by N. C. Reed
The manager looked at him for a moment, red faced, then at the customers around him who were looking noticeably hostile, and retreated. Ronny turned to Alicia who was trying to pay for their purchases while surreptitiously looking at her husband as if seeing him for the first time.
“Are we done?” he said quietly.
“Yes,” she nodded.
“Then let's go,” he said flatly, pushing two carts to her one out the door. She hastened to follow, looking over her shoulder more than once. She was sure one of the employees was following them.
“Someone's watching us,” she said as they quickly loaded their purchases in the back of the truck.
“Let them,” he told her firmly. “Let them get a good look,” he smirked. Thanks to his brother-in-law, getting tag information on his truck would not help in the least. The Kentucky plates were registered to who knew who and would be coming off as soon as they were clear of this place.
“I've never seen you act like this,” she told him as they continued to pack the truck.
“You've never seen me have to,” he said once again. “We don't have time for this. That man was just waiting for someone to accost and chose us. I have no idea why ...no, that's not true,” he shook his head. “I do know why.”
“What?” Alicia looked stunned.
“He's one of those people the kids were talking about on the way up here, remember? The type they were talking about that don't really plan, they just buy guns and ammunition, then watch for others who buy everything else. When the shit hits the fan, they attack them and take their supplies. Remember?”
“Yeah?”
“He's one of them,” Ronny shook his head at his lack of awareness. “He was standing there watching what people bought and looking at our baskets made him think we knew something. That's what set him off.”
“So this is Clay's fault,” Alicia said at once. “I might have known.”
“How in the hell do you figure that?” Ronny demanded, and his tone got her attention as much as his words did.
“If it weren't for Clay, your father, his father and our kids, we'd be screwed right now,” he told her flatly, still loading. “And here you stand, in the midst of your complete denial, blaming your brother that an idiot was waiting here to attack someone in a panic? Are you even hearing yourself?” he demanded.
They finished loading in silence and Ronny closed the topper cover.
“Call the kids, tell them to be watching,” he ordered briskly. “We're on a strict timetable as of right now. We have to get out of here.”
Still in shock from her dressing down, Alicia did as ordered, dialing even as she climbed into the cab.
-
The 'kids' had done well in the time they had spent, filling five baskets with carefully chosen selections, ranging from gardening tricks to drawing.
“Drawing?” Abigail asked.
“Gonna need a hobby,” Leanne warned. “Not going to be much going to town on a Saturday night if this is as bad as we expect.”
Abigail had nodded thoughtfully at that and returned to shopping, making her own selections more carefully after that.
They were in the check out line when Leanne's phone rang.
“We're checking out now,” she told her mother. “Another three minutes or so probably.” She hung up as Leon swiped his Uncle Clay's seemingly magic debit card and it once more did the trick. Pin entered, he took the receipt as the girls started grabbing bags. He took the last three as they headed for the door, slightly burdened by their load. Had they been faster out the door, they would have missed it.
“I'm sorry sir, your card didn't go through.”
Simple statement. Hear it all the time. Usually means nothing.
“What happened to the reception,” someone in the cafe asked. Leon instantly looked to the television in the small coffee shop within the store. Minutes earlier people had been drinking coffee and eating pastries, watching CNN. Now there was nothing. As he watched a barista picked up a remote and changed the channel. Nothing. She kept trying, finally getting a local station, but the reception sucked.
“Sir, I apologize, but the system is rejecting your card,” they heard behind them.
“Ma'am, please try your card again,” another employee was saying.
“Their card worked!” the man behind them pointed to the three Sanders kids.
“Time to go, tweens,” Abby ordered. “Out. Now.” Her voice was firm and brooked no argument. Not that any was needed. The two spooky smart teens knew what was happening.
“It's started,” Leon said softly as they hit the sidewalk. “Our time's up, Abby.”
“Here they are,” Leanne said as their father's truck pulled up. Ronny surprised them by getting out.
