“When you get better, I’m getting some of Nathan’s tobacco and spitting in your ear,” John warned.
Ignoring John, Amanda started another plate for Nathan. “Okay,” Amanda said when she slid her tray down next to Jasmine again. “The man and woman with the two labs are Heath and Joan. They lived here and kept the place up. Nathan calls them ‘the mountain people’,” Amanda said as Jasmine turned.
Heath had a long black beard with streaks of gray. After seeing the beard with eyes in Alabama, Jasmine wasn’t impressed by any beard anymore. Joan was rather tall with a weathered face, but wore a very gentle smile.
“Who’s the slut?” Jasmine asked, picking up her tray.
Grabbing a glass of juice, Amanda laughed. “That could only be Anita. She wasn’t here last night, or I didn’t see her, but she’s sitting with her husband at the table with Greg and Cathy.”
Moving her gaze, Jasmine found them and saw Anita was looking at her with a scowl. Anita had brown hair and seemed like a woman terrified of aging. Studying her face, it appeared Anita applied makeup with a spray gun. Feeling hate at first sight when Anita glared at her, Jasmine took her left hand off the tray while she waited for Amanda, and flipped Anita the middle finger.
“That’s not nice,” Amanda giggled, picking up her tray and seeing Jasmine flip Anita off. Anita let out a gasp that made several people turn and follow her line of sight to catch Jasmine as she dropped her hand back to the tray. “Anita’s husband, Floyd, is a plumber and is over all the water distribution for the hydro stations and greenhouses.”
“I’ll learn plumbing, so Nathan doesn’t have to even talk to them,” Jasmine declared, holding her chin up.
Giving off a loud scoff, “Nathan has never asked Floyd to do anything,” Amanda corrected, heading for the table. “Okay, Billy, oh sorry, only Nathan can get away with calling him that. Bill is the oldest of Nathan’s friends. He’s the one with the dirty blonde hair in a buzz cut. His wife’s Janice, the brunette beside him and she’s the vet. They have two kids, Tyler and Robin, sixteen and fifteen.”
“Next is Rusty, he’s the one talking to Nathan now. Rusty is over security,” Amanda said as they reached the table and saw a man just a little taller than Nathan with very dark brown hair. “That’s Rusty’s wife, Libby, beside him,” Amanda whispered.
Taking the plate for Nathan off her tray, Amanda set it down in front of him with the glass of juice. Leaning over, Amanda kissed his cheek as Emma scowled at her. “Emma, I will bounce you like a basketball,” Amanda warned, and Emma gave her a grimacing smile.
When Jasmine put Emma’s plate down, she looked at Libby. Libby was several inches shorter than her husband with dark blonde hair. “Don’t let her fill up on biscuits,” Jasmine told Nathan.
Pulling Emma’s sippy cup out of Nathan’s cargo pocket, Jasmine transferred the glass of juice to it and put the sippy cup on the table. While Nathan continued talking to Rusty, Jasmine saw Emma giving her that weird smile. “Be nice, and I won’t lock the door,” Jasmine offered, leaning over and kissing Emma, then Nathan.
Moving back over to her chair, Jasmine sat down and took Chip’s plate off the tray, then stopped. Putting it back, Jasmine took her own plate off and moved the tray in front of Chip. As she cut up Chip’s food, Amanda sat down next to her.
“The two boys talking to John and Tom are Rusty and Libby’s kids, Randal and Shane. Randal is fourteen and Shane is twelve,” Amanda told her. “The last of Nathan’s buddies is Aiden. He and his wife Penny are talking to Tim and Sherry. They have a girl, Gina. She’s thirteen and is talking to Bill’s daughter, Robin.”
Moving her eyes around the room and repeating the names over and over, Jasmine noticed a lot of other people Amanda hadn’t mentioned. “Who are the others?”
“The people I told you about are the members of the compound who’re on the board. There are nineteen families altogether who’re members. That’s why there are nineteen cabins around the valley. The others are friends or relatives of members. When you have those down, we’ll continue,” Amanda said, and Jasmine shook her head and bit her tongue. “You’re only allowed to bring in as many people as you have food for and can feed for two years. Basically, a ton per person, per year.”
