Authors Note: I'm proudly from Arkansas, so it's okay for me to poke fun a southern stereotypes. Nof offense was intended! Ya'll send some feedback!
Buffy slowed the van when she saw the Buzz-Buy sign, she pulled in and parked. The sun had just set, she called to Angel in the back. "It's safe now, sweetie. You can come out, we're here." Angel had been grumbling about having to be in the back of the van all day, but they had needed to get here quickly.
They had been sent to a small Arkansas town called Delight. The sign as they entered town had said population 311, and also it was home of somebody named Glen Campbell. Their had been several teenagers dissappear and vamps had been sighted in the area. Of course, the locals had no idea about the vamps.
It was a Friday night and their were several cars of teenagers parked at the Buzz-Buy. She was supposed to get directions to her source's house from the guy at Buzz-Buy. Angel crawled to the front of the van, they got out and walked in together. "Hi, I was supposed to get directions to Bubba Jones trailor from you." She asked the old man behind the counter, he smiled at her, she noticed he was missing half of his teeth.
"Oh, yeah. Bubba was in here last night, strange boy, that Bubba. Only comes into town at night. You must be Buffy. He lives in a trailor on the Wildcat road." He gave her directions.
"Thanks" Buffy told him as she paid for a coca cola icee and set out for Bubba's. Bubba was s souled vampire like Angel, he had been cursed by Cajuns on a visit to New Orleans. The effect was the same as Angel's Romany curse. He had offered to help, when the Council contacted him.
She went up the dirt road to a small trailor on a hill. There was a primer grey 1979 camaro up on blocks in the front yard.They stopped the van and got out carefully avoiding the appliances that littered the yard, stepping over several sleeping dogs, they went to the door.
She could hear the radio playing loudly "If I stay here with you girl, things just wouldn't be the same..." She knocked loudly, a smiling man that looked about 25 answered the door. His blond hair was in a pony tail, he was wearing levis, a Lynrd Skynrd tee-shirt and a baseball cap that said "Skoal" on it.
He smiled broadly, "You must be Buffy and you are Angel I've been spectin' ya'll" (this translates to I have been expecting you for non Arkansans) He held out his hand,Buffy shook it first, then Angel. "Well, I'm mighty proud to meet ya'll. Come on in."
"Nice to meet you too. What can you tell us about these vamps?" Buffy cut to the chase.
"Well, have a seat and I'll tell you." He sat down and took out a round can from his pocket. He opened the can and took a pinch of snuff, sticking it between his cheek and gum, he proceeded to tell Buffy about a series of caves in the hills where the vampires were holed up.(Translation - the vamps hide out) They made plans to attack the next night.
Angel just stared at him, Bubba noticed the stare, "I'm sorry,I clean forgot my manners." He opened the can again, "You ont some?" (this translates to Do you want some? for those of you not from Arkansas) Buffy smiled at Angel, he shook his head saying "No thank you"
Buffy and Angel sat on the couch listening to Bubba. He had researched the vamps well and was ready to help. "Ya'll are welcome to stay here tonight. Bobbi Jo isn't home, she's visiting family, her Momma don't really like me." Buffy noticed the picture on the table, a big haired blond with lots of makeup, she probably was pretty under all that gunk.
"Is that Bobbi Jo?" She had to ask.
"Yep, that's my sweet potato." He answered, love in his voice.
She and Angel looked at each other and smiled. "So, do you ya'll want me to show you the guest room?"
"Sure, we'd be happy to stay here tonight, Bubba, thanks for the offer." Angel answered for them, Buffy elbowed him in the ribs and smiled at Bubba. "Yes, thanks" She said without much enthusiasm.
"Well, we southerners are known for our hospitality." He told them as he led them down the hallway of the mobile home. He showed them the "guestroom", it was a very clean room, not very big, but with a double bed and a pretty quilt covering it. Heavy curtains covered the small window. A rocking chair sat in the corner.
"And the bathrooms right here. The lady probably wants to clean up. There is some of that skin so soft stuff that Bobbi Jo likes in there, it smells good and wards off skeeters." He told them as he headed to the livingroom.
