by Robert Boren
“Nah, she’s in her mid-40s,” Brenda said. “How old is Junior?”
“He’s pushing sixty pretty hard,” Kelly said. “He’s the oldest of my friends.”
“So maybe a ten to fifteen-year difference,” Brenda said. “That’s not so bad. She could do a lot worse.”
“What, you think Junior is a catch?” Kelly asked.
“He’s got a good heart, and he knows how to fight,” Brenda said. “Stock in people like that just went up, in case you didn’t notice.”
“Maybe you have a point there,” Kelly said.
“How we doing on gas?”
“We’ve got enough to get to Fort Stockton,” Kelly said. “Might want to get more groceries.”
“Let’s get settled first,” Brenda said. “I hope nothing’s wrong there. I keep having this vision of the place being in ruins like the one in Sonora.”
“That’s crossed my mind too,” Kelly said. “Some of us should already be there.”
“Nate’s group and Curt’s group?”
“Yeah,” Kelly said. “Wow, look at that!”
“Are those tanks?” Brenda asked, watching the line of big military flatbed trucks with cargo covered by tarps.
“Looks like tanks to me,” Kelly said. “Good.”
“Wonder what would happen if a few Islamist trucks ran into a convoy like that?”
“It wouldn’t be good, I suspect,” Kelly said. “I didn’t see any protection for those flat beds. Did you?”
“No,” she said. “Damn. Something else to worry about.”
“Junior is chatting his head off back there,” Kelly said. “Hope he’s not driving Rachel crazy.”
Brenda chuckled. “Didn’t think about that.”
They settled into the drive again, the coffee starting to wear off. Kelly yawned repeatedly.
“You gonna make it?” Brenda asked. “I could drive the rest of the way, you know.”
“We only got another fifteen minutes, assuming the estimates were okay from the map app.”
Brenda picked up her phone and took a look. “Yeah, we’re really close,” she said, moving her fingers on the screen.
“Surprised we aren’t seeing more traffic,” Kelly said. “Fort Stockton isn’t that small.”
“Maybe nobody is going in this direction after what happened in the east.”
“I don’t think Austin is dangerous.”
“No, but look at what we found in Sonora.”
“Good point,” Kelly said.
“You look more awake again.”
“Because we’re talking,” Kelly said. “It helps.”
“Wow, there’s the sign for the RV Park already.”
“You never put the address in, did you?” Kelly asked.
“No, just the town of Fort Stockton,” she said. “I’ll do it now.” She typed onto her phone. “It’s a few miles this side of town. We’re only a couple minutes away.”
“Good,” Kelly said. He yawned again.
“There’s the off ramp,” Brenda said. Kelly took it. Junior followed him down.
“Where do we go?” Kelly asked.
“Right on Warnock, then right on the big access road, where the trees are. Follow that down. It’s the second place on the road. Can’t miss it.”
“There’s Warnock,” Kelly said, taking the turn.
They drove two blocks. “There’s the access road.”
“See it,” Kelly said. He took the turn and slowed way down.
“Wow,” Brenda said. “This place is busy.”
“Yeah, looks pretty packed. I hope all our people get in okay.” He made the turn and pulled into the staging lane. Junior fell in behind him.
Chapter 23 – Friends United
Jason had the hookups done, and paused to look out over the Fort Stockton RV Park. Kyle walked over. “Can you believe it? Nelson really went through with secession. We should call Chief Ramsey.”
“I was just thinking that. You all done?” Jason asked.
“Yeah, all set,” he said. “I hope we get to stay here for a while.”
“Me too, but after what we’ve been seeing, I think that’s a little dicey.”
Curt had the Barracuda parked next to his rig, covered by a big tarp, and was setting the ramp up as a patio.
“Look at that,” Kyle said. “If I was gonna buy an RV it’d probably be one of those things.”
“Fifth Wheel?”
“Well, some kind of toy hauler, anyway. You can get motor home versions, right?”
“Yeah, but you sacrifice some living space.”
“Hell, I live in the garage most of the time anyway.”
