The Last Mile Trilogy

by Jacqueline Druga

  The shooter did.

  “Down. Now,” Robi said gently. “Please.”

  The shooter stopped fighting and jumped down. Whoever it was, was shorter than Robi, wore a lot of clothes, face shielded by a hood.

  Robi was out of breath as she reached out and removed the hood. She gasped. “You’re just a little girl.”

  “Am not,” The teenage girl barked in her southern accent, turned, and started to run. As she tried to make her escape, she paused to kick Jeb in the shin.

  He was ready, and he latched on to her.

  She fought. Squirming and kicking.

  “Knock it off!” Jeb ordered.

  “Gotta get to my Pa. I have to get to my Pa.” She resisted. “Let me go!’

  Robi approached her, and as she did, Bishop, Nick, Greek and Ben arrived.

  “It’s a girl,” Ben said. “A little girl.”

  “Am not.” She struggled in Jeb’s hold. “And let me go. I need to get to my Pa.”

  Robi faced her. “Calm down.”

  She didn’t.

  “Hey!” Robi yelled in her best mother voice. “Calm!”

  The girl stopped fighting.

  “Now, what’s going on?” Robi asked.

  “I got to get to my Pa,” she said. “He’s sick. He needs his medicine. I was getting it. Now let me go you big baboon.” She struggled again.

  “Do you have the medicine?” Robi asked.

  “In my pocket.”

  Robi reached, the girl turned, but she still managed to get the bottle.

  “Give it back!” the girl ordered.

  Robi lifted it to read the label. “Insulin. I’m a nurse, we have a doctor. OK?” Robi said soothingly. “Now, take me to your dad. OK?”

  The girl nodded.

  <><><><>

  Her name was Eva Weston and her and her ‘Pa’ lived two streets down from where they found her. It was a tiny little house with blooming flowers, a well-maintained yard and a tall white fence.

  She agreed to take Robi to her ‘Pa’, and would allow only Bishop to go along. She claimed he had a trusting face.

  Robi grabbed the medical bag and followed the young girl.

  “Lived in this town long?” Robi asked.

  Eva worked the padlock on the fence. “My whole life.”

  “How old are you?”

  “Fifteen, well, fourteen, but I’ll be fifteen next month,” she replied. “You?”

  “Old,” Robi replied, then reached out and gripped the fence. “Have you had trouble?”

  “Not since the dogs died off,” Eva answered. She removed the lock and opened the fence. “Pa said we had to build the fence for them… and for if strangers come into town.” She headed to the house.

  Bishop asked, “Are there anymore? Or is it just you and your father?”

  “Me and Pa. Mr. Clausen was here but he and that woman left a couple weeks ago. Went to California. Ain't heard from him. Then again, the cell phone stopped working last month.”

  “You had a cell phone until last month?” Bishop asked. “Wow, that’s convenient.”

  “Pa said our satellite must a been the last to go.” She approached the door. “We tried calling people, but ain’t nobody answered.” She walked in. “Pa’s in here.”

  Robi asked, “Your mom? Where is she?’

  “She died in a car accident four years ago.” Eva closed the door once Bishop and Robi entered. “Pa! I’m back.”

  It was a single floor home, and Eva led Robi and Bishop to a back hall. “Pa?”

  A cough.

  “Yeah, honey.”

  Eva breathed out. “I get so worried. We ran out of medicine.”

  “Who you talking to?” he asked.

  Eva opened the bedroom door. "Pa, some people arrived in town. One of them’s a nurse.”

  The older man, probably in his mid sixties lifted himself up to a sitting position. He was pale, sweaty, dark circles under his eyes. He coughed before speaking. “Well I’ll be.” He tried to smile. “Parker Weston.” He introduced himself. “I’d shake your hand, but I’m sick.”

  “Robi Pierce, and this is Bishop,” Robi said and approached the bed. “I’m a nurse. Do you mind if I take a look at you? I brought a medical bag.”

  “No, not at all. I’m glad,” Parker said. “I’m happy you people showed up. Told you, Eva. Didn’t I? I told you people would show.”

  Eva nodded. “Some seem nice. One guy seems really mean.”

  Robi smiled. “That’s just a front. We were surprised you folks were here.”

