Four armed men emerged. It was like a well-rehearsed play. First, the commoners parted to make way for the henchmen who then split, two by two, and Bud Hershman stood before them.
Bud wasn’t what Jeb expected, especially if he was their leader and it appeared he was were.
Jeb envisioned a stronger looking man, maybe one in his late fifties, or early sixties. Redneck values, slick, hick accent.
But Bud Hershman wasn’t any of those.
An average size man he was, without a doubt, a clean-cut guy trying to look rough and tough. He had only a slight hint of a country accent, his hair thin on top. He nodded to his henchmen and they lowered their weapons. He then looked at Jeb, Tate, and Manny. “You can at ease these weapons. No harm here.”
“I’d rather not, but ...” Jeb put his revolver back behind his pants. He motioned his head for Tate and Manny to lower their guns.
Another nod of Bud’s head, and his two henchmen stepped to Jeb, reaching behind him for the gun.
Jeb stepped, back, pulled his revolver, and aimed it at the shorter man. “I lowered. I won’t give it up. Back up little man. Now.”
Bud chuckled. “It’s Ok, Stew,” he said to his henchman. “Perhaps these folks will see none of us are enemies.” He sighed and then extended his hand to Robi. “My name is Edward. People around here call me Bud. You are?”
“Roberta Pierce. Or Robi.” She shook his hand. “And these are …”
“Robi,” he whispered out the name. “Rob ...bee. Hmm. Beautiful.” He grabbed her other hand. “It is such a pleasure to …” He turned over her left hand and noticed her wedding band. The band Robi had yet to remove. “Married? Is one of these men your husband?”
Robi started to answer. “Actually …”
“I am.” Jeb reached to him, lowering Robi’s hands from Bud. “I’m her husband.” Jeb held out his hand. “Jeb.”
“The preacher?” Bud asked.
Jeb let out a two ‘ha’ snide chuckle. “Uh, yeah.”
Bud cleared his throat. “Well, seems odd to get to know each other here. Why don’t we head up to my office and we can talk. How’s that?” He waited for a response and the one he received was a nod. Bud, turned, gave a simple wave to follow and led the way through the men, calling out, “Keep the barbeque going, men. We’ll feast in a bit.”
Robi, Jeb, Tate, and Manny started to follow.
Jeb stopped. “Mas,” he called out. “Mas, come on.”
Mas was engrossed with Sam. He smiled, waved, and started to head toward Jeb.
Bud halted him with a friendly lift of his hand. “No, go visit,” he informed Mas, then spoke to Jeb. “Your Patagonian can visit with ours. Unless he is vital to your meeting?”
Jeb looked at Robi.
Robi answered, “Mas should be fine. Go on Mas, chat with your friend.”
Mas nodded happily. “Much thanks, Robi. Miss I did, acquainted again, shall we.”
Bud smiled. “Good. Ready?” he continued on his straight ahead path.
With some trepidation, the four of them followed.
<><><><>
For some obscure reason, the four of them were left in the office located on top of a hardware store in town. It was Bud’s home and office so they were told. The main room, where they all waited, was the office.
The room held a medium sized oak desk, sofa, two chairs and a large round meeting table covered with maps.
“Kitchen, bathroom, bedroom,” Jeb said as he returned from the small hall. “Not much. He has a purple bedspread. Fucked up.” He walked to the main picture window where the curtains were open and the window was only covered by a thin sheer. “Does anyone else think this is odd?”
Manny asked, “You mean that the curtains are open?”
Robi shook his head. “That’s not what Jeb means. I know what you mean, Jeb. It is odd. Why are we waiting here alone? I mean granted, he said he’d be right back, but still.”
Tate checked out the time. “He’s been gone eight minutes.”
Jeb pointed a finger. “He’s up to something.”
Manny showed concerned. “You don’t think he’s gonna kill us, do you?”
Jeb shook his head. “No. If anything happens …” he pulled from his pocket a ketchup cap, “Watch.” He held it to his mouth, “Greek, you there?”
“Yep. Still here. Read you loud and clear.”
