by N A Broadley
Valley of Reckoning
Post-Apocalyptic Thriller
Apocalypse Trail
– Book 2-
N.A. Broadley
Angry Eagle Publishing
Dedication:
To Christine, my side-kick sista, who has always believed in me. I love you.
To my husband, Michael. Your endless patience as I worked on this novel.
Acknowledgments:
Wow. So many people have helped me with this book, and my list of thanks is long. It is amazing to me how many jumped in and helped me create this dream and turn it into a reality.
Dorene Stalter and D.J. Cooper, I love you ladies. For your help, your patience with my endless questions, and for your inspiration. You are both great mentors and authors, and I can only strive to one day be as wonderful a writer as both of you. Thank you for not allowing me to give up on this book. I couldn’t have done this without you.
Truth Seekers, and you know who you are, thank you. For the endless questions, you’ve answered and the many times you’ve read through the slush words as I bounced ideas off of all of you. The inspiration you’ve all given me to continue with this story…you are my peeps, my brotha’s and sista’s of the soul. Every one of you has taken a very special place in my heart, and I will forever love all of you.
To Roger Boyenga, thank you, my dearest friend. Thank you for the endless hours of reading as you slogged through the first of many rough drafts. For the words: “Keep going,” even as I doubted my own storytelling ability. I am so honored that you were the first to read this evolving story and hung in with me as it went through the many changes it had. Hugs, my friend.
Copyright © 2019 by N.A. Broadley All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Printed in the United States of America
First Printing, 2019
ISBN 978-1-7326212-3-7
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictionally. Any resemblance to actual events, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
This is a work of fiction. No techniques are recommended without proper instruction or safety measures and training. The author nor publisher assumes no liability for any action presumed from this book.
Editorial, cover, and formatting provided through Angry Eagle Publishing.
https://angryeaglepublishing.com
The Valley
of
Reckoning
By N.A. Broadley
Table of Contents
The Valley
of
Reckoning
Sarah
Sarah
The Compound
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty Seven
Chapter Twenty Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Sarah
Sarah closed her eyes and grimaced. She took a deep breath and repugnant odors filled her senses. Bobby’s breath stank of stale booze, cigarettes, and rot as he leaned into her face and grinned; she turned away in disgust. His arm tightened around her waist, pulling her closer. She arched away from his hot breath on her neck.
“Oh, you are gonna be so much fun to break, little one” he threatened.
The horse moved slowly, and the longer she spent in the saddle with him, the more her imagination wandered into terror. She ran her tongue across her lower lip and tasted dried blood. Bobby had only beat her once so far, but it hurt enough to terrorize her as she imagined her future with this group.
Images flitted through her mind, ghosts of sadness. Pictures flashed: Spike, dancing as bullets hit his body; Jessie, yelping as the knife sank into her side; Beth, lying in a pool of blood; and Brian, cradling Beth’s body. She recalled the tortured expression on his face. Her ears still echoed with the screams of those around her.
Surely, Brian would come after her. This thought nagged at her as the horse and rider brought her further away from those she loved.
She’d been their captive for three days now. And each hour brought her fear level higher. Why hadn’t Brian come for her yet? Tears stung the back of her eyes and her heart skipped a beat with the thought of being abandoned. Would he have done that to her? Bobby’s hand slid under her shirt and brought her back to the present. Angrily, she slapped it away and winced when he grabbed her stomach roughly.
“You better get used to the feel of me touching you. Or we’re gonna be in for a rough ride, girlie,” he hissed.
Bobby hadn’t hurt her much yet, but she knew more pain would come. He looked a lot like his brother. The same cruel twist to his mouth, the same insane glee in his eyes when he looked at her. The thought of what he could do frightened her. Something about him sent a wave of terror through her heart. The way he looked at her, the greasy grin, and the hungry glances reminded her of a predator sizing up its prey. He had a trace of madness in his eyes.
This single terrifying thought sent chills down her spine.
The Compound
Beth clawed her way through the fog and darkness. Nightmares flashed in her mind, scattered like the petals of a windblown flower. Terror clutched her heart, making her gasp as she fought against the tangle of blankets. The last thing she’d remembered was Brian’s face and his arms around her, the murderous glint in his eyes. Him promising he would right this wrong. Sarah’s terrified, beautiful blue eyes screaming silently, while the man jerked her onto the horse. The stranger’s smile enjoying her struggle against him.
She felt strong hands pressing down on her and screamed. She struggled weakly against them and opened her eyes, lifting herself from the nightmare. She found herself gazing into a stranger’s face, as the soft voice reached across the nightmare, crooning and soothing. Gentle hands…attached to a woman standing over her.
“It’s okay, you’re safe, Beth.”
“Where am I?” she croaked, her throat burned.
