by Payne, T. L.
She slung her legs over the side of the bunk and stood, stretching, and ran her hands through her hair. Her fingers caught in the rat's nest or tangles at the base of her skull. She gathered it into a ponytail as she walked down the hall toward the voices.
“I say we hit them in the early morning hours with everyone we’ve got available,” Rank was saying as Maddie walked into the kitchen.
“I take it you got the answers you were looking for,” Maddie said.
She turned the corner into the kitchen and came face to face with Jacob.
“Shit!” she said out loud.
If she’d known they had company, she would have at least washed the dirt from her face and brushed her teeth. She felt her face flush and hurried past him over to the stove to pour herself a cup of coffee. A plate of biscuits sat on the warmer rack above the stove. It looked like everyone had eaten already, so she grabbed the plate and began smearing Ron’s homemade apple butter onto a biscuit.
“Well, I don’t like the idea of stumbling around in the dark,” Jacob said, setting his coffee down and taking a seat at the table.
“It won’t be pitch black. We’ll hit when the sun is just coming up. They’ll all still be asleep. I doubt they’re early risers,” Lugnut said.
“If I take out their sentry first, we’ll be able to go in without detection. We’ll have people in the tree line all around the house. If anyone comes out, we shoot,” Rank said.
“You can’t just shoot them. We have to give them the opportunity to surrender,” Jacob said.
“You can do that, but if they are running from the house, I suspect their answer is no,” Rank said.
Lugnut took a long drink from his coffee mug then turned to Jacob.
“I know you want to do this by the book, and I commend you for that. But in case you haven’t noticed, we don’t have a large police force to go track these assholes down if they get away. If they reach the woods, they’re gone. Then we have to risk our lives in the woods to find them,” Lugnut said. “How are you going to feel when they go raid some other farmer’s home and someone gets killed?”
Jacob appeared to think it over before replying.
“I suppose you’re right. The sheriff had deputies searching every barn and outbuilding in the county. A few were shot at and injured. I don’t have many deputies. I would like to keep the ones I have alive and well.”
“That is sensible,” Ryan said.
Jacob turned to Rank.
“How about you take out the sentry and me and my deputies knock and order everyone out? We’ll tell them to surrender and that they will be taken into custody. If anyone runs away, then your people do what you need to do to prevent their escape. But we have to announce ourselves at least and give them the opportunity,” Jacob said.
“I can live with that. You good with that, Lug?” Rank asked.
“I think it is a risk you shouldn’t take, but it’s your county. If they run, we’ll handle it. I’m good with that,” Lugnut said, standing.
“Who all is going with you?” Jacob asked.
Lugnut turned to Ryan. Ryan pointed to his leg and shrugged, taking another swig of his moonshine. He still couldn’t even put weight on his leg.
“Well, I guess it’ll just be me, Ron and Rank then,” Lugnut said.
“And me,” Maddie said, sliding in beside Rank.
All eyes turned to her. She glared at each of them daring anyone to object.
“Me too,” Zach called as he entered the kitchen.
“No,” Maddie blurted out.
“Why not? If you go, why shouldn’t I?” Zach asked.
“Because.”
“Because isn’t an answer.”
“Is too.”
“All right. Stop, you two,” Ryan said, turning to give Maddie a dirty look.
“I think they both should go. We need the guns. They can stay in the tree line out of sight and cover us,” Rank said.
“That just leaves Austin and me to guard the cabin,” Ryan said.
“And Jason and Harmony,” Maddie said.
“What about Ron? Is he planning to go?” Jacob asked.
Zach grabbed a biscuit off Maddie’s plate and shoved it in his mouth. When he reached for another, she slapped his hand.
“I’m hungry,” Zach whined.
“You’re always hungry. Get your own food,” Maddie said, holding her plate out of his reach.
Rank grabbed the last biscuit and took a bite before placing it back on her plate. When she turned and saw what he’d done, she handed the plate to Zach.
He was just about to reach for the biscuit when Buster ran past and grabbed it. They all laughed.
“You’re just too slow, kid,” Rank chuckled.
In the early morning hours, and with everyone briefed on the plan to raid the convicts’ hideout, Lugnut and Rank led the way to the Grayson’s farm. When the group reached the tree line bordering the Grayson's house, Lugnut and Rank split off from the group. It was still dark out and Maddie couldn’t see them as they made their way toward the house. A few moments later, Rank returned and motioned for Jacob and his deputies to proceed.
Everyone sat quietly, waiting for those first rays of the sunlight to enable them to see anyone escaping from the house. Maddie looked through the scope on her rifle. Jacob and his four newly deputized men and women moved slowly toward the house. When they were close, two deputies split off and went around toward the back, while Jacob and the other two approached from the side.
At the left front corner of the house, Jacob stopped and pressed his back against the house. The two deputies fell in behind him and did the same.
“Hello in the house. This is the Texas County Sheriff Department. Come out with your hands in the air. Do it now,” Jacob yelled.
Everyone waited to see what they would do. Maddie inhaled and exhaled slowly, trying to keep the crosshairs on the front door. She glanced over to where Zack lay on his stomach looking through his rifle scope. She worried that their rifle skills were rusty. Neither of them had been to the range in three years. She was glad that the trees provided them cover. At least they’d have time to line up their shots.