  Parker said, “I wanted to drive to California but … I was fearful of my health.”

  “You’re a diabetic?” Robi asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Is that your only health problem?” She lifted the stethoscope.

  “Far as I know.”

  “Has it been manageable before the … before the …” she searched for the words, “Drop?”

  “Was. Still can be,” Parker replied. “Lately it’s been a bitch. I caught one of them summer colds and it’s been out of control.”

  “Have you been checking your blood sugar?” Robi sat on the edge of the bed.

  “Just did.” Parker reached for the little blood sugar monitor.

  “Ok.” Robi exhaled. “How about we check it again, I have your insulin. We’ll do a thorough exam. Sound good?”

  Parker nodded.

  Robi turned to Eva and Bishop. “Can you give us a few minutes?”

  Bishop nodded and reached for Eva. “Come on, you can show me around the house.”

  Eva was reluctant, but followed. “I'll be right here, Pa. Right outside the bedroom.”

  Parker gave a thumbs up.

  When the door closed, Robi smiled. “Let’s see about getting you all better.” She hooked the stethoscope around her neck and pulled off the blood pressure cuff.

  <><><><>

  The living room was tiny and well kept. Neat, dust free. A plant with blooming flowers graced the windowsill, just below it a table full of pictures. The sun streaked through that window, adding that perfect country magazine home look.

  Bishop recognized Parker in one of the photographs as he hunched to view them all. So many. “Are these your family?” he asked Eva.

  “You think my Pa’s Ok with her?”

  “Fine. Robi’s great,” Bishop said, zooming in on a photo with Eva, Parker another woman and two men. “Mom?” he showed her.

  “Yeah. That’s my Ma. My brothers, too.”

  “Where were they?” Bishop asked.

  “They lived in town when it happened. I was the baby by a long shot.” Eva nodded. “You got any kids?”

  Bishop shook his head. “No.” He set the photo down. “So you had the dogs around here?”

  “They were bad.”

  “Boy, tell me about it,” Bishop said.

  “Then they turned into like Zombie dogs.”

  “Yeah,” Bishop said with enthusiasm. “It was weird. Did they leave? We stopped seeing them.”

  “Ones around here died.” Eva sighed out. “Is she your girlfriend?”

  “Who Robi?” Bishop asked then shook his head. “No.”

  “You like her?”

  “As a matter of fact, I do.”

  “But she’s married, huh?” Eva questioned.

  “No, her husband died. Her son …” he pointed toward the door. “Isn’t much older than you. He lived.”

  “Is he mean?”

  “Who Nick?” Bishop chuckled “No, he’s a great kid.”

  “Maybe … maybe after some time passes, you and her and Nick can be a family.”

  Bishop smiled at the naivety of the girl. “Let me let you in on a secret. I’d like that, but …”

  “But what? She don’t like you?”

  Bishop shrugged. “I don’t know. I thought she could, you know. But then … but then one of our group keeps getting in the way.”

  “Another guy likes her?”

  Bishop no
dded.

  “Does she like him?”

  “Hard to say. I think he annoys her.”

  “Which guy is it?” Eva asked. “I saw a bunch.”

  “The big, mean one.”

  Eva’s eyes grew wide, and then she cringed. “He probably scares her and she’s afraid to tell him to go away.”

  “You’re probably right.”

  “You’re cuter than him.”

  “Ah, thanks.” Bishop smiled. “I’m nicer.”

  Eva chuckled. “I bet.”

  “You’re a really nice girl. It’s gonna be nice to have you on my side.” Bishop winked. “By the way. Can I ask why you shot him?”

  “He looked threatening.”

  Bishop nodded. “Makes sense.” He turned when he heard the bedroom door open.

  “Pa,” Eva said with a rush.

  Robi walked into the living room.

  Bishop asked, “Well?”

  “Well, I think,” Robi said, “you should go get Martha.”

  Eva looked upon Bishop with curiosity, but Bishop knew exactly what Robi meant, and why she requested the baby.

  <><><><>

  Tate extended his plate for a second helping. Normally he wouldn’t, but Manny made too much. “Never ceases to amaze me what you can do with rice and an open fire,” Tate said.

