Without Law 2

by Eric Vall

  “Good point,” Paige said.

  “So what’d you do then?” Anna asked as she cracked a smile. “Did you make them rethink their plan?”

  “Hell yeah,” I said with a grin. “There were about eighty guys there when I first arrived, but if I had to guess I would say there are not more than forty of them left now.”

  “Holy shit,” Rolly said.

  “Yeah, that is huge,” Paige agreed.

  “Well I didn’t just tank their numbers,” I said. “I torched some of their bikes, stole some of the weapons and food, and burned down their bunkhouse.”

  “God that’s badass,” Tara said. “Is it weird that hearing about this turns me on? I’m like super wet right--”

  “Tara,” Anna groaned.

  “What?” the platinum blonde laughed. “I bet you are too.”

  “Maybe I should put myself in danger more often,” I said as I looked at Tara and raised an eyebrow.

  “Don’t you dare,” Tara growled at me as she narrowed her brown eyes.

  “Please don’t,” Anna said with a laugh.

  “Don’t worry, I doubt we will need to worry about those bikers for a couple weeks,” I said.

  “Man, did you really set them back that much?” Paige asked as she started to bandage my palms.

  “Yeah I did,” I confirmed with a nod. “We should get all the loot out of the back of the truck.”

  “Well I think we should celebrate first,” Tara said. “It sounds like Tav saved us a world of trouble.”

  “Agreed,” Rolly said before he groaned and pushed himself to his feet. “Let’s make this guy some breakfast, and then toast to his victory.”

  My stomach grumbled at the mention of food. It had been several hours since I had taken the time to eat, and a real meal sounded glorious. There was no way I was going to be able to stay awake after I was done eating though.

  “So what, do things just go back to normal then?” Bailey asked as she helped Paige repack her medical bag.

  “Pretty much,” I said with a nod. “We will keep working on your firearms training though. The bikers are gone for now, but I would bet money they will show up again. We all need to be prepared.”

  “Well, when they get their shit together and find their way here we’ll be ready,” Anna said as she started to build the fire.

  “Damn right we will,” I said with a wide smile as I slid the rifle free of my shoulder for the first time in almost twenty-four hours. I let out a sigh and relaxed onto the plain, but comfortable, wooden bench.

  Rolly and the girls got to work on breakfast while I tried to keep myself awake.

  “I think we should all take it easy today,” I suggested.

  “Really?” Tara asked as she raised an eyebrow.

  “It’s a nice gesture, but you don’t have to let us off easy just because you had a long day,” Anna said.

  “You have all been working hard lately,” I said. “Things are starting to shape up, and I think we could all use a rest day or two.”

  “What about our traps?” Paige asked. “We set up a new batch while you and Anna were away.”

  “We still need to check our traps, but after that you guys can do as you please,” I said.

  “Oh man, I don’t know what to do,” Bailey said as her eyes went wide. “It has been forever since we have had any real free time.”

  “I guess it has,” Anna said. “Well, I think I am going to go for a run. Anyone who feels like enjoying the nice weather can join me.”

  “Pass,” Tara said. “I was thinking of heading up to the stream. It’s warm enough that the cold water might feel nice for once.”

  “Ooh, I’ll join you,” Paige said. “I would love to stretch out next to the water and read for a while.”

  “Can I do both?” Bailey asked.

  “I don’t see why not,” Anna said with a shrug. “A cold bath would be the perfect way to wind down after a nice run.”

  “I think I might follow Paige’s example and sit out here and enjoy a good book,” Rolly said.

  “What about you, Tav?” Paige asked. “What are you going to do with your free time?”

  “Sleep,” I said with a laugh. “For some reason I didn’t manage to get any during the past twenty-four hours.”

  “Oh shit,” Anna said. “I didn’t think about that.”

  “Why the hell are you staying up for breakfast?” Tara asked.

  “We just pulled off a big win,” I said. “The mission was a success, we got the meds for Rolly, and our biggest threat is crippled for a little while. I can stay up a little while longer to celebrate all we have accomplished in recent days.”

  “Always a team player,” Rolly chuckled before he tossed a slab of meat onto the cast iron pan. He seasoned it with some salt, a bit of pepper, and some fresh oregano.

  “I don’t suppose anything exciting happened while I was gone,” I said.

  “Not really,” Bailey said with a shrug. “Our garden is starting to look good though.”

  “Yeah, I spent a lot of time reading on what sorts of stuff will grow well in a given area,” Paige said.

  “What kinda veggies are we gonna grow then?” I asked.

  “Tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and garlic to start with,” Paige said.

  “That’s about all we have seeds for,” Bailey added.

  “Make me up a list of what we can grow so I can check for those seeds when we go on scavenging trips,” I said.

  “Do you think we could grow some fruit?” Anna asked. “I miss shit like oranges, and bananas.”

