by E A Lake
He tapped my chest once. “Here’s what I need, Bob. I need you, the old woman, and the little blonde girl to pack up and get out of here. Get out and never come back, Bob. We’ll take care of everything else for you. Don’t you worry about that.”
His words shot a bolt of adrenaline through my chest and out to my extremities. I wasn’t about to show him any fear. No, that’s what he wanted.
I let out a small amused huff. “I don’t think so, Carmen. I’ve battled plenty to keep my place. You’re just a number to me. And to be honest…” I paused to let my words sink in, “I’ve lost count long ago of those who’ve lost.”
He nodded like he understood, but I didn’t think he’d been swayed. “There’s no reason to start a war here, man. I don’t want to kill you, Bob. I sure as hell don’t want to kill that old woman or that little girl. Nevertheless, I want your place, your women and your supplies.
“You see, I’ve been living off the land long enough, I figure.” He looked away towards the road, then slowly back at me. “I deserve a break. My crew deserves one, too. There were eight of us not long ago. Now we’re down to three. We learned a lot in our last battle. We didn’t win, but we gained valuable knowledge. And we’re not leaving, just so you know.”
These had to be the clowns who tried to take Covington. Though I wasn’t sure which direction this one had come, he was on the north side of my property. If he came from the north, that meant he’d battled the Weston’s…and lost.
I moved so close our noses nearly touched. “If you and what’s left of your gang want to see tomorrow, I’d suggest you move on. Because that’s your only choice if you want to live. You don’t know what we have for firepower inside. You got no clue what you’re up against. So why don’t you move along.”
He stared at me, his lip sliding back and forth. I knew he wasn’t part of Barster’s bunch. There were no horses. None that I could see at least. I also didn’t think Clyde Barster was the kind of fellow that would let a sleazy man like this do his talking.
He poked my chest. “You’ve been warned,” he said, none too pleased. He actually sounded angry. It made me wonder if he really wanted a fight. He was probably just trying to scare me off.
“Get ready for a battle,” he whispered just before turning around.
I was ready, fool.
Day 1,030 - continued
The first shot rang out from the brush across the road. Carmen was still walking away, still on my property. But the hail of gunfire didn’t allow me to draw and get a bead on him.
I dove inside just as an explosion came out of the south woods. It had to have been a shotgun because I heard multiple shots hit the screen door as I jerked it shut behind me. Two holes in the aluminum confirmed my belief. Someone had a shotgun with buckshot.
Looking around from the floor, I noticed Lettie kneeling close to me with her 30-30 in hand.
“Saw that bastard come off the road,” she said in a hushed tone, peeking out the front window. “Heard everything he said. I had Violet take Libby and Hope into the bedroom and get on the far side of the bed. I told her to pull the mattress over them. They should be safe.”
I got to my feet, kneeling by the wall between the front window and the screen door. The bedroom door was shut. Good. One way or another, three of us were going to be safe. But we were missing someone.
I was about to ask Lettie when I heard movement to my left. Glancing over, I saw Daisy. Crouching by the cupboards, she was busy loading shells into Dizzy’s 20-gauge.
“You okay?” I asked Daisy. Her only response was a nervous look and a quick nod. She was all right, and ready for the fight.
Lettie inched closer to me. “Think there’s really three of them?” she asked.
“Maybe, maybe not.” I peeked out through the damaged screen, trying to pick up movement. Nothing. That was good enough for now.
Studying the rest of the room, I discovered places we were vulnerable. The rear window wasn’t large, but still, someone could easily pop up and fire inside through that access.
“Daisy,” I whispered, “crawl over and draw the blinds on the back window.” It wasn’t perfect, but it prevented an unfettered look through the window.
The front window was mostly glass; two small side windows had screens and both were open. We could use those for firing positions. I wanted the front door open for a while yet. It gave us more firing access and I could peek over the frame and see what was going on outside.
