by Cooper, DJ
She smiled at him. “When did you get so smart.”
“I’ve always been smart, you just thought I was a smart ass is all.”
She smiled at him and hugged him. “I love you son.”
“I love you too mom.”
Chapter 18
Friends
Beginning today, treat everyone you meet as if they were going to be dead by midnight. Extend to them all the care, kindness and understanding you can muster, and do it with no thought of any reward. Your life will never be the same again.
-Og Mandino
Sam came into the room and said Tawny was awake and wanted to see Dez. His eyes were red, he’d been crying. Jeremy got up with her and Sam put his hand up to his arm. Without looking at him. “Just Dez.” As he continued past to the chairs and sat down, putting his head in his hands.
She walked slowly out the door to where the doctor was waiting to bring her to Tawny. Looking to him as they walked. “Is she gonna be ok?”
“I’m not going to lie to you.” Pausing to look at her, “it doesn’t look good.”
Again, the tears were uncontrolled as they rolled down her cheeks. Swiping at them angrily she brushed her hair out of her face and straightened, clearing her throat and nodding to him she was ready.
He pushed the door open and she entered. Tawny lay eyes closed on the bed. She approached, reaching out and taking her hand she squeezed it. Tawny squeezed back and opened her eyes. Smiling at her she said, “guess I shoulda ducked, huh?”
“Yea, that might’ve been a good idea.” Dez smiled a weak smile back at her.
Her voice was weak as she spoke. “Dez, I need you to promise me you’ll take care of Dylan.”
“You know…” Dez began to speak. Tawny waved cutting her off.
“Just promise me.”
“Of course, I promise, you don’t even need to ask.”
“I know, it just makes me feel better. I know he’s a handful and already an angry little man, but please be patient with him.”
“I’m not doing this with you right now… You’re gonna be right as rain in a few weeks. In the mean time you’ve been like a sister, he’s my nephew and I’ll always be there for him.”
She smiled at Dez postulating, like it would somehow will the inevitable outcome to change. “I know you will.” She shifted her shoulders on the pillow, grimacing before continuing. “Ryan has been looking for someone to take over lead in the Militia. Sam is going to take over for him so that he can come to the farm.”
Dez looked shocked, sitting straighter. “What?”
“My friend I could never understand how someone could be so smart and as clueless as you. That man loves you and would do anything to protect you. He can’t be conflicted like that and lead. At least not well anyway.”
Dez looked down. “I know.”
She tilted her head at her and touched her hand. “Then why do you keep him at arm’s length?”
“I don’t know, guess I just can’t trust it.”
“I know you’ll take care of Dylan, you always have. I just wanted you to know about Ryan. My friend, I want so much for you to be happy.”
Dez began to cry, “you’re laying here like this and all you wanna talk about is my love life?”
“I just wanted a moment with my best friend. No war, no gangs, no struggles or farm issues. Just a couple of minutes like we used to be.”
Dez put her head down on her hand and cried. “I’m so sorry my friend. This is all my fault.”
“Nonsense, I didn’t want you getting all the attention again.”
“Seriously?” Dez looked at her.
They smiled at one another and didn’t talk for a while waiting for Dylan to arrive. Dez sat holding her hand and then reached out and touched her leg. Tawny looked at her strangely but said nothing. Dez tapped her leg looking at her sideways. She made no movement nor changed her expression. Dez stood, causing the metal chair to fall over and pinched her leg. Still there was no response but to turn away. The shrapnel had damaged her spinal chord and she could not feel her legs.
The door opened, and Dylan came in. Tawny put a finger to her lips indicating don’t tell him anything. Dez nodded and left the room asking to see Sam in the hallway. They sat silent for a bit on the chairs in the hall. Finally, Dez looked over at him and spoke. “I’m so sorry Sam.” His head still hanging he nodded slightly and sniffled. “She told me what you want to do.”
“Yea.”
“You know you are more of a father to Dylan than he’s ever had before.”
“The doctor told you, didn’t he?”
“Told me what? He said it didn’t look good but she’s strong, you’ll see, she’ll pull through.”
Looking over at her he could see the fear in her eyes. “No Dez, she won’t, there’s just too much internal damage. She’s bleeding internally and he’s not even sure they closed up the places where it hit intestine.”
“But…”
“She’s dying and there’s nothing he can do. He told me that even in a big hospital the prognosis wouldn’t be that great, better, but not great. Maybe fifty-fifty on the optimistic side.”
Dez looked at the floor the tears making a small puddle beneath. “She didn’t tell me. She was more worried about my love life than what was going on with her.”
“She’d told me many times these past six months that she’d missed her best friend. The one that would sit and talk about nothing but meant more to her than all the important things you’d discussed lately. She just wanted to see her friend, not the leader of Clan Laurel.”
“Sam?”
“Yea?”
“Why are you taking over as leader of the militia?”
“I can’t be at the farm Dez, she’s everywhere there. I know I can’t stop it and I know there is Dylan. But, I also know she loves you. You are Dylan’s aunt, been there since the day he was born. I’ve had this time with her but now I want to end what killed her.”
