It was a desolate, out-of-the-way corner of a desolate, out-of-the-way town. The dusty car had Missouri plates. It was obvious that it had gotten there on all back roads, over the mountains, and hadn’t been on the highway. Pete guessed that they had used only cash.
The shifty eyed man, obviously hiding a gun, had a death grip on the woman’s elbow. She gave Pete a quick, frightened, “help me” look.
Playing the “Dumb Indian”, he signaled his boy.
Jim stopped by later to thank him for the tip.
Wounded in the shootout, the woman was back with her family.
***
Word count = 100
Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields. This week’s prompt is here and uses a photo PHOTO PROMPT © Jean L. Hays. Read more or join in by following the InLinkz “linky“.
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Tony Hillerman wrote a series of books from the area of the country where the photo was taken, in the heart of The Navajo Nation. Jim Chee is a fictional member of the Navajo police force in some of the books. I’m not saying “Jim” in my story is the same, but…
I love the detail here.
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Thanks.
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Great piece Trent. She is fortunate they were all so switched on.
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Thanks. There are those people ultra-attuned to their surroundings that pick up on this type of thing.
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Great story. Enjoyed it.
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Thanks.
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Super piece of flash, Trent! Great story-telling to include such a detailed plot, AND characterisation, AND descriptive writing, all in 100 words. Kudos!
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Thanks!
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This was an unexpected piece of writing:) A story encompassing many facts and emotions in the a very subtle way! Thanks for sharing Trent!:) Hope you are doing well!:)
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Thanks, Pranita! I’m doing well. I hope you are too. I did see a recent post by you, which is always good :)
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Exciting story, believable. There’s danger out there!
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Thanks! I was thinking of a similar true story that occurred a few weeks ago. Unfortunately, the outcome of it wasn’t quite as happy.
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That’s sad to hear. Always shudder when someone suffers for no reason whatsoever but to satisfy the twisted thinking of the bad guys.
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Sharp eyes and a quick thinker, that Pete.
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An outsider may think he’s slow, but it doesn’t pay to underestimate him…
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Smart move by Pete save a life. Great job.
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Thanks.
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It was driving me crazy, till you mentioned author. Right! A friend of mine sent me a bunch of Hillerman books which I cannot seem to find (I’m hoping I boxed them, otherwise I sent them to a local charity…)
Good one, Trent!
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Nice story and another author to check out, thanks for sharing.
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Thanks. To be 100% truthful, my dad has read all of his books and loves them, but I haven’t had a chance yet – I have two of them, but haven’t started yet.
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Excellent piece of flash. Very well done.
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Thanks, Violet.
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Dear Trent,
Him need driving lessons, Kemosabe. Trent write good story. ;) Dumb Indian indeed.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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People in cultures not your own have to be stupid, right? At least it seems a lot of people think that way… Thanks.
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Of course. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXMGVNPdlLc
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Funny. The way he used it, I think ‘Kemosabe’ means ‘@sshole’.
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Right? I love it.
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If not @ssholes, something a bit stronger ;-)
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Yes, a lot stronger ;)
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Love it!
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