by Hayden James
Liam met Harv in the garage, and Liam watched where he placed the two guns. In the red toolbox on the top shelf, setting the firearms on a set of screw drivers. Then he shut the toolbox and placed it on the middle shelf on one of the storage racks along the side of the garage. Inside the garage was a vintage VW Beetle. “Nice car,” said Liam. “Does it run?”
“It would if I had any fuel for it. This here is Clover. I’ve had her since I was sixteen. Carol and I have driven her all over the United States, going to different music festivals.”
When Harv and Liam returned to the kitchen table to join Carol and Prue, Carol harped, “Harv, I really wanted you to leave those guns on the porch. I don’t want them anywhere under this roof.”
“It’s fine Carol. They are hidden in the garage,” countered Harv. With that, Carol seemed to leave that issue alone.
Carol continued with the conversation, “So Liam. Thank you for brining Prue to us, we will be eternally grateful to you. You can stay one more night before you head back to Tennessee.”
Liam expected getting Prue’s parents to Dwight’s homestead to be difficult, and now that he met them, he understood why she was uncertain that they would come along. It was apparent that Prue’s parents expected him to leave Spartanburg without Prue and head back to Tennessee within a day.
Liam was not sure how he felt about that. The last thing he wanted to do was leave Prue. This was an option; however, he had hoped that it was not a probable option.
“I can’t believe you two had to use deadly force,” started Carol as Liam sat down. Carol turned to Prue, who still barely said a word all morning. “I thought I taught you better than that. I am ashamed of you, that you would kill. Have you no morals?” Prue did nothing but lower her eyes. Tears streamed down her cheeks. This was a lot of pressure that they put on Prue. Not to mention, Liam had never seen her act like this. When he first met her, she seemed like a free spirit, but happy and lighthearted. This was downright dark.
Harv interjected in Carol’s admonishments, “I must say, when I heard Liam describing the situation, I was appalled. Who do you think you are taking lives? It’s not your decision to kill. Do you get to determine who lives and who dies?” Liam did not respond. Anger filled his body as he watched how they treated Prue, and now him for doing everything they could to survive. Liam sat in silence, where he felt as though he was a young boy being reprimanded at the dinner table for something petty that he did. Liam did not want to fight. Even though he felt as though his morals and ethics were questioned, he had too much respect for the Dints because they were Prue’s parents. Instead, he took browbeating and stewed in his anger.
Harv continued, “Peace is the only way that you’ll get anywhere in this world. Love one another and do right by your fellow humans.” Harv turned to Prue and said, “Honey, I’ve taught you better than this. You’re better. You are above the killing and the stealing.”
Prue spoke up. “We only stole the motorcycles after the Bubba Brothers were dead.” It was apparent that she did not stand up to her parents much.
“And how did they die?” Harv asked.
“I shot one. He would have killed Liam if I did not shoot him first,” defended Prue.
“Well, why were you in that situation in the first place?” Harv rebutted.
“We were being hunted,” interrupted Liam. “Now, you may be a pacifist. And I respect that. But I am not. If I am going to be killed or if someone is hunting me, you better believe that I’m going down fighting.”
Harv stared back in silence. Liam continued, “Now, if we did not use deadly force, I would be dead and Prue would have been kidnapped, raped, and who knows what else done to her. And if Prue didn’t do what she has done, I would be dead.”
Harv turned to Carol and muttered, “I don’t like what this kid has to say. He’s a bad influence on our daughter. He has her shooting guns and killing people. Two things our baby swore she would never do. She promised that she would never take another’s life, no matter what the cost was.”
Harv stood up from the table. “I have to survey the community and find out how much everyone has.” He got his coat and left. No one said anything in response, and he left in silence.
Carol said, “I am going to go to the den and work on my poetry. This power outage has been a blessing in disguise. I’ve really have been working on my craft. Prue, perhaps you can use some of my lines in your songs.”