Looking over to her and grabbing her arm. “You know, I’ll have NO mercy. I will hunt every last one of them down and make the world safer for Dylan and the other children to grow up in.” Tears began streaming down his face as he looked to the floor again.
Nodding she knew he was right. And she knew he would find them, and that she wanted most of all.
The doctor waved Sam in to see Tawny and Dez returned to the room where the others waited. Coming through the door they looked to her questioning about her condition. Dez just nodded and asked Jeremy to come into the hall.
“Darlin, will you take Charleigh, Ariel and Matty back to the farm? Let them see her then go and prepare the others for a chat. I’ll be along shortly.”
“But mom, the truck is…”
“I’ll get Ryan to bring me. Get them and head home, I’ll be along.”
He nodded and went back into the room. Ryan stood looking at Dez like he was unsure of what was coming. She walked right up to him and placed her hand on his chest. “And you mister.”
“Me?” He nervously said.
“Yes, you. How about you tell me about you leaving the militia.”
He stuttered and looked around like someone in the room could help him with his certain demise. She continued, “And… You want to come and stay on the farm too?”
“Well, ahhh, you see, I.”
She closed her hand around the front of his shirt and pulled him in to her, kissing him right there in front of everyone else. Stepping away she looked over her shoulder at him. “I think that’s a wonderful idea.”
Jeremy smiled at him and herded Charleigh and the kids out the door.
They spent some time with Tawny knowing it was the last. Charleigh promised to look after Dylan while Jeremy promised to teach him to hunt and be a warrior. Dylan knew that his mom was not doing good but at merely seven years old his perception of it was that she would be well soon, and they would be just watching him for a while.
As they were about to leave, she sent him with the
m. “Take care of my baby will ya?” Hugging Dylan, tears in her eyes she whispered to him. “Be a good boy, mommy loves you.”
“Love you momma.” He said, holding Charleigh’s hand and walking through the door.
Tawny hung in for three more days. Sam never left her side. Dez came in on the third day and tapped him on the shoulder. He’d been sleeping in the chair beside her bed. “Go grab a bite to eat, I left some food over to the sheriff’s office. I’ll sit with her a while. Has she been awake today?”
He shook his head no as he walked through the door. Starting to speak as he opened it, she said, “If she wakes I’ll send Astrid here over to get you.”
“Ok, thanks.”
Dez sat next to the bed and although she’d not woken in the past couple days she began to chat with her. “Things are going ok, we haven’t had any attacks on the farm. Dylan is hanging out with Jeremy and Connor. They’re teaching him to shoot.” Smiling a moment at the memory. “Do you remember when he was making the snare to catch a squirrel and felt like the great white hunter? Well now he is the all powerful, all knowing, omnipotent source of hunting knowledge in the universe.” She snickered. “But seriously you know I was never one to listen and don’t let it go to your head, but I’ve been spending some time with Ryan. He’s planning to move to the farm in another couple of days. He’s very kind and attentive, I might let him hang around a while.” Laughing to herself. “Ok, ok… I’ll go ahead and say it. You were right.”
Out of nowhere she heard a weak voice. “Told ya so.”
Quickly she motioned Astrid to go for Sam. Standing there looking at her Tawny looked small and frail. She held her hand tightly. “Dez, I’m afraid.”
“I know, but it’s ok. I’m here and I sent Astrid to go get Sam.”
“Don’t forget your promise to me or I’ll haunt you forever.”
“I won’t.”
“I might haunt you anyways, so I can poke you when you’re being clueless.”
“That’d be ok. I’d do the same to you.” She grinned at her.
“I wish Sam was here. Where is he?”
“He’ll be here in a minute.” Looking to the door she prayed he’d come quicker.
In that instant Sam came through the door. Tawny saw him and smiled. Dez backed away and stood at the foot of the bed tears welling up in her eyes as she watched her friend fade. Sam held her in his arms as she mumbled some things about curtains in the cabin and then closed her eyes. A few breaths too long apart and soon she was gone. Sam held her and sobbed quietly into her hair.
They brought her back to the farm and buried her with the others in the small plot they’d fenced off. Standing in front of the gate Dez looked at the names on the stones they’d marked. Among the names were Lynn, Melissa, Amanda, Joseph, Georgia and now Tawny. Looking at Ryan who stood beside her she said. “So many lost, will it ever end?”
“Yes, it will end.”
“But it’ll never be the same.”
“I don’t expect so.”
She took his hand and they walked back to the barn to prepare for the evening meal.
Chapter 19
Vendetta
If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge?
-William Shakespeare
Map on the office desk and a red marker left behind offered insights into the efforts of the militia. Sam was driven and vowed to find George and Matt. Each tip was scouted and then marked off on the map. They knew the general area where they were but pinpointing it took patience and a methodical search.
Sam was on a mission and wouldn’t stop until they were dead. He told himself. “No mercy!” and he meant it! It had been four weeks since Tawny died, and he was getting frustrated. They were always one step ahead of him. There had to be a mole, but he couldn’t figure out who.
