“Dallas and his kids didn’t see any more people up here,” Michelle said as Nelson passed her the binoculars.
“Babe, they didn’t search every house,” Nelson sighed. “Hell, look how many we’ve found lately.”
Passing the binoculars back, Michelle pulled out her digital camera. Turning it on, she zoomed in and snapped pictures. “You really want mementos of what they did?” Nelson asked, shaking his head.
“No, but when asked by others, I want to have proof that gangs are roaming around,” Michelle said.
“If they don’t take my word, then fuck ‘em,” Nelson popped off.
Lowering the camera, “Nelson, the gang just hit and left,” she said.
“They didn’t leave that fast,” Nelson said. “I figured they stayed a few hours, then started the fires and took off. I think they know a fire is a beacon for aircraft.”
“I see a wrecked motorcycle down there,” Michelle said, raising the camera and taking more pictures.
“Yeah, near the road and there’s another one back behind the house,” Nelson said. “I don’t see graves, so I don’t know if they took out any of the gang.”
Putting her camera up, “Where to now?” she asked.
“To Dallas’ farm, it’s only three miles away. I want to know if they heard any gunshots,” Nelson said, getting up.
“Babe, we hear gunshots a few times a day,” Michelle said, following him.
“That would’ve been more than a few gunshots,” Nelson said, heading down the hillside.
When they reached the buggy, Nelson climbed in and patted the backseat. Zeus climbed up on the seat, looking around with his tongue hanging out. After Michelle was in, Nelson turned around and headed south. Knowing there were traps around Dallas’ farm, before getting close, Nelson pulled out onto the dirt road that ran down the valley.
Turning off the road on to Dallas’ driveway, Nelson drove slow and stopped where they had met Ryan. Stepping out, Nelson held up his hands. “It’s Nelson and Michelle,” he called out.
“I knew it was you, but not who was with you,” a female voice said on the other side of the road, standing up from the underbrush. They both turned as the figure took off the hood of her hunting suit.
“Hey, Lucy,” Nelson smiled as she walked out on the road. “Like your new rifle?”
Looking down as she lifted her AR up, “Oh yes, I like being able to shoot thirty times before reloading,” she said.
“Is Dallas busy? I need to talk to him,” Nelson said.
“He’s making plans for the farm at the house, but I’m sure he won’t mind,” Lucy said.
Pointing to the trail he had used when they had brought over the supplies, “Can I still take the trail through the woods to the house?” he asked pointing.
“Sure,” Lucy said. “I’ll lead you.”
“Hop on, we have room,” Nelson said, waving his hand at the front seat. Giving a giggle, Lucy moved past him. “This is my wife, Michelle. Remember?”
“Yes, but she didn’t have a helmet on last time and her hair is pulled up,” Lucy said, climbing in the front seat beside Michelle. Nelson stopped, seeing Lucy was bigger than Michelle.
“Lucy, how old are you?” Nelson asked, climbing back behind the steering wheel.
“I just turned thirteen,” she said proudly.
Michelle gave a startle and turned to Lucy. “Wow,” was all she could say, but she was wearing a grin. “Nelson wasn’t wearing a helmet when we were here before.”
“Oh,” Lucy said, holding her eyes straight ahead. “Well, I saw Zeus,” Lucy said quickly.
Michelle chuckled and patted Lucy’s leg as Nelson drove off the road into the trees, following the barely visible trail between the trees. When they reached the fence, he got out where Dallas had set up the fence to be used as a gate.
Laying the fence down, Nelson climbed back into the buggy. “You have another lookout where you were?” he asked, pulling over the fence.
“Yeah,” Lucy said with a huff. “Ryan got mad because I was tired of hiding inside the fence. I told dad I wanted to watch outside the fence sometimes.”
No sooner had she spoken then another figure stood up and Nelson knew it was Ryan. Pulling to a stop, “Climb in, I need to talk to Dallas,” Nelson said and Ryan gave a look at Zeus in the back seat. “Don’t worry about Zeus,” he chuckled and Ryan climbed in.
Riding down the driveway, they watched people converge on the house as they neared. Before they stopped, Nelson saw Dallas come out of the house. When he stopped, Dallas came down the steps and held out his hand as Nelson climbed out.
