash down the stew from before. With a satisfied sigh, he continued.
I've got something of a proposition for ya, Toddy. Ya see, I'll be headin' out to Oregon in the mornin'. What do ya say...you accompany me on this trip? If you're telling the truth, no worries, I'll drop you off here as soon as I see that this Emily is the real deal. If yer tellin' the truth, nothing to worry about...right?
Zeke looked down at the knife in his hand, and back at Toddy, who looked abjectly terrified.
My god. I'm becoming my father.
Well, you ain't gonna get no cellular reception out here. How's about you jump into my pick-up and make the call on the way outta town? Just...as long as you ain't gonna pull no funny business.
Zeke holsters the knife and aggressively wraps his arm around Toddy.
I'm glad we could come to an understandin'! I think this is the beginning of somethin' beautiful. Let's just hope you was tellin' the truth!
Zeke laughs a bit too loudly as he jovially slaps Toddy's shoulder.
Is this Emily really gonna know anything of importance about Amber's disappearance, being all the way out there in heckin' Oregon? I find it doubtful, but it's about the only lead I got. And if this villain is still holding out on anything, mayhaps his guilt will catch up to him on the road.
Eight days. Eight whole days it's been since we departed on this adventure. The plan was so simple at first: find this Emily woman and confront her about anything she knows about Amber's whereabouts. But soon as we rolled into town...something seemed fishy about it all. This girl was already packing up and getting ready to head across the country...for what? My daddy always used to tell me: never shoot a lone critter if you can help it. Eventually, they're gonna lead you back to their pack and you can get yourself a full dinner. Not that I was necessarily fixin' to shoot this lass, but you get the picture.
And so, she led us on this merry chase all the way cross country to this little northern town. I mean, I've lived in the middle o' nowhere my entire life but I ain't never see someone hurtin' so bad to visit. Much less drivin' across the entire country to get there. The whole situation was as curious as ever, but I finally felt like we was nearin' the promised land. I was growin' more convinced than ever that she knew something about my lost Amber. Hell, I was startin' to think she might just be behind it all.
Toddy, would you quit yer hollerin' for just a moment! You've been squealin' like a stuck pig this entire trip. She's probably just crouchin' behind some dryer right now. Where could she have run off to anyway?
Zeke dismissively takes another swig of his moonshine and turns up the radio to listen to some Willie Nelson for the fifty-seventh time this trip.
Now that's what I'm talkin' bout brother! Hop on in!
Zeke eases the gas pedal down which causes a sickening screech and clunking to be emitted from the engine. It was a minor miracle they had gone undetected this long while tailing this girl.
Zeke tries to suss out the license plate but his vision is far too blurry at this point.
Aw, hell.......let's STEP ON IT!
Zeke slams the pedal to the metal and pulls alongside the RV. He then pulls out his hunting rifle and points it out the passenger window, in front of Toddy's face.
HEY! YOU! Pull over now and we won't have us any trouble!
Did...did she really just try to outrun me? In that piece of shit??
That sonuvabitch! This ol' girl may be on her last legs but she's still got some life in her yet! Hoooold onto yer ass, villain...things are about to get bumpy!
Zeke notices the damage the RV sustained from the pothole and temporarily puts down the rifle. He eases off the gas and slows down just enough to get the front of his truck flush with the back of the RV.
He then veers to the right and tries to ram it off the road.
