Chapter 4
July 14th, 1932 rolled around, and Hud was released early since he also behaved in prison.
Hud took the train back to Booneville.
He figured he would get his old job back at the sawmill and live in his parent's home. It would not be much of a life, but at least he would not be raped and beaten by crooked guards.
It was in the early evening when the train stopped at the station in Booneville.
Hud stepped off the train and looked around the station. He remembered this as the same spot from 1917 where he last saw his father when he left for the Army.
Hud walked out of the station.
He headed off through Booneville.
While he walked through the streets of the town, he noticed that the town had not changed a bit during the past five years. He sort of missed the place while he was in prison.
A little while later, Hud walked off down the dirt road toward his old home.
He walked past the sawmill and noticed that it was not as busy as he remembered. He did not think anything of it and continued walking down the street.
Hud walked up to his old home.
He walked onto the front porch and found the front door was locked.
He went around the back of the house and over to a window. He remembered that that window was broken and could not be locked. He opened the window, climbed through it, and went inside his home. He closed the window.
Hud stood in his parent's old bedroom. He stared at his parent's old bed and got a little sad.
He walked out of the bedroom and down the small hallway.
He immediately went inside his old bedroom and headed over to his bed.
He lay on his bed and was fast asleep in minutes, as the trip on the train was exhausting.
Hud slept through the night and woke up when the sun started peaking through his bedroom window. Plus the faint sound of a rooster ringing in the morning was heard from a nearby farm.
He got out of bed and headed off to the bathroom. After he washed his face and brushed his teeth with water and his finger, he headed off to the kitchen.
From the kitchen, Hud went down the stairs and entered the cellar.
He looked around the cellar, and it brought back some old memories.
He saw the area where coal was stored for the furnace for heating the house during the winter. A few pieces of coal remained on the floor.
On the opposite wall were some wooden shelves. On those shelves were a few old dusty Mason jars with strawberry jam Martha made years ago. Below the shelves was an old wooden chest.
He rushed over to the chest and opened it up.
Inside the chest was junk that Martha saved for some unknown reason.
Hud rummaged through the junk and removed a small tin box. He removed the lid of the tin box, and inside was some cash. Sixty dollars to be exact and this was the payoff from some of his early petty crimes days with Frank Peabody.
Hud headed back up the stairs and went back into the kitchen.
A little while later, Hud walked out of his house from the back door at the kitchen. He left the door unlocked and headed off to the street.
Hud eventually walked into the diner where Martha once worked.
Nobody in the place recognized Hud while he sat down at a table.
"Coffee and two eggs, toast, and bacon," Hud told Betsy the waitress the second she walked over to his table.
After breakfast, Hud walked away from the diner.
He eventually walked back to the sawmill and headed into the office.
Harry, the foreman, sat behind his desk, drinking a cup of coffee, and working on some paperwork.
"Hi Harry," Hud said while he walked up to the desk.
Harry looked up from his paperwork. It took a few seconds for him to recognize Hud. "Henry Hudson?"
"Yep," Hud replied.
"I thought you were in prison?"
"I was. I got released the other day. I'm looking for work," Hud said.
Harry took a drink from his coffee cup. "I don't know Henry," he said while he placed his cup back on his desk. "You're a convict now.
And I should give any jobs that come up to the honest people of Booneville," he said.
"But my dad was a good worker for you years ago. And so was I," Hud replied.
Harry looked at Hud. "I'm sorry. We can't hire convicts. Please leave the property," Harry said and returned to his paperwork.
Hud remained there for a few seconds. When he realized that it was pointless, he turned around and headed off to the door.
Hud was pissed when he walked through the sawmill and headed to the street.
Hud walked around Booneville and tried to get a job at Murdock's Groceries. Mister Murdock would not hire a convict.
Then Hud tried to get a job at Bernie's Hardware. Bernie would not hire a convict.
An hour later, Hud walked across town and went over to Frank Peabody's home.
He knocked on the front door.