“What brings you about today?” Dallas asked, shaking Nelson’s hand.
“Dallas, did anyone hear gunshots last night or this morning?” Nelson asked.
Nodding as he looked around at the others, “Yeah, those on watch last night said they heard some way off to the northeast,” Dallas said as Nelson pulled out his map.
“Someone hit a farm two miles from here,” Nelson said, opening his map up and pointed at the spot where they had seen the destroyed farmstead. “You know who lived there?”
Looking at the map, Dallas shook his head. “No, not personally. We would know them if we saw them in the store, but didn’t know their names.”
Folding the map up, “I hope you have more than two out as sentries,” Nelson said. “That farm was only a mile from the one you reported.”
Dallas took a breath as he nodded. “Yeah, we have six out at all times,” he said. “You thinkin’ they are moving down the valley?”
“Yes,” Nelson said glumly. “How do you keep in touch with those on sentry duty?”
“When they shoot, we come running,” Dallas said.
Stepping back in shock, Nelson backed into the buggy. “Dallas, that will just get your family killed,” Nelson gasped.
“Well, we ain’t got cellphones and besides, they don’t work out here,” Dallas said. “We doin’ the best with what we got, Nelson. Granted, we doin’ better with what you gave us.”
Pinching his lower lip, Nelson started thinking as Michelle stepped over to Kathleen. “Kathleen, did you think of anything else?” Michelle asked, adjusting her AR.
Glancing at Dallas, Kathleen looked back at Michelle. “Well, if you have any wax or kerosene, we could sure use some. We are running out of candles for the house,” Kathleen said.
Looking up at Kathleen towering over her, Michelle smiled. “I’ll bring some over. Men seem to forget that lights in a house are very important,” Michelle said.
“Michelle,” Dallas said. “You done helped us enough.”
Michelle spun around, squaring off and tilting her head up to glare at Dallas. “Our job is to take care of the family. The man’s job is to protect the family,” she snapped, making Dallas step back. “And I really like your family, so if I can help Kathleen, I will,” Michelle said, spreading her feet apart. “You men make our job hard enough as it is.”
Stepping back and holding up his hands, “Don’t get riled up,” Dallas said. “I get enough of that from Kathleen.”
“My point exactly,” Michelle said, glancing back at Kathleen to see her trying not to laugh. “You don’t ever hesitate to ask me for anything. We have to stick together, so the men won’t drive us insane.”
Not able to hold it any longer, Kathleen busted out laughing and engulfed Michelle’s body in a hug. More than a foot taller than Michelle’s five-foot-four and with Kathleen being twice as wide as Michelle, Kathleen looked like she was hugging a kid. Kathleen, like the rest of the family wasn’t fat, only big boned and robust. “I have to say, I’m going to love having you around,” Kathleen laughed.
Turning to Nelson, Dallas saw he was still in deep thought. “Nelson,” he said and Nelson shook his head, looking up. “Have to say, you have a strong woman,” Dallas said.
“Huh?” Nelson said turning and chuckled, seeing Kathleen hugging Michelle. “Yep, she can humble me with a look.”
“What are you thinkin’ so hard on?” Dallas asked.
Pointing at Ryan and Lucy, “Can I take these two and help load up some stuff to bring over?” Nelson asked. “It’s not big, but I want them to ride shotgun on the way back with me and Michelle.”
“I can send some of my kids,” Dallas said, looking around.
Stepping up, “I don’t want to take any big guns from your farm until we know where this gang is,” Nelson said, grabbing Dallas’ arm. “Ryan and Lucy can show me the way going through the forest, so we won’t have to use the road at all. Bernard said they used a trail to come visit, riding horses.”
Looking into Nelson’s eyes, Dallas nodded. “Sean, you mind if Ryan and Lucy go with Nelson?” Dallas asked over his shoulder. Stepping up, Sean looked at Nelson. Nelson had only shaken Sean’s hand the day they’d first come over. Sean was the second largest of the kids. But since Scott, the oldest and biggest was seven-foot-seven-inches, that didn’t mean much.
“You’re worried,” Sean said more than asked.
Nodding as he looked up at Sean. “Yes, I am. Not for our farm, but for yours. The gang is moving around here and I need to get you set up faster to repel an attack,” Nelson said.