Prue nodded and replied, “Yeah, maybe.”
Carol wheeled off and headed to the den to work on her poetry. Meanwhile, Liam could chat with Prue since all of this nonsense had come to light. “My parents mean well,” started Prue. “Ever since my mom was put in that wheelchair and the uncle who was killed before I was alive, they have been very adamant that I would never touch a gun.”
“I get that. I mean, there are things that shape all of our attitudes and beliefs,” reasoned Liam, realizing his attitudes and beliefs came mostly from Dwight. He then asked, “What do you think your parents will want to come to Dwight’s compound?”
“I promise I will ask them tomorrow. But you’ve seen it. My dad is very eager to help in organizing the community to distribute the resources, and my mom is writing poetry. Something she’d only has dreamed of doing. I am sorry to say it is unlikely.”
Liam thought about approaching the subject of what she would do if her parents did not want to go to Dwight’s but decided to leave it along. He feared that what he’d been thinking about would be verbalized. Liam’s worry grew at the realization of what the future might hold for them. That she would stay behind with her parents, and he would return to Dwight’s, without her.
Chapter Seven
Dwight Conner
Residence of Dwight Conner
Tucker Hollow, Tennessee
8:43 AM
“Do that square next,” said Dwight as he pointed to the pepper crops as Rachel weeded the gardening beds.
“Sure,” answered Rachel. William was working on the other bed where lettuce, mint, chives, and garlic grew. Dwight made certain to pair the crops to maximize infestations with aphids and other pests and to minimize the use of pesticides.
The two girls, Maddy and Addy were up in their old tree house near the border of Dwight’s property. Since William found the baseball cap with the feed store logo on it and a binocular lens cap, he wanted someone in the tree house around the clock. Maddy and Addy alternated watch shifts with Vince and Gary. Dr. Tate kept watch up there as well, but she often helped out with the chores that Rachel and William did.
Dwight helped Rachel weed the garden bed with the peppers, when their cooperative moment was interrupted by the sound of an air horn. “What in the world is going on?” Dwight shouted standing up from crouching down at near the bed next to Rachel.
Dwight was not referring to the air horn as Maddy and Addy were the ones who sounded it. Dwight was referring to why they were sounding it. Dwight ran to the front of the property where he had locked up the gate tight. As he ran by, he saw Maddy and Addy, focused on the entrance that led up to the gate, guns drawn. “Great job girls!” Dwight shouted as he made his way to the gate, the only entrance into his property. An eight-foot retainer wall lined the perimeter of his property, ensuring no one could enter that he did not want in. This wall was almost complete when William and Rachel arrived. Since he was charged with protecting his family, he spent day and night finishing the wall and adding the gate to his property.
Dwight was grateful that he had placed the girls up there. Having a duty kept them out of trouble and away from Gary and Vince. Rachel and William had mentioned their concerns to Dwight, and Dwight would not allow his precious granddaughters to be taken advantage of.
The treehouse where they kept watch, Dwight had built when Liam was young. He then made it princess-themed when the girls were born. They spent many summers up there, playing and pretending that they were trapped in the castle and needed to be rescued. Dwight wanted to make sure that his g
randdaughters would never need rescuing that they were self-reliant. So he taught them how to shoot, fish, and hunt before William and him had the major falling out. Then he didn’t see his twin granddaughters for several years until now.
The treehouse was the perfect watch point for the property. As he finished retaining wall and gate blocked any intruder. The gate opened to the road leading up to Dwight’s driveway, and the treehouse had a view of the road that led up to the gate. Anyone who was in the treehouse could have full vantage of anyone who was approaching the compound.
Dwight’s property backed up to the river, and the retaining wall ended at the stream. This left a view from the opposing hills into Dwight’s property, which was why William found someone taking a peek into their compound there.
Dwight arrived at the gate and shouted, “Who goes there?”
“Dwight! Open this gate up, this is an order,” the familiar voice of Sheriff Murphy came through the wooden gate.