The only window that truly worried me was the one in the bedroom. I had no way of knowing whether it was open or closed. Since it faced the road, I figured I’d be able to see anyone approaching it.
We were set up as best as we could be. And that would have to do.
Two men dashed along the north tree line, just inside the brush. They were trying to flank us and get at our rear. I pushed the door open and clicked the safety off on the 45. Pulling the trigger, the gun jerked six or seven times in my hand. Their movements halted, followed by moaning from the brush. At least one was down.
Looking back, I saw the scared looks on both Lettie’s and Daisy’s faces. That and Daisy covering her ears. The echo of the gunfire from the home had been loud, so I couldn’t blame her.
Crying started in the bedroom. Probably from the shots. I motioned to Daisy with my head.
“Check on them,” I instructed. “Be sure they’re all right.” She crept and pushed the door open, disappearing from my view.
I focused back where I’d seen the men. Something was going on in the brush. One of them, if not both, had to be writhing on the ground.
“I just need a peek at them to know what happened,” I whispered back to Lettie. “You cover me. I’m just going to push this screen door open a little so I can get a better view.”
Lettie took position on the far side of the front window, her gun pointed outward.
I opened it a crack at first. I figured any movement of the door would bring a hail of gunfire, but none came. So I opened it a little more.
Because I was so low to the ground, I couldn’t see much. With no shots to warn me otherwise, I inched a little higher, then a little more.
Standing bent at the waist, I could see two sets of feet kicking about in the brush. That meant two down, one to go. And he had to be the fellow with the scattergun behind me.
I knelt again and checked to the south. Using the door as cover, I peered into the lush green brush, searching for something out of place. If he had a shotgun, he couldn’t be too deep in. But as best as I could tell, there was no one out there.
Seeing his two comrades fall may have motivated the third assailant to hightail it for the next county. I kept looking, searching, probing each hole in the dense canopy for any sign of life. Maybe the war was already over, I thought. Would’ve been nice if the remaining fellow at least said goodbye.
I turned again to get a better look at the wounded. Checking my rear one last time, I dared a step away from the cover of the door. Still nothing. This was over. We had won.
Three steps towards the injured men, I heard a twig snap behind me.
Shit, it wasn’t over.
Day 1,030 - continued
The shotgun blast shattered the otherwise calm woodlands. I felt two burning spots in my back as I tumbled to the ground, spinning to point my weapon at the shooter. He wasn’t there; I couldn’t find him anywhere.
“Why don’t you drop your gun, Bob,” a voice called out from behind. It was not just any voice, it was Carmen’s voice.
“And why don’t you have anyone else with a gun toss them outside,” he continued, sounding joyful for the situation. But why shouldn’t he have felt that way? He was winning.
Someone laid the 30-30 beside me. Looking back, I saw Lettie. Lettie and a half-blasted away screen door. That explained why the blast hadn’t ripped me in two.
“Any more?” Carmen called out.
Lettie gave me a defeated look. “No, that’s all. Just the two we have.” Good g
irl, I thought.
“John’s gonna come from the south, and I’m going to approach from the north,” Carmen stated. I could hear him moving through the brush. “If either of you does anything stupid, you both die.”
My back burned worse than I thought it could. I’d fallen in the dirt and could feel grit grinding against the wounds like sandpaper. I heard men approach from both sides.
“Guess I didn’t get you both in the brush over there,” I said, wincing. “Too bad.”
“Oh you got both of them,” Carmen replied, sounding disappointed. “There were four of us though. I was kind of counting on you buying into that.”
Sure, play to the stupid man. The guy in the dirt without a gun.
“And I think you made mortal shots on both of them,” he continued. “They’re not even kicking anymore.”
“Too bad I don’t get a bead on you,” I shouted. “John and I could have made a deal.”
Carmen cut off the sun with his shadow. “I got a deal for you, Bob. I’m going to kill you right in front of your friends. Then they’ll know who they’re dealing with.”
His friend pointed the long shotgun at my head. “Now okay, boss?”
