Shaking his head, “I don’t doubt you,” Todd laughed, and opened the door for them.
Walking in, Joseph gave a groan seeing Sarah storming toward him. “You called me a totally worthless, forked tongue, lice-infested, bug-eyed, gas bag bitch!” she screamed.
“Damn, you figured out Arabic. I have to say, I’m impressed,” Joseph nodded, taking a sip.
As Sarah took a breath to unleash, Arthur barked, “Sarah!” making her jump a foot in the air. Spinning around in the air toward the shout, she landed looking at Arthur in shock. “I’m not in the mood. You will go to the dining room and sit down, right now.”
“Did you hear what he called me? Those aren’t the words, but that’s what they meant!” she cried out.
“Young lady, I will make you stand in the corner,” Arthur warned.
Stomping her foot and storming off, Sarah spun around and stuck her tongue out at Joseph and he flipped her off. Since neither spoke, Arthur didn’t care. “Joseph, you will eat in my office,” Arthur said with Nicole in one arm and Robin in the other.
“Why do I have to eat in the office and not her?” Joseph whined, but Arthur was happy he didn’t stomp his feet.
“She’s out of your ass,” Arthur said, walking over and handed off Robin.
Looking at Joseph with a grumpy face, Robin blabbered away at him. “I would rather listen to you than Sarah,” he stated proudly. Grabbing a tray, he put a plate down for him and Robin and headed off.
Pulling her wet hair up in a ponytail, “Why did you come down so hard on Sarah?” Wendy asked.
“Because you told our son to look up belittling scientific terms to call her,” Arthur popped off, then added. “But one that was in another language. You want to blame that on me?”
Scoffing and slapping Arthur’s butt, “After date night, are you kidding?” Wendy laughed, and grabbed platters of food and headed into the dining room.
Looking down at Nicole, “Oh, I will be taking her out on more date nights,” Arthur told her, and Nicole busted out laughing.
Heading to the dining room and sitting down, Arthur was shocked at how all the kids came over to him and Wendy. All of them hugged them, and many did it after climbing into their laps. “Guys, we were only out one night. You usually don’t see us anyway because you’re asleep,” Arthur told them.
Leaning over, Wendy slapped the back of his head. “You leave the kids alone, they missed us,” she snapped.
Everyone turned when Joseph ran into the room carrying Robin. “You sent him to the office?” Sarah whined.
“Shut it, bitch!” Joseph yelled, but never looked at Sarah as he stopped beside Wendy and Arthur. “Mom, there’s a guy calling for you on the CB, channel six. His handle is LL,” Joseph blurted out.
Wendy jumped with Arthur and both bolted from the dining room with Joseph following. Then everyone saw Jo Ann and Sally take off after them. The entire group looked from one another, then everyone got up.
Chapter Twenty-One
Friends and a Rusty Trombone
Running into Arthur’s office, Wendy dropped in his chair and grabbed the CB microphone. “To LL, this is Wendy,” she called out. After waiting a few seconds, she repeated.
“This is LL,” a male monotone voice called back. “If this is the Wendy I’m looking for, how did we meet?”
Grinning, Wendy keyed the microphone. “You saved mine and two little girls’ asses.” She glared up at Arthur as he tapped the keyboard and a map sprung up on the computer.
Everyone that could hear the radio instantly heard the change in LL’s voice; he was very happy. “Good to finally hear from ya. Sorry, but had two others answer my call yesterday afternoon,” LL called back.
Not liking that they’d missed his first calls, “No problem, where are you at? Are you calling from where we talked about?”
“Very close, don’t go into towns unless we have to. Never thought I would see a plague of rats, mice, flies, and ants, but they love towns so we avoid them unless there isn’t a choice,” he answered, and Wendy heard him stress the ‘we’ each time.
Trying to figure out how to meet up with LL, “Can you give me a location without being very specific?” she asked, watching the computer screen. The map image on screen suddenly moved to the west of Clarksville.
“You bet,” LL laughed. “Remember what I cleared for you to get home?”