Jerking her head to Amanda, “You mean to tell me, Nathan has fourteen tons of extra food?” Jasmine gasped.
“All Nathan ever told me was he had over twenty tons of extra food,” Amanda told her while Jasmine looked from person to person that Amanda had told her, memorizing their names with their faces.
“Is that all the members on the board?” Jasmine asked, grabbing her glass.
“No, I don’t see Jeremey and Vicki. They’re over planning and development,” Amanda answered, and looked down the table to see the airplane flying to Emma.
“They didn’t make it, nor did any of their group,” Jasmine told her. “They were on vacation in Belize.”
“Aw, man,” Amanda groaned. “Nathan said they were good fighters.”
“So, everyone has extra people?” Jasmine asked.
Glancing around, Amanda moved closer to Jasmine, leaning toward her ear. “None of Nathan’s group does. Nathan’s never said it, but I think he had so much extra food in case any of them wanted to bring in more family. But no one ever did. I don’t know what it costs to be a member, but I’m betting it’s expensive,” Amanda said in a low voice. “Floyd and Anita don’t have extra people either, but everyone else does.”
Looking around the common room, Jasmine could tell it wasn’t built cheaply. The open floor was an easy six thousand square feet, with two large rooms at the front and a large kitchen at the back of the room. “Are all the houses like Nathan’s?” Jasmine asked in a low voice.
“All houses had to be built into the side of the mountain and when finished, not be seen from the air. From the pictures, I can tell you, none of his friends’ houses are as big as his. Now, Jeremey and Vicki had the biggest, that I do know from the pictures,” Amanda said. “Nathan’s house has a basement, but Jeremey’s and Vicki’s house has an upstairs and a basement.”
Nodding, Jasmine asked, “So, everyone has to provide their own food?”
“Yes, but the yearly dues the group paid were used to buy food as well for the group. Then, they would have meetings and if someone found a good deal for the group on anything, and a majority voted, then everyone would pitch in to buy it,” Amanda told her, and leaned close again. “Most of the time, Nathan paid the part for his buddies,” she whispered. “I don’t think cops make very good money.”
“They don’t,” Jasmine assured her. Glancing over and seeing Chip eating, Jasmine glanced around while repeating the names of those she knew and saw Nathan still talking to Rusty.
Landing the plane, Nathan smiled at Emma as he refilled the spoon. “I was going to have a slideshow and describe my route tomorrow, but I could do it today, like this evening,” Nathan said, then made airplane sounds before guiding the spoon back to Emma. “But, I want to talk to the posse alone.”
Hearing the group’s nickname, Rusty gave a grin as he nodded and then looked at the others. “If you could do that, it would be great. Everyone needs to know this is bad.”
“How many you think you took out getting home?” Aiden asked.
Giving a shrug, Nathan looked down the table at Amanda. “Firecracker, how many did we take out coming home?”
“If everyone we shot died, we capped one hundred and seventeen,” Amanda answered. “That could be low because I think we shot more crossing the interstate into Mississippi.”
The entire hall was deathly quiet on hearing the number and Nathan gave a visible shiver, thinking about the bodies charging them on the bridge. “Sounds about right,” he mumbled, refilling the spoon and flying it to Emma.
“What-,” Aiden started, and Bill stopped him.
“No. Wait and let Nathan tell all of us about his trip, then we can talk about it,” Bill said, and grinned watching Nathan feed Emma.
“Billy, how old were Tyler and Robin when they spent the night with me for the first time?” Nathan asked.
Used to that address from Nathan, Bill just thought for a minute. “Tyler was six and Robin was five.”
“You sure? They seemed younger,” Nathan asked, looking down the table when Emma pushed the airplane away.
“No, that’s how old they were,” Janice nodded, sitting beside Bill. “Why?”
“I don’t remember wiping their butts,” Nathan declared, and Jasmine gave a snort, shooting apple juice from her mouth and across her plate.
Glancing at Jasmine, Janice saw most of Nathan’s group giggling softly. “Nathan, as well as I can remember, all ‘The Little Rascals’ were potty-trained before they spent a night at your house.”
Holding Emma up in the air, “We work on potty-training, starting today,” Nathan declared.
