Holding the laptop under her arm, Lilly heard Ian on the other end throwing a tantrum, and Jennifer was heading toward him at a dead run. “Lance, you’re a genius and anyone who says otherwise, I’ll kill,” Lilly stated coldly. Lance looked up at her in shock and took a deep breath to rant, but Lilly held up her hand.
“No, listen,” Lilly said calmly. “You knew you were going to make changes. That’s all this is. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine,” she stated, and Lance stepped back. “Lance, I’m a vet, I know about artificial joints. I saw your plans and after you explained, I should’ve known, but I’m sorry, I didn’t. You are more perfect than I am, but to be honest, I think this is going to fire your brain up, improving the bot tenfold.”
For several minutes, Lance just looked at her. “Okay, I was acting like a punk-ass bitch,” he finally admitted.
“No, you were acting like my man,” Lilly acknowledged, holding her chin up. “Doing his best with what he has.”
Lance chuckled, “That sounds so cool… ‘your man’.”
“You have a ‘man card’ and you told me you were mine, so yeah,” Lilly laughed with him.
Looking past Lilly, Lance gasped, “What the hell do they have their masks off for?!”
Lilly turned around to see Jennifer latched onto Ian with her legs wrapped around his waist, and both were locked in a very hot kiss. With all the gear the two had on, Lilly was impressed. “Lance, leave them alone. I’m sure Jennifer tried talking but gave up and did what she had to do to calm Ian down.”
“We are in the field,” Lance whispered harshly.
Lilly turned to Lance. “Want me to strip naked and run around through these ashes? Because if you hadn’t calmed down, I would have,” she told Lance and from the tone, he knew she wasn’t playing. So happy for the mask hiding his burning cheeks, Lance just scoffed, forgetting he knew how to speak.
“They make such a good couple,” Robin smiled, looking around. “Should we spread out because they might need time? We will buy them all they need.”
“Naw,” Rhonda said, patting Dino. “The dogs are here, and they will tell us before anything gets close.”
“So, are you better?” Lilly asked.
Unable to speak, Lance reached for the laptop and Lilly turned, keeping from his reach. “You can talk,” Lilly told him.
“Can’t,” Lance croaked. “Throat’s dry.”
Laughing, Lilly handed him the laptop and turned to see Ian and Jennifer putting their masks and helmets back on. As Lance opened the laptop, Lilly pulled her drinking tube out and put it into the small gaps in Lance’s mask to let him get a drink while Ian and Jennifer walked back, hand in hand.
“I should tell them about the Corvette I restored,” Heath chuckled. “From the ground up and took it for a ride. Blew the engine because I forgot to put oil in the brand-new engine.”
“Yes, you should, but not today. They are calmed down,” Robin smiled at the four. “Our daughter finds a guy like that, you better break his knees, so he can’t leave.”
“Shit, Lori finds a guy like them, I’ll perform the wedding and buy her thongs to wear,” Heath chuckled.
Lance and the others walked over and stopped in front of them. “The bot should be good, but every tooth on the shredder will have to be sharpened and I know we’ll have to replace some gears,” Lance said with a sigh, but everyone was happy he and Ian weren’t blowing up.
“I can sharpen them,” Dwain said proudly.
“Then you’ll be coming over to help,” Lance laughed. “Heath, how about you guys come over for Sunday lunch tomorrow? Brenda can come, but not Grady. To be honest, you need to leave two at home and they can call for help.”
Somewhat shocked, Heath slowly nodded his head. “We would be honored, Lance,” he said in a monotone.
“You can take the kids tomorrow. I’m sure they are tired after the stuff we did, and the schoolwork the ladybugs laid out for them,” Ian chuckled.
“You got Denny to do schoolwork? Without beating him?” Robin asked in wonder.
“That’s what they were starting when we left,” Lance shrugged. “We eat at noon but come over whenever, just call first. We are up at 0700 on Sundays.”
“We need to bring anything?” Robin asked.
“Just yourselves,” Lilly said, and they headed to the buggy.
When everyone was loaded up, Lance tapped the keyboard and the bot spun around, clean once again, and moved through the ashes of its victims. When it reached the playground, the bot shut down, waiting for more.