“Abby drives,” he ordered shortly. “Get in, leave the door open.” He ran behind the truck and jerked the magnetic plate and stickers off the truck. He dumped them in back as he ripped off the window decals and dropped them there as well. In less than twenty seconds he was in the back seat, scrunched down. The darkened windows hid him fairly well.
“Go,” he ordered his niece calmly.
Abby drove. She navigated the parking lot and had them out on the road before she asked;
“Uh, can I know what's going on?”
“Your Uncle Ronny punched a man's lights out,” Alicia said, her voice subdued. “We're kind of on the lam I suppose,” she admitted.
“Well, all righty then,” Abigail nodded, taking that information in stride. “So, where is it you outlaws want to go?”
“Nowhere,” the twins said in unison. “We have to go,” Leanne continued.
“People are noticing,” Leon agreed. “We have time to hit a drive thru for food, but that's about it. We really need to be heading out of the city. All it will take is one wreck and we're stuck.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Ronny agreed. “Abigail, if you see an Arby's or a Wendy's, lets get something. I'll see if I can call Gordon.”
“Cool. Hey, call Uncle Clay and tell him we didn't get a chance to get clothes for Janice. Maybe they can do it.”
“I'm not worried about some girl we don't know!” Alicia snapped.
“I didn't ask you to,” Abigail informed her coolly. “I just asked Uncle Ronny to pass on a message. Since you're 'on the lam', as you put it, I can't fulfill a promise. I need someone to take up the slack.”
“I'm on it, Abby,” Ronny promised. “Just concentrate on driving. Be careful. If we can get out of the city we should be good.”
-
Getting a U-Haul had taken about thirty minutes that Clay badly wanted back but would never get. Where Gordon had gotten a twenty-foot truck, Clay had to settle for a fifteen foot box truck, but he figured that would work since the back of the pickup was still empty.
Finally, they were on the road and on the way. There was a mall nearby with a number of outlying strip malls, one of which contained a hobby store, another a chain hardware outfit. The two were a quarter mile apart at most and shared a huge parking lot with other stores between them.
“Here we go,” Clay said as they parted in the parking lot. “Grab anything and everything you think you'll need or want, but don't look like you're in a panic,” he told Lainie. “And be careful.”
“You too,” she kissed him lightly. Clay and Gordy went their way while Lainie and Janice entered the hobby store.
“What are we looking for?” Janice asked.
“Candle making supplies, and maybe some candles already made,” Lainie said after a minute. “Leather working tools, fabrics, thread and needles. Knitting supplies!” the thought came to her.
“Came we get some art supplies?” Janice asked. “Pencils and sketch pads?”
“Can you draw?” Lainie asked.
“Yes, but I'm just self-taught,” the girl nodded.
“Then we 'll get some,” Lainie nodded. “I bet the twins didn't think of that,” she smirked.
“Who?” Janice looked confused.
“You 'll meet them later,” Lainie promised. “Come on.”
-
“Batteries for everything we can remember,” Clay told Gordy as they entered the hardware store. “Complete set of new battery-powered tools as well. Should be chargers with the batteries. Make sure they're all the same. No sense mixing them if we don't have to.”
“Got it,” Gordy nodded. “What else?”
“Hand tools,” Clay said. “Hammers, chisels, drill bits, screw heads, you name it. If you think we 'll need it, get it. I'm going to a complete set of wrenches and another of ratchets and sockets. We 'll do the same at Tractor Supply. Now go. We need to hurry.”
They hurried. They got a lot of odd looks as they calmly but quickly loaded a buggy and a push cart with gear of all kinds. Clay managed to find two kerosene heaters and grabbed both along with a pair of tanks and siphons. They made a run through the aisles and grabbed caulking, sealant, tape, glue, anything they could think of they might find a use for in the coming days. The only thing Clay hadn't thought of was lumber.
