by N. C. Reed
“Remember to study the books I gave you,” he told them. “Don't lose them or let them get damaged. Hopefully we’ll find others to fold into your group as time goes on. We’ll have to see. And remember to find those notebooks. Scavenge wherever you have to in order to gather up a journal or notebook or something and keep records. Who you saw, who is allergic to what, how you managed to treat something. If it works once, it will probably work again. Also, when you find someone who knows things you need, you can make a record of it.”
“Got it,” the two said in unison.
“Now, let’s go over some of the basic material in those books in the time I've got left. First off . . . ”
***
“Tonight, then?” Gordy asked as he and several others looked over the results of their work.
“Absolutely,” Deuce nodded happily.
“Where do we do the cut off?” Leanne asked.
“If they're still in school, then no,” Kade suggested. “Too much can go wrong with little kids involved.”
“True enough,” Gordy sighed. “All right then. You guys spread the word and I’ll make the other arrangements. Oh, and leave that one thing to me,” he told the twins.
“Sure thing cuz!”
***
“No kidding,” Jose laughed softly. “Yeah, I can do that. Once a week or every ten days good enough?”
“That would work,” Gordy nodded. “It doesn't have to be everyone all the time. We just wanted to start it off right.”
“A hell of an idea,” Jose endorsed. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Thanks Pancho.”
***
“Hey Gordy,” Sam smiled as he found her and Teri in the large barn, checking on a horse with a skinned leg.
“Ladies,” he nodded. “Teri, I need to borrow your assistant for a minute, if I may?”
“Sure thing,” Teri smiled. “We're done here. I’ll leave you guys to it. I need to go and get cleaned up anyway. See you later.”
“What's up?” Sam asked, hugging him closely.
“I want you to be ready to go tonight at six,” he said without any warm up or warning.
“Go?” Sam frowned. “Go where?”
“Ah, that's a secret, dear lady,” he smiled broadly. “Just pretend we're going out on the town. I’ll pick you up at six.”
“Gordy, you do remember we live in the same house,” she snorted delicately in amusement.
“I do in fact remember that,” Gordy nodded. “You gonna cooperate with my surprise or not?”
“Well, I suppose,” she was enjoying this, she admitted. “But you know we always make guys wait a little,” she raised an eyebrow.
“Any other night that would be fine,” he agreed. “But tonight I'd prefer you start early and be on time, if you don't mind.”
“And you won't tell me what we're doing?” she pressed a little.
“Surprise,” he drew the word out. “All I will say is that I promise you’ll like it.”
“I had better, with all this secrecy.”
***
“Well, how did it go?” Clay asked, looking at Greg, Sienna and Tandi.
“Mine went fine,” Tandi nodded. “I wish there were more people with some kind of training, but at least there are the two of them. It could be none.”
“True. How about you guys?” he asked Greg.
“We had a small issue at first when people realized we weren't giving the food out to individuals,” Greg reported. “Pickett told them what was going to happen and that settled most of it. For the diehard complainers, he just pointed out that all they had to do was take it from the soldiers. Pretty much ended all the problems right there.”
“That old man must really be something,” Clay chuckled. “I know Leon and Gordon like him, so he must be okay. What about Mattie? See her okay?”
“Yes, and I can honestly say I'm sorry I ever advocated for her staying, mother or no,” Sienna almost growled. “We took her things to her and delivered the care package and the first thing out of her mouth was a surly 'I expected you yesterday'. Talk about ungrateful.”
“That was the vibe I got,” Clay didn't bother with 'I told you so'. “So, everything in town settled for the moment?”
“Pretty much,” Greg nodded. “We’ll go back in a week and check on their progress, teach another class or two and work through some problems with them. I think as long as they practice among themselves and do their physical training they will be fine. My only worry is that something will happen before they're truly ready for it.”
