R.I.P. Roland Reiter

Chapter 2 "Chase The Hen"

Leroi sat leaning over the side of his bed lacing up his boots. His hair was still damp from a rushed shower. Off work, muscles aching of a productive day at work, belly growling in anticipation of Gayle's delicious cooking. Flannel shirt still unbuttoned, he left their bedroom to help his wife set the table.

Gayle bustled about the kitchen juggling the evening meal's fixings. Frying chicken, peeling potatoes, baking rolls, boiling gravy. The aroma of the much needed feast greeted his nostrils as he entered the room. Without word he opened a cupboard and piled his hands with plates and glasses. After setting them down on the dinner table he returned to the kitchen to plant a slobbery smooch on his wife's cheek. She squealed, saying how the wet kiss was gross, dinner was almost ready and to call in the kids from their playing in the yard to wash up. Secretly, Gayle loved her husbands after work post-shower kisses, but she loved letting him get a rise out of her. She loved him dearly.

Leroi and Gayle met at a 4th of July BBQ hosted by Talcum County Sheriff, Ed Taylor, Gayle's father. Leroi had recently been discharged from active duty in the US Army and was in the area visiting his widowed grandmother. Besides Granny, Leroi didn't know a soul at the BBQ. Bored out of his skull he decided to enter the gunnysack race. The race was intended for children only and a few of the deputies' wives raised a stink about Leroi entering. Sitting near the flock of bickering wives was Gayle. Upon hearing the fuss this poor stranger had caused she too decided to race as well. They stood shoulder to shoulder staring at each other as the youngsters assembled on the starting line. BANG! The starter pistol rang out and a mob of sugar-crazed juveniles hopped madly towards the finish. Leroi followed closely behind Gayle, giving her the lead and letting her beat him. After ditching his gunnysack Leroi introduced himself. The two of them clicked immediately and rumors of Gayle's rebellious new boyfriend soon became the hot topic of discussion of local quilting circles.

Gayle's parents hadn't approved of Leroi from day one. Though he worked hard at his construction job and treated everybody respectfully, winning her parents' favor seemed a goal unreachable. Gayle was constantly reminded of how she could do better. After dating for nearly a year, the Leroi & Gayle eloped in secret. This only added to the discord between Leroi and his In-Laws.

A year after stating their marital vows, Gayle gave birth to a son, Roland. Two years later Roland's sister Paige arrived. Leroi worked hard to provide for his family. With the help of a VA loan and scant inheritance left by his deceased grandmother, they were able to buy a small farm outside of town. The same farm where they raised their two children. The same two children who presently were engaged in a frantic game of Chase The Hen. The aging hen clucking and racing about the yard as Roland and Paige sprinted close behind in hot pursuit.

Paige ran around a towering oak tree in an attempt to cut off the hen. Paying more attention to her big brother waving a plastic sword at the chicken than what lay in her path, she tripped on a root scuffing her knee mildly. She sat down and watched with disgust as her brother and the hen passed her and rounded the side of the chicken coop out of sight. As she stood panting for breath the sound of Roland's hunt ceased suddenly. For a moment she giggled to herself imagining Roland having a similar spill, his ending in face plant into chicken poop. Her chortling stopped as abruptly as it had begun when she heard a loud "THUD!" come from the chicken coop. Within a few seconds she had reached the chicken coop.

Paige's eyes were wide with terror as she dashed towards the farm house. "Rolly's hurt, Daddy HEEEEEEELP!", she cried out in a blood-curdling scream.