Sean’s face slowly broke into a grin. “You wouldn’t know about a group helping the folks in Mountain View a few days ago, would you?”
Slumping his shoulders and back while dropping his gaze to the ground, “Yes, that was us,” Nelson sighed. But jerking his head up, “We didn’t have much of a choice,” he added quickly.
Looking at his kids Sean smiled, seeing both kids holding their hands together like they were praying with pleading faces. “If you two go, you are to listen to Nelson. Do I make myself clear?” he said.
“We promise, daddy!” Lucy shouted, jumping up in the air.
“Nelson, if they don’t mind, you take a belt to them,” Sean said, turning back.
“If they don’t mind, I’m just coming back,” Nelson said, having no intention of using a belt on them. He had fought men the size the kids were.
Looking up at the sky, “Nelson, you won’t make it back before dark. I’ll be surprised if you make it to Bernard’s before sunset,” Sean said.
Glancing at the sky, “Shit!” Nelson snapped, kicking the dirt. “Okay,” he said, looking down and pacing back and forth. Coming to a stop, Nelson yanked his backpack out of the buggy. “Michelle, you have your extra radio?”
Stepping away from Kathleen to the buggy, “If I remember correctly, I’m the one who packed your extra radio,” she said, pulling out her backpack as Nelson dug in his.
“I know that,” Nelson said, pulling out a zip-locked bag. “You usually do that when you don’t want to carry extra weight.”
“Radios don’t count,” Michelle said, pulling out a bag. “Sorry to say, I believe your radio is your most powerful weapon.”
Pulling out a plastic box, Nelson looked at Sean and Dallas. “Give these radios to one by the road and the other behind the house,” he said, taking the radio from Michelle. “This is a thermal scope,” Nelson said, passing the box to Sean.
After Sean and Dallas took the stuff, Nelson pulled his radio off his vest. “Keep this one in the house. These radios only transmit two miles, that’s why we use them on patrol. Don’t transmit from your CB,” he said, passing the radio over.
“We haven’t,” Dallas said. “You need your radio.”
“No, Michelle has one to let the farm know when we are close,” Nelson said. “If anything happens, call out on the CB and we’ll come here. From the time that you call and we respond, you’ll have backup in thirty minutes,” Nelson said. “Ryan and Lucy will stay with us tonight and we’ll be over around daylight. We’ll call on the radio to let you know.”
Sean looked over at the kids. “Lead them along the old logging trail and turn off when you get to the deer stand,” he said and the kids nodded.
“That’s how we are coming back tomorrow,” Nelson said and held out his hand. “Don’t worry about Ryan and Lucy, I’ll be dead before anything happens to them.”
“I know,” Sean said grinning and passed the stuff he was holding. He walked up and wrapped his arms around Nelson, picking Nelson up off the ground. “You are good people,” Sean said, squeezing him tight.
“Um, Sean? Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m about to wet my pants,” Nelson mumbled into his chest.
A woman stepped up and popped Sean’s arm. “Sean, put him down,” she snapped.
“Dianna, I was just being thankful,” Sean said, putting Nelson down.
“You big ox, you can hurt someone when you’re being thankful,” Dianna snapped and hugged Nelson. “If my babies don’t listen, you let me know.”
“Mom, we’ll be good,” Ryan said.
“You better, and be careful,” she said, walking over and hugging them.
Nelson looked at Dallas and Sean. “If they attack, hit them first and hit them hard. They expect people to fight back, but not outside their house. This gang’s goal is to burn people out and make examples,” Nelson said. “You see someone sneaking in, you just shoot.”
“Don’t worry. If we see someone, we’ll kill ‘em,” Sean said.
A grateful smile filled Nelson’s face. “Glad to hear that. If you can say it, then you know what has to be done.” The smile suddenly fell off Nelson’s face and he glanced at his watch. “Fuck!” he shouted and dove into the buggy for the radio.
“What are you doing?” Michelle asked as Nelson fought to turn the radio on.
“It’s almost 1800! I forgot to call in!” Nelson cried out in a panic.
“Hey!” Michelle shouted and Nelson looked up at her. “I didn’t. I know to call motherfuckers and let them know how I’m doing, so they don’t get worried. I’ve called in three times today and they know where we are,” Michelle snapped, crossing her arms over her chest.
