Days of Want Series (Book 4): Uprising

by Payne, T. L.

  Roger spooned a teaspoon of the sugar they'd brought for Gene into his cup and stirred.

  "You know that isn't sustainable. You need to be a part of a group. When people find out what you’ve got, they are going to come to take it, and you won't be able to fend them off forever by yourself.”

  Gene pursed his lips, took a sip of his coffee, and sat it down before answering. “Likely true, but I’m too set in my ways to be a part of a group of strangers. If it happens, so be it.”

  Zach was determined to find a way to convince Gene to join them. He had valuable knowledge and skills that could help his group not only survive but thrive. Maybe he’d be interested in meeting the others, especially Dawn.

  “You think you might be willing to come take a look at my friend’s truck?” Zach asked.

  Chapter 9

  Texas County Courthouse

  Houston, Missouri

  Event + 20 Days

  Before Maddie and Jacob reached the stairs to leave, a petite woman in a blue, polka-dotted dress and gray Dr. Scholl's shoes stopped them.

  "Jacob, dear. Your grandmother told me to grab you when you came through. She’s just worried sick about you, boy. You need to get over and see her. Your daddy told her you were busy doing lawman stuff, but you know how she worries.”

  Jacob’s grandmother had raised him since his mother died when he was three-years old. He and his father had moved in and she’d doted on Jacob since.

  "Yes, ma'am. I'll stop by there. Thank you," Jacob said.

  "Oh, when you do, I've got something for her. It's just here in my office. You mind?"

  "No, ma'am."

  Maddie followed Jacob into the woman's office. Maddie was surprised at the number of framed photos that lined the shelves behind the woman's desk. She obviously had a very large family.

  "Miss Margaret, this is Maddie Langston. She is…"

  "I know little Maddie. My husband, Donald, and I used to attend meetings with your daddy down in Plato. Back when they were talking about trying to incorporate all that area south of the military base into an incorporated city. They didn't have enough votes at the time. I guess that ole boy who was organizing that just gave up. Anyway. I know Maddie. How you doing, dear?”

  “Fine, ma’am.”

  It was awkward. Maddie didn't know the woman. She just smiled and nodded as Margaret talked about her father.

  Maddie looked past the woman to one of the framed photos.

  A photo of a man and a boy with an antique steam tractor caught her attention. Beside it was a newer photo of a man, with what looked like the same steam tractor.

  When Margaret noticed Maddie's attention was on something behind her, she turned.

  "That's there’s my granddaddy, and that’s my daddy. They both loved tractors," Margaret said.

  "It looks like a nice one," Maddie said.

  "It sure is a noisy one. I can tell you that. My momma had a fit when daddy woke the great-grandbabies running that thing too close to the house yesterday."

  "Yesterday?" Maddie asked. She looked at Jacob. "It still runs?"

  "Sure does. All daddy's tractors run."

  A smile crept across Maddie's face.

  "What?" Jacob asked.

  "Nothing. Let's go. We need to get our volunteers lined up."

  Maddie was glad to know there were old tractors still around that didn't require diesel fuel. She wasn't sure how long it would be before all the gasoline and diesel ran out. But knowing at least one tractor would still be working made her feel better about their future.

  "There, in the chair." Margaret pointed. "If you could take those books to your grandma, it would save me a trip. They sure are heavy."

  Maddie peeked in as Jacob picked up the box. It was full of paperbacks with bare-chested men on the cover. Maddie looked up at Margaret and smiled.

  After a long delay from dropping the romance novels off at Jacob's grandmother’s house, Maddie was anxious to get to Texas County Justice Center and gather their volunteers. A knot formed in Maddie's stomach as they drove into the parking lot. She fought the urge to look over to where she'd last seen the two Jewell sisters and their brother, Mark, hanging from a tree.

  A small crowd milled about just outside the door, but there were a lot fewer people than had gathered the day of the trial. Maddie's heart beat in her ears. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she pushed open the driver's door of the Humvee. Once again, Roger got out and leaned against the vehicle.