“You are at the compound. In the infirmary. You’ve been shot.”
She struggled to focus, trying to get a look around the room. White walls, a bedside table with a pink plastic water pitcher on it, and a basin. Hospital? She glanced back at the woman by her bedside; confusion clouded her mind making her thoughts jumbled and disjointed.
“I’m Jill, one of your nurses.”
“Hi, Jill. How long have I been here?” Beth murmured as she moved ever so slightly.
Pain ripped through her hip and back, and she sucked in a deep breath. She shivered slightly, the air chilled her bare arms, and she rubbed at the goosebumps.
“Mmmmm…about three days. You’ve had surgery on your hip so no sudden movement, okay?”
Three days? What about the others? She shifted her weight and the pain hit her again. What did she remember? Bits and pieces floated in her mind, and she grabbed onto them. Bobby and his gang had ambushed them. Her stomach lurched with anxiety.
“Where are the people I came with? Are they okay?”
Jill nodded and smiled. “Later. We’ll talk later. Let me get you something for the pain then we can sit you up for a bit.”
Beth swallowed hard against the anger as it rose up in her throat, raw and biting, and she grimaced. “No! We’ll talk now!”
“Okay, easy. We’ll talk now,” Jill replied, then turning on her heel, she walked out of the room only to return a few seconds later with Brian following behind her.
He sat on the chair beside the bed and pressed his face into hers, his breath warm against her skin. His gentle touch calmed her.
“I’m here. I’m here, Beth,” he murmured. She choked on a sob and fought the burning of tears behind her eyes as she sighed.
“Brian.”
She struggled to sit up and felt Brian’s warm hands on her back as he helped. Jill adjusted the pillows behind her back, pain sang through her hip, and she sucked in a hissing breath to keep from screaming. Weakness flowed through her body as she looked at Brian.
“Sarah? Did you get her back?” she asked.
“I’m going to get her back. I promise you that.” Her heart sank, and she brushed away a tear as Brian shook his head.
“Leave today. Go get our girl.”
His lips pressed into a tight line, and she saw a glint of cold creep into his eyes. “I’ll go. Soon.”
“Spike? Is he okay?” She remembered seeing the bullets slam into his body; how he danced like a puppet as he fell.
Brian smirked.
“Yeah, that jerk is just fine. But Roger, his grandfather, lost a few of his men in the fight, though. Jessie got hurt too, but she’s up and around just fine now.”
Yawning, barely able to hold her eyes open, Beth sank against the pillows as fatigue and despair seemed to swallow her.
It came back to her. They were headed to the compound to get help from Spike’s grandfather. Bobby and his gang were chasing them. Then in a flash, all hell broke loose around them. One minute, Spike was smiling and riding toward a group of men led by his grandfather. The next minute, the attack.
“Okay, enough for today, girl,” Jill said as she moved beside the bed. Beth felt the sting of a needle as sweet pain medicine flowed into her veins. Weakly, she struggled to keep her eyes open as the drug took hold and sleep drifted her into darkness once again.
Part 1 — Into the Valley
Chapter One
Brian turned in the saddle and glanced at Spike. The real summer heat hadn’t even started yet and, the sun was already hot on his shoulders. He felt the muscles in his lower back relax, and sighed. Giving a nod, he nudged his horse and took the lead. Three long days at the compound had been spent worrying about Sarah, whether or not Beth would make it, and what his next move would be, had nearly driven him to the brink of insanity.
Beth argued that he should have left sooner to rescue Sarah, and it made him second guess his decision. Should he have left earlier, rather than wait? Gut instinct told him no. If he set off after Bobby too soon, he would have been walking into that vipers’ nest unprepared. And that would have just ended up getting Sarah, Spike, and himself killed.
Roger, Spike’s grandfather who was the founder of the compound, was right. Plan carefully, prepare, and then rescue Sarah. Let Bobby and his men think they’d won. It would make them careless. Lifting his hand, he wiped the beads of sweat from his brow and squinted at the sun. A sudden sneeze made his eyes water and his head hurt. Goldenrod, grass, and pine pollens, floated invisibly through the air, causing his seasonal allergies to kick in. He swore softly. What he wouldn’t give for a dose of antihistamine right now.
Dust burned his mouth and throat. He guzzled warm water from the canteen, hoping to wash it away. They’d been riding hard, and his back whined at him with a dull aching pain. A brook off to the left bubbled noisily, and he grinned, watching Jessie splash and play in the clear water.
Whereas it took two days by road to Lee, Massachusetts; by trail, it would only take them eight to ten hours. Traveling all night left his eyes heavy with grit and fatigue.
“Only another hour or so and we’ll be on the outskirts of town. I know a place where we can camp and do some recon,” Spike said.
