Dark Road (Book 6): Reckoning

by Miller, Bruno

  Jack did a few tours in the Coast Guard in his younger days. When he and a small group of his shipmates were straight out of the academy, they had a few guns custom-made in honor of their duty assignment aboard a newly commissioned vessel. It was a beautiful piece, and the brushed nickel finish contrasted nicely against the mother-of-pearl grip inlays and gold Coast Guard emblem insert. He kept it in a thick leather holster with the words Semper Paratus embossed across the front. The pistol was older than Ben, but no one would ever guess that by the looks of it.

  “I want Joel to have this.” Jack didn’t look away from the pistol. “If it’s all right with you, that is.”

  Ben nodded. “Of course.”

  “Good, I’ll give it to him in the morning before you leave. That is your plan, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah, if we can get everything squared away tonight. I’d like to leave early, before it gets too hot. With any luck, we can make it to the mountains before the heat of the day sets in or at least get as close as possible.”

  Jack shook his head and made eye contact with Ben. “Good, I don’t know how much longer I can keep it together health-wise. I don’t want the kids to see me get any worse.”

  Ben gave Jack a knowing look. “I understand.”

  “Well,” Jack said abruptly and slapped his knee as he pushed himself up off the bench with a grunt. “The rest is just ammo, which you’re welcome to, and some older hunting guns. Nothing more of any use to you probably, except maybe my deer rifle, but I’m giving that to my friend Bob Smith for taking care of my final requests after I pass. It’s the least I can do to thank him for making sure I make it under the magnolia tree with Carol.”

  Ben was taken aback by Jack’s casual attitude about his death and last wishes, but in a way, it was comforting to know that the man had made peace with his fate and seemed content in knowing it was his time. Ben tried to put himself in Jack’s shoes, and for the first time, he started to understand Jack’s logic. Other than not telling the kids, he got it. And the more he thought about it, the more Ben realized that if he were in the same position, he would likely do the same.

  Jack was saving them the agony of watching him wither away and die. There was nothing any of them could do for him. Even if they could find the medicine he needed, it would only prolong the inevitable. Ben’s attitude about the whole thing gradually shifted from frustration to appreciation, not only for what he was sparing them but also for the supplies; they would certainly prove useful during their trip home to Colorado. Then Ben realized that the guns and gear would be a tangible legacy for the kids to remember their grandfather by, but Jack’s real legacy would be the help he gave them in his final days.

  Chapter Ten

  Ben stayed in Jack’s room for a little while as they talked about guns and hunting. The conversation made Ben forget about the world outside, at least for a little while. He was content to listen to Jack’s stories while he organized the guns and ammunition into a neat pile for easy loading into the vehicles later. Ben tried his best to keep track of what Jack was giving him as he stacked it near the door.

  Jack talked as he continued to unload the safe and hand things to Ben, only pausing to catch his breath occasionally or to fight off a coughing fit. He pulled out a box of cigars from the safe and opened it. Grabbing a handful for himself, he handed the remainder of the box to Ben.

  “You might as well take these. I love ’em, but I can’t even get through a whole one these days without coughing up a lung. I should have listened to Casey and quit a long time ago, but I guess that doesn’t matter much now,” he joked.

  Ben didn’t want the cigars but didn’t want to offend Jack or hurt his feelings, either, so he took the box with a smile and a nod.

  “Thanks, Jack.” If they made it back to Cloverdale, maybe he’d pass them on to Vince. He wasn’t sure if he smoked, but Vince struck him as the kind of guy who might enjoy a good cigar. Ben didn’t know a good cigar from a bad one, but he was sure these were high-quality; Jack wouldn’t buy anything less. Jack reminded him of Vince in more than a couple of ways. Stubborn and set in his ways but willing to give you the shirt off his back if he approved of you.

  Ben could tell Jack was growing tired as the storytelling slowed and the breaks became more frequent. Jack seemed to be growing distant. Chewing on an unlit cigar in his mouth, he drifted off into a state of silence a few times as he stared at the safe. Ben was tempted to ask Jack if he was okay, but whenever he started to say something, Jack seemed to snap back into the present and pick up right where he’d left off.