A few seconds later and the door opened, and Doris Peabody appeared in the doorway.
"Can I help you?" she asked Hud who stood on her porch.
"Hud Hudson. I'm an old friend of Frank's. Is he home?"
Doris' eyes welled up while she stared at Hud. "He was killed two years ago."
"Killed? How?" Hud asked and looked upset.
Doris hesitated for a few seconds. "He tried to rob the bank over in Marshallton and was shot after he shot at one of the cops," she said then closed her front door.
Hud stood there for a few seconds, still a little upset.
He walked away from Frank's old house and headed off down the street.
Thirty minutes later, Hud walked down Main Street.
From inside the Booneville Police Station, Ronnie was now the Chief of Police. He sat behind his desk and worked on some paperwork. He glanced up from his work to rest his eyes. Then his eyes widened the second he saw a familiar face walking on the sidewalk across the street.
"Henry Hudson. What the fuck is he doing back in town?" he said.
Ronnie got up from his desk and walked to the door of the station.
Ronnie opened the door and stepped outside.
While Ronnie was outside the station on the sidewalk, he kept a watchful eye on Hud while he walked away down the street.
"I don't like him in my town," Ronnie said while he went back inside.
An hour later, Ronnie sat in his 1930 Ford cop car down the dirt road from Hud's home. He kept a watchful eye on the place.
Then he saw Hud while he came outside and sat on the front porch.
"Figures he would go there," Ronnie said. He started up his car, made a U-turn in the street, and headed back into town.
Once Ronnie drove his cop car back into town, he stopped off at the Booneville First National Bank to see the bank manager.
The night rolled on, and the sun started to peek above the horizon.
Ronnie was already dressed for work and drove in his Booneville cop cars with another officer in the passenger seat.
Ronnie parked his car out in the street in front of Hud's house.
He turned off the car.
Ronnie and the other officer got out of the car and strutted to Hud's front door.
Ronnie had a smirk on his face while he banged on the front door with his fist.
After a few seconds of pounding, the front door slammed open.
Hud appeared in his boxers and an athletic tee shirt. "What the fuck do you want?" he yelled, then realized Ronnie stood outside.
"Good morning Mister Hudson," Ronnie said then a smirk grew on his face.
"What do you want, Ronnie?"
"Well, it appears that you're trespassing," said Ronnie.
"Trespassing? How the fuck can I be trespassing when this is my parent's homes?"
"It appears that this house does not belong to your parents.
The banks own it since your momma quit making payments a while back," Ronnie said then paused for a few seconds. "And I need you to vacate the premise immediately, or I'll arrest you for trespassing," he added, and another smirk grew on his face loving this moment.
Hud turned around and walked away.
Ronnie opened the door and stepped inside the house. The other officer waited outside.
Ronnie followed Hud into his bedroom. He watched while Hud packed some of his old clothes into a small suitcase.
Ten minutes had passed, and Hud sat in the rear seat of Ronnie's cop car outside his old home. He was pissed while he stared at the back of Ronnie's head. But the other officer sat next to him to prevent any problems with Hud.
Ronnie turned around and looked back at Hud. "Since you're not employed and don't have a place to live, I'm considering your a vagrant. And we don't like vagrants with criminal records living in our peaceful town. Therefore, I'm going to be generous and give you a ride to the outskirts of town.
And if I ever see you in Booneville again, I'm going to arrest you. Because I know you're up to your old criminal ways," he said then turned back around and started up his car.
Twenty minutes later, Hud walked down a two-lane country road three miles outside Booneville.
A 1926 Fort Model TT 1 Ton truck drove down the road. On the back of the truck were crates stacked upon crates filled with chickens.
Hud saw the truck and stuck out his thumb for a ride.
The truck slowed down to a stop by Hud.
"Where ya heading?" Matt, the old farmer behind the wheel, called out.
"Bellwood," Hud replied.
"I'm going to the town before Bellwood," said Matt.
"That's closer."
