The Last Mile Trilogy
Page 24
Bishop opened his eyes. “I dozed off.” He adjusted Martha as he sat up. The book fell to the floor.
Jeb picked it up. “The Stand?”
“Yeah.” Bishop covered Martha and stretched as he stood. “Good book.”
“Heavy reading.”
“Martha’s enjoying it.”
Curiously, Jeb looked at him. “Martha?”
“She asked for it. She’s asked a million questions though. Driving me nuts.”
“Martha?”
“She’s pretty smart.”
“I’d say.” Jeb handed him the book. “Is she getting it?”
“Yeah.”
“Better than me.” Jeb chuckled. “I never got it. Anyhow … I’m gonna see Robi.”
“Wait.”
“What?”
Bishop leaned forward. The door was slightly ajar. He whispered, “You think she’s OK?”
“That’s why I’m here.”
“So you didn’t get an idea?”
“You know Robi,” Jeb said. “Nothing really bothers her, and even if it does, she doesn’t show it.” He began opening the cupboards.
“What are you looking for?” Bishop asked. “Spam?”
“Fuck no. Jack.”
“I hid it from Baby Martha.”
“What?” Jeb asked with a laugh.
“She hasn’t a clue it’s alcohol. She sees how much of it you guys drink.” Bishop opened the cabinet under the sink and used that as a stepping stool as he reached.
“Hold on.” Jeb interrupted, opened the cabinet out of Bishop’s reach and grabbed the bottle. “Thanks.”
“You think it’s a good idea that you two drink every night?” Bishop questioned.
“What are you, Mother Hen?
“Yeah, I guess you can say that,” Bishop commented. “You guys are like the town drunks.”
“You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m serious.”
“On what grounds do you base this conclusion?” Jeb snapped. “Because we have a drink every night. Do you see us slobbering drunk?”
“No. But most alcoholics don’t get slobbering drunk. You both drink every night. So, yeah, I’m basing it on that. You both drink a lot.”
“What else is there to do?”
“How about coffee?”
“How about minding your own business.”
“Look…” Bishop held up his hands in defense. “She has a son and a daughter now. I just want to make sure she is OK.”
“She’s fine,” Jeb said. “And not an alcoholic.”
“She also …” Robi’s voice entered the room, “is in earshot. You guys need to know that in a tin bus, sound travels.” She grabbed the bottle from Jeb’s hand. “Thanks.”
“Robi,” Bishop sounded apologetic. “Look, I …”
“Was just concerned. I know,” Robi said. “But I’m fine. I’m not an alcoholic.”
Smug, Jeb turned to Bishop. “See.”
Bishop flipped him off.
Jeb swung out hitting his hand.
“Enough.” Robi poured a drink. “Jeb?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
Robi poured him one. “Bishop?”
“No,” Bishop said. “I want to be in the right frame of mind. Clear. Someone has to be.” He walked over to the couch.
Robi shrugged and held her glass to Jeb. “Cheers?”
“Cheers,” he said clinking glasses with her.
They both sipped.
Jeb asked, “How are you?”
“Good. Fine.”
“No … I don’t know… how about any residual bad feelings?”
Robi snickered. “I’m not scarred if that’s what you mean. I’m not traumatized either. I’m fine.”
“Good.”
“But, I do ….” She played with her glass. “Want to thank you. Thank you for coming to my rescue.” She shifted her eyes when she heard Bishop groan.
“You’re welcome,” Jeb said. “Anytime.”
Another groan from Bishop.
Jeb spun. “What is your problem? We’re having a private moment.”
“Uh, Jeb,” Bishop sat up again. “Little information for you. You can’t have a private moment when someone else is in the room.”
“Get lost.”
“You get lost, I was here first.”
Jeb bit his bottom lip, trying to ignore him. Lowering his voice, he asked Robi, “Wanna go in the back?’
Bishop huffed out a laugh. “Like I didn’t hear that. Can you be any more obvious you’re trying to hit on her?”
“Can you be any more obvious, you don’t want me to?”