“Nothing we can do about that,” Clay shrugged. “You guys can go and stay overnight if you want, make it a two- or three-day thing at a time. You could take a motor home or else the school bus, either one. School bus would be more practical but less comfortable. You'd need an escort, too. Still, it should be doable.”
“We’ll think about it,” Sienna mused, looking thoughtful. “I don't know that I'd want to, but it might work better than what we're doing.”
“We’ll look into it,” Greg promised. “Cook out tomorrow?”
“Gordon and Robert are smoking the meat on the pit now,” Clay nodded. “Cookout tomorrow.”
***
Samantha couldn't help but be excited as she got ready. Her hair was still damp from the shower but there wasn't much to be done about that these days. She had toweled it dry as best she could. She had broken into her carefully hoarded make up for the occasion, though she went light with it as always, especially now that there would be no more. Still, she felt certain this was a night she wanted to look her best.
She wondered idly where Abby was but promptly stopped worrying over it when there was a slight knock at her door. She bounded over to open it, surprised to find a smiling Patricia instead of Gordy.
“Sam, there is a very polite young man waiting for you in the living room,” Patricia told her. “He said he was here to pick you up and promised to have you home at a reasonable hour, so I gave my approval,” she teased.
“Thank you, Mrs. Sanders,” Sam laughed in delight. “I appreciate it.”
“Have a good time,” Patricia said before disappearing into her own room. Taking a deep breath, Samantha grabbed her rifle and slung it over her shoulder. They had been told not to go anywhere without it, so she didn't. Marching into the living room, her breath caught in her throat at the sight waiting for her.
Gordy had cleaned up really well, she decided. The deer-in-the-headlights look he got when she arrived made her glad she'd started early, as he put it. Pleased with his reaction, she managed to saunter coolly up to him and stop, looking up at him.
“You looking for me?” she teased.
“Boy was I,” he nodded slowly. “Sam . . . you're gorgeous,” he smiled softly.
“I'm sure you say that to all the girls,” she sniffed theatrically, though her face felt as if it were glowing.
“Yeah, but I mean it where you're concerned,” he teased back and she slapped his arm.
“Where are we going?” she demanded excitedly.
“Just have to wait and see,” he shook his head, offering her his arm. “I will tell you it's not far.”
“Fine then, be that way,” she tossed her hair before taking his arm. They left the house, heading in the direction of the Troy farm. They made the trip in silence, both a little nervous and yet equally comfortable in each other’s company. As they neared Building One, Sam thought she could hear music.
“Someone is having a good time,” she said.
“Sounds like it,” Gordy nodded, guiding her toward the door to Building One. “Let’s see what they're doing.”
Before she could be disappointed that their 'date', whatever it was, had been sidetracked, Gordy opened the door and motioned her inside. She stepped inside and stopped short, the scene before her enough to stop any disappointment.
The first thing that caught her eye was a wooden sign with a weak solar light on it that read “Deuce's Place”. The music was comi
ng from a stereo set along the pallets occupying the back two-thirds or so of the building. A stack of CDs was next to it and Deuce himself was currently fishing through them, calling out songs for approval.
The next thing was the light from a large screen television over to the left. Kade Ramsey and Corey Raynard were seated in a pair of wooden Adirondack chairs playing a game of football on a Playstation. Another television had an X-box attached and featured Leanne Tillman and Abby Sanders playing a racing game.
The right side of the room was occupied by six rough tables, with benches or chairs surrounding them. Each table had a different game on it. Rook, Uno, chess, checkers, Monopoly and the last a sign that said 'D&D Club'. Other games sat on a shelf along the wall, available to anyone who wanted to play. The open area in the middle was perfect for a small dance floor and a combination of rope lights and large, multicolored Christmas lights topped off with a homemade 'disco' ball illuminated a square area directly in the center.
“What do you think?” Gordy asked, once she'd had the chance to take everything in. Her head whipped around to look up at him, a wide smile on her face.
