by N. C. Reed
“I. . .all right,” Jerry agreed reluctantly. “Take Toby. . . .” He broke off as Emma shook her head.
“No. Not even Toby. We girls will handle this.”
“Take the truck,” Billy ordered. “Toby can stay with us.” Emma looked at Billy and smiled, then nodded.
“Rhonda, bring the truck up,” Billy called. Soon the big Ford was there. Emma quickly explained the situation, and Shelly got out to help at once. Jerry had wondered how she would react, but Shelly didn’t panic. She did have an odd look on her face, though. As if something had clicked into place. He could only hope that was a good thing.
The women got the girl loaded, and left, Rhonda promising to stay in touch by radio. Once they were gone, the men looked at each other.
“Something's gonna have to be done ‘bout these people,” Billy said softly. The others nodded.
“For another day, though,” he shook his head. “Right now, we offered to help. That’s what we’ll do. Toby, we’ll move in a diamond. You’re the back corner. We’ll watch front and sides, you cover the rear. Ready?” Everyone nodded.
“Let’s go then.”
******
The four of them found three other people, all wounded. One was serious enough that Billy called Rhonda to see if she could bring the truck. Satisfied that Emma and Shelly were safe in the clinic, she was there in minutes.
The men quickly loaded the injured onto the truck, and then Rhonda drove them to the clinic. Billy and Toby, who had taken First-Aid as a Scout, were working on the injured man when they stopped at the clinic.
“We need a stretcher!” Toby called. Someone came running out with a collapsible stretcher, already stained with blood. He quickly examined the wounded man.
“Good work,” the EMT nodded. “Just might have saved his life. Lift!” he ordered, and Billy lifted the end off the truck as the EMT got the back. Together the two of them walked the stretcher inside, while the others helped the remaining wounded out of the truck bed.
The clinic was a mad house. People scurrying everywhere, crying, screaming, impatient demands that their son/daughter/wife/husband be treated right now. Another EMT was doing triage assessments.
“Low chest wound,” the EMT that had helped Billy informed his colleague. “No sucking, doubt the lung is hit. Heavy blood loss, but appears stable.”
“Right. Get him over there,” he pointed to a line of litters. “Check between four and five. Place him between, if I recall right. Head wound ahead of him, gunshot to the leg behind.” They moved the man to the ordered place.
“Appreciate your help, friend,” the EMT told Billy.
“Boy did all the work,” Billy shrugged. “Good kid.”
“We need all the help we can get. I gotta go. Thanks again!” The man hurried off. Billy looked at Jerry, who was searching for Emma and Shelly.
“Talk to you?” Billy asked. Jerry frowned.
“I was lookin’ for Emma and Shelly,” he replied. Billy nodded.
“When you find’em, and see to them, we really need to talk.” Jerry nodded, and Billy walked outside. Toby was standing by the truck, rifle ready. Rhonda was sitting on the hood, rifle in hand, while Ralph leaned against the fender. He looked tired. Billy saw the man who had given them their search area, and went to report.
“Found three wounded, and brought them in. One dead, just other side of the building. One woman, girl really, who’d. . .she’d been. . .look, you know. . . .”
“I’m afraid I do,” the man nodded. “I’m Norman Riggs, by the way. Head of what’s left of our emergency services.”
“Billy Todd,” the men shook hands. “Our women folk brought the girl in. Two of’em are inside there with her, now. We. . .I mean there just ain’t much can be done for that, I reckon.”
“No,” the man sighed sadly. “There isn’t.”
“Well, we made a five block sweep, one over, two up and two down. Anything else?” The man shook his head.
“No, I think we’ve covered it all. Listen, about earlier.”
“I don’t take no offense,” Billy shrugged.
“Well, Kelvey does,” the man informed him. “He’ll be lookin’ for you with blood in his eye. Might be best if you leave.”
“Can’t leave till the women folk are done tending to the girl,” Billy shrugged. “I’ll stay outta his way. Suggest to him he stay outta mine.”
