Reformed Southerner

Reformed Southerner

Share this post

Reformed Southerner
Reformed Southerner
Blowin’ in the Wind
The Devil's Road

Blowin’ in the Wind

The Devil’s Road — CHAPTER 02: AN OKLAHOMA TRIPTYCH

R. Austin Barrow's avatar
R. Austin Barrow
Aug 20, 2023
∙ Paid
1

Share this post

Reformed Southerner
Reformed Southerner
Blowin’ in the Wind
1
Share

Welcome to Issue #7 of The Devil’s Road, a serial novel following the exploits of Samantha Hart, a Sequoyah County Sheriff, full of vengeance and fury using her badge to hunt down her sister's killer as she uncovers a trail of bloodshed that coats the heartland. If you missed it, you can read last week’s Chapter 2/Issue 3: The Drop here.

If you are new to the series, I recommend you check out Chapter 1 which you can read or listen to for free here:

The Devil's Road

The Devil's Road

R. Austin Barrow
·
July 27, 2023
Read full story

If you are enjoying this series, please consider sharing it with others, and don’t hoard all the good tales for yourself.

Share

And now, please enjoy Chapter 2 Issue 4 of … The Devil’s Road.


In 2004 an Oklahoma Bureau of Investigations analyst discovered a crime pattern along the Interstate 40 corridor between Oklahoma and Mississippi. Subsequently, The Federal Bureau of Investigations (F.B.I.) started the Highway Serial Killings Initiative. They discovered over 500 bodies of women along the interstate highway system with more than 200 potential suspects, a trail of bloodshed that coats the heartland. The Devil’s Road is a serialized novel based on this horrific discovery.


Wind whipping across an open plain can gain a ferocity only rivaled by the rage found under the roaring storm clouds of a hurricane at sea. It can also whip the hair of a Sequoyah County sheriff into a hell of a knot. Now, admittedly, Bandy Williamson’s locks were a little over regulation length, and his Chief reminded him of that fact about three months ago. He still hasn’t gotten a haircut. Mrs. Williamson says it’s just a phase, but Bandy likes the way it feels.

Sitting atop a slight hill on a rusty metal chair with torn vinyl cushions is the body of a woman. She has long red hair that whips in the wind as ferociously as Bandy’s own. Her pale skin glows white against the dead, yellow grass, and her vibrant red hair makes her look more doll-like than human.

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to Reformed Southerner to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 R. Austin Barrow
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share