Colt joined Alden at the fence and held a piece for Alden to tighten. Alden looked up at him, “Something on your mind?”
Colt wrapped the snipped wire around the tightened line, “Just wanted to come over and talk.”
“Then talk.”
“Well, you told us if we had questions to ask, I did and you didn’t answer.”
Alden stopped working on the fence, “What didn’t I answer?”
Colt shuffled his feet but didn’t want to be the intimidated guy he had been so far, “I want to know what you agreed to trade and when they will be back. I am going to add one more question to that too. How many are coming back?”
Alden smiled, “I did answer the first question without answering, it meant I haven’t agreed to anything yet. They will be back when they get here, so how do you want me to answer that? Now to your new question, the two that were here will be the ones that will be back, that is how they work. Got anything more you want to know?”
Colt shrugged, “No, I guess not.” He started to walk off then turned back to Alden, “Yeah, I do have one more.”
Alden sighed waving his hand as if to say get on with it. Colt walked back to the fence, “You know I trust your judgment and your choices for this group, don’t you?”
Alden grabbed the next wire to tighten it and motioned for Colt to hold it so he could twist it. “Make yourself useful… Yeah, Colt I know that, but don’t ever question me in front of others. That shows weakness and in this world that is a sure sign for others to kill and take what the weak have.”
Colt nodded, “That never occurred to me, I’m sorry I put you in that position.”
Colt rejoined the others just as Beth finished talking; he sat down beside her, “What did I miss?”
Beth gave the highlights of what had been said and so did Colt about his conversation with Alden. Ceara leaned forward and crossed her arms on the table. “Beth, you know you have a way of explaining things. I never really thought about Alden going through anything, I mean he’s Alden. I guess sometimes we forget that he is just a man too, and he has more on his shoulders than the rest of us do.”
Ceara looked around at the others, “But he could talk a little more, damn it.” She gave a small smile so they knew she was joking.
Sitting back in her chair Tabitha looked Ceara straight in the eye with a caring look, “Red…. I don’t think any of us ever thought and I know I didn’t until just now….. Beth’s right, maybe the reason that Alden doesn’t say too much is because of the things he has seen and the horrible things that he has done in his past. We have all changed, girlfriend, you sure in the hell wouldn’t have been friends with me or even gave me the time of day, if you would of known me from where I came from. People are judged in this flipping world way too much and this whole apocalypse thing here,” waving her hand in the air, “Just maybe this is the way of the world cleaning itself up. Too many haters out there, you know the saying, ‘Only the strong survive?’ … well shit Red….. Look at us…. we are a group of strong, tough and our own version of the Brady Bunch if you ask me!” Tabitha began laughing and Beth had spit the drink of tea out of her mouth.
Alden rejoined them at the table, “You cupcakes realize this may be Sunday and it’s your God’s day of rest but it damn sure ain’t yours.”
Everyone jumped up to get busy with their chores…..
Chapter 28 – Life as We Know It
A week went by with no word from the new neighbors. Life was continuing to get more normal or normal, by today’s standards anyway. The Wanderers were still coming around, but it seemed to be less and less. Some that were killed looked like they were straight out of the old WWII films from the death camps.
Charlie had pointed out one evening before dinner, that if the wind was right, one could smell them almost a half mile away.
As the sun was setting, Charlie was sitting by the radio listening in on the chatter. Heath and Colt were getting ready for supper, putting away their tool belts. They had come to put them on every morning like old west gun belts.
Heath looked over at him, “So Chuck, what’s on the six o’clock news? Any new movies?”
Colt laughed, “Yeah, what about that hot sensation… what was his name?….. Oh Yeah Bieber. How’s he doing these days? Did he and Britney ever get together?”
Charlie looked up with at Heath with a scowl, “I told you before I don’t like to be called Chuck and to answer your questions it’s M.O.T.S.”
Colt looked at him, “What the hell is mots?”