“I’m not opening up this gate for anyone,” answered Dwight. “If you want to talk to me, you’re gonna have to shout through the gate,” Dwight yelled through the solid eight-foot high gate tie no slats.
A female voice yelled, “Dwight Conner, I am going to at least need you to open this gate up so we can have a conversation. I have something to ask you about.”
Dwight pondered and weighed his options for a moment. He then pulled open the gate by loosening the length of the chain, but still keeping the gate locked. To his surprise, his eyes were met with Mayor Elisa, Sheriff Murphy, and another deputy all on horseback.
“What is this? Some sort of raid?” Dwight asked, part way joking. The Mayor and Sheriff could discuss their issue with Dwight through the gap in the gate since he had opened it as far as the chain would allow.
Mayor Elisa began, “Good day, Dwight,” she started. “I’m glad you opened the gate up, even if it was only a tad so we can talk about some things.”
“Go on,” said Dwight after the Mayor had paused.
“Clearly, there must be some misunderstand,” continued the Mayor. The Mayor dismounted her horse and went to the gap in the gate.
“Misunderstanding with what?” Dwight asked.
“Well, yesterday afternoon, the Yates came over to my office and asked to speak with me. They said that you were forming a militia to overthrow me and the Sheriff. They said you wanted to be the new mayor of Tucker Hollow. Obviously, they were mistaken, weren’t they?” Mayor Elisa explained.
“Of course not. I have no interest in being mayor and I’m not starting no militia,” answered Dwight.
“Well, that’s good.”
“But I am keeping in touch with the neighbors,” rebutted Dwight.
A scowl came across Mayor Elisa’s face. “The mere notion of forming a militia puts you high on my watch list,” warred Mayor Elisa. “Sheriff Murphy keep close tabs on this one. I would hate to hear that he is deputizing more townsfolk. You know how to deal with such a threat as this?”
“I do, ma’am,” answered the pudgy Sheriff.
Dwight pretend like he did not hear the warning that Mayor Elisa gave, ignoring her words. Apparently, that angered Mayor Elisa as she was probably hoping to get a rise out of Dwight and give her a reason to be arrested.
She then said, “I would like to inspect your property, Dwight. Since you are accused of forming a militia.”
“Over my dead body,” responded Dwight. “Oh, and not without a warrant. I still have my Constitutional rights.”
“Well, the judge was out-of-town visiting his grandchildren when the power went out, so there is no judge to sign off on a warrant right now.”
“I already know that,” shouted Dwight as he slammed the gate door shut.
Before Dwight could get the gate closed, the Mayor grabbed the gate not allowing it to close all the way. “Dwight! You’re being unreasonable and acting like the town is the enemy. Word is that we were attacked by China. They’re the enemy. We need to band together and face the enemy together, hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder.”
“I don’t see it the way you do,” seethed Dwight. “Taking people’s resources? How is that fair? As far as I’m concerned, you are the enemy. The entire town. Now, you’re lucky I don’t slam this gat on your arm. I’m not afraid to try to dismember you right here. But it would be, of course, an accident.”
Footsteps came from behind Dwight. He knew it would be William and Rachel behind him. He expected them to stop being aggressive with the Mayor, but they did not stop Dwight and his standoff with her. William especially did not enjoy when Dwight got aggressive. Ever since he was young, he always tried to diffuse confrontations Dwight would have with the various townspeople. Rachel was more of the peacekeeper and wanted to protect Dwight from himself.
Sheriff Murphy must have caught the guns that William and Rachel had on them because he shouted at Dwight, “You low-down rotten, lying scoundrel!”
Dwight, enraged, replied, “One thing I am not. I’m not a liar.” Dwight knew instantly what the Sheriff was referring to. “Those guns they brought with them.” William carried his rifle strapped to his back and Rachel always had on her a pistol, they were armed all the time. “When you asked about my weapons, I still only have the one. Those guns are Rachel’s and Will’s not mine. Didn’t lie.”
