by Payne, T. L.
"We think it’s time to have a talk with some of the neighbors about security. We need to enlist the neighbors and really dial in security out here as much as we can— and figure a way to secure the road," Lugnut said.
Chapter 13
The Langston Cabin
Evening Shade, Missouri
Event + 23 Days
Zach's turn at watch was uneventfully boring. He spent the afternoon fighting to stay awake. He was never so relieved as when he heard Maria give the call sign from the creek.
"It's been quiet here all morning. No sign of any of the Jewell family, or anyone else for that matter," Zach said as he descended the ladder from the tree stand.
Maria adjusted her rifle around to her back and placed her foot on the bottom step.
"That's good. With Lugnut and Rank heading over to the prison this morning, we need things to stay quiet."
"Are they still planning to get Jacob to take them around to visit the neighbors today?"
"I think so. We need some good intel on who is running around out here. If we can get at least a few of the neighbors involved in watching who is coming and going, that will be a big help in securing this neck of the woods."
Zach tightened the straps on his rucksack. He brought his rifle around to the front and held it at the low-ready position for his and Harmony's walk back to the cabin.
"Do you think I should go check on the farm before I head to my rack?"
"Not alone, I don't. It's too risky with people stalking the farm like that. I know your mom isn't happy about the decision to leave Ron's farmhouse unguarded, but we just don't have enough people to secure both places."
Zach waved across the field to Roger, who was relieving Harmony. Harmony slowly climbed down from her stand, nodded to Roger, and walked across the field to meet Zach. Harmony stopped at the bottom of the steps and called up to Maria.
"Maria, I'm making peach cobbler for dessert tonight. Would you like me to bring you some?"
A second later, Maria poked her head into the opening of the tree stand.
"Absolutely! You can bring me Lugnut and Rank's too, if they haven't made it back in time to eat theirs."
"I'll make two pans this time. It seems to be everyone's favorite."
Uncharacteristically, after receiving the answer to her question, Harmony turned and walked away. Maria raised her eyebrows, and Zach shrugged before turning to follow her. They both had been prepared for her usual lengthy monologue about whatever she was excited about at the time. Harmony was unusually quiet during most of their walk back to the cabin. While Zack stopped at the spring to fill the five-gallon bucket full of fresh spring water, Harmony grabbed milk and eggs from the springhouse.
"You okay, Harmony?" Zach asked.
"Yeah, just tired,” Harmony said, her voice hoarse.
Zach turned his head to the side and looked at her.
"You sure? You don't sound like you feel well. You're not getting sick too, are you?"
Harmony wiped her brow with the back of her hand.
"I think it’s just allergies. I usually take medication for it this time of year."
"You should have my mom check you out when we get back. There aren't any doctors and hospitals to go to if you get really sick. We have to be very careful about that stuff these days," Zach said, reaching out and taking the mason jar of milk from her.
"I don't think it’s what Maddie has, but I will talk to your mom about it."
Beth was coming from the trail to Ron's carrying a basket of lettuce and other vegetables when Zach and Harmony reached the back of the barn. Jason trailed her, his rifle resting on his forearms. Zach shook his head. He'd asked his mom to wait until he could go with her. Obviously, she didn't listen.
“Did you two forget that fact that Lugnut said there were more than just those two bad guys living back there behind Ron’s farm? Maybe you should go back and fire up the old lawn mower and cut the front lawn too.”
“Zachery, we have to eat, and much of the food we need is at the farm,” Beth said.
Zach shook his head, astonished, realizing that he felt like the parent at the moment.
"I've got stuff for salad. The garden is still producing a few tomatoes," Beth called.
"Awesome, I am going to try to make the mayonnaise recipe you found at Ron's yesterday. We can make a nice salad dressing," Harmony yelled back.
"Mayonnaise. You can make that?" Zach asked.
"Yeah. It’s just eggs, mustard, vinegar, and vegetable oil,” Harmony said.