Robi closed her eyes.
Bishop stood. “So you are.”
“Why do you care?” Jeb asked. “We ...connect.”
“She’s also the only woman.” Bishop walked to him. “I think it’s a little unfair that you have to totally encompass her time so she has no choice in the matter.”
“Uh, you think maybe she likes me?”
Robi said, “You think I’m in this room?”
Bishop ignored her. “You think maybe, Jeb, if she wasn’t the only woman, you’d be the same way?”
“Absolutely.”
“Please.” Bishop fluttered his lips. “I know your type.”
“My type?”
“God,” Robi grumbled and poured another drink.
“What exactly is my type?” Jeb asked. “You don’t know who I am or what I like. If you’re gonna make accusations little man, you better know what you’re talking about.”
“Little man?”
“Little man.”
Bishop laughed. “You think maybe you’re just a mutant.”
“What the fuck?” Jeb squealed. “Mutant.”
“Too large.”
Jeb laughed. “I’m fuckin six foot four, how is that too large?”
“You would ask that,” Bishop ridiculed. “Considering the average height of a man is five foot ten, that’s too large.”
“Fuck you.” Jeb gave an ‘up’ to his head.
“Fuck me, no fuck you.”
“I should have shot you in the head when everyone thought you were a zombie,” Jeb said.
“Oh, you could,” Bishop snapped.
“I could. You asked.”
“I was out of it.”
“Guys.” Robi held up her hand. “This is stupid. Stop. OK?”
They were locked in a stare down.
Jeb spoke, “If you weren’t so little …” he stopped.
“What? You’d beat me up?” Bishop laughed.
Again, Jeb bit his lip and turned to Robi. “Do something about him.”
“Bishop,” Robi tried not to laugh. “Please.”
There was a silent moment.
“Jeb!” Nick rushed on the bus. He caught his breath. “Tate needs you. Stat. We have trouble.”
“What kind?” Jeb asked,
“Men, lots, in the distance, but coming this way,” Nick said. “We think it’s that town.”
After putting down his drink, Jeb rushed out.
“What do you got?” Jeb asked as he crawled onto the roof of the bus.
“Twenty-seven men, armed.” Tate handed him the binoculars. “Take a look. Moving steady, but not fast.”
“Looking for us?” Jeb lifted the binoculars.
“I’d say yes,” Tate replied. “Seeing that I recognize the one.”
“Which one?”
“Second row, third from the left.”
“Pervert Bud.” Jeb lowered the binoculars. “You think they’ll spot us?”
“More than likely. Wanna snuff the fire?”
Jeb took a moment to take another look. “They’re on foot. Where are their vehicles?”
“My guess, parked on the highway.”
“That muddy road.”
“Yep. Saw our tracks.”
“Fuck. OK.” Jeb handed the binoculars to Tate. “Keep watch. Keep a sniper’s position.”
“Got it.”
“I’ll be back.” Jeb climbed down.
Manny was the first to inquire and everyone was standing around. “Well?” Manny asked. “Are we under attack or gonna be?”
“Probably,” Jeb said.
“Should we run?” Manny asked.
“Fuck no. We aren’t fuckin’ running from twenty plus men. That’s ridiculous. Especially when Me, Tate, and Bishop, are expert shots.”
“And me,” Robi added. “Hello.”
“I know, but …” Jeb hesitated. “Look …”
“No.” Robi shook her head. “No. Fuck you. I know where you’re going with this.” She walked to the side bus door where a rifle was leaning. “I’m fighting.”
“No, you’re not.”
“I am capable of fighting and I will.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Jeb …” Tate called. “They closing in.”
“Robi, listen, we can handle this. But if something goes wrong …”
“I don’t care,” Robi said.
“I do!” Jeb blasted.
“I don’t need you to be chivalrous,” Robi argued.
“It’s not chivalrous, ok!” Jeb yelled. “It’s him.” He pointed to Nick. “You have a son. Top priority. Protect that son. I’m here to do that, to help. You yourself called me security. Let me do my job. He already lost a father, and sister, you want to have him lose a mother on a wayward lucky shot? No!”
