Caleb stopped and waved to his Dad. Sam waved back. “Been a long time since I seen him, having fun like this. Got Ella home. She hung on for three days, the fever burning every bit of her away. Me and Caleb stayed with her every minute. The only pills from Ronnie that did any good, was the painkillers, they put her to sleep, gave her peace. Never lasted long, Ella didn't fuss tho, but her eyes. You always knew what Ella was feeling, just by looking into her eyes. I always knew when I pissed her off, it was those eyes, that got me to ask her for the first time to.”
Sam paused, the memory bringing a smile on his face, which quickly faded. “She was in so much pain, but she never give into it. It was the middle of the night, when the fever finally took her. Caleb was asleep on my lap. I carried him to his bed, I didn't want him to see what was going to happen next. I'd heard stuff, but had to wait to see it happen. It took about an hour for the monster to come. I covered it's face with a pillow, picked up my hammer and beat the monster out of my Ella's body.”
Caleb ran up and hugged Sam around the waist, causing Sam to chuckle. “What's that for.”
“I don't know, I guess I just wanted to let you know, I was having fun.” Caleb answered.
Sam patted his son's head. “Go on then, don't let me keep ya.”
Sam's face fell, as he picked up his story. “I wrapped Ella's body in the bedspread and buried her in the backyard. Caleb never asked me what happened to his mother, even as young as he is, he picked up on how things were. I kept us at the house for a few days, I'm not sure how many, they kinda flowed into each other. Caleb came to me and asked, 'What we gonna do Daddy?' We piled a few things in my old pickup and went back to the city, to see what Ronnie had to offer us. When we pulled in, they was packin up. Ronnie said we got there just in time. Some guy, callin hisself Sammael, took control of the gangs and they cut up the state, named themselves Inferno. Ronnie's group was lookin for recruits and as long as I did what I was told, they'd take care of me and Caleb. We were with them less than a day and I knew I'd made a mistake. They was takin whatever they wanted and didn't care about who they hurt. I can't do that and I wasn't gonna have Caleb, grow up in that. First chance we had, we took off and we been stayin on the fringe ever since.”
Red came up to Tom wiping off her knife. “Tim wanted me to let you know the house is clear.”
Tom gave her an acknowledging thumbs up, before responding back to Sam. “How long has it been since you've had a good nights sleep Sam?”
Sam looked a little quizzically at Tom. “I don't remember, seems like months.”
Tom nodded knowingly. “We've been staying on the edges too. Still trouble has found us. We get through it, because we got each others backs. What do you say, we go in and pick out a room for you and Caleb? You let us worry about things tonight. After a solid eight hours, you let me know if you want to travel with us.”
The house had apparently been home to a large family, judging by the number of bedrooms. Sam and Caleb took one of the upstairs bedrooms and the three married couples each took one of the three remaining upstairs bedrooms. The five other children, all bunked in the master bedroom on the main floor. This left Tim, Tracey, Hap and Red to bed down in the living room. Those four had agreed to split up the overnight watch, giving everyone else a full night's sleep.
Tim and Tracey took first watch with Tim taking a post in the loft of the barn, while Tracey kept a watch inside the house. Hap refused to take the couch, so Red spread out her bedroll and fell asleep before her head hit the pillow. Hap took a seat in the large chair and propped his feet up on the ottoman. He took just a moment to comb down his long beard with his fingers and arranged it neatly on his chest, before closing his eyes and falling fast asleep.
“Red. Miss Red, its time.” Hap called softly.
Red opened her eyes feeling as if she had just fallen asleep. Hap handed her a mug. “It ain't coffee, but it'll keep your eyes open. Drink er slow though, drink to much and it won't sit well with ya.”
Red sniffed the black liquid and sipped it cautiously. “Thank you.”
Hap smiled warmly. “Not at all. What's your poison? You want to set them green peepers up in the loft or keep em here?”
Red took a moment to translate his question. “I'll take the loft, I've gotten used to being alone and frankly I'm afraid I might fall asleep again if I stay in here.”
“Alrighty then. My Momma taught me never to argue with a woman.” Hap joked.
Red slipped on her jacket and belted her holster around it, before slipping her rifle over her shoulder. She took the mug of the black drink with her and dropped a couple of pieces of dried meat into a pocket. As she walked out the kitchen door Hap radioed Tim to alert him that his relief was on the way. Tim met Red at the side door of the barn and handed her his walkie. He tried to find some words to say to her, but his tongue remained tied inside his mouth. Red ascended the ladder leading up to the loft, feeling Tim's eyes following her.
Red was accustomed to men looking at her, but even before the world ended she had chosen to avoid romantic entanglements. Even if Tim was the last man on earth, Red was numb inside from all she had lost. It was going to take more than twenty some hours for her too allow any of them in.
The moon was nearly full and moonlight streamed in the windows on either side of the loft. Illuminating the bales of hay stored in the loft. Ironically meant to feed the horses, that had died months ago, trapped in their stalls below, lacking food and water. Peering out the small back door, used to bring bales of hay to the loft, she could see the shadowy figures of coyotes and opossum. These carrion feeders were drawn to the disposed bodies of the dead cleared from the house and the ones that surprised them behind the barn. Moving to the front of the loft she cracked open the small door and watched down the long winding drive of the ranch.
