“We’ll be waiting,” Glen said with his wife and son agreeing.
Nathan and Rodger jumped in the truck along with Howard and his sons. Pulling out of the parking lot Rodger looked at Nathan, “You think they were listening?”
“They are supposed to monitor that frequency anytime someone is not in camp,” Nathan answered as Rodger honked the horn for a group of people to move to the side of the road. Several people started to flag the vehicle until they spotted Rodger in his sheriff outfit.
“Much trouble in town?” Nathan asked, noticing everyone was carrying a weapon.
“No more than expected. But those that cause trouble know if they try to start with most people, they will get shot, not arrested. This seems to control the situation,” Rodger said, turning onto the main strip.
“Yes, I’ve noticed the stealing element suddenly develops a sense of self-preservation when they know the victims will shoot. Suddenly that TV they wanted to steal isn’t worth it,” Nathan replied as they drove on.
In a few minutes they pulled into the co-op. There were only a few people around and a few vehicles that seemed to be running. Rodger pulled around to the back and once again, Howard and his sons stayed with the truck. Walking in Nathan was shocked how big the place was. “Come on. Let’s see Keith, the manager,” Rodger said leading, Nathan to the front of the store.
There were only a few people in the store but when Nathan spotted one, they were always escorted by an employee. Seeing this made Nathan realize the only reason they were walking around without an escort was because Rodger was the sheriff. Reaching the front of the store a tall black man in overalls came over and shook Rodger’s hand.
“Rodger, I can’t extend any more credit till you and Bob pay the current bill, sorry. I can’t deliver the stuff Bob ordered last week.”
“It’s okay, Keith. I’m here so Nathan can pick up some stuff,” Rodger said, motioning to Nathan.
“It’s cash only sir, I’m sorry,” Keith told him.
“That’s okay, I have cash,” Nathan said, handing Keith the list he had made.
Taking the list, Keith’s eyes got bigger the more he read. Looking around to make sure no one was around, Keith said quietly to Nathan, “You realize this is going to be over three thousand dollars?” Nathan reached in his messenger bag and pulled out a five-thousand-dollar roll.
“Here’s five grand,” Nathan said. Keith took the money in shock. “I really need this stuff fast.”
“We’ll get started now,” Keith said, and motioned several workers over.
Nathan grabbed a buggy. Walking around the store he put stuff in the buggy. Seeing kid’s hiking boots, he grabbed several different sizes for all the kids. Rodger walked around with him. “What would you have done if you hadn’t had that money?” he asked as Nathan put in a stack of riding dusters.
“Walked my ass off,” Nathan said.
“You can stay here with us,” Rodger offered.
Nathan met Rodger’s eyes. “I really appreciate the offer, but I’ve made a promise to go through this with my friends. I wish the kids would stay but I really doubt they will.” Stopping at a rack of riding dusters, he started grabbing.
It was an hour later that Keith came over to get them and noticed the full cart. “We can get that rung up and you can get your change in my office. I don’t like to let people know how much money is around here,” he said leading them up front.
When they were in Keith’s office, he said, “The total is five thousand two hundred and sixty-seven dollars.”
“What’s Rodger and Bob’s bill?” Nathan asked, fishing some more bills out.
“I can’t discuss another client’s bill, sir,” Keith said with a stern face.
“We owe just over nine thousand,” Rodger told Nathan.
Nodding his head impressed with the figure, Nathan threw a bank stack of hundreds on Keith’s desk. “That should cover their bill. You can deliver their stuff tomorrow.” Nathan threw another stack on the desk. “That’s for future purchases.”
Pushing back from the desk, Keith looked at the twenty grand sitting in front of him like it was alive. “The stuff will be delivered tomorrow,” he said in a quiet voice.
“Thank you, Nathan. Keith, is the stuff loaded?” Rodger asked.
“Yeah, it’s in your truck,” Keith said, picking up the bills.
“Thank you,” Rodger said. He grabbed Nathan’s arm and guided him out of the office and then the store. When they were loaded up in the truck Rodger spun up gravel leaving the parking lot. “Did you steal that money?” Rodger demanded.
