Walt stood out behind the old farmhouse he shared with his wife, Sheila. He looked up at the sky, drinking in the beautiful sunset that sent rays of reds and purples across the pasture. He never failed to thank his lucky stars that he and his bride had chosen to live away from town. It was a hassle to shop and get to work and sometimes he wondered if it was worth it. But evenings like this one reminded him why they loved the farm. Neither he nor Sheila had been raised on a farm. Neither of them knew anything about raising crops or animals. But when the place had become available when they were getting started back in 1985, they had known it was right for them.
Sheila called out the kitchen window to him and he walked toward the house. Supper was over and the dishes would be washed and neatly put away, so she would want the trash taken out. Walt smiled to himself. He and she were so predictable, but he liked it that way. He didn't like surprises. Walking into the kitchen, he she glanced over at Sheila as she bent over, putting the pots away. He thought to himself that she was still a hot little number. She had a round butt, just right for slapping. She had always been an ample woman. Walt liked it that way. He wanted a woman of substance. And Sheila was that, in every way. Her breasts were large, but still firm. She had an hourglass figure that could still turn heads. At 46, she was still the prettiest girl he had ever seen. And at 49, he still liked to take her to the bedroom at night.
Sheila felt his gaze and turned to shake her head at him. "Is that all you ever think about?" Walt smiled wickedly at her and nodded his head. He walked over to her and put his arms around her, pressing her body close to his. "I get hard every time I see you!" Sheila giggled at him. He was a handsome man, and seemed to her to get better looking every day. His hazel eyes still flashed the mischief of a boy. His lanky, tall frame looked good in his jeans. She looked at younger men sometimes, but knew she wouldn't trade him for the world. Walt seemed to read her mind and leaned over to kiss her as she tiptoed up to kiss him. Just as their lips met, they heard the doorbell ring. Walt frowned, wondering who in the hell could be way out here at this time of the evening. He grudgingly walked away from their embrace to answer the front door.
Walt glanced through the curtains, out the front window. A young man stood on the doorstep. He looked disheveled and anxious. Walt opened the door to see what the young man wanted. "Could I help you, young man?" The boy looked at Walt a moment without saying a word. Walt looked him over and thought the boy couldn't be anymore than 18 or 19 years old. He finally managed to speak. "We had a wreck over there on the next road. My friend is still in the car. Can I come in and use your phone to call for help?" Walt was never a very cautious man, and the boy was obviously shaken up by something, so he stepped aside from the door and let him in the living room. As Walt was closing the door, he pointed to the phone on the table. "You need to sit down, young man?"
"No, sir. But I need to ask you to sit down." As he finished his statement, several other young men pushed their way into the house, taking Walt by surprise. They guided Walt toward and chair in the living room. The tallest one walked over in front of him. "Sit still and do what we say and everything will be okay. No one's going to get hurt if we get what we want." Walt sat in the chair and hoped that Sheila had heard the commotion and had gotten out the back door. But his hope faded when one of the young men came out of the dining room with Sheila in tow. He was gently leading her to the sofa, being careful not to hurt her. He instructed her to sit down. She sat down, looking toward Walt. "They won't hurt us if we do what they say. Just sit there and let them take whatever they want. It'll be okay." His words were meant to comfort her, but he felt no better by hearing them. Walt looked at her and tried to smile. He didn't want her to be afraid.
The group of young men gathered around the living room. "Anyone else in the house?" The tall young man asked Sheila. She looked up at him and shook her head no. The young man knelt in front of her and smiled pleasantly at her. "We aren't going to hurt you. Don't be scared. You remind me of my mother. You look as pretty as her. What do you think, Dave? Isn't she a pretty woman?" The disheveled young man, who seemed the youngest in the group, walked up behind him and looked at Sheila. "She's real pretty. She looks real good."