“We have reached out to our allies for humanitarian aid and military support and are awaiting ships with supplies in the next days and weeks.
“Our adversary responsible for this ruthless attack will be dealt with accordingly in the coming days.
“The President and his family are safe and our government is intact. He will address the nation in the next few days.
“We hope to have this remedied as soon as possible. We strongly advise that each citizen bond with their families and neighbors during this crisis.
“Those who are seeking to cause harm or take advantage of another citizen will be dealt with harshly when the power is restored.
“We are all in this together and we will overcome and prosper once again.
“God bless you and God bless the United States of America.”
There was a pause, some static sounding feedback, and the President continued.
“If you are hearing this for the first time, you may be feeling worried or angry at what’s happened and maybe even at your government.
“Listen, I can assure you that our government is functioning and we will lead you in the next days and weeks. As I speak, our Department of Homeland Security and FEMA are setting up housing facilities, complete with clean water, food and security for your safety.
“We are asking for all citizens to find your way to the closest housing facilities.
“Those who refuse to do so will be on their own, and it is not recommended.
“I repeat. Any citizen who does not present to their nearest facility in a timely manner will not have the protection afforded them by our government.
“Following this broadcast there will be a list of facilities that are now open to accept guests in each of the 49 states affected.
“Rest assured that the Regime of North Korea and its partners will be dealt with in the near future.
“God bless the United States of America.”
“You guys want to hear where all the med spas are located?” I asked. “Nope,” laughed Lonnie. “Doesn’t fucking matter,” insisted Mike. “Me neither,” added Jake.
“Hell, I already gave you guys all my guns. Maybe they have a nice sauna there,” Vlad joked. Everyone laughed at that.
“All right,” I announced. “We’re on our own then, without the protection of our great government.
* * * * * * *
Chapter Twenty-two ~ Loveland, Colorado
Mac, to his surprise, had 14 men and 9 women show up at the cemetery around 3 p.m. that afternoon.
“Thank you for coming out here today,” he addressed the group, pointing out the targets set up on the edge of the Rimrock, where just last summer there was a concert with more than five thousand people who camped out for three days.
“Today we will be target shooting. Please take this seriously, as it may save your life or someone else’s in the days to come.” Mac proceeded to run the group through a series of shooting protocols and was satisfied that they would be an asset to the group.
Mac met with Bill later that afternoon. “Thank you, Bill, for the opportunity to teach shooting protocols to some of the members here. They did good and understood how important it is to be comfortable and competent with weapons.”
“That’s good to hear,” said Bill. “Any information on John’s shooting?”
“Not yet,” replied Mac. “I’m on it now and will update you tomorrow, if that’s OK.”
“All right,” remarked Bill, “but I want this to take priority.”
“Yes, sir,” answered Mac. “I’ll get it done.”
Mac took a few men he trusted, and hoped to retrace John’s path that night. Because John was still unconscious and there were no witnesses, he had to try and piece it together.
“All right, guys,” called Mac. “Gather ’round for a minute. Finding out what happened to John is high priority. Without any firsthand information, we have to take this in steps. We know where he was shot, due to the blood on the road, and we know he was headed south, towards home. The bullet hit him in the left side, so it had to be shot from the Rimrock. I’m not sure of the caliber of bullet, but I think Dr. Melton may have an idea by now. I’ll talk to her and see if there is any other helpful information. While I do that, I need you three to fan out and canvas the fields and the Rimrock, keeping an eye out for anything out of place. We don’t know yet if it was deliberate or an accident.”
With that, Mac jumped on the four-wheeler and headed down to the West’s hospital.
It was quiet when he got there and he hoped everything was OK. He asked the lady at the front desk how John was. “I’ll get Dr. Melton to speak with you” was all she said. “Please have a seat, sir.”
Mac settled in for what would turn out to be 25 minutes, with a People magazine featuring Hillary Clinton vs Donald Trump—“An Expose,” it read. Well, none of that nonsense matters anymore, he thought to himself.
“I’m sorry for the wait, sir,” said Dr. Melton.
“No worries,” replied Mac. “I just wanted to check on John.”
“He’s still unconscious,” she added, “but he’s improving.”
“How can you tell?” asked Mac. “I don’t mean any disrespect, but he’s still unconscious. How is that better?”
“Sir,” she asserted without answering his question, “it’s going to take a while, but he’s stable and that’s a good sign so far. We understand what John means to your community, like our Samuel. You have my word that we have done and will continue to do everything possible to help in his recovery, but he has to fight. He has to want to live, and so far he’s a fighter for sure. It just takes time and unfortunately that’s all I can tell you for now.”
“Can you tell me what kind of bullet hit him?” Mac asked.
“I’m not an expert on that, but I can show you if you have a minute.”
“Sure,” said Mac. “I can wait.”
“What was all the shooting that I heard earlier?” asked Dr. Melton.
