I nodded, grateful for the support but knowing it might not be enough. Pete owned this place, and out on the fence line, miles from town, he could do pretty much whatever he wanted.
We filed out of the bunkhouse into the pre-dawn darkness. The air was crisp and cool, stars still visible overhead. On any other day, I might have appreciated the beauty of it. Today, it just felt ominous.
Pete was waiting by the truck, leaning against the hood with a thermos that I doubted contained coffee. Larry was nowhere to be seen of course. In my sleep-induced haze I’d almost forgottenthat Pete had fired him the night before. He wouldn’t be there to protect us now.
“Look at you all, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed,” Pete sneered as we approached. “Load up.”
We climbed into the back of the truck without a word. I positioned myself in the corner, as far from Pete’s line of sight as possible. Joey sat beside me, his solid presence oddly reassuring.
“Think heactuallyfired Larry?” Joey whispered as the engine roared to life.
I nodded. “Yeah. He’s gone.” I let out a long sigh. “We’re on our own.”
The truck lurched forward, tossing us against each other as Pete accelerated too quickly. I grabbed the side rail to steady myself, my knuckles white from the grip. The pre-dawn air cut through my thin shirt, but the chill wasn’t what made me shiver.
“This is fucked,” Darius whispered from across the truck bed. “He can’t just work us without food.”
“He can do whatever he wants,” I replied, keeping my voice low. “We’re parolees, remember? One call from him, and we’re back inside.”
The truth hung heavy between us. Pete had us trapped, and he knew it. My mind drifted to Ryder, wondering where he’d spent the night after his father had disowned him in front of half the town. Was he okay? Had Evelyn taken him in? The key around my neck felt heavier than usual, a reminder of everything I stood to lose.
We bounced along the dirt roads for what felt like forever, the truck taking a route I didn’t recognize. The southern fence line was only about twenty minutes from the main house, but we’d been driving for nearly forty-five minutes now.
“Where the hell is he taking us?” Greg muttered, voicing what we were all thinking.
I peered over the cab of the truck, trying to get my bearings in the dim light. We were heading deep into the far reaches of McGrath property, areas I’d never worked before. My unease grew with every mile.
The truck finally skidded to a stop in a remote section of the ranch. Pete cut the engine and jumped out, slamming the door hard enough to make the whole vehicle shake. He staggered slightly as he walked around to the back, confirming my suspicion that he was still drunk.
“End of the line, boys,” he announced, dropping the tailgate with a clang. “Today’s special project.”
We climbed out cautiously, surveying our surroundings. We were in a rocky, barren section of the property, far from any roads or buildings. The fence line here was barely standing, ancient posts rotting and wire rusted through in places. It would take days, maybe weeks, to replace properly.
“Tools are in the back,” Pete said, jerking his thumb toward the truck bed. “Unload it. Now.”
We began to unload the truck. It only took a minute to pull everything out, but Pete was already in the cab. The moment it was empty, he revved the engine.
“See you assholes at lunch,” he barked before gunning the accelerator.
The tires spun, throwing mud and old cow shit all over us. We watched him tear across the field as we attempted to dust ourselves off in vain.
“That no-good,” Kyle spat, wiping mud off his face. “Piece of shit… horse’s ass…”
“Bastard left us out here without water,” Joey added, shaking his head as he surveyed our meager supplies.
I stared at the tools scattered around us. There were post hole diggers, wire cutters, hammers, a few spools of barbed wire, and some rotting fence posts that looked barely usable. Nowater. No food. No shade in sight. Just miles of broken-down fence line stretching into the distance.
“He’s trying to break us,” I said quietly, picking up a shovel. “Especially me.”
The others nodded, understanding the situation perfectly. Pete had driven us to the most remote part of his property, left us with inadequate supplies, and abandoned us. This wasn’t work. It was punishment. And it was my fault.
“How far are we from the main house?” I asked, trying to get my bearings.
Greg shielded his eyes, looking at the sun that was just beginning to peek over the horizon. “At least five, maybe six miles. Too damn far.”
“Fuck,” I muttered, running a hand through my hair. The key around my neck felt like it was burning against my skin, reminding me of everything I stood to lose if I didn’t make it through this day.
“So, what’s the plan?” Kyle asked, looking at me like I somehow had the answers.
