“Like-minded how?” Mr. Jones asked.
“Well,” continued David. “The shit has hit the fan and we all need to survive. We want a skilled group to band together and weather the storm.”
“Sorry about that,” he conceded. “Name’s Tom…Tom Jones.”
“Like the singer?” asked David.
“Afraid so,” replied Tom. “I’ve got a wife, her sister from the Northeast, and a little girl,” he said, dropping his defensive tone. “I’m the best hunter in the area. Ask anyone. My wife can sew anything, power running or not, and her sister was a medic in the Army. My little girl just likes dolls and reading books.
“I know something’s up,” he admitted. “But I have to be careful what I get my family into.”
“Understood,” agreed David, “and that’s why I’m here. It’s going to be like this for a while and we need like-minded people to stick with us and help us defend our territory against any would-be invaders. Like it or not, they will be here eventually,” he added.
“So are you going to tell your buddy to come out from behind that tree?” Tom said, pointing to Mel.
“Well,” concluded David, laughing. “I guess you are a hunter and that’s a good thing. Would you like to join our group?”
“I reckon we might, but I need to talk to the misses and her sister first. Wait here,” he asked, and stepped inside, closing the front door.
He was back in five minutes or so. “This is my wife, Becky, her sister Tammie, and our little girl, Rosie.”
“Pleased to meet you all,” said David, with a nod. Mel had come out of the trees and introduced himself. He was smiling at Tammie.
“We would be happy to join your group here,” declared Tom. “Don’t see as we have much choice in the matter. Our food is running low, though, just so you know.”
“No problem!” exclaimed David. “We have that covered. We’ll be back in a day or two and let you know what our other neighbors decide.”
David and Mel headed for the next house on foot. “Wow!” said Mel under his breath.
“Wow what?” asked David. “Tammie is hot,” replied Mel. David was now laughing so hard he was doubled over.
“I don’t see what’s so funny,” retorted Mel. “I think she’s gorgeous. With her dark hair she looks like a young Demi Moore.”
“Yes, she’s pretty,” admitted David. “It’s just funny that we’ve been out for less than an hour and you already seem to have found a wife!”
“Ha ha. You should be looking as well.”
“Not yet,” grumbled David, in a serious tone.
“Ah shit, David. That was insensitive as hell. Fuck, man. I’m so sorry. I wasn’t thinking,” continued Mel.
“No worries, buddy. Maybe I’ll meet someone down the road and start over, but not today…
“Hey, I’ve got an idea,” announced David, changing the tone. “Once we hit all the houses, we could do a food drive for a chance to win a date with Mel—Raton Pass Militia’s most eligible bachelor!”
“And we’re back,” said Mel. “You could be the MC,” he continued. “Win an all-expense-paid walk in the woods with Mel. Then I can just pick a future Mrs. Mel from all the bidders.”
They picked up two more families that afternoon, with no more women making the hot list so far.
“There was one house about two miles straight east,” David was telling his dad that night, “that had an old-timer who wanted nothing to do with the group.”
“Old man Walters?” Dean asked.
“Yep, Dad. That’s the guy.”
“He’s a real piece of work,” said Dean. “He’s been up here for nearly 60 years and I’ve never known him to have a visitor. I do know he’s a crack shot with a rifle and one hell of a hunter, though.”
“Maybe he will come to us eventually,” added David, “but I’ll let him be for now. I don’t think losing electricity has changed his life any.
“Oh, and Mel here,” he added, pointing to him, “met a woman today, named Tany or Tonia maybe.”
“Tammie!” blurted out Mel, before he realized David was setting him up.
They were all laughing. “OK. OK, buddy. That was good but payback is a bitch.”
“Anyway, Mel is keeping an eye out for the right lady friend, and I guess that makes me his wingman.”
“That’s right, buddy. Wing me a good one, please,” replied Mel.
“We have about two to three more days to add to the group. I may need to get with James sooner than later, since he’s got some experience with greenhouses,” said David.
“I’ve got a bunch of heirloom seeds,” reported Mel. “I just don’t know what to do with them.”
“We are going to have a lot of mouths to feed pretty quick,” replied David.
Beatrice had a treat for David. “I made your favorite dinner, son,” she said, smiling. “Mark’s too.
Linguini with clams. Sorry, the clams are canned but I did some spice work that came out pretty good, if I do say so.”
Everyone agreed it was a wonderful meal. Mark and his friends, Chad and Jimmy, had two servings each.
“Chad, Jimmy,” called David. “Yes, sir,” they replied.
“I know you guys were up here with Mark when it happened, but what about your families? I mean, don’t you want to be with them?” asked David.
“Yes, sir…about that,” replied Chad. “My mom…well, she’s gone, like Mark’s and your wife. I mean, sorry to bring that up.”
“It’s OK,” said David. “Continue, please.”
“Well, I’ve been coming up here with your son for a number of years now, every chance I got, ’cause you all feel like family. I just got my Pops, who’s drunk all the time and doesn’t really want me around.”
