So we snuggled under the stars so tired we barely got undressed. I felt Masons arms around me as he spooned my back before I was asleep, the cool night air tickling my hair and coyotes in the distance soothing my heart. I didn't dream that night cause I didn't have the energy and that was okay by me.
CHAPTER 3
You know how you make a to-do list and think ok, no problem, I'll just whip that out in no time? Six hours later you're just half way through the damned thing? Yea, well, I was feeling pretty pissed off by noon the next day.
The guys wouldn't let me go shopping. I had to stand guard at the welding shop so Howard could get everything on HIS list done. I heard they ran into some walkers and Randy almost got bit and they didn't have enough time to get what they wanted...blah, blah, blah.
I know I'm a pain in the ass but someone has to be. The guys had just returned with a bunch of goodies when Duke blasted the air horn. It wasn't as loud as it was startling. John tapped Howard on the shoulder because the welder was so loud. He immediately shut it down. He'd been teaching John how to weld since their crew might need a welder. We watched as a line of motorcycles roared past us and hit the interstate, heading back the way we'd come yesterday morning. I didn't know what they were doing but as long as they were doing it out of town in the opposite direction we planned to go, I was just fine with it.
When the excitement died away, I happen to glance a pretty new pickup sitting near the garage door. It was Kens new ride. He was having a hitch welded on so he could tow his plane behind him when he got a new one. I know, it was confusing for me at first too. They needed to keep moving until they found the perfect place so he might as well save some fuel by towing the plane.
There was a hell of a lot of welding being done. Hitches welded to all the outfits, tables welded in the bus along with cabinets and frames for fridges and satellite dishes on roofs. Oh, yea and snow plows on the front of all semis. Finding them had been a chore until they raided the road department. They were very effective in brushing the walkers off the road. Running over them was too hazardous. For us, not them.
There were solar panels, borrowed from the rooftops of the rest area restrooms, to mount on Dukes bus, although I have no idea what they were to be used for. He'd gave directions to put mounting brackets on all the outfits and wrote list after list of must haves. I thought women were bad about shopping but he topped us all. Even Sarah was exasperated with him. We don't have to do it all today, she said. You can guess what he replied.
I inspected all the outfits to make sure they were as secure as they would get. Our main problem was the baby. What if she cried when a herd of walkers was staggering by? There had to be something we could do but it was way past us right then. I continued to help unbox until I couldn't take it anymore. About the time I was ready to find a corner and sneak in a nap, I smelled something wonderful. I hadn't realized I was hungry until then, just tired.
Following my nose I approached the tour bus and climbed the steps. Inside I found a large pot of stew boiling away and homemade biscuits in the small oven. Sarah was showing the ladies of the Montana crew how to make something out of nothing. They came across a case of canned stew and Bisquick. Everyone was so excited that I didn't have the heart to tell them after nothing but stew and biscuits for a week they'll hate the stuff. They'll find out.
I ate my fill and as everyone was sitting back enjoying the quiet, I suggested moving on in the morning. I got some good looks. I wish I had my camera and put that thought on my shopping list. "We aren't done getting supplies." Don said.
"I know and for the Montana crew that's important, but for the rest of us we can supply up on the way south. We have just about everything we need except the tankers. I think we should concentrate on those the rest of the afternoon and hit the road tomorrow."
"Yes, I think she has a point. We weren't this well equipped when we drove up from Texas and with eight vehicles we might have a hell of a time on the trip. We should start that way as soon as we can. Ken's crew can stay and do what they have to, till they feel confident enough to head out. They've heard the details more than once, so we can leave in the morning unless someone thinks there's something here we need that we won't find anywhere else."
Everyone looked at each other and shook their heads. I'd gone over the maps several times with Jill, who would be their navigator and she understood the need to avoid large population areas. They'd been grilled on what to do if a herd comes by, how to back their rigs if they need to, etc. I couldn't think of anything else to do but leave and I wanted that done as soon as possible. I hate goodbyes and saying it to my cousin would damn near kill me. There was some last minute details to take care of, of course, so we all started working again after we rested.
