Donna followed Vicki to the house and led the way in. What had once been a very beautiful home was trashed.
“Looks like the horses ran through here first.” She said and Vicki nodded. Donna, with Vicki in tow cleared all the rooms. When they entered the master bedroom, she heard Vicki gasp. On the bed was a man in a suit lying face down with a pair of hedge shears buried to the hilt in his back. She quickly shoved Vicki back in the hall.
“Your husband?” Donna asked and Vicki crumbled to the floor crying and nodded. “I’m sorry you had to see that.” Donna said, getting to her knees and holding the woman until the quaking of the other woman’s crying subsided. Then she held her at arm’s length.
“There’s nothing to be done here. We can’t even bury him, you know that?” Donna asked and Vicki nodded, so Donna continued, “Let’s get some of your things together and get as far from here as we can.” She said and Vicki nodded, standing with Donna’s help.
She threw some clothes and small pictures into a backpack that she’d gotten from her closet.
“Haven’t used this in years and it’ll be easier to carry than the home-made job.” She cried and smiled at the same time. She emptied out the pack they’d made for her at the tracks and dumped its contents into the pack before donning it. She started to step out of the room and then stopped. “We have to go to his office.”
“Office? Why?” Donna asked.
“That’s where the gun safe is.” She replied and led the way out. She went into a room a few doors down and shined her flashlight on a piece of paneling. Donna heard a click, and then Vicki slid the panel aside revealing a large safe. Vicki quickly punched the numbers in, spun the wheel and opened the door. Donna peered in and whistled.
“Sweet freakin’ Jesus! Now this is a gun safe!” Donna smiled.
“I don’t know which one to take.” Vicki said. Donna found her a Colt AR and about ten pre-loaded mags. She then selected a Springfield XD and found some loaded magazines for it as well. Digging around, she found a sling and fitted it to the rifle, inserted a magazine, charged it and released the bolt, then safed it before handing it to Vicki.
“Ever shot one?” She asked and Vicki nodded, “Good, that’ll save time.” Donna said, slapping a magazine in the XD, pulling back on the slide to put one in the chamber and safed it. She handed it to Vicki until she found a holster for it and four mag pouches. She then made sure Vicki was rigged up. As she was about to leave her eyes landed on night vision goggles.
“Hello. These will come in handy.” She said and handed them to Vicki. Donna followed Vicki out, then turned and locked the safe and slid the panel back into place. “This might be needed in the future. If we left it open, it sure as hell wouldn’t be.” Donna said and led them back outside.
“I wish the door hadn’t been smashed or I’d just stay here.” Vicki said.
“Not a chance, sister. You wouldn’t last three days.” Donna said.
“Well, where the hell else am I supposed to go?” she asked.
“With us. It’ll be okay. With as few normal people as we’ve seen, we kinda all need to stick together.” Donna said and led the way back to Julie.
“We’re coming back.” Donna radioed so that Julie wouldn’t shoot first and talk about it later.
“Copy.” Julie replied. They walked through the grass to stay as quiet as possible and made good time. When they reached Gus, he snorted at them, evidently not happy with being left behind. Donna regarded him for a moment before stepping under the split rail fence.
“Sorry, big guy. Just be glad you didn’t have to see that. It would’ve pissed you off something fierce.” She hugged his neck and stepped back so that Vicki could get through. Julie looked at her new gear.
“Much better.” She smiled, “what happened up there?”
“We went into the barn first. It looked like the horses were in their stalls, then we got closer. Someone had slaughtered all the horses. It was a mess.” Donna said shaking her head and spat, “Then we found her husband. Evidently some crazies had gotten to him. She grabbed some gear and we raided the gun safe. There’s plenty more in there, so we locked it up tight in case we need it later.” Donna told her. Julie hugged Vicki and stepped back.
“I’m sorry about your husband. You can’t stay here, so you might as well come with us.” Julie said and Vicki nodded with a sniffle and a sad smile.
Julie started to lead them back towards the highway, but Vicki stopped them.
“Wouldn’t it be easier if we took the pasture? I mean it’s fenced.” She said and Julie nodded.