“He’s not normally that way,” Riggs told him. “He. . .he lost his wife to the plague, and then these raiders this morning shot his brother. We still don’t know if the brother will make it. He wants to hit back at someone.”
“I can understand that,” Billy nodded. “But I ain’t the one responsible, and I don’t aim to be hit on. Just so’s we’re clear,” he added. Riggs nodded.
“We really don’t need any more trouble,” he said softly.
“Won’t be none, unless he starts it. You got my word. If he confronts me, I’ll walk away, if he’ll let me.”
“That’ll have to do, then,” Riggs nodded. “Thanks for your help.”
“You’re welcome.” Billy walked back to the truck.
“What now, Billy?” Toby asked. He wasn’t eager. None of them were. Billy was pleased that he was willing, though.
“Nothin’ right now, Tobe,” Billy shrugged. “Good work, by the way. You’ll do to ride with, I reckon.” Toby swelled slightly at that, and grinned.
“So we just sit here?” Rhonda asked. Billy shrugged.
“Jerry, Emma, and Shelly are still inside,” he reminded her. “And we need to stick together if we can. If they ain’t out soon, I’ll go look for’em.”
*****
Jerry emerged a half hour later, with Emma and Shelly in tow. Ralph had left to go see to his own things, and had agreed to meet up later. Jerry came up to Billy, looking pensive.
“It’s a right mess in there,” he said softly. “I think we oughta just head home, Billy. Ain’t gonna be no tradin’ today.”
“Got some tradin’ already done. Just need to take delivery.” Billy looked around. “We’ll be a little bit, but not long.”
“What’d you want to talk about?” Jerry asked.
“Was thinkin’ this might be a good time to see about recruitin’ some neighbors, so to speak,” Billy shrugged. “Be a sure bet that some o’ these folks won’t want to stay. Not after something’ like this.”
“Well, I ain’t against the idea,” Jerry replied thoughtfully, rubbing the back of his neck. “But we don’t really know any o’ these folks. We don’t want the wrong kind o’ people movin’ in on top of us, I’m thinking.”
“Me neither,” Billy nodded his agreement. “We don’t have to take no one with us. Today or any other day. We can keep gettin’ by the way we are right now. But if we can get a few hardy folks, people that’ll work, and fight when need be, we might be a mite better off.”
“Hell of a choice to make, ain’t it?” Jerry almost spit in disgust. “I guess ain’t no harm in talkin’. Where you aimin’ for’em to live?” he asked.
“Well, the Franklin place is a good start,” Billy shrugged. “Havin’ someone up there, all the time, might keep another dog pack from gettin’ to the herd. We need to try and find some jacks, by the way,” he added. “If we had a couple, or even three, runnin’ with the cows, they’d be handy to drive the dogs off.”
“If we can find some we can afford,” Jerry nodded. “Be a good idea. Well, I ain’t against someone using the old Franklin place, myself. What kinda folks we thinkin’ on looking for?”
“Well, if we could find a nurse, or even a paramedic, it’d be a help. And I was thinking about asking Ralph if he was interested,” Billy added, looking at Jerry.
“I like him,” Jerry said at once. “Seems like a solid sort. Not to mention, someone who can work leather would be a fine addition.”
“I thought that too,” Billy nodded. “If we can get a few artisans, we might just build a good, solid community that can support itself, and d
o business with other folks on a regular basis.”
“I like that idea,” Jerry agreed. “And, you made a good point about maybe finding a nurse, or at least a paramedic. Okay, let’s keep our eyes and ears open, so to speak. And we should talk to Maness. Today, even, if you want.”
“We can sound him out a little better,” Billy nodded. “But he seems pretty good on face value.”
Decision made, the two men decided they would head over to talk to Ralph first. He might know others who’d be interested himself.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“I don’t know,” Ralph mused. “I’d sure be interested, depending on the set up. But I’d need room to work in,” he added thoughtfully. “I’ve got my shop, at home. I’d need something like that where ever I wound up.”
“How big is your shop?” Jerry asked thoughtfully. “We can probably put something together. What do you do for power?”