"Can we make deviled eggs then? Maddie loves them. She might be up to eating something this evening," Zach said.
"Sure, I like them too,” she said.
Harmony smiled, and Zach's heart skipped a beat. He quickly turned and looked away.
"I collected the eggs. There weren't as many today. I think we are going to have to figure out how to get the light working in their coop. I flipped the switch like Maddie told me, but nothing happened," Beth said.
"It's on a timer," Harmony said.
"Oh. That makes sense about why it didn't come on. Good to know."
"Ron said he was adding an hour a day of extra light until they started laying again," Harmony said, her voice cracking.
"I'm sorry. Everyone misses him," Beth said.
Harmony looked up at her.
Beth turned her head to the side and raised an eyebrow.
"You feeling all right?"
"I told her to have you check her out. Her voice is hoarse, and she doesn't seem like herself," Zach said.
Harmony smiled, and Zach's heart fluttered again.
"I'm fine. It's allergy season for me."
"Even allergies can lead to something more serious, like a sinus infection. It's nothing to dismiss these days," Jason said, looking to Beth.
"Jason is right. It could be allergies, or something else. In any case, let's get this to the kitchen, and I'll take your temperature," Beth said, turning and looking over her shoulder to Zack. "Would you mind bringing me the med kit from the bathroom when you drop off the water bucket?”
Zack nodded and followed his mother, Harmony, and Jason inside.
Beth stared down at the thermometer. “102.5—It’s off to bed for you."
Beth led Harmony down the hall and helped her into bed. After giving her a dose of Tamiflu and Tylenol, Beth placed a washcloth on Harmony's forehead, then backed out of the dark bedroom. She left the door open a crack so she could hear if either of her patients needed her.
"Zach, get the bleach from the laundry room. We need to start disinfecting this place before everyone comes down with the flu," Beth said as she entered the kitchen.
Zach helped his mother and Jason wipe down all the doorknobs, counters, and other solid surfaces that could carry the virus. The whole cabin smelled of bleach by the time they were done.
Krista opened the screen door. Her eyes grew wide. "Whoa, that bleach is strong."
"If you and Dawn are finished in the barn, I could use your help. I want to rewash all the dishes,” Beth said.
"All of them? Why?" Dawn asked from the doorway.
"Harmony has the flu now," Jason said, looking up from his task of wiping down the table and benches.
"Oh. Not good," Dawn said.
"If either of you start feeling the slightest bit sick, let me know right away. We have to contain this before it gets out of hand," Beth said.
Krista and Dawn pulled dishes from the shelves as Beth filled the washtub with bleach water. Beth poured bleach into a measuring cup before adding it to the rinse water.
"Okay, ladies, you add a quarter cup of bleach for every gallon of water. Let the dishes sit in the solution for two minutes then put them on this towel," Beth said, spreading the large towel on the table.
Dawn and Krista looked at the stack of dishes then back to Beth.
"I can dry them," Ryan said, grabbing a dishtowel.
"I think we should let them air dry. But thanks. I could use your he
lp with the sheets in the guys' room," Beth said.
"Um—I think I should go check on the goats," Ryan said, backing toward the door.
Beth chuckled. "Funny. No, go strip those beds. I am going to check on Harmony and see if her fever has come down," Beth said.
After a dinner of Spam and rice on a bed of lettuce, they all sat around the table to discuss their situation with the flu outbreak and winter preparation plans.
"I really need more Tamiflu, Tylenol, and bleach," Beth said.
"Maybe we could get some from the Red Cross at the prison," Zach said.
"I think the doctor and nurse pulled out with the MPs," Maria said as she pushed rice onto her fork with her finger.
"It wouldn't hurt to ask," Zach countered.
"I'll ask them tomorrow when I go replace Lug and Rank," Roger said, pushing his plate back and placing his elbows on the table.
Beth turned and glared at him.