“Good I’ll keep you posted. As soon as we find out what Princess Bud wants. Over.” Jeb replaced the cap into his pocket.
Manny said, “That is amazing that the radios work at this distance.”
“Wait a second,” Robi stepped forward. “The radios don’t work at this distance. Fuck.”
“What?” Jeb asked.
“Their range is a radius of only a few miles. We have to be relaying off something.” Robi said. “Bet me this Sam guy built a similar radio.”
Tate added, “So he can hear everything we say.”
Robi nodded. “Whatever we transmit.”
Jeb smiled and bought the ketchup cap back to his mouth. “Hey, Greek. Did I mention that this Bud guy keeps staring at Manny’s butt? Yep. Over.”
Robi, trying not to laugh, pointed in a scold to Jeb. “You need to be a little more mature.”
“Why?”
“Why?” Robi asked. “Because it’s the grown up thing to do.”
“Yeah,” Tate added. “You’re a father now. But, you might not be after Bishop gets done with Martha.”
“Fuckin’ Bishop,” Jeb grumbled.
Bud returned. They all spun in his direction as they stood around the table.
“Hope you’re fine,” Bud said. “I’m sorry about the delay. Problem with the barbeque.”
Manny asked, “What exactly do you barbeque?”
“Livestock,” Bud replied. “The wipe out didn’t … wipe out the live stock. Sam says they aren’t even infected, so we eat them. Tonight … pork.” He smiled. “So, you folks are from Clinton? Not much in that town. How are you surviving?”
Robi replied, “We’re passing through Clinton. We stopped there.”
“Travelers.”
“We prefer settlers.” Robi gave a polite smile.
“East to west or west or east.”
“East to west.” Bud nodded. “You’re probably wondering about our little town.”
Jeb wanted to say, ‘not really’ but refrained.
Bud continued, “I’m not from around here. I was an insurance man. I was driving to Amarillo when the wipe out happened. Actually, I was in a diner having food. Suddenly, everyone just …. Well. I don’t need to tell you. I managed to find about four more people; this was just east of Oklahoma. We, like everyone else, pretty much hung around the television until the signal died.”
Tate asked, “Did you mark down survivors?”
Bud nodded. “Yeah, then after about two weeks, we went searching. We stopped in a town called Weatherford. Did you folks go there?”
Manny whistled. “And left there.”
“Yep.” Bud chuckled. “We were over run. Lost one of our guys there. I got bit. We got in the car, and kept driving until we ran out of gas, just off the exit. Ben Evens was with me and he found the town and people. Three. They nursed me back to health. When I was healed, I realized the people in the town, the three of them were starving. They weren’t smart. Not using their resources and I helped them. And stayed.”
Jeb questioned, “So when you got here, that made six. How did you end up with so many?”
“Travelers. Sam was the first,” Bud answered. “They all stopped and stayed. Like you folks are gonna do. How many are you?”
Robi replied, “Oh, no, we’re not staying.”
“You’re not?” Bud snickered. “Well, what are you doing?”
“We’re headed west to California.”
“Southern?” Bud asked.
Robi nodded.
“There’s nothing there.”
“We don’t know that,” Robi said.
>
“They stopped sending a signal.”
“We think that perhaps that was on purpose. To avoid being picked up.”
“Or they were and are wiped out,” Bud said. “If that’s the case, then what?”
Robi surged. “Stay. Make the best of it.”
“That’s absurd,” Bud commented. “You’re traveling on a bad dream.”
“And you have what here?” Robi asked.
“We have water, livestock … protection.”
“We can get water, livestock … we have …” Robi held out her hand toward Jeb. “Protection.”
“But you lack leadership.”
Robi laughed. “We lack no such thing. Are you saying because this town has leadership, you, that we’re insane for going forward?”
“Pretty much. I mean, Ok, let’s face it. It’s pretty simple to lead four people.”
Manny interjected, “We have more. They just aren’t here.” He added smugly, “Plus, you know, our leadership is pretty tight. It was tight at the church in PA when we were set up like you, and this whole entire trip it has been tight. Robi does a good …”
“Her?” Bud asked. “She’s your leader.”