Robi cocked back, saying nothing.
“Now take the keys, take your ass, and pack up the Humvee with Nick, Martha, Doc, the alien twins, and you back into the woods until all clear. Got that?”
“But …”
“No buts, we have seven men that will end this situation. Go. Hustle. Now.”
Robi grimaced, but she followed his orders. She hurried everyone together, packed into the Humvee, and at low gear, and slow, backed into the woods.
Jeb waited until they were clear, which didn’t take much time. He joined Tate on the roof of the bus along with the others, belly down, peering out.
“Well?” Tate asked. “What’s the plan?”
“I’m thinking,” Jeb said, holding binoculars for better viewing.
“We can hit them with the gas, knock them out, and move. Or we can just open fire and take them out now.”
“This is ridiculous.” Jeb put down the binoculars, and rubbed his chin.
“What is?” Tate questioned.
“The fact that there are a hundred fuckin’ people left in the world and this is happening. I’m not gonna let us kill each other.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Got your radio?”
“Yeah.”
“Let me know when I’m in ear shot of them.”
“What are you doing Jeb?”
Jeb began to climb down from the bus.
“Jeb,” Tate whispered harshly. “What are you doing?”
“Ending this shit. Cover my ass. If they shoot me, wipe them out. Got it?”
“Be careful.”
Jeb gave a single nod and descended from the roof. He opened the underbelly of the bus and grabbed a hand spotlight. Running low, he kept going until Tate told him, he was close.
Jeb crouched down, in the wooded area. “Ok, look,” he said to Tate. “I need you to be my eyes.”
“Got it.”
Jeb turned on the spotlight. “Hold it!” he called out.
Tate reported, “They’re halting. Tell them to stop right there.”
“Stop right there,” Jeb ordered.
“Stopping… Stopping… Stopped. OK, they look confused, they see the spotlight, but they don’t see you.”
“That’s the way I want it,” Jeb stated then aimed his voice. “Look. There are more than you think. Take your chance. Go on! But here’s the deal. Reality check, gentlemen, we can have your entire little group there wiped out and gone in ten seconds. Your choice to believe that or not. Right now, I’m gonna be honest. This is stupid. We’re all that’s left. We can’t be fighting and killing each other.”
Bud responded, “We aren’t here to fight or shoot. I just want my woman back.”
“Your woman?” Jeb asked. “You mean my wife?”
“Yeah.”
“You can’t have her.”
A pause.
“Why?” Bud asked.
“Why?” Jeb grew irate and stood up. “What are you fuckin’ stupid? I don’t need to tell you why.”
“Jeb, down,” Tate ordered.
“No,” Jeb barked.
“No, what,” Bud questioned, “I can’t have her?”
“No you cannot have my wife!” Jeb blasted.
“Fine!” Bud yelled. “You leave me no choice but to call you on it.”
“Call me?” Jeb asked. “What do you mean, call me?”
“I challenge you to a dual. A fight to the finish, not death. But to the finish. What do you say? The winner takes the woman.”
Jeb had to pull the radio from his ear; Tate’s laughter was annoying.
“What kind of fight?” Jeb asked.
“Man to man. Fist to fist.”
Jeb grumbled at Tate’s laughter. “And when it’s done, it’s done?”
“Yes.”
“Fine. We’ll fuckin’ fight for her. Come to the clearing. But leave your weapons where you are.”
“But what if you shoot us?” Bud asked.
“If we were gonna shoot you, we would have done it already!” Jeb blasted. "Lay your fuckin guns down and come to the clearing.”
Jeb waited, he listened as Tate reported it appeared they were all lowering their weapons. When he received an ‘all clear’ from Tate, he returned to the bus.
Manny, Bishop, Tate and Greek along with the new men were there.
Tate, however, was still laughing.
“What is so funny?” Jeb asked.
“You have to fight for Robi, against Bud.” Tate wiped the smile from his face. “Sorry.”
