Next World Series (Vol. 4): Families First [Hard Roads]

by Ewing, Lance K.

  The man didn’t answer, but both Lonnie and I nodded our heads in affirmation.

  “I’ll need to train three of your men,” said Mel to Nate, “to properly load the M60 belts.” “Who has shot one of these?” he asked, raising his own hand.

  I raised my hand, getting a look from most everyone there. “Only a couple of times,” I said, “but I can do it.” Jake, Lonnie, David and Mike all raised their hands as well.

  “Okay,” said Mel. “Lance, Lonnie and David will each have one, spread out a distance from each other. Mike, you won’t need anything so big, floating. Right?”

  Mike nodded yes.

  “And I will be responsible for the fireworks if needed,” added Mel.

  “All men will have a rotating three-person shift tonight, to be changed every two hours, giving all enough time to rest up for what’s headed our way,” announced Lonnie.

  “Let’s get ready, gentleman,” I said. “Our families are counting on us.”

  I offered a prayer:

  Lord, please watch over our women and children so that we may start anew, with lives full of abundance, health and safety. Guide our weapons in battle if it should come to that and help us to keep a steady hand and aim true. Be right over our shoulders, Lord. It is in your name we pray. Amen.

  I wasn’t completely surprised, talking with a few of Nate’s group later in the morning, to hear that their experience across the river had tested their faith and they were now questioning everything. “He will right the wrongs,” I told them. “Maybe not today, or even tomorrow, but it will be done in good time. The evil that was hidden in dark alleys and corrupt men in positions of power in the old world are now in full view and must be dealt with swiftly when we can and allowed to move on down the road when necessary.”

  It used to be said that having a dog or alarm protecting your house was not to prevent a burglary but to move the burglar down the neighborhood to another, easier location. We were and are still lucky enough to have a neighborhood that watches out for each other, I thought.

  * * * * * * *

  Chapter Twelve

  Raton Pass, New Mexico

  We had lunch after supplying each foxhole with the necessary provisions, minus the guns and ammo in case of an advanced breach.

  Each person would carry weapons and ammunition to their respective locations and remain there until it was safe to leave.

  Vlad’s last conversation with the Colonel divulged that all women and children would be at Beatrice’s house, marked by both the American and New Mexico flags flying above the roof and easily seen from the air. Without relating the rest of our exact location, he told the Colonel that anything across the river would be hostile, keeping it as simple as possible.

  The Colonel assured Vlad that if his team was needed, he would personally be in the lead helicopter, and they would only fire across the river if they spotted an obvious breach heading towards the women and children.

  “It should be obvious as well,” the Colonel added, “that any military equipment is likely the property of the United States Army and should not be fired upon by any in your groups.”

  “Yes, sir,” replied Vlad, with no jokes in his back pocket today.

  “Last thing, Vlad,” said the Colonel. “You just need to get past the first group; the second one works for me.”

  “I’ll remember that, sir, and thank you in advance for keeping an eye on us.”

  * * * *

  There were no more swimming lessons, but most in the camp took turns bathing in the lake. The women and children went first, followed by the men. No one could be sure when the next opportunity would be, and Tina had insisted on it for her and David’s honeymoon night.

  An exhausted Jim and Mark switched out with Steve and Chad after learning that the Baker group was camping for the night at the very bottom of Raton Pass, exactly seven miles from the turnoff on I-25 and only 10 miles of dirt roads from here.

  The radio would be monitored every second for the foreseeable future, and Mark’s friend Chad was able to get hold of James VanFleet on his first day home from the clinic.

  “How are you, James?” asked David, hearing he was on the line.

  “Well, my friend, I’ve seen better days, that’s for sure, but I’m still not complaining.”

  He went on to relay the story of how he ended up a paraplegic, leaving out the parts about the Judge and the Sheriff for now.

  “Is that big group still headed up this way?” asked James.

  “They sure are, and we’re prepared for arrival here by tomorrow afternoon or the following morning,” said David.

  “Really?” replied James. “That soon, huh? I figured they might be two weeks out, or more!”

  “I wish they were,” added David. “I’m not sure how secure our channel is, but I wanted you to know we have a few friends in high command watching out for us.”

  “You mean like LCF?”

  James was referring to Lieutenant Colonel Frank, who was an off-record source of information to them both when they worked together in software and kept an eye on things to prepare for.

  “Yes, exactly like that—only bigger.”

  James laughed. “Now that is good news. We’ll stay on the radio here, since I don’t have anything better to do until I can get moving around again. I’ll let the Sheriff and Judge know to be on the lookout, should they make it up our way. Anything else?” asked James.

  “No, that’s it,” replied David. “Well, except I got married today to a wonderful woman named Tina, who you met up here.”

