by Robert Boren
“Understood,” Jason said, standing up. “You call Kyle yet?”
“I’ll call him next.”
“Okay, thanks, Chief.”
“You got someplace to hide out for a while? I’ll put you and Kyle on paid leave.”
“Yeah, I think so,” Jason said.
There was the sound of car doors in front of the house.
“Somebody’s here,” Jason said. “Got to go.”
“Godspeed, son,” the chief said.
Jason looked at Carrie. “Get Chelsea and hide in the closet. Now.”
“What’s the matter?”
“The enemy is here. Oh, and grab your pistol.”
She jumped out of bed and rushed to Chelsea’s bedroom as Jason grabbed his semi-automatic shotgun and checked the shells. It was loaded. He grabbed the box of shells from the top shelf of the closet, slipped out to the living room, and peered through the blinds. There were four men on the lawn, checking their AK-47s and looking around nervously. Jason slid the window open a crack and slipped the barrel of the shotgun out.
“I locked Chelsea in the closet,” Carrie whispered, getting next to him with her rifle. “You’re gonna need me out here.”
“Good, the Mini-14,” Jason said. “Get over to the kitchen window. I’ll get as many as I can with the shotgun. You can hit them from that side.”
“Okay,” she said, rushing into the kitchen with the small carbine.
Jason waited until all four men were bunched up on the walkway and opened fire, hitting the first two men. There was screaming and shouting in Arabic, and then a shot from the kitchen window dropped the third man. The other one ran behind a battered SUV and got in, starting the engine. Jason ran out the front door, hitting the car with several shotgun blasts, but it took off down the street as Jason continued to fire. Then Carrie was next to him with the mini-14, taking aim, pulling the trigger. The car rolled to a stop, the horn sounding.
“Nice shot,” Jason said. They trotted over to the car and looked in. The man’s brains were all over the inside of the windshield.
Carrie backed up in horror. “Geez,” she said.
“You did the right thing. C’mon, let’s get back in the house and call it in. We need backup here before more show up.” Lights turned on in the houses up and down the street as they ran back to the house.
“I’ll go get Chelsea,” Carrie said.
“I’m calling Kyle,” Jason said. He hit his contact.
“Kyle, you all right?”
“Yeah, the chief just called me.”
“We just got hit by four of them.”
“Shit, you and your family okay?”
“We wasted them all.”
“Good,” Kyle said. “The chief wants us to take off. Know anywhere we can go?”
“I’m gonna call my dad and see if we can use the motor home,” Jason said. “Think you can find Kate?”
“She’s right next to me,” he said.
“Oh, really?” Jason chuckled.
“Shut up. We’ll be right over.”
“Good. I’m calling 911, then I’ll call the chief back.”
“Got it,” Kyle said. Jason ended the call and dialed 911, reporting the incident. Carrie came out with Chelsea.
“Kyle okay?”
“He and Kate are fine,” Jason said.
“Kate’s with him?” she asked, smiling. “I had a feeling that was gonna happen.”
“I’m calling my dad. We need to take off for a while. Maybe we can use the motor home.”
“Good idea. Think he’d mind?”
“No,” Jason said. He hit a contact and put the phone to his ear. “Dad?”
“Jason. What’s wrong?”
“We just got attacked,” he said. “Same folks who attacked the Superstore.”
“No, really? Everybody okay?”
“Yeah, we iced all of them, but the chief said to leave for a while. He put Kyle and I on paid leave.”
“You want to take the RV, don’t you?”
“Yeah, if you don’t mind.”
“No problem. The key to the door is in that magnetic box under the steps. The rest of the keys are in the top dresser drawer in the bedroom. She’s full of gas and ready to go.”
“Thanks, dad,” Jason said.
“Be safe. Let me know where you end up. Maybe we’ll join you.”
“Good, talk to you later.”
“You remember what our gate code is?”
Jason chuckled. “Yeah, my birthday.”
“You got it. Talk to you later.”