“You never know,” Jeb said. “He could be a challenge. Never underestimate your opponent. What if he’s like one of those karate guys?”
To that, Tate laughed.
Bishop stepped forward. “Why is he calling her your wife?”
Jeb looked at him. “Why are you making this so much your business?”
Tate gave a nudge to Jeb. “They’re emerging.”
Jeb raised his rifle, nodded to Manny who turned on the spotlight. “Raise them hands gentlemen,” he ordered.
They all did. The whole row.
“We have no weapons,” Bud said. “This is a gentleman’s fight.”
Jeb gave a signal to Manny and the others to lower weapons and they walked toward the line of men at the same time Bud led his men.
Bud spoke, “Two men against each other. First man down for a five count is out. Sound good?”
Jeb nodded. “Works. Let’s do this.”
“Good. But I didn’t say it would be me.” Bud stepped back, gave a short whistle and called out, “Pedro!”
From the group of men, Travis yelped, and then gasped, “Pedro!”
Raising an eyebrow, Jeb looked over his shoulder to Travis. “What are you yapping about?”
Travis pointed.
Tate said, “This might be a challenge.”
Bishop smirked. “It’ll be interesting. But you better not lose.”
After giving a quirky glance to Bishop, Jeb finally turned around. Pedro was before him.
Pedro was about ten years Jeb’s junior, and about four inches taller, he also had him in bulk.
Jeb didn’t flinch,
Bud stepped back. “Gentlemen begin.”
“Wait,” Jeb said. “You said gentlemen. It is a gentlemen’s fight, right?”
“Right,” Bud said.
With a smile, Jeb held out his hand. “Then let’s begin this as gentlemen.”
Bud gave an ‘OK’ nod to Pedro.
“Pleasure.” Pedro held out his hand.
“All mine,�
�� Jeb said, gripped his hand with a firm shake and then yanked Pedro into him. With a quick upward knee to the groin, Pedro buckled slightly, and Jeb greeted him with a jabbing head butt. The second a startled Pedro cocked back, Jeb reached out, gripped his head, and delivered one, hard quick jab, square in the face.
Jeb moved back as Pedro teetered and fell to the ground. Jeb grinned. “One, two, three, four, five, I win.”
“Holy cow,” Bud stammered. “That’s our biggest guy.”
“He fought well,” Jeb said.
Bud only looked at him with a shocked expression.
“OK, here’s the deal.” Jeb gently rested his foot on Pedro’s chest. “We’ll know what’s coming our way. Instead of working against each other, we should be working with each other. Now I’m willing to forget the little ‘you touched my wife and tried to have a snack’ situation, and not break your fuckin’ neck over it, so we can try to think of a way we all can become a strong force, instead of an opposing one.” Jeb then asked, “What do you think?”
A still stunned Bud could only nod in agreement.
“Good.” Jeb clapped his hands together once. “Peace treaty accomplished, let’s all have a drink.”
<><><><>
The exchange between them was civil and the plan was simple. They would maintain radio communication with Red River who would call them ‘US’ or Utopia Seekers. With lines of communication open, US would contact Red River when they arrived at So-Cal. Once all was secure those in Red River would venture out to join up with them.
That was the plan. That and go to Las Vegas, because Red River had received a signal from there, as well. A signal that since depleted, but there as a lot that could be blamed on that.
A few beers and shots later, the Red River crew was on their way, peacefully.
Problem solved.
Problem one.
Problem two still remained.
She may have said it a hint over a whisper, but it conveyed a lot when she spoke the words to Jeb. “Fuck you,” Robi told him.
“Excuse me?”
Robi tossed the rest of her drink on to the fire. “You need me to repeat it?’
“Um, yeah, please, because I thought I heard you say …”
“Fuck you.” Robi nodded once. “Fuck you, Jeb. Did you understand it that time?”
“Well … yeah, but …”
“Fuck you.” She spun on her heals, and marched toward the bus.
“What the hell did I do?” Jeb tossed out his hands.