“Hell, no!” Nathan snapped.
“You just threw down twenty-five thousand dollars like it was Monopoly money!” Rodger shouted.
“In a few more weeks I think Monopoly money will be worth more,” Nathan said calmly, shrugging his shoulders. Rodger just stuttered at that. “What, Rodger? You think people are going to keep using worthless bills? Why not use them while I can, while other people will take them?”
“Where did you get that kind of money?” Rodger asked.
“I didn’t steal it, so what does it matter?” Nathan said. Rodger just kept looking back and forth from Nathan to the road. “Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no lies,” Nathan finally said.
Rodger laughed. “You know, I think Keith shit his pants seeing that much money.”
“What the hell happened?” Howard asked from the back. Rodger told him. Howard looked stunned. “You are a very remarkable man,” Howard said to Nathan.
“I can help, so I do. I have more than I need. If I couldn’t, I wouldn’t,” Nathan told them truthfully. They rode the rest of the way in silence.
When they got back to the farm, they saw all the kids and Jasmine in the small horse pasture walking their horses. Rodger pulled over and Nathan unloaded the saddles. Then they drove to the barn to unload the feed and other supplies. As they were unloading, Rodger climbed in the combine as Bob walked in the barn. Seconds later, the combine fired up.
“Holy shit!” Bob screamed. “You found parts to fix the combine!”
Nathan put his index finger in his ear, shaking it around and trying to get the ringing to stop. He really wished he had left his Hunters Ear in. “No, Bob, it wasn’t broken,” Nathan said. Howard told Bob the conversation they had riding into town. Bob tried all the other machines and they all fired up. Bob and Rodger smiled. “We just might get through this yet,” Bob said as they walked out of the barn.
Nathan fell in beside them. “That is what you always tell yourself,” Nathan said as they made their way to the horse pasture. Nathan grabbed the saddle, blanket, and tack he bought for the Percheron. Carrying it over to the stable Nathan grabbed the guide rope and placed it over the Percheron and guided over to the stable.
Talking to the horse, Nathan saddled it in no time. “He’s done that a time or two,” Rodger said to Bob.
“Damn, he’s faster than anyone here,” Bob said, agreeing.
Slowly, Nathan climbed in the saddle. Mark had said all the horses were trail horses but Nathan had learned long ago, until you know the horse, you can’t trust it. The massive grey horse sat patiently, waiting for Nathan to get settled.
Feeling the horse relaxed between his legs, Nathan did the same then guided her out into the pasture. Getting the feel for the massive animal, Nathan had to admit she handled wonderfully. “I’m going to call you Smoke,” he said, patting her neck.
Smoke whinnied as Nathan led her into a trot. The kids stopped leading their horses to watch Nathan trot around the pasture. Amanda turned to Mark and Glenda, who had stayed to help. “He’s riding. Why can’t we?” she asked.
Glenda watched Nathan, impressed with his riding. “I can tell he’s ridden horses a long time,” she told Amanda.
“Please let me ride,” Amanda whined.
; Mark raised his eyebrows at Glenda. “I thought the horses were bad.” He helped Amanda into the saddle then moved around helping the others.
Nathan, seeing the kids getting in the saddles, broke Smoke into a gallop and rode to them. Pulling back on the reins, Smoke slowed and Nathan guided her to Amanda. “You ready?” he asked.
“This is easier than a car. This is your steering wheel, gas, and brake all in one,” Amanda said, holding up the reins.
Nathan laughed. “Yes, but a car doesn’t have a mind of its own.”
They led the horses around the pasture in a slow walk for the rest of the afternoon, with only Casey falling off once. She just jumped up and climbed back on all by herself. Nathan helped the kids unsaddle their horses and brush them.
It was only when they sat down for supper that the kids figured out riding in saddles for a long time hurt. Bob sat by Nathan as he fed Emma, who was just opening her mouth when the spoon came close. “Can’t anyone else feed her?” Bob asked.
“No, she goes insane,” Nathan replied as Casey handed him a piece of paper.
