Families First: A Post Apocalyptic Next-World Series Volume 4 Hard Roads

by Lance K Ewing

  “They said they were hunting and must have gotten lost. They told us their names and asked us for ours. Joshua was last to speak up, and they asked who his father was. When he answered them, they grabbed him before we could help and pointed their guns at us. They said to ride away and not tell what we saw or they would be back to get us too.”

  “I told him he did the right thing in telling us what happened,” said Sarah.

  Patty was breathing heavy into a paper bag from the cab of the truck. “He’s going to hurt him! He will hurt my boy. I know it!” she sobbed, as Sarah comforted her.

  * * * *

  Mac and Cory headed back to John’s to speak with him and Bill, as did Samuel. This time they were met with most of the council, who only learned of the MacDonald affair fifteen minutes ago.

  “Please fill us in. Mac and Cory, I hear you observed the intruders,” said John.

  “I’ll start with what we know for sure,” said Mac, relaying the information he had been given by Cory, Mr. MacDonald, and Sarah.

  He asked Cory to add in any missing details as he remembered them.

  John asked Mac and Cory for a few minutes of privacy as he and Bill discussed options moving forward with the council.

  * * * *

  “It’s almost dark,” remarked Cory. “They have the advantage tonight for sure.”

  “Wait a minute,” replied Mac, trying his radio. “Drake, it’s Mac. Do you copy? Drake…do you copy?”

  “Yes, sir, I’m here,” answered Drake.

  “Are you still up nights?”

  “Always, Mac. Just like I done told you before.”

  “Okay. I’ve got a very important job for you, starting right now.”

  Mac relayed the information as best he could and asked for surveillance of the MacDonald home until tomorrow morning when a suitable plan could be made.

  “I can help Drake out with a few of our guys,” said Cory.

  “I appreciate that,” Mac replied, “but the more people we have up there, the better chance we have of blowing our cover. Ralph is incapacitated at least, and I don’t think he would hurt his son in front of all those people. I’m not sure why he would want him back, though. We’ll get Drake up there on surveillance and see what we can learn tonight.”

  * * * *

  Drake put up the dogs, as he did every night, but typically not this early.

  He made a mental note to get his weekly food rations from the Ranch tomorrow that came last time with scrap bones and meat for his dogs, courtesy of Chef Rico.

  The three-mile hike for Drake was like a walk to the mailbox for a city dweller. Two miles in, he heard the clamoring of people clearly not used to being in the woods.

  “You snotty little brat,” he heard one man yell to the boy he assumed was Joshua.

  “Your father is the chosen one to redeem us all, and you act like you don’t even want to see him. He took two bullets from the occupiers just to see you again.”

  “Is he going to be okay?” asked Joshua, surprised by what he had heard.

  “He is going to recover, but he needs you by his side,” said another in a softer tone. “Can you do that for him, Joshua? Can you?”

  “I…I think so,” he replied hesitantly. “I’ll try.”

  “That’s all he asks,” replied the second man, the nicer one thought Joshua.

  The foursome, within a mile of their new compound, was in perfect view for Drake, who was fifty feet up in a large pine tree.

  He thought about taking the three men out with headshots in less than 10 seconds to free the boy but was reminded of Mac’s instructions.

  I’ve got a good thing going with them in the valley, Drake thought. I’m not going to blow it now.

  Surveillance only was the order, and that’s what I’ll do, he thought, climbing down the tree as they passed and eventually finding his way to the rock cliff he had been on just hours earlier.

  He hardly needed his binoculars since the MacDonald generators lit up the entire house, with most of the curtains wide open. The music was again blaring, with bands likely not from Mr. MacDonald’s collection.

  Judas Priest was another of Drake’s favorites as the lyrics Breaking the law, breaking the law pierced the otherwise quiet mountain evening. He observed for several hours through a hodgepodge of Hendrix, Dillon, Zeppelin, Floyd, and the Doors.

  The man he had seen being carried inside earlier appeared to be in a back bedroom. Drake observed Joshua being led into that room for only a few minutes, before being placed in another room upstairs.

  While he had a good vantage point for observation, he understood what needed to happen next. There must be a rescue of the boy and protection of the supplies hidden underground. Drake didn’t need anybody to tell him where they were, as he and his brother had observed Mr. MacDonald more than a few times accessing it over the years. Drake also had one up at his place, but nobody asked about it so far, not even Cory or Mac.

  He radioed Mac quietly, giving an update.

  “That’s good work, Drake. You can head home now, and we’ll talk in the morning.”

  He made the slow climb off of the cliff, turning towards home when he heard the yelling. Still concealed, he observed a man pointing to a nearby tree, yelling to Joshua to do his business and get back into the room.