“Nathan, Emma is potty-trained, she just can’t wipe,” Jasmine chuckled.
“Hey, that’s the important part, so she’s not trained yet,” Nathan snapped.
“Nathan, you’re a nurse,” Janice grinned.
“Billy!” Nathan popped off. “Control your wife.”
“Nope,” Bill responded, grabbing his coffee cup.
Jumping up, Nathan glared at his buddies. “You have no idea how humiliated one feels when a kid assumes the position to be wiped. You know at that moment, you have no dignity left.”
“Nathan,” Rusty said in shock. “You do realize, we all have kids. Each of us has had to do that.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Nathan huffed, walking around the table. “Emma, we are going to the bathroom! Quit putting it in my mind, I don’t have to pee!”
“Oh, this is so good,” Sherry laughed, leaning over against Tim.
“Maybe we do need to separate them,” Rusty offered.
“Try it, I dare ya,” Amanda huffed.
Giving a big nod, “Yeah, Nathan always takes Emma’s side, and she tattles,” Casey informed them as Tim took a sip of coffee.
Amanda turned to Jasmine and asked, “Why are your spurs on the nightstand beside Nathan’s bed?” Jasmine’s face instantly turned bright red and Tim sprayed coffee across the table.
CHAPTER FOUR
The entire group was in the dining hall staring at Nathan in shock when he’d finished his slideshow. His own group wasn’t there. They had left after supper, going back to the house. They could remember the trip vividly enough and didn’t need reminding. “Questions?” Nathan offered, glancing around.
“You tortured federal employees?!” Anita shouted.
Cocking his head to one side, “Really? That’s all you got from my trip?” Nathan scoffed. “But yes, I did, and just to let you know, any who threatens my group can look forward to the same,” Nathan challenged with a grin.
Giving a shiver, Rusty leaned over to Bill. “I think I would’ve left that out for the main group and just told the posse,” Rusty whispered.
“I know I wouldn’t have shown the video evidence,” Bill replied.
Getting up, Vince walked to the front and stood beside Nathan, turning to the group. “I, for one, am thankful, but everyone must remember the contract you signed. If you tell anyone outside what this group does after the compound becomes active, you forfeit all property here. And I’m telling you, we will enforce it. When you leave here, the only thing you will have on is a pair of underwear,” Vince told the group, but was looking directly at Anita.
“I can guarantee you, they wouldn’t make it out of the valley,” Aiden chuckled.
Vince turned to Nathan, grabbing his hand and shaking it. “Nathan, glad you made it and thank you, for letting us know just how bad this really is.”
When Vince let his hand go, Nathan shook his head. “Vince, we aren’t even at the bad part yet,” Nathan told him, and there were several gasps around the room. “Everyone here will know when it comes. When we have people attacking us to rape the women and eat the dead, then they will understand it’s bad.”
Giving a shocked nod, Vince turned toward the group before Nathan put more nightmare material in his mind. “Now, I’ve heard some complaints about my decision of Nathan and some of his group not taking guard duty until they recuperate. I’m the chief. So suck it up,” Vince almost spat out, staring hard at Anita.
“I can take my turn,” Nathan said, closing his laptop and unhooking the projector.
“Not until I give the order,” Vince snapped. “Now, I want to see Amanda and Casey, just to give them a once-over physical. I trust your judgement, but they were shot. Let them be mad at me for keeping them on light duty.”
Giving a relieved sigh, “Oh, thank you,” Nathan said.
“Let’s end the day and if you have questions for Nathan, he’s home now so just catch up with him later,” Vince told the group, and everyone seemed happy with that getting up and heading for the doors.
Bill and the posse moved up to Nathan, watching the others leave. When it was just the posse left, Rusty grabbed Nathan’s arm, spinning Nathan to face him. “You charged an entrenched sniper position?!” he almost shouted in Nathan’s face. “Nathan! You were always joking and playful, but when it came to tactical operations, you were always down to business. You don’t do that!”
Putting the projector down, Nathan let out a long sigh. “I wasn’t thinking,” he admitted in a soft voice. “I saw my two little girls get shot. It wasn’t till the next day, I realized what I’d done.”