“I drew this for you,” she said, smiling.
Taking the paper, Nathan looked at the picture. “This is beautiful! When I get home, I’m hanging it on the wall.” She hugged him. Nathan leaned down and kissed the top of her head. Then she ran off giggling. Nathan picked up the picture and looked at it then turned it to Bob. “What is this supposed to be?” he asked in a whisper.
“A dinosaur?” Bob shrugged.
“Shit, I thought it was a duck,” Nathan said looking at the picture. Folding the paper up carefully, Nathan put it in his messenger bag. Everyone sat around talking till dark then headed off to bed. Nathan led his group to the barn and when they were asleep, he went down to the little room where they had put the boxes.
Chapter 18
Day 22
Everyone was awake before dawn and except for Nathan had very sore butts. Seeing them hobble around, Nathan didn’t have the heart to tell them they were going to ride all that afternoon. Nathan pulled on his boots and grabbed his vest and rifle.
“What are we doing today?” Jasmine asked.
“After breakfast, we are going to shoot. I want each of you to hit what you are aiming at,” Nathan said, putting Emma’s little boots on.
Jasmine sighed with relief. “Thank God. That saddle hurt my butt in places I never knew were there.” She forced herself to bend over and put on her boots.
Nathan smiled and picked up Emma. “Sorry, riding lessons resume this afternoon.”
Everyone let out groans as they followed Nathan out of the loft. In the dawn light, they could see breakfast being laid out on the picnic tables. They fixed plates and sat down to eat. Bob joined them.
“How do you guys like riding?” he asked looking around the table only to be met with moans. “Felt the same way when I started.”
“Where can I take them to practice shooting?” Nathan asked.
“I’ll show ya. We have a little range down by the creek,” Bob said.
After breakfast, Bob showed them the area and Nathan dropped the boxes of ammo he was carrying. He went over the basics again the showed them how to shoot. Even though they all had suppressors, Nathan made them wear the ear protection he had given them. Since little Emma refused to stay behind, Nathan found some ear muffs for her.
They started at twenty-five yards and everyone hit their targets. They moved to fifty yards. By noon, having gone through over a thousand rounds, everyone was hitting targets a hundred yards away. Nathan had them move from targets up close to far away and back again, changing magazines constantly. Nathan called them together and made them pick up spent shells before they headed back for lunch.
They met everyone at the picnic tables and Bob filled Nathan in on what they were doing. “We got a load of lumber and are building a type of dorm for those coming out here. We started on the boxed berm around the house but made it four feet wide instead of three. The new fence is being put in around the house twenty feet inside the old one and will have ten rows of barbed wire instead of three. Then we are putting rolls around the top strand. We are also going to add three more strands to the old fence. We turned the goats loose and they are eating the grass like crazy. I thought Mindy was going to die when they ate her flowers but I told her those flowers were going to get dug up when the berm got put in so she didn’t cook the goats. The gate and guard house are done and we have three deer stands put up out back for lookouts. Thank you again for paying off the co-op bill. I bought several tons of natural seeds. Thank God this was a rotation year and I planted soybeans.”
“Rotation year?” Amanda asked, following the conversation.
“You can only plant cotton so many years in a row. Then you rotate crops to put back into the soil what cotton takes and take out what cotton leaves behind,” Nathan told her.
“Man, that’s smart,” Amanda said, taking a long drink. Nathan was amazed that she hadn’t grown since she had been with him. Amanda only weighed eighty pounds and was just over five feet tall. No matter how much he fed her she didn’t gain weight. Normally that would be good but with the trip they wanted to follow him on he wanted her to have some reserves built up.
Nathan looked up seeing someone come over and realized it was Glen. Stopping beside Nathan, Glen handed Nathan a sheet of paper. “Here is what came over. I recorded it and wrote it down. I have no idea what code you’re using but it’s a good one.”
Nathan read the note and sighed with relief.
Amanda stood up. “Well what does it say?”