“My story is about the same,” added Jimmy, “except my mom’s still here. But she is always looking for her next fix, and that’s not something I want to be around anymore. I guess that’s why we never left after it went dark. We both expected you to send us home, but since it didn’t come up, we were happy to stay. I hope we’re still welcome here.”
“Absolutely,” stated David. “You boys are old enough now to make your own decisions and you are welcome to leave anytime you wish, just like anyone else we add.”
“Thank you, sir,” they both remarked.
“David is fine. First names are fine for everyone now, except you, Mark. I’m still your dad.”
“Sure thing, Dad,” he replied.
The following morning David and Mel swung by Mel’s place before heading out to talk to more neighbors. All was fine and undisturbed. “We need to secure your house sooner than later,” said David. “We can’t risk losing your preparations to looters.”
They headed north this morning and came up over a ridge, hearing loud voices from down below. They were muffled and sounded far off but had a rhyme to them. As they got closer they heard “Marco…Polo…” They could see three small children playing the timeless pool game in the front yard.
The cracking sound came from the back of the house, as a burst of three rounds hit just to Mel’s left. David and Mel hit the ground, their rifles at the ready. “Don’t shoot,” called David. “There are kids down there.”
“The next round will hit its mark!” said a loud voice from the house. “Put your hands up and come down real slow,” he added.
“We don’t want any trouble!” yelled David. “We’re your neighbors and we’re putting together a group of sorts.”
“You’re not with them?” came the reply from the house.
“No,” replied Mel. “We’re not sure who you mean but we’re not with anyone you’ve had contact with, I’m sure.”
“OK,” conceded the man. “Tell you what. Let’s all point our weapons toward the ground and meet at that tree,” he suggested, pointing to a big pine tree and stepping out cautiously from the back of the house.
The kids were now back in the house. A few minutes later they met at the big pine. “What’s goin
g on here?” asked David.
“Well, my name’s Larry. We had a couple guys come around last night looking for some charity. Only problem is they had guns and weren’t so nice about it. There’s no problem anymore, if you follow what I’m saying. We didn’t think there were any more until you came along. Only reason I let the kids play out front.”
“Fair enough,” David agreed. “We ran into a couple guys like that a few days back.”
“Where are they now?” asked Larry.
“Unofficially at the bottom of the lake,” said Mel. “How about yours?”
“Over here,” he gestured. “Maybe you know them,” walking over to the back of the house where he lifted a tarp covering two bodies.
David and Mel could see their faces. David had a flash of Mark pulling the trigger and ending a man’s life and hoped his son could put it way, way back in his mind.
“I don’t recognize them,” said Mel. “Me neither,” added David.
They explained the group to Larry and, after hearing his story, they were convinced he was just protecting his wife and three kids from would-be predators.
“We would be honored to join your group,” said Larry, after a quick discussion with his wife.
By the end of the day they had added four more families to the group.
“Not a lot of eligible bachelorettes,” reported David to Mel. “Not unless there was a wedding party renting out a place when the lights went out,” replied Mel.
“Another couple days,” replied David, “and we’ll wrap it up and secure our territory.”
They were back at the house and saw Tammie sitting in a folding chair out front with Beatrice.
“Hey again,” said Mel.
“Hello,” replied Tammie. “I was looking for a cup of coffee and Beatrice saved my life.”
“What happened?” asked Mel, sounding concerned.
“No. I’m so sorry. It was just a figure of speech. Back home in New York I had a standing appointment with Starbucks several times a day. We ran out of coffee at my sister’s house a few days ago and I was hoping to find some.”
“Well, you’re in luck,” announced David. “Mel here is the Starbucks of the next world!”
“Really?” asked Tammie, smiling.
“Well, David is exaggerating a bit,” argued Mel. “I just happen to really like coffee and saved some beans for a rainy day.”
Beatrice had back-strap and sautéed spinach on the menu tonight that Mark and his friends had killed earlier in the day. “What’s back-strap?” asked Mel.
“Well,” related Beatrice, “it’s like the filet minion part of a deer. The very best cut of meat.”
David said the prayer tonight.
Dear Lord, thank you for this abundant meal before us. We thank this deer for laying down its life so that we may continue to fulfill your plan. We pray for the safety of those who are new to our group and those that are on the road, heading here with my old friend Lance.
We ask that you watch over all of us and lead us in the right direction, for your glory. It is in your name we pray, O Lord. Amen.
“Amen,” added all.
David and Mel filled everyone in on the day’s events and assured them that they were amassing an honest, loyal and formidable group for the coming days.
“There will be a lot of work to sustain the group,” said David. “We don’t want to rely on Mel’s supplies to support everyone. Once we get the final group together, we will delegate jobs and make sure we are utilizing all of our talents in the best way possible.
“We will have some guests arriving with my old friend Lance, about thirty in all. We should be prepared to offer them safety, rest and nourishment while they are here on their way to Northern Colorado.
“We must stay focused on our tasks at hand and stay vigilant to the cause, no matter how hard. We must care for and watch out for each other with our very lives to ensure the collective survival of our group. We will come out the other side of this or die fighting, so help me God.
“Who is with me? Raise your hand.”
All hands raised in unison.
…to be continued…
Next World Series (Vol. 1): Families First Page 27