“Makes more sense.” She said and started kicking at the fence.
“There’s a gate up by the house.” Vicki said.
“Well, shit. Lead on.” Donna said and they followed the fence line back towards the house. The fence was right where Vicki said it was and Gus wasted no time entering it. If he smelled the carnage in the barn, he didn’t show it, but turned to graze on the sweet grass.
“Dude, don’t you ever get full?” Donna asked, taking a seat on the grass.
“You know, in the tack room is a sawbuck packsaddle and some panniers.” Vicki said as she sat next to Donna, “There’s also feed in there that he might like better.”
“Well ain’t my life getting better by the minute?” Donna said.
“What’s wrong with that?” Julie asked.
“The tack room is in the barn.” Donna said.
“Oh.” Julie replied quietly.
“Yeah, but it might come in handy for carrying supplies.” Vicki said and Donna sighed loudly.
“Ok, you’ve got a damned fine point.”, she groaned as she stood, “Let’s go get the gear and fix this ass up like the rest of us. Julie, keep the salad muncher busy here. I don’t want to piss him off or worse, scare him.” Julie nodded.
Donna and Vicki walked back to the barn, leaving them in silence as Julie sat and sipped on some water. Within ten minutes, they were back, Donna carrying a bag of feed and Vicki the pack saddle and panniers. Julie half expected Gus to balk at being trussed up, be he munched away as Vicki set the rig up and cinched it down.
“That went easier than I thought.” Donna remarked.
“He’s obviously been used as a pack animal a time or two.” Vicki said and pulled a feed bag from one of the panniers and put some feed from the bag in it. When she showed it to Gus, he brought his head up with a look that said the feast was about to commence.
“Might as well all grab a quick bite.” Julie said. And shrugged out of her pack to fish some food out. Donna and Vicki followed suit. Off in the distance they heard someone scream, something that had become less frequent since they’d started out.
“Jesus. That still gives me the creeps.” Donna said.
“Me too. We need to get moving. We’ve lost too much time.” Julie said.
“It’s three days and he tried the radio. If he doesn’t hear us, he waits one more day and then comes looking, right?” Donna asked.
“Yep. We need transportation.” Julie said.
“We should check the farms as we go up the road. Most of them have horses.” Vicki said.
“Sounds good to me. I haven’t ridden in a while, but I think I can still do it.” Julie replied.
“I rode last weekend.” Donna smirked.
“Not talking about your hubby.” Julie grinned.
“Just saying.” Donna laughed.
They donned their gear and headed north across the pasture. For once Gus wasn’t stopping every so often to graze before trotting to catch up. Julie set a moderate pace and they made it to the end of Vicki’s property in half an hour. They had to take the time to kick the boards loose from the fence so that Gus could get out, but that took no time. Vicki showed them a path that was just off the road.
“We used to ride this way in the fall.” She said. And led the way. Three hours later, when Julie was about to call it a night, they made it to the next farm. Once again, Donna and Vicki made their way to the
stables, while Gus and Julie waited.
“Bingo.” Donna radioed back. Julie was about to ask what, when through the goggles, she saw the stable door open and Donna came riding out, followed by Vicki with an extra horse in tow.
“Oh, thank God.” Julie muttered. Gus perked up immediately upon hearing the horses.
“We’re going to have to stay off the road. Their hooves on the road will defiantly draw attention, and they’re spooked as it is.” Vicki said, handing Julie the reins.
Vicki knew the paths heading north, so she led the way followed by Donna, then Julie and Gus pulling caboose. Julie kept looking back to make sure he was there and found that the mule seemed to be a little happier about moving faster. In no time at all they approached the intersection with APD 40. The same on ramp that Jessie had taken not long ago. They dismounted and took a break.
“So where to now?” Vicki asked.
“Northeast, towards downtown Cleveland, but then we veer off back onto 64 or Waterlevel, or whatever you want to call it.” Julie said.
“We need to stay off the road. Hooves have a habit of slipping on pavement, plus the noise will alert anything anywhere near that we’re coming.” Donna said.
