Bug Out! Texas Book 4: Texas Battle Cry

by Robert Boren

  Hannah got up and ran to the window, peeking out. “It’s them.”

  “All of them?” Madison asked.

  “Yes,” Hannah said. Lita rushed to the door and opened it as the three men walked up.

  “Thank God,” Lita said, rushing out to Richardson. “I was so worried.”

  Hannah rushed to Brendan, Madison to Juan Carlos.

  “Can we go home?” Madison whispered to Juan Carlos.

  “You don’t want to go to the courthouse?” he asked.

  “It’s too late, isn’t it?” Madison asked.

  Lita broke her kiss with Richardson. “Yeah, we missed it today,” she said. “Maybe we can go early tomorrow.”

  “Best we can do at this point,” Richardson said. “I’m so sorry, honey.”

  “Do you have to go back in tomorrow morning?” she asked.

  “We’re on call,” Richardson said.

  “Yeah,” Juan Carlos said. “Kinda sucks. No beer. Gotta stay straight.”

  “I know, that blows,” Brendan said. “I could use a couple beers right now.”

  “Well forget it, guys,” Richardson said. “You heard the Captain. Could be a lot worse.”

  “True, they could make us live on the base,” Juan Carlos said.

  “Don’t give them any ideas,” Madison said, coming in for another kiss. “Let’s go home. Please?”

  “Okay,” Juan Carlos said. They walked away hand in hand.

  “Can we go home too?” Hannah asked.

  “Thought you’d never ask,” Brendan said.

  “Please do,” Lita said, glancing at Richardson.

  “I’ll call you in the morning,” Richardson said.

  Brendan nodded, and took Hannah home as Lita and Richardson watched them walk away.

  “C’mon,” Lita said, pulling him inside.

  “You okay?”

  “I was scared to death. How bad was it?”

  Richardson chuckled. “Believe it or not, it was fun. We got new boats. They’re a lot more capable than what we had. A whole lot safer too.”

  “Good,” she said. “Mission accomplished, I assume.”

  “Yeah, we stopped an attack on the port at Corpus Christi,” he said. “Would have been really bad if we hadn’t. The oil infrastructure would have been destroyed.”

  “Wonder if we’re still getting oil from other parts of the US?”

  “Doesn’t sound like it,” Richardson said. “That’s why they moved us down here – to protect our coast. Without our ports we’ll be starved out, and all of our biggest oil refineries are down here.”

  “They’re going to come after you guys, like they did around Falcon Lake and at South Padre Island,” Lita said.

  “They’re probably gonna try,” he said, pulling off his shirt and kicking off his shoes. He plopped down on the couch. “I agree with Brendan. A beer would be real nice right about now.”

  “Don’t,” Lita said. “I want you sharp.”

  “So do I,” Richardson said. “Believe me.”

  “What do you want to do?” Lita asked.

  “Go to bed,” he said.

  “We should save some for our wedding day,” she said.

  “I meant to sleep. I’m exhausted.”

  She smiled at him. “Good. You don’t want something to eat first?”

  “What do we have?”

  “Not much. There’s some Mac and Cheese in the pantry. I could whip that up.”

  “Sure, I’d go for it.”

  “Good, then you just relax and I’ll make it, okay?”

  “I’m liable to doze off.”

  “Then doze off,” Lita said as she walked into the kitchen.

  Richardson watched her puttering in the kitchen. It gave him a warm, happy feeling.

  “Turn on the TV if you want,” Lita said.

  “No, I think I’ll just watch you,” he said.

  “Oh, brother.”

  After about ten minutes, Lita came to the couch with two bowls.

  “Smells great,” Richardson said, taking one. He dug in.

  “Okay?” she asked.

  “Perfect,” Richardson said.

  “You think we should go through with it tomorrow?”

  “Having second thoughts?” Richardson asked.

  “No, no,” she said. “Not at all, but things are a little crazy. I could wait a week or two. See if things calm down.”

  “I think we ought to go for it,” Richardson said, “but I’ll wait if you think it’s better.”