A wide grin sprang on her face remembering the Mississippi River Bridge, “Yes, and thank you so much for that.”
“There is one eight miles west of where you sent me, both are just shorter and clear,” LL said, hoping she understood.
Hoping he was referring to the interstate bridges west of Clarksville, “I think I do, LL. If not, when I get closer and if I guessed wrong, I’ll call you back to set up a spot to meet,” Wendy called out as Arthur grabbed the microphone.
Making sure the mic wasn’t keyed, “Ask him if they’re in danger right now,” Arthur said.
Understanding what Arthur meant, “LL, is danger close to you now? Is time a factor that we need to come hard and fast?”
“No, we had some trying to shadow us, but we gave them the slip,” LL answered, and a blue circle sprang up on the map on the screen. Wendy just blinked because it was a rather large circle with a circumference of ten miles, encompassing most of Clarksville, but the center was just to the west.
“Tell him it’ll take you four hours to reach him, and you’ll be in the vehicle he saw you in,” Arthur told her.
After Wendy repeated it and LL called back, “I’m driving the same manufacturer, but a different model and much older. There will be a van you can’t miss with me. Don’t rush, if we get in trouble, I’ll let you know,” he called back.
Turning around, “It only takes us an hour to get to Clarksville,” Wendy reminded him.
“I know, but he said others were responding to him, so we want anyone who sees vehicles moving or were listening to think you’re a long way from there,” he told her.
Tilting her head to the computer screen, “You were triangulating?” she asked.
“Yeah, but his transmissions weren’t long enough to get a lock on,” Arthur answered, then felt something behind him and glanced back, giving a startle. The office was packed. Out the door he saw the hall and all the way to the living room were packed. “Guys, we were going to tell you what was said,” Arthur laughed.
“So, how long for you to get ready?” Wendy asked, getting up.
Shaking his head, “I’ll be ready long before you, toots,” Arthur said, adjusting Nicole as she tried to reach down for the CB microphone. “But this is how we’ll meet up,” he said grinning.
***
Driving the Tahoe she had taken in Florida, Wendy glanced over at Joseph in the passenger seat. He was sweeping the area and gripping his AR. For his first trip out, Wendy thought he looked rather relaxed. Looking in the side mirror, she saw the truck Ellie was driving with her crew.
“Want me to radio Dad?” Joseph asked as Wendy pulled onto the interstate in Ozark, heading east in the westbound lanes.
“No, wait till we’re closer. We know where LL is and if Arthur sees anything else, he’ll let us know,” Wendy said as both listened to the CB. People were chattering like always, talking about anything and everything. The only thing Wendy didn’t like was she had seen more people out and about than on any of the other trips. Most were at houses, but some were walking along the roads. They had even passed two trucks north of White Oak.
The interstate lanes were clear with an occasional car or truck on the shoulder. Since she had ridden on this road before she had seen all of them, and was now just looking for changes.
Hanging from a speed limit sign were two decomposing corpses with a sign hanging from them that read, ‘Be nice and don’t fucking piss me off, The Caravan Man’.
Joseph busted out laughing. “Wonder what they did to piss Dad off?”
“They killed a family I sold quilts to in Ozark,” Wendy
answered. “Saw one at their house when I drove in and asked Arthur to go and check it out.”
Just as fast as the laughter hit him, all joy left. “This is bullshit,” Joseph sighed. “Why can’t people just get the fuck along?”
“It’s easier to take than work,” Wendy answered.
With a lopsided grin, “Unless the Caravan Man finds out,” Joseph told her.
Nodding and grinning also, “Yes, the Caravan Man has definitely thrown a few monkey wrenches in the takers’ plans,” Wendy agreed, then became serious. “Let Arthur know we’re three miles away.”
Grabbing the hand-held radio off the dash, “To the other half, we are three miles out, moving at forty MPH,” Joseph called out.
“Copy,” Arthur called back. “Peeping Toms were still in place to the north and south thirty minutes ago when overwatch pulled out.”
Coming over a hill, Joseph saw two vehicles parked in the median a mile away. “We have eyes on,” he called out.