Alden walked past and grinned, “Damn, you still are a cupcake. M.O.T.S. means, more of the same.” Shaking his head he sat down. “I bet you never even learned what snafu is?”
Heath and Colt joined him at the table.
Heath looked at Colt then to Alden, “Okay, call me cupcake, but I never did figure that one out. I mean I got fubar. That was easy but what the hell is snafu again? You guys said it before, sue me, I forgot.”
Alden chuckled, “Charlie you want to answer that?”
Just then Ceara walked out with a smile, “SITUATION NORMAL ALL FUCKED UP!” She exclaimed with a laugh.
Hearing the laughter, Tabitha walked over carrying a tray with glasses filled with sweet tea. “Here ya go guys. Beth thought that you guys might like something to drink.”
Just as she was about to remark on the snafu comment Tabitha heard a little more chatter on the radio, which was hard for her to make out.
Looking up to Alden, “So it sounds like there’s more out there? That is a pretty good thing, as long as they aren’t like the ones we already dealt with.”
Charlie sipped on his tea, looking at the radio and was trying desperately to make heads or tails of what all the garble was, but just became more frustrated.
“Charlie, it is ok. How about you turn that off for the night, and let’s all go get cleaned up for supper.”
Charlie turned looking up to Tabitha, then over to Ceara, “It just seems that the chatter picks up in the evening. I am trying to figure this stuff out.”
Ceara walked over flipping the radio off, “You say that every night, come on.” She grabbed his hand, “Let’s go eat, Beth made goulash, and it smells great!”
Charlie looked back to the radio, “I really did think I was picking something up this time.”
Ceara pulled him away, “You say that every time too. Now, go do what you are told, and get washed up. I want to eat.”
The dinner was quiet, the men were tired, and the women were letting them enjoy the downtime. As soon as they were all settled in the living room, Colt kicked back with an arm around Beth, “So has anyone noticed that our friends haven’t been back?” He looked over to Alden, “Did you know they wouldn’t be back yet?”
Alden sipped his coffee, “I told you the day when they left that they would be back when they got here. They may be waiting until they really need some of the supplies we have.”
Colt nodded, “I guess… I wonder how many they have in their camp?”
Alden shook his head, “Not their way to discuss that, but from what they were suggesting for a trade, I don’t think it’s too many more than twenty or thirty. No telling how many of those are women and children.”
Ceara sat forward, “You say that like the women are just as useless as the kids. Is that what you think of us?”
Alden looked over at Ceara, “I say that because women and children in the Indian culture are to be revered and protected. Has nothing to do with being useless. Are you feeling unappreciated cupcake?”
Ceara smirked, “You guys would starve without us, and last time I checked, not one of you men has done the laundry!”
Colt leaned back on the couch, “Well last time I checked, not one of you women have fixed a fence, repaired a door, or set any traps… You need me to keep going?”
Ceara smiled, “No, I guess we all have our place and are pretty good at what we do.”
Alden stood up, “Tabitha you and Heath have guard du
ty, the rest of you hit the hay.” Alden left them all sitting as he went to his room.
Ceara stood up and gave Charlie a hand pulling him to his feet, “Ok, Daddy said its bedtime.” She waved to the others, “Night guys….”
Beth looked to Colt, “Are you ready?”
Colt shook his head, “No, I want to read for a while. I found Larry’s stash, and he loved westerns.” Colt waved a book, “I miss relaxing and reading, so I plan on getting back in that habit. His wife must have loved science fiction, cuz there is a few of those, but at the bottom of the box. I don’t know what you like to read, but if you want to join me?”
Heath and Tabitha turned down the oil lamps in the rest of the house, leaving Beth and Colt in the living room. As the two walked out the front door, Tabitha grabbed her crossbow, and Heath picked up his rifle. Both already had their K-Bar knives that Alden had given.
