Thinking hard for several minutes, “No, sir,” Shawn said.
Nodding as he turned away, “Surprised they didn’t beat the shit out of each other, then,” Joseph sighed. “Shawn, they have to have some time together or they fight.”
Running the words through his mind, Shawn’s eyes got wide as the light bulb went off. “Oh, I understand,” he grinned. “I’ll start taking Nicole some, so Arthur can sneak off.”
Shaking his head, “That’s good, but it’s Mom who needs to sneak away more than Dad,” Joseph admitted.
Giving Joseph a very confused expression, “Thinking about your mom and dad…That doesn’t, like, make you…,” Shawn just stopped, not knowing how to ask.
“Oh, got over that long ago,” Joseph shrugged. “When I was a junior in high school, Mom was really bitchy. Yes, Dad was and still is a bad boy but Mom… she grew up a princess, and now she’s like Zena. She’ll fight faster than Dad and feels no need for restraint to anyone. They were working nonstop on the farm, taking care of Dad’s books, and filing another patent. At the dinner table one night, I told them to break out the whipped cream and get freak nasty because I was going to a friend’s house for the weekend.”
Shawn busted out laughing as Joseph grinned. “Came home and they were on the couch curled up and life was back to normal,” Joseph told him.
“They are so cool,” Shawn said.
“Yes, they are,” Joseph nodded.
Chapter Twelve
Mini Me’s are Born
The next morning, Arthur loaded up in the armored SUV. In the backseat was Kirk. Three trucks with trailers and two MRAPs followed Arthur out of the valley. All the babies and all the kids under seven were staying at the farm. This didn’t include Nicole of course, she was in her sling on Arthur’s chest. Another change was Wendy was in the passenger seat beside Arthur with a big smile and holding Arthur’s hand.
Glancing back at Kirk, Wendy tried not to giggle. When they’d walked out to leave, Kirk and Shawn were dressed identical to Arthur. Each was wearing a black cowboy hat because they couldn’t find a fedora hat like Arthur’s.
Leaving the valley, Wendy leaned over the console. “You have two mini me’s,” she whispered.
Nodding, “Any day I’m expecting you to have two and they are identical,” Arthur chuckled.
Turning to the side mirror, Wendy saw the caravan behind them. Jo Ann and Sally were each in an MRAP, manning the remote gun stations. “You think so?” Wendy wondered out loud.
“Yes, because they were looking for hiking boots, like you wear, the last time we were in town,” Arthur chuckled.
Liking that, “I’ll find them some,” Wendy said as they passed the fence and she started looking around. Letting Arthur’s hand go, she gripped her rifle.
None spoke as they rode toward town not seeing a single person. Ten miles from town, Wendy leaned forward on seeing something hanging from a telephone pole. Getting closer, she saw it was a body. About to point it out Wendy froze, seeing a sign hanging from the neck that read, ‘Don’t follow me. The Caravan Man’.
Turning to Arthur, Wendy saw he was patting Nicole as he drove, but his eyes were darting everywhere. When Arthur slowed, she turned away and saw he was dodging a stack of bodies in the road. Wondering where they’d come from, Wendy saw a woman nailed to the wall of the building across from the bodies. Then she saw the sign on the woman’s chest, ‘Fucking Shoot at me and I kill everyone you know. The Caravan Man’.
“Um, when did you do that?” Wendy asked because the bodies hadn’t been there the last time they’d taken this road to town.
Giving a shrug, “Don’t really remember,” Arthur admitted as he turned onto another road.
Making sure the caravan was spaced out behind them, Wendy looked ahead and saw a body hanging by the feet across the road from a stop light. When the body moved before they passed under it Wendy jerked, realizing it was a man and he was alive with his hands bound behind his back.
‘Dean, I’m coming for you. The Caravan Man’ was written on a sign hanging on the upside-down man. The last signs were on cardboard but this one was on plywood, and it looked like it was nailed into the upside-down man’s hip. “Arthur, that one was still alive,” Wendy hinted for him to explain.
“Yep,” Arthur nodded, turning off the road into a parking lot. “Couldn’t leave him lower or the animals or ants would get him.”