“No room for it,” he sighed, shaking his head.
They attracted a great deal of looks at the check out but most people didn't stare too much. It did attract attention when Clay started grabbing flashlights and batteries, but people began to lose interest after a while.
The total was impressive, but this place at least had no qualms about taking cash so long as it was good. Soon the two were hustling out to the rented truck, assisted by a man from their floor crew. It was the work of ten minutes to load everything and Clay slipped the man a hundred-dollar bill to forget what kind of truck he was in.
“Ex-wife is right behind me,” he murmured. “If she shows up, you just helped me get to the parking lot and then went back inside. Do that for me?”
“You bet mister,” the young man rubbed the C-note in his fingers. “Good luck!”
“Thanks,” Clay slapped his shoulder and piled into the truck.
“Tractor Supply,” Gordy pointed to a distant part of the parking lot. Another quarter mile or so.
“What are the odds?” Clay shook his head. “Let’s go. Here,” he handed over his phone. “Call Lainie and let her know.”
-
“Hey Cowboy,” Lainie answered, expecting Clay's voice.
“It's Gordy, Aunt Lainie,” she heard instead.
“That's going to take some getting used to,” she chuckled, ignoring what it implied. “What's up?”
“We're finished at the hardware store and headed a little further down to a Tractor Supply. How are you guys making it?”
“We're in line to check out,” she looked balefully at the three baskets full of stuff. “I wish you were here to help load it,” she laughed.
“Sorry,” he told her. “We'll be a few minutes,” he added.
“We 'll go to another store while we wait,” she told him. “Call us when you start loading and we 'll meet you. Tell your Uncle Clay we're going to have to stop and eat somewhere. I'm starving.”
“Will do.” Gordy hung up.
“Wasn't there a Target just down the way?” she asked Janice.
“Yes, Miss Lainie,” the girl nodded. “A little ways.”
“Good.”
-
“We're on the Interstate,” Gordon told his son-in-law. “We're out of the city but still in Davidson County.”
“We're getting something to eat and then we 'll be behind you. We had an issue,” Ronny told him, relating quickly his problem.
“Not good,” Gordon sighed. “Guess Clay's idea will pay off if you get clear.”
“Yep,” Ronny was upbeat for the most part. “You still gonna stop at the rest stop, right?” It wasn't a true rest stop, just a pull over that truckers used to sleep sometimes. But it would serve for a meeting place.
“Yes. We'll be waiting. And if you bring us all a burger that would be just fine,” he added. “Hard for us to maneuver with this trailer and the RV and the truck.”
“Will do,” Ronny promised. “We 'll call when we get clear.” He hung up.
“Get burgers for your grandfather and the rest. Better get two for that big fella, Brick. And some fries. They can't get into anywhere with those vehicles. We can get them bottled drinks.”
“Got it,” Abigail pulled to the intercom to order.
-
“Wow, some of this is heavy,” Janice complained, though not in a whiny way. Just matter of fact. She was working hard.
“Yeah, it is,” Lainie agreed. “But we 'll be glad we have it.”
“Miss Lainie, what's happening, exactly?” Janice asked. “I mean, all of this isn't just for some store, or a big ol' 'lets go shopping' trip. Those two kids should be in school for one thing.”
Once in a great while, Janice would say something that proved she wasn't as dumb as she might seem.
“You're right, Janice, it's not,” Lainie told her. “Now isn't the time to talk about it though. Lets get done and on the road where we're going and I promise I 'll tell you all about it. Deal?”
“Of course,” she smiled. “I'm glad you got the fabric and stuff,” she changed the subject suddenly. “I love to sew!”
“That might come in handy,” Lainie smiled as they finally finished. She jumped down from the truck and closed the tailgate, then lowered the topper door.
“Load up,” she ordered. “Target is next.”
-
“You want it all?” the clerk asked skeptically.
