The Grim Reaper Comes Calling

by Darrell Maloney

  Sister Lindsey had another word for it. She constantly told little Beth she was the “world’s biggest suck-up.”

  But it meant essentially the same thing.

  “Daddy, I did exactly what you said. I gathered up wood for the campfire but I didn’t start it. It’s stacked up in a pyramid right over there, just like you taught me to do it.”

  “That’s great, honey. Do you think you can start it? It’s starting to get a little bit chilly.”

  “Duh… of course I can. I’ve started a million fires before.”

  “A million?”

  “Well… maybe half a million.”

  “Thank you, sweetheart. I’ll go check in on my other girls while you’re doing that.”

  He went to Lindsey next.

  “How you doin’, honey?”

  “I’m okay. I’d be doing better if Miss Bossy Pants wouldn’t insist on checking on me every five minutes to see how I’m doing.”

  Dave chuckled.

  “I suspect you’re exaggerating just a little bit. But I’m glad you’re better.”

  “No, Dad. I’m not exaggerating. Not at all. And I blame you. It’s all your fault.”

  This time he didn’t chuckle. Not when it became obvious to him Lindsey wasn’t kidding.

  “My fault? How in the world is it my fault?”

  “Aren’t you the one who gave her your watch?”

  “Well… yes.”

  “And aren’t you the one who told her she could play nurse? And she could be in control of the ibuprofen? And she could be the one who decided how much I could have and when?”

  “Well… not exactly. I did put her in charge of it so you didn’t take too much too soon. But I told her exactly when to give it to you. I didn’t give her discretion to decide.”

  “Dad, she’s been coming over to me every five minutes to feel my forehead and ask me how I’m feeling and to ask me if I need anything. She’s driving me nuts.”

  Dave was getting ready once again to tell her she was exaggerating.

  Then Beth interrupted them.

  She said to Lindsey, “Okay, it’s time for your annual check.”

  She went to one knee by Lindsey’s head and placed her tiny hand on Lindsey’s forehead.

  “Hmmmm… you feel a bit cool. Would you like another blanket? I can bring you one from the cart if you wish.”

  Lindsey held her temper. If Dave hadn’t been there she almost certainly would have cursed her little sister out.

  Instead she mustered a considerably less abusive, “No thank you, Nurse Beth. The last two you brought me are quite enough.”

  “Very well,” Beth bubbled. “I’ll see you on my next rounds.”

  If Beth were trying to impress her father she certainly succeeded. He caught her eye and nodded as she walked away.

  She smiled broadly.

  When she was out of earshot he asked Lindsey, “Every five minutes?”

  “Yes. Every five damned minutes. Look at her. The little storm trooper’s already looking at your watch to see how soon she can come and harass me again.”

  “Hey, hey! Watch your language, please. And I think it’s cute. Don’t you think it’s cute?”

  “No. And you only do because I’m the one she’s driving crazy, not you.”

  “Why does she call it an annual check?”

  “I don’t know. I guess that’s the only word she knows to define something that happens on a regular schedule. She asked me what you call something that happens every five minutes and I told her I call it a nurse from hell making her patients miserable…”

  “Hey, hey, language please…”

  “Sorry. Look, Dad, I know she’s just trying to do a good job taking care of me, but I’m ready to strangle her. Would you ask her to back off a little please?”

  “Okay, I’ll talk to her, I promise. Now, how’s your pain level, scale of one to ten, ten being the worst?”

  She thought for a moment and said, “I’d say probably a six. You were right. The less I move it the more I can tolerate it.”

  He took a lighter from his pocket and lit a flame a few inches from her foot.

  He pressed each of her toenails and noted how quickly the color returned.

  “Circulation looks good. Let me know when you want to call it a night. I’ll give you a sleep aid and your ibuprofen a little bit early so you can sleep restfully.”

  “I will. Thank you, Dad. And I’m really sorry I fell over the cliff.”

  “Hey, it happens. What were you doing out there?”

  “Just exploring. We were bored and decided to look around out there and see what we could find. There were some bushes on the cliff’s edge and I just went right through them. I’m sorry.”

  “If I forgive you would you promise to be more careful in the future? Next time the fall could be a hundred feet instead of ten.”

  “I will. I promise.”

  He saw Beth walking their way and headed her off at the pass.

  “Honey, do you still remember how to count by sixes?”

  “Sure, Daddy. Six, twelve, eighteen, twenty four… but why?”

  “What time does my watch say right now?”

  “Nine twenty five.”

  “Good. Lindsey says you’re driving her crazy by checking on her so often. From now on instead of checking on her every five minutes, would you make it every six?”

  “Sure thing, Dad. Roger Wilco and out.”

  She scampered back to her folding stool and rechecked the watch, waiting patiently until nine thirty.

  Dave smiled and walked over to Sarah.

  Chapter 17

  “Hi, sexy,” Dave said as he walked up to Sarah. “I heard there’s a hot chick over here whose husband went on a long walk somewhere. I thought maybe I could keep you company until he came back.”