Just hearing ‘ants’ caused Wendy to shiver. “That means you hung him up in the last three days,” she said as Arthur drove around to the back of the store.
“Four days ago,” Arthur told her. “It rained two days ago, so I’m thinking he somehow drank. I’m impressed since he’s upside-down.”
As Arthur stopped, “You didn’t tell me you were going to town,” Wendy pointed out.
Watching the mirrors and seeing the caravan spread out and one of the trucks park by the bay door, “Got bored,” Arthur shrugged, grabbing his rifle off the dash and climbing out. Hearing the exchange, Kirk just laughed as he got out the back while letting Donald and Daisy out.
“Arthur,” Wendy said as she got out. Gripping her rifle, she moved over as she kept watch. “So, after we work our asses off every day and you say you’re going to check around us, you head to a town near us? I’m sure you aren’t just coming to Russellville.”
“On that you’re right,” Arthur nodded, watching the kids open the roll-up door. “And I don’t head to a town every time I scout around us.”
“You could’ve told me, I might want to come sometimes, you know,” Wendy huffed, and it was in that instant, Kirk saw Wendy liked being a bad girl.
Reaching back and popping Wendy on the butt, “When you’re up to strength, we can make a date on the little escapades,” he laughed at her.
“So has Dean been back to Clarksville?” she asked as Donald and Daisy headed into the dark store.
“Only to find his buddies dead and hanging in the yard,” Arthur told her, seeing Donald and Daisy come back out and then the forklift headed inside. “He was setting up in Russellville a week or so ago, but took off before I could track him down. I sent one of his gang back after I chopped his arms off.”
“Bad boy,” Wendy smirked, watching Arthur head into the store.
Andrea and Todd ran over to Wendy. “When did Pops come here? That one hanging over the road was still alive,” Andrea said.
Nodding, “Seems when he’s been going out to check around us, Arthur has been taking road trips,” Wendy sighed.
“After busting ass all day?!” Todd cried out and Wendy nodded. “Man, I feel like an underachiever,” he mumbled.
“Shit, if I was Dean, I would just shoot myself,” Andrea admitted.
“I think Dean knows the only reason Arthur isn’t making a real effort to find him is because Dean hasn’t fought back. If he stays away and doesn’t piss us off, in time Arthur will stop looking,” Wendy told them as the forklift came out with a loaded pallet.
“Keep watch, we’ll do it, Momma,” Andrea told her and headed inside with Todd. Watching Andrea with Todd, Wendy gave a little smile.
“I think she’s going to get that soldier boy,” Wendy mumbled.
When the trailer was full, they closed the door and drove on. They did pass a few groups of people and each one waved enthusiastically as the caravan passed by. What shocked everyone in Arthur’s group was they saw a group of women and kids run out of a store cheering and waving as they passed. “They were held by a group I visited, don’t remember which one,” Arthur told Wendy.
Loading up another trailer at a furniture store, they drove to a big box electronics store and pulled around back. “Surprised nobody has broken in here,” Wendy said, getting out.
“No reason to get a TV if you don’t have power,” Arthur laughed and Wendy gave a nod.
Letting the dogs clear the store, Arthur moved around helping load pallets. “Pops, we have a group in the parking lot,” Kirk called over the radio.
“Where do you want us?” Todd asked, running over with everyone.
Looking at the pallet, “Here and load up,” Arthur shrugged. “They aren’t a gang and damn sure don’t want none,” he chuckled, heading to the front of the store.
They turned to see Wendy walking past them following Arthur. “Continue loading, but be ready to just haul ass,” she told them. “I’ll cover him.”
“I am so glad Momma’s here,” Andrea sighed, and started stacking boxes of laptops.
Walking up beside Kirk, Arthur saw a collection of vehicles at the very front of the parking lot, but a lone figure was standing in the middle of the parking lot. “Since they’re that smart, I’ll talk to them,” Arthur said, unlocking the door and heading out. Before the door closed, Donald and Daisy slipped out and moved to either side as Arthur strolled up to the man who was holding up his hands.