“My shop is twenty four feet by twelve feet, right now,” Ralph told them. “I’d really need to stay that size, if possible. I don’t need much power, to be honest. I’ve got a fairly simple solar set up that provides all I need.”
“We can probably find a building that size, and move it onto the property we’re thinking about,” Jerry mused, thinking about places he’d seen such buildings. There was one in Cedar Bend, in fact. “And I think we can provide some solar for the house, which mean you can use yours just for the shop.”
“That’d be ideal,” Ralph was enthusiastic. “Gotta warn you, though. It’ll take three, maybe four trucks, or at least some trailers, to get me moved.”
“We can do that,” Billy assured him. “Meanwhile, the Franklin place has four bedrooms, a den, living room, and a full kitchen, plus a two car garage. In fact,” he brightened, “I don’t see why the garage couldn’t be used as a shop for you.”
“Hadn’t thought o’ that,” Jerry nodded. “Be ideal, really.”
“I like the sound of that,” Ralph agreed. “These days, ain’t never no tellin’ when someone will try and take what you have.”
“We’ve been careful not to advertise our presence,” Jerry promised him. “That don’t mean someone won’t just stumble across us, though,” he added.
“I got a pretty good guard dog,” Ralph grinned. “In fact, I’ve got three of them. Anatolian Shepherd dogs. Used to raise’em, in fact. Got a male and two females.”
“Is that a fact?” Billy asked, now really interested. “We could sure use a good set of stock dogs. Might be you could raise a litter for us to use keeping watch on the stock. Or help drive them, if there was a need?”
“Sure,” Ralph nodded. “They’re great stock dogs. It’s in their blood, really. All three of mine will herd anything. Even ducks, if they can,” he laughed. “It’s just their nature to be protective.”
“Like I said, the Franklin place is good sized,” Billy got back to his point. “Do you know of anyone with skills we might need that you would want to share the house with? Somebody with some medical training would be great. But there’s other things, too.”
“Well, ah. . .I was going to mention it,” Ralph said with a sly grin. “I’ve been, ah, seeing, I guess, one of my neighbors. She’s a. . .well, she was, a nurse, at the hospital in Murfreesboro. She’s been trying to help people on the sly, so to speak, and not call attention to herself. Seems some ‘groups’ are looking for anyone with medical expertise, and they don’t really care if you want to join their little group or not. She’s kinda been staying with me,” he added, red faced. “For protection,” he added.
“Uh-huh,” Jerry grinned. Ralph sputtered a bit, then laughed.
“Aw, hell, you know,” he shrugged. “What can I say? She’s cute. And smart. And capable.”
“Sounds like a good combination,” Jerry smiled. “I take it she’s why you’d be interested, but ‘don’t know’, just yet?”
“Well, yeah,” Ralph admitted. “I mean, I think she’d go for it. But I don’t want to answer for her. She’s got a teenage daughter, too,” Ralph added. “Fourteen years old. She’s as cute as her mamma, and that’s another reason she’s so worried. Now days, women are more like to be victims than not.”
“We can understand that,” Billy nodded.
“And sympathize as well,” Jerry chuckled.
“Well, so long as we’re decided before the weather gets bad,” Billy pointed out. “We don’t want to be moving you in bad weather. And we really want to get everything in one trip, too. Someone see’s you moving, and leaving something, might not be there when you get back.”
“Good point,” Jerry nodded. “Anyone else, Ralph?”
“Not right off hand,” Ralph shook his head. “Amy, that’s her name, Amy Shands, she might know someone. Her daughter’s name is Amanda. Just have to ask her.”
“Well, I think we can take Amy and her daughter just on your word alone,” Jerry told him. “Anyone else, we’ll want to meet.”
“Don’t blame you,” Ralph nodded. “What say I call you tomorrow, or so, and let you know?”
“We can work with that,” Billy nodded. “And we’ll need a day or two to work out what we need to bring to get you moved. You have a truck, or trailer?”
“Yes to both, but I don’t have a lot of fuel.”
“We can bring enough fuel, I think, for your truck,” Billy told him. “I’ve got a farm tank that should be enough. If we bring two trucks, with say sixteen foot trailers, do you think that’ll get it all?”
