This is my entry into the #finishthestory contest by Hive account@bananafish (please check out the post for further details on how to enter: https://steemit.com/finishthestory/@bananafish/finish-the-story-contest-week-42)

The idea is simple: in 500 words or less you need to complete the story. This week the story is begun (and written beautifully) by Hive account@gaby-crb. This is how she starts it...

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_{And this is how I finished it (in 497 words)...}

Courage, Recklessness and Family

...

As they bounced up onto the old road, leaving the rough ground behind, the kid looked relieved. Kayla almost felt sorry for him.

Almost.

The kid needed to toughen up if he was gonna survive in this world.

Out of the corner of her eye she watched the smoke curl from Manny's lips and wondered how someone as strong and powerful as he had produced a kid like Thomas. She didn't have to look far for the answer.

His wife.

Marge didn't like Kayla much. That was fine with Kayla 'cos she sure as hell hated Marge's guts.

Manny's eyes met hers and he raised an eyebrow. She looked back to the road, quickly, feeling heat rise to her face, like some fresh faced little girl.

"Where we gonna start?" she said, gruffly, looking through the grime smeared windshield at the road through the dust that billowed around the truck. Manny chuckled and she felt hot air caress her neck as he wound the window down, letting the cigarette drop from his hand. In the rear view mirror, Kayla watched the sparks bounce behind the truck.

"We'll let the kid decide," he said. He was rewarded with a snotty sniff.

The town - what was left of it - was deserted. Or so it appeared. It hadn’t taken Kayla long to learn that things were often not as they first seemed. She pulled the truck in beside a burnt out old Ford, cutting the engine, but leaving the keys in the ignition. Kayla shook her head at the flask Manny shook in her face. The spirit had given her courage. Any more and that might turn into recklessness. Manny shrugged, stuffing it into his pocket.

“Thomas,” Manny said, grinning. “Today’s the day you start earnin’ ya keep. Ya know what we’re here for?” The kid nodded. “Good. Then tell me, boy: where do we start?”

Kayla didn’t think the kid was gonna say or do anything, but, after a pause, he raised his arm and pointed at Old Goodwin’s store. Kayla smiled. Perhaps the kid had more of his dad in him than she’d first thought.

Manny smiled and ruffled the kid’s hair. “Good boy, Thomas. Looks like y’ave bin payin’ attention after all.” He grabbed the rifle from behind the seat and hopped down, waiting patiently for Kayla to do the same. “Ya know how to start this thing?” he asked. The kid nodded. “Any shouting any hollerin’ you start it and start countin’. If Kayla or me don’t appear after one hundred, ya get the hell out of here.” He looked at the kid’s legs, the pedals and then Kayla, “Should be able to reach, I guess.”

Kayla nodded, and rifle over her shoulder headed towards the door. She looked back and saw the kid watching her, a look of determination set hard on his face. Manny joined her and gave her a wink.

“Ya ready, cuz?” he said.

Kayla smiled. “Aye,” she said. “Let’s go a-huntin’!”

...