“I think it's wonderful!” she threw herself against him, hugging him tightly. He returned it, then took her rifle and gear, hanging them on a crude gun rack near the door, joining several others already there. He placed his own beside hers before extending his arm once more and guiding her further inside.
“Why 'Deuce's Place'?” she asked over the music.
“It was his idea,” Gordy replied. “We were all looking for something like it I guess, but it was him that came up with this. I'm sure Leanne helped, but even she said the lion's share of the credit belonged to him.”
“I will have to be much nicer to him from now on,” Samantha laughed.
“Might have to get in line,” he nodded toward where Millie Long was now standing practically on top of his cousin, examining music discs over his shoulder.
“Oh, they would be good together,” Sam nodded at once.
“I have to wonder what that will do to him and Leanne, though,” Gordy observed.
“Leanne is growing into a beautiful young woman,” Sam scoffed at that. “It won't be long until someone is turning her head, I promise you.”
“Think so?” he grinned. “Who is your money on?” he questioned.
“Heath,” she replied at once, so quickly that Gordy did a double take.
“What? Really?”
“Really,” she nodded firmly, using her chin to point Gordy's attention to another table. A table where, sure enough, Heath Kelly sat alone, glass of water before him, watching with rapt attention as Leanne and Abby played on the X-box.
“How do you know he's not staring at Abby?” he asked her.
“Simple,” Sam grinned. “He's afraid of Abby, and plus she's more or less dating Jody Thompson, who Heath idolizes. Oh, and I've caught him staring at Leanne before,” she added with an impish grin. Gordy couldn't help the laugh that escaped him at that.
“Wanna dance?” he asked her, standing up.
“Oh, I don't really dance,” Sam demurred, shaking her head.
“You do tonight,” he hauled her out of her seat as easy as if she were a baby. She fought not to gasp as she ended up in Gordy's strong embrace, instead smiling as he guided her onto the small dance floor. By the time they had finished their dance others had joined them in the new 'club', Titus Terry leading Marcy George in, grinning sheepishly as his friends clapped and whistled while Marcy buried her face in his side, blushing.
Teri Hartwell had ventured inside, drifting almost on auto-pilot to where Corey Raynard was finishing his game of football. Two minutes later he was playing a different game, this time against the vet student. If she sat a little closer to him than Kade had, well . . . no one noticed it, really.
Kade had lost interest in the video game when Olivia Haley had walked in. She was a little hesitant to venture much further inside than the door, but Kade bounded over to her and pulled her inside, smiling widely at her. Blushing a little, she smiled back.
Heath worked up the nerve to approach Leanne and ask her to dance. Shocked, Leanne had stood stock still for several seconds until Abby had more or less shoved her into Heath with a 'well, go on'. Face as red as some of the lights surrounding the dance area, Leanne let Heath lead her onto the dance floor as Leon spun up another song. He didn't miss his sister dancing either, but smiled rather than frown. He had seen Heath watching her too, but doing so respectfully. He had subtly encouraged the quiet rifleman to approach Leanne and was glad to see it had worked.
“Wanna dance, big guy?” Millie's voice seemed quiet in his ear and suddenly Leon had more to think about than his sister's crush. He looked to see Millie smiling at him and felt his mouth go dry even as his palms were wet.
“It's a yes or no question, Ace,” Millie teased.
“Yes!” the younger Leon nodded, setting the discs in his hand on the table and allowing the older Millie to lead him out on the dance floor.
As the night wore on, the game tables began to fill as players chose sides and squared off. Soon everyone was having a blast and for just a few short hours, they were young people again. Just kids, doing kid things with other kids. No guns, no shooting, no life or death struggles tonight. Just a good time to be had, playing, laughing and being young.
Like it was supposed to be.
***
The music from Building One was audible out on the pad where Clay was standing, watching the moon. He wasn't nostalgic, really, but hearing them have a good time had given him a good feeling and he was glad they were getting to do it. He had to hand it to Deuce and the others, they had really done something there.