  “I thought my dad wanted to see me!” he cried out. “He doesn’t even care at all.”

  Drake stayed out for another few minutes, wondering if the boy would be alone in the room. Maybe I can talk to him, he thought, and let him know we will help him.

  It would be a huge risk for most people, he considered, but this was his element—the one place he felt comfortable in this world, even before the day.

  Several people walking around outside were driven in by the howling of a pack of coyotes not far off in the distance.

  He was able to sneak around the side of the house, slowly crouching and ducking underneath large picture windows. The tall pine tree on the back of the house made for easy climbing, level with the second-story window. The curtains on the back room they had Joshua in were drawn shut. Only shadows were visible, with two moving around.

  One appeared to be an adult, and the other presumably Joshua. After five more minutes, the larger figure exited the room, closing the door behind him.

  Drake, holding on to branches with both arms and legs, cautiously approached the bedroom window. He knocked two times, paused, and then once more. Joshua peered out from behind the curtains, staring straight into Drake’s eyes, without screaming or even a flinch.

  This is one tough kid, thought Drake. Most kids he had ever seen, boys or girls, would have screamed and run away.

  Motioning with his hand, he gestured to the boy to open the window. Joshua did as he was instructed and was told in a whisper, “You don’t know me, but I work for the Ranch and help watch over Samuel’s group, including your mom and everyone else there. Do you want to stay here or go home?”

  Joshua began to cry. “They said my dad wanted me to be with him on account of him getting shot, but he doesn’t want me back, only my mom.”

  “I’m sure that’s not the whole truth,” replied Drake, now missing his own dad more than ever.

  “It is!” snapped Joshua. “He told me right to my face when they brought me here.”

  “Are you sure he said that?” asked Drake.

  “He told me ‘I’m going to trade you back to the occupiers for your mom.’ He said I’m weak and cry like a little girl when he has to punish me for being bad. But I’m not bad, Mister,” unsuccessfully fighting back the flowing tears. “I’m a good boy, almost always. Ask my mom.”

  “I know, kid. I’ve heard that as well. Listen closely. I’m going to be outside here for a while. I need to try and get hold of somebody on my radio, and it may take a while. Try to stay awake but pretend like you’re asleep, and if you see me again tonight, be ready to jump out this window.”

  “And you will catch me?” Joshua asked.
/>   “Count on it.”

  Patty was a wreck and Rico stayed with her in the West’s kitchen. Neither would get any sleep this night, and he was mostly quiet as she told story after story of her sweet boy, not once mentioning anything about her former husband.

  Mac’s radio chirped around 9 p.m.

  “Mac, it’s Drake. Are you there?”

  “I’m here. Did you make it home okay?”

  “Well, it’s about that, sir.”

  Hearing the story from Drake, Mac told him to stay put until he radioed back.

  “Sorry for the late-night visit, Cory,” said Mac. “Hi Cameron, good to see you.” Sorry to interrupt your Monopoly game—man, I used to love playing that. Anyway, I need to borrow your dad for a few minutes.”

  “Sure, Mac. Good to see you too. Besides, I have houses and hotels on most of my properties already, so the game is pretty much in the bag.”

  “Can I get you a drink, Mac?” asked Cory. “I’ve got some single malt that needs opening.”

  “Not now, unfortunately,” Mac replied. Once outside, he explained the situation, as he heard it from Drake.

  “What do you think, Cory? Should we try a rescue right now quietly or shelve the idea until tomorrow when we have more time?”

  “It’s a tough call, and I’m guessing John, Bill, Samuel, and the council haven’t been briefed.”

  “There’s no time if we attempt it now. By tomorrow we would have plenty of time to discuss it at length. I guess what I’m asking is, if it were your boy, what would you do?”

  “Take the shot. That’s what I would say. If it works, you’re golden, and if it doesn’t, then at least they know we’re coming for Joshua. Either way, we show force and determination.”

  Mac smiled. “That’s exactly what I thought you would say.”

  He radioed Drake, “It’s a go. Call me as soon as you’re clear.”

  Drake had been waiting for the call, debating between a tree-crawling rescue or drop-out. Both were dangerous for the young boy, but drop-out was faster and would give them a much-needed head start.

  He threw several small stones at the window and got Joshua’s attention. Opening the window, Drake instructed him from the ground.

  “Lock the bedroom door as quietly as you can if there is one.”

  “There is, and I did,” replied the frightened boy.

  “Now, push out the screen, all the way,” instructed Drake.

  “I’m scared,” said the boy, pushing hard on the screen and popping it out. It dropped 20 feet to the ground below.

  “Good. Now I want you to sit in the window with your legs hanging over the side… That’s it, just one step at a time, kid.”

  He sat sideways on the window sill and put one leg over the edge. His legs trembled, and his body shook with fear.