Chapter 16
Heath pulled up to the build house they’d met them at yesterday and stopped as Rhonda pulled up beside him on the four-wheeler. “You called them, right?” Rhonda asked, looking around the empty yard.
“Yes,” Heath said, lifting the radio Ian had given him last night. “This is Heath,” he called over the radio.
“Almost to you,” Jennifer called out.
A few minutes later, they heard the crunch of leaves when the buggy Ian had made came down the slope and pulled out of the trees. Jennifer drove over, and they saw Allie beside her and Denny in the backseat. “Um, Rhonda, park the four-wheeler up in the trees and ride with us,” Jennifer instructed, looking at Rhonda riding alone on the four-wheeler.
“Why?” Dwain asked from the backseat of the side by side.
“For some reason, the tigers don’t like company and they are roaming around,” Jennifer answered.
“Stinkers are around?” Kathy asked, looking around.
“No, you,” Jennifer told them. “They acted this way when Denny and them came over with us, but we knew when you pulled up. The tigers left their treehouse.”
“I’ll ride with you,” Rhonda trembled, pulling the four-wheeler into the trees.
“Heath, you drive only where I drive. Traps, deadly traps are here, so stay close and we can cover you,” Jennifer told him. “Remember, no brake lights, so you watch me and everyone else. Watch for tigers, but don’t shoot them unless they are charging. We don’t want to make them mad.”
Nodding nervously, “I understand,” Heath said as Rhonda climbed in behind Allie, holding her AR. As Jennifer drove off, Heath followed her up the hill.
“Heath, she said close, not up her ass,” Dwain said behind him.
“Dwain, they have booby traps that kill here,” Heath replied as Robin held the dash, looking around.
“Heath, if Jennifer farts, you will know before she does. At least, pull back to where we only smell it,” Robin pleaded, and Heath added a few feet to the gap.
When they reached the chute for the diversion fence, Dwain looked at the strands of barbed wire. “This group has done so much,” he said in awe as Heath followed Jennifer through the zig-zagging chute. “This is genius. The odds of a stinker making it through are astronomical.”
“Like dead people walking astronomical?” Kathy retorted beside him.
“You two, shut up and watch for tigers,” Robin snapped as they entered the diversion fence. “I’m really developing an understanding of Ian’s fear of big pussy cats.”
Driving along the diversion fences, Heath never looked away from the back of Jennifer’s buggy. When the radio went off, Heath almost rammed Jennifer. “The tigers are moving,” Lilly called over the radio. “On camera twenty-four.”
“Hope camera twenty-four isn’t close,” Kathy said in a quivering voice.
When they started down the slope, Heath almost wanted to turn around and head home. Rolling down the slope for several hundred yards, the outer fence sprang up with the wall of razor wire.
“Holy shit,” Heath gasped, turning the wheel to put distance between him and the fence.
Diving over, Robin grabbed the steering wheel. “She said right behind her, not put distance between you and the fence,” Robin snapped.
Nodding, Heath held the wheel steady and Robin let go, turning to look out at the small draw off her side and saw a metal pipe sticking out over the draw and
pouring water. As Robin pondered that while looking for tigers, Heath and Dwain looked at the wall of razor wire a few feet from them as they sped past.
Nobody even noticed the cabin and other structures while they watched for tigers and razor wire. When Jennifer turned the corner of the fence, the radio went off and Robin held out her hand to grab the steering wheel, but Heath held it steady. “Gate’s open and don’t slow. Tigers are below the rise,” Lilly called out.
“We will give them the kids, if we have to kill the tigers,” Robin told Heath as she held her rifle aimed at the trees. Heath only nodded, seeing a gate covered with razor wire standing open as Jennifer threw up dirt, rounding it. Trusting Jennifer’s judgement, Heath stomped the gas and cranked the steering wheel, throwing up dirt and speeding through the gate. Only when he rolled past it, did Heath notice the tall chain-link fence and second gate.
Seeing Jennifer was stopped, Heath stomped the brakes, skidding to a halt. “Hey, Daddy,” Heath heard and jumped so high off the seat, he hit his head on the roof of the side by side.