“You in the house. This is the Texas County Sheriff Department. Come out with your hands in the air. Do it now,” Jacob repeated.
He made a chopping motion and one of the deputies crouched low and proceeded to what appeared to be an open living room window before throwing a tear glass canister into the home.
Maddie heard screaming and the sound of gunfire from the back of the house. A second later, rifle fire came from the woods where Rank was located, followed by a second shot from Lugnut's location to the east.
Maddie heard the sound of glass breaking, then more screams. A moment later, someone in the house began shooting. The door burst open and two men ran out, guns drawn. One of the deputies had attempted to take cover on the opposite side of the house but was shot as the men exited the front door.
Men flooded out of the front door, and Maddie began firing. She heard the sound of Zach’s rifle to her left and then it sounded like everyone fired at once. Maddie lost count of the men that fell on the Grayson’s front lawn before Lugnut yelled, “cease-fire!”
Maddie still held her rifle at the ready as she walked toward the house.
“Maddie, we are supposed to wait here,” Zach called after her.
She didn’t care. She needed to see if Jacob was injured. Her heart raced as she sprinted across the field toward the old farmhouse.
Maddie located Jacob at the back of the house, crouched over one of the female deputies. He looked up at Maddie as she approached him. Tears filled his eyes.
“Is she…” Maddie asked as she stopped beside him.
Jacob nodded as he reached down and closed her eyes with his index finger.
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too. I was a fool. I should have listened to Rank and Lugnut. These sons-of-bitches didn’t deserve a chance to surrender.”
“You were just trying to do the right thing. The world is changing too fast,” Maddie said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
“Yeah. And I’m gonna have to change quickly too.”
Maddie heard footsteps on the gravel walkway behind them and turned. Her rifle was pointed right at Ron’s chest as he approached. Ron threw up his hands, and Maddie lowered the rifle.
“Sorry,” he said as he walked over to Jacob.
“We cleared the house and barn, we have twelve convicts down, along with your two deputies in the front, and another on the side of the house.”
Jacob said nothing. He stood, holstered his pistol, and walked to the barn. Maddie heard a loud engine start then a moment later she saw Jacob pull the backhoe out of the barn.
With the prisoners buried and his deputies’ bodies loaded onto a wagon attached to an old tractor, Jacob climbed up and drove the tractor down the driveway. He had not spoken to anyone. Maddie knew Jacob carried the guilt of the deaths of his deputies. She hoped he would be able to rise above it, learn from it, and move forward. The county needed him. They needed some representation of law and order. Without it, it would just be a free for all.
Maddie had just settled into her deer stand guard post when she heard the roar of an engine speeding their way. There wasn’t time to warn anyone. She saw the dust cloud in the bend of the road and seconds later, a humvee appeared. She leveled her rifle.
A lot of good this thing will do if they open up with the .50 cal.
She peered through her scope and could see Zack’s rifle pointed at the vehicle as well. His rifle followed it as it passed his position and stopped at their hidden gate.
What the hell?
The passenger side door to the humvee opened, and a man stepped out. Maddie kept her scope on him as he walked around the back of the humvee.
“Hey, in the stands,” Todd Simmons called.
“Oh, hey, Todd. What are you doing out this way? Don’t you have prisoners to guard?" Zach called, jumping down from his post.
“Hey, Maddie, it's just Todd,” Zach called.
“Hi, Todd. What’s up with the humvee?” Maddie asked.
“It’s my ride for the day.”
“Sweet,” Zach said, nodding his head.
“I have some news I thought you all would want to hear,” Todd said, approaching her stand.
Maddie climbed down and slung her rifle over her back.
“Please don’t tell me there are more convicts out here. I’ve had enough of fighting them for the week.”
“Are Ryan and the guys up at the cabin?”
“They should be. Zach, stay here. I’ll send Austin and Jason back to take our places.”
“Why do I have to stay?” Zach whined. “I can take Todd up and send them back for you.”
Maddie rolled her eyes.
“Because, idiot, I’m the oldest.”
She didn’t wait for his comeback. Maddie turned, and she and Todd headed across the field toward the cabin.
“It is good to see some things haven’t changed.”
“What’s that?” Maddie asked.
“Sibling banter.”
“He thinks because the world went to hell that we should treat him like an adult. Hell, his brain won’t be fully developed until he’s twenty-one or some shit,” Maddie said.
“The apocalypse does have a way of causing people to grow up faster, though,” Todd said.
“We’ll see,” Maddie said as she stepped onto the gravel bar and crossed the creek.
At the tree line approaching the cabin, Maddie pulled out her Duck Commander duck call and let the sentry in the barn know that friendlies were coming in. Two quacks in return let her know that it was safe to approach.
“That is clever,” Todd said.
“It works, sorta. I sure wish we could have found the radios, though. I bet someone stole them. Or that idiot brother of mine forgot where dad buried them. I knew he should have had me memorize the locations of the caches.”
“I might see if I can borrow some from the military for you guys. They might be able to spare a couple,” Todd asked.