“We should be able to stay off to the side of the road most of the way. We’ve scouted a few paths that are far enough off the road for us not to be seen. The problem is that it’s almost dawn. Do we keep going or do we bed down for a while?” Julie asked. Donna sighed.
“I could use a nap, but honestly, the quicker we get there, the safer I’ll feel.” She said.
“I’m good either way.” Vicki answered.
“Okay then. We’ll take a break for a few minutes and then head out.” She dismounted, followed by the other women. Donna walked around to stretch her legs.
“I thought you said you’d ridden last week.” Julie joked.
“Jesus, shut up.” Donna smirked.
“How far is it to your house from here?” Vicki asked.
“Roughly ten miles.” Julie said.
“Horses walk at around four miles an hour, depending on their load and the terrain. That puts us there in a few hours.” Vicki said.
“Yeah, then ya add in the fudge factor. We need to stick to the trails we know because we plotted them around habitation. The terrain there isn’t as nice as the highway.” Donna said.
“Yeah, but it’s also shorter.” Julie said.
“I wish I had a damned cigarette.” Donna said.
“You don’t smoke.” Julie reminded her.
“Don’t drink bourbon either, but it’s sounding nice right about now, too.” Donna remarked.
“You know as well as I do Brad keeps plenty of hooch at the house.” Julie said.
“That’s what I’m counting on. Let’s get moving. I feel naked out here.” Donna said, sliding her foot in the stirrup.
Julie led them around the Honda dealership and up the hill behind the John Deere dealership and met up with the trail Jessie had taken not long ago. Where Jessie and Dillon had stayed closer to the road, Julie kept them in the woods, thankful for the night vision that the horses didn’t seem to need. She tried to keep the horse at a slow walk, but since it kept speeding up, she let it have the rein and set its own pace. The horse seemed to appreciate it and relaxed a little.
As they neared the jail area, they heard a loud scream and an equally loud laugh that made Julie shiver.
“Not sure what they’re doing, but it doesn’t sound pleasant.” Vicki mumbled behind her.
“I don’t want to know. I just hope they aren’t loose.” Julie said over her shoulder. She led the horses behind a Dollar General and around a strip mall that held a Planet Fitness next to a Pizza Hut. The irony never escaped her. Up a hill was next and around a long stay motel that was oddly quiet. At the top of the hill she stopped and dismounted. The noise from Wal-Mart was unbelievable.
“Sounds like we need to head a little further away from Wally’s before turning east.” Donna said.
“Yeah, you know that one path we found that leads to the gravel quarry?” Julie asked.
“Yeah, that would do it. Then we follow the path pretty much all the way to your house.” Donna replied and Vicki looked at them questioningly.
“It’s all wooded and away from houses.” Julie answered, “But we’ll have to go slow because before dawn, it’s darker than a well digger’s asshole.” She said and Vicki smiled.
“Never heard it put like that before.” Vicki said.
“Oh, learned that one from Brad. He’s got about fifty for any occasion. Pretty sure he makes them up on the fly too.” Julie grinned.
“She’s not kidding.” Donna said, “The man has a mouth without a filter. He once came to visit Julie at work. It’s a Catholic hospital. There was a priest at the desk and Brad walk’s up and said, ‘What the fuck’s up, Padre?’ Just like that. I wanted to slink behind the desk, but the priest just ignored it. Evidently he asked the same priest that very question every time he saw the man.” Donna said.
“Damn.” Vicki chuckled.
“Oh, he’s a hoot, but you never know what’s going to come out of his mouth. The kids are, unfortunately, the same damned way. Let’s keep moving.” Julie said, remounting the horse.
An hour later, they were behind Farmer Brown’s pasture when Julie heard a hammer cock.
“Hold it right there!” The voice said.
Katie
Hopewell, TN
Katie sat behind the desk that housed the radios, frustrated that no one had heard from her mother since shortly after this whole thing started. Her mom should have been close enough to raise one of them on the radio by now. She felt even more frustrated because there wasn’t anything she could do about it. After the break-in, she didn’t feel safe even thinking about asking Zack to back track her route. She’d just have to wait. No, she would have to wait it out, but she lacked the patience for such things. She pushed back from the desk and sighed loudly. Wolf’s big head suddenly found its way onto her leg, which she rubbed.