Getting near the man, Arthur recognized him from the day he’d saved Andrea and her group. “See you traded up on your shopping cart,” Arthur said with a nod. “You can lower your hands.”
“Oh, thank you,” the man smiled nervously. “Um, Caravan Man, do you have room for a few more?”
The door to the store opened and Wendy walked out as Arthur gave a regretful sigh. “You are?” Arthur asked.
“Albert,” he answered as Wendy stopped just behind and to the side of Arthur.
“Albert, I really wish we could take you in,” Arthur said, looking at the group behind Albert. “How many over eighteen and kids?”
“Eleven adults and thirty-six kids.”
Taking his hat off, Arthur wiped his brow. “Albert, I wanted to pick you up the day we saw you, but couldn’t because our resources were stretched. But the main reason I didn’t pick you up was I knew I was going to have words with the street racing crew,” Arthur told him.
“Caravan Man, you have made it safer here, but you wouldn’t believe the ants and flies. We will work, I can assure you.”
For several minutes, Arthur just looked into Albert’s eyes. “We can’t take you in, but I have another offer,” Arthur suggested, and Wendy thought Albert nearly fainted.
“Anything,” Albert panted. They just wanted someone to show them how and what to do.
Reaching in his back pocket, “If I do this and you burn me, I’ll kill everyone with you and anyone who knows your name,” Arthur warned.
Shaking his head, “We would never do that. And any in this group that tried, I’d kill them before you,” Albert assured him.
Giving a nod, Arthur pulled out a leather pocket notebook. “You know the area?” he asked, staring at the notebook.
“Yes, sir.”
Opening the notebook, Arthur pulled out a sheet of paper and unfolded it. Wendy saw it was a printed map as Arthur handed it over to Albert. “You know where that is?”
Taking the map and studying for a second, Albert nodded. “Hunted near there before.”
“Take your group there,” Arthur said, and held out the notebook. “This will tell you what you need, how to set up, where to put buildings and livestock.”
Not believing he was getting help from the Caravan Man, Albert slowly reached out to take the notebook. “You won’t be far from us, and I’ll give you a week to start collecting stuff. If we see you’re serious, we’ll offer what help we can. We’ll put up the fence because by then we’ll be good at it, and we’ll help on the hydroelectric station,” Arthur told him.
Opening the notebook, Albert saw diagrams, lists, and drawings. “Thank you,” he mumbled in shock.
“If you’re serious, we’ll ally with you and come to your aid, but will expect the same,” Arthur said, and Albert nodded rapidly. “I suggest you talk it over with your group, and another warning.”
Hearing that, Albert jerked his eyes from the notebook to Arthur’s face. “You do this, you be very careful of who you bring in, and any you bring in, if they don’t work, get rid of them fast,” Arthur told him and Albert nodded. “If you don’t do it, no hard feelings, but never ask again.”
“We’ll see you in a week then,” Albert nodded.
Letting his AR go and taking off his right glove, Arthur held out his hand. “If I see you then, I’ll tell you my name. Word of advice, tell any in your group that learn it, don’t tell my name to others. When what bad guys fear has a real name, they don’t fear it anymore,” Arthur told him, then shrugged. “I’ll still kill them, but they won’t come after me, they’ll come after you because they’ll know I’ll be associated with you.”
Nodding, “I understand and I’ll make sure the others understand,” Albert promised, shaking Arthur’s hand.
“Get started on the list fast. Nobody was in that area a week ago and you’re fighting against time. This winter is going to be bad.”
Letting Arthur’s hand go, “Thank you,” Albert said with misty eyes. “You won’t regret it.”
“I’m glad then,” Arthur smiled, pulling his glove back on.
Rolling her eyes, they watched Albert jog back to his group. “I can’t believe you just strolled out with Nicole on your chest,” Wendy sighed. “You didn’t have to bring her.”
“Don’t say that, she might hear you,” Arthur snapped as the entire group cheered and waved frantically at them. They waved back and then headed back to the store.
“Why did you have the outline to set up in another location?” Wendy asked.
“For just that reason. I knew, sooner or later, we would see a group too large to take in but they would be good neighbors. Granted, I wish we could’ve taken them in,” Arthur admitted.
