by N. C. Reed
The next day was spent in the gruesome task of making sure the Williamson place was ready for occupancy, just in case. No one wanted to do the job, but Billy was adamant that he wasn’t going to go through another ‘Widow George’ incident. Rhonda and Jerry quietly explained what had happened to the others, who nodded in understanding. George and Ralph removed the house’s sole occupant, which they were fairly sure was Mister Williamson himself.
The house was cleaned thoroughly, and the food stocks gone through. What was still good was left for the next occupant, the rest discarded. The freezer had kept running, thanks to the PV cells on the roof, and the contents were checked. Most looked okay, and only a few meat items were discarded. The refrigerator was also still running, although everything in there had long since ruined. With bleach and cleaners, the ladies managed to save it, while Ralph, George and Jerry buried Mister Williamson. Toby was elected to cart off the ruined refrigerator's contents.
Billy had checked the PV cells and batteries, while the others worked inside. One battery had burst, and he replaced it with one he’d taken in town. The others looked good, and with the others using power, the batteries were getting a good pull for the first time since the plague. He checked all the connections, and the inverters. He was pleasantly surprised to find them in good working order.
It took most of the day, and the group was exhausted afterward, but they were able to deem the property ready for habitation. The Williamson’s personal effects were removed, although the furniture remained. Billy dutifully carted the boxes to the barn, storing them in the tack room, which Mister Williamson had made fairly rat and mouse proof over the years.
“Well, that was a day’s work,” Amy stated, wiping her brow. Despite the cool air, everyone had worked up a sweat today.
“Sure was,” Debbie agreed, fanning her shirt. “Nice place, though. People who owned it put a lot of love and hard work into it.”
“That they did,” Jerry nodded sadly. Emma had agreed to stay at home and watch the two children in the group. She figured it wasn’t a good thing for them to see the house.
“Well, I’d say we’re done here,” Rhonda came out of the house, carrying her cleaning equipment. “Looks good.”
“Yeah,” Amy agreed, picking up her own buckets. “We’ll do the Smith place tomorrow. It doesn’t look so bad.”
“Don’t forget that place has been empty a while,” Jerry cautioned. “Don’t take no chances, or go stickin’ your hands in no dark places.”
“I’ll go and spray it, when I leave here,” Billy offered. “Overnight should kill most of the bugs. Once we’re done, we can bomb it, and burn a formaldehyde candle overnight. That’ll kill anything in there.”
“Never heard of the candle thing,” Debbie was interested.
“Mamma used’em,” Billy just shrugged. “Said it killed the germs and bugs and such not. I got some of’em still.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Amy nodded. “Tomorrow then?”
Everyone agreed, and all set off toward their respective homes. Billy and Rhonda stopped at the farm to pick up the spray.
“I can get this alone, you wanna stay here,” he offered.
“Nah, I’ll go with,” she smiled. “Be nice for the two of us to do something. Like everybody, but not all at once. And not all day.”
“Yeah,” Billy agreed.
They pulled into the yard at the Smith place. There was still light, but it was fading. The Smith place didn’t have PV power, so it was dark.
“Least it’ll be empty,” Billy said, as he prepared the sprayer.
“Might be snakes,” Rhonda replied, hefting her little .410 shotgun.
“Just don’t do no damage we’ll have to fix,” Billy teased. She snorted.
“Long as I kill any snakes, I’ll fix the damage.”
The went into the carport, intending to get inside through that door. Billy had just tested the door knob, when the door splintered as a bullet whizzed by. Both dropped to the ground, Billy drawing his pistol.
“Don’t come in here or I’ll shoot!”
*****
“What the hell!” Billy exclaimed. “Whoever you are, you better not be shootin’ at me no more! I don’t like it!”
“Is that the best you can come up with?” Rhonda asked in disgust.
“I don’t see you doin’ no better!” Billy snapped back. “Damn near took my head off!”
“I mean it!” the voice cried again. “I gotta gun, and I ain’t afraid to use it! Ya’ll best just be gettin’ on!” It was a girl’s voice, maybe just into her teen years, Rhonda was almost sure. And she was scared, it sounded like.
“Who are you?” Rhonda asked.