I saw both of them laugh. That wasn’t good. None of it was.
“Let’s haul everyone outside so they can see the end of Bob Reiniger, John.” Carmen answered with a grin. “Wouldn’t want anyone to miss this.”
“I got a question for you before you kill me. Who sent you here?” I wasn’t trying to stall. I just needed to know before I died.
Carmen knelt next to me and pulled my hair, forcing my face to look at him. “Friend of yours— Susan Weston. She said you’d be excited to have company. Claimed you’d want to share your food and such.” He peeked at his shotgun-toting ghoul and chuckled. “Once you were dead, that is.”
Both men laughed. I got it. I lose, they win. Shit.
Carmen did a quick lap inside the cabin and brought all the occupants outside to line up. I suppose it was to watch my execution, not that I’d see much of it once his henchman pulled the trigger.
Across from me the group stood, all but Lettie crying. Hope was in full scream mode, mostly because Violet was shaking from her sobs. Daisy held Libby in front of her, face inward towards her shirt. Her eyes squeezed shut, then open again, both wanting to be there for me and not wanting to watch the end.
Carmen paced before them. “Now, I don’t have anything against you all. And I sure don’t have anything against Bob here.” He smiled at me as if we were pals or something.
“But Bob’s going to be a problem if we let him live,” he continued, stroking his facial hair. “And since I’m down to one hired man, I can’t afford to let problems live.”
Daisy pushed Libby to Lettie and inched forward. “Please don’t do this,” she begged, pulling on Carmen’s arm, “I’m sure we can work something out.”
The evil one stared and nodded at her. “Something tells me you’re Daisy, right?” She refused to acknowledge him. “Susan said I should kill you, too. But…” his eyes roamed her thin body as his lips formed into a sneer, “I think I want you alive. You could be a fun one. You and that other taller gal.” His head flipped towards Violet.
“Please don’t,” Daisy continued to beg. “Please let Bob live. I’ll do anything if you’ll just let him go.”
Carmen took a step and peered down into her weepy face. “You’ll do anything if I kill him, too. Wouldn’t want anything to happen to that little girl of yours, now would we?”
“Let’s get this over with, Carmen,” his man stated in a bored tone. “I’m hungry. And I need a nap and someone to snuggle with.” They shared a demonic chuckle.
He spun and knelt next to me. “Okay, it’s time to say goodbye, Bob. Playtime’s over.”
John’s gun rose and my family let out a collective scream. I noticed the man’s brown teeth, his scarred face, the left eye that looked slightly out of alignment with the right. I refused to look at my group, instead facing my executioner.
“Get it over with, asshole,” I spewed, watching his grin grow.
“Gladly.” And the safety snapped free.
This was really happening, I thought — perhaps my last.
Day 1,030 - continued
The first shot rang out and I flinched, shutting my eyes. I felt a spray of something across my face. Wherever he’d hit me didn’t hurt, which seemed extremely odd to me. A second shot followed the first and more spray. Still no pain. Was this guy hitting me somewhere without nerves? Was this death or torture?
When something hard fell on me, my eyes shot opened. Staring at the face, what was left of it at least, I saw Carmen’s blank eyes staring back. The blood pouring from his head caused me to roll over and push away, jumping up from the ground.
Blood covered my shirt. His blood or mine, I wasn’t sure.
I glanced right, another dead body. Sticking out beneath it was a shotgun. That had to be John. Back to my left was Carmen. Both were dead, both shot in the head.
My group, every one of them still lay sprinkled about on the ground. Lettie was covering Violet and Hope; Daisy was on top of Libby. Strangely, I was the only one on my feet.
I noticed someone approached from the road. Whoever it was had a rifle leveled at me. My hands went up instinctively. However, once I spotted his bald head and long strides, I lowered them back down. Our savior strolled towards us stone-faced: Thaddeus Wilson.
