I, too, live in a very rural area -- farming community just like yours. My husband was working late that night and I was home alone with the kids. My road isn't quite a dead end, but it doesn't get traveled often since it turns into a dirt lane and there's no winter maintenance on it. I never really heard much traffic that night. I did hear a few gunshots, but just figured it was my goofy neighbor shooting target practice. He does that all the time. The next morning as I pulled onto the main road (about 2 miles from my house), I noticed an ambulance heading in. No sirens or lights. I thought it was rather odd since there's no firehouse on that road. I went to work that day and thought nothing of it.
I came home from work that night and noticed a state police car coming out of my road, but didn't pay it much attention. When I got home, my answering machine was lit up like the 4th of July. My phone was ringing as I walked in. Everyone wanted to know what was going on on my lane. I had no clue but didn't have time to ask any questions b/c someone was knocking on my door. I hung up the phone and answered the door to a state trooper wanting to ask me some questions.
He wanted to know if I noticed anything unusual last night. I said no. Any traffic? Not more than usual. Any loud noises? Just my neighbor shooting his guns. What time was that? About 9:30 or 10:00. That's where the story gets interesting.
Apparently 2 vehicles met at the top of my lane for a drug deal that went seriously wrong. The one couple shot the other couple and left them for dead. They then proceeded back down my lane and up the road about a mile where the girl stopped at my friend's house to use the phone. Not knowing her, they didn't let her in but brought the phone outside for them to use. After using the phone, they sped off down the road. The next morning, some hunters found the dead couple and called 911.
This all happened just 2 days after Christmas. Needless to say, I lost my sitter for New Year's that year. I agree about locking your doors, but more than anything I believe your dogs saved your life. I'm not an animal lover, but I sure do love my dog. She barks anytime someone comes on our property. She's not mean (a retriever/lab mix) but she is very alert. She's the best security system out there. |
My wake-up call came a few years ago - mtroadie