  Ben stepped back after he leaned the AR-15 and the Kel-Tecagainst next to the growing pile of ammunition cans. He’d been taking a rough mental inventory of the ammunition as he stacked it. By his calculations, they had added somewhere around three thousand rounds to their arsenal. Jack always bought in bulk and at wholesale places, and the result was a well-stocked safe. There were a few seven-hundred-round boxes for the .45, five hundred rounds of .308, which would come in handy for Joel’s rifle, over fifteen hundred rounds of .223, and another tin with what must have been at least three or four hundred various 12-gauge loads, including double-aught buckshot and some duck load that probably wasn’t intended for the Kel-Tec.

  All in all, it was quite a haul and more than Ben thought they would end up with. It was definitely going to take up a bit of space in the trucks, but they’d figure out a way to get it in, even if it meant having to strap more gear to the roof of the Blazer.

  Jack stood up from the bench and staggered a bit, catching himself on the safe.

  “Jack, you okay?” Ben took a couple of steps toward Jack and prepared to help him stay upright.

  “I’m fine.” He held up one hand and waved Ben off while he used the other to hang onto the safe door. “I just got up too quick. That’s all. I think I’m going to lie down for a bit while we wait for it to cool down.” Jack made his way around to the side of the bed and sat down.

  Ben didn’t want to leave Jack alone just yet but felt like he was being pushed out of the room.

  “You should get some rest, too, while you can. You’ve got a big day ahead of you tomorrow,” Jack added as he lay back and put his feet up on the bed.

  “Can I get you anything?” Ben asked.

  “No, I’m good. Just close the door on the way out please.”

  What choice did he have but to leave? There wasn’t really anything he could do to help anyway. Ben paused halfway out of the room and glanced at Jack before he pulled the door closed behind him. Jack’s eyes were already shut as he lay still on the bed. The only thing Ben could hear was his labored and raspy breathing. He felt guilty for leaving Jack, and he couldn’t help but feel like this was the last time he would see him. The idea crept over him like a dark cloud, and he shook it off. Jack was too stubborn to die yet. There was no way he wasn’t going to see them off and say his goodbyes to the kids.

  Ben tried to think about something else as he walked down the hall and approached the living room. With the loss of the air-conditioning, the house was starting to heat up now, and Ben thought maybe it was time to open some windows.

  Everyone was fast asleep when he entered the living room. All was quiet except for the sound of Sam snoring loudly, with the occasional grunt thrown in for good measure. Ben tiptoed over the sleeping dogs and made his way across the room, toward the window. It might do them all some good to get some fresh air. In his opinion, there was nothing worse than waking up hot and sweaty, although that might be unavoidable.

  But he decided against opening the window as he pulled back the curtain and was quickly reminded of just how bright and hot it was outside. Maybe it wasn’t so bad in here. Ben squinted as he peered outside and scanned the road for any sign of the old Chevy from before, but it was empty and all was quiet. Maybe he should get some rest.

  He didn’t mind the idea of squeezing in a little more sleep. After all, they had real beds and a house where they could expect a certain amount of safe
ty. Who knew where they would be sleeping tomorrow night? There was really nothing else for him to do right now anyway. But he didn’t like the idea of everyone sleeping at once during the day. It was no different than at night, really, but it made him feel vulnerable nonetheless.

  Somebody should stay awake and keep an eye out for trouble. At least that was what he thought as he sat down on the end of the couch near Bradley. Then again, Gunner and Sam would give them a heads up if somebody came snooping around. They were both good watchdogs, and Ben thought about all the times Gunner had launched into full-on attack mode over nothing more than a porcupine or a squirrel around the house. He certainly wouldn’t stay quiet over a couple of strangers nosing around the place.

  Ben tried to fight it at first, but when Bradley leaned over and settled in against his side, there was no denying the heaviness he felt in his eyes. The warmth of the room wasn’t helping him stay awake, either, and before long, not even Sam’s snoring could keep him awake any longer.