A light wind kicked up, stirring the leaves on the drive and causing Red to close up her jacket. Red could hear the animals fighting over the bodies and occasionally the hooting of an owl. Other than that all was still outside. To help pass the time she slowly sipped on the drink, Hap had given her and nibbled at the dried meat. Focusing on chewing slowly, trying keep her mind from wandering to the attack on Gideon's compound and Andy's last few hours.
The sun had been up an hour when Hap radioed Red to let her know Tracey was on her way. A few minutes later the four younger children climbed up to the loft, followed by Tracey. Lizzie caught sight of Red and ran up to her. Lizzie wrapped her arms around Red's waist and hugged her tight. “Good Morning, miss Red.”
The child's broad smile was infectious and Red's face cracked her first glimmer of a smile in a long time, as she patted Lizzie's blonde locks. “Good Morning Lizzie.”
“Tim how's Red handling herself?” Tom asked as he joined Tim for breakfast.
“She's rock solid. No hesitation. Good with her pistol and knife. She said she's just as good with that rifle too. Provided security to her last group.” Tim answered.
Red walked in and Tom greeted her. “We we're just talking about you. Tim was saying you might be able to help us on our runs.”
Red shrugged. “Whatever I can do.”
“Go ahead and get some breakfast. After you've eaten we'll gather in the dining room.” Tom said.
The others had already eaten, leaving Red to eat alone. Jimmy and Jackson were on kitchen duty and kept busy in the kitchen cleaning and putting away the dishes. Red finished quickly and joined the others. Sheila saw her come in and patted the empty chair next to her, inviting Red to sit down.
Tom knocked on the table. “Alright let's do this. Jeff start us off.”
Jeff pulled out his notebook and adjusted his glasses. “We're approximately thirty miles from the Tennessee border.” Miri lead the group in applause. When they quieted Jeff continued. “Of course we still don't have an actual destination and we won't exactly be travelling in a straight line going through the forest. We should plan on going at least seventy miles before we might find gas again.�
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Jeff turned a page in his notebook. “At a bare minimum we need twenty gallons of gas, thirty would be better. We're good on water, but we don't have a ready supply here, I'd suggest we resort to sponge baths, until we can find more.”
Sam cleared his throat. “I could uncap their well. If it don't go down to deep and you got a pump, should be able to get you all the water you need.”
Tom smiled. “We do have a hand pump. I appreciate you looking into that.”
Jeff readjusted his glasses. “Our food stores are good and I assume Hap will work his magic again. It would be nice to take advantage of the propane oven and make some jerky, maybe do some canning.”
Hap chuckled as he tugged on his beard. “Tain't no way I won't scrape up some vittles here abouts.”
Jeff nodded. “Thanks to the stop on the way. We have ten gallons of gas. We need to find at least ten more. What else do we add to the shopping list?”
“These kids are all growing like weeds. We need clothes, shoes, blankets. The farther north we go the colder it gets. Hats and coats would be nice. Maybe some gloves.” Sue added. With Miri and Sheila both agreeing.
Tom placed a map on the table. “We got three shots a rocks throw from here. We get the gas we need, that comes first. I don't like knowing the Inferno gang could be about, the farther we can get from their patrols the better I'll feel. Tim did say that Red could give us a chance to bring in a larger crew, get in and out quicker.”
“I've been noodlin on this to Boss.” Hap interjected. “While I was keepin watch earlier. I meandered into their office. I found this here trail map. It appears to me, they's some two tracks that'll lead us straight to Aska. We don't have to go on the main roads, less likely to bump into a patrol of ill natured individuals.”
Tom looked quickly at the map Hap was holding. “Tim, take Tracey and check this out. Quick recon only. Jimmy, Jackson.” The two boys had been listening around the corner. “Yes Dad.”
“You two boys go with your Mom's and check the ranch vehicles. See how much gas we can scrape together here.” Tom instructed. “Red your with Pete and Hap. Hopefully, you three can add to our food stores. Sam, you and I will try to suck some water from the well. Sheila.”
Sheila gave a soft laugh. “I know, I'm babysitting.”
Tim drove the Focus along the mountain trail that lead from the ranch towards Aska. “The Suburban will have an easier time. Better ground clearance.” Tim grunted as they bounced over another rut.
“At least there hasn't been any tight turns. We should be able to pull the trailer through.” Tracey added.
As they neared the main road, Tim pulled over keeping the car behind a rocky outcropping. Getting out they climbed atop the rocks to glass the way ahead. Aska was a quaint little town, catering to tourists looking to get away and enjoy the mountain solitude. Looking ahead they could see the hillsides dotted with cabins and the occasional BnB. Scanning the road no vehicles could be seen moving along it and there was no evidence of recent traffic.
