"Granted."
"I brought some leftovers if you're hungry."
"Leftover from when?"
"The good old days, yesterday I think. It comes with a beer."
"Should be just fine then. We need to eat fast, there could be another line of thunderstorms coming, and I don't want to be here in the shallows when they hit. Being aground and kedging off is getting old, fast."
They both ate quickly and then got into the kayak for the two-minute ride to the dock. Once there, Tess sorted through the items and stripped the packaging materials off of the ones she wanted to take aboard. Besides reducing the problem of having too much trash at sea, removing as much packaging as possible also kept the risk of cockroach infestation down, cardboard being an ideal medium for transporting bug eggs.
After thirty minutes Tess had designated a pile on the dock to take aboard that already challenged her estimate of what Robin could comfortably accommodate. She turned to Eric who approached the dock with another load, "We have enough food. In fact, I'm not sure we can find room for everything already here. And I'd like to get this stuff aboard and stowed before a rain cell comes along and drenches everything. Did you see any trash bags, Ziploc bags, Tupperware, or any other reusable containers that you can get to quickly?"
Eric walked up to Tess and deposited an armful of rain gear. "I found a closet still full of hi-tech hiking and kayaking gear. Some of it will probably fit you. I'll run back to the house and check for any type of reusable storage stuff."
"Great! I lost my foul weather gear, what a find," Tess said looking over a Gore-Tex jacket and bibs close to her size. "I think the diesel will top off the tank with one can extra, which we can lash onto the deck. If you can get storage containers we can take more of the food supplies, then we'll have some in reserve if it takes longer than my estimate to reach the next port. We need to figure out how to get everything from the pier to the boat."
"We'll have to use the kayak and it'll take a few trips. I'll take you out first and then start ferrying the rest."
"I thought yesterday was the longest day of my life, but today is shaping up to outdo it. Though with two of us, I think we can handle it and still get underway and out into the main channel on time," Tess said.
Andy, Jennifer, Tye & Reb - East Texas
From the kitchen window Jennifer and Melissa watched as Leo enticed Andy into trying new and inventive ways of throwing and catching a Nerf football. Most of their time was spent chasing the ball rather than catching it, which didn't matter in the least to Leo. Andy stayed close to the one-ton to backstop Leo's wild passes, and to be near his rifle that was just inside the cab, but away from Leo's attention.
When Andy called Leo to him, then knelt down to point something out to the boy, Jennifer knew something, or someone, had been spotted. As soon as Andy turned Leo toward the house his little legs churned for speed; Jennifer went to the porch to cut him off before he came in the house.
"Whoa Cowboy, where're you going in such a hurry?"
"A big tractor is coming; Andy said to get Poppa Tye," Leo said.
"He's out back working on the generator, now go around the house with your muddy feet and get him, okay?"
"Okay," Leo said and scurried off.
After joining Andy, who now stood behind the hood of the one-ton, she could see a large farm tractor pulling a camp trailer up their driveway. "Looks like they mean to occupy and set up housekeeping, whoever it is," she said.
"That's our neighbor," Tye said walking up to them carrying Leo. He put Leo down. "Now you stay right by this truck until that piece of machinery is turned off, okay?"
"Okay," Leo said and went to Andy looking for his football. Evidently Leo won the negotiations since he ended up holding his football and sitting on Andy's shoulders, way above everyone else to his immense pleasure, everyone else relieved at the respite from his constant motion.
"It appears they've been through some deep water from the waterlines on the side of the tractor," Tye said, as the tractor-trailer rig got closer. When the diesel throttled down to an idle, after the tractor had stopped in front of them, Tye walked out to it as the cab's door opened.
"Hello the farm," the man said climbing down.
"Bernie, how are you?" Tye asked.
"Wet and cold, how are you?"
"Oh, 'bout the same, maybe dryer. Come in for a cup of coffee and warm up."
"My wife and kids are in the trailer," Bernie said as the trailer's door opened and his family stepped out.