  Chapter Eleven

  Ben slowly opened his eyes as the sound of Gunner’s low growl filled the room. He sat up, trying not to wake Bradley, who was fast asleep on him. He gently moved him off his side and back onto the couch. Ben rubbed his eyes while Gunner let out another low grumble, this time adding a small bark at the end while he began to get up. Sam was awake now, too, and joined in with a growl of her own. She rose off the floor surprisingly fast. Ben came to his senses while he watched Sam go to the front door and sniff the edges. Both dogs were fully awake now and clearly on edge about something. Ben doubted it was a squirrel.

  The dogs’ restlessness had woken everyone else now, too.

  “What’s going on?” Joel stretched as he stood up from the couch.

  Sandy sat up in the recliner. “Is someone here?”

  “I don’t know.” Ben made his way over to the window and moved the curtain out of the way just enough to see the road out front. He half-expected to spot the green Chevy, but there was nothing on the road or in the driveway. The dogs were still worked up, and it was only because of Allie and Emma’s attempts to calm them that they refrained from launching into a full-blown fit of barking. Ben didn’t see anyone outside, but the look in Gunner’s eyes and the raised fur along his back told him otherwise. There were people here; Ben just couldn’t see them yet.

  Ben let the curtain fall back into place while he thought about what to do.

  “I want you guys to stay inside and stay away from the windows. Joel and I will go check it out.” Ben glanced at Joel. He looked surprised that his dad had included him in his plan for a change. Ben thought about going alone, but he wanted someone to watch his back. If it was the guys in the pickup, there would be at least two of them, but there was no way to know for sure.

  The drive-by earlier was probably meant to check the place out. Maybe someone had seen them come in the other night or had heard the generator today. It didn’t really matter, though; either way, they were going to have to deal with whoever it was.

  Ben had to let Jack know what was going on. He hated to bother him or wake him up if he was sleeping, but he wanted someone with the kids. Jack was in a weakened condition, but he still had his wits about him, and he could still pull a trigger.

  Ben swiftly maneuvered down the hall, toward Jack’s room, careful not to make any more noise than necessary. It was an old house, and almost every step on the floorboards resulted in a squeak he was sure could be heard from outside. He hadn’t really noticed it before, but it seemed extra loud at the moment. Not that it mattered much; whoever was out there already knew they were inside.

  Ben looked back and signaled for Joel to stay put at the end of the hallway. Ben kept an eye on the windows as he passed the rooms off the hallway, searching for any signs of lurking shadows on the drawn curtains. He slowly let himself into Jack’s room and crouched down by the bedside.

  “Jack… Jack,” Ben whispered as loud as he dared while he shook Jack’s arm, but he remained motionless. Ben’s heart began to race as he watched for any signs of life. He was about to check for a pulse when Jack startled to.

  “What’s happening? What’s going on?” Jack coughed.

  Ben jumped back but was relieved that Jack was still with them. “Whoa, easy. It’s me, Jack. Somebody’s snooping around outside.”

  “How do you know?” Jack asked.

  “Well, I don’t know for sure, but the dogs are worked up over something. I’m thinking those guys in the pickup are back.”

  “All right, I’m coming. Give me a second.” Jack started to get up slowly.

  “Joel and I can handle it. I just need you to keep an eye on things inside and keep everyone else calm and quiet.” Ben hoped Jack wasn’t offended, but he didn’t have time to worry about that now. Besides, Jack was in no shape to do otherwise. Even he had to know that.

  “Dad!” Joel whispered excitedly. Ben turned to look and saw Joel standing at the end of the hallway, waving him back out toward the kitchen.

  “What is it?” Ben whispered back, not wanting to leave Jack’s side until he was up and out of bed.

  “I see someone out back by the garage. Hurry up.” Joel spoke a little louder now, and the sound of urgency in his voice matched the look on his face. Jack was almost on his feet, and as Ben stood, he glanced over at the pile of ammunition and guns near the bedroom door. He thought about the possibility of there being more than one intruder and grabbed the Kel-Tec KSG along with one of the opened boxes of double-aught buckshot.