Jason laughed and shook his head. “You’ve got a woman now. She’ll rearrange your life more than you think.”
Kyle chuckled. “This is how I know she’s different.”
“What, you think she'll be okay with your bachelor ways?”
Kyle shrugged. “No, she won’t, but I don’t care. That’s the difference.”
“This man is in love,” Curt said, smiling as he walked up.
“Be nice,” Kyle said.
“When do you think the others will be here?” Jason asked.
“Don’t know. Sent an email to Kelly, but I haven’t heard back. You heard what the Governor did, right?”
Kyle nodded yes.
“Yeah, we heard,” Jason said. “Hope the others get here quick. Things are liable to get even more crazy now.”
“I was talking to Moe. He said he’s got a number of reservations. Kelly, Nate, Jasper.”
“Moe? That’s the guy who owns the place?”
“Yeah,” Curt said. “Hell of a guy.”
“Reminded me of your other redneck friends,” Kyle said.
Curt chuckled. “Where are your women?”
“They took Chelsea to the swimming pool,” Jason said.
“Already?” Curt laughed. “Chelsea is a real trooper, so I guess she deserves it.”
“I hope this doesn’t mess her up for life,” Jason said. “I’m gonna walk Dingo over to the dog area in a minute. It’s right next to the pool. I’ll check on them.”
“I’ll join you,” Kyle said. “What are you gonna do, Curt?”
“Set up shop,” he said. “Mind if I take measurements on your Jeep, Jason?”
“Why do you want to do that?” Jason asked.
“I had an idea for a gimbal mount,” he said.
Jason laughed. “Knock yourself out.”
“What about my truck?” Kyle asked.
“Been thinking about that too. We need to get one of those truck bed roll bars first. Maybe somebody sells them in town.”
Kyle laughed. “Now we’re talking.”
Curt squinted, watching an old Class C approach. A wide grin came over his face.
“What?” Kyle asked.
“I do believe that’s Nate’s Class C,” Curt said, pointing.
“Really?” Jason asked.
“Yeah,” Curt said. “He’s coming this way.” The three men watched as the Class C motor home parked across the road from them. A small man with hawkish eyes trotted over to them, big grin on his face. Another man followed, older with long gray hair and a long gray beard.
“Curt, how the hell are you?” Nate asked. “You remember Fritz?”
“Hell, yeah,” Curt said. “You know Jason and Kyle, right?”
“Yeah, from the Superstore incident,” Nate said. “How are you guys?”
“Good,” Jason said, shaking hands with both men.
“Nice to see you again,” Kyle said, shaking hands too.
“Where’s the rest of the guys?” Curt asked.
“We split up after we left the rail yard,” Nate said.
“Rail yard?” Jason asked.
Nate and Fritz snickered. “We’ll have to tell you about that one,” Fritz said. “Another one of Junior’s crazy ideas, and it worked.”
“Kelly and Junior ought to be right behind us,” Nate said. “Ja
sper, Earl, and Chris were further back. Chris had to pick up his sister from Comanche.”
“You pried Chris away from Texas Mary’s?” Curt asked. “How’d you manage that?”
Nate laughed. “You got some catching up to do. Remember Brenda?”
“How could anybody forget her?” Curt asked. Jason and Kyle looked at him, questioning. Curt laughed. “She’s the hottest middle-aged gal I’ve ever seen. Tried to take her out a time or two. She’s a tough nut to crack.”
“She’s with Kelly,” Nate said.
“No way,” Curt said. “Well, good for them.”
“I saw that one coming,” Fritz said. “Kelly never looked at a woman the way he looks at her. He’s gone soft.”
“I should be so lucky,” Curt said. “We brought some new folks. They were late getting reservations so they’re at the other end of the park, but we’ll get together a little later. Met them in Sonora. Fought with them.”
“You guys have been in battles already?” Nate asked.
“Yeah, a couple,” Curt said. “Anyway, we got about thirty bikers with us. Most of them are in the tent area. The others have motor homes and trailers next to the tent area. The leader is a guy named Gray.”