“Evening Boss,” Shane's voice cut into his ruminations.
“Rat,” Clay nodded in reply. “Making the rounds?”
“Yeah. We're all working tonight to give the kids the time off.”
“They deserve it,” Clay observed.
“That offer you made me still good?” Shane asked suddenly, and Clay looked at him then.
“Which one?”
“The woman and her kids,” Shane clarified. “Living alone out south of the town.”
“Sure,” Clay nodded. “Why?”
“I was thinking I'd go and invite them here for the cookout tomorrow,” Shane replied. “Let them come and see if they liked it here enough to leave home and come here. I don't know that she can contribute anything other than canning and gardening. Well, besides that she managed to survive alone with two kids up to this point.”
“That alone is something worth noting,” Clay agreed. “Do you like this woman, Shane?” he asked his friend. “Or is it guilt?”
“Neither,” Shane surprised him. “It's just a feeling, that's all. Just a feeling.”
“Well, go and get her in the morning then,” Clay shrugged. “Tell them to bring clothes to spend the night even, if she wants. I'd take Kandi or Sienna with me, though. Otherwise she might not want to come, just as a precaution. Better make it Sienna,” he added thoughtfully. “Kandi was still baking last I checked. No telling how long she’ll be awake tonight.”
“Hadn't thought of that,” Shane admitted. “Okay. I’ll ask Sienna to go along. Well,” he was all business again, “I better get moving. Have a good evening, Boss.”
“You too, Rat.”
Clay watched his friend fade into the dark, wondering at his frame of mind. Guilt could make a man do stupid things.
“Hey Cowboy,” Lainie said softly from behind him. Clay turned slowly to see her smiling at him in the moonlight.
“Damn you're hot,” he said without thinking and was rewarded with a tinkling laugh.
“What a come on,” she shook her head, leaning into his side as he wrapped an arm around her. “Just out here, admiring the moon?”
“Well, and sort of standing watch, too,” he nodded. “Letting the kids all have a night off to enjoy their night club.”
“Leanne mentioned that
this afternoon,” she nodded. “I'm waiting patiently for bread to finish baking. Another three-and-a-half hours, give or take.”
“Well, you can wait with me, or I can go wait with you,” he suggested. “Which would you prefer?”
“I kinda like the moonlight,” she admitted. “Let’s find a place to sit down, why don't we?”
“Why don't we,” he agreed.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Shane Golden fidgeted in his seat slightly as the four-wheel Cougar made its way down the country road to Dottie Greer's house. Sienna Newell was driving while Zach Willis manned the gun turret.
Shane didn't understand what was driving him to do this, visit this woman he had known for all of one hour, and offer her the chance to come to the farm. He knew it wasn't any kind of romantic feelings. Dottie Greer wasn't unattractive, but he wasn't interested in her in such ways. He had been impressed with her toughness and determination, that was certain. He was also sympathetic to her plight of isolation. She had managed all alone since the Storm, providing for herself and her two children. Her husband was who knew where, and the odds were she'd never see him again. Yet, she soldiered on.
Shane was fairly certain it was that strength that had made it impossible to forget the woman, and to feel that she deserved their help. Actually deserved it and had earned it as opposed to the people in Jordan, albeit with a very few exceptions.
“What you thinking about Rat?” Sienna asked.
“Wondering why this is so important to me,” Shane admitted at once. “All I can figure it that she impressed me. Surviving all the winter long with just her and her kids. That's a level ten toughness right there. She deserves our help.”
“No argument from me,” Sienna nodded. “And here we are,” she added as the Greer household came into view. She slowed as they reached the driveway to the house, stopping on the road rather than turning in. Shane stepped down while Sienna and Zach stayed put.
Shane examined the house before moving down the drive to speak to Dottie Greer.
***
“Mamma, it's the soldiers!” Quentin Greer exclaimed, running to her side and pulling her hand.