Then the guys went out specifically to find tankers. They were gone an unusually long time when they returned with one tanker. The fact that they found only one in a town this large was strange but couldn't be helped. We used it to fill all the tanks of all the outfits. Mandy was quick to point out that there were 13 of them but when I told her Uncle Ken would be pulling a plane she seemed fine with it. Didn't want any bad luck, don't ya know. The tanker had been pretty full so we didn't take much, still we'd be looking for another one as we drove south.
I said my goodbyes to Ken and Jill before I went to bed. I knew they'd be too busy in the morning before we left. They were planning to turn north just outside of Livingston then just before White Sulfur Springs turn west towards Helena looking for a tanker. We'd continue east towards Billings, then turn south. When we got to Billings we planned to hit Cabela's for more Scent B Gone which masked our scent from the walkers and whatever we could find for weapons. Shopping was my specialty, so I was anxious to get started.
Morning came with a lot of bustle. We were awakened by the motorcycle parade flying back into town. We'd hoped to be gone before they got back. I gave the Montana Crew my best, just managing not to cry. Lacy didn't fare as well, and Randy had his hands full which is why he kept sending me signals to help out. I had my own problems so I left him to it. I didn't run away but it was close.
We sneaked out of Bozeman in a lot better shape than when we arrived. We had new outfits, new clothes, full bellies and security systems that would knock Homeland Security's shiny new badges off. It was nice letting someone else drive for awhile, because that left me to admire the scenery. I'd miss it this winter but I knew we were coming back. We followed behind Howard and Sam in the wrecker. I think Lacy and Randy was behind us. The tanker took up the rear. There really wasn't any rhyme or reason for the order of outfits, we just wanted to be sure someone with a plow was in the lead for obvious reasons. We watched as the Montana crew turned off at Livingston, barely keeping from blaring our horns. Noise attracted undesirables of all kinds so we just followed them with our eyes.
We planned to come back the first of June. That would give them time to find a place, get it secured before we got back. I'd seen it snow in May, a lot of snow too, but then I've seen it snow in June too but that sounded like a good month, so there. Duke had found several sat phones and taught everyone how to use them, supplying them with the satellite dishes mounted nice and snug on the roofs of all they outfits. There were GPS units provided for them and one would be put in Kens plane so he could get around. Not much more we could do for them so we headed to Billings.
Livingston to Billings is usually about an hour and a half but things aren't usual anymore. Three hours later we finally saw Billings in the distance. Laurel, just west of Billings, was almost impassable and the forest fire we'd seen last year when we were heading to the lodge had done some massive destruction. It had crossed the interstate and all the fuel the cars, trucks and motor homes were carrying just added to the fire. Charred remains of, well, everything blocked all side roads and off ramps with more of them on, and hanging over, the interstate overpasses. There were several charred walkers staggering and crawling around and the smell was intolerable.
We had to
go slow while the wrecker cleared very narrow paths through the carnage. The remains of explosions were evident with the amount of debris littered every where you looked. I saw a half a motorcycle sticking out of the roof of a home nearby. Bodies were in trees and rooftops. It boggled the mind and made it twice as hard to continue. I had to swallow continuously and I saw Mason having problems with it also. We finally rolled up the windows and turned the AC on to cut down on the smell.
When we arrived in Billings, we saw many of the stores on the west end were burned out shells. Sportsman Warehouse was completely gone so we just kept moving and found the truck stop on the east side intact so we pulled off the interstate and into the lot.
"Come on, brat, lets see if we can liberate the place of anything useful." He didn't have to ask me twice. I grabbed my newer, fancier, cross bow, arrows and goggles and carefully exited the truck. I have a tendency to trip over my own feet so I have been practicing restraint lately. I nearly turned around and climbed back in when I saw Samantha heaving next to the tow truck. Howard was standing nearby patting her gently on the back. His face was an interesting shade of green but he held his ground...true love at its best.