“That’s the Nathan we know,” Tim nodded to the others. “Just do it. But I have to agree with Rusty, you never make that kind of mistake tactically.”
When Nathan looked at his buddies, they could see the torment he still felt. “They were just doing what I told them, and still got shot. How was I supposed to react?”
Reaching over, Bill put his hand on Nathan’s shoulder. “Nathan, if you don’t think at all times, you can cost them their lives. What would’ve happened if that sniper had taken you down? It was just dumb luck Ares got to him before the sniper took you and Ares out.”
“I know!” Nathan snapped. “I’ve never had to look out for anyone but me! And they all just tagged along, thinking I’m some super terminator!”
“Calm down, buddy,” Bill said in a low voice. The one area, hands down, where Nathan had the posse and wives beat was a temper tantrum. Bill was certain not many walking the earth could compare. “Nathan, we see how much they mean to you and I, for one, love it.”
The others nodded vigorously to that. “I honestly can’t say I wouldn’t have done the same, but you’re the one who’s gone across the country learning tactical drills,” Bill said, glad to see Nathan calming down.
“I know,” Nathan mumbled, then looked up at the gang. “Truth be told, if it wasn’t for my group, I wouldn’t have made it back. I would’ve moved too fast and engaged targets I shouldn’t have.”
“Um, speaking of that,” Rusty interrupted. “Why on earth did you even attempt to leave hostiles alive behind you?”
Taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly, Nathan turned to Rusty. “Sometimes, you just get tired of killing,” Nathan answered. “Granted, I’m getting numb to it like I never thought possible but, at the time, I was just tired of killing. That was a mistake on my part because my kids and the girls took the responsibility, and dropped the hammer on some I didn’t. That’s why I won’t even try it again.”
Dropping his hand off Nathan’s shoulder, “I want your honest opinion. Will we get hit here?” Bill asked.
“Bill,” Nathan said, turning to him. “I’m surprised you haven’t been yet. We need continuous patrols out, and to set up contacts with the people still around here. We can use them as an early warning system.”
Bill turned to the others as they all nodded at him. “Yeah, we’ve been telling Vince that and I’m sure tomorrow, that’s what he’s going to talk to you about,” Bill said.
“Hey, he can kiss my ass!” Nathan snapped. “I will tak
e my own group out on patrols if the others don’t go. I’m not going to rely on isolation and hope it keeps us hidden. You fight your battles away from your home, not on the outskirts of it.”
“Damn straight,” Rusty chimed in.
“Oh, it’s so good to hear the old Nathan,” Aiden grinned. “Don’t get me wrong, I love what your group has done for you, but you acted more like a teenager than our kids.”
“That’s why our kids worship the ground he walks on,” Bill chuckled, jerking his head toward Nathan. “Our Nathan is growing up,” he added proudly.
“Not willingly,” Nathan almost spat. Hearing that, Aiden just grinned. “So, Billy,” Nathan said in a serious tone, stressing the name Bill hated on purpose. “I hear you let the people move into my house.”
“Shit,” Bill mumbled, glancing at Tim.
“Hey, bitch!” Tim snapped. “He wasn’t coming down on me for not telling him. I have to live with him, and my wife. Sherry informed me, we were telling Nathan and not waiting on you to do it. I will happily go outside with you before either of them.”
Giving a nod, “I agree with Tim on that,” Aiden interjected. “Be damned if I would want Nathan and my wife irritated at me!”
The rest of the gang all quickly took Tim’s side and stared at Bill. “Okay, I didn’t look at it like that,” Bill admitted. “Yes, I told the sheriff he could but, Nathan, I did it because I know you would rather have people you know in it than ones you didn’t.”
“They fuck up my house, you and I will have words,” Nathan warned.
“Asshole, some of us don’t even have houses anymore!” Bill snapped.
Crossing his arms over his chest, “Motherfucker, as long as my house still stands, everyone in the posse has a home away from here,” Nathan challenged.
Aiden, Rusty, and Tim all pulled out their wallets. “I got fifty that Nathan takes Bill in two minutes,” Aiden said, throwing money on the table.
“I say sixty seconds,” Tim scoffed, throwing money down.
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