“We have room,” Wendy said when they’d reached the door. “We would have to finish off the other wings fast, but we could do it.”
Stopping, “Yes, but not the power. Wendy, you work in the damn greenhouses every day, they’re barely keeping up with the stomachs we have,” Arthur told her. “If we can’t keep them in power this winter, we’ll have to cut back on food. We do that, we can’t work as hard, and that means shit will roll over us and fuck us up the ass.”
Holding her hands up, “Yes, I did look into that and you’re right, we need more power very badly,” Wendy admitted. “But if you think this group is worth the risk, we can move that much faster on the lake.”
Letting Wendy walk in, Arthur winked at Kirk standing to the side of the door as they headed back into the store. “No, we need allies near us. Any later and we would’ve had to build the site and recruit to it,” Arthur told her. “This is for the best.”
Popping Arthur on the butt and jogging off, “Don’t make me wait that long again for some freak nasty,” she warned over her shoulder.
“And how can I do that when we have kids all over the place?!” he shouted after her. Feeling Nicole stir, he looked down and saw her looking up at him. “You hear her talking to me like that?”
Giving Arthur a wide toothless smile, Nicole cooed while throwing her hands out. “Blue eyes, you’re so cute, I’m sure you’re breaking a law,” Arthur told her.
“Pops is talking to Nicole again,” Andrea said, walking past Shawn.
“I’ve never known him not to,” Shawn replied, pulling his cowboy hat off and wiping his brow. “I’m just glad Robin and Noah didn’t have to come. It was my turn to dress them today when they stripped.”
“Lucky,” Andrea laughed.
After loading up, they followed Arthur out and he led them out of town, but held the caravan up by parking on the road. Telling everyone to just stay in their rides, Arthur headed into a store. When he came out with a bag over his shoulder and carrying two black, wide-brimmed fedoras like his, Wendy busted out laughing. “Okay, Nicole isn’t the only spoiled one,” Wendy admitted.
Chapter Thirteen
You would do what to an alligator?
“Turn damn it!” Wendy shouted at Arthur. Giving a long sigh, Arthur turned on the road. “We haven’t checked in weeks and I know you haven’t.”
Nodding with no shame, “You’re fucking right on th
at,” he grunted.
“Arthur, Alicia left the ship. I just want to check if she made it home.”
“Oh, we can check,” Arthur nodded.
Turning to Arthur, “If she’s there, Alicia will be coming with us,” Wendy informed him and Arthur slammed on the brakes, stopping in the road.
“I will staple my dick to the back of an alligator before I allow Alicia to live in my house!” he shouted, and Kirk slid into the floorboard behind them laughing his ass off.
With her mind providing pictures, Wendy gave a wince. “We’ll discuss it if she’s there,” Wendy offered.
“What’s going on?” Andrea called over the radio.
With Kirk laughing hard, Wendy grabbed the radio. “Nothing, just having a talk,” Wendy replied.
“About an alligator!” Kirk howled out, kicking his feet.
Glancing in the back floorboard at Kirk thrashing around, “That was a good one,” Wendy admitted.
“I was being serious,” Arthur replied with no hint of a smile.
“She’s not that bad.”
“Wendy, Alicia isn’t divorced. The alimony she receives from her exes is extortion money they gladly pay to keep that bitch away. Hell, I’ll pay the bitch if she stays away!” Arthur cried out.
Not in the mood, Wendy glanced around as Kirk dragged his body from the floor back into the seat. Nearing Alicia’s property, Wendy leaned forward. When the trees fell away, she saw Alicia’s house half a mile from the road and gasped. “Arthur, look!” she gasped.
“Fuck,” he mumbled, and turned and could see two MRAPs and one was pulling a trailer. “Alicia didn’t drive those,” he said.
“She could’ve driven one,” Wendy protested.
“Wendy, Alicia bought a new car last year just because she didn’t want to wash her old one that was only two years old,” Arthur told her.
“That’s not why she bought a new one,” Wendy sighed.
“That’s what she said at the swap meet,” Arthur said, stopping just before the driveway. “You want to go down there?”
“Yes,” Wendy nodded.
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