"Well then, we'll all go to the house for something warm to drink. I don't suppose either of your young'uns like hot coca?" Tye said seeing the kids coming toward him.
"Tye, you remember my wife, Sara?"
"I do, Sara it's good to see you in any weather."
"Tye, we're glad to be here, come here you two. These are our children Diane and Karl."
"Well do you like hot coca, or not?" Tye asked the two children, getting an enthusiastic yes out of both of them as they made their way into the house. An interested, but shy, Leo watched the two older kids carefully, and then asked Andy to put him down. With curiosity overcoming shyness, he followed the older kids into the house at a distance.
Jennifer and Andy stayed outside on watch, keeping each other company. Jennifer turned to Andy and said, "You've made a friend in Leo."
"He's a good kid, it's fun keeping him occupied, and I have a lot of excess energy to burn when I'm not pedaling my bike, so he's helping me out too."
"I'm betting Bernie and Sara are going to stay here until the creeks go down, so he'll have some other kids to play with. Don't know who you can find for a new playmate."
"Care to apply for the position?"
"Sure, you want to play football? Leo forgot his."
"Football now, footsie on the couch later?"
"Such a big talker you are. I went to sleep with you on the couch and woke up alone this morning, to see you in the recliner."
"That move earned a blanket from your mom."
"I noticed that too, you are quite the charmer."
"All kidding aside, I'm thinking about what lies ahead for us."
"What us are you referring to, Andy?"
"You and me, Jennifer. To say our lives have become uncertain in the last week is an understatement. The best way to survive, until this crisis passes, is you and I working together."
"Like teammates?"
"Exactly."
"Wow. I just had a recruited-for-the-team adrenalin spike. I'm flattered, Andy."
"Jennifer, I'm a nerd not a poet. Your superior intellect trapped me on that one. I'm a little nervous because this is important, and I don't want to screw up."
"Then take a breath and start over. Maybe start with the point you're trying to make, then work backwards through all the reasons why you want to make it."
"Sorry to interrupt such a tender moment, but something, or someone, is in with the cows, we can hear them bawling from out back," Tye said as he passed by them with his shotgun to get in the one-ton. "Bernie and I are going to check on that, you two keep watch on things here. As soon as Ben and Wes show up to hold down the fort, can you two come check on us in the jeep?"
"Okay. Dad, remember what Ben said, you two be careful."
"Andy, I need your help please," Reb said from the porch after the one-ton drove off. Andy followed Reb to the back yard where the generator had quit running.
"We're going to need more gas soon, so we're only running it sparingly; but it quit and won't start. Tye was working on it before Leo came and got him. Could you take a look?"
"Sure," Andy said. It looked like Tye had been in the process of changing a fuel filter, so Andy went ahead and completed the minor task, and then refilled the gas tank with a can of their remaining gas. The generator started on Andy's first try.
"That should do it, Tye just didn't get enough time to finish."
Reb put a hand on Andy's shoulder. "Andy, there's always a way to work around a pro
blem, if you've got enough time to think about it. Way things are now, though, time becomes more precious and there's none to waste."
Andy had an inkling that Reb was referring to the relationship he and Jennifer were developing, rather than the process of changing a fuel filter.
~~~
When Andy pulled the Jeep around to the front, where Jennifer was keeping watch, he was rewarded with a smile from her and the sight of Ben and Wes coming up the driveway. Jennifer climbed in the passenger seat and they drove out to meet them.
"Welcome back guys, glad you're safe. Our neighbors, Bernie and Sara came over in that tractor and camp trailer parked up by the house. Dad and Bernie are out checking on the cows. Dad thought something, or possibly someone, got in there a little bit ago, maybe to rustle a few beef to eat. We're going now to check on him, if you can keep watch around here?"
"You got it," Ben said. "Your dad said you were short on ammo, so we brought 12-gauge and 5.56; take some of it with you. Aside from the Dallas gang that came through, for the last couple of days we've been dealing with an increasing number of local people moving around in groups, scavenging or looting for food, so keep your eyes open. We'll be here getting our ATVs unloaded and spending time with our families, if you need anything let us know."