  “Thanks,” Manny replied. “At least it’s not Spam.”

  Tate laughed and took his seat by Nick at the table with everyone else.

  “Need to get some rabbit,” Travis said. “I like rabbit, anyone else?”

  “How do you cook it?” Manny asked.

  “Barbeque it,” Travis replied. “Tasty. Slow cooked barbeque. Mm.”

  Manny facially showed how he didn't think that sounded bad, and then he peered at Jeb. “What are you doing?”

  Jeb stood behind Martha, tying a ribbon to her head. “Making her look like a girl.”

  “She wears dresses,” Manny said. “That’s pretty … wrong. I don’t know, the vision of you tying a pink ribbon on a bald head…”

  “A little girl’s head,” Jeb corrected. “My little girl. And ... I think it looks good. Nick?”

  Nick nodded. “It works. Where did you get it?”

  “Found it in the drug store after your mom left with Bishop.” Jeb reached down to Martha. “No ...use a fork.” He gave her the fork. “Don’t eat like a dog.”

  Martha giggled. “Bishop said this is how Dudday eats.”

  “Bishop is wrong,” Jeb told her. “And what did I tell you about Uncle Bishop.”

  Martha smiled. “He’s a dick.”

  “Very good,” Jeb said proudly.

  “Hey, big brother,” Tate said. “Why don’t you sit down and eat.”

  “Na, I’m good,” Jeb replied. “I’m worried about Robi. The little demon child probably has her hostage, and with Bishop there, you know she’s not protected.”

  Tate shook his head. “Be careful with how you treat the demon child. She may be Nick’s only chance for a woman.”

  “Dude,” Nick said. “She’s cute.”

  “She’s the spawn of Satan,” Jeb commented. “Speaking of Spawns,” he pointed.

  Manny looked up. “Where’s Robi?”

  Jeb watched Bishop and Eva approach from down the street. “Probably skewered, slow cooking and barbequed. I wouldn’t put anything past Rosemary’s baby.”

  Tate stood up. “Looks like the offspring won’t come any closer.” He gave an up motion of his head when Bishop came to the table. “Where’s Robi?”

  “With Eva’s dad.” Bishop said. “I came for Martha, I need to take her. Robi requested her.”

  Curiously, Tate asked, “How bad is he?”

  Jeb added, “He must be bad if she’s requesting Martha.”

  “He didn’t look good,” Bishop said. “Can I take her?’

  “Can she eat first?” Jeb replied. “If she has some healing to do, she’ll be out for a while, and I think she really needs to eat.”

  Bishop shrugged. “Sure. Hey, Martha, why don’t you hurry up and finish so you can come with me to see Mommy.”

  “See Mummy?” Martha asked excitedly. “Dudday come?”

  “No,” Bishop shook his head. “Only us. Wanna come?”

  Martha nodded.

  “Hurry up and eat,” Bishop told her.

  With those instructions, Martha lowered her head to her plate and, in what seemed like an inhale, cleaned the plate of every grain of rice. She lifted a messy face with a grin.

  “How’s that, Jeb?” Bishop asked. “She ate.”

  “Uh ….” Jeb lifted the plate. “Um, yeah, sure that works. Take her.” He placed the plate down as Bishop lifted Martha, “Man we have to work on her manners.”

  <><><><>

  Robi brushed Eva’s hair while holding a ponytail holder in her mouth.

  “I can’t do a ponytail,” Eva said. “I try, but the pieces hang in my dang face and I keep blowing them like this …” She fluttered her lips.

  “The secret,” Robi said as she secured her band, “and you’ll learn this as you get older, is to pull it tight and spray those strands back.” She picked up the hair spray, shielded Eva’s face, and squirted. “There.”

  Eva swished her ponytail. “Feels good. Speaking of feeling good. Where’s my Pa?”

  “Give him a few minutes,” Robi said. “Trust me. When Martha went out like a light, I knew the job was done.”

  “What’s that little girl got to do with it?”

  “You can say she is medicinal luck.” Robi smiled.

  Eva stood up. “She could have slept here.”

  “I know, but big mean Jeb wants her where he can see her. She kind of latched on to us as parents.”