  Ben stuffed the gun under his arm and began to load shells into the magazine as he started down the hall. He glanced back to make sure Jack was behind him and was glad to see him making his way out of the bedroom, his shotgun in hand.

  “Go ahead, I got the kids,” Jack said as he picked up speed and tried to catch up to Ben. Joel was still waiting at the end of the hall between the kitchen and the living room.

  Joel pointed toward the kitchen window. “I saw a guy out back.”

  Ben was a little mad that he was looking out the window when he just asked them all to stay away from the windows, but he reminded himself that he had asked for Joel’s help. Ben went to the window and peeked outside. Sure enough, there was someone there. The man door on the building had two small windows at the top of it, and a heavyset guy in a green hat was on his toes, trying his best to see inside Jack’s outbuilding.

  But that wasn’t the most concerning thing. What really drew Ben’s attention was the AR-15-style rifle he was holding. A person didn’t bring a gun to snoop around someone’s property with good intentions. Ben also noticed that the man was holding a small orange two-way radio. That immediately answered Ben’s other question, although it didn’t tell him how many others there were.

  Jack had made it to the living room and was corralling the others up the stairs. Gunner willingly followed the kids, but Sam had to be told by Jack to “go.” Sam reluctantly followed them up the steps with her tail tucked like she’d been caught doing something wrong. Once they were on their way, Jack joined Ben and Joel at the kitchen window. He leaned over and looked through the curtains himself.

  “Don’t recognize him,” Jack said after a couple of seconds. “I’ll keep everybody upstairs until I hear from you. Do what you need to do, Ben. Don’t worry about us.” Jack didn’t wait for a response and headed for the stairs. Ben followed him toward the front of the house and nodded at Joel to follow. They couldn’t very well go out the back with the guy there. Unless they used a window, there was only one other way out, and that was the front door. With any luck, whoever the guy in the hat was talking to on the radio wasn’t out front.

  Jack climbed the stairs to the halfway point, then turned around, sat down, and laid his shotgun across his lap. “I’ll wait here.” Sandy was at the top of the stairs with the kids, both of whom were wide-eyed and staring at Ben.

  “Don’t worry, guys. It’ll be okay. We’re just going to go see what they want and maybe try to scare them away.”
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br />   “Come on, guys,” Sandy said. “Your dad knows what he’s doing. He and Joel will be fine.” She coaxed the two away from the stairs and toward the back bedroom.

  Ben nodded at them as they disappeared, leaving Sam alone at the top of the steps with her front paws hanging over. She growled once more, and Ben wondered if she had heard something else or if she was just unhappy about her place in all this.

  “Stay put until I get out on the porch. I’ll let you know when it’s okay to come out. Once you’re out, stay behind me a few feet and keep an eye out behind us.” Ben turned away from Joel and crouched down by the door. He unlocked the deadbolt and slowly turned the worn brass knob. The door creaked open less than an inch as he peered outside. There was nobody on the porch, but using this door made him feel exposed. The other guy could be anywhere and most likely was watching the house while the other man took a closer look.

  Ben pulled the door closed. He couldn’t bring himself to step outside and into plain view without giving this more thought. Long ago, he’d learned to trust his instincts in situations like this, and they hadn’t let him down yet. He and Joel would have to get outside some other way. Ben knew that as soon as he stepped outside the door, he would be an easy target. It would be a straight shot across any of the mostly open soybean fields surrounding them. He felt trapped in the house, and he hated the feeling.

  Chapter Twelve

  “What is it?” Joel asked.

  “We can’t go out that way. We’d be too exposed.” Ben thought for a second, then looked at Jack.

  “Does that window on the side of the house by the HVAC system work?” Ben knew some of the windows were tough to operate. The house was old, and despite the repairs Jack had made over the years, most of the original wooden windows were stiff at best, and some didn’t open very far at all.