Holding his head, Heath turned to see Lori smiling and holding her AR. “Hey, baby,” Heath winced, then turned to see the razor wire gate already closed and the cyclone gate rolling closed. “The tigers must be close.”
“Oh, yeah. Look,” Lori said, smiling and pointing at the gate. Heath felt faint, seeing the two tigers slowly walk over the rise and up to the gate. Grabbing Heath’s arm, “Come see how big they are,” Lori cried in excitement, pulling her dad when he got out slowly, not really wanting to know how big they were.
Everyone got out and walked to the gate while the tigers sat down, looking at them right in front of the outside gate. Heath looked up at the tall cyclone gate, certain the tigers couldn’t jump it. “Is it me, or do they look pissed?” Rhonda asked, walking up.
“No, they always look like that,” Carrie said, and Heath looked down at her and then at Lori holding his arm.
“What are you doing out here if the tigers were at the gates?” Heath asked.
“Duh, covering you while the gates were open,” Lori moaned.
“Come on guys,” Jennifer called from the buggy.
“I like having a big fence between me and mean pussy,” Dwain said, staring at the tigers.
“I’m agreeing with Ian, I want small nice pussies running around again,” Rhonda shivered, turning away from the gate and climbing back into the buggy.
When they stopped behind the cabin, the others looked at it hard. “It’s not a real cabin,” Dwain said. “That’s siding.”
“Yeah, it’s concrete,” Jennifer said, getting out. “Lance said only an explosive warhead would punch through.”
They all looked at each other and Lori grabbed Heath’s hand and Denny grabbed his mom’s. “Come on, this is the coolest place ever!” Denny said with excitement.
“Where are Lance and Ian?” Heath asked.
“Inside. They aren’t allowed to touch a weapon today, unless some bad shit happens,” Jennifer said, pulling out her key and the others gasped in shock at the massive key. When Jennifer opened the door and walked in, Dwain grabbed Heath and pointed at the thickness of the door.
“Holy shit, it’s a freaking bank vault!” Dwain cried out.
“Daddy!” Dwain heard, and turned to see Jodi running at him. He scooped her up and then looked back at the door. Then, he saw the hydraulic arm taking the weight of the door to open and close. “I don’t even want to know how much that door alone cost.”
“You don’t have to worry about cost now,” Rhonda said, walking past.
“Rhonda,” Dwain snapped, and she turned around. “This was built before the stinkers.”
“Just shows you they have very smart parents,” Rhonda admitted and turned around. Lori pointed to the gun rack by the back door, and everyone hung up their weapons.
They found Ian and Lance sitting at desks beside the kitchen, then noticed four more desks in front of them. But Lance’s and Ian’s desks were bigger, and each had two fifty-inch screens. Ian was working with something 3D and Lance was typing away lines of code.
“Sorry, we weren’t expecting you so soon,” Lilly said, coming up from the basement.
“That’s my fault,” Rhonda said, looking around. “Grady was whining, and I told Heath if we didn’t leave, I was going to kill him. Then I would’ve had to stay behind to guard the house and bury the body.”
Seeing only Lance, Ian, Jennifer and the ladybugs, Dwain looked at Jennifer. “Um, where are your parents? I don’t want them to drive up and see a strange UTV outside and come in slinging lead.”
“They won’t be here until July or August,” Ian called over his shoulder.
Dwain and the others froze, and Jennifer quickly filled them in. Heath had to stumble over to the table and drop down into a chair. Dwain just sat down on the floor. “You put up those fences by yourself?!” Heath shouted in shock.
“Lance and Ian put up the razor wire one. I helped on the other one,” Jennifer corrected, and everyone turned to Lilly.
“Oh, I wasn’t here yet,” Lilly told them. “I offered to dig a moat, but they told me I didn’t have to.”
“Aren’t they awesome?!” Denny shouted.
With her body numb from shock, Robin turned to Heath. “They are much more than awesome,” she told Denny, and she stared at Heath in utter amazement. “We do whatever they ask, no matter when they ask.”
“Did you see Lance’s H1 Alpha Hummer?” Denny asked, vibrating with excitement.
“No, sorry. Tigers had me spellbound, son,” Heath answered, getting up.
