A Smoke Bomb

Travis was down in the sofa with Tee watching a movie in the media room while Jan read in the living room. Bill and Sarah were in the kitchen with a cup of coffee and Kyle was in his room. It was a quiet evening until the glass shattered on the front door.

Travis jumped up, "what the fuck was that?"

Bill ran down the hall almost bumping into Kyle who was holding a gun in his hand.

"Get back," Kyle yelled as something came flying in through the door and began smoking.

"It’s a grenade!" Yelled Travis

Kyle watched it, "nah it’s a damn smoke bomb," he walked over and kicked it out of the door and went through the broken door into the yard.

"Oh my god," cried Jan running to Travis.

"It’s only a smoke bomb Jan

"Bill don’t you go out there," yelled Sarah as he moved to the door

"Why…who would do such a thing?" asked Jan clinging to Travis.

"I don’t know," he said shaking his head

"Somebody’s got it in for you Travis…all kinds of things have been going on here…harassment I’d say." Bill said.

"Well why can’t we put a stop to it?" Travis wanted to know

"The gates are up and working but with this much land anybody can come on it and there’s no way to stop them." Bill explained.

Jimmy Kelp came running to the house, "oh lord what happened here…I heard a shot?"

"A shot…must be Kyle…ah somebody threw a smoke bomb in the house," Travis said, "Dad tells me somebody has targeted this place…is that what you think?"

"Well if you’re askin’ yeah too many things for it not to be deliberate. First time they’ve come at the house though,"

"Maybe we should call the police," Sarah suggested.

"And what do you think they can do?" asked Bill, "They ain’t going to patrol this whole station. They wouldn’t do nothin’ but come out here and make a report…’let us know if it happens again’, " Bill was frightened and angry.

"Security…let Kyle take care of it…he’ll find enough blokes…armed and on horseback," Travis said.

"Like living in an armed camp I don’t like guns," Sarah said.

"I don’t either Mum but we’ve got to do something…I don’t want to wait until the next time." Travis moved to the door.

"Travis…please wait until he gets back," Jan asked. "We can’t have gunmen here with Tee…Travis think."

"I’ll go look for him," offered Jimmy thinking the shot may not have been fired by Kyle.

"Careful Jimmy…you be careful out there," Travis warned.

Jimmy never got off the porch before Kyle came running back to the house.

"One guy I saw I took a shot but missed him in the trees he ran east…nothing out there but trees…what do you want me to do?" Kyle asked

"Nothing…nothing else will happen tonight…but tomorrow we take shifts."

"Well guess we better get this mess cleaned up," Sarah said going for a broom and dustpan.

"I’ll find a piece of plywood to cover the door tonight," Jimmy said heading for the tool shed.

Tee found his way to Travis’s side and Travis put his arm around him, "we’re okay Tee…somebody playing some nasty pranks…we’ll take care of it."

"That was a smoke bomb," Tee said covering his nose.

"Yeah…a smoke bomb," Travis said narrowing his eyes.