"Hop inside. I could use the company," said Matt.
Hud got in the passenger seat of the trunk then Matt drove away.
While Matt drove his truck down the roads, Hud pondered his future in this life.
It was early evening, and Hud finally arrived in Bellwood that was located about in the middle of the state. After talking to a few of its residents, he learned the location of Harold Pyle's home.
Hud walked up to Harold's home where he sat in a rocking chair on the front porch.
Harold's eyes widened with joy the second he saw Hud.
"Well, I don't believe my eyes.
It's Hud Hudson," he said and got out of the rocking chair and rushed over to Hud.
They shook hands.
"What brings you to Bellwood?"
"Mom is dead, and I got kicked out of her house. I didn't know where to go, so I figured I would come here," Hud replied.
"Well, I'm glad to see you."
"I was hoping to find work here."
"You can forget that. They won't hire ex-cons."
"Fuck. What can we do?" Hud said.
"I don't know. But maybe we can figure something out. But until then, come inside, I'll introduce you to mom and pop.
I know they won't mind you staying for a little while. That's if you don't mind sleeping on the floor of my bedroom," Harold offered.
"That beats sleeping on the street or in the woods. And besides, you're floor is probably more comfortable than those bunks in prison."
Harold chucked. "Probably right. Let's go meet my mom. Pop will be home later."
Harold and Hud went inside his house.
After a great home-cooked meal by Harold's mom, Hud and Harold took a stroll around town to talk in private. They chatted about what happened since they last saw each other in prison.
"I guess the only way we can make a living is to do what we did before," Hud said.
Harold thought about his comment for a few seconds. "You mean, go back to crime?"
Hud nodded in agreement. "It's our only option. But I don't want to get caught this time."
"I think you're right. I really don't want to meet the fucking asshole, Russ Brantley, again."
Hud thought about his comment for a few seconds. "We need to go back and give him some real payback."
It did not take Harold long to smile at Hud's suggestion.
"Yeah. We do. And leave tomorrow."
"How? I don't have a car."
"Pop will let me use his. I'll tell him we're off to find jobs in that neck of the woods."
Hud thought for a few seconds, and then he smiled. "Let's do it."
They turned around and headed back to Harold's house.
Hud and Harold left Bellwood at 10:00 in the morning in Harold father's 1925 Model T.
During the entire drive, they talked about getting a gang together and robbing banks. They figured that would provide them with money to live the high life.
Hours had passed, and they drove over to their old place of temporary residence – the eastern correctional facility in the east of Missouri. They parked the car at the far end of the parking lot. They waited and kept a watchful eye on the correctional facility.
"I sure hated that fucking place," Harold said with gritted teeth.
"I tell you what, I'm never going back there. Never!" Hud replied.
Harold nodded in agreement.
Hours had passed, and Hud and Harold saw the prison guards from the day shift leaving the entrance of the facility.
"There he is," Hud said with a little anger in his voice the second he spotted Russ Brantley walked over to a 1924 Model T.
Harold started up the car, and they watched while Russ while he got inside his Model T.
When Russ' Model T drove off, Harold followed his car.
Harold and Hud followed Russ' Model T while it drove into the small town of Beatrice.
They followed Russ' Model T and kept a safe distance behind it.
Then Russ' Model T drove down Stonewall Street, pulled over and stopped in front of a poorly maintained small white house. Russ got out of the car and walked to his house.
Harold and Hud sat in their car and watched Russ' house for a few minutes.
"What you plan on doing?" Harold asked Hud.
Hud thought for a few seconds. "I don't know yet, but let's keep a low profile," he replied while he pondered his retaliation for Russ' behavior while they were in prison.
"Let's come back later tonight," said Hud.
Harold started up the car and drove off down the street.
Harold drove out of Beatrice and parked his car in the woods off the road.
Hud and Harold then relaxed in the car and smoked some cigarettes and ate some sandwiches Harold made by raiding his mom's icebox.
It was now 9:00 p.m., and it was pitch black outside.