Finally alone, Buffy glared at him, "I thought we were going to stay in a nice hotel."
"Buffy, this is a clean little trailor. Bubba seems nice enough, and I didn't want to offend him." Angel answered her, sitting her on the bed and rubbing her shoulders. "Do you want to take that bath?"
"Yeah, I think I will. What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to get our bags and talk to Bubba."
"Okay." She told him as she went to the bathroom, "Oh, you can bring my pj's into me" She turned on the water and sank into the skin so soft scented bubbles.
"So, Bubba, I know there can't be a blood bank too close to here, so I have to ask, how do you eat?" Angel asked while he and Bubba walked outside to the van.
"Well, believe it or not, I eat a lot of opposum and coon and rabbit. It's not the best, but it works. Actually, I like the taste of blackeyed peas and cornbread, but you know that doesn't exactly nourish our type." Bubba said as he helped Angel in with the bags.
"No, it doesn't. I eat alot of packaged blood. Sometimes animals. How did you manage to end up here?" Angel was curious about the redneck vampire.
"Well, I met Bobbi Jo when she was working in Hot Springs, I just fell head over heels for her. She was waitressing at a Waffle House and I went in every night. She accepted me for what I was, her family just thinks I'm eccentric. But she loves me and I love her, her Mamaw lives here in Delight, this is her land that our trailor sits on. So, we ended up here. The people are nice enough, they don't bother me. Bobbi Jo got her beauticians license so now she has her own little shop in town. I've got some money, if we ever have to leave in a hurry." Bubba explained good naturedly.
"So, you're happy here?" Angel asked as they entered the trailor.
"Oh, yeah. Couldn't be happier." Bubba smiled at him. "I have to ask, how did you end up with the Slayer. I mean of all humans to love - you take the prize."
"Yeah, she is definitely a prize. It's a long story and I better get these pj's to her. Thanks, Bubba for all your help. I'll see you tomorrow." Angel told him as he went down the hall. The radio was now playing Garth Brooks.
"Angel, Buffy can go through the kitchen cabinets in the morning, I'm sure she can find something to eat in there. Or she may want to go into town to the Diner and ask some questions."
"Thanks, I'll tell her." Angel knocked on the bathroom door. "It's me,Buffy."
"Hey, thanks for getting my clothes." She told him as she stepped out of the tub and wrapped the towel around her. He pulled her to him in a hug, sniffing he said "You smell good."
She laughed "It's the skin so soft, I'm clean and I guess I repel mosquitos now, too!"
They went to the bedroom and crawled under the quilt and fresh sheets. They talked for a few moments.They could here crickets outside and an occasional bullfrog. It was a peaceful kind of noise and they soon fell asleep in each others arms.
The morning brought the sounds of birds chirping. Buffy disentangled herself from Angel and got dressed, she had decided to go into town. She kissed his still sleeping form and went to the van.
Delight in the daylight looked even tinier then it did at night. There seemed to be several churches for such a tiny town, a bank, a grocery store, gas station, school, a couple of diners, a florist, video store, and of course the Buzz Buy. She went into the diner and a friendly waitress took her order. "Where you from, hon?" She asked as she took the order. "California, we're visiting Bubba Jones, he's my husbands cousin." Buffy lied through her teeth.
"Bubba, strange one, but a regular good ole' boy. He's got a sweet wife. Bobbi Jo, she does my hair. I'll get your breakfast."
Buffy found a small newspaper called "The Diamond" and picked it up. On the first page was an article about the dissappearances. She read it over breakfast, homemade biscuits, hash browns, eggs and bacon. She didn't realize how hungry she was.
She listened intently to the conversations around her, several older men sat around drinking coffee and discussing current events. "Well, they hadn't found none of them kids, yet." An older guy in overalls said to his companion across the table.
"Nope, not a word yet. Do you think they ran away? I mean they were couples and maybe they just decided to get away from Mommy and Daddy. Kids don't think."
"Nah, that Missy Herron was a real good kid. She never gave her parents any trouble."
"Yeah, I s'pose your're right, just hate thinkin' about somebody hurtin' kids."
Buffy shook her head, if only they knew. She paid her bill and drove to the grocery store. She bought a few snacks and and decided to go back to Bubba's. Maybe, Angel was up by now.