  “Let me sleep on it,” she said. The finished their meals. Lita turned on the TV and put it on a sitcom. “Stupid show, but I don’t want to see anything serious.”

  “Me neither,” he said, settling back on the couch. Lita got up and took the bowls to the kitchen, then went into the bedroom. She came out wearing a nightgown.

  “Wow,” Richardson said. “You’re looking good.”

  “Wedding day, remember,” she said, sitting next to him, close enough to touch.

  “You’re not making it easy,” he said.

  She giggled. “Yeah, I want you nice and fired up.”

  “Trouble maker,” he said, turning to kiss her.

  “Uh uh uh, don’t start,” she said.

  “Fine,” he pouted in mock indignation.

  They watched TV for another hour and then staggered into bed, both of them falling asleep in minutes.

  Richardson’s phone rang at just after 2:30 AM. He grunted, then reached for his bedside table, knocking the phone on the floor.

  “Dammit,” he said, turning on the light and picking it up. He answered it.

  “Richardson?” Jefferson asked.

  “Yeah,” he said. “What’s up?”

  “Sorry to wake you. We need to get back to Corpus Christi again. Radar sees boats coming from out in the middle of the gulf.”

  “Dammit,” Richardson said. “You sound worried.

  “I am,” he said. “Get dressed. I’ll call your guys.”

  “You need their numbers?”

  “No, we know which trailers they picked,” Jefferson said. “Get ready to pick them up.”

  “Okay, Captain,” Richardson said. He set his cellphone down and got up to get dressed.

  “So this is what they mean by on call,” Lita said, fear in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  “Boats coming from the gulf to the Corpus Christi area,” he said. “Sorry, sweetie.”

  “Nothing to be sorry about,” she said, sitting up. “Need any help from me to get ready?”

  “No, thanks,” he said. “I just got to get dressed and go pick up the guys.”

  “Okay,” she said, getting out of bed.

  “You don’t have to get up,” he said.

  “Like I’m going to be able to sleep now. The girls may want to come over. They don’t like to be alone when you guys are in harm’s way.”

  “I could see that.” He sat on the end of the bed and tied his shoes. “I’m about ready.”

  “Okay, sweetie,” Lita said. “Hold me for a sec, okay?”

  He rushed to her arms, holding her tight, then kissing her. “Don’t worry. I’ll be back.”

  “I hope so,” she said. “This is hard.”

  “I know,” he said, kissing her one last time.

  “Be careful,” she said, watching him walk towards the door, tears running down her cheeks.

  The two other couples were walking over together when he got down the steps of the porch.

  “I was going to pick you guys up,” Richardson said.

  “We wanted to come down here anyway,” Madison said. “You think Lita is going to mind?”

  “She expected you,” Richardson said. “I was gonna bring you here.”

  Brendan and Juan Carlos said their goodbyes and got into the SUV. Richardson drove towards the front gate as they watched, Lita coming out to join them.

  “This is horrible,” Hannah said. “How are we gonna live with this?”

  “Seriously
,” Madison said. “I’m so scared.”

  “Come inside,” Lita said. “I’ll crank up the coffee maker.”

  “Might as well,” Hannah said. “I’m not falling asleep, that’s for sure.”

  Madison nodded in agreement as they went inside.

  “They didn’t say much about what was happening,” Madison said.

  “Richardson said there were boats approaching Corpus Christi from the Gulf.”

  “They can see them?” Hannah asked.

  “Radar,” Lita said. “Want something to eat?”

  “I don’t think I could hold it down,” Madison said, on the verge of tears.

  “Me neither,” Hannah said, “but thanks. Coffee would be good, though.”

  “Wonder if they’ll attack here, like they did at Port Isabel?” Madison asked.

  “I hope not,” Lita said from the kitchen.

  “You don’t think they would, do you?” Hannah asked. “We barely got out of Port Isabel alive.”

  “I know,” Lita said, coming out with two cups of coffee. She set them on the coffee table and went back into the kitchen.

  “Are you guys going to try the courthouse again tomorrow?” Madison asked.