Tracey tapped Tim’s shoulder pointing off to her right. It took Tim a moment to make out the station wagon buried under a mass of pine boughs. Once discovered they trained their binoculars on the driver side window and were able to get glimpses of the man inside. He was elderly, easily pushing seventy, but sat ramrod straight in the seat. He would pick up his own binoculars and scan up and down the road intently for long periods and then set the glasses down and lay his head back, for a few minutes, before repeating.
“He doesn’t exactly seem like the Inferno type.” Tim commented.
Tracey glassed around. “I’m not making out anyone else with him.”
Keeping low and taking advantage of available cover, they moved towards the station wagon. When they were close Tim had Tracey hold back and cover him, while he advanced to the rear of the car. “Come on out. Hands in the air. There won’t be trouble, if you don’t start any.”
The drivers door opened and the old man climbed out slowly, his right hand raised high. His left arm was a bandaged stump, with the arm removed just above the elbow. “Sorry, I’m down to just the one wing.”
Tim waved Tracey forward. “Who are you watching for?”
Tracey went up to the old man and pulled his pistol from its holster. Then did a quick check of his pockets, before indicating he could put his arms down. The old man considered the young woman and then the young man. “To be honest I was looking for you.”
Tracey jumped back, pulling her pistol and directing it at the old man. He waved his right hand, his left arm automatically flopping in unison. “It's not like that. I have a warning for you. Y'all may not be looking for trouble, but trouble is looking for you. You need to be travelling fast and far from here.”
Tim snorted in irritation. “Details.”
The old man closed the car door and leaned against it, rubbing his left arm. “Our Grandson left his daughters with me and the wife, just before the shit hit. We done our best to keep them girls safe, then they came.” The old man looked at Tim. “Your military ain't ya.”
Tim nodded. “Marines.”
“Rangers. Took an oath to protect people. To keep my wife and them girls safe, I traded my skills as a gunsmith, kept them in bullets and their guns working. Little by little, they made me pick away at that oath. One day they brought us some casings for me to reload, dropped of some scraps of food. They took a shine to our Sally, she's just sixteen, to young for what they wanted.” Anger flared in his gray eyes and he could see it mirrored in Tracey's face.
He took a deep breath and calmed himself. “We was out scraping up lead to make their bullets. You didn't see us, but we saw you move through. They made the wife think if we traded a line on others, we might just get Sally back. Before I could stop her, she spilled the beans on y'all. We packed up everything in my old truck and took my best guess on where you might be headed. To throw the Inferno off I traded that truck, a cherry red 65, for this piece of shit. Them two assholes made me give up most of my gas and food to boot.”
“Where is your wife and granddaughter?” Tracey asked, interrupting the old man.
He set his gaze on Tracey, the pain and anger evident in his eyes. “They are back with the rest of my arm. We hadn't got very far down the road, when this buggy broke down. Martha took little Deb out to play and I got under the hood. They move so quiet, I didn't know they were coming until Deb screamed. My first two bullets, ended the pain for Deb and Martha. I rained lead down on those dead shits, when I reloaded one of em got close enough to chomp down on my arm. I'd heard stories about surviving a bite, if you hack off the limb.”
He stopped and rubbed his stump. “I don't know if them stories is bullshit or I just didn't do it fast enough. It's a hard thing to do, hacking off your own arm. I figure I bought some time, but the fever is starting and it won't be long before I'm back with Martha. Now that we've crossed paths, my last mission is just about done.”
“And what exactly is that mission?” Tim asked.
The old man turned his head so Tim could look him in the eye. “I'm on your side soldier. I'm just here to tell you to watch your six. You got the Inferno gang on your tail and you need to be making tracks away from here. If Martha and Deb were with us, I'd love to throw in with ya and open up a can of whoop ass on those thugs, but all I can do now is get the word out to you.”
Tim nodded. “I appreciate the intel, but we ain't got enough gas to get very far.”
The old man stepped forward extending his hand. “Kinda forgot my manners. Lucas.”
Tim shook Lucas' hand. “Tim and Tracey.”
Tracey moved over to shake his hand, the fever making his hand overly warm to the touch. “Can I get you some water or anything?”
Lucas smiled kindly. “I'm good miss.” Turning back to Tim, Lucas sized up the situation. “They don't have the people to hound you to the ends of the earth, but you ain't gonna win a stand up fight with them. I wish I could do more for you. You can probably suck a co
uple gallons out of my tank and I got some other goodies for you.”
“Tracey, pull the car over here please.” Tim requested, before turning back to Lucas. “Any idea how for behind us they are?”
Lucas shook his head. “Days if your lucky. Dogging your tail if your not. I took a shot that you'd come this way, not often you get three shots to salvage so close together, they are just as likely to figure that one out.”
Tim took a deep breath. “Been a long time since anyone's been lucky.”
“Kinda the way I see it. You catch sight of them bastards, you bring the thunder. Shoot first and give em no quarter. You feelin me soldier?” Lucas warned.
Tim's face was grim. “Five by five.”
Tracey returned with the Focus and Lucas opened the back of the station wagon. “I got all my reload gear here and a couple hundred rounds, ready to go. My guns and big Bertha here.”
Dead Reckoning_HZA, Vol. 3 Page 16