~~~
Once through the tree line and into the field where the cattle were pastured, they saw Tye and Bernie behind the herd, slowly pushing it toward the gate they'd just come through. "Dad wants to move the cattle closer to the house. Been on a cattle drive lately, Yank?"
"No, but I've been waiting to learn how you punch cows. There's one looking right at us, go punch it."
Jennifer held Andy's eyes, puckered up, and emitted an eardrum-piercing whistle, as she waved a hand at the cows. The lead animal turned and the recalcitrant bunch ambled back to rejoin the herd.
"Clever, Cowgirl."
"City Slicker meets Hick Farm Girl."
"Proves the theory that opposites attract, from my perspective at least," Andy said stopping the Jeep. "So what happened to whoever was bothering the cows?"
"Probably ran off when they heard the one-ton coming."
"Just a thought, but if I was hungry enough to steal a cow, I wouldn't run far at just the sound of a vehicle. They could be watching us and planning their next move," Andy said, letting out the Jeep's clutch and steering toward the one-ton.
"Andy, it impresses and scares me how you think."
"I confess to being a gamer in a former life. There are some evil-thinking souls creating and coding a myriad of clever ways to murder and cause mayhem for entertainment in those games. If this was a game, we would've been ambushed many times already."
Andy stopped the Jeep along the passenger side of the one-ton. "Have you seen anybody?" Andy asked Bernie.
"No, but the cattle were bunched up and milling around nervous-like when we got here. We decided to move them so they are in our sight from the house."
"Ben and Wes arrived just before we came out here, so we have more eyes to keep watch. Feels like we're being watched right now, to me," Andy said.
"Me too," Tye seconded.
From beside him Andy heard Jennifer say, "We've got about an hour of light left. I don't want to be out here chasing cows after dark, let's hurry this up."
"Tell me what to do," Andy said.
"Let me drive and you ride shotgun, making noise and waving your arms at the cattle as we drive by them."
Once in the driver's seat Jennifer drove aggressively back and forth behind the herd, joining Andy in waving and whistling, pushing the cattle to move faster. Tye and Bernie worked one side of the herd while they worked the other, pushing the cattle toward the gateway at a break in the tree line. Approaching the gate a bottleneck developed, with most of the herd bunched up waiting to pass. The cattle were hesitant about the narrow gap, sensing danger. They reacted by going through on the run in single file.
With the herd and herders effectively stopped at the gate the ambushers opened fire. "Get out of here!" Andy shouted to Jennifer at the sound of the first gunshot. Seeing movement in the tree line on both sides of the gate, he knew they were about to be caught in a deadly crossfire. Jennifer swung the wheel and floored the Jeep's accelerator. Andy aimed and squeezed off the remaining rounds in the AR's magazine, hoping to make the attackers take cover.
In the middle of the pasture Jennifer swung the Jeep around to face the gate and stopped. Andy shoved the rounds of ammo Ben had given them into the AR's 30-round magazine.
"Here comes Dad and Bernie, Thank God."
"Good, those bastards nearly had us. We should try to keep their attention long enough for Ben to come up behind them," Andy said; too busy reloading to look up. He slammed the full magazine home just as the one-ton pulled up beside them.
"Everybody okay?" Tye asked as he brought the vehicle to a stop.
"We're okay, are you?"
"Yeah, we took a round through the windshield and saw some cattle go down. The bastards could have asked; I would of worked with them."
"We need to keep these guys looking our way until Ben comes up behind them," Andy said to Tye and Bernie. "If we get a little closer I can keep sending them enough lead to keep them ducking."
"I'd rather lose a cow or two than have any of us shot, so keep a good distance," Tye warned.
Jennifer drove toward the gate through the milling cattle, with Andy standing and using the Jeep's windshield as a support. When he saw movement he fired multiple times in the general area. Working with the bouncing motion of the Jeep he opted for quantity of bullets fired versus quality of the aim.