The Mayor let go of the gate, “I suggest you start cooperating with the town or you will have more problems than it’s worth. We’ll be back, you have my promise on that.”
Dwight slammed the gate shut and locked the chain as tight as he could get it. He then stomped to the house, not saying a word to Rachel and William, walking right between them.
“Hey dad!” William shouted as he ran inside the house from his VW camper van that was parked in the driveway.
“What is it Will?” Dwight asked as he sipped moonshine out on the pouch with Rachel, Vince, and Gary.
“I just got off the HAM with Dana,” answered William.
“Dana who?” Dwight asked.
“Dana Anderson, you know one of the neighbors you gave me their names. One of the ones who supported our efforts… not the Yates.”
“Oh, that’s right,” answered Dwight, finally putting the two together. “I didn’t know she was a ham operator.”
“Found that out when I visited her house. We exchanged handles.”
“And?”
“Oh, right? Seems like we weren’t the only ones that Mayor Elisa and Sheriff Murphy paid a visit to. It seems like they made the rounds to all the neighbors around here.”
“That is interesting,” interjected Rachel.
“Right. No one allowed them to search their property.”
William continued, “The Mayor told all the neighbors that they would be back, that was a promise.”
Chapter Eight
Madison Conner
East Lake Street
Willow Wood, South Carolina
12:15 PM
“The Mayor has been going to all the neighbors?” Maddy asked after she heard what was being discussed outside. Her and Addy were in the living room chatting. Maddy and Addy joined Rachel, William, Dwight, Vince and Gary out on the porch.
“That’s what we just found out,” answered Rachel.
“If you want, Addy and I will go into town and get a sense of what is really going on with the town,” suggested Maddy. She had grown since the power outage occurred, really coming into her own as a young lady. Her and Addy would be celebrating their eighteenth birthday in a few days, and the two girls had adjusted to the life they found themselves in.
“We can’t let you do that honey,” said William, instantly shooting down that suggestion.
“Yeah, that’s not a good idea,” said Vince.
Dwight appeared to be mulling over the idea. He then said, “Well, no one will be thinking two teenagers are a threat. I think it’s a great idea!”
Rachel shot back, “I don’t think it’s a good idea.”
“I still don’t like th
e idea,” rebutted William. “I’ll go along with you two.”
“No, no. The girls need to go by themselves,” countered Dwight. “That will never work if you are with them, Will. They need to go by themselves. Your presence will inhibit people and not speak freely.”
Vince spoke up and said, “I’ll go with them. No one knows me in this town. They won’t know what side I’m on.”
“I’ll come along too,” said Gary.
William finally relented, “Well, it’s early afternoon right now. You guys could take the VW and go into town.”
“All right, sounds like a great plan!” Maddy said. She was also very happy that Gary would come with them.
Gary drove with Vince in the passenger seat, the two girls sat in the back. Gary had gotten good at hot-wiring the van since that was the only way to turn the engine over.
“So what is the plan?” Vince turned to the back seats and asked Maddy.
“I was thinking we would pretend like we don’t know a whole lot and ask questions and see what information we get,” explained Madison.
“That seems like we should get people’s attitudes and opinions of what is going on,” affirmed Addison.
“All right sounds like a plan. I wanted to make sure I got my marching orders,” said Vince, smiling as he turned back around.
“Here looks like a store that is open. Let’s go in and pretend to buy something,” suggested Gary as he put the van in park and turned off the car. Gary parked the van outside a line of shops, and one of them appeared to be open. The row of shops were historic buildings with their wooden side paneling, and rustic feel. Empty barrels lined the entryway.
Downtown Tucker Hollow was the heart of the small town, and was established long before they invented automobiles, making Main Street charming and incredibly walkable. Many of the historic sites were remnants of Civil War battles. Over the years, Tucker Hollow had become known for its antique shops and art galleries.