“Yes,” Clay nodded. “Got a U-Haul truck in the parking lot,” Clay nodded as he began selecting tools. Gordy was in another aisle, collecting one of every Lodge black iron cook vessel they had.
“And the anvil,” the clerk continued, still skeptical.
“Please,” Clay nodded. “Gordy, you done?” he called.
“Just about!”
“Don't forget the clothes,” Clay ordered.
“Got it!” They had size information for everyone and would grab as many items that would fit as they could of the rugged wear the farm supply place offered.
“How will you be paying for all this?” the clerk asked.
“Dead Presidents,” Clay said, pulling a roll of hundred dollar bills from his pocket. “I assume that you take cash?”
“Yes, we do,” the clerk smiled suddenly. “I 'll get someone moving that chicken feed for you right now, and that anvil.”
“Thanks.” Clay thought of his mother's chickens at the last moment. If they wanted eggs, the birds would be where they got them. Laying mash and corn were important. Corn they could raise. Mash not so much. Those chickens would need to raise, too, he thought to himself.
“So much we missed,” he shook his head as he continued grabbing supplies. He had done the best he could. That was all he could do.
-
Gordon paced the pavement beside the rented truck as he waited for his children and grand children to arrive. Robert was a little better, though worried about his own children. He knew they were in good hands, but no father would be happy until he knew his children were safe. He was proud of them for being grown enough to help out, but still worried. He wondered how his wife was doing at the moment and what she was getting done. Brick simply sat and waited patiently.
There wasn't much else to do.
-
“Yeah?” Clay answered his phone as he was pushing a heavily laden buggy to the front.
“Clay it's Ronny,” his brother-in-law said. “We had an issue at the Sportsman so we gotta boogie. We're grabbing food for us and the others and heading on out. We didn't have a chance to get clothes for that young woman. Abby wanted me to let you know.”
“You guys okay?” Clay asked.
“Fine, just a bruised hand. I'm in hiding,” he chuckled. “Anyway, you guys will want to take care of her if you can.”
“Tell him,” Leanne was tugging his sleeve.
“And Leanne and Leon said tell you that people are starting to notice. That you would underst
and.”
“I got it. Thanks. Later.” He hung up and dialed Lainie.
“Hey,” she answered right away.
“Time may be about up,” he said softly. “Ronny and Ally had some trouble and they couldn't stop to get clothes for Janice. You need to try and do that if you can.”
“We're just going into Target so that's not a problem,” she said. “I'll get her things here.”
“I'm handing my phone to Gordy. Make sure he has her sizes so he can grab a couple good outfits here. Rougher clothes and better for our lifestyle. We 'll call when we're done. And we really need to hurry. The twins think the wheels are about to come off.” He handed the phone to his nephew without waiting for a reply and turned his attention back to the register.
-
“I thought the other girl was doing that,” Janice said.
“This will let you pick out what you want,” Lainie smiled. “But we have to hurry. Clay and Gordy are almost finished. We need to try and be ready when they are.”
“What do I get?” Janice asked.
“Get some jeans, some underwear, sturdy blouses, maybe a couple nice dresses. Socks. Are those your only shoes,” she pointed to the sneakers.
“Yes.”
“Then we need to get you some shoes. No dawdling either, Janice. We really are in a hurry. Go and pick you out a dozen bras, and two dozen pairs of underwear. Study underwear, not sexy. You need it to last.”
“Okay,” the girl nodded and started off.
“Two dozen pairs of socks!” Lainie called after her, shaking her head.
“Like a child,” she murmured. “Was I like that at her age?”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
-
Loading the U-Haul went faster with help from the stock clerks at Tractor Supply, but it still took time.
“Boy, you guys about bought out the store!” one young man exclaimed as he helped load the chicken mash.
“Just starting out,” Clay nodded. “We needed everything. Just bought a farm up north of here. Won the lottery,” he whispered. “Don't say nothing though, okay?” he slipped the boy a hundred-dollar bill.