He guided her over to Lacy's RV, took her inside, and firmly closed behind her. Randy, who had just exited the RV, tapped Howard on the shoulder and continued towards us. When he frowned at something behind us, we spun around and saw three walkers lumbering towards us. I had my bow ready so I shot one in the head. Mason took out the other two. Howard pulled out his gun but I shook my head at him. It had no silencer. He looked at it then back at me and returned to the tow truck, to get one.
Mason suddenly dropped behind the fender of the semi. I dropped too...seemed like a good idea at the time. Randy, and Howard did the same, followed closely by Flynn. I had no idea what was going on until the scuffling noise. Fitting the arrow into the bow, I waited, my heart trying to beat itself out of my chest. Two more staggered into view and we waited til they saw us and started our direction before Mason took them out too. Then I heard it...a scrape, thump, thump, scrape, thump, thump.
I kept turning my head trying to get a good signal on where it was. I racked my brain of all the sounds that could be similar but nothing came to mind.
What the hell is that? I thought.
I was trying to figure it out. Wait a minute, I think it's heading this direction. From behind us maybe?
We looked behind us, nothing. Mason looked over the hood of the truck. Nothing, but the sound was getting closer. We were still standing there frowning when I noticed Lacy waving wildly from the RV.
It's under the trailer, crawling, sort of. Under the trailer. Lacy thought at me.
Ken and Mason must of heard because everyone except Howard crouched down just as the 'thing' grabbed my ankle, yanking me down on the pavement. Lacy screamed but all I could think was yuk, gross, get it off, get it off!! I kicked wildly at it as I crab walked backwards. It continued to slither, slide, thump at me, the lower half of its body gone. Intestines slithered behind it leaving a slimy trail. The thumping sound we heard was from its head hitting the pavement as it used its arms to raise it up to pull itself forward. I don't know what its sex was. I didn't care. It was coming after me, its tongue dripping... something. Suddenly, it's head exploded all over me and my new clothes. My stomach heaved and I tasted bile while I fought down the panic attack that threatened me. Mason helped me up but my legs weren't listening to my brain and he nearly had to carry me to the RV. Then I balked. "If I run now I'll never be able to do this again. I have to get back on the horse. Please." He rubbed my cold arms and stared at me trying to read my mind which had seemed to shut down. Finally, he nodded and we staggered back to the semi where I picked up my bow and strung another arrow, shaking like crazy. Ken and Howard tried to clean some of the gunk off with baby wipes, while I tried to ignore them.
"OK, brat, weapon up and we'll see how many more of these things we can kill."
"Sounds good to me." I said as I glanced down at the thing and gave it a wide berth.
The four of us cautiously worked our way to the truck stop entrance. We spotted a fuel truck and when Howard started towards it, Riley tapped him on the shoulder then headed that way. Joe joined us and I saw Clint hurry over to Riley to cover him. We stood at the entrance trying to see inside. This is where I usually get nervous and after the encounter in the parking lot, I was shaking like a junkie. We put on our goggles and gently pulled the door open, sneaking in, one at a time. Standing to one side of the door we scanned the area. I detected movement in the back but so did the others and we slowly made our way that direction.
I noticed a lot of food on the shelves, which meant no one alive had come this way in a while. That meant there were more walking dead than the other kind. I grabbed a Three Musketeers, unwrapped it and grinned big at Mason as we slowly made our way to the back of the building. We must've spent an hour in there checking to make sure it was clear, it was a big place but in the end we managed to secure the mechanics bay, shut the door, lock it and signal everyone else it was clear.
Mercy elected to stay in the RV with the children but Lacy, Sam and George picked their way to the entrance and we began packing. There seemed to be an abundance of candy. I found TV's, microwaves, coffee pots and fridges that plugged into a cigarette lighters. My favorite was an oven, shaped like the old, black domed, lunch boxes. You just put in an aluminum loaf pan, conveniently sold here for 3 for $2.99, add hot dogs or soup or whatever, plug it in and drive on down the road. By the time you get really hungry it's ready to eat. What a deal. I got all six of them. Go figure.