“If trouble starts, we’ll hear it and come rolling with thunder. Be careful,” Arthur told them.
Putting the radio on the dash, “I wonder if it wouldn’t have been illegal if Dad would’ve ever made our radios?” he wondered out loud.
Scoffing, “Hell, no,” Wendy shot back. “Telling Arthur he’s not to do something is just giving him permission.”
As Wendy slowed, she grabbed the CB mic. “LL, we’re here. If that’s you ahead, flash your lights.”
An older Suburban flashed its headlights and Wendy saw the driver’s door open. “I see you,” LL called back.
“I see the house Dad was talking about to the south,” Joseph said, then turned north. “I think I know which knoll he was talking about two hundred yards to the north on the other side of the creek. He’s right, that one could be a problem. They have cover and we would have to assault that just to make sure we got them.”
Guiding the Tahoe off the road and into the median, Wendy eased up and instantly recognized LL. Even though they’d met face-to-face for only minutes, she could never forget his face. Letting out a sigh and making sure Ellie was still behind her, “Oh, I’m so glad he’s okay,” Wendy mumbled as the radio on the dash went off.
“I see one watching from the upstairs window from the house to the south, but we can’t see shit from that knoll to the north,” Ellie called out.
“Wish Dad would’ve left the overwatch in place,” Joseph said, glancing to the north at a visible ridge a half mile to the north. “I understand why he didn’t leave Todd and Shawn there, but it would’ve been nice.”
Grabbing the door handle, “Why do you think he pulled them?” Wendy asked, watching LL close his driver’s door.
“When we start shooting that way, we could hit our lookouts. I’m just surprised they would be watching LL this close,” Joseph said, turning to the house to the south. “That house is five hundred yards away. Way too far to ambush from, but a nice spot to observe from. That spot to the north, great spot to do either.”
“I should’ve known that,” Wendy sighed, opening her door and getting out. “Hey, LL,” she said smiling, and saw LL visibly relax when he saw her. Leaving her door open, “My son is with me. He’s getting out, and you have folks watching you.”
Walking over to LL, she was surprised to see him nod. “Yeah, spotted them two hours ago,” he told her with a sigh. “Jason saw them move in just after we got here two hours ago. One is staying set up on a spotting scope in the upstairs window. There are three in the house he’s spotted, but saw four enter it and none have left it.”
“You’re talking about the house to the south?” Wendy asked, but didn’t point. Instead, she held out her hand.
Shaking her hand, “Yeah,” LL said.
“Well, you have at least one to the north that’s closer. Unlike those to the south, they know what they’re doing.”
Giving a startle, “You saw Jason?!” LL blurted out in shock.
Still clasping LL’s hand in the shake, “Jason?” Wendy asked.
“The one to the north,” LL clarified.
“He’s with you?” Wendy asked.
Nodding, “Yeah, he moved in before we did,” LL said, letting her hand go.
“I need to let them know,” Wendy said, grabbing her radio microphone on her vest. “This is other half,” she called out.
“Go,” Arthur called out.
“The one to north is friendly.”
“Copy,” Arthur answered. “I take it you made contact?”
“Duh, how could I know that unless I had?”
“You could’ve seen them run up to rejoin the group as you neared,” Arthur shot back, and LL smirked.
“Oh, he can chap my ass,” Wendy mumbled, then keyed the mic. “Yes, made contact and standing here with LL.”
“We’re rolling,” Arthur told her.
Turning as Joseph got out, “I’m glad you had someone home to come back to,” LL said with a remorseful smile.
Looking behind LL at the Suburban and… Wendy gave a startle seeing the van up close. If there was an apocalyptic vehicle, she was looking at it. She could tell it was a Chevy 3500 van at one time, but it had been lengthened and another axle added turning it into a 6x6. Mudding tires that had to be forty inches tall were on the six wheels, and the van was lifted ten inches at least. A massive bumper was on the front that held a winch, and gear was stowed in the roof rack. “Fuck,” she mumbled, looking at the van.
Shaking the shock off, “Your kids didn’t come back?” she asked, turning away from him.