“Everyone is at the camp. Tim and Sherry made it with all my stuff and animals. I will have to look on my tablet for the rest of the code words and numbers,” Nathan said, leaning back smiling.
“Can I see it?” Amanda asked. Nathan handed it over. The note read:
Looney tunes in the house stop.
Alfalfa and Darla in the club with the gang stop.
Daffy is taking a bath stop.
Batman is working stop.
Mickey was almost in trouble stop.
Message follows, 2,7,9,24… (and a lot more numbers).
“This means something?” Amanda asked, not convinced.
“Alfalfa is Tim, that’s the code telling me they made it to the camp and the gang is all my stuff. If they had to leave something behind it would say ‘in the car’ and instead of gang it would say ‘at work’. Looney tunes refers to everyone at the camp that are members,” Nathan said.
“Aren’t Tim and Sherry members?” Jasmine asked.
Amanda sighed, “No, Jasmine, I’ve told you. They are part of the camp because they are Nathan’s family. Do you listen to anything I say?” she asked.
Jasmine let it slide and asked Nathan, “So will we be accepted there?”
“Jasmine, I just asked you if you listen to me!” Amanda threw her hands up. “The camp only allows each ‘family’ as many people as it can support for a year. Nathan has enough for us for two years. I know I’ve talked about this.”
Nathan shrugged his shoulders. “Don’t look at me like that. She wanted the story of my life and I’ll be damned if she didn’t commit it to memory,” Nathan told her.
Jasmine just laid her head down on the table, mumbling. Amanda shook her head watching her. “Really, Jasmine, we are family now. You haven’t been paying attention,” Amanda told her. Amanda looked at Nathan, “When will you know the rest?” she asked.
“When I get my tablet,” Nathan said.
“I’ll get it,” Amanda said, moving away.
“Hold it,” Nathan said, grabbing her. “Take the note. Use the file ‘Cooking’ to find out what is says. I want you to write it down and bring it to me, understand?”
“Sure.” She kissed his cheek and took off running.
Casey looked at Nathan, “Did Nolan mak
e it alright?” she asked. Nathan nodded and Casey smiled.
“Who’s Nolan again?” Jasmine asked without lifting her head up.
“Tim and Sherry’s baby boy,” Casey said, making Jasmine groan. “Nathan, can I go and help Amanda?”
“Yes, but remember you have riding this afternoon so you two make it quick,” Nathan said. Casey slung her rifle over her shoulder and took off running after Amanda.
Jasmine looked up. “I—,” she started to say and closed her mouth. Grabbing Emma, she walked to the stables, calling the other kids to follow.
Watching Jasmine walk away, Nathan shook his head. “Somehow and for some reason, I think I’m going to pay for that later,” he mumbled.
He walked around to the front of the house so Bob could show him the progress. They heard diesel engines and saw three military hummers coming down the driveway. Nathan noticed two of them had fifty calibers with soldiers manning them. “Hope those are friends because when Ma Deuce talks, you listen,” Nathan said, referring to the fifty cals.
Bob laughed. “Yeah, seen ‘em in action a few times. That’s our brother Dennis.”
The small convoy pulled in. Out of the back of a HUMVEE stepped a man who Nathan could see instantly was Rodger and Bob’s brother. He didn’t need to see the four stars on his collar.
The General hugged Bob, then turned to Nathan and extended his hand. “You must be Nathan. I’m Dennis.”
To say Nathan was shocked would’ve been an understatement. “How the hell did you know that?” Nathan asked, wanting to find a tin foil hat.
Dennis laughed as Nathan shook his hand. “I met up with Rodger in town. He told me about you,” Dennis said.
Relief flooded Nathan’s body. “You had me worried there, thought I was being tracked,” Nathan admitted.
The happiness fell off Dennis’s face. “You will be before long,” he said with sadness. Then he looked past Nathan and his face lit up with a smile. Nathan turned to see Howard and his family running toward Dennis. Dennis held his arms open as they all hugged him.
“It seems they are just as happy to see Dennis as they were you,” Nathan said to Bob.
Dark Titan Journey: Wilderness Travel Page 27