In no time the bolt locked back and he sat in the seat and started reloading the magazine. "Let's turn back and make a circle to come at them again, when I'm reloaded."
Jennifer swung the Jeep around, as the sound of gunshots picked up, "Is that Ben?"
"I hope it's our reinforcements—and not theirs. I'm loaded, but let's hang back a second and see who's shooting at whom." Andy looked around to locate Tye and Bernie and found them coming toward them. "Here comes your dad."
"Look, I think that's Ben and Wes on ATVs," Jennifer said, just as more gunfire broke out from the tree line on the opposite side of the gate.
"Let's get closer," Andy said, standing up.
When the distance narrowed to where Andy could plainly see two people moving in the trees, he asked Jennifer to stop the Jeep. Andy could see the men moving from behind one tree to the next, aiming and firing at Ben's group. Using the windshield as a rest improved his accuracy, and he shot both of them before they realized they had been flanked. The rate of return fire dropped to nothing shortly after he knocked those two down.
Andy put the empty AR in the Jeep and picked up Jennifer's 12-gauge, watching and waiting for any hostile movement. The ATVs moved along the far side of the tree line toward the road, slowly scanning for some sign of whether there were more attackers. The cattle, yet to pass through the gate, started to ease closer and then passed through the gate on the run, indicating they were still nervous near the trees.
Once all the cattle were in the other pasture Tye pulled up alongside the Jeep. "Everybody still okay?" he asked.
"We're okay; here comes Ben," Jennifer said, pointing to an approaching ATV. Andy started to reload the AR's magazine during the lull; surprised at how limiting it was to have only one magazine, he made a mental note to scavenge a couple from the deputies, if possible.
After Ben stopped and shut down the ATV he got off and walked in-between the vehicles. "I think it's safe, but having some metal around feels good. Everybody okay?"
"We are, how about your bunch?" Tye asked.
"We're fine, Wes went back to the house in case any of them headed that way," Ben said.
"We've got two dead yearlings back here, did you notice any injured cows?" Tye asked.
"Truth is, I don't remember seeing any cows, injured or otherwise. Sorry, I was either looking for two-legged critters, or for cov
er. I'll take care of watching things here while you get the dead cattle moved. I doubt there were only two people in that group, so we'll all need to be extra watchful."
"Ben, we should gut those two yearlings here, away from the house, and then bring the carcasses in. We'd better get started, light is going fast."
"Okay, soon as I finish a sweep of the area I'll come help."
Jennifer pulled the Jeep up to one of the dead yearlings and illuminated it with the headlights, while Tye did the same with the other one.
"Do you know how to gut an animal, Andy?" Jennifer asked when they were stopped and looking at the dead animal through the windshield.
"Sure, you?"
"It makes me very uncomfortable, I can hold and hand you things, but I'd rather not be digging around in body cavities."
"No worries, but I don't even have a knife with me."
"Here comes Dad, I think he has one."
"I'm so relieved," Andy replied dryly.
"Hey Andy," Tye said walking up. "Between Bernie, the truck's glove box, and me, we came up with two pocket knives and a whetstone we can share. You want to start on this one?"
"I do," Andy said and took the knife from Tye.
"Thanks, holler when you need the whetstone," Tye said and turned to go back to his job.
Andy looked at the knife and then at Jennifer then said, "This looks considerably more involved than slaying the dragon."
"That's your previous experience?"
"That, and a frog in biology class." Andy approached the seven hundred pound carcass, which had come to rest on its side in death. He grabbed a front leg and pulled to roll it onto its back. It rolled clear over to its other side.
"Jennifer, can you find me a thick branch or something to brace this, so it will stay on its back?"
"Sure, I'll be right back." She ran toward the tree line to find a selection. When she found a likely branch for the job she bent to pick it up and was slammed into the ground. Before she realized what had happened, a man lay heavily on top of her, pinning her to the icy ground. When Jennifer opened her eyes, all she could see was the point of a butcher knife coming closer.
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