“I. . .I think so, yeah,” Ralph nodded, caught off guard. “I can get all of my leather tools and supplies into my own trailer. Will we need furniture?”
“House is still furnished,” Billy shrugged. “Might want your own bed, or favorite chair, but that’s up to you. We can probably scrounge up some other furniture from around. Maybe even new,” he shrugged again. “Just so we can get everything you need on the one trip. We’ll have the backs of the two trucks, plus the trailers.”
“Sounds good to me,” Ralph nodded. “If we can think of anyone else that might do for what you want, we can have them meet us at my place, so you can talk to them.”
“That sounds like a plan,” Jerry agreed. “Well, I guess we need to think about getting home,” he spoke to Billy.
“Yeah, ‘spose so. Ralph, Rhonda has some things you’ll want. And we’ll need to settle up for the other stuff.”
“Really?” Ralph was pleased. “That girl o’ yours is really something.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Billy grinned. “Let’s get things sorted.”
*****
Ralph was very pleased with the thread, rings and rivets that Rhonda had collected.
“This will keep me in business for a good while!” he enthused.
“Thought it might help,” Rhonda grinned. “And here’s the money for the other moccasins,” she added, giving Ralph a handful of silver coins.
“Surely you want some o’ this back for the thread and stuff,” he argued.
“You know what? I don’t,” Rhonda surprised him. And Billy. “You need this stuff to stay in business. I need you to stay in business. Call it an investment.”
“I can do that,” Ralph nodded. “What will it cost me,” he asked with mock wariness. Everyone laughed.
“Just your good will,” Rhonda assured him. “And a high spot on your list, if I need something done in a hurry.”
“That’s doable,” Ralph assured her, laughing. “You’re the best customers I have, anyway.”
“Well,” Billy looked up at the sky. “I don’t think there’s gonna be a market today, and it’s gettin’ on past noon.”
“How do you do that?” Toby asked, looking up at the sky.
“Do what?” Billy asked.
“How do you know what time it is, just lookin’ at the sky?” he asked, pointing to his watch. It was ten minutes after noon.
“I just do,” Billy shrugged, and Rhonda laughed.
“I asked the same thing, Toby,” she told t
he boy. “Got the same answer.”
“I want to learn to do that,” Toby said. “Can you teach me?” Billy looked flummoxed at that.
“Well, I. . .I don’t really know. Reckon I can try,” he shrugged. “We’ll work on it,” he promised, wondering how in the hell he could teach something that he just knew without thinking about it.
“Thanks!” the teenager was appreciative.
“Anyway, reckon Jerry’s right. Time we was headin’ home. Ralph, we’ll be waitin’ on your call.”
“Let you know in a couple days, at the latest,” he promised.
Everyone started piling into the truck. Billy was about to get inside when he heard someone yell.
“Hey you!”
*****
Billy turned to see Kelvey standing about thirty feet away, gun in hand.
“I aim to settle things with you!” the man called.
“Mister, ain’t there been enough blood shed here, today?” Billy asked calmly, stepping away from the truck slightly. He was wearing his pistol, but his rifle was inside the truck. Billy could hear the others getting out on the other side.
“For all I know, you was a part of it!” Kelvey shouted, his face red. And swollen where Billy had smashed him with his own shotgun.
“I think you know better than that, Kelvey,” Maness said evenly from behind the truck. “The man was here to trade, just like the rest of us.”
“Shut up, Ralph!” Kelvey snarled. “I didn’t ask your opinion.”
“Mister, I promised a man named Riggs that I wouldn’t cause any trouble,” Billy said evenly. “That I wouldn’t say anything to you, and I would walk away if you’d let me. We helped as much as we can, and now we’re goin’ home. Tryin’ to get there before dark.”
“You ain’t goin’ nowhere!” Kelvey shouted, raising his shotgun.
“Kelvey!”
The other man started at hearing his name called. He turned slightly to see Riggs and two other men covering him with their rifles.
“You aim to shoot me, Riggs? Instead o’ these outsiders?” Kelvey challenged.