  One of the ways Dave gauged how his wife was feeling was whether she went along when he played his silly flirting games with her.

  It brought a smile to his face when, on this evening, she felt well enough to do so.

  “Well hello there, stranger. You’re pretty handsome. You must be, like a former Marine or something.”

  “Oh, I am, I am. Do you like former Marines?”

  “Oh, I do, I do. Especially handsome ones like yourself. You may have your way with me, under two conditions.”

  “And what might those be, pretty lady?”

  “Well, first of all you’ll have to do all the work. I’m too exhausted to help.”

  “Oh, that’s not a problem at all, pretty lady. I prefer to take charge and be in the driver’s seat. The Marine Corps taught me to take control of any situation.

  “What’s the second thing?”

  “You’ll have to hurry. My Dave should be coming along any minute now.”

  “Again, not a problem, pretty lady. The Marine Corps also taught me not to waste any time. To get the job done as quickly as possible. Why, my wife Sarah tells all her friends I’m always finished in five minutes tops.”

  Sarah tried her best to look offended.

  “David Spear, that’s not true. I’ve never told my friends that.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you had.”

  “Not even close. I tell them sometimes you make it to six minutes. Not often, mind you. But occasionally.”

  He kissed her on the lips.

  It was the first time he’d been able to do that in days. Every time he tried before failed when she turned her head and made him plant his lips on her cheek instead.

  “I don’t want you to kiss me on the lips when I’m throwing up every two hours,” was her excuse.

  “Does this mean you’re feeling better?”

  “I don’t know. I’m incredibly thirsty. But I know if I sip water it’s coming right back up again. To be honest, it’s nice giving my abdomen a break from the heaves. I’ll tell you what, Dave, I can’t even begin to describe how bad it hurts.”

  “I know, honey. I’m just worried. We were making pr
ogress, and I’m afraid the break might let the parasites gain the upper hand again.”

  “I know, honey. I know you just want the best for me.

  “I’m so looking forward to a good night’s sleep tonight. I need one so badly. And I promise you that in the morning I’ll go right back to drinking a bottle of water every two hours and then puking it back up until I cry.

  “A deal is a deal. I said if you gave me just one day off I’d let you go back to torturing me and I meant it.”

  She noticed the sad look on her face.

  “Oh, Dave, I’m sorry. I was only joking. I know you’re not intentionally trying to torture me.”

  “Oh, I know, baby. I’m just worried about you… and Lindsey, and this whole thing.”

  “We’ve had it worse and come through.

  “When those raiders took over Karen and Tommy’s farm and killed Tommy and all the other men I thought it was the end of the world. But you came through and rescued us.

  “When Beth was taken away and we had no clue where she went I never thought I’d see my baby again. But you not only found her, you brought her back safely.

  “Then, when another band of marauders took the bunker I thought we’d die for sure. And that you’d have no clue and would approach the bunker thinking all was well and they’d shoot you down like a dog.

  “But somehow you knew something was amiss and came in cautiously. You figured out what had happened and managed to get us out safely and kill the bad guys.

  “Honey, you don’t need to worry. I’m not worried. I know you’re a man of your word. You promised me you were going to get us all safely back to San Antonio and I know you’ll find a way to do so.

  “You may have lost faith in yourself, but I’ve never lost faith in you. And I never will.”

  She was interrupted by a loud shout from Lindsey.

  “Very funny, Dad!”

  Sarah gave him a puzzled look.

  Dave smiled and said, “I guess Beth’s six minutes are up.”

  Sarah started to ask, but thought better of it. Sometimes it was just better not to.

  Instead, she asked a different question.

  “So now what?”

  “Now, dear lady, I’m going to pitch your tent and blow up your air mattress. I promised you a good night’s sleep and I want you to get started.

  “Once you’re tucked in and dreaming naughty dreams about me I’m going to teach the girls how to make a rolling stretcher. Just in case they ever have need of one themselves.”

  “Exactly what is a rolling stretcher, honey? And for that matter how do you make one?”

  “Right now a rolling stretcher doesn’t exist.

  “Well, it does in my mind.

  “As far as how to make it, I’ve got a pretty good idea. But since I’ve never made one before I might have to tweak that idea a little bit.”

  “Like I said before, Dave, I have faith in you.”

  “Thank you, baby. Like the old saying goes, give me a pair of pliers, a roll of duct tape and Sarah Anna Spears’ faith and I can fix anything.”

  “How come I’ve never heard that old saying?”

  “I don’t know. Maybe because I just made it up?”

  “That would explain it.”

  He busied himself for twenty minutes getting Sarah’s tent ready and gently carried her into it.

  Then he left, saying he’d return in just a minute.

  He returned with two bottles of water and an empty bucket.

  “I’ll leave it up to you how much you have. I know your mouth and throat are very dry. You might try just taking a mouthful of water, swish it around, and then spit it back out.

  “If you get too thirsty, drink some. If I hear you vomiting I’ll come and check on you.”

  He kissed her on the cheek and they said their goodnights.