“No,” LL said remorsefully, looking at the radio on Wendy’s vest. “Sure that’s secure?”
Laughing, “OH, even the NSA would have fits trying to crack this thing’s encryption. The fact there was a law that said you couldn’t broadcast in encryption made my husband make some,” Wendy told him.
Very shocked, “Your husband survived as well?” LL asked.
Nodding, “He’s coming, but we can’t act like we know him. He’s going to act like he’s just riding by,” Wendy said.
“Think I need to pull Jason in then?”
“Yes, we’ll be leaving before he does,” Wendy said. Moving to the front of his Suburban, LL waved to the north with his left arm and then his right.
“I got movement to the north. One on foot running toward us,” Ellie called out.
Turning around, “You going to tell her he’s with us?” LL asked.
“She heard me tell Arthur. Everyone has to call out movement, friendly or not,” Wendy said, and LL gave an impressed nod. Barely able to see the figure coming, Wendy turned to LL as he moved back to her and for the first time, noticed LL looked physically drained. “LL, did you get Rudolph?” she asked. There were huge bags under his eyes.
“No,” LL told her.
“When was the last time you slept?”
“We sleep when we can,” he replied with a sigh. “Wendy, I’m sorry I came, but we didn’t have much choice, and you were the only thing I could think of. I’m begging, can you put us up for a few days? I know we’ll be a drain, but just a few days, please?”
Reaching over and putting her hand on LL’s arm, “You don’t have to ask, LL. If we can’t make room where we are, we helped set up another group. Either way, you can stay as long as you like,” she told him. The relief that flooded over LL stunned Wendy. For a second, she thought he was going to cry.
“We’ll take any help,” he panted out in relief.
“How many with you?”
Taking a deep breath, “Twenty-two, including me,” he answered.
Jerking her eyes back to the Suburban and van, “You have twenty people in those two vehicles now?” she asked in shock.
Nodding, “Eleven are infants, three toddlers, two seven-year-olds, a ten-year-old boy, a thirteen-year-old boy, and a fifteen-year-old girl,” he said in a tired voice. “Then there’s me, Jason, and his wife Samantha.”
Stumbling back, “Holy shit,” Wendy gasped. “No wonder y
ou’re exhausted.”
With very tired eyes, LL gave a lazy nod. “I’ve never been this tired in my life.”
Turning as a figure ran up in a ghillie suit carrying a nice AR with a suppressor, Wendy noticed a very nice AR10 on his back, also suppressed but had a very large and expensive scope. “Jason, I take it? I’m Wendy,” she said, holding out her hand.
“Nice to meet you,” Jason said, shaking her hand.
Only able to see Jason’s face under the ghillie hood, the momma in Wendy almost told Jason to go and get in the bed this instant. If LL looked tired, Jason looked near collapse. “How in the hell could you move that fast with as tired as you are?” Wendy asked bluntly.
Giving a shrug that she could barely see under the ghillie suit, “Doing what I have to,” Jason panted, and Wendy could swear Jason was struggling to use energy just to blink his eyes.
“They spotted you,” LL said, and that got a startle from Jason.
Staring at Wendy, “When?” Jason blurted out, getting a boost of energy from adrenaline.
Even with the boost, Jason still looked ready to drop. “Arthur had a scout move in two hours ago to that ridge half a mile to the north. They spotted you with a thermal scope,” Wendy told him.
“This has a liner!” Jason cried out, tapping his ghillie suit.
“I don’t know what they saw, only that they spotted you, but even Todd said you were good,” Wendy said.
Turning to LL, “Man, I’m sorry,” Jason said, clearly let down that he could’ve compromised his group.
“Son, after what we’ve done, there isn’t anything to be sorry for,” LL said with a grin.
Hearing engines to the east, they both turned. “That’s my husband, the Caravan Man. We can’t let others know any of the names from his group,” Wendy told them.
Both jumped to gawk at her, “Your husband is the Caravan Man?!” they both cried out.
“Yep,” Wendy smiled with pride. “His real name is Arthur, but don’t tell any outside our group.”
Miracles Page 29