  “Ha!” said James. “That’s great news. I’ll bet Mark is happy for you too.”

  “Yes, he is, and he has two new sisters he can help look out for.

  “Okay, old friend. I have to go,” said David. “Keep your head down and your ears open. And one last thing. Anything you see in the air over the next few days is friendly.”

  “I understand, David. Bye for now, and the wife and I will be praying for you all tonight.”

  * * * *

  David called the last meeting of the day for the adults to review the itinerary for tomorrow morning.

  “They will be at our Raton Pass junction, 10 miles from where we are, sometime tomorrow—late morning or early afternoon.”

  “How many?” asked Tom.

  “We’re not sure, but we believe the number to be in the hundreds,” I added. “They have split from the other group that is following about a day behind them. Nobody knows for sure if we will face a few of them, all of them, or none of them if they just keep going straight over the Pass.

  “My guess is they heard the story from the roadblock we encountered at the base of the Pass,” I added, “and they may have heard we were well armed. That, of course, in itself can be either a help or hindrance to our efforts, depending on how bad they want to work for it. Either way, we should, at the very least, expect scouts looking for their fallen comrades and, at most, a full-on river assault to defend with everything we have.”

  “Last thing,” added in Vlad. “Do not…I repeat…do not fire on anything in the air, as it is likely the Colonel’s men.”

  “We will commence our night shifts as previously discussed and will meet at 6 a.m. sharp right here tomorrow morning for immediate dispatch. Any questions?” I asked expectantly.

  All were quiet.

  “Okay, see you all in the morning, and should you see anything off tonight on any of your rounds, a single shot in the air will start an immediate move of the women and children, along with Ringo and Mini, to Beatrice’s house. The rest of us will meet quickly for an update.

  “‘Families First’ on three. One, two, three!...”

  * * * * * * * *

  Chapter Thirteen

  Raton Pass, New Mexico

  My shift was 12 to 2 a.m., and I was paired with Jake. I hadn’t talked to him much in the past few days, with everything that had happened, and was looking forward to hearing his thoughts on Mike and our odds overall as a
group.

  Joy and I were asleep by nine p.m., not getting the afternoon rest we had hoped for.

  I knew this could be the biggest test of our group thus far, and my childhood predator dream took hold of me, starting back at the beginning each time, like an old skipping record. I awoke, sweating and disoriented. Joy was shaking my arm, and I just now realized she had been asking what was wrong.

  “Let’s go back to sleep, Honey,” I said, as I checked my watch.

  It read 11:43. “I’ve got my shift in 15,” I told her. “No point in going back to bed now.” I dressed quickly and quietly exited the tent.

  Ringo and Mini were curled up outside on their shared four-inch-thick dog bed we brought from McKinney. The boys were adamant in finding a spot on one of the trailers for the bed, citing it was only fair since everyone else had sleeping bags. I sat between them, petting their heads. “What do you think, big guy?” I asked the 150-pound Ringo. “If I don’t make it back, you take good care of Joy and the boys, okay?”

  He put his large pink nose to mine and paused, finally giving a quick lick and mussing up my hair before laying back down. “And you’re responsible for this too,” I said, petting Mini’s head. Since the first day Jax had found her, she hadn’t once left Ringo’s side, and she was growing like crazy.

  * * * *

  “You’re up,” called out Nate. He had been paired with Tom. Jake pulled up on the four-wheeler, helping me into the back.

  “Normally, I’m the one driving,” I told him.

  “Yeah, and normally my ass is in bed at midnight and not out roaming the woods!” he replied.

  “Let’s make a round and then sit at a high point overlooking the camp,” I suggested.

  We rode the property perimeter in about 30 minutes, and we would do so again in an hour. Nothing seemed out of sorts, and we stopped on a small hill just above the camp, cutting the engine.

  “It’s the calm before the storm,” I said aloud.

  “If I’m honest, I’m nervous about how this will all play out,” I continued. “I mean, we know exactly what they do to women and children in front of the husbands. God only knows what they would do if none of us were around anymore.”

  “I know what you’re saying, and I’ve been thinking the same thing. I can’t talk to Nancy about it without scaring her to death, or anyone else really. But I saw it firsthand, and men like that must be stopped at all cost.”

  “I’m confident at least,” I told him, “after getting to know the Colonel just a little, that if we’re not able to defend this territory, he will protect them. Then they will likely end up in a FEMA camp, but they would at least be all together.”

  “Let those FEMA guards just try to mess with Joy and Nancy,” said Jake, laughing.

  “Not a chance!” I replied. “Not even a chance.”

  “Next subject?” he asked.

  “That would be Mike,” I told him.

  “He’s complicated,” he said, throwing out a line I had used about Mike more than once already.