He went to the farm to talk to Ryan and get his thoughts on things. He’d not been back since and the moment he set foot in the yard emotions overtook him and he had to stop a moment to regain his composure. Splashing his face from the rain barrel he walked into the barn. There stood everyone he’d grown to love. Dez ran to him and threw her arms around him! “Oh Sam, how are things? Care for some coffee? Have a seat.” She ushered him to the seating area.
Ryan came over shaking his hand. “How’s it going?”
“It’s not, that’s the problem. Every time I get close they change locations.”
“A mole?”
“That’s what I was thinking, but I can’t figure who it could be.”
“How about a little help?”
“That’s why I’m here.”
Dez came over with some coffees and sat down, sipping her own she looked at the two of them. “Whatcha got in mind.”
Sam took a long drink of his coffee. Setting it down with an ahhhh. He wiped his mouth and reached into his pocket for the map. “See these X’s? We’ve been to all these farms that we’d scouted, and they’re there. But before we can return in force they move on.”
Ryan sipped his own cup and shook his head. “Mmmm, I can see the problem. How about if we do the scouting and you don’t communicate with your men at all about it. As a matter of fact, tell them a different location.”
“Do you think we could pull that off?”
“Well have you disclosed the next location to anyone yet?”
“No, I haven’t even been able to go over the notes and figure out where to start scouting again.”
“Well, what do ya say we do that now.”
“Ok.” Pointing to a spot on the map that had already been marked with an X. “Here is a place they’ve returned to before.” Pointing to another, he looked up. “And here.”
Ryan reached for a pencil and began circling the areas they’d returned to as Sam pointed them out. Any that were scouted but never actually found more than a few things that were left behind were crossed out. Soon the map became a mess of pencil marks and Ryan became irritated. “I can’t get a full picture with all of these marks on it.”
Dez got up and went to the trunk. “Why don’t we just start over?” Reaching in she pulled out a new map.
“Right, I’d forgotten about these.” Ryan took the map and spread it out. Marking the places that were a positive hit with a circle. A pattern began to emerge, not just a pattern but a circle. There was a circumference of about fifty miles. At the center was the quarry, a limestone quarry with tunnels into the mountains. Ryan knew the area and the quarry. Slapping the map palm down. “It’s the quarry! That’s their central location and why you haven’t been able to locate them. These other places are stopping areas for raiding.”
“Wow, you’re right. No wonder.”
“Still, I’m sure there’s someone feeding them information, or you’d have caught some of them by now.”
“I agree. You got any thoughts on finding out who?”
“Yea, you need to pick a location the way you would normally. Change nothing.” Looking to Dez. “Do you have another map? We need to recreate the one with the red X’s for Sam to take back.”
“Sure thing.” She reached into the trunk and produced another. “We only have three left after this.”
They nodded to her and began to put the X’s on the map for him to take back with him. “Once you’re close to figuring out where, radio us to check on status of Blackridge barter day and one of us will come within the hour to get the location and we’ll send a watch team to watch and see who comes and goes.”
They shook hands and he hugged Dez before leaving. He chose not to see Dylan because he didn’t want to upset him. He’d been so angry since his mother’s death it was hard to watch him get upset whenever he saw him.
He was settling in with John and Amy, they had stepped up and took Dylan and Kaleigh. No one had heard from Dickie and feared the worst, but Kayleigh was nearly a year and needed parents. Dylan was hard to handle and only Dez could control his outbursts. She expl
ained to John and Amy that he’d been a problem child since birth and needed a firm grip on his temper and behaviour. He was mean to the other kids sometimes and would pinch Kayleigh when no one was looking. Dez caught him one time and dragged him outside. No one knew, or dared ask what she did but he came in a whole different child and apologized to the toddler.
A few days passed before Sam radioed asking about Blackridge. He responded with barter day and sent Janice and Rich to town for some supplies. Once in town Rich went over to the sheriff’s office to visit with Sam. He’d brought some honey mead and made a comment about it needing to be shared. It made Sam sad as Tawny’s honey mead was what first made him notice how talented she was. This was a great cover to get the others out of the office. He made like he was upset about the loss of his wife, which he was but it served to give them a few moments.
Sam shared the location with Rich. After their chat they went out of the office where Rich made a comment about being sorry. “I didn’t think about it. I just knew how much you liked it and thought I’d bring you some.”
“Thank you, my friend, I was always partial to her mead.”
Shaking hands, they parted, and Sam retreated to his office to have some of that honey mead and regain his composure.
Loel, Mark and Laurie were already set to go when Rich returned with the location. They made their way to the location and were set up before nightfall. They watched the area and indeed a gang came and spent the night. It was very clear that it was simply a stopover, and this was why they never stayed long. For the next two days various members would ride out and return with their bounty.
On the third day an unfamiliar truck arrived. Laurie tapped Loel on the head partially tapping his eye, not taking her eyes from the binoculars she said to him. “Have a look, something new.”
He brushed her hand away and turned in the blind to grab his own pair and began peering out into the yard. “Holy Shit!” He exclaimed. “Do you see who that is?”
“I’m not sure, I don’t think I recognize them.”