  “I can see why she wants you as a Ma. Did you have any daughters?”

  “Yeah.” Robi nodded sadly. “Two.”

  “Big girls or little girls.”

  “Little. They were my babies.”

  “They left this earth like my Ma and brothers?”

  “Yeah, they did,” Robi said solemnly.

  “I’m sorry about God taking your babies.”

  “So am I. And I’m sorry about your Ma and Brothers.”

  “But …” Eva said brightly with a lifted finger. “Like Pa says. We still have each other. We can be alone in this world, but God said, nope, gotta leave them a partner. You got your son.”

  “Yes, I do.”

  “Can I ask a favor?” Eva asked. “I know you just did my hair and all, but can I ask something?”

  “Sure.”

  “Can I have a hug?” Eva asked. “Sure been awhile since I had a Ma hug. Ma’s hug the best. Since you’re a Ma, I figure you’d give a good Ma hug.”

  “Oh, honey.” Robi extended her arms, “Any time. I would love a hug.”

  Eva latched on. In fact, she pressed her head to Robi’s chest, clinging to her waist.

  Robi wrapped her arms tight around Eva, cradling the back of Eva’s head, and burying her lips to the top.

  “This is nice. This is a Ma hug. I feel your heart.”

  Robi closed her eyes tight. She couldn’t speak.

  “Sure am glad we found you before I got my period.”

  She couldn’t help it, Robi laughed.

  “I ain’t had it yet. Pa said that’s a blessing.”

  “Um, yeah it is.” Robi smiled and broke the embrace. “Be glad.”

  “Pa,” Eva said with surprise. “Oh my.”

  Robi turned. She was shocked and taken aback when she saw Parker step into the living room. He was not at all as she saw him in that bed. His color was back, deep and rich; his salt and pepper hair was combed in a Clint Eastwood manner. His was fit man, a strapping man who had looked older than his sixty-one years while ill but who looked much younger now that he was better.

  “I feel like a million bucks,” Parker said. “Don’t know what the baby did. But shoot …” he whistled. “I could run a marathon.”

  “Look at you.�
�� Robi gleamed. “You are not the same man.”

  “Pa!” Eva raced and hugged him. “You’re better.”

  “Much.” He returned the hug. “And … I’m really up to meeting the rest of the folks. Robi?”

  “They’re up to meeting you, shall we?” Robi held her hand toward the door.

  Embracing his daughter, Parker answered, “We shall.”

  <><><><>

  Only a few of the crew were outside when Robi returned with Parker and Eva. She headed straight for the bus, annoyed that it was running.

  “Why are we wasting gasoline running the bus?” she asked as her greeting.

  Jeb answered, “It was hot, and we wanted to cool down. Not like there’s really a gas shortage babe.”

  “Babe?” Robi asked and shook her head. “Babe?”

  Greek was there, he slowly stood. “Is the new guy out there?”

  “Yeah. He’s anxious to meet all of you.” Robi held up her medical bag. “I want to put this in the office.”

  Bishop peered out the window. “He looks good. I’m gonna go meet him.”

  “Go on,” Robi said.

  Greek asked, “What was wrong with him that you needed Martha?”

  “He had pneumonia in both lungs, legs swollen; pretty much was suffering from congestive heart failure.”

  “Wow.” Greek blinked. “He would have died had we not arrived.”

  Robi nodded. “And left that sweet little girl alone.”

  “Ha!” Jeb laughed. “Sweet. Oh, she’s about as sweet as the girl in the Exorcist.”

  “You just have that attitude because she shot you with a BB gun,” Greek said.

  “Uh, yeah, wouldn’t you?” Jeb asked.

  “Nope,” Greek replied, and walked to the front of the bus. “Let’s go meet the guy. He seems like a nice man. About my age, will be nice to have a man about my age to talk to who isn’t nuts. Not that Doc is nuts.” He smiled.

  Bishop followed.

  Jeb stayed.

  “Why aren't you going to greet him? That’s rude,” Robi told him.

  “I will. I need to see you.”

  “You see me.” Robi started walking toward the back of the bus.

  Jeb kept up close behind.

  At the back door, Robi spun. “What!”

  “I told you. I need to see you.”