We placed everything at the entrance so it could be easily and quickly loaded, checked out quite a few CB radios and a boatload of batteries. I was feeling pretty good about the whole thing, well, except of the ankle biter in the parking lot. That made me think of how extremely gross I was, so I looked around and found jeans and a tee shirt that read 'I'm excited to be here.' I stole a bumper sticker for Duke because his new bus doesn't have any and his other one was covered with them. His read 'I see dead pixels'. I'd let him find it himself.
Loading seemed to take forever but it was actually done pretty quickly. We scooted across the interstate to investigate Cabela's. There wasn't much left so we headed out of Billings and turned south. We had several big towns to hit before we got to the east/west interstate in southern Wyoming and it was late in the day, so I figured we grab the first rest area we came to. As it was we were nearly to Casper when we finally found one. We were tired, hungry and dirty and no one more than me. I was informed the hot water heater in Lacy's RV was working so I headed there as fast as I could for a shower with my jumbo bottle of spring fresh shampoo.
The three RV's fixed the meals so since I was already in Lacy's place, I'd eat there. Soon Mason came in and said all the outfits were fueled up and ready to leave in the morning. I visited with everyone once before hitting the sack. Howard was helping Bubba pick out the perfect spot while Flynn and Clint watched the girls run and play. They had some stored up energy and I guess they'd been driving them nuts to get out. They'd just gotten used to playing whenever they wanted and now they're restricted. But it couldn't be helped.
I dragged my tired self to the truck and the bunk waiting for me there. The night had turned chilly but I wasn't worried about it. I would lay in Masons arms, watch the stars move about above me and think only good thoughts, if it killed me.
CHAPTER 4
Have you ever been to Wyoming? It put the 'rough' in rugged or maybe not, but anyway, it ain't for wimps. The great plains of the Midwest meet the Rocky Mountains in Wyoming. It's a great plateau broken up by a number of mountains ranges like the Black Hills in the northeast and the Medicine Bow in the southern portions. Prairie grasses dominate the eastern third of the state in competition with shrubs, like sagebrush. That's what the travel brochures said that Lacy picked up at the truck stop in Billings. That's about all we saw too as we wove our way south on Interstate 25. That
and the walkers in Casper.
You'd think in a state as sparsely populated as Wyoming there wouldn't be many walkers. I mean you'd at least hope that was the case. Nope. And they weren't just any walkers either. Cowboys and miners/prospectors and military walkers were not to be messed with, dead or alive. They'd learned to move fast alive and they still moved fast. They were still hungry too. It was like a mob and we almost got stopped several times until we found a back way out of the place and headed south again. We wasted almost half a day playing keep away in Casper. We'd have to find another route on the return trip.
Once we headed south again I started to see mule deer and antelope on the desert-like plains alongside the road. The snow-capped mountains that stayed to our right was a reassurance that something was right with the world. You just knew they'd be there the next day.
We were exhausted by dinnertime. My nerves were shot to hell and gone, Mason was holding it together but I knew he was ready to call it quits, so we started looking for somewhere we could rest for the night. The one rest area on the interstate we came to next was full so we decided to keep going. I wanted to stop before we got to Cheyenne so when we got to Chugwater, we agreed to stay overnight.
Chugwater was located in a valley with deep, clay-stone bluffs to the north and west. According to Lacy, 'an Indian chief was disabled during the hunt and his son took charge. Under his direction, hunters drove the bison over nearby cliffs, when the animals reached the ground below, a sound of 'chugging' was heard by the hunters. Good enough reason I guess to name a town which might account for the population of 212. Or not.
Grain elevators sat at one end of town with small concrete buildings along main street. Our convoy stopped in the middle of main street and waited to see what walked out. I guess maybe Mason got a bit impatient because he reached up, grabbed the air horn handle and blared out a big, old hello. When he felt me looking at him, he shrugged and said, "What?"
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