Jason put the phone back in his pocket.
“Okay?” Carrie asked.
“Dad said fine. Pack, but keep your ears open.”
“Where are the cops?”
“Ought to be here any minute,” Jason said.
There was a knock on the door. Both of them froze. Then Jason ran to the window and looked out. “It’s Kyle and Kate.”
Carrie rushed over and opened the door. “Hello again.”
“I’m so embarrassed,” Kate said.
“Why?” Carrie asked. “Get in here before we get attacked again.”
The two came in and Carrie shut the door.
“Call your dad?” Kyle asked.
“Yeah. We’re good,” Jason said.
“Good for what?” Kate asked.
“My dad has an RV,” Jason said. “We can use it to disappear for a while.”
She looked at Kyle. “You think I’m gonna take off with you, just like that?”
“I was hoping,” Kyle said. “I like you. A lot. And besides, you’ve got a target on your back too. You don’t have to stay with me forever if you don’t want to, but let’s split at least until the heat dies down.”
She sat on the couch, thinking as police sirens approached.
“About time,” Carrie said as she came back into the living room. “I got Chelsea packed. We better get ourselves packed.”
“On it,” Jason said. “These two need some private discussion time anyway.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Kate said, looking at Kyle. “I can’t believe I’m considering this. You better not hurt me.”
Kyle looked her in the eyes. “I won’t, really. What are you thinking?”
“That big truck of yours. It got a tow hitch?”
“Of course,” he said. “Why?”
“I’m living in a small trailer. Why don’t we pull it? Follow them?”
“I’m good with that idea,” Kyle said. “How big is it?”
“It’s a small Airstream. We’ll be a little on the cozy side.”
“I can do cozy. I’d love cozy.”
She got an embarrassed grin on her face. “I figured. Hope I don’t regret this.”
“You won’t,” Kyle said.
There was a knock on the door. “Jason?”
“What, the sheriff got up at this hour?” Carrie asked.
Jason opened the door. “Good morning, sheriff. C’mon in.”
“You folks okay?” he asked as he entered. His deputies were looking over the bodies on the front lawn.
“Better off than they are,” Jason said. “We’re taking off in a few minutes.”
“Good,” the sheriff said. “I don’t know where all these creeps are coming from. They’ve attacked five of the rednecks so far, and killed the old man who killed a few of them inside the Superstore.”
“Oh, no,” Carrie said.
“They kill any rednecks?” Kyle asked.
The sheriff chuckled. “Nope. After they attacked the first guy, he called his buddies. They were all ready. It was a real turkey shoot.”
“Good,” Jason said. “You look pretty scared.”
“There were thirty men involved in the attacks that we know of,” he said. “And it’s not over yet. I’m glad you guys are clearing out.”
Jason’s phone rang. He pulled it out and looked at it. “Chief Ramsey.”
“Good,” the sheriff said.
“Hello, sir,” Jason said.
“Hi, Finley,” he said. “I hear the sheriff of Dripping Springs is there. Mind if I talk to him? Didn’t have his cell number.”
“Sure, no problem.” Jason handed the phone to the sheriff, who walked away talking.
“Let’s get packed,” Carrie said. She went into the bedroom.
“I’ll be right there,” Jason said. “Hey, Kyle, you guys want to meet us at the storage yard? You know where it is, right?”
“Yeah, I know,” Kyle said. “Probably take me an hour to hitch up and get down there.”
“We’ll be waiting. I doubt we’ll get there much before that.”
“Okay,” Kyle said. “Take care, my friend.”
“You to,” Jason said. “And you, Kate. Welcome to our little family.”
She smiled and followed Kyle outside.
Chapter 9 – Flight
Jason drove his Jeep Wrangler up to the storage yard gate and input the code.
“I keep thinking we forgot something,” Carrie said.
“I know, me too,” Jason said as the big gate rolled aside. “Surprised the munchkin fell back asleep.”