Robi replied, “We all sort of …”
Jeb interrupted, “Yeah, she is. She leads. We follow.”
Bud chuckled. “That’s good. Real good.”
Robi passively nodded a few times with a cool, calm look, and then smiled. “Ok. Well, we just need to know if any of you wanted to join us. But … you guys got it together and we’ll just leave. Let’s go guys.” She walked to the door.
“Wait,” Bud called out. “You’re leaving? You aren’t staying for the barbeque.”
Robi, hand reaching for the door paused. “As nice as it is of an invitation, we’ll pass. But thank you for your hospitality. Good luck, OK? We have to leave.”
She opened the door and faced a crowd armed with raised shotguns all aimed at her and blocking her exit. Bud walked up to her. “Leave? I’m afraid I can’t let you do that.”
Jeb drew. Tate and Manny drew their weapons as well.
“Drop it,” Bud ordered. “Drop it now.”
“How about I just drop you?” Jeb held his aim steady. “I won’t have a problem with that.”
“Then will you have a problem with watching your wife die?” Bud asked. “Because you kill me, they’ll kill her.”
Jeb shifted his eyes to the weapons aimed at Robi.
“Drop them,” Bud instructed. “One woman. If we can’t have her, no one will. We haven’t had a woman here at all. So no loss to us if she bites it. What’s it gonna be?”
Jeb didn’t answer. He made eye contact with Robi, then waited a beat and he, Tate, and Manny lowered their weapons.
Bud considered the town his kingdom and the main street of the town was his kingdom’s court. Bud referred to himself as leader and king, but also made a comment about being a princess.
He did that with a smirk.
Jeb, Tate, and Manny were being escorted down the street where their vehicle waited. They were given back their weapons as well. The only thing they weren’t given was Robi.
Tate spoke through clenched teeth as they approached the court, “We aren’t leaving this place without her.”
“Shut up,” Jeb whispered.
“No, Jeb, listen …”
“Shut the fuck up,” Jeb said low. “You think I’m that fuckin’ stupid. Follow my lead.”
“This better work.”
“It will.” Jeb continued walking. “But first … we have to leave.”
Tate stopped. He looked at Jeb.
“Trust me.”
The three of them were reunited with Mas. He was confused about what was going on, and neither Tate, Jeb nor Manny could explain. They simply said they’d give him all the information in the Humvee.
“As my gift,” Bud stated. “Exchange. Fair exchange. Sam will go with you. Plus, you may take two more of my men. I believe that’s fair. Don’t you?”
Jeb stared him down. “Yeah, it’s fair. We were getting a divorce anyhow.”
Bud smiled. “Good.” He walked to a homemade platform, and stepped upon it. He spoke loudly bringing silence to the group. “Our visitors have decided to leave us. They are going to Southern California to look for survivors. Two of you, Travis and Ben, have expressed interest in going. These folks are happy to take you.”
Travis did a huge yelp of excitement and a skip. He raced to Jeb. “I can just pick up things. Don’t need to wait for me to pack.”
“Ben?” Bud asked. “Are you willing to go? Do you want to go?”
Ben nodded. A quiet guy, mid thirties.
“Would you like to get some things together? You can, but I am sure, you can get all you want on your trip.”
Ben agreed and, he, like Travis, joined Jeb, Tate, and Manny.
Bud continued, “The woman is tired from traveling and asked to stay here for a while. I saw no problem with that, and thought it was best. Especially since her and I had quite the instantaneous attraction.”
Jeb leaned into Tate, whispering, “This mother fucker is so dead when I’m done with him.”
Bud said more, but Jeb, Tate, and Manny paid no attention. Within moments, they were escorted to their Humvee, and then escorted out of town.
Gates closed.
Tate drove and wasn’t happy. “We just left.”
“Keep driving,” Jeb instructed. “Manny, give me your bag. Empty it.”
Manny emptied the contents of his bag. “You want everything out?”
“Leave the binoculars, and toss in your weapon. Plus ammo.”
“Flashlight, too?” Manny asked.
“Yep.” Jeb accepted the bag.
“What are you doing?” Tate asked.