“Johnny told me there was trouble on the road,” he called out, kicking both men to be sure they were dead. “Guess he was right.”
I felt like hugging the man. “Holy shit,” I whopped. “Am I glad you showed up when you did. These idiots were really going to kill me.”
As Wilson helped Lettie and Violet up, I did the same for Daisy and Libby. Instantly Daisy threw her arms around my shoulders and hugged me.
“My God, my God, my God,” Daisy kept repeating. “Oh my God. I am so thankful you’re alive.” She let go of me and hugged Wilson’s mid-section just as tight. “And thank you Mr. Wilson, for saving us.”
Lettie and Daisy smiled and clambered on with Wilson about the events as Violet circled around my back. I felt one of her thin fingers digging in behind me. Probably nothing good would come of that, I thought.
“I count five spots,” she cried, a little more hysterical than the situation deserved. “Six — there’s one on your lower back.”
I turned and faced her since she was already weeping. “It’s nothing, Violet. Barely scratches; they don’t even hurt.”
“But that’s a lot of blood,” Daisy said from behind. “We need to get you inside.”
“Really, I’m okay.” I was just so damn happy not to be dead that I didn’t care about a few holes in my back.
“Buckshot?” Wilson asked. I nodded. “But not at close range?” I grinned and winked. “Still needs to be cleaned up. Better get at it.”
Getting another hug from Daisy, I agreed. Lettie led us all inside, including Wilson. He stopped me just before we got in.
“That was a fairly close call, Bob,” he said in a low tone. “I don’t know how that would’ve turned out if I hadn’t shown up.”
I agreed as he gave me a hardy pat on the back and I let out a whine. Okay, these pellets hurt a little. But I was still alive, and that’s all that mattered.
Inside, Wilson explained how he had come to save us. Though I expected a great tale of running and chasing ending with him steadying against a tree for good shot, it was nothing that exciting.
He had posted Johnny up the road a mile north of Lettie’s property since the day after his return from Covington. His reason was simple; he didn’t want anything happening to his granddaughter or her mother. Violet’s protection saved me.
He claimed he was a half mile from us when the first shots rang out. Instead of sprinting to our rescue, like I thought he might, he only picked up his pace a little.
“No sense in running if I was going to find you all dead,”
he reasoned.
He only arrived when Carmen’s gunman drew his final bead on my lying body. Settling his sights on John’s head, he squeezed the trigger. Once sure he was dead, Wilson disposed of Carmen.
Problem solved, Thaddeus Wilson style. Thank God.
He left to fetch some medicine for me. Even before he hit the blacktop, Lettie pulled the last of the seven pieces of buckshot from my back.
“Now let’s clean these wounds,” she said, the last piece of metal clunking into the white dishpan. “I don’t think any of these are life-threatening.” She slapped my back, a little too hard it felt. Or maybe I was being a baby.
“I’m fine,” I said, eyeing Violet, who was eyeing me. “Give me a few days to heal and I’ll be ready to get back at what I need to do.”
“Yeah, right,” Violet spewed. “Once again, your blood is flowing. How about you take a break from all this crap and just sit around for a while.”
Daisy circled behind me, rubbing my shoulder. “Maybe that’s a good idea, Bob. Let yourself heal up before you think about doing anything else.”
She kissed my cheek and I smiled at her. “Sure, I can do that. It’s probably a good idea.”
My two conspirators exchanged a knowing, almost devious look. But that was okay. I lied to them. I wasn’t sitting around for a second longer than necessary, no matter what they might have thought.
Day 1,038
I finished throwing up in a bucket and flopped onto my back on the couch. Bad idea. The pain shot me back up into a sitting position.
“And here I was worried about Clyde Barster killing you,” Lettie laughed above me. “Hell, the infection will get you long before Barster gets his hands on you.”
I rubbed my forehead, feeling the heat pour from my body. This was crap, 130 percent crap. I thought I was in the clear after Lettie removed the shot from my back. A few days on the couch and I’d be fine.