Sweet Alabama Part-1

Jeff kneeled on one knee against the soft dried grass, slapping the mosquito off his cheek before scratching his gruff beard. He squinted while pressing his eye on the lens of his monocular telescope, focusing his vision on an albino Ten-Point Whitetail deer about one hundred and fifty yards away.

"Easy, Missy…" Jeff cooed to his daughter, gently planting his hand on the woman's upper back to calm her down.

Hannah laid prone on the grass right next to Jeff. Dressed in her camouflage hunting attire, she pointed her rifle at the same deer Jeff was observing. She clutched the handguard of her favorite rifle, an All-American, Waypoint Model 2020 Jeff gifted her for her eighteenth birthday.

The deer took several strides around before coming into complete halt to forage on a berry bush.

"Ok Missy, whenev…" Before Jeff could finish his words, Hannah's rifle made a thunderous bang, sending small birds to flitter from the trees. The white buck fell to its side with legs twitching straight up in the air.

"Whoooo!" Jeff howled, his ears still ringing from the noise. praising his daughter's sharpshooting skill. "Atta girl!" He continued, praising his daughter's sharpshooting skill.

He offered his hand to help her rise up from her position.

Hannah took his hand and used it as a brace to pull herself up. She dusted her suit begining from pants to her jacket to remove the pine needles that stuck to her clothes. "That was some good shootin', ain't it old man?"

"That was indeed a good shot!" He praised once again. "Guess, I wouldn't have to worry about boys bothering you when you go to California." He chuckled, his hand reached for Hannah's shoulder, tucking her into his arm as they made their way to the downed animal. His hand giving her shoulder soft squeeze.

"Well, don't you know?" Hannah started. "I learned from the best."

"Damn right, you did." Jeff said with a smug. He planted his hand on her head then tousled her golden hair.

"I learned it from meemaw." She retorted with a loud laugh followed by several snorts.

Jeff gazed at his daughter. Her face bloomed with her laughter which later turned into a beautiful smile that complimented her blue eyes. Her smile reminded him of his late wife, Liz. Hannah is the spitting image of her mother, who was once crowned as Miss Mississippi in her youth. The fact that Hannah looked alot like her mother was Jeff's reason why he insisted on calling his daughter "Missy" as a reminder of his beloved wife. He just wished that Hannah got to know her mother, as Liz died when Hannah was only five years old.

"I'm really gonna miss you, Missy." He sighed, knowing that there may never be another chance to hunt with his beloved daughter once she moves to California for college.

"I'll miss you too, old man." Hannah replied, "I'll still come to visit you during summer vacation, I'll even come during spring breaks."

"No! You enjoy yourself out there. Just study hard and take care of yourself." He snapped, wiping off the tears that rolled down his cheeks. "Also, no boys. Ever." He joked, hoping to lighten up his darkened mood.

Hannah gave him a hug, "Dad, you do know you're the only man I love, right?" She assured him, adding a light squeeze to her embrace.

"For now." He muttered. "Soon enough you'll be bringing home some California boy for me to meet."

"Don't worry, I promise it won't happen anytime soon." She responded.

"Better not be! Study hard and focus on your future first." He remarked before changing the topic. "Let's hurry up and get your buck before it gets dark."

They made their way to the dead beast. The clouds has turned gloomy and gray.

He inspected the wound where the deer's snow-white fur had crimson stain just behind its front leg. He produced a small pocket knife from his belt holster. Jeff made careful incisions beginning from the entrance wound. He followed the round all the way down to the heart where it had lodged itself. With his bare hands, he fiddled with the hole on the heart several times before plucking out the deformed ammunition that killed the large animal.

"Clean kill." He smirked, showing the bullet back to Hannah.

Jeff dropped the bullet into his pocket and raised his bloodied hand for a high five which the girl eagerly reciprocated.

"Come on, help me carry this big boy back to the truck." Jeff grunted, pulling its hind legs over his shoulders.

"You're gonna carry that thing all the way?" Hannah asked.

"We can't leave this out here. Critters would be feasting on this the time we get back."

"That thing will break your back, you know?" She nagged, pointing at the large carcass behind him.

"I carried something heavier than this. Remember when you sprained your ankle?" He chuckled.

"Hey!" Hannah pouted. "What did you mean by that?!"

"Missy, quit your yapping and start helping." Jeff laughed. "Come on, support the head."

Hannah moved to support the buck's head, grabbing its racks with both hands before pulling up to alleviate some of its weight from Jeff's back.

"I ain't fat." She mumbled.

"You said it, I didn't." Jeff quipped with laughter.

Jeff once hated that he had a daughter instead of a son. He always wanted to have a boy to carry his name, but as years passed, he has learned to love his only child with all his heart, especially that Hannah is the only memory of Liz left in his life. He and Hannah became very close, learning her likes and dislikes. He even supported her hobbies, to the point of pawning his favorite ATV to buy her a young mare.

