Chapter 9 Jim Bass had called Johnny the minute Lance hung up. His hands were shaking as he dialed the number, praying that their manager would pick up. Diane stood there paralyzed, her face a portrait of pain. Jim reached out and pulled her to him whispering, "They'll be OK." He wished he could believe it. Lance hadn't given them many details but it was clear that they were in deep trouble. Lance had sounded worn out and  his concern for Justin led Jim to believe that the younger boy had some serious injuries. Seven years ago, Lance had told them that he was gay, going against their religion, their culture, their upbringing. But when they looked at his sweet face and those honest green eyes, they knew that their choice was simple. Accept him and love him or reject him and lose him. There was no choice. They could never turn their backs on him no matter what lifestyle he had. Two loving parents held their child and promised to be the safe place when the world didn't understand. Tonight they had to make good on that promise. Somehow they had to find Justin and Lance and rescue them. After what seemed like eternity, Johnny had picked up and Jim had explained the situation. "Damn, I told them to be careful. They never listen!" Then his voice softened, "Sorry, Jim, I'm just scared. Let me start things rolling from this end and I'll call you back." He hung up abruptly, as was his style. Jim put the phone in the cradle and hugged Diane, "Now we wait." That would be the hard part. They always worried when Lance was not home and now they worried about Justin too. They wondered if Lynn Harliss knew but decided Lance would have said something if he wanted them to call her. Jim wondered aloud if she even knew about Justin. In the last year, Lance hadn't mentioned Justin's name right away and his parents hadn't pushed it. But they had seen. The two thought they were discreet but the love that flowed between them was obvious in every tiny glance, touch, comment. Diane and Jim had sighed in relief when Lance had finally brought Justin home. Lance took Justin's hand and squeezed it. "Mom, Dad, I want to tell you that we ...that we...." Not able to wait a moment longer, Diane finished the sentence," ...love each other. That is so wonderful." Tears filled her eyes and she hugged each of them, starting with Justin whose own tears streaked his cheeks. Jim Bass caught Lance and then Justin up in bear hugs of his own, "We're happy for you both." That night the four of them had talked for hours. They talked about the future, their plans, the effect on the group, Justin's concern about telling Lynn. They told Lance's parents that the guys had been supportive for the most part. Diane and Jim expressed concern for the boys if someone should find out but they knew their wisdom was falling on deaf ears. The two of them sat close together hand in hand and it was hard at that moment to believe that people could be cruel to them. It wasn't hard now. It took all of Jim's self-control not to drive to Pleasant Valley alone, but he knew that alone he couldn't accomplish anything. Lance had said not to go to the police. Was the south still that bad, that they would stand by and watch while those boys were tortured? He sighed, knowing that the small minded bigots of the world existed everywhere and they would always be objects of scorn for those people. He wondered if it would always be this hard for them and how their relationship would fare after this was all over. He wanted to protect them but he knew the world was big and there was not much he could do. Right now, he felt completely helpless. He probably would have felt a little better if he had seen Johnny making plans. Their regular bodyguards were with the other guys in Europe. Johnny cursed the day that he thought those two would be okay alone in the south. But it had seemed so harmless and they were so far out in the country that he didn't fear the marauding fans. In fact, when he had called them to check on their return date, the boys had laughed that they hadn't heard one non-country station the entire trip. It never occurred to him that they would be careless about exposing their relationship.  He gritted his teeth, remembering his many warnings and their many assurances.  All of which meant shit at this moment. That thought had driven him to redouble his efforts. He called an agency they sometimes used in Mississippi and explained what he needed and that Lance's Dad would be the point man if it came to actually having to go into the town. He warned them to avoid the police and from past experience, he didn't need to say it twice. A precise man, he laid out the plan and made sure they understood. "My cell phone will be on. I'm getting in my car now. I should be there in four hours but don't wait for me. I'll be in touch." They were ready to leave. The tension in the car was palpable and Lynn's hands were trembling so badly she dropped the keys several times. Britney's soft voice said calmly, "Mom, it'll be all right. The sooner we start, the sooner we find out the result." With a shaky laugh, Lynn said, "Yes, that's what I'm afraid of, honey." But she did start the car then and they pulled out. Lance concentrated on not crushing Justin any more than necessary and quickly cramped with the effort. He wondered what had possessed him to come up with this plan. If they couldn't get out of this position soon, either he would groan or Justin would and that would end the chase for sure. Justin's silent tears were soaking Lance's shirt but there was no way to offer comfort to his friend. Lance drifted off, trying to keep his mind off the cramping.  But the thoughts were worse, more painful.  Justin had finally experienced the full force of the homophobic hatred people were capable of displaying, his wall of denial knocked down in huge pieces and there was nothing to protect him any more. Now all he had was the reality that their love was outside of what many would accept. Had it only been two days ago that Justin said he wanted to tell the world?  Well, this was what the world thought.  And Lance hadn't been able to protect him at all.  Justin would hate him eventually and he would deserve it.  He had made so many mistakes, so many that Justin paid for with his spirit and body. Shit, shit, shit! He tensed when he heard Lynn whisper, "There are men on the road up here. No sounds, please!" Lance leaned into Justin, "Did you hear?" Justin nodded against his chest and was silent, hoping that the groans that threatened could be contained until they were safe.  