“That would be awesome, but I doubt they’d want to part with any of theirs,” Maddie said.
“Well, what they don’t know won’t hurt me.”
“Todd!” Maddie said, as she pushed open the back door and stepped into the mudroom.
“Hey, guys. Todd is here. He has some news he says we need to hear,” Maddie called.
Ryan was seated at the table with his leg extended on the bench. Jason was across from him.
“Where are Rank and Lugnut?” Maddie asked.
“Scouting. They want to make sure there aren’t any more convicts around to cause trouble,” Ryan said.
Maddie grabbed the coffee percolator and two mugs and sat them on the table, then poured Todd a cup.
“Jason, would you mind grabbing Austin and heading out to relieve Zach at the road?”
Jason gave her a sideways glance before standing and grabbing his rifle from the mudroom. He looked at her once more as he went through the door.
“You said he could shoot. Does he think he gets to sit around here drinking coffee forever?” Maddie asked.
“He isn’t confident yet. He isn’t a bad shot, though. He just needs more practice. Now that we don’t have a farmhouse full of criminals nearby, we can get everyone trained to standard again.”
“Well, when you hear my news, you may want to start today.”
Todd slung his rifle around his back and took the seat Jason vacated.
“Oh, no. I don’t like the sound of that,” Maddie said, placing her head in her hands.
The door rattled and Maddie jumped. She reached for the rifle slung over her back and turned just as Rank’s head appeared in the door.
“Jumpy, are we?” Rank asked peering down the barrel of her rifle pointed at him.
“Maybe we need to have a secret knock or something.”
“Maybe,” Lugnut said, grabbing Maddie’s coffee mug and taking a drink.
“Oh, my gawd. You seriously need to take it easy on the sugar. We don’t have insulin for when you develop diabetes.”
“Oh, shut up. We’ll run out of sugar long before I get diabetes.”
“Hi, Todd. What brings you out this morning, or should I not ask?” Rank asked.
“He was just about to tell us the bad news,” Ryan said, moving the sugar bowl away from Maddie.
Zach rushed in, breathing in gasps. He’d obviously ran the whole way.
“What did I miss?” Zach asked, bending over to catch his breath.
“Nothing. Sit down and be quiet,” Maddie said.
Todd waited for Rank to grab a coffee mug and for he and Zach to take their seats before continuing to explain what he’d come to tell them.
“You know that the military and FEMA have been keeping the prison running. The MPs have been guarding the prisoners, and FEMA has been feeding them.”
He paused and looked around the table. The suspense was killing Maddie, but she didn’t want to hear what she knew he was about to say. She recalled the conversation between Ron and Sheriff Stoddard about the military receiving orders to pull out of Missouri. Todd’s news likely had something to do with that. Her stomach knotted as he explained.
“The post commander received orders to move out and head north. That means the MPs guarding the prisoners will be leaving by the end of the week. Some elements have left already, but the post commander is moving the MPs last.”
Todd let that sink in. She wished he would just say it. It was like having the band-aid pulled off very slowly.
“When they go, we will only have two guards to watch the four hundred inmates left at the prison. The governor ordered them moved to a new facility in Farmington, but with limited transportation, it has been slow to move them all. Now, the military needs every available bus and other vehicles to move soldiers north. So, I have been trying to round up volunteers to help guard them unti
l FEMA and the governor call with new transportation options.”
Maddie looked around the table. They were spread thin protecting their cabin and Ron’s farm. She didn’t see where they could spare anyone. She imagined that most folks out there were in the same situation. Anyone not pulling guard duty would be chopping wood, gathering food and water, and preparing for a difficult winter that could be only weeks away.
Zach was unusually quiet.
“Have you had any luck finding volunteers?” Maddie asked.
“No. Not enough. The FEMA official found three people willing to work for extra food rations, but after being terrorized by the escaped prisoners for the last two weeks, everyone is afraid to be there when the military leaves. When FEMA made the announcement at the farmer’s market, people scattered like cockroaches. Residents are scared and many are heading north to the Red Cross shelter in Rolla.”
“Is Rolla the only one still open?” Maddie asked. “That is a 35-mile walk.”
“FEMA is still directing people there, so I guess they intend to keep it open a while longer, but I overheard a worker say that they have started rationing food. They had the prison down to one meal a day.”
“What is going to happen when the MPs leave. Can you lock the inmates in their cells?”
“Not with two people. FEMA set up a tent city on the grounds. MPs are patrolling the perimeter, but it has been sort of a mess. It’s dangerous as hell. Basically, we have been keeping them in. No one goes inside the yard with them, not even to remove the injured after fights. We just don’t have the personnel.”
“So, what you are saying is that when the MPs leave, you are going to have four hundred maximum security prisoners scaling those fences less than twenty miles from us,” Rank said, glancing over to Lugnut.
“Basically, yes. I'm sending my family to stay on the base. They're leaving some personnel behind to guard the post. Way too few to be adequate, but some are better than nothing. They’ll have better weapons than the inmates, though,” Todd said taking a long drink of his coffee.
Todd placed his cup back on the table, stood and adjusted his rifle hanging from a single-point sling across his chest.