“Don’t forget Brushy,” Kyle said.
Curt laughed. “Oh yeah, there’s a crazy old man named Brushy with us too. Looks like a little old troll, but he’s spunky as hell. Saved my life earlier today.”
“We’re going to check on the women,” Jason said. “Be back in a little while.”
“All right, pencil necks,” Curt said. “C’mon, guys, let me show you my new toy.”
“Uh oh,” Nate said. “What have you cooked up now?”
Jason and Kyle chuckled as they left, Jason stopping at his coach to get Dingo. They walked down the road looking at the rows of RVs on either side of them.
“Nice place,” Kyle said.
“Yeah, it is,” Jason said. “Glad to have people showing up.”
“We gonna get along with the rednecks okay?” Kyle asked. “We’ve had to arrest folks like them in Austin.”
“These guys are okay in my book,” Jason said. “They saved us in the parking lot at the Superstore, remember?”
“True,” Kyle said. “We’ve got bikers with us too. Who’d have thought?”
“Never had problems with them,” Jason said.
“Me neither.”
“You look worried, man,” Jason said.
“Those Islamists could send a few truckloads in here and kill a lot of us,” Kyle said. “There’s no cover. They could hit us from all sides. Surround us, keep us from getting away.”
“You’d rather be someplace else?” Jason asked. “Nobody’s forcing us to stay here. We could disappear into the woodwork.”
“Hi, daddy!” Chelsea squealed from the pool. She was paddling around in the shallow end, Carrie and Kate next to her. They both waved.
“Be still my heart,” Kyle said, eyeing Kate.
“Still on fire for her, eh?”
“Never thought I’d see the day,” Kyle said.
“I still feel that way about Carrie,” Jason said. “Chelsea made it even stronger. Wait until you two have kids.”
Kyle shook his head. “I’d protest, but it doesn’t sound bad to me anymore.”
“How’s it going?” Carrie asked as they approached the fence around the pool.
“Good,” Jason said. “Two of the rednecks showed up. Curt’s talking to them now. How’s the pool?”
“Nice,” she said. “They had a bathing suit in the store that fit me, thank God. Expensive, but better than trying to wear a t-shirt here.”
“You’d get arrested,” Jason said.
“Ha ha,” she said. “What are you guys gonna do?”
“After Dingo’s done, I want to check my e-mail. See if Eric answered.”
“Oh,” Carrie said. “Good idea. We’ll be done here in half an hour.”
“No rush,” Jason said.
“How you doing, honey?” Kyle asked.
Kate looked at him and blushed. “Did you really call me that?”
Kyle shrugged. “You mind?”
“Oh, I guess I could get used to it. Why don’t you come in?”
“Didn’t bring my suit over,” he said. “I’ll see you when you’re done. I got some thinking to do.”
“You look worried,” Kate said.
“Yeah, you do,” Carrie said. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” he said. “Don’t worry about it.”
Kate rolled her eyes. “We’ll talk when I get back. I want to know everything you’re worried about. No secrets. Right?”
“No secrets,” Kyle said.
“Those look like rednecks,” Carrie said, pointing to the gate. There was an old travel trailer behind a battered pickup truck, and an ancient Winnebago Brave behind it.
“That’s Kelly and Junior,” Jason said. “Good.”
“Hey, that’s the sheriff’s sister,” Carrie said. “The one that owns Texas Mary’s. Wonder if something bad happened in Dripping Springs? No way would she have left that prime business behind.”
“Chris is coming too,” Kyle said, “but we didn’t hear that something bad happened in Dripping Springs.”
“Who’s that woman with Junior?” Jason asked.
“Never saw her before,” Kyle said. “She’s not with Junior. Body language is all wrong.”
“She also looks a lot younger,” Carrie said. “That dude looks like a prospector from the old west.”
Kyle laughed. “Yeah, he does.”
“What’s a prospector, mommy?” Chelsea asked.
“It’s somebody who digs for gold and silver,” Carrie said. “My Uncle Walt used to be one of those.”
“Oh,” she said. “I’m tired.”