Through the years, Jeff has observed that Hannah loved the outdoors, something she had gotten from him. She found pleasure in hiking up a hill or riding her horse after school. She also loved hitting up the gym where boys would flock around her like vultures to ask for her number. But most of all, she loved spending most of her weekends bonding with him. Where they would normally hunt, fish, or camp together… away from civilization. The daughter he once thought to be fragile has grown to become a strong and beautiful woman.

Jeff had just finished loading the deer on the back of his rusty pickup truck when the clouds began to rumble. He washed his bloodied hands with a water bottle, chugged water from it before tossing the empty bottle in the back of his pickup truck, then slammed its rear door shut. "Missy, we're gonna have to hurry, it seems like it's gonna rain hard tonight."

Hannah peeled off her jacket, the fabric sliding down her arms before she tied the sleeves around her waist. Her army-green tank top clung to the curve of her body, damp with sweat. A single droplet traced the side of her neck, catching on Jeff’s dog tags before slipping between her breasts. She tossed her rifle into the passenger seat, then followed with her backpack, her breath a little heavier now.

Jeff shifted his gear in reverse then to first gear, returning where they came from. Light drizzle of water fell on their windshield. They drove about a couple meters out when the droplets of water turned into a heavy rain.

With high beams and windshield wipers on full blast, Jeff traversed the pitch-black road with almost zero visibility. Fortunately, they have been into this forest countless times and he has memorized his path like the back of his hand.

Their vehicle rattled as if it would break apart at any slight bump. Hannah held tightly onto the grab handle above her with her eyes tightly shut while muttering some unintelligible words. Jeff continued to drive until the truck began to feel heavier. It slowed down before coming into complete halt, shutting their engine down.

Jeff flipped the key. The engine wheezed but did not get enough power to start. "Aww, fuck me! The news said it was only gonna be a light rain." He ranted, striking the steering wheel with his palm.

He tried to turn the key but the engine only wheezed harder. Again he tried, not wanting to get stuck fifty miles deep into the forest with his daughter, especially when her flight to California was supposed to have been the next day. However, their engine only replied with some clicks.

"Shit!" Jeff cursed, punching his dashboard out of frustration. "Sorry Missy, looks like we're just going to rebook your flight."

"It's alright dad. That only means I get to spend more time with you before I head to California." She cheered, giving him a reassuring smile.

"I'm really sorry, Missy." Jeff frowned, his hand touched his daughter's lap giving it a light squeeze, tears formed on the side of his eyes.

"It's really ok dad. Don't even sweat it." Hannah took Jeff's hand in hers and responded by giving it an equally light squeeze. "I'm glad that I get to spend a little bit more time with you."

"I promise, I'll make it up to you somehow." He swore to his daughter.

"Well, looks like we're gonna be here for a while. You don't mind if I take a quick nap?" She yawned, reclining her seat. "I'm pretty tired."

"Sure, Missy, go on ahead."

Jeff felt his heart beat faster, sweating profusely despite the heavy thunderstorm outside. He tuned into the car radio to keep him occupied but the radio only had whirs and statics. He placed his hands on the back of his head to act as a pillow, trying to mimic his daughter who has since fallen asleep despite their uncomfortable situation. However tonight, being with Hannah made it difficult for him to get some well deserved rest. Her very presence with him alone is keeping him from falling asleep, keeping him… aroused.

To make matters worse, he had been wanting to urinate an hour or so ago. His desire to relieve himself is giving him an uncomfortable erection.

Subconsciously, he found himself observing every inch of his daughter, memorizing her features before she leaves him. The baby girl he once carried in his arms became a beautiful woman resembling his late wife.

Opening his eyes from what felt like a short nap, Jeff checked the time on the console that read 10:09 pm. He proceeded on checking his phone to see if he can contact anyone, no reception. "Fuck!" He whispered, trying not to wake up his sleeping daughter.

Rain has eased up slightly, enough for Jeff to get out and relieve himself. He unbuckled himself from the seatbelt's tight grip before gently opening the door then slowly closing it behind him. He headed to a nearby tree to pee, clutching the grip of the .45, 1911 holstered behind him just in case.

After relieving himself, he proceeded on taking the parts for a one-person tent he had on the back of his truck. If they had to stay in the forest, hopefully only for a couple hours, at least there would be a more comfortable place for his daughter to sleep than his old beater truck.

Jeff laid out the canvas on the wet grass. He then continued assembling the small dwelling by sliding the rods into their designated slots in the canvas, trying to ignore the other tent inside his pants that had not subsided even though he had just relieved himself.

Hannah came out of the car which caused his "tent" to twitch inside his pants, making him feel even more uncomfortable than he already was.

"It's cold out here!" Hannah shivered, rubbing her arms with her hands. She unfurled her jacket from her waist before tossing it on her head to put it on. "Do you need help with that?"

"It's alright, Missy. I'm fine." He answered without making eye contact with the young woman. "Just, go back in the truck and I'll let you know when it's done."

"It will be faster if we work on it together." She insisted.

Streak of light flashed in the sky followed by a loud thunder. Jeff calculated the distance in his head that turned out to be roughly less than a mile away.

Jeff pointed out to the hammer on the side of the tent, "All right, Missy, take that and anchor the tent to the ground." He ordered.

More to come