“I know,” replied Jason. “I should have done more to help, but it all happened so fast.”
“He’s alive and will recover, according to the doctors, but he won’t be walking anytime soon…or possibly ever,” said the Sheriff.
“Yes, I heard that as well. I’m going to build him a wheelchair ramp at the house in the next week or so, and I heard you got him a temporary chair for now. I know he’s grateful for all you have done in the past couple of days.”
The Sheriff smiled, feeling confident about gaining the unwavering support of both James and Jason in the coming days and weeks.
“I have an idea,” he said, “and hear me out on this. Picture this, Jason,” he said excitedly. “A new wheelchair, but not just any one. I’m talking about a bonafide off-road, kickass wheelchair like they used to build for hunters before the power went out. Paid for 100% by the town of Weston and assembled by an expert in the field.”
He took a step back, waiting for the amazed look he knew would be on Jason’s face.
“Uh, sir…” Jason stammered, feeling flushed and uneasy. “I uh…I mean, we um…it’s just that Judge Lowry already...”
“Already what?” asked the Sheriff.
“He already agreed to pay for the exact chair you are describing just this morning. I think they already started on it.”
“Are you kidding me?” the Sheriff snapped. “What I mean is…I didn’t know that.”
The Sheriff held his composure long enough to get his thoughts and his next words in order.
“Is that so?” he asked, and continued. “Who’s building it, and where are they getting the materials?”
“I already paid the old electrical guy, who works with the restaurant freezers, like six silver dollars, and we met at the hardware store downtown to see about building one. You know, the one on Third Street?”
“Of course. The owner and I go way back,” he replied, gritting his teeth.
“Then the Judge just showed up and said he was paying for everything. Well, except for the money I already spent, I guess.”
The Sheriff paused, collecting his thoughts. “Let’s just keep this between us for now. You know how these stories can spread quickly, and we want James to be surprised, either way. How fast did you say that chair would go?”
“I didn’t, sir, but it will do about 6 miles per hour on account of the off-road tires.”
“Tell me about the rest of it, at least what you know,” the Sheriff insisted sternly.
Jason revealed everything he knew, growing nervous that he was in the middle of something beyond his control.
Sheriff Johnson headed downtown to visit his old friend from the store, and Jason headed to the hospital to seek the advice of James.
* * * *
Jason met a more alert James, who was alone since Janice had stepped out to check on Lauren and the girls.
“How’s the office?” asked James. He seemed in a good mood, considering the circumstances.
“Good, I guess. I was going over the plans the architect woman made for the greenhouses, and they look spot-on.”
“Great to hear. Now tell me why you look like you’re going to throw up again,” James said in a lower voice.
“I’m sorry, James. I just wanted to do something special to help you get your life back when you get out of here, and I think I’m caught in the middle of something really big.”
He proceeded to tell James everything.
James smiled, saying, “You didn’t have to do all that for me, but I do appreciate the gesture.”
“I know why you can’t walk,” said Jason continued quietly. He quickly wiped tears from his eyes.
“The bullet caught me in the wrong spot, the doctors said,” replied James.
“No, not that. I mean, I know why you got shot in the back. You were covering me at the time you were shot.”
“Janice told you that?” asked James, surprised.
“No, she did not. I saw you do it. You keep going out of your way to protect me, and I don’t know why.”
“Listen to me, Jason. It’s just like always. I’m not just protecting you; I’m protecting our families, yours and mine and ours together. That bullet that hit me in the back would have likely ended up in your skull if I hadn’t turned. So, I’m not sorry it happened as it did; and yes, I do want a wheelchair that allows me to get around the ranch and keep working for the town.
“We’re still in the middle of the same power struggle between the Judge and the Sheriff,” Jason added, lowering his voice even more. “It’s escalating since they used to be thick as thieves, and now they barely speak to each other.
“They both realize they need you and me on their side if one should take unilateral control of the town. Neither of them could care less about how I get around now, but I know you do, Jason. Thank you for your ideas. Let them both build the chairs and I will accept both, one for the ranch and the other for town. Our picking sides now will not ensure the safety of the townsfolk or our families. We need to let their little game play out, and when the dust clears, we decide what we want.”
“Thank you. That sounds like a good plan,” said a relieved Jason.
* * * *
The Sheriff drove downtown and barged straight into the hardware store, staring the owner in the eye without a word.
“Now, Sheriff,” he stammered. “It’s not like it looks. I got caught in the middle, and I was going to call on you first thing, as soon as I had a break here.”