  “You’re outta luck when it comes to oranges,” Paige said. “We don’t have the climate for such a tropical fruit, but we could probably start a couple berry bushes. I think, if we can find some seeds, we could ever start a pear tree.”

  “You know that would take, like, forever, right?” Tara asked.

  “Well yeah, but I mean there is no reason we can’t at least plant the seed,” Paige said with a shrug.

  “Man, there are some things I never realized I took for granted until I lost them,” Bailey muttered. “Like I never thought I would have to worry about getting stuff like oranges.”

  “It’s funny what happens when global infrastructure falls,” I said. “It’s a quick way to realize how much of what we use and consume comes from other places.”

  My stomach growled again as the meat started to sizzle and brown in the pan. I licked my lips as I watched grease bubble up around the edges of the slab of meat. I knew it was deer by the dark red color of the meat and the smell it gave off as it fried.

  “I’m proud of you guys,” I said as I pulled my gaze away from breakfast. “You have shown tremendous courage, growth, and adaptability in these past few weeks. I could not have asked for a better group of people to spend the apocalypse with.”

  “I am sure there are a lot more capable people out there than us,” Anna said.

  “Yeah, but I doubt they look as good as we do,” Tara teased as she winked at me.

  “You guys are loyal and listen when I tell you to do something,” I explained. “That makes you better companions than some of the guys I knew in the army. Though Tara is right, none of them were as easy on the eyes as this crew.” I grinned.

  “Thanks,” Bailey muttered before she went a bright red and quickly looked away.

  “Of course,” I said. “Plus, I am proud of Rolly just as much as the rest of you, and I don’t even have an interest in sleeping with him.” I shot Rolly a grin.

  “But I thought we had something,” Rolly joked. “You can’t just toy with my heart like this.”

  “Sorry babe, it’s over,” I said.

  Everyone laughed as I smiled and shook my head. It was nice to be back. I hadn’t even been gone long, but seeing what the outside world was like had helped me to understand how good we had it here. The campus was safe, still beautiful, and free of the destruction that the bikers had inflicted on the surrounding area.

  My
gaze drifted to the sky as I listened to the idle chatter of my companions around me. I started to drift off to sleep as a flock of birds flew through the clear blue sky above me. Darkness obscured my vision as my eyelids drooped.

  “Don’t go to sleep yet,” Rolly said as he took a seat next to me and nudged me with his elbow.

  I blinked rapidly for a moment and realized I had started to slide off the bench. I shook my head to help me wake up, took a deep breath, and sat back up.

  “We thought we lost you for a moment there,” Anna teased.

  “Yeah, you were starting to snore,” Paige said with a smile.

  Rolly handed me a plate of food. There was a large chunk of meat, some corn, and a small handful of fresh mullberries.

  “Sorry,” I said. “Guess I’m more tired than I realized.”

  “Well eat up,” Tara said as she sat down on the other side of me with a similar plate of food.

  “Yeah, we wouldn’t want you to wake up hungry,” Bailey said before she smiled at me and tore into her meat.

  “Thanks guys,” I said as I picked up my fork.

  Ten minutes later I groaned and rubbed my stomach as I looked down at the empty plate on my lap. “I should not have eaten all of that.”

  “Yeah, I know the feeling,” Anna moaned. “I don’t think I will be going on that run for a while.”

  “Don’t forget you guys have to check the traps,” I said.

  “Not it,” Tara said.

  “Look at that, we have our first volunteer,” I grinned.

  Tara groaned, rolled her eyes, and threw her head back in dramatic fashion.

  “I’ll go with her,” Paige said as she bounced to her feet. “Unlike the rest of you I didn’t stuff myself.”

  “Ugh, fine,” Tara said. “But don’t expect me to move fast.”

  “Nah, I think we can take our time,” Paige replied.

  “Well, it’s been fun, but I think I am going to waddle my way to bed before I pass out here,” I said. Then I grunted and stood up. My whole body was heavy, and I had to fight just to keep my eyes open.

  “You need an escort?” Anna joked as she watched me stumble towards the dorms.

  “Nope, just sleep,” I said.

  “Rest well, Tav,” Bailey said.

  “Yeah, see you when you wake up, badass,” Anna added.

  “Try not to sleep in tomorrow,” Paige teased. “We still have lots to do.”

  “Roger that,” I said with a wave. “See you guys later.” I stopped when I reached the door to the building and turned to look out across the courtyard. A grin spread across my face as I looked at what we had done, and I knew that if we continued to work hard, great things were in store for us.

  I headed inside and trudged up the stairs to my room. I pulled off my boots, stripped off my shirt, and plopped, face first, onto the bed. It was good to be home, but I knew that we’d only have a day to relax. Eventually the bikers would find us and attack.

  My friends and I would be ready. I would make sure of it.

  End Notes

  Thank you for reading Without Law. If you enjoyed the book, please leave me a nice review here. Reviews really help attract readers to new series, so if you think others should read this, the best way to let them know is by leaving a positive review.

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2019 by Eric Vall