  “How was the beer summit?” I asked.

  “Not exactly presidential, but I think he and I have an understanding of sorts, although I still have dreams of him trying to kill me in my sleep. I’m just trying to understand him better and not get in his crosshairs. My family is more important than some ‘macho bullshit,’ as Joy called it.”

  “I know,” I told him. “That was kind of funny, though, when she did that. He reminds me of a bull in a china shop. He will take extreme measures to avoid and even protect the finest china, and at the same time won’t give a second thought to bulldozing everything else in his path. And other men are a fine line with him. He either likes you or he doesn’t, simple as that. We need someone like him, though. While I may not condone all of his actions, I owe him more than one debt I can likely never repay.”

  “Consider yourself lucky then, Lance,” came a voice, as Mike grabbed my shoulder from behind, causing me to nearly fall over.

  “Every time I say anything about you, Mike, you just show up like some kind of ghost out of the woods!”

  “I’m a tracker, you know that. And Jake, for the record, I like guys who treat women with respect, children with care, and don’t mind getting their hands dirty to make sure other men do the same.

  “We don’t see eye to eye on everything, and that’s a given, but you stood up to that guy Jeff at the very beginning of all this, in front of Lance’s house in McKinney. You helped Lance get supplies from the grocery store to be used for our entire group, now including my girl and Javi, and you showed up for the rescue of Lance’s boys. While we have our differences, I respect you. Just don’t go trying to change me.”

  “I second that,” I interjected. “I’ve already tried… Why are you even out here, Mike?”

  “Shift change,” he said, pointing to his watch, reading 1:56 a.m.

  “Can you guys start with a perimeter check?” I asked, realizing we had got to talking and missed doing a second round.

  “Sure. I got stuck with one of Nate’s guys, who’s probably still asleep, but I’ll do it either way…

  “And guys,” he called out as we prepared to ride back to camp. “Tomorrow is going to be one hell of a day. I can hardly wait!”

  “See you in a few hours,” I told Jake, as he dropped me off at my tent.

  I kissed each of my boys on the head, as well as Joy, hoping to sleep without the dreams from before.

  * * * *

  Thankfully, I was blessed with no dreams and woke up surprisingly refreshed, given my six hours of interrupted sleep.

  Looking outside our tent, the camp was busy, with people heading in all directions with gear, ammo, guns and food.

  “I’ll be back as soon as I can,” I told Joy.

  “Daddy, what’s happening?” asked Hudson. “Why is everybody running around?”

  “It’s okay, Buddy. Daddy has to be gone for a couple of days with Mr. Vlad and some others. You will be with Mommy at Beatrice’s house with all the other kids, having fun.

  “I will be back,” I told Joy, hugging her and the boys, hoping I was right.

  “And what if you don’t?” replied Joy tearfully.

  “Then the rest in our group will watch out for you and our boys. Worst case scenario, if it goes bad for all of us down at the river, then you work together with Beatrice to all stay here, or you take the Colonel up on his offer to stay at the FEMA camp. In the last scenario, let him know up front that you and the other women will not be putting up with harassment from any of the guards. I believe he will make sure it doesn’t happen.

  “I need to set up as soon as Vlad gets here. You all head over to Beatrice’s house within the next 30 minutes, so I know you are safe.”

  * * * * * * *

  Chapter Fourteen

  Raton Pass, New Mexico

  Vlad swung by minutes later with the four-wheeler, and we packed our gear, including the rifles, rounds, food and water that we needed to last us several days.

  I was paired with one of Nate’s guys who had been crudely trained to feed the M60 with belt rounds, should we need that weapon.

  He was more nervous than me, asking all kinds of questions about who was coming and what would happen if they crossed the river.

  I didn’t want to scare him any more than he already was, but at the same time I wanted him to understand how important his job feeding the gun was, so I just told him the truth.

  “If they get across the river, we are all dead. Not maybe or possibly, but absolutely finished. Do you understand that?”

  “Yes,” he mumbled. “I suppose I do.”

  Beatrice handed out egg and cheese breakfast burritos she had started making at 4 a.m. with her new helpers. She had been saving up eggs for nearly a week.

  Vlad grabbed two for each of us for the road, and we swung by Tammy’s coffee stand before meeting up on the edge of the property with the others.

  * * * *

  “Is everybody here?” called
out Lonnie.

  “We’re waiting on three that should be here soon,” I responded.

  We waited another ten minutes. Only one of the missing men on Nate’s side showed up before Lonnie started.

  “The two missing men may have had a change of heart. I propose we leave Jim and Mark monitoring the ham full time, as information obtained on Baker’s group or getting the news to the Colonel may be the deciding factor on our victory.