Throwing his hands in the air, Ian spun around in his chair. “Mean pussy,” Ian sang out and they all nodded.
“Hey, Denny, come here,” Lance called out and Denny shot over beside him.
“He’s never moved that fast for us,” Robin mumbled.
“I made a mistake in one of the lines of code on the screen,” Lance said, getting up, “find it.”
Taking a deep breath, Denny sat down in the chair, staring at the screen and going line by line. “Denny, what’s nine times seven?” Allie shouted out.
Robin and Heath looked over as Denny closed his eyes, concentrating hard. “Sixty-three,” Denny answered, then opened his eyes and returned to searching the code.
“Yeah, he has trouble with multiplication,” Robin sighed.
“Not no more,” Allie sassed, flipping her hair back.
“Sorry, the ladybugs were starting an algebra lesson and had to backtrack on Denny, but quizzed him all afternoon until he memorized the multiplication table to twelve,” Lance explained, holding out his hand to Heath. “We weren’t expecting you till around ten or so.”
“Sorry, but we had to leave, or I was going to have to take Rhonda’s weapons away,” Heath laughed.
“Ten bucks, I can kick your ass,” Rhonda challenged Heath.
“Not taking it,” Heath replied as Lance shook everyone else’s hand.
“I wanted to come over and help cook,” Robin smiled.
“Well, when we start, you are more than welcome,” Jennifer laughed.
“Found it!” Denny cried out, pointing at the screen.
“Fix it,” Lance called over his shoulder and Denny’s hand hit the desk as his arm went numb.
“Uh-uh,” Denny mumbled, shaking his head. “I might mess it up.”
Walking over, “Do you know why it’s wrong?” Lance asked, and Denny nodded. “Then fix it and be done.”
Visibly shaking, Denny turned to the computer, moving the cursor to the spot and backspaced, then slowly typed. When he was done, Denny sighed like he’d given birth and stood up. “See? You found the problem and fixed it. If you find a problem you can’t fix, find someone who can or figure it out.”
“Okay,” Denny said, moving away from the desk.
“Tell your mom and dad what you have been doing,” Lance grinned, and tapped Ian on the shoulder.
“Dude,” Ian snapped at the interrup
tion, tapping his keyboard rapidly and making the 3D object change.
“Ian,” Lance said, and walked into the living room and then headed upstairs.
Giving a groan, Ian looked at his wristwatch. “I just sat down, how in the hell is it 0914?!” Ian cried out.
“Ian, you’ve been at the computer for three hours,” Jennifer barked, sitting down at the table with the others as Ian ran upstairs.
A little while later, they called Lilly and Jennifer upstairs. Getting up, the girls both ran upstairs and skidded to a halt. Lance and Ian were in their Boy Scout uniforms, but the uniforms looked way too small. Lilly smiled, looking at the sash with all the badges as Jennifer walked over with a shocked face.
“Ian, is this the uniform your mom bought you for your birthday?” Jennifer asked, looking at the shirt about to bust across his chest and squeezing his shoulders and arms. When Ian didn’t answer, Jennifer looked up at Ian’s face to see shock. “Ian, I was there when you and Lance came down in your new uniforms. Your mothers gave you both new sets each year, and that was this past February.”
“You’re amazing,” Ian grinned and nodded.
“Ian, they were two sizes too big. Why didn’t you let them out?” Jennifer asked, looking down at Ian’s thighs about to rip the pants apart.
“Lance and I let them out last night,” Ian moaned, trying not to breathe too deep.
Looking up at Ian’s face, “Ian, since we’ve been here, how much weight have you put on?” Jennifer asked.
Feeling his hands going numb as the sleeves cut off circulation, Ian shook his hands. “Thirty-seven pounds,” Ian said, wanting the clothes off.
“Jennifer, what about Lance’s?” Lilly asked, looking at the belt with shiny metal badges around his waist.
Turning to Lance, Jennifer shook her head. “Lilly, these things swallowed them back in February. I know, I was there when they came down and didn’t like the way they made Ian look. His pants were so big, it looked like he had taken a dump in them and had no ass. Now, I can count every hair on his ass, they are so tight.”
Glancing over at Lance with a shit-eating grin, “She was looking at my butt,” Ian chuckled.
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