Brian nodded. He hated the thought of Sarah being with Bobby and his men for even another second. He knew they had to get in, get her out, and not get them all killed in the process; recon was the logical thing to do. He lifted his hand and rubbed it across his face and groaned when he thought of another hour sitting in the saddle.
∞
He and Spike camped on a craggy rock-strewn hill hidden by a tall cluster of pine trees. Shadows played in and out of the trees, keeping them hidden from view. Below, they had a good view of Main Street. From his vantage point, Brian could tell this was the gang’s home base.
On one side of the street stood a large brick building, Lee Bank and Trust. Next to the bank looked to be a small convenience store and a couple more run-down businesses. On the other side of the street stood the police department, town office, and a library. Behind the library ran an alley that butted against a wide overgrown field. It was the perfect place to enter the town. From what he’d observed over the past few days, there were no guards patrolling the area near the field. Anyone could just stroll on in.
“Oh, aren’t you a cocky little dude,” he murmured as he lay on the ground and watched the town below. Lifting his hand, he swatted a fly from his face.
Curiously, the only guards Brian could see were posted outside of the library and police station. Were they that arrogant? Careless? Or perhaps just stupid? Shaking his head, he climbed up off the ground, dusted the pine needles from his pants, and walked back to camp. They would breach the town that evening. It’s high time they got Sarah back.
Just before dark, Spike made his way through the tangled brush and into the field. He quickly crossed through the tall, damp grass, sticking to the shadows as he darted through the alleyway that led to the corner of Pearl and Main. He could smell a mixture of the rancid horse manure that littered the tar road, and fish that someone must’ve been cooking for dinner. The disgusting combination made his stomach lurch queasily.
The man standing guard in front of the police station had his back to him, and Spike quietly moved in. He hoped Brian was in position; otherwise, he just might find himself in deep trouble.
Spike smiled, lifting one hand to his mouth and coughing lightly to get the man’s attention. A soft laugh bubbled from his lips. He watched the man spin around, bring up his rifle, and level it at him. He noticed a shake in the man’s hands. Inexperience? Fear? Surprise? Shaking his head, he grinned.
“Who the fuck are you?” the man squeaked, caught off guard. His eyes were wide with fear. Spike looked at him and winked.
“Just your average bitch,” Spike drawled.
The man scowled and took a step toward him. Spike felt his shoulders tense and whistled lightly through pursed lips.
“Well, bitch! You just made a big mistake.”
Spike felt a menacing smile touch his lips. The man shook his head in confusion. What was this? Was he some idiot? From behind him, he felt the sharp prick as a knife settled and dug lightly into the area just above his kidney. With an expression of surprise on his face, he froze as he felt hot breath against his ear.
“No, bitch. The mistake is yours,” Brian whispered into the cup of his ear. The man turned his head and the gaze that met his sent ice water running through his veins.
∞
Brian turned to Spike and smiled grimly. He brushed his dirty hands across the leg of his jeans. His hand hovered over the sheath that held his knife. He could feel the pull of the blade. It wanted, like a living being, to be held and used. A familiar fee
ling that tugged at his gut.
“You may want to take a walk, buddy.”
Spike nodded. He didn’t have the stomach for what he knew was about to happen. Pictures of Brian’s past victims flitted through his mind, and he cast a pitiful glance down at the man tied to the tree and issued a soft warning.
“You might want to man- up and simply tell him what he wants to know,” he warned.
The man laughed, showing a mouthful of rotted and broken teeth. Spike shook his head. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, man.”
He turned on his heels with a sense of pity roiling in his gut. Whistling to Jessie, he strode toward the overlook that sat high up on a hill above the town, where he wouldn’t be able to hear the man’s screams.
For two days, they’d watched the activity. They had studied the routines of Bobby’s men; careless and haphazard at best, arrogant in their sloppiness, almost like they believed they were untouchable.
Settling himself on the ground, he pulled out the binoculars and leaned his arms on his knees. He peered down on Main Street. He saw guards lazily sprawled out in front of the police station, the library, and the town hall. No guards were posted on either end of town blocking the two main roads coming in. Perhaps they believed no one would dare make a run at them? Laughing, he shook his head. The joke’s on them. He’d already been in their little town, and they’d been none the wiser. The fools were wide open and vulnerable.
∞
Brian looked down at the man with a mixture of pity and hatred. His hands shook, and he clenched his fists so that his nails bit into his palms. A fevered glaze settled in his eyes while bloodlust sang to him. Dirty work, bloody work, just the kind of work he’d sworn to leave behind.
The man’s face bore the scars of acne, a light scruff of dark facial hair covered his pointed chin, and his smile sarcastic and filled with rotted teeth. Brian had stripped him of his clothes, and although the night was downright cold, the man’s face was reddened with the flush of pain, and shiny with sweat.