Dropping the microphone, Nelson held up his hands. “Game…, set…, match…, you won that one hands down,” Nelson declared. “May I ask just when you called in because I haven’t seen it?”
“Once when you took a dump, the next time when you had to sneak up to that ridgeline like a ninja and wanted me to stay in the UTV. The last time you were sitting right beside me, driving before we reached the main dirt road,” Michelle said, shaking her head.
Dropping his hands, “Oh,” Nelson said. “Daammmmnnn…, you’re a hottie, a momma, a fighter, and a tactical genius. How in the hell did I get you?” Nelson asked grinning slyly.
Shaking her head, “Keep on and we spend the night here, buddy,” Michelle laughed.
Dianna elbowed Sean in the side. “You need to take notes,” she whispered loudly. “That’s how you talk sexy.”
Stumbling to the side from the blow, Sean rubbed his ribs. “I tell you that all the time!” Sean snapped.
“Not like that,” Dianna snapped, waving her hand at Michelle and Nelson.
Walking over to the UTV, Michelle grabbed the big radio they used to contact the farm. “I want you to keep this here. We’ll bring you another one tomorrow,” Michelle said.
“I know how to operate that,” a woman said, stepping up. “We used that kind of radio when I was in the Army.”
Michelle handed the radio to her. “Cara, right?” Michelle asked and the woman nodded. “It’s coded so others can’t listen, but as you know it can still be tracked.”
As Cara took the radio, Dallas stepped over. “Michelle, you need to hang on to that, in case you’re hit,” Dallas said.
“Dallas, we are going through the woods and if a gang is setting up there in random spots, we are so screwed it’s not funny,” Michelle said. “I have my radio and can call for help from here until we are in range of Bernard’s.”
Turning to Nelson, Dallas shook his head softly. “Son, you don’t ever stand a chance winning an argument with her,” Dallas said gravely.
“Yeah, I figured that one out before we got married,” Nelson laughed.
&
nbsp; “Ain’t you worried about them tracking your radio at Bernard’s?” Cara asked chuckling.
“No,” Michelle said. “Our transmit antenna is five miles away.”
Nelson looked over at Ryan and Lucy. “You two need anything before we leave?” he asked.
“No, sir,” Ryan said grinning and Lucy shook her head, bouncing on her toes.
Waving at the UTV, “Well, get in,” Nelson said, chuckling at their excitement. The two ran around hugging everyone and Nelson noticed many of the other kids seem disappointed.
“Nelson,” Sean said and Nelson turned to him. “About coming at sunrise, how about you wait until late in the morning? Folks like attacking in the morning and I don’t want y’all to run into anyone setting up on us.”
Looking off for a second, “Damn, didn’t think of that,” Nelson mumbled. Nodding as he turned back to Sean. “Good idea, how about 1000?” Nelson asked, pronouncing it in military time as ‘ten hundred’.
“Let’s say 1200,” Sean said, saying ‘twelve hundred’.
“When the hell is that?” Dallas asked.
Holding the radio to her chest, Cara stepped up. “It’s military time, Paw. Ten hundred is ten o’clock and twelve hundred is noon,” she said.
“See you at noon then, unless you call,” Nelson said, holding out his hand. Sean took his hand and Nelson held it tight. “If you see anyone, you call. Don’t take them on by yourself. Not saying don’t defend your home and family, but backup is always better.”
“Don’t worry, we will,” Sean said, letting Nelson’s hand go. Moving around the group, Nelson shook hands and Michelle moved to the women, hugging them.
When they were done, Nelson moved to the UTV. “Ryan, I take it you have been to Bernard’s going through the woods?” Nelson asked.
“Sure, we ride our horses over all the time,” he said, adjusting his AR in his arms. Unlike Nelson’s and Michelle’s slings that could adjust from a one-point to a two-point sling, all the rifles they’d brought over only had regular slings.
Moving over, Nelson adjusted the sling to give Ryan more slack and showed him how to let the AR drape over his shoulder across his body. “Then, you drive,” Nelson said, motioning to the driver’s seat. When Ryan climbed in, Nelson snapped his fingers and Zeus jumped out.
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