“Okay, sweetie, let’s get out.”
“Oh, you guys are done already?” Jason asked. “I’ll wait for you. We can go back together.”
“Fine,” Carrie said, helping Chelsea out of the pool. Kate followed, and they all dried off.
“Look, Kelly and Junior are heading towards our spaces,” Kyle said.
“Yeah, they’re probably next to Nate, right across the road from us,” Jason said.
“Rednecks across the street?” Carrie asked. “I hope they watch their language around Chelsea.”
“We’ll talk to them,” Jason said. “Let’s go.”
They made the walk back to their rigs. Jason got out his folding chairs and set them up under the awning of his motor home. Kyle got out the four that Kate had in her storage compartment and then followed Kate inside.
“Hi, Kelly,” Jason said as he walked to Curt’s rig. “Hi Junior.”
“Well well well, Austin PD is here,” Kelly said, holding out his hand. They shook warmly. “Good to see you guys.”
“Good to see you,” Jason said.
“Where’s your partner?” Junior asked.
“He went into the trailer with Kate,” Jason said.
“His girlfriend?” Kelly asked.
“Soon to be wife, I suspect,” Curt said, carrying a few beers out of the back of his toy hauler. “Want one, Jason?”
“Later,” he said. “I got to get inside. I sent an email message to Eric. Want to see if he answered it.”
“I’m only gonna have a quick one, then it’s off to the sack for me,” Kelly said. “I was barely able to stay awake on the drive in.”
“Yeah, I’m barely awake now,” Junior said. “We’ve only had a couple hours sleep in the last two days.”
“Wow,” Jason said. “I’m tired too, but we caught up a little in Sonora.”
“Sonora?” Junior asked. “You were there?”
“Yeah,” Jason said. “I know it got attacked after we left. The owner is with us, over on the far side of the park with the bikers we met there.”
“We saw what was left of the place,” Kelly said. “And it was almost our undoing.”
“Yeah, the re
ason we’re still alive is right over there,” Junior said, pointing.
“You know Brenda, right?” Kelly asked as she walked up with Rachel.
“Of course,” Jason said.
“Hi, Jason,” Brenda said. “This is Rachel. We picked her up on the way.”
“Oh, really?” Jason asked.
“She got attacked on the road,” Kelly said. “Her brother was killed.”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Jason said.
“Thanks,” Rachel said.
“We got the guys who did it,” Junior said.
“Yeah, we did,” Kelly said. “We can speak freely around you and your partner, right? Being that you’re cops and all?”
“Are you kidding me?” Jason asked. “Of course. And by the way, you guys saved our lives in the parking lot of the Superstore. I remember stuff like that. Kyle and I are in your debt.”
Kelly smiled and nodded.
“Who’s minding Texas Mary’s?” Carrie asked, stepping over from the coach door.
“Hi, Carrie,” Brenda said. “We closed her down for the time being. Chris will be here in a day or two.”
“Oh,” Carrie said. “I’m glad that’s all it is. When I saw you by the office, I was afraid more bad stuff happened in Dripping Springs.”
“I haven’t heard anything from my brother,” Brenda said. “He’s still got his sheriff’s job there, as far as I know.”
“We should try to contact him, sweetie,” Kelly said.
“Sweetie?” Carrie said. “Wait a minute, you two?”
Brenda blushed and shook her head yes.
“Never thought I’d see that,” Curt said. “How the mighty have fallen.”
The women rolled their eyes and laughed.
“Hey, I’ve never been so happy,” Kelly said.
“Good for you guys,” Carrie said. “I’d better get back inside with Chelsea. Would you mind watching the language a little while she’s around?”
“Of course not,” Kelly said.
“I’ll behave,” Junior said.
“Thanks,” Carrie said. She turned to leave.
“Well, I’m gonna check that email,” Jason said. “I’ll see you all later, okay?”
“Okay,” Curt said. The others nodded.
Jason walked to the door of the coach.
“You know, it was really nice to see them,” Carrie said as Jason came into the coach.
“I didn’t know you knew Brenda,” Jason said.