“Keep driving.”
“What’s the plan?” Tate badgered angrily. “You said you have a plan.”
“I do.”
Travis leaned forward. “They gonna follow you. See ‘em?”
Jeb looked in the side view mirror. “I see them. What do you know?” he asked Travis.
“They’re supposed to follow you fer about five or six miles once you get on the highway. Once you’re out of sight, they’ll stop.”
“See,” Jeb said. “That’s the plan. Drive five or six miles up the highway, stop. I’ll get out. You guys go get the others and be ready to get us. I’ll have her out of there this evening.”
Tate turned his head toward Jeb. ‘You can’t go in alone. No way. I won’t let you.”
“The less the better,” Jeb said.
“But alone …”
“Nope.” Jeb cut him off. “I won’t be alone. I’ll have Travis. He knows that town inside and out. If anyone can get me in there, and help me get Robi, it’s him. Right, Travis?”
Travis grinned from ear to ear. “Right.” He nodded, and then the happy look was replaced with a confused one. “What am I saying right about?”
Jeb slightly rolled and faced forward. He gave a motion of his head to Tate for him to keeping driving. And they did.
<><><><>
Clinton, OK
The ride back was a silent one, even Mas and Sam had nothing to say, and they made it there rather quickly. When they pulled to the Days Inn, Greek was the first one out to greet them. He had a worried look on his face which intensified when he arrived at the Humvee.
“Guys,” Greek said out of breath. “Where’s …”
Tate held up his hand, “I’d rather explain once Bishop and Nick get here. OK?”
“You radioed. The radio call was weird.”
“I know.” Tate stepped in front of the Humvee. “Nick.” He called out.
“Jumping will-lickers,” Doc proclaimed.” More goddamn aliens,” he said upon seeing Sam.
Manny only gave a shake of his head to Doc.
“Hey, wait.” Doc stepped closer. “Where is Robi cop and Flake?”
They were laughing when they stepped from the bus, Nick fir
st with Bishop directly behind him. Bishop carried Martha.
“Hey, guys,” Nick said brightly.
Bishop slowed down. His eyes shifted. “Wait a second. Where’s …”
“My mom?” Nick moved faster. “Tate, where’s my Mom.”
“Listen, Nick,” Tate spoke calmly. “I have to tell you something.”
“No. No.” Nick shook his head and rushed to the Humvee. “What happened to my mom? Tate? Where’s my mom?”
Bishop closed his eyes. “Oh, my God, please don’t tell me Robi and Jeb are …”
“No,” Tate answered quickly. “They aren’t. They aren’t dead. They’re fine. We had a problem. We gotta pack up and get moving, OK?” He laid his hands on Nick’s shoulders. “The town was all men. They took your mom at gunpoint and threatened to kill her if we didn’t leave.”
“You just left her?” Nick asked emotionally. “How could you leave my Mom?”
“Nick,” Tate said. “We left your mom. Jeb did not. OK? OK?” He waited for a nod. “He’s there. He’s gonna get her and we just got to go back and get them. Do you think he’s gonna let anything happen to your mom?”
Nick whispered emotionally, “We have to get her.”
“We will,” Tate said. “Jeb will. I can bet my life and promise you that.”
“Is my Mom OK?” Nick asked.
“I believe she is,” Tate replied.
“But we don’t know,” Nick’s voice dropped. “I wish we knew.”
With an airy revelation, Bishop spoke, “Guys? We do know.” When he saw he had their attention, he raised Martha’s hand. “She’s fine. Robi’s fine.” Bishop smiled. “We do know. Look.”
From the palm of her tiny hand raised a small golf ball size, globe of blue energy. The blue ball was cloudy and swirled with a mist. When the mist cleared, inside the ball was an image of Robi.
She was fine … and wearing a dress.
<><><><>
“And then …” Travis spoke as he and Jeb walked the wooded area toward town. “When I was in eighth grade, I had this wart …” he held up his bended elbow. “You can see the scar. Used to be a wart …”
Jeb just kept his focus straight ahead and his pace steady.
The Last Mile Trilogy Page 22