Roger slowly pulled his hands back and folded them in his lap.
"I'd take any medical supplies they can spare while you are at it," Jason said.
"I'll see what I can do,” Roger said.
Krista shuddered and rubbed her arms.
"Get away from me if you're getting sick," Maria said, pulling her plate as far from Krista as she could.
"I'm cold. I think the fire is almost out in the wood box," Krista said.
"Zach, would you mind grabbing some firewood and getting the fire built in the stove in the living room?” Beth asked. “I think we will need the extra fire tonight."
"We are really going through firewood fast," Ryan said.
Zack grabbed the firewood crate and headed for the door.
“It’s really hard to get firewood in and hunt for meat when we have to spend all our time guarding the road and the cabin."
"I know. But we have to do it. The ground will freeze soon, and snow will start falling. We are going to be hurting by spring if we don't get some meat cured and firewood cut," Beth said.
"I hope the governor gets those prisoners over to Farmington before it snows," Zach said as he shut the door behind him.
Chapter 14
The Langston Cabin
Evening Shade, Missouri
Event + 23 Days
Against his mother's wishes, Zack loaded up in the Humvee with Roger and Maria. From the news Lugnut brought back the night before, it sounded as if they could use an extra person to help guard the prison and the new volunteers the Texas County judge had sent over. Several people had just walked away from their post after one of the inmates approached the fence seeking water and was shot and injured by one of the guards.
With Maddie and Harmony down with the flu, and Lugnut and Rank still going out looking for the location of the shooters who were doing surveillance on Ron's place, their group was stretched thin. The security of the prison was a priority that couldn't be overlooked.
"How did you talk your mom into letting you come?" Maria asked.
Roger looked at Zack in the rearview mirror.
"Mom knows the prison is our top priority," Zach said, avoiding directly answering the question.
Roger didn't say anything, but he knew that Beth hadn’t agreed with him going to the prison. Sometimes, Zach felt that he just had to do what he felt was necessary for the good of the group. He'd deal with her wrath when he got back.
Zack had never been to the prison. He was concerned with the size of the place. As they drove around to the back building, Zach stared wide-eyed at all the inmates milling about inside the fence. When they pulled the Humvee in beside the big blue bus, Zach saw a few people standing around outside the building smoking. Since they weren't in prison uniforms, he assumed them to be the new guards.
“Hey, Stan. Jacob around?" Roger asked as he climbed out of the Humvee.
“He's in the east side guard tower," Stan said, pointing in that direction.
Maria walked around the front of the vehicle and approached Stan.
"He's on guard duty?"
"Yeah. Sims got sick, and Jacob sent him home."
Maria turned and looked at Roger.
"Sick? What kind of sick?" Roger asked.
"He was running a fever is all I know. That Red Cross doctor said he might be contagious and should be sent home," Stan said.
"Anyone else sick?" Zach asked.
The man glanced over to Zach then back to Roger.
"Not that I know of, but I just came off shift. I'm on my way to get some chow, then off to bed. I have to get up in four hours and do it all over again."
"Four? You're on a four-hour rotation? Why?" Maria asked, furrowing her brow.
"Just not enough people."
"I'm going to go find Lugnut and Rank and let them know they can head back to the cabin. Then I’m gonna check in with Jacob. I'll probably take his shift in the tower," Roger said.
“All right. I'm going to check in on the shift manager and see what we need to do about the rotation schedule," Maria said.
"What can I do?" Zach asked.
"Can you use that thing?" Stan asked, pointing to the rifle hanging on the two-point sling around Zach's neck.
"Yes," Zach said, trying not to sound too cocky.
"Then you can replace Martin. That kid has been up in the west tower for eight hours straight."
"Really? We are that short on shooters?" Maria asked.
"He won't come down. He told me he didn't trust this crew to keep his family safe. He's got a newborn son at home. He’s one of our best shooters, but dang."