“Me too, but the gunfire shook her up,” she said. “Glad she’s not old enough to understand. It was just noise to her.”
“Thank God for that,” Jason said.
“It’s almost light.”
“That’ll make things easier,” Jason said.
“How long will it take to rig up?”
“Fifteen minutes,” Jason said. “Glad this Jeep is ready to tow.”
“Yeah, sorry I pushed back on that. It was so expensive.”
“You keep pushing back on me, sweetie,” Jason said. “Somebody has to keep us solvent, and I’m not so good with the money.”
“Neither is your dad,” Carrie said as they drove through the rows of RVs and boats. “Your mom said buying this rig was too much of a stretch.”
“He kinda bought it for us, you know,” Jason said. “After my kid brother got killed, he’s looked at things differently. You know how he’s always pushing us to use it. Why do you think he stores it in Dripping Springs instead of Fredericksburg?”
“Yeah, I picked up on that pretty quick.”
“I think part of it is Eric. He’s always moving around. Doesn’t make time to come see the old man. I’m not even sure where he is now. Hurts dad to never see him. He thinks this RV will keep the Finley wandering bug at bay, at least with us.”
“I know,” Carrie said. “There it is. What a monster.”
“I’ll teach you to drive it,” Jason said.
“Well, maybe,” she said, eyeing it. “I sat in the driver’s seat last time. It was scary.”
Jason chuckled. “Okay, we won’t worry about that now. Watch for me while I back her out, and then you can drive the Jeep up behind her.”
Carrie nodded, following Jason to the coach door. He reached underneath the steps and came up with a small metal box.
“Here it is,” he said, holding the key up. He opened the door. The mechanical steps extended with a squeak. “I’ll get the engine started.” He went to the back of the coach, got the keys out of the dresser drawer, and went to the driver’s seat, turning the key. The big V-10 roared to life.
“Well that was easy,” Carrie said, climbing into the coach. “Cold in here.”
“It’ll warm up when we’re on the road,” Jason said. “Ready for me to back her out?”
“Sure, I’ll get behind,” she said. “Don’t hit me.”
Jason chuckled. “Don’t worry.”
Jason got the Jeep hitched up in about ten minutes. They were loading stuff from the back of the Jeep into the motor home when Jason’s phone rang.
“Kyle, you here yet?” Jason asked.
“Yeah, man, I’m outside. Want me to drive in?”
“We’re almost done, so no need. Just pull up along-side the road heading for route 290. Let’s go through Fredericksburg first, then go north or west from there.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Kyle said. “See you in a few.”
Jason put his phone back in his pocket.
“They here?” Carrie asked as she walked up with an armload of fresh bedding.
“Yep. I told them to get pointed towards 290 and wait.”
“We’re going to see your dad?”
“Well, we’re going through Fredericksburg, anyway.”
“You want him to go, don’t you?”
“I want him to have the option,” Jason said.
“Well, help me with the rest of the loading, and let’s hit the road.”
“Okay,” Jason said. They took another ten minutes to stow the rest of their stuff and get Chelsea’s car seat moved into the coach. Then they got in and drove down to the gate. Carrie got out and input the code to open it, and then they drove through, passing Kyle’s truck and Kate’s trailer on the way down the street.
“It’s their little love nest,” Carrie said, watching them pull out in the rear-view mirror.
“We need to give them some space,” Jason said. “Maybe tease them a little less.”
“Okay,” Carrie said. “You think there’s something there?”
“You see the way Kyle looks at her?”
“Hadn’t noticed.”
“I did. Been a long time since he’s looked at a woman like that.”
They turned onto Route 290 and were off.
Chapter 10 – Texas Mary’s
Brenda was drying mugs behind the bar, cigarette hanging from her mouth, bleach-blonde hair falling around her black t-shirt which was a little too tight for her large breasts. She heard trucks pulling up into the parking lot and frowned, showing her premature wrinkles.
“Hey, Chris, we got customers, and it’s an hour before opening time.”