Harold drove his car back Beatrice.
Harold parked his car on Bright Street.
Hud and Harold got out and walked down the street.
They turned right on Stonewall Street and walked down that street.
The second they got to Russ' house, they snuck around to the rear of the home and headed over to the kitchen window.
They peeked into the kitchen window and saw Russ in the kitchen in his work pants and an athletic tee shirt. He still had his revolver in his holster around his waist to intimidate his wife Diana that stood by their kitchen table.
Russ grabbed a bottle of opened whiskey. He took a swig. "Dinner tasted like shit tonight," Russ yelled at Diana while he stormed over to her. He backhanded her across her face.
Diana dropped to her knees and sobbed on the floor.
"Shut the fuck up!" Russ yelled then he picked her up by her hair and punched her in her left eye.
Diana flew back, smacked hard into their icebox. She sobbed louder.
Russ took a swig of whiskey from his bottle and stormed off into the living room.
Hud looked furious.
"What you gonna do?" Harold asked.
Hud thought for a few seconds. "I have something in mind. Let's wait until she goes to bed," he said.
They continued to peek through the kitchen window and saw Diana get up off the floor and left the kitchen crying.
Hud and Harold moved away from the kitchen window. They sat down in the grass by the back of the house. Hud started to reveal his plan to Harold while they sat in the dark.
An hour had passed, and Hud and Harold peeked in another window.
They saw Diana sound asleep in her bed.
They moved over and peeked in the kitchen window. The only light on in the house was in the kitchen.
They could see through the kitchen and saw Russ asleep in his chair in the living room. The whiskey bottle was resting on his fat belly.
"It's time. But don't take anything in the house. We can't make it look like a robbery," Hud quietly told Harold.
Hud headed off to the kitchen door with Harold behind him.
Hud slowly turned the doorknob and slowly opened the kitchen door.
It was quiet inside the house.
Hud switched off the light to the kitchen the second he stepped inside Russ' home.
Harold closed the door.
Hud and Harold tiptoed through the kitchen and entered the living room.
The sound of Russ snoring filled the air of the house.
Hud motioned for Harold to go head over to the front door.
Harold tiptoed over to the front door and slowly turned the doorknob. He cracked the door opened.
Hud tiptoed over to Russ's chair. He ever so carefully removed Russ' revolver out of his holster.
Russ just snored a little while he slept.
Hud carefully placed Russ' revolver in Russ' right hand.
Russ stayed asleep.
Hud carefully moved the revolver in Russ' hand and placed the barrel against the right side of Russ' head three inches above his ear.
Hud motioned for Harold to get ready.
Harold motioned that he was ready and cracked the front door opened a little.
Hud carefully placed Russ' index finger in the trigger of the revolver then pressed the trigger.
The revolver went off and splattered blood and pieces of Russ' brain all over Diana's curtains.
Hud let go of Russ' right hand and rushed over to the front door.
He and Harold slipped outside, and Harold slowly closed the front door.
They ran off toward the Stonewall Street.
There were about one hundred feet from Russ' home when they heard Diana scream from the living room.
Hud and Harold continued to run and turned left down Bright Street.
They ran down the street and over to Harold's car.
They got in the car; Harold started it up, then made a U-turn and drove away with the headlights turned off.
They got away with murder, but to them, it was justified payback murder for Russ raping and beating them in prison.
A little while later, Harold drove his Model T out of Beatrice.
He drove off into the countryside with the lights on inside his car.
"So, who can we get that we can trust?" Hud curiously asked.
Harold thought about his questions for a few seconds.
"Well, there's Willie Gates and Jack Jenner. I've known them since school. We've done some petty stuff and never got caught. But they got trying to steal a car. So they also did a little time behind bars," he replied.
Hud thought about his response for a few seconds. "Get a hold of your buddies and let's start planning on getting rich."
"I'll work on that tomorrow."
Hud smiled and actually looked forward for a life of crime to where he would get rich.