  Maddie looked over her shoulder as she approached the crowd. Roger held his rifle at the low-ready.

  She didn't realize she'd done it until all eyes fell to her hip, but she had walked to the building with her hand on her pistol. It was second nature to her now. She glanced over at Maria who walked beside her. She had done the same.

  Just outside the door, they met with Police Chief James Wheeler.

  "Jacob," the police chief said.

  “Chief Wheeler, this is Maddie Langston and Maria Gonzales."

  He nodded to each of them.

  "They're all yours," he said, turning the meeting over to Jacob.

  "All right, folks. We just have a few things to go over before we load up and head to Licking. I’ve been assured that the needs of your families will be met while you are performing your guard duties. I'm going to go over some safety rules, and then I'll take questions," Jacob said.

  They had discussed rules of engagement on the drive over. Maddie, Roger, and Maria were in agreement. Anyone who approaches the gate will be shot. Jacob, however, wasn't comfortable shooting unarmed men. Maddie wasn't sure how the citizens of Houston, Missouri would feel about it either, but they needed to know that it was their sole job to make sure that none of those prisoners got over that fence.

  As Maddie expected, there were grumblings about the shoot-to-kill order. She looked over her shoulder. Maria and Roger stood erect with their rifles in low-ready. They had Maddie and Jacob’s backs. She inhaled and let it out slowly. When Jacob was unable to quiet the crowd, Maddie stepped up beside him and held her rifle in the air.

  "This," she yelled, "is the only thing between this town and those prisoners. If you let even one off those dangerous bastards get past you, someone could die. It could be one of your children. Or your mother," Maddie said, pointing to a teenaged boy.

  When the crowd quieted, Maddie continued.

  "You are this community's last line of defense against these hardened, dangerous criminals. Until the governor's people come to get them all moved out of our community, it’s up to us to make sure none of them escape. That may require you to do the unthinkable. But you must resolve to do whatever’s necessary to protect the community. Your neighbors. Your families."

  A man Maddie didn't know spoke up from the crowd.

  "Remember what the judge said. He’s counting on all of you to do your part. No cowards," the man said then disappeared into the crowd.

  "Okay, then. Missionary Third Baptist donated their old bus to ferry us back and forth to Licking. So, if everyone will load up, we will head out," Jacob said, pointing at the old, bright-blue bus.

  Maddie was concerned. The bus looked like it had just been hauled out of the salvage yard.

  Maddie leaned in and whispered, “You sure that thing will run?"

  "Fred's been working on it for a week. He's the best. If he says it will run, it will."

  "I hope so. Some of those folks don't look like they could walk across the parking lot, let alone all the way to Licking."

  "Trust me," Jacob said.

  He flashed her a smile before he headed toward the bus. She felt a flutter in her stomach. She'd been thinking about their time in the barn—about the moment before Maria showed up. She resolved that, after the issue with the prison was over, she wouldn't see Jacob anymore. She couldn’t afford the distraction.

  They'd agreed that Jacob and Roger should ride the bus with the volunteers, and Maddie and Maria would follow in the Humvee. It was nearly dark
when they pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward the prison. It concerned Maddie that they'd be rolling into Licking, Missouri in the dark, but what choice did they have? The colonel in charge of the MPs guarding the prison said he was pulling the last of his soldiers out at first light. They needed their people in place before that happened. They needed to present a show of force so the prisoners knew not to try anything. She just hoped that these folks were committed to doing whatever it took to keep the prisoners behind that razor wire—for all their sakes.

  Chapter 10

  Texas County, Missouri

  Event + 20 Days

  Although it wouldn't make sense to take Highway 17 from Houston to Licking under normal circumstances, circumstances were anything but normal, and driving twice the distance would actually be faster than weaving the bus in and out of the hordes of refugees on Highway 63. Taking Highway 17 was the safer option. Taking this route meant that Maddie would be driving by the post office where Ron and Austin had been shot again.