  He walked away with a bad feeling, sure he’d heard her voice for the very last time.

  Chapter 18

  Tony Davis arose from his bunk and stretched.

  His head hurt and his mouth was dry.

  He’d been up late drinking beer in the day room with his friends and had imbibed a bit too much.

  After riding the fence line and repairing breaks all week long, and sleeping under the stars five nights in a row, he figured he deserved to cut loose a little bit.

  The life of a working cowboy wasn’t very glamorous even before the blackout. Five straight days of dirt, sweat and hard work.

  Their reward: a pickup ride to Austin ninety five miles away, and several hours on Saturday nights dancing with the prettiest girls Texas had to offer at some of the best country music bars in the state.

  In the fall they might see a Friday night high school game. It didn’t really matter which one. They were all great games. In Texas football is king on Friday nights, and has been for a very long time.

  By Sunday afternoon they were back at the Rocking F Ranch, the second biggest ranch in Texas.

  Some spent Sunday afternoon resting and recovering. Not so much from the work week that preceded their trip into Austin, but rather from the two days of carousing that followed it.

  On Sunday night Stacy McDermott, the wife of ranch owner Mason McDermott, insisted that all “her” cowboys attend the Cowboy Church she ran on the southern tip of the ranch.

  Sunday night church service was open to all comers, for this was central Texas, where being friendly and welcoming was a requirement and not an option.

  But the service was mandatory for the working cowboys on the Rocking F Ranch.

  Stacy had grown up on a ranch, you see.

  She knew how rough and rowdy cowboys could be, whether they were on the range or off it.

  It was her firm belief that every weekend, between the time they left the sprawling ranch until the time they returned to it, every single one of her cowboys had done something (or several somethings) they needed to ask God’s forgiveness for.

  She liked to say that the old adage “boys will be boys” applied double for cowboys.

  That was the standard procedure for weekend activity for the Rocking F cowboys for years.

  Since the blackout it had changed in several ways.

  Friday night football games were on hold for now, because none of the high schools were in session anymore.

  It was just too difficult getting students to and from school with no buses or cars running, the districts decreed.

  Plus, it was impossible to teach school with no electricity. Sure, they could do it the old fashioned way, and read and study together from textbooks.

  But they’d all gotten so used to relying on computers it seemed nobody could tie their shoes or scratch their butts without a computer to aid them.

  And besides, most of the “textbooks,” didn’t even exist in paper format anymore.

  The districts passed the word it would be best for parents to home school their kids for the time being. As for the football games, they were on hold temporarily.

  Presumably until the nightmare of the blackout came to an end.

  Most parents thought the districts didn’t put any effort into it.

  Every neighborhood had an elementary school within walking distance. And every neighborhood had a handful of teachers with time on their hands, just itching to get back to work.

  Many parents believed the district should have declared each elementary school an “all grades school.” One or two classrooms for first grade. One or two more for second grade, one or two for every grade through grade twelve.

  On nice weather days, which is almost every day in this part of Texas, classes could be held outside. Other times they could be held indoors, the students huddled around sunlight coming through the windows.

  School could have been held, parents maintained. The districts didn’t even try, and what kind of message were they were sending to their students?

  That when the going got rough they should give up and play dead?

  Many parents believed the districts�
�� real motivation for closing up shop was the collapse of the monetary system.

  Most people don’t know that every school district across the country gets so many federal dollars for each child who is counted present in the first hour of the school day.

  It’s been that way for a long time. The more kids in their seats for that first hour, the more money the district gets.

  Here’s a well-kept secret: that’s why schools are so upset when students are tardy, or when parents keep them home from school in the morning for fevers and bad coughs and the like.

  On the other hand, as long as the student has his bottom in his seat for first period, and has his little head counted, the school thinks nothing about having the school nurse call mama to come and get him later.

  Their logic is this: after little Johnny’s been counted present for the day and they get monetary credit for his being there, the school no longer cares much if mama comes to get him to take him home and wipe his snotty nose.

  Less work and responsibility for the faculty and staff to do…

  Of course that’s a highly cynical way of viewing the attitude of school districts and schools, but that’s the way the system works. Not all schools treat their students as financial fodder, but many of them do.

  Another big change at the Rocking F Ranch was the trip into Austin.

  Those ninety five miles that once represented an hour and a half drive in an F-150 pickup?

  Now it was four hours on horseback.

  Most of the cowboys went anyway. Maybe not every weekend, but once or twice a month.

  After all, there wasn’t much else to do. The weekend crew fed the cattle and pulled watch over them.

  The cowboys who didn’t go to Austin slept and nursed their sore muscles. They went swimming in the McDermotts’ pool, which was always available for their use.

  Some binged on movies or TV shows from an expansive collection of over eight thousand DVDs.

  Tony Davis?

  He didn’t do any of that stuff.

  He went to Blanco to see Red Poston.

  Chapter 19

  Tony met Red a few months before when he and Mason McDermott rode into town to file a police report.

  Such action normally would have been done at the sheriff’s office, but they’d gone out of business.