  “I’m not sure yet,” Lita said, coming out with her coffee. She sat in the chair opposite the couch. “We talked about it a little last night. We might wait until things die down a little bit.”

  “What makes you think things are gonna die down?” Hannah asked.

  Lita was quiet for a moment. “You’re right, we don’t know that it will. It could actually get worse. That was Richardson’s opinion, I think.”

  “So he still wants to go through with it as soon as possible?” Hannah asked. “Good.”

  “Why good, Hannah?” Madison asked. “What are you planning?”

  “Nothing,” she said. Both Madison and Lita eyed her. “Nothing!”

  “Okay, have it your way,” Lita said. “You have to follow your heart.”

  “Juan Carlos would do it,” Madison said. “I had to warn him not to. More than once.”

  “You’d have to agree, you know,” Lita said.

  “Look at her,” Hannah said. “If he pushes it, she won’t be able to resist.”

  “Stop it,” Madison said, face turning red. “You’re in the same boat that I am.”

  An air raid siren went off. The women froze, looking at each other.

  “Oh no!” Lita cried. “We’re under attack?”

  “You think so?” Hannah asked. “Maybe it’s a drill.”

  “At this time of night?” Madison asked. She rushed for the door, the others following.

  “I don’t see anything,” Lita said, scanning the dark sky.

  “Me neither,” Hannah said, voice trembling.

  A fireball rose into the air, the sound hitting them a split second later.

  “That’s the base!” Lita said. “I hope our men left before that happened.”

  “Oh, God,” Hannah said, breaking down.

  “Pull yourself together,” Madison shouted. Other people in the trailer park were coming out to look.

  “Listen,” Lita said. “Choppers. They’re coming this way!”

  “No!” Madison cried. “The guys leave any guns around here?”

  “You want to shoot at the choppers?” Hannah asked. “That won’t do any good.”

  “They might land the choppers and put troops on the ground,” Madison said.

  “Shit, she’s right,” Lita said. “C’mon.”

  Lita rushed inside, the others following. She went into the bedroom and pulled open the closet, looking at the floor.

  “Not much there,” Hannah said.

  “Two handguns, a rifle, and this thing,” Lita said, holding up the SMAW.

  “They left that?” Madison asked.

  “Probably don’t need it on those new boats,” Hannah said. “Brendan said the side guns have grenade launchers on them.”

  “You know how to fire this thing?” Lita asked.

  “I think I do,” Hannah said. “I was right next to Brendan when he used it on the way here, remember. I watched. Is the ammo there?”

  Lita handed the SMAW to Hannah and looked back in the closet. She pulled out a wooden crate. “Here.”

  “Good,” Hannah said, grabbing several grenades and putting them into her pocket. “Let’s go. Grab the other guns.”

  “They loaded?” Madison asked.

  Lita looked at the rifle. “The rifle is.”

  “Give me a pistol,” Madison asked. “I know how to shoot these.”

  Lita handed her one as they rushed to the door, sticking the other one in her waistband.

  “Look, that chopper just hit our trailer,” Hannah cried. “Bastards.”

  “Shit, do you think they knew where our places are?” Madison asked, terror in her eyes.

  “Get away from this place!” Lita shouted. They ran towards the clubhouse in the middle of the park as the chopper fired into the trailer Madison and Juan Carlos were using.

  “There’s your answer,” Lita shouted. “Look, here comes another chopper. It’s heading to my place.”

  Before the words sunk in, the trailer exploded in flames. Then the chopper started descending towards lawn in the front of the park.

  “They’re gonna come get us,” Lita cried.

  Hannah got down on one knee and loaded the SMAW, then pointed it towards the chopper as it set down. “Good, no moving target.” She aimed and pulled the trigger. Nothing happened. “Dammit.”

  “Safety,” Madison said.

  “Oh, yeah,” Hannah said, looking at the side of the weapon.

  “C’mon, they’re starting to pile out,” Lita said, aiming the rifle at the men in the side door. Then Hannah pulled the trigger again, a grenade flashing out the barrel, hitting the chopper and bursting it into flames.

  “Yes!” Madison said.