“None o’ yer business!” the voice screeched back. “Now I mean you best just take off, you hear!”
“I think we know now who was shooting at the gravel pit,” Rhonda told Billy dryly. Billy looked at her with dawning comprehension. Then he frowned again.
“I still don’t like bein’ shot at,” he said sullenly. Despite the situation, Rhonda had to stifle a giggle.
“Whoever you are, we don’t mean you any harm,” she called out. “Can we at least talk?”
“Yer talkin’ right now!” the voice shot back. Rhonda noticed that she sounded a little unsure now.
“Look, I don’t know who you was expectin’, but we live just over the hill. There may be some folks comin’ to live here in a few days, and we wanted to make sure the place was clean. That’s all.”
“Well, I’m livin’ here, and I don’t aim to leave!” came the defiant answer.
“I’m gonna tear a strip off o’ her hide, we get in there,” Billy muttered angrily. “Of all the fool notions. . . .”
“Hey!” Rhonda snapped at him. “She’s alone, most like, and afraid. Until you been in her shoes, you don’t get to decide how she get’s judged. This ain’t some bully, or jackass at the trade day. This is probably a scared little girl, protecting herself from stuff only another woman can imagine. Now shut it!”
Billy glared at her, which just bounced off of her. She turned back to the door.
“My name’s Rhonda Higgins,” she said, not as loudly. “What’s yours?”
“Mary,” the voice sounded a little less sure of herself now. “Not that that changes nothin’,” she added.
“That’s fine, Mary,” Rhonda replied. “What’s your last name? Are you from around here? I am. My daddy ran a gun shop in town, before. . .well, you know. Before.”
“Jerrolds,” Mary replied after a minute of silence. “My name’s Mary Jerrolds.”
“Jerrolds?” Billy frowned. “Hey, you ain’t Dennis Jerrolds’ kid are you?” he shouted.
“I. . .I might be,” Mary answered, sounding a little less scared. Maybe.
“Hell, gal, I knowed your daddy! He worked at the car plant! I worked on his truck once in a while.”
“What kinda truck?” the girl asked. Rhonda grinned. Cagey little minx.
“A ugly yellow Ford F-150,” Billy told her, smiling.
“That truck wasn’t ugly!” an indignant reply shot back. “That truck was beautiful!”
“Yeah, you’re Dennis’ girl alright,” Billy laughed. “He told me he bought that thing cause his little girl liked the color. Said it looked like Tweety Bird.”
“He painted Tweety on the hood!” Mary exclaimed.
“Mary, can we come in, now?” Rhonda asked, shooting Billy a smile. “We won’t hurt you. We really did just come to clean this place up. And you don’t need to be living here alone, any way.” There was a long hesitation, and a longer minute of nothing. Then, the door opened hesitantly.
“I reckon you can come in.”
*****
“How long have you been here, Mary?” Rhonda asked, looking around the dimly lit house. There were empty cans on the counter, where the girl had apparently been about to prepare a meal. There were two gallon jugs of water there as well.
A sleeping bag was laid out in the far
corner of the room, surrounded by mouse traps. Two large coolers were next to the bag, one of them with a battery powered lantern atop it. A bible lay beside the light.
“I don’t know,” she shrugged helplessly. “Long time. ‘Least a month.”
“Why in the world didn’t you come down to the house and ask for help?” Billy all but demanded, and the girl shrunk back, grasping the heavy Mini-14 tighter.
“Shut up!” Rhonda scolded. “He has got a point, though,” she added, turning back to Mary. “What didn’t you just come down and see us?”
“Scared,” Mary replied softly, still looking at Billy.
“Of what?” Billy asked, perplexed.
“Ever body,” the little voice admitted.
“Honey, how old are you?” Rhonda asked, kneeling next to the girl.
“Twelve,” Mary replied. “But I’ll be thirteen soon!” she added, with just a hint of challenge.
“Really? How long?” Rhonda asked.
“Um,” Mary bit her lip. “I. . .what day is it?” she asked.
“Oh sweetie,” Rhonda said softly. She looked at Billy and saw with relief that he was finally ‘getting it’.
“Girl. . .Mary,” Billy said easily, “this here ain’t no way to live.”