"I'll go introduce myself. Maybe I can sit with him for a while and convince him to go get some rest," Zach said, turning to leave. He stopped, then turned back. "Where exactly is the west tower?"
"Just keep walking down the road you came in on. You can't miss it," Stan said.
Zach nodded then headed off in that direction. He'd missed seeing the guard tower because he'd been focused on all the prisoners in that area. It also gave him an indication of why Martin didn't feel comfortable leaving the tower.
“Hey, in the tower. I'm Zach Langston. I wanted to come see if you needed anything."
A man's head appeared out of the window of the guard post.
"Hello, Zach. I'm Martin Hubble. I'm good. I don't need anything."
Zach brought his right hand up and shielded his eyes from the sun as he looked up at the man.
"Mind if I come up and get a look around? This is my first time here."
"No. Come on up," the man said, poking his head back inside the tower.
Zack looked down on the prison yard as he climbed the stairs. The smell hit Zach as soon as he stepped inside the door. The space smelled like the man hadn't left to go to the bathroom his entire shift. The man moved his pack out of a chair and sat it on the floor. Zach wasn't sure he wanted to sit. He wanted to cover his nose with his shirt but didn't want to be rude.
The tower provided a 360º view. Zack could see the entire west side of the prison from that position. Three fences separated the inmates from the tower. Looking at the desperate looks on the faces of the prisoners, Zach wasn't convinced three was enough.
He reluctantly took a seat next to Martin, who maintained a vigilant eye on the men leaning on an interior fence. Zach placed his pack on the floor at his feet and let his rifle hang from its sling.
"Any trouble from any of them?" He almost said yet but caught himself. He knew it was inevitable—if they weren’t moved soon, that is.
"Not much. There were a few of them yelling obscenities early on, but Jacob convinced them that behavior wasn't tolerated. A few still try to intimidate some people on walking patrol. Unfortunately, it worked before Jacob set them straight."
Zach raised an eyebrow. "Worked? Is that why you're so short-handed?"
"That and the stomach bug. The doc has sent quite a few people home because of it," Martin said.
That answered why the tower smelled like feces. Martin must have refused to be sent home.
"How did Jacob convince the inmates to stop?"
"He told them there'd be no more food or water sent in. After they missed a meal, they had better attitudes. Haven't seen much out of them since."
Zach motioned over his shoulder.
"I could take watch duty for a few minutes while you go get a warm meal. Maybe rest your eyes a minute."
The man stiffened.
"I am a great marksman. I've been shooting since I was old enough to hold a gun. My dad was a Marine sniper, and he taught me how to shoot."
The man stared at Zach. He looked to be sizing him up.
"I know I look young."
Zach looked around. He spotted a sign about twenty feet from a group of inmates. He scooted the chair back, stood, placed his rifle on the desk in front of him, and kneeled on the floor. Zach looked through the scope and found the sign, adjusted the sites, and looked up at Martin.
"Check this out," Zach said as he stood.
He handed his rifle to Martin and stepped back. Martin kneeled. After placing his cheek to the stock and looking through the scope, Martin leaned back and nodded.
"I guarantee you, with this baby, I can hit anything in that fence. It’s an AR but chambered in 6.5 Grendel—and that’s a 24” barrel.
"Nice setup," Martin said, looking the rifle over. “What brand is it? I always wanted a Grendel, but with the baby and all, I could never afford one."
“My dad and I built it a few years ago,” Zach said.
“Nice glass,” Martin said as he looked back at the sign. He appeared to be thinking it over.
"Just long enough to get a bite to eat and a little twenty-minute nap," Zach said a broad grin on his face. "You'll come back refreshed and ready for another twelve-hour shift."
Martin cocked his head to the side and raised his eyebrows.
"Or, you could get some real sleep. Come relieve me when you wake up."
Martin looked out onto the prison yard, nodded, then turned and picked up his pack.
"I could use a little break," he said.