  Maddie gripped the steering wheel tighter as they made the turn heading toward the town of Success. She swallowed hard and tried to concentrate on their mission. There were a lot of moving parts to this plan, and it would require their full attention. She wasn't looking forward to babysitting a bunch of volunteer townsfolk.

  Maddie slowed as they approached the junction with Highway 32. She refused to look over at the post office or Ousley's store. She was breathing heavily. Sweat beaded on her brow.

  "Your mom and I ran into some trouble back there in that one little town. Bucyrus was the name, I think. Did you know that your mom’s one badass chick? She shot those motherfuckers right in the face," Maria said.

  "Really?"

  Maddie was surprised. She hadn't known her mom had that in her. She knew her mom was a good shot. She'd been to the shooting range with her all of her life. She just didn't think her mom could shoot anyone like that.

  "Yeah. She doesn't play. I see that in you as well."

  Maddie thought about it. Her dad and the others in their group had trained them for a number of shit-hit-the-fan scenarios. None of the scenarios had anything to do with guarding six-hundred dangerous prison inmates or leading a pack of scared civilians, who may or may not be able to do what’s necessary when it came down to it.

  "You should’ve seen her take on the guards back there at the cult's compound. Yep, she sure is a badass," Maria continued.

  It wasn't until they passed the road they normally turned on to go to the cabin that Maddie realized what Maria had done. She'd hardly spoken two words to Maddie since they'd met. Her perfectly timed story about her mother wasn’t an accident.

  Maddie glanced over to the passenger seat. Maria was staring out the window. Maddie studied Maria. She was shorter and more petite than Maddie. She was pretty and feminine, but Maddie knew that she was capable of lethal force.

  "Thanks," Maddie said as they approached the checkpoint in Licking.

  "For what?" Maria asked.

  "You know."

  "Nope. No idea what you’re talking about."

  Maddie considered, for a moment, the possibility that she and Maria could be friends. Her petty jealousy was ridiculous. Maria and Rank weren't even a thing…yet. Besides, it wasn't like Maddie would ever stand a chance with Rank. He'd never see her as anything more than a kid sister.

  The bus stopped, and Maddie slowed. She didn't like not being able to see the checkpoint. Maddie cut the wheel and pulled up beside the bus. The guards pushed vehicles back out of the way and waved the bus driver through. Maddie drove ahead and led the way to the entrance to the prison.

  When they stopped in front of the MPs, Maria jumped out and spoke to them. Before long, they parked the Humvee and the bus in front of a reception building. It was the only building not completely surrounded by razor wire. A man in a military uniform greeted them. Roger ran over and introduced himself. The man escorted Roger and Maddie inside. Maria and Jacob remained with the volunteers, just in case anyone changed their mind and wanted to walk away.

  "This is Lieutenant Garner. He has been in charge of operations here at the prison for the last two weeks. He's the best person to get you up-to-speed on the conditions inside the wire," the man said.

  Maddie shook the lieutenant’s hand.

  "I'm not going to sugarcoat it for you. It's bad. It's as bad as it gets inside that fence. FEMA and the Red Cross have been supplying food, water, and sanitary aid stations, but I'm sure that there are a lot of inmates that haven't received those supplies. Without proper supervision, the strong will prey on the weak. We're documenting around ten murders a day. So far, I haven't lost any of my soldiers. I believe the reason for that is because I told the prisoners straight up, if they attack my soldiers, we will light this place up."

  Maddie raised an eyebrow.

  "You'd do that?" she asked.

  "Damn straight. If you're smart. You’ll get the same point across before we pull out of here in the morning," the lieutenant said.

  "Good idea," Maddie said as she turned to go.

  "I'll catch up with you," Roger said.

  Maddie gave him a quizzical look.

  Roger leaned in and whispered, "I want to find out what he knows about this thing with that general in Illinois."