As they stepped off the porch, Heath smiled at Tabitha, “So you notice anything new?” Tabitha looked around. The half-moon was bright and the stars filled the sky. She turned and smiled, “Nope nutin honey”
Heath smiled back, “Not out there. On your crossbow.” Tabitha looked down at the weapon. It seemed to be the one she’d been using. Turning it over, she did notice a new crank for cocking it.
“You got me a new a cocker.”
Heath laughed, “Yeah, I found it in a crate. The one you had, the handle was chipped, but here,” He took the bow and then flipped the lens off the scope. “Take a look see.”
Tabitha raised the bow, and began to aim. Heath reached over and flipped a switch. The lens went to a green glow, and she could suddenly see what seemed like five times farther than before. Tabitha lowered it, “What the hell?”
Heath grinned, “The crate was filled with all kinds of stuff. We called Alden over to make sure it was ok to use. He said Larry liked to horde toys, and night vision stuff was his favorite. He had night scopes for bows, and for rifles. He also had thermal imaging ones, but Alden figured they wouldn’t be as useful, since the Wanderers were already at room temperature.”
As they started out on their short patrol around the house and barn, the dogs joined in. All was quiet when they reached the back patio. Heath went over to a small rectangle fireplace. Pulling back the metal screen, he put some small logs in then lit it. The soft glow of orange and reds from the fire was calming. Taking a seat in a chair, he looked out into the desert.
“You know Tabitha; its times like this that make one forget that whole world has gone to hell.”
Sitting back Tabitha looked out across the land. The glow from the embers, and crackling of the fire were reflecting and echoing through the night. Tabitha looked up, “Yeah, I gotta agree with ya on that one, Heath. There were many nights; just like this one, I would be camped out somewhere, all I could hear were a few coyotes off in the distance. I love to hear that noise again, and right now I am pretty content with how things are.”
The night passed quietly and as the sun rose, Tabitha was the first to notice the small dust cloud. As she began to stand up, Tonto and Maximus had jumped up and ran out into the yard. “Heath… Heath, come here.”
Heath walked around from the barn to join Tabitha. He could see the dust cloud, but it was still too far away to see what was making it. Raising the binoculars he found the cloud and then the source.
“Tabitha, go get Alden, his friends are coming back, and they’re coming fast.”
Tabitha ran into the house, and straight into Alden chest as he was coming out of the bathroom.
“They’re… They’re back.” She stammered, trying to catch her breath, as she pointed to the back door. “Your friends…”
Alden smiled, “Relax Tabitha, I’ll be right there.”
She looked at him, “Heath said they’re riding fast.”
Alden face went to a frown as he looked to the back door. “On Horses?”
“Yeah Alden, they aren’t in the hummer this time.”
Alden turned and walked into his room slipping on his camo pants instead of his jeans. He grabbed his 45, and knife. As he came out, he looked to Tabitha, “Wake the others. They wouldn’t be on horseback unless something’s up.”
As he walked through the kitchen to the back door he heard Tabitha banging on the others doors and shouting…” COME ON GUYS… GET UP… GET UP… WE GOT VISITORS!”
Colt jumped up just as Beth grabbed her jeans and t-shirt, “What the hell is going on?”
Beth glanced over, “Nothing good I can bet that! Let’s go!”
Colt threw the door open just as Beth joined him, they both ran out the back door to see what was going on.
Ceara jerked her jeans on, “Shit, I hate being woken up like this!” She jumped up, pulling her jeans on. Just then she noticed how quick she had tried to get dressed, or how sleepy she still was. She was trying to put her jeans on backwards. “Damn it!” She sat down jerking them back off.
Charlie looked over at her, “Ceara come on!!! Why are you getting undressed? Alden is waiting!”
Ceara looked over her shoulder at Charlie, “Oh I don’t know, I thought maybe I would get a little more shut eye!” She jerked her pants back on again, this time the right way. She was finished in moments, and they joined the others outside.