The car slowed to a stop. "Hi, Walter, what's up?" Lynn asked, her heart beating faster.  Why couldn't it have been that fool Tasker again?  Walter looked suspicious as he leaned down and glanced into the car. He studied Britney as she sat quietly. Lynn knew the tension was apparent but hoped it would be passed off to the strangeness of the situation. "You heard those boys are on the loose?" he asked, knowing that every person in town was aware. "Yeah, we heard. We have errands to run. It seemed just as safe here as at home," Lynn said brightly. "What errands?" Walter growled. Lynn's anger flared, "Why do I have to tell you? We live here. Can't we move freely?" "Just seems to me you'd be a little more concerned. Helping even." "Walter, I get two days a week to get everything done. When you catch them, we'll be back in time for the whipping. So let us go now so we don't miss it." She was trying to put him on the defensive but he was no Larry. "Let me see in the car, Lynn. Maybe they snuck in while you weren't looking." Don't be silly. Now, I'm *going*," she said in the stern tone Lance had heard her use with Britney. "I don't think so, Lynn. Both of you get out." Lynn sighed heavily and tried one more tactic, "I don't think Lou will be very happy about this." She remained in the car, her hands gripping the steering wheel. Walter snorted, "He'll be a hell of a lot unhappier if they get away in the back seat of your car." Suddenly the back door opened and the boxes fell as the blanket was ripped away. "Well, well, well, Lynn. Imagine. Wonder how they got under them boxes?" Lynn's head dropped onto the wheel in defeat. Britney turned around in the seat to meet Lance's frightened look. "Get out, you fags. Thought you could get away, huh?" Lance tried to extricate himself without further hurt to Justin but muscular arms had grabbed him and were pulling him along Justin's side. Justin's scream froze everyone. It was a heart wrenching sound, greeted by evil smiles from the three men . "Hurtin', boy? Good. We got a world more hurt waitin' for you." With that they pulled the two of them out and dropped them roughly on the ground. Justin's breathing was labored and the sweat stood in beads on his forehead. Lance rolled toward him only to be stopped by a swift kick in the side, knocking the air out of him.  As he got to his knees, trying to catch his breath,  Walter sneered at them, "Jesus! You little pansies. Get up." Lance attempted to help Justin who couldn't move at all but before he could reach him, two of the men had lifted the younger boy up under the arms, dropped him in the pickup bed and were tying his hands in front of him. At the same time, Walter had bound Lance's wrists and now hauled him up and shoved him roughly into the truck next to Justin. "Johnny, bring the women and follow us, " he ordered. Lynn started to speak but he cut her off before she could say a word, "Don't start, Lynn, you ain't in such a good place yourself. Lou's gonna want to know what the hell you two thought you were doing? Just get in the back seat with Pete and shut up." Lynn felt defeated. She got out of the driver's seat and as she turned to get in the back seat, she glanced at the two boys. Justin lay curled up, his shoulders shaking, his eyes closed tightly trying to shut out the world. The bruises on his body were colorful in the early morning sunshine and mocked the boy who had suffered them. Her gaze shifted to Lance who met her eyes with a look of pure anguish. "I'm sorry that we got you in trouble," he said softly. In two steps, Walter was there and hit him hard with a powerful backhand blow. "Quiet! Not one more word." Lance fell back, whimpering, his face a bright red blossom of pain. "Good, cry, you little fag." Lynn knew better than to say another word. Silently she got into the car and stared out the window. As they started up, she watched the scenery pass by. It was a lovely town, all green and cozy, the square just like it was a hundred years ago. It belied the evil that was here now, that festered just underneath the surface and had erupted into the virulent hatred flowing through the minds and hearts of her neighbors. Pleasant Valley. When she had inherited the house from a maiden aunt three years ago, she thought God had finally given her a break. After her husband's sudden death, she and Britney had been living hand to mouth in Atlanta, a city she despised. And then the telegram came and they took a trip out here to decide whether to keep it or sell it. The town had worked its magic. It seemed like the perfect small town, friendly people always willing to lend a neighbor a hand. So they stayed. Britney still missed the big city, but Lynn had been content for the most part. Her job paid the bills with a little left over each month. The only drawback was the type of man who lived here,  southern rednecks through and through. The few times that she had agreed to a date, her teeth were on edge throughout the evening. She had grown up in a tolerant home. And Atlanta, as much as it was bland and lifeless, represented the new south, the south that could tolerate differences. This town brooked no deviation from the south of the civil war. Blacks lived separately and maintained a respectful distance from the whites in whose houses and offices they worked. Women had their place, in the home, barefoot and pregnant if possible. Gays were beyond the pale. The first time she had witnessed the punishment given to two young men passing through, she had been horrified. But she had remained silent, convincing herself that somehow they deserved it. It had happened two other times and both times she had closed her eyes and her heart to their pain, placing their own security before what was right. She had tried to do it this time, too. She tried to block out the gasp as the curly blond boy was dragged to his feet and beaten for refusing to reject his lover. She tried not to see the sweet battered face on the stage begging for one person to help. She tried to ignore the bile that rose as the boy fell under the rain of fists. She had managed all that. She had even tried to send Lance away, Lance with his frightened eyes, asking for help for his friend. But, in the end, she couldn't. Even before Britney stood her ground, Lynn knew that she had to do something, that she couldn't stand by and just watch. And now, she sighed, what now? continue menu