“Did you close for lunch?”
“Sure, the same as always. I just went home for a couple of hours is all.”
“Home for a couple of hours, huh? Not enough time to tell an old friend and the man who lent you the seed money to open this store that something was going on I should know about?”
“You’re right,” the shop owner conceded, telling him everything he knew about the project and Judge Lowry. “The Judge is going to be mad if he finds out I told you all this. I don’t want to end up in his courtroom is all I know.”
“The Judge has never arrested anyone, and he has no part in carrying out the sentence he hands down. So, old friend, it’s me and only me you should be careful with. Are we understood?”
“Clear as day. What do you need?”
* * * * * * *
Chapter Five
Weston, Colorado
“I need you to get me the best materials you can find. I have a guy who will build the chair… Don’t even think about giving the other guys better parts,” said the Sheriff.
Sheriff Johnson headed back to talk with the former councilman. This time he didn’t have his deputies as backup, so he pulled the man from his cell.
Talking once again in a private room, he gave the man his choices.
“You can remain here and end up in front of a firing squad or neck-deep in a hangman’s noose, or you can agree to help me and possibly earn your freedom.”
“I’m listening,” replied the inmate.
“I need you to build a wheelchair for our town mayor, who was recently paralyzed by your new jail mate. We have a competition of sorts, and we need to win at any cost.”
“If we win, do I get to walk out of here?” he asked.
“Let’s go over the second part before we get ahead of ourselves,” the Sheriff suggested.
“As you may have guessed, I’m a fan of death-defying stunts. Since we have no sharks for you to jump over, I will agree to your idea to jump the courthouse on a motorcycle. If you don’t make it and crash into the building, it will just piss off the Judge, and if you complete it, my citizens will have been treated to a true exhibition, worthy of a Guinness record. Either way, I will be happy. Lastly, should you complete both tasks, you will either be banished from this town or work for me building machinery at my discretion. Is that understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Would you like some time to think about it?”
“No, sir. I will gladly accept your offer, Sheriff.”
“Okay, then I will work on the bike and ramps, and you can head down to the shop with one of my deputies to get started on the project. Last thing, Councilman. Try to run, and I’ll hunt you down like prey. There will be no second chances.”
The Sheriff called his deputy to take the man to the shop immediately.
“That just leaves the two of you,” called the Sheriff out loud, “and you’re eating up all my food.”
The councilman got to work on the new project, seeing that Cam had already started on his.
The hardware store owner supplied both men with sufficient materials to complete each project, giving the Sheriff priority.
Finding a running motorcycle was easier than finding someone to construct two ramps. The Sheriff would turn to the greenhouse architect for final construction plans. The bike was a 1995 Yamaha YZ 450 dirt bike, modified after the EMP that zapped most car and motorcycle electrical components.
* * * * * * *
Chapter Six
Raton Pass, New Mexico
We prepared for our 3 p.m. meeting with Nate down by the river.
David needed to decide how he would work with their group in the coming days and weeks.
Nancy looked at my aching leg and gave me a lecture about trying to do too much. She started me on a different strain of antibiotics but told me it still looked okay.
“I’m out for the meeting today,” I told David, Lonnie and Mike. “Nancy’s orders.”
“No worries,” replied David. “I’m not expecting anything exciting to happen anyway. Mike and I will take care of it. Lonnie and Jake will provide cover that I’m sure we won’t need.”
* * * *
“Dad!” called Mark on the radio. “We have a lot of radio chatter from the Topeka and Ronna’s groups. You all need to hear this.”
“Help me out, guys. I want to hear this,” I told them.
Ten minutes later we met at Beatrice’s house.
David called for Mel and anyone else who wanted an update firsthand.
“What have we got?” asked David.
“Here’s what we know. They are on the move as we speak. They are both headed in the same direction but as separate groups. It seems that Baker and Ronna couldn’t agree on who would be in charge,” replied Mark.
“Hopefully, Ronna’s group will be through first,” I said. “We may be able to strike a deal since we both now know the Colonel.”
“Sorry, buddy,” said Jim. “Baker’s group took the lead, probably to get first shot at new recruits and more supplies.”
“Of course he did!” I replied. “It couldn’t be that easy.”
“Either way, they are all headed right past here,” said Jake, “and we had better be prepared.”
“Let’s get James VanFleet on the line,” said David. “They need to know what’s coming their way.”
“When will they get here?” asked Joy.