Alden stood there, looking out to the desert with the binoculars. Everyone stood silent, waiting for Alden to explain why they were awakened. Colt knew Heath and Tabitha had been on duty, he leaned over to Heath, “What’s up?”
Heath pointed to the men riding up on their horses. Colt asked, “Why are they coming back on horses? They can’t take all the stuff back on those?”
Alden lowered the binoculars, and turned to the group, “I want Colt and Beth to go gather up some rifles and ammunition. Charlie and Ceara, saddle up the horses. Heath, you and Tabby get my truck.”
The group split and began to gather things they were ordered to.
Ceara and Charlie got to the barn, Ceara had long since taught him how to saddle a horse, and both were making short work of it. Ceara had moved to the black and white paint, as she threw the blanket on her back she glanced over at Charlie, “What do you think is going on?”
Charlie kept moving and merely shrugged. Ceara cinched up the saddle, “The way I see it, there are a couple of ways this could be going. It could be that they are raiding our camp, to take all we got, but Alden trusts them so I don’t think that’s it.”
She swung up in Spirit’s saddle reaching down to grab the reins of two others. “The other is their camp is being attacked.”
Charlie was now in his saddle and had the reins of another horse. “I think you’re wrong on both guesses… If they were raiding, it wouldn’t be in the daylight, and if their camp was under attack, they wouldn’t have left. I think it’s something totally different, but of course it wouldn’t be the first time I was wrong.” He kicked his horse leading one out, with Ceara following him.
Heath and Tabitha had reached Alden’s truck. Tabitha closed the rear gate as Heath climbed in the driver’s seat to start it up. Getting in Tabitha looked at him, “So what ya think?”
“I don’t know, but it don’t feel right.”
She looked at him puzzled, “What you mean?”
“I mean, the first time they show up they drove in, this time they’re on horseback. That tells me, they’re trying to keep a low profile. Horses don’t throw up a dust cloud like the huge hummer they had. So either it’s Wanderers or something else…”
Tabitha checked her 45 then looked out the window. “I hope its Wanderers.” The two pulled up next to the horses to wait for Colt and Beth.
Beth ran to Alden’s closet hitting the hidden panel in the back, as soon as it popped open she tossed the familiar black bag to Colt. He laid it on the bed unzipping it, as soon as he turned back to her, she tossed several belts to him. He laid those out, just as she brought over an armful of fully loaded clips. She dumped them all on the bed, and went back for more. Colt started loading up th
e belts with the clips. “Do you really think we need this much fire power?”
Beth didn’t even hesitate, “You want to end up out there without or with extra?”
She began handing over M-16s, Colt looked at her strange, “Beth there are only seven of us, you just handed me ten?”
Beth was throwing the ammo belts in the bag, “Think Colt! What if we have a couple jam?”
Colt nodded, “Ok, ok, I got it!” He laid four of the weapons in the bag, shouldering two himself, and then held the one he was planning on holding on too. He handed the other three to Beth, “Bags full…”
Beth mimicked Colt with shouldering two and holding the third, “Ok let’s get outside.”
They joined the others outside tossing the bag in the back of the truck, and then passed out weapons to the others.
Alden looked at the sweat pouring off Colt’s brow, “Relax kid, it’s okay.”
Colt handed an M-16 to him then wiped his brow, “I’m not that nervous Alden. This shits heavy.”
Alden smiled a little looking over at Beth, “Yeah little miss, ‘I’m going to be prepared’ over there; but hey, better to have it and not need it, then vice versa.”
Pulling the charging handle back, he made sure the weapon was loaded.
Two men rode up, one was Stray Eagle, the other Alden didn’t recognize. Pulling up on his horse, Stray Eagle reached down a hand in friendship, “Sorry to bust in on you like this guys, but Billy here spotted another large herd migrating about fifteen miles from our camp. They were moving in our direction; we don’t want to take any chances of them finding us.”
Surviving Day By Day (Book 2): Fears, Flames, and Future Page 53