“I know, you hate it for me. Thank you for being here, big guy.” She smiled at the dog. Thing weren’t going as planned, but dad had a plan for that too; take it one minute at a time. Still, that didn’t keep her from worrying about her parents. Even though she was a grown woman, she still felt like she needed the both of them occasionally. Kenna definitely wouldn’t understand if anything happened to them, especially being as close to them as she was. She was about to check the monitors when she heard little footsteps coming down the hall. Kenna, much like her grandfather, was not a morning person. Instead of acknowledging her mother’s presence, she went and sat on the couch. Her grandfather would’ve been grumbling until the coffee was ready and not say a damned word until he had at least two cups in him. This was known in the family as the “Two cup rule”; unless you wanted your head bitten off, or if it was an emergency, best leave the bear alone until the second cup was in him. That was the fun part about Kenna; she had the best and worst parts of her grandparents. Quick to anger like her Poppa and yet quick to calm herself like her Nanna. Her traits from her parents were negligible, but her grandparents she was dead on. Thinking of that made Katie smile.
“You want pancakes?” Katie asked and Kenna gave her the dagger eyes.
“I want bacon.” She huffed.
“Okay. I can make you bacon. Do you want eggs too? “Katie asked.
“Yes, please. And juice.” Kenna announced in a tone that was just shy of being rude, and her mother got busy with the order while Kenna just sat there looking like she would kill the first person who said anything she deemed not pleasant to her. Katie put a pot of coffee on the stove, wishing like hell her father had the foresight to put in a Keurig. As the coffee started to percolate, Zack, awakened by the smell, joined them.
“Did you get ahold of Pops?” he asked and Katie shook her head.
“I hope nothing bad happened, but I’m worried.” She said as she flipped the bacon. Zack walked behind he
r and slipped his arms around her.
“If anyone could handle anything, it’s Pops. Just relax, it’ll be okay. That much I’m positive of.” He said and she just nodded.
Breakfast was eaten in silence. Kenna, the most talkative of the trio had absolutely nothing to say, which in itself was not normal. Normally after she woke up, she jumped into her talkative self. Something was wrong and Katie could feel it. What, she didn’t know, but something was way off base. She wondered if she should make the little girl a watered-down cup of coffee, but quickly dismissed the idea.
Zack took Wolf and walked the inside of the fence line. In broad daylight, it wasn’t nearly as unnerving as it was at night. Wolf had proved himself to be a major asset in Zack’s eyes, albeit a deadly one. Zack paused and took a knee and just listened intently for a couple of moments. Hearing nothing, he would get up and go to the next corner. On the back of the property he nearly pissed himself when a rabbit bolted back into the brush. Nerves, he guessed. He radioed Katie that he was going to go outside the fence and into the brush just to make sure nothing was up.
“Do you really have to?” she asked.
“Yeah, I think I do. I just want to be sure no one is watching the place. You want Wolf?” he asked.
“No, I’d rather he went with you. We’ll lock everything down and hang out in the basement. Radio me every now and then to let me know you’re ok.” Katie instructed. Zack said he would and quietly opened the gate. Wolf, looking for all the world like he was going on an adventure, led the way.
The cicadas were doing their thing, which Zack found comforting. The birds were returning to normal as well. Except for the lack of humming electrical wires and other man-made noises, all appeared right with the world. Maybe, he thought, this was God's way of a total reset. Or maybe God had nothing to do with it whatsoever. Either way, he was confident the world and man would survive and eventually right themselves.
Wolf found a trail and was sniffing it attentively. Some scent there had gotten his attention and wasn’t letting it go. He looked at Zack, and then sniffed the path again.
“I don’t know what ya found there, boy, so let’s go check it out.” He whispered. Wolf led him up the path through an area of waist high weeds and into a wooded area. Zack slowed down and Wolf, ever paying attention, did the same. Zack continued to be amazed at the dog. Whoever had trained him had done one hell of a good job. Wolf would lower his head every few steps to scent the ground, making sure they were still on the right path.
Three Days From Home Page 18