“They are 37 miles away,” said Jim soberly. “We know most of the group is walking. At a steady three-mile-per-hour pace, they could be at the Pass in the next day or two.”
“Wait a minute,” said Tammy. “I thought we had more time.”
“We did,” I responded, “while they were getting the hierarchy sorted out, but now it’s done and they are going to be within 10 miles of here in the next 48-72 hours. Plus, we took out their forward observers, and that will probably not go unnoticed.”
“That was all Mike!” shouted Lonnie’s wife, who had been mostly silent since the fire incident with Sheila.
“No,” I responded before he could. “That was on me. Joy’s and my boys were in harm’s way, and Mike and Jake did what needed to be done to save them.”
Lonnie pulled her aside, and I felt bad that he was in the middle of this, but it didn’t change my mind that we did what had to be done.
* * * *
Beatrice called David and Tina to her house.
“Time is of the essence,” she started. “You have agreed to live out your days as husband and wife. David, as you know, I was ordained some years ago and licensed in the State of New Mexico to perform weddings. You two shall be my first wedding, at 9 a.m. tomorrow morning. After the service, we as a community will plan our defense, but your honeymoon will have to wait. Now go and inform your groomsmen and maids of honor.”
“Mom, I’m not sure this is the right time for this.”
“Son, I can assure you that it is not only the right time but it is the only time for this union to commence. The good Lord may not intervene long-term in all relationships, but He does see that they all get a good running start. I want you both here at 8:30 a.m. tomorrow.”
Closing the door behind them, she looked to the sky. “Dean, my brave husband, please watch over us. I’m scared for our son, his new family, and the rest of our good people here. Don’t worry about me; I’m ready to see you again as soon as I am called.”
* * * * * * *
Chapter Seven
Raton Pass, New Mexico
The camp was bustling with the news of the pseudo army heading their way.
“Let’s keep this meeting with Nate short and to the point,” said David. “They are on the front line here, and we don’t have time to be polite, or even diplomatic.”
Three o’clock came and David, Mike, and the two backups, Lonnie and Jake, met Nate and most of his followers on their side of the river.
The conversation started off light, with a jovial Nate expressing gratitude to Mike for freeing his people.
Nate sobered when he heard that more soldiers, just like their former captors, were headed their way.
Overhearing this new update, several families made the immediate decision to head out on their own, deeper into the mountains. They were hoping to avoid another hostile takeover that pillaged the women and subdued their husbands.
Nate, understanding their decisions, took stock of his remaining followers—a total of 13 people.
“You have two choices,” said David, “and the second one I would need to get approved by my group before agreeing to it.”
“Number one, you all hide in the woods for the next week until soldiers from both groups have gone past. It is likely they will search for their lost comrades.
“Number two, you come over on to our side and wait it out. They may not bother with us, given that they are headed farther north of here, or they may try to make an example out of people who took out their forward observers. We can’t be sure and need to be prepared for either scenario.”
“I think I can speak for everyone left here,” replied Nate, “that we would like to accept any invitation given temporarily, as you put it, to come on to your side of the bridge and help fight them off if we have to from there.”
“Okay, I will talk it over with our groups and meet you back right here at 7 a.m. tomorrow. I have something important after that, so it will be quick, either way,” replied David.
“Thank you, and we will be here tomorrow morning,” Nate assured him.
* * * *
“You’re a good man, David,” I said, patting him on the shoulder when he returned with news of the meeting. “I don’t care what everyone else says,” I joked. “I know it’s true,” I added, laughing.
“Keep it up, and I’ll have just one best man in Mel!” he countered, with a smile.
“All right, brother, I’m just messing around. But seriously, it’s a good thing that you’re trying to do with Nate and whoever is left over there.”
“I’m just trying to keep them from getting slaughtered like sheep,” he replied. “I hope we don’t ensure a fight with those looking for their forward guards,” he added.
David took the lead, asking everyone in both groups to vote on whether or not to let Nate’s group join us.
I knew Joy and I would be doing the same with our group once we connected with our old friends, who were now just 40 miles away.
I was going to wait a couple of days, but Joy nearly broke my rib with an elbow and a stern l
ook she had perfected over the past couple of days.
We relayed the information about our friends we left behind, who were waiting just behind both marching groups, and I asked if they could join us on the final leg to Colorado.
Most everyone agreed to bring Nate and his group over with us, and since the nays couldn’t come up with a logical argument to the contrary, we brought them over.
Next World Series (Vol. 4): Families First [Hard Roads] Page 4