Buffy got out of the van and went to the trailor door, she was careful to open the door letting little light in. Bubba and Angel were watching football on the tv in the corner. Suddenly, Bubba stood up and let out a yell "Soooie...sooiee...go pig go!"
Startled Buffy looked at Angel for an answer "He's a razorback fan!" was Angel's simple explanation. She was confused "Like the Sunnydale Razorbacks?"
"No, honey, these are the Arkansas Razorbacks." Bubba glared at her for a second then sat down to finish the game. After much whooping and hollerin' the game was over. Bubba turned the tv off and turned the radio back on, it was country music of course. Buffy excused herself to guestroom, she had stakes to sharpen for tonight.
Angel and Bubba were discussing strategy for the nights attack. Bubba decided they should go to the bluff first and catch them in the act then go back to the cave and wipe out the rest of them. He told Angel, "I think you and Buffy should go up there and park, you can catch more flies with honey then with vinegar. If you two act like you're wrapped up in each other when they go to attack, I can take'em out."
Buffy entered the room to hear the tail end of the conversation. "That is a good idea, Bubba." She told him with a smile. She sat down on the couch by Angel.
"Well, thanks, Buffy. It's gonna be dark soon. I say we start getting ready." Bubba got a bag to fill with weapons. And brought a shotgun from the closet, Angel looked at the gun curiously. "Oh, this ain't gonna kill 'em, but will put the hurt on 'em" Bubba said with a smile.
The sun set and they all got in the van. They arrived to find the bluff deserted, news traveled fast in a small town. Bubba got out of the van and hid in some brush near the van. Buffy and Angel sat for a minute self-concious, the moment was interuppted by Bubba, "Is that how you park, where your're from? If you don't start actin' sweet on each other they are going to know it's a set up." He went back to his hiding place.
Angel reached for Buffy pulling her close, he laughed in her ear as he nibbled on it. "He's right, we need to put on a show." She giggled softly and pulled him into a kiss, after neckin' for a few minutes there efforts were rewarded. Buffy could sense the vamps before they made it to the van, she swung the door open, stake ready. Bubba had easily taken care of one of the vamps, Buffy made short work of the second one. They searched for more, when it looked like the coast was clear, they got into the van and drove up to the caves.
Buffy parked the van about a half mile from the caves, so they wouldn't be heard. They hiked the rest of the way, weapon bags over their shoulders. They went quietly to the edge of the cave, inside were four vamps. "I say we just charge 'em, we can take care of 'em" Bubba whispered. He pulled out the shotgun, "this will disable a few"
Bubba went in yelling like Buffy had never heard. Angel glanced at her, "I think that's a rebel yell" He told her as they both plunged into the fight, the gun was going off and vamps were falling to the ground, making it very easy for Buffy to stake them. With the last one down, Bubba turned to Buffy. "Thank you" he said sincerely.
"Thank you, Bubba. We couldn't have done it without you." Buffy told him just as sincerely.
"Tweren't nothin'. It looks like Delight's a safe place to live again!" He told her as they walked back to the van.
They drove back to Bubba's place congratulating each other on their victory. Bubba went to the kitchen when they got back and brought back two longneck budweiser's. He gave one to Angel, they clinked bottles and toasted each other. "Ya'll are welcome to stay another night, if you want."
Angel looked at Buffy and turned back to Bubba. "Nah, but thanks for the offer. We've got a long trip back and we need to get started."
They all stood up, Angel went to get their bags and they all went to the van. "Well, if you are ever back in this neck of the woods, stop by, we' be happy to have you." Bubba told them as he shook Buffy's hand and then Angels.
"We will, and if you're ever in Sunnydale. Look us up." Buffy told him as she started the van.
She and Angel waved at the unusual vampire as they pulled out. "He was a nice guy." Angel told Buffy as they went through Delight one last time. "Yes, he was. Every one in town said he was strange, but a good 'ole boy. Willow isn't gonna believe us when we tell her about Bubba the redneck vampire." Buffy and Angel giggled as they left the now peaceful little town to head back to the hellmouth.
The End