“S’all I got,” Mary replied stoically. “Gotta make do.”
“No, you don’t,” Rhonda stood. “Billy, you start loading her things into the truck.”
“Huh?” Billy asked.
“What?” Mary demanded at the same time, backing up a step.
“Listen,” she told Mary. “You need to be somewhere safe, honey. And this ain’t it. You need clean water, and better food than you can get from a can. You’re comin’ to live with us!”
“I am?” Mary asked, trying not to let her hopefulness show.
“She is?” Billy asked, again at the same time.
“She is,” Rhonda told him firmly. “And you ain’t gonna get this stuff loaded standing here talkin', neither.”
Billy grunted at that, but dutifully went to get one of the coolers. He picked it up with little effort, and trekked out to the truck.
“Don’t let him fool you,” Rhonda smiled. “He would have been up here himself, if he’d known you was here all alone. Ain’t a better man nowhere than Billy Todd.”
“I don’t think he like’s me much,” Mary said quietly.
“Well, you did almost shoot him,” Rhonda chuckled. “Billy takes a dim view o’ that sorta thing.”
“Oh. I did, didn’t I?” Mary asked, wincing a bit.
“He’ll be fine in a while,” Rhonda assured her. “Now, start getting your things together. When we get to the house, you’re taking a nice hot bath, while I fix you something good to eat. Deal?”
“Deal!” Mary smiled.
Mary’s few things were loaded quickly. Billy took the sprayer, and their flashlight.
“What are you doing?” Rhonda demanded.
“Gonna spray the house,” Billy told her, as if it was a stupid question.
“I’m not keeping that child out here in the cold for you to spray that house!” Rhonda informed him.
“Don’t ‘spect you to,” he told her calmly. “Take her on down to the house. ‘magine she needs some time with just a woman for a bit. I’ll be along once I’m done here, and unload her stuff.”
Rhonda was taken aback by that. She smiled at him suddenly, and kissed him soundly.
“You are so getting lucky tonight,” she whispered in his ear.
“Yeah, yeah,” Billy shooed her off, laughing. “You’re just tryin’ to bribe me into lettin’ her stay with us.”
“Ain’t you?” she demanded, surprised.
“Oh, for. . .of course I am!” he exclaimed. “Good Lord woman, what kinda man you take me for?”
“A really good one,” she said softly, and kissed him. “Be careful coming home.”
With that she loaded the girl into the truck, and headed for home. Billy watched her go, and then, shaking his head, went to work.
*****
Rommel was instantly suspicious of the new person Rhonda brought home. Dottie, far more friendly, ran to the girl, and started sniffing and licking.
“Rommel,” Rhonda warned. The big dog looked at her, but reluctantly backed down. He eased closer, and Mary watched him with trepidation.
“I don’t think he like's me either,” she whispered.
“Well, it’s Billy’s dog,” Rhonda laughed lightly, and Mary had to giggle at that.
Rommel sniffed slightly. She smelled wrong, but not untrustworthy. He caught several different smells, all of which he could identify, yet he couldn’t. He didn’t like mysteries. He edged closer, nose out. Mary carefully lifted her hand, palm up, and let Rommel sniff her.
“Friend, Rommel,” Rhonda told him sternly. Rommel looked at her, as if to say are you sure?
“Yes, I’m sure,” Rhonda interpreted the look correctly. Rommel sniffed again, and then again.
“That’s enough,” Rhonda told him finally, and led the girl toward the house.
Where, true to her word, Rhonda drew Mary a steaming hot bath.
“These clothes need a serious washing,” she declared. Mary blushed a little.
“I. . .I tried to clean them in the creek, but without soap, it just wasn’t. . .I didn’t do a good job. And I had. . .I mean. . .well, you know,” she trailed off, blushing deeper.
“Don’t worry,” Rhonda told her. “I can help you with that. Now, settle in, and soak a while, and get clean. I got some clothes that should fit you fine. I’ll dig them out, and then get started on fixing some supper. Okay?”
Rhonda went and rummaged through her things, finding the things she wanted. Pants, shirt, socks, and underwear. She frowned as she thought about a bra. The girl wasn’t developed enough for one of her’s, and the others were out in storage. She didn’t want Mary to feel uncomfortable, so she grabbed a t-shirt, and a large sweater. As an after though, she also got one of Billy’s shirts for the girl to sleep in.