“Well, I was just giving some AR shooting lessons,” reported Mac.
“You mean assault rifle?” asked Dr. Melton.
“No. Just a name for ArmaLite Rifle, the company that started back in the ’50s. A lot of people make the same assumption,” replied Mac.
“Where did you get all those guns?” she pressed.
“A few of our group had some and I had ten or so put away for a rainy day.”
“It seems to be pouring rain,” she replied.
“Yes, ma’am…I mean Dr. It surely is.”
A few minutes later Dr. Melton returned with a small plastic bag containing a bullet that Mac knew to be a .30-30 slug. “I know this caliber,” said Mac, now feeling uncomfortable with Dr. Melton. “Thank you, Dr. Melton, for your candid report of our great leader. Please send word when he wakes up. I’m trying to find out how this all happened.”
“I’ll be sure to do that,” she affirmed with a smile, Mr…?”
“Mac. Just Mac,” he said and walked towards the door. “One more thing, Doc. We’ve got a few expectant mothers up at the Ranch and one is due any day now. I’m sure our nurses can handle it, but are you…I mean, have you done those things before?” he asked, fumbling.
“You mean a delivery?” asked Dr. Melton. “Yes, I have, and I would be glad to help if needed. Maybe tomorrow I can come up there and meet them. I wonder if you might show me around?” she said with a smile. “I’ve never been on the property…well, except to help with John.”
“Sure,” agreed Mac, turning a slight shade of red.
Mac headed back towards the Ranch and couldn’t get Dr. Melton out of his mind. She was strikingly beautiful and looked more like some kind of model than a doctor. He was always attracted to tall redheads with slim features, and he thought she might be about his age of 30 something. Her hair was beyond shoulder length, with just a hint of curl. You helped her husband get John in the ambulance, he thought, and I don’t even know her first name. Just forget about it, he told him
self. You’ve got much more important things to focus on right now.
Mac, back at the Ranch, could see one of his men on top of the Rimrock, waving his arms.
He headed up the rocky road, trusting his four-wheeler could navigate the rocks and washed-out road. When he reached his man he was not surprised to see the three .30-30 shells on the ground at the top of the Rimrock. “A .30-30 round is accurate up to about 200 yards,” Mac said to his man. “It’s at least 325 yards from this point to where John was standing when he was hit. The shell caliber matches up, but I’m not sure it wasn’t just a stray bullet… Let’s head back and I’ll talk with Bill,” he added.
Mac met Bill just outside the Pavilion. “We found .30-30 shells up on top of the Rimrock and that’s the same caliber that hit John.”
“It’s typically a deer round, I believe?” asked Bill.
“Yes,” replied Mac, “and the effective range is much less than the distance between the shells we found and where John was hit.”
“I can’t think of anyone who would want to hurt John,” added Bill.
“Yeah, I know,” replied Mac. “I’m starting to think it was an accident, but who knows in this crazy next world?”
“OK, thanks for your work. Do me a favor and keep looking around with your team for a few days until we can be sure,” remarked Bill. “We owe that much to John.”
“Yes, sir,” replied Mac. “I’ll do my best.”
It was dinnertime on the Ranch and the chefs had a treat in store for the residents. It was decided earlier in the day that they would make a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. A few of the prep cooks were voicing concerns since the Ranch served turkey weekly and not usually on Thanksgiving. The three head Chefs had the final word, saying, “We will have Thanksgiving dinner tonight in honor of our great leader.”
“We will have the turkeys and it will be a most special meal,” declared Roko, the Head Chef.
When Lance was a boy, he would assist with the slaughter of steers, chickens and turkeys. He was always impressed with the way the adults handled themselves while having to take the life of an animal that would feed the group. Without fail, the fallen animal was thanked for their sacrifice and nourishment for the Ranch.
He wondered how the packaged meat most consumers got at the local supermarket was processed. He guessed it was not as ethical. “Everyone wants to eat a burger, but no one wants to kill the cow,” he used to say. Even years later, Lance would not eat veal after hand-feeding the young calves bottled milk.
The board at the Pavilion read: “Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner Tonight!” Nearly all of the residents showed up for the meal, including a special appearance by Samuel, sitting with Bill, Sharon and Karl.
“I’m sorry about John,” said Samuel to Bill.
“Me too. Thank you for having your doctors take care of him,” added Bill. “I’m not sure he would be here if it weren’t for them.”
“No thanks needed,” replied Samuel. “We help each other out, just like before all this happened.”
“I’m sorry you lost a man at the barricade,” added Bill. “Me too,” said Samuel. “He made a mistake and we have learned from it. His family will be taken care of.”
“Let’s get in line,” suggested Karl, as he stood up. They went through the buffet-style line and loaded their plates with garden-fresh salad, mashed potatoes with gravy, day-fresh turkey, yams, green-bean casserole, homemade biscuits, and cherry cobbler for dessert.
“I love Thanksgiving dinner,” