Fear is a funny thing, To Benjamin Rook, he always believed it as black or white, your either afraid or you're not. But in reality, its shades of terrifying grey, he first really felt it when the peggies swarmed him and his co-workers as they tried to flee Joseph's compound via the helicopter, only to have one member throw themselves in the propeller blades to halt the aircraft. To Rook, it was like he didn't exist, nor did Whitehorse, Burke, Pratt, and Hudson. Not as real people but road blocks, a gate preventing the peggies from fulfilling their goal. Rook felt this fear again but more intense, more real, when he fled the downed helicopter to escape the burning wreck and the angry cultists. How they wanted to kill him for doing his job, for being in Hope County, for merely existing. He was not with them, so he had to be against them, for that all their hate and ire was forced all into Rook. His death would be much more personal and intimate like a knife to the gut if they ever caught him.

But the worst fear Rook felt was when Burke and Rook were launched off the bridge and into the river, it was like time slowed as they descended into the water. One part of Rook's brain said "go limp, it will make death less painful, it will be worse if you live" but another part of him screamed to keep fighting. Even with his body still pumped with adrenaline, the cold water was a shock to his system, he desperately struggled to break free as burke escaped the vehicle and swam to the surface. He was running out of air fast and the water slowed his movements. As he slammed on the passenger window for the umpteenth time, the window finally gave way allowing him to escape. With his final few breaths Rook broke the surface and kicked himself to shore, by the time we was able to make it to shore he was completely drained, all the adrenaline had been burned up escaping the sinking car and the lack of air left him lightheaded, Rook dragged his soaked body along the shore praying that he wouldn't be spotted by the cultists on the bridge above, there flashlights shining down into the river, trying to see where the sinners ran off too. With whatever energy Rook had left, he rolled himself over onto his back, the peggies where shouting something but he couldn't make it out what over his ragged breathing. Before Rook could even begin to think about what to do next, he could see something shifting in the corner of his vision, moving towards him, he could feel his heart pick up again as the shadows crept closer, Rook didn't know what to hope it was, some coyote or other predator looking for a meal, or some peggie looking for a promotion.

And that's when Rook saw it, the moon light glinting off metal, a long object in the hands of someone, a man with a shotgun. The stranger paused for a second then walked right up to Rook.

"this is it, I'm going to die on a river bank, I'm going to die I'm going to die'' rook thought as the stranger lazily raised the shotgun to Rook's face.

The next thing rook new he was indoors, lying on his back, his mind couldn't comprehend how he got here, just a few seconds ago he was about to die on a riverbed, within those few seconds of realizing what had happened, he shot up from where he was laying and tried to stand up, but a blanket that had covered him tripped him up and kept him in a seated position, Rook quickly whipped his head around to take in his surroundings, then it dawned on him. He was lying on a cot in the small room in the Spread-Eagle bar that Mary May lets him sleep in when he needed to crash, Rook grimaced as he stood up, acknowledging that this has happened several times before, fighting seemingly endless waves of cultists hellbent on killing him, has left his downtime rather sleepless and eerily quiet. Rook removed his shirt and wipe himself down as he was drenched in a cold sweat from the nightmare. Once he was done, he grabbed a red and white flannel shirt, he left on a chair next to the cot, he slipped it on and retrieved his firearms. He pulled is sawed of shot gun from under the bed and holstered It to his left leg, then pulled out his AR and slung the strap over his shoulder, then lifted his pillow to retrieve the silence pistol he kept there just in case and holstered it to his right leg. Rook inhaled deeply and exited the room and descended the stairs.

"Morning Deputy" Mary May hollered as Rook reached the bottom of the stairs. `Good morning, Mary` Rook said, approaching the bar.

"You sleep ok, the usual crowd got a little rowdy last night, hope it didn't bother you much" Mary asked

"It`s alright, I got used to the noise a while ago, thanks again for letting me use the room" Rook replied.

"that's good to hear, we don't want the peggies getting the drop on you sleeping out god knows where" Mary said placing a plate of bacon and eggs in front of Rook. He thanked Mary and happily ate the food, very rarely does Rook ever get to eat an actual meal, he can't eat to much without throwing up with all the running and gunning and running some more. The last week and a half have been helping the citizens of Hope County, by rescuing loved ones, reclaiming outposts and finding prepper stashes in Falls end. And when Rook's antics finally grabbed the attention of John Seed, John had sent out his hunting party to capture him, and dragged him to a baptism, a torture more like it, if it weren't for Jerome and the freedom fighters, Rook would have died, but the experience put a fear in so now when John calls to say another party his coming, Rook would run to the Whitetail Mountains and continue helping citizens there until the heat died down, or until Jacob Seed grew tired of him as well and sent his hunting party to capture him.

When Rook finished his meal, he thanked Mary again and left the bar, Rook walked down the street to the auto shop to retrieve his pickup truck and climbed into the driver's seat. Rook had a feeling it would be a long day as he turned the key in the ignition.

Nick Rye lifted his hat and wiped his brow then readjusted his hat back on his head with pride, he had just spent the last hour fiddling with his pride and joy "The Carmina" his seaplane, his work horse and second love, the engine had been making an odd clicking noise for the past few days, normally he would have taken care about the afternoon it started to act up, but his first love needed him more, his wife Kim, the only woman he would ever need, and pregnant and due any day now, he needed to keep an eye on her first and the plane second. But as much as he loved his plane to death, he would throw them away for his wife in an instant, and as much as it hurt, that was the plan with Nick Jr. on the way, Hope County was no place to raise a child, so the plan was to get Carmina taken care of then he would fly himself and his wife somewhere safer.

"Nick, we're out of carrots again!" Nick heard his wife yell from the back porch of their house.

Nick swore and exited his hanger, he was hoping the supply of carrots he bought the other day would be enough to hold her over till he would be able to get her out of the county, but all the stress eating and wanting to give the baby healthy food was emptying the fridge faster then Nick could fill it.

"OK, give me a minute and I'll run to the store and get you more" Nick yelled back. As much as Nick would love to sit and fix the seaplane making a store run would be a good idea to get out and stretch the legs and mind, he needed to come up with some way to convince Kim to flee the county with him. But she was as stubborn as she was beautiful to him, she wanted to stand her ground and fight the cultists, but how could she, she was due any day now, but she wanted to stay and make sure her home was still her home.

As Nick walked around the side of his hanger and towards his car, he heard multiple car engines moving quite close to his house. Nick swore a second time and prayed it wasn't peggies weren't coming by to take what they wanted to prepare for "the great collapse" what a load of horse shit. Once his pickup truck was in view Nick began to fish around in his pockets for his keys for a few moments before pulling out his key ring, but before he could select the right key, he saw multiple vehicles pull up the road towards his home. He could see it clear as day, the Eden's gate logos on the side of the trucks. Nick swore a third time, he turned and sprinted to the house, he could see Kim inside doing something by an open window, thank god they were trying to save money by cutting down on the A/C.

"Kim, lock all the doors, the peggies, they're a'comin!" he screamed.

Kim froze for a second then ran out of view from Nick, he prayed for her safety as he ran to the hanger turned man cave he set up a while ago complete with bar stocked with booze and a big screen with his childhood SNES plugged into it, god he hoped the automatic rifle he left there was still back there. Nick ran faster then he ever thought he could, clearing the hanger in record time. He used his momentum to vault over the bar he had tucked in the far-left corner of the hanger and slammed into the cabinet on the other side, he ignored the pain as he hastily dug through the shelfs on the back of the bar, pushing a few bottles of alcohol to aside to retrieve the firearm that rested behind them. Nick quickly checked the clip to see just how much self defence he could doll out. He laughed when he saw the full clip that still sat inside, the gears in his mind turned just a bit faster as he remembered he left three extra clips next to the bottles of Captain Morgan, as he grabbed them, he thought maybe next time he shouldn't store the highly dangerous firearm next to an abundance of alcohol, but as he pocketed the clips peggie vehicles pulled up in front of the hanger and a few dozen angry looking peggies came pouring out, guns in hand. Nick's blood ran cold, there had to be around fifteen of them, Nick needed a miracle to make it out of this one, he was no sharpshooter. Just then what appeared to be the leader of the bunch stepped ahead of the group.

"Nick Rye, it has been declared that you carry the sin of greed, surrender now so we may take all that you have so we can prepare for the great collapse and I'm sure Joseph will find you a place in his flock" the man shouted.

Nick knew if he surrendered, they would take his plane, if they did that then he and his wife really were dead.

"tell ya what, bring ol' Joseph down here and I'm sure I can find him a place in hell!" he shouted back.

For a moment the leader didn't say anything.

"So be it, as Joseph would say, souls don't harvest themselves "the man said, and with a wave of his arm the rest of the peggies raised their rifles and began firing. Nick ducked below the bar again hoping to hatch some miracle of a plan, but nothing came, Nick really began to sweat as he then realized that he needed to get out of this little corner he put himself in. so he poked his AR up and began blind firing, after the sixth burst the peggie fire slowed, it was the opportunity he needed and jumped out from the bar and behind the couch to his left, as he hit the floor the firing picked back up, but it was then he realized he had jumped out of the pan and into the fire, his previous cover was made entirely out of thick wood and quite sturdy, and the couch however was far less sturdy, bullets came tearing through the back rest of the couch as the peggies really began to turn up the heat. Nick swore loudly as the couch offered as much protection as a pillow fort, Nick was lying on the floor in between the coffee table and couch, he was really beginning to freak the fuck out.

"This is it, I'm going to die, I should've gotten Kim and me outta here weeks ago, I'm a pilot not fuckin' Rambo, I got me, and my family killed, Fuck Fuck, Fuck" he thought.

"well this is it" Nick thought as he laid down on the ground, utterly defeated, he was surrounded as his one way to save his family was about to be taken, with a despairing sigh he rolled over to face the coffee table, and that's when he saw it, the old beat up spare CB radio he used to talk to airborne pilots was tucked under the coffee table. Maybe there was a god after all, maybe he could call some one to at least save his wife and Nick Jr. Nick grabbed the mouth piece and turned the out going signal to all channels, as he flipped the switch the old thing crackled, whirled, and fizzled. By the sounds of it, it didn't sound like it was transmitting anything, but he had to try.

"Dammit! Hello!? It's Nick Rye. The cult is at our doorstep, And I think they're here for my plane, we can't hold out for long! Nick yelled.

"please my wife is pregnant, and we need help, anyone please" he cried then prepared for a third wave of begging but the peggies began to move in, he had to return fire, all Nick could do now was hope and wait.

And that's when he heard it, the sound of his pride and joy starting up.

"No, No, No, No, come on No, Fuck please!" he cried as he tried to return fire, somehow hoping to stop them from stealing Carmina. But his gun clicked empty.

"shit god damn come on" he yelled as he switched clips but by then the Carmina was beginning to leave the ground.

"Fuck no, stop god damn it" Nick shouted again as he tried to shoot the peggies again.

Rook released a sigh of boredom as he ejected the magazine from his AR and slotted it back in for what felt like the thousandth time. Rook had parked his truck on the side of a road, deep in Falls End hours ago, waiting for a van to roll on by, Pastor Jerome called him hours ago to inform him of some info that came through the grapevine, it was rumored to be peggies were transporting people to God knows where down this road Rook sat on at some point during the day. If Rook was lucky, he'd be able to pop the driver before he realized what was happening. If the info was even correct.

Rook thought about turning on the radio, but it was all static and cult hymns.

"Would It kill them to mix it up a bit, is a little Rolling Stones, or Pet Shop Boys too much to ask, hell I'd take steely Dan at this point!" Rook growled to himself, trying to relieve the boredom, god how he regretted leaving his phone at the station before leaving to arrest Joseph.

Rook began to run his hands through his dark brown hair, he had been sitting there for the last two hours, it had all been a waste, he could have helped people in that time, he was at his wits end, but before he could reach for is walkie talkie to let pastor Jerome that the van info was a bust he heard it, the sound of a lone vehicle in the distance.

With that Rook immediately perked up, this was it, show time, he quickly exited the vehicle and hid behind the hood of the van and crouched down to get the jump on the enemy, the van was approaching fast and Rook debated on aiming at the driver or the tires. But before he could make a decision the van sounded like it was right around the corner.

Rook jumped up from his hiding spot, seeing the Eden's gate logo imprinted on the van, raising his rifle at the unaware driver and fired, the first few bullets pierced the windshield and sunk into the dashboard, scaring the driver causing him to swerve, but it didn't save him in time as more automatic fire plunged itself into his chest, killing the man.

The car skidded to a halt somehow without careening off the road. Rook had to be careful, he was so focused on the driver he didn't see if there was a person in the passenger seat, that would explain how the van made a swift recovery.

Rook began to slowly creep out from behind the truck ready for any more trouble, he slung his AR over his shoulder and pulled his sawed off from its holster.

The van came to a halt thirty feet from Rook, but as he got within ten feet the passenger door kicked open and a Peggie jumped out, pistol in hand and scared out of his mind, he jumped out ready to fire with the gun raised as he climbed out of the vehicle.

The Peggie whipped around to his right side, presumably he must have saw Rook stand and fire at his buddy, but before he could even train his gun on Rook, Rook fired his gun, effectively ending his foe.

Rook paused for a moment to listen for anything that may pose a threat, be it an immediate threat or off in the distance, When Rook deemed it clear he approached the back doors of the van and opened them to find four people, two men and two women hands bound and scared out of their minds.

"Everything is going to be alright now folks, the authorities are here" he said with pride.

Rook was washed with a chorus of gratitude and thank yous as he freed there hands.

"Thank you deputy, you are a true hero, Hope County is getting safer because of you" one of the men said one final time as the other captives picked up the weapons dropped by the dead.

"Hey Jerome, Rook here, I finally got that you van told me about, I got four people here, two are armed" Rook said into his walkie talkie.

For a moment there was silence then the talkie crackled.

"Roger that Dep, I'll send some guys down your way to pick them up" the pastor responded.

"Roger Dodger, we'll stay put" Rook said, clipping the talkie back to his shirt's breast pocket.

Rook began to reload all his weapons and do a bullet count to kill time when his radio sputtered to life again.

"Hey kid, are you there?"

It was Dutch, Rook was surprised as Dutch only called him when John or Jacob called off the hunt on him or if something particularly serious was going down.

"I hear you Dutch, what's up?" Rook asked.

"I'm picked up a transmission just now from Rye and sons, it's real bad down there, peggies are steal fuel and plane crap, if someone doesn't stop them the air space of Falls End will become a real shooting gallery for the chosen" Dutch responded.

"Shit, the roads are bad enough as is, I can't let them get there hands on that's stuff, where's Rye and sons, I've never heard of hit before?" Rook replied.

"It's south west of you if your still waiting for that van" Dutch said.

Rook didn't respond as he look at the people he had just saved, he didn't want to leave them, who knows who might come along before the cavalry arrived.

"Go on deputy, get outta here"

Rook turned to face the voice, it had been the male captive who gave him the final words of praise.

"Go, you've already done so much for us, someone else needs help, don't worry about us, this time we are ready to fight" the man said with a cocksure grin and brandishing the pistol one of the peggies had.

'Hey kid" Dutch called out again.

"Kid, I don't mean to rush your decision, but there is a pregnant woman down at Rye and Sons, I doubt she can protect herself when things get violent"

"shit, I'll get there as soon as possible" Rook quickly replied, he then turned to the people he saved and gave them a nod then he ran to his car.

Rook adjusted his rear-view mirror as he tore down the road as fast as he could. He had to make sure no peggies gave chase, he couldn't have any of them tail him to Rye and Sons, from what Dutch told him it was getting bad down there. He wasn't exactly sure where Rye and Sons was located but as he approached it`s general location he could hear the gunfire through the trees to guide him in.

Rook parked his truck by the Rye and Sons sign and dropped to a crouch, he had to be careful with all the gunfire it sounded like there had to be at least twenty peggies. As rook crept around the side of a hanger, he could hear shouting through the gunfire, he could not discern whether it was friend or foe.

Rook tried to poke his head out to see the commotion only to have a hail of bullets implanted themselves into the wall behind Rook, missing his head by a few inches.

The sudden hail of bullets made Rook fall back in surprise, landing on his ass. He cursed then jumped back up and aiming his AR, returning fire and forcing the peggie into cover and alerted the others to his location.

"There he is, the sinner, get him!" a peggie shouted as many of them lost interest in what they where dealing with and shot at the junior deputy.

"oh, come on, one at a time please" Rook yelled as he killed two men with shotguns, charging him before having to take cover by crouching behind some blue barrels on a pallet.

Rook took a deep breath and stood up to take out another peggie, he aimed his rifle but before he could pull the trigger blood flew from the peggies chest and collapsed, dead.

Rook dropped down behind the barrels again pressing his back on the barrels, confused about what just happened, he didn't pull the trigger so why was he dead?

"Hell yea man!" Rook heard someone shout, he looked up to the hanger he snuck around and a saw a bearded man wearing a blue tee shirt, an unbuttoned red flannel shirt and jeans situated between a large wooden crate and a torn-up couch.

"Let's do this man, fuck these peggies up" the yelled with a smile as he fist pumped the air.

Rook smiled and gave him a thumbs up and stood up again and the two returned fire.

As the fire fight carried on Rook jumped from cover to cover and laid into the enemy while the man in the hanger picked off all those whole focused on the deputy, this tactic made short work of the cultists.

As Rook finished off the last peggie he heard the man cheer, Rook sighed in relief and turned and walked to the man. The man really wanted to talk to the deputy because he ran up to Rook

"hey! HEY! I need to talk to you" he yelled.

"What can I do to help, sir?" Rook asked.

"We're trapped. We're fucking TRAPPED!'' the man yelled.

''I'll do whatever I can to help you sir, but I need you to calm down and tell me what happened'' Rook said with a voice of concern.

''I swear to god I'm going to kill that son of a bitch John Seed, you see them peggies take off with my plane? I need it back. That was our ONLY chance of gettin' out. I'd go myself but my wife's pregnant and due and second and… I just don't know what I'm supposed to do… I mean without that plane we're fucked'' the man ranted.

''ok I'll see what I can do sir, just tell me the make and model is the plane and what direction did it go?'' Rook asked.

''I'm sorry. I don't like getting' emotional… Name's Nick by the way, Nick Rye, Look, if I know the cult, they've taken my plane to John Seed's ranch. It's got the only other airstrip big enough to land the thing, I know its a lot to ask, but… I'm desperate, partner.'' Nick said.

''ok, I'll head down to the ranch and see what I can do about getting it back to you, and if you need anything happens while I'm gone radio Mary May Fairgrave at the Spread-Eagle bar and she'll sort you out'' Rook said.

''thank you, man, pull this off and you save my family'' Nick says placing a hand on Rook's shoulder, the two men gave each other a nod and ran their separate ways, Rook back to his truck and Rye to his wife.

Rook got in his truck and took off down the road, The Seed Ranch, Rook knew where it was, he had been told about it many times in the Spread-Eagle Bar, how it had been John's home at one point, how those who are willing to fight would love to take that place but couldn't due to sheer numbers and air support that could be deployed. There was no way Rook could take it by himself.

Rook knew that he was terrible at sneaking, he learned that on his first few outposts raids he would be spotted within two minutes of infiltration, but stealth was his only option, the thought of having to sneak into a pseudo-Fort Knox. It put a fear in Rook that made the trip a lot faster then he anticipated.

The ranch was within sight, and so were the dozens of peggies, a few on the ground fiddling with crates of ammo, snipers on the roofs and a mounted LMG. This was going to be rough.

The only upside was that there was one hanger and one runway, so there was no need for searching.

Rook dropped down into some tall grass and crept to the edge of the overgrowth to see two guards lined against either side of the wide hanger doors fifty sixty feet away from him, even if they were facing the door the sniper would see him. Rook paused to concoct a plan of action for a moment, he crept to the far side of the tall grass and tossed a stone over the heads of the men handling the ammo crates, causing them to turn around to investigate the noise of the rock hitting the wall behind them. When their backs were to the crate Rook gently through a remote explosive at the base of the crates, then returned to his first spot in the tall grass to see the two men at the hanger.

Rook took a few deep breathes before scavenging the ground for another rock, then throwing it dead center of the hanger doors, causing the two men to look at the door in surprise. In the moment of confusion Rook withdrew his silenced pistol and shot one of the guards in the head, dropping him to the floor, the second guards head snapped to his buddy stunned for the briefest on moments before scrambling for the radio strapped to his belt, but the attempt was useless as Rook shot him in the neck before he could alarm anyone.

Rook rubbed his forehead in relief, phase one went off without a hitch, Rook felt a lot of moisture in his hand, confused he looked at his palm, it was covered in sweat, it had taken him almost three hours to realize how hot it had been and how much he had been sweating, baking for two hours in a car, running and gunning, fear of the helpless dying on his watch, the fear of himself dying. He needed a hat to keep the sweat from getting in his eyes.

Rook took a few more deep breathes as he pulled out the detonator, he took more deep breathes and pushed the button, detonating the bomb he threw and the ammo next to it, creating an impressive two story high deadly fireworks display. Rook could see everyone scrambling, and running, including the sniper that could pick him off if he left his cover.

Rook took one final deep breath and sprinted to the hanger door, praying it was not locked, as he approached the doors, he could see no door handle or any way to open it from the outside.

''shit, shit, shit, come on'' Rook cursed under his breath.

''I don't suppose you guys know how to get in?'' Rook said looking at the bodies of the guards.

Rook ran his hands through his hair repeatedly trying to think of something, looking at the doors, it was clearly thick, no explosives. Rook analysed the door for any weakness or give.

That's when he saw his answer, there was four large windows he could easily smash one and climb in, upon this thought Rook smacked his head and shook his head.

''Of course," he said to himself as he used his pistol to put four rounds into the window, causing most of the window to fall out, Rook pulled the AR off his shoulder and grabbed it by the barrel and using the butt of the gun to clear the remaining glass.

With the AR back on his torso he jumped up, crabbing the window sill, lifting himself up and in, hoping to god no one was in. with a less the elegant landing, Rook was in the hanger, it was obvious the big yellow crop duster was Nick's. Rook made a quick check to see if anyone was in the room, thankfully he was the only one, just him and the plane, Rook reached for his walkie talkie and called up Nick.

''Hey man, Deputy Rook here, I found your crop duster, ok so how should we get it back to you?'' Rook said quietly.

The radio crackled to life.

''Well your gonna have to fly it over here, buddy'' Nick replied.

Rook didn't respond, he heard what nick said, but it didn't settle with him, sneak into cultist infested fortress, sure, shoot tons of bad guys, ok, but heights? No way, Rook always had a fear of heights, just the thought of sitting in the cockpit made him nervous, he still remembered how weak his knees felt when Dutch told him he had to climb the seemingly infinitely tall radio tower, how he needed ten minutes to conjure up the courage to even approach the ladder, and another ten to even look at the zip line down…

''OK Nick then we have a multitude of problems, one, I don't know how to fly a plane, two, I don't know how to land, and three…'' Rook said before pausing briefly.

''And three, I can't really handle heights'' Rook said embarrassed.

There was no response for a moment

"Don't worry buddy, you got the best pilot in all of Hope's County coachin' you on this, just do what I say, and you'll be fine" Nick said confidently.

"Are you absolutely sure there is no other way to get your plane home? I don't wanna smash it into the ground" Rook pleaded.

"It's the only way pal, it's not a car so you gotta fly, its all or nothing" Nick returned.

Rook screwed his eyes shut, trying not to too imagine crashing in a burning wreck, or at the very least existing at such a immense height.

"Ok, Ok, Ok, fine, but you have to walk me through, real simple, I really don't know what I'm doing" Rook said nervously.

"Ok give me a minute, I got to open the hanger still" Rook said while looking for a way to open the doors.

"There's usually a big switch by the door" Nick called out.

And sure enough there was a switch, Rook pressed the green glowing button, slightly grumpy there was no switch on the outside.

The door retracted, and Rook could hear voices close by, the window the diversion created was closing and fast.

Rook ran to the plane, wrenched open the door and climbed in and fastened himself in.

"Ok Nick, I'm in and ready to go" Rook said, scared.

"OK, sweet, you got this man!" Nick said excitedly.

"there are three throttles on the center dashboard, crank the far left one back and forth till a red button lights up beneath it, then press it" Nick instructed.

Rook did what Nick told him with great trepidation. As the red button was pushed, the propeller began to spin up and the plane slowly rocked forward out of the hanger.

"Oh shit, ok, ok, ok, ok, Nick, Nick we're moving what do I do!?" Rook said, voice raising in fear.

"step two is stay calm, always stay calm, everything is ok, now push the middle throttle all the way up, count to ten, then slowly raise the left throttle up as your speed increases" Nick instructed.

"ok, I hear you" Rook breathed, trying to keep cool. Then Rook pushed the middle throttle up and took several quick controlled breaths as the planes speed increased and began down the runway.

"One… two… Three" Rook counted.

As the plane built up speed the noise it created was sure to attract attention.

"four… Five… Six"

That only fueled the fire that was his fears.

"Seven… Eight… Nine"

The plane was about half way down the runway when the peggies saw the plane, they couldn't let it get away so they did the only thing they could, they opened fire on it.

Rook could hear the bullets land on the plane, causing him took choke on is spit, his fear was getting the best of him, is hands started to shake and he could feel his knees getting weak.

"TEN" he shouted as he pushed up on the left throttle, causing the plane to lift off the ground, his heart beating like a jackhammer.

"OK Nick I'm off the ground!" Rook shouted, afraid to shout any louder as if it would cause his heart to leap out of his chest.

He heard Nick cheering for a moment before returning to instructor mode.

"see I knew you can do it buddy, how you feeling?" Nick asked happily.

"Like I'm about to piss myself!" Rook shouted.

He heard Nick laugh again, but Rook guess it was for a different reason then before, making him feel embarrassed again.

"It happens to a lot of first-time flyers, just keep flying north east and line up with my runway and I'll get you home safe" he said trying to reassure the terrified deputy.

"But god damn. Breakin' into John's ranch of all places and makin' it out in one piece. Way to show those fuckers." Cheered Nick.

Rook wanted to respond but he was to afraid to open his mouth, he felt if he did, all that would come out would be screams.

"Man, what I'd give to have seen the looks on their faces, stupid peggies." Nick laughed.

"that's all they do around here. Show up at your door like they did to me and take whatever the hell they want" Nick continued.

Rook just nodded and made noises of agreement as he poured all his attention on what was ahead of him, Nick's voice went in and out of his head half scanning for anything that can improve his chances of living. But all he could do was stare straight ahead and keep the steering wheel steady. He was to afraid to do anything else, looking down at the expanding vista of Montana made it hard to breathe and the tips of the trees out of the bottom of his vison looked like deadly spikes from some childhood videogames to him. Then his heart rate jumped up for a moment as Nicks voice exploded from the walkie talkie again.

"You know, I shoulda figured everythin' would be alright. That plane's never let a single one of us Rye's down. Don't know what we would've done if we lost that plane. But it takes a certain kinda man to defend his home, between you n' me. I'm not sure I fit the bill. I don't know if you got any little monsters of your own, but I'm tellin' ya – the thought of leavin' mine fatherless puts the fear of god in me. And mine ain't even born yet." Nick carried on.

Rook respected that, Nick was willing to uproot his home and leave everything behind for his family. Rook was only twenty-four years old and the prospect of have a family was still just an idea to him. So, he wouldn't truly no the fear that Nick was feeling.

"If runnin' means I can protect my family at the cost of losin' my home, so be it. That's the right move, ain't it?" Nick asked.

By the sounds of things, Nick was contemplating his grand plan.

"But still, makes my goddamn blood boil that I gotta uproot from the place my family worked so hard to put together. They earned every inch of this land with blood and sweat, and now I gotta lose it to some man-bunned little twerp and his posse of inbreeds? Fuck it! You don't mess with a Rye without it leavin' a scar, let's give 'em a long kiss good bye partner! Let's do something before I get my family outta here" Nick shouted in defiance.

"when you get back here, let's go fuck 'em up! Oh, shit your getting close now, I can hear you commin' from here, ok im going to teach you how'd to land so don't crap yourself ok?" Nick stated.

The prospect of landing was pure joy to Rook, it was like a weight was being pulled off him.

"Now people say landing is the hardest part, but I'll show ya do it right. Just get lined up with the runway while lowering your altitude then when you're on the ground slowly lower that left throttle" Nick instructed.

Whatever joy Rook felt was whisked away when Nick said it was the hardest part, but he trusted Nick, he was a good man, he believed in nick's instructions. Rook sucked in air has he slowly descended onto the runway, as the plane kissed the ground Rook emitted a small squeak of fear as the dirt runway was uneven and bumpy. Rook pulled the throttle faster then he probably should have, and the plane slowed.

"Awesome landing partner! Bring the plane over to me. You'll see me wavin' you in" Nick cheered.

The plane slowed to a halt as it skidded across the runway, the slower it moved the happier Rook got.

The second the plane came to a stop Rook pushed open the door to escape the flying death trap, Rook was about to jump down on his hands and knees to kiss the ground he missed so much, but Nick came running up to the deputy, grabbing his hand to give him a hearty handshake.

"You did it! Thank you." Nick praised with joy.

He released Rook's hand and spun around to examine his precious plane for a moment before shouting at his house to inform his wife the plane had been returned. She shouted something back, Rook wasn't listening, he was too focused on enjoying the feeling of the ground beneath his feet. Then Nick turned back to the deputy.

"Hey, come on, let's turn it around. Come on!" Nick said turning away to pushed one of the plane's pontoons.

Rook joined in and grabbed the left pontoon and pulled so the force of the two men caused the plane to rotate on the spot.

"you know this is the first time in a long time I feel like shit's actually going my way. Those damn peggies" Nick said before yelling for his wife to hurry.

"Y'know this plane's been in my family for three generations, can you believe that?" Nick asked.

"She looks real good for being so old" Rook said looking up at there plane.

Nick opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by his wife yelling something.

"Kim, would you just hurry up!" Nick yelled back.

"Nick, the peggies are on there way!" Kim yelled.

"What!? Those mother fuckers just won't give up!" nick said getting riled up.

"OK listen up partner, I'm better in the air but you're a fucking beast on the ground. I'll hit 'em high, you hit 'em low, what do you say partner?" Nick asked Rook as he held out a fist hoping his new friend wouldn't leave him hanging.

"let's make them regret messing with anyone in the county" Rook smiled as he extended his fist to fist bump Nick

"Oorah!" Nick shouted in righteous defiance before climbing into his plane.

The ensuing battle had been chaotic, not for Rook or Nick but for the peggies. As the deputy tore the peggies apart with bullets and explosives, Nick destroyed them with strafing runs and explosive payloads raining from above, Rook didn't have to leave the Rye's front porch as all enemies were destroyed. The skirmish barely lasted hardly ten minutes, Nick landed and disembarked his aircraft and ran to his wife.

Rook followed to make sure the expecting mother was alright, but before he could enter the house, Nick swung the front door open and he left the house in a hurry with a suitcase in hand.

"come on, Kim. We're leaving." He said sternly.

"No" she said defiantly

"No?" Nick echoed in surprise.

"No. this is our home." Kim argued.

Nick dropped the suitcase on the front porch and turned back to face his wife.

"C'mon Kim. You just don't understand—"

"Don't understand what? That they're stealing our land and kidnapping our friends and doing god knows what else?" She yelled as Rook entered the house, not daring to interrupt the couples quarrel. Nick ignored Kim as he picked up another suitcase and handed it to Rook, before he could do anything Kim ripped it from his hands and placed it back on the ground, Rook had handled a few domestic disputes as a cop, but this was different, he didn't know what else to do so he kept his mouth shut.

Nick placed another suitcase on the porch then came back inside, his wife in between him and the final case.

"Nick. Your grandfather built this place. You really want to turn your back on that? And what about the times you talked about handing the business to our daughter?" she pleaded.

"I talked about handing off the business to our son." Nick said.

"You've seen the ultrasound. It's a girl" Kim refuted.

"that was on a messy black and white tv screen. You know them things ain't reliable." Nick said looking at Rook hoping he would back him up, but Rook shrugged and hoped Nick wouldn't be offended he stayed silent.

"Nick" Kim said quietly.

The two stared at each other for a moment as Nick thought over his situation and all its consequences it entailed, before placing a hand on his wife's swollen stomach.

"I love you" he said, just as quiet.

"Me too" she said.

Nick swallowed the spit in his mouth and turned to retrieve the cases on his porch.

"Well, Deputy. Looks like the Rye's are digging in. If you ever need anything, you gimme a holler. You and me will be like Butch and Sundance." He said as he placed the cases in the living room.

"Nick… They both die at the end" Kim said with great concern.

Nick looked at the deputy and with a shrug he blew off the fact of with an uncaring "nawh" as if his wife was incorrect.

Kim approached the deputy and rested a hand on his forearm.

"please take care of him." She begged him.

With a single laugh Rook stood up straight and gave the worrying wife a salute.

"yes ma'am" he said.