After leaving these things for her, and making sure she was okay, Rhonda went to the kitchen.
She was just finishing up a pot of chili when Mary appeared in the kitchen, wearing the new clothes. Rhonda smiled at her.
“How do you feel?”
“I done forgot what it was to be clean,” Mary admitted. “Thank you so. . .so much,” her voice faltered. All at once the realization that she wouldn’t spend tonight alone, cowering in the dark, hit her, and she almost collapsed. Rhonda grabbed her, and guided her into a chair. She held the girl while she cried.
Dottie edged into the mix, huddling between them. Rommel refused to do so, but did sit stoically near them, between them and the door, while Mary cried herself out.
“I’m. . .I’m sorry,” she sniffed, raising her head finally. “I. . .”
“Don’t be sorry, honey,” Rhonda told her, stroking her hair gently. “You been all alone for a long time. I was too, but I’m a lot older’n you. I can’t tell you how relieved, how happy, I was when Billy found me.”
“He found you too?” Mary asked, eyes wide.
“He’s got a habit o’ picking up strays,” Rhonda smiled. “Ain’t he, boy?” she asked Rommel.
Woof!
The bark startled the girl, which startled Dottie, which of course made Rommel stand up, looking for what was wrong.
“Easy, big boy,” Rhonda said, gently rubbing Dottie’s coat. “Take it easy, girl,” she soothed. Dottie responded well, and ‘allowed’ Mary to pet her as well.
Rommel wasn’t so easy.
Rhonda fixed Mary a bowl of hot chili, with some bread and a soft drink.
“Hope you like Coke,” Rhonda asked. “Only kinda soft drink we have.”
“Oh, I haven’t even seen a Coke in. . .well, forever!” Mary gushed.
“All yours,” Rhonda smiled, handing the open can to her. Mary chugged on it, then returned to the chili. She was on her second bowl when Billy came in.
Rommel ran to him at once, turning to look at the girl, then back at Billy, as if to say do you see that stranger in our house?
“Yeah, I know, boy,” Billy said easily, and ruffed the dog’s massive head. Rommel accepted this attention with gusto, satisfied that he had done his job. If Billy wasn’t worried about the girl being here, then neither was Rommel.
“Somethin’ smells good!” Billy said, coming into the kitchen.
“Homemade chili, and fresh bread,” Rhonda smiled, setting him a bowl on the table, then one for herself.
“You look better,” he told Mary. “Ain’t nothin’ like a hot bath to make things better, I say,” he added, sitting down. “That was how I conned Rhonda into comin’ to live with me, ya’know,” he winked. “Offered a hot shower.”
“Billy Todd!” Rhonda slapped him on the arm. “Well, that was an enticement.”
Mary couldn’t help but laugh. Billy had put her at ease in just a minute.
“You’re not so bad as I thought at the other house,” she told him.
“Yeah, well, you didn’t shoot at me when I came in, either,” he grinned. Mary blushed, but knew that he wasn’t serious. Billy had calmed down on the walk home. One of the reasons he’d wanted to walk.
“I put your stuff on the porch,” he told her. “We can go through it in the morning.”
“Thank you,” Mary said quietly.
“Welcome,” Billy nodded.
“Okay, let’s eat!” Rhonda ordered.
Afterward, Rhonda led Mary to the bedroom near theirs, and made her comfortable.
“You can relax here, sweetie,” Rhonda promised. “Nothing will hurt you here, I promise.” Dottie jumped up on the bed, curling up on the foot of the bed.
“Traitor,” Rhonda accused, and the sensitive Rottie looked down shamefully. Rhonda rubbed her head, and scratched behind her ears to let her know it was in play. Dottie licked her hand, then settled in.
“Looks like you got company for the night,” Rhonda laughed. “Good night honey.”
“Thank you,” Mary said for at least the hundredth time.
“You’re more than welcome. Sleep well.” Rhonda went out, and eased the door closed. She turned to go back downstairs, and nearly tripped over Rommel, who had laid down just outside and to the side of Mary’s door.