  “I hear somebody coming,” he called down in a panicked voice.

  “It’s okay, just keep coming… Swing your other leg over. We’re almost there.”

  The door handle twisted back and forth, becoming more forceful each time.

  “You had better open this door, boy, or you’re going to get it good,” came the voice from inside the house.

  Loud banging on the door with fists and feet ensued. Joshua heard a cracking sound as the door was kicked over and over.

  “They’re coming,” he cried out loudly, “They’re coming. Don’t let them take me, mister. Please don’t.”

  A bright light lit part of the room, with someone walking towards Joshua.

  “Jump, Joshua, jump! I’ll catch you,” called out Drake.

  The small boy swung his other leg over and counted down for his jump as any young boy would do.

  “Three, two…wait a minute. Okay, now I’ll...”

  He was grabbed from behind and pulled, kicking and screaming, back inside, with yelling throughout the house about an escape.

  Drake ran into the cover of the trees as 20 people poured out multiple doors, including the front and back, as well as the mudroom on the east side.

  Flashlights shone wildly in all directions, with a dozen shots fired without direction into the moonlit night. Once your eyes get used to the dark, you can see everything on a clear night like this, Drake thought, as he viewed not a single person firing in his direction.

  He crept farther back into the woods, knowing their eyes would be adjusting as well in a couple minutes.

  “Sorry, little man,” he said quietly. “We almost had you…almost.”

  * * * * * * *

  Chapter Twenty

  Saddle Ranch

  Loveland, Colorado

  Drake stopped half a mile away, with no followers he could hear, and radioed Mac.

  “We were close, but I couldn’t save him, not tonight. I hope I didn’t make things worse for him there.”

  “No,” replied Mac. “It just means our negotiations will have to be more structured now. You did good and I’m proud of your efforts. Now go home and get some rest. I’ll see you down here tomorrow.”

  * * * *

  Mac was sitting with Cory outside on the patio, now awaiting radio calls from anyone hearing the shots from the ridge, as they did.

  “Now I could use that drink,” said Mac, as he took the radio calls from Bill, John and Samuel, as well as a few of their security team.

  “We’ve got a heck of a day tomorrow,” Mac said. “We have a child in danger and 50 hostiles too close for comfort. If they find Mr. MacDonald’s stash, all hell will break loose around here. We’ve got a matter of days to figure everything out. I haven’t forgotten about the group coming from Kansas, either, but we have more time with them.”

  After one more drink and a shout-out to his night security crew for extra caution tonight, Mac went home and slept soundly with Bo next to the bed, just as always.

  * * * *

  Drake was first to show up for the morning security meeting. He wasn’t sure who knew about his whereabouts last night and didn’t want anyone getting on him for a failed rescue attempt. He didn’t say a word to anyone before Mac and Cory showed up.

  “You did good,” said Cory. “We both thought so.”

  “I tried, I really did,” said Drake, “and I almost had him, but they were too quick.”

  “I know,” replied Cory. “It’s one of those things, like a Hail Mary when you’re fourth and ten to tie a football game with a minute left on the clock, and your team is down 6 points. It can happen, and it’s great when it does, but most times it doesn’t. What you have left is that you gave it your very best against all the odds. And that, Drake, is what separates a boy from a man.”

  “Yes, sir,” he replied, “and thank you for that. I done felt sick all night about it.”

  Bill, Samuel, John, and even Patty and Rico, were all at the 7 a.m. security meeting, having only heard a partial explanation of last night’s happenings and the shots they all heard on the mountain.

  Only Mac, Cory and Drake knew about the rescue attempt last night.

  The rest would be filled in now by Mac, followed by plans to contain the situation as safely as possible for all involved.

  “We have approximately 50 people up the hill at the MacDonalds’ place, as most of you know. Yesterday they abducted Patty’s son, Joshua.

  “Drake here,” he said, pointing to him, “attempted a difficult rescue last night on account of him already being in position and spotting a brief opportunity to do so. I authorized it, and it was a long shot at best. He was unable to rescue him, unfortunately. We have a number of issues we need to be aware of as it relates to this group. First, they have Joshua, and we need to get him back. It seems Ralph, a man some of you have met, is the leader of the group, and we have information that he may be trying to trade Joshua for Patty.”

  “I’m sorry,” he said, looking to her, “that we have to talk about this with everyone, but it’s our best chance of getting him back unharmed.”

  “I know,” she responded through her tears. “I want everyone here t
o know that he abuses women and children, so you should have no reservations about doing everything it takes to get my son back.”

  Rico held her close, while intently listening to the meeting in case Patty missed something important.

  “Secondly,” continued Mac, “we cannot have them happen upon anything the MacDonalds may have for...”