Chris walked out of the back. “That’s why I’m cooking already,” he said, wiping his hands with a small white towel. “Don’t worry, it’s late enough to be legal.” He squinted as he looked out the small window into the bright morning sunshine. He was about Brenda’s age; mid-40s, with a biker look to him. Shaved head and goatee, heavy set.
“I’ll go let them in. Why the special treatment?” Brenda said.
“You never watch the news,” he said, shaking his head. “The heathens attacked them for what they did at the Superstore.”
“Heathens?” Brenda asked, unlocking the front door.
“Sorry, Islamists,” he said. “They went to Kelly’s house and tried to off him. He turned the tables and killed all four of them, then called his buddies and warned them just in time. Last I heard the body count was nearly thirty.”
“Great, now Kelly’s head will be even bigger than it was before,” Brenda said, exasperated look on her face. She got rid of her cigarette and put mugs onto the long bar. “I suppose we’ll give them a round on the house?”
“Damn straight,” he grinned as he opened the door. “With shots.”
Brenda opened the door, shaking her head as the men streamed in, laughing and joking with each other.
“Nice job, guys!” Chris shouted with a grin. “First round with shots on the house!”
There were cheers from the rednecks as they filtered in, looking dirty, tired, and proud. Kelly was the leader, a huge man with long brown hair and a full beard, wearing a buckskin fringe jacket over a t-shirt and tattered jeans. He made a beeline to Brenda.
“I’ll take a kiss instead of a free beer,” he said, climbing onto a barstool.
Brenda rolled her eyes and smiled. “Why do you always try that?”
“Look down,” he said, grinning. She looked down and then realized what he was talking about.
“Sorry, I’m not passing these around,” she said. “Don’t care what you did.” She filled a beer mug and slid it to him. “This is gonna have to do, stud. You want a shot too?”
“Yeah, three fingers of Crown,” he said. “I’ll get the kiss later.”
“In your dreams,” Brenda said while p
ouring him a shot. She slid it over to the bar, leaning forward, shaking just a tad, watching his face as her breasts swayed.
“You did that on purpose,” he said. “Why do you always turn me down? You ain’t been married to Chris for years.”
“Maybe it’s the charming way you talk to me,” she said. “Drink up.”
“Thanks, Brenda,” he said, holding up the shot glass before he downed it.
A smaller man with intense, hawkish eyes sat down next to Kelly, putting his hand on his shoulder. “You giving Brenda the one-two again?” He chuckled as he climbed onto the bar stool.
“Yeah,” he said, taking a big chug of his beer.
“How’s it going?”
“About like usual.”
“I know you want a shot, Nate,” Brenda said, sliding one to him. “Hope the Crown is okay.”
“Of course,” he said, tossing it back and slamming the shot glass onto the bar. “What do you think is gonna happen next, Kelly?”
“We might see more of those guys,” he said, eyes narrowing. “They had a lot of men. Looked imported to me. We got ourselves a problem in Texas.”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Nate said. “We were lucky. You know that, right?”
Kelly looked at him, half-grin on his face. “Don’t diminish me in front of my woman.”
“Oh, brother,” Brenda said. She walked away to help a couple other men.
Kelly eyed Nate. “I want to know how they found all of us.”
“Bothers me too,” he said. “Hey, Junior!”
A tall rail of a man sauntered over, battered cowboy hat on his head, long beard on his face. “Drinking already. Disgusting.” He sat at the bar on the other side of Kelly and raised his hand. Brenda saw him and came over.
“Shot?”
“What do you think, honey lips?” he said. Kelly and Nate laughed.
“Oh, brother. Crown for you too?”
“No, I’m a Jim Beam man,” he said. “You know that. I think you need a tighter top.”
“Nah, this one draws in enough of you guys,” she said as she grabbed a bottle of Jim Beam off the shelf behind her. She poured it for him.
“Why don’t you join me? I know you like Mr. Beam.”