  Lita fired the rifle, hitting one of the men who was running away from the fire. Madison joined in with her handgun, trying to hit the second man but missing. Lita fired the rifle again, killing the man.

  “Look, there’s another chopper landing,” Madison cried, pointing to their left, at a field just outside of the RV Park.

  “I hear more choppers coming,” Lita said. “Better blow that second one, and then let’s find a place to hide.”

  Hannah tried to pull the spent cartridge out of the SMAW and reload it. “It’s stuck, dammit.”

  “Hurry, there’s men getting out of that second chopper already!” Madison yelled.

  Chapter 28 – White Flags

  Curt and Amanda were putting together parts of the still when a buzzer went off in the garage of the toy hauler.

  Curt smiled. “The inside gimbal for Dirk’s truck is done. I need to take it off and start the outside piece.”

  He walked up the ramp, Amanda by his side. She gasped when she saw the gimbal part sitting on the build table. Curt lifted the plexiglass cover back on its hinges and carefully picked up the gimbal with oven mitts.

  “That’s beautiful,” she said.

  “Yeah, it is, isn’t it,” Curt said as he sat it down. He closed the plexiglass cover, then loaded more material into the printer and sat in front of his laptop.

  “You just pick another drawing and let her rip, eh?” Amanda asked.

  “Yeah, if I’m using the same material,” he said. “This is metal. It can also use plastic and other materials, but I have to change the heads,” He selected the second gimbal part in his list of drawings and clicked the start button. The 3-D printer whirred into motion. “Okay, we got another forty-five minutes or so.”

  They walked down the ramp and went back to the still.

  “Is your still at the house where the weapons were?” Amanda asked.

  “Yeah,” he said. “It’s dismantled right now. If we’re here long enough, maybe I’ll go get it.”

  “What’s the output?”

  “A whole lot less than your system,” he sai
d. “Mine’s just for personal use. I give a lot away to friends, of course. My last chief loved it.”

  Amanda cracked up. “You were giving illegal hooch to your police chief?”

  “Hell yeah,” Curt said.

  Amanda shook her head. “We’re living in a strange world.”

  “I’ll say,” Curt said. “How’d you get started at this?”

  “Family business,” Amanda said. “We’ve made our living off of this over the years, when the legit farm activity wouldn’t pay enough.”

  “What did you do at the farm?”

  “Raised horses and hogs, mostly,” she said. “That’s why my dad and sister were gone. They sold off the remainder of our stock. We couldn’t get reliable deliveries.”

  “Where are they again?” Curt asked.

  “Montana,” she said. “Hopefully they’re still alive. Haven’t been able to reach them for weeks.”

  “I think Montana is still safe,” Curt said.

  “Maybe,” she said. “I’ve seen threads on the internet about Islamists coming down from Canada.”

  “Me too,” Curt said, “but never about Montana. The threads I saw were about Washington and Idaho.”

  Horns started honking near the east side of the park.

  “Oh, crap, what’s that for?” Amanda asked, eyes wide.

  “I don’t know,” Curt said. “We better find out.”

  Kyle and Jason both rushed out of their RVs.

  “What’s going on, man?” Jason yelled.

  “I don’t know,” Curt said. “Maybe we better grab our weapons and head towards the clubhouse.”

  “Somebody’s really laying on those horns,” Amanda said as they stared moving.

  “Where’s Kelly and the others?” Kyle asked.

  “Still at the clubhouse, as far as I know,” Curt said.

  Clancy was still on the roof, watching I-10 westbound with binoculars.

  “What are you seeing?” Jason yelled.

  “Tanks,” he said. “Looks like five. No, six. They stopped. They’re waiting.”

  “Son of a bitch,” Jason said. “Where’s our damn air power?”

  “Call Ramsey,” Kyle said.

  “Yeah,” Jason said.

  Gray ran over. “We got the tank cannons aimed at them. Want us to fire?”

  “How visible are our tanks to the interstate?” Curt asked.

  “Not very,” Gray said. “We got them dug in a little to lessen the visibility. Did that while you guys were gone.”