  Maddie nodded and headed for the door.

  She found Jacob standing by the bus.

  "Where's Roger?" Jacob asked.

  "Getting intel.”

  Maddie turned toward the prison yard.

  "Any trouble?"

  "Not so far. It's a good thing. These recruits are skittish. I'm concerned about them. Some of them seem like they are about to bolt at any minute," Jacob said, pointing to a group of middle-aged men huddled at the back of the bus.

  A few minutes later, Roger exited the building with an MP at his side. He motioned for Maddie and Jacob to follow them. Maddie looked up at the razor wire on top of the fence and wondered if it would be enough to keep determined inmates in. As they walked down a road that ran along the outside of the prison's west side, Maddie saw the enormity of the place for the first time.

  "I'm told that there are fifty-seven acres within the fence," the MP said as they walked.

  To her left, he pointed out maintenance and support buildings located outside the secure perimeter where FEMA and the Red Cross had set up, which contained food and water for the inmates.

  "We've set up sleeping quarters and dining facilities in the minimum-security unit in the back of the prison complex. You'll likely want to house your volunteers there as well."

  Maddie's eyebrows raised.

  "Don't worry. It's well outside the main fence," he said.

  As they walked past the minimum-security facility, Maddie was struck with how much it looked like a college dorm, complete with a full-size basketball court.

  "What kept the prisoners in that unit from just walking away?" Maddie asked.

  "I'm told they did," the MP said.

  "No, before the lights went out."

  "They were short-timers, from what I'm told. They even bused them into town to work."

  He pointed to the oddly shaped buildings to their right.

  "That is where the real badass guys are housed. Each of those buildings contains four wings. Each wing is visible from a central control room. A central guard tower overlooks the front of the units and the yard as well as the perimeter fence."

  He pointed to a tower inside the perimeter fence.

  "This tower here overlooks the back of the prison."

  A large walkway separated two razor wire-topped chain-link fences. Maddie guessed the fence itself to be ten or twelve feet tall.

  As they walked toward the east side of the prison, Maddie could see a large stack of lumber in the distance.

  “What's that?" she asked, pointing to the lumber.

  "A lumber mill. I'm not sure, but I think they supplied the prison. The inmates made furniture or something."

  That made sens
e to Maddie.

  Another guard tower overlooked the east side of the prison and the back of the five oddly shaped buildings. Maddie looked up as they passed it. They'd need to find good shooters for the guard towers. Those were their best containment points.

  Roger and Maddie walked around the front of the bus.

  "What do you think?" Jacob asked.

  "It's big," Maddie said, shaking her head. "We're going to set the volunteers up at a housing unit at the back of the prison. The MPs are currently using it, but there should be plenty of room for the few people we have here now. Have the driver follow us, and we will get everyone settled in."

  Roger hopped on the bus with Jacob, and Maria followed Maddie to the Humvee.

  "What do you really think?" Maria asked as Maddie pulled out of the parking lot.

  "I think, if we don't get more people, we are screwed.”

  The volunteers were unloaded from the bus and shown to their rooms. A few murmured about being housed in a prison cell, but for the most part, everyone was in shock to be on the grounds in the first place.

  A Red Cross volunteer brought in a container of lemonade and MREs for everyone. They gathered outside on the basketball court to go over the guard rotation. Their jobs were simple. No one was allowed to approach the fence. Period.

  "Gather around folks. We are going to go over the layout of the prison and where each of you will be assigned," Jacob said.

  Maddie took out a pen and turned over the roster that the judge had given her. She laid it on the ground and drew a crude outline of the perimeter fence, along with the buildings inside it.

  "Here, here, and here are the guard towers on the outside. I need the best shooters there," Maddie said.

  She looked up. Most of the men were staring at Jacob. She didn't like the looks on some of their faces.

  "Steve, I know you can shoot. You have the best rifle. Why don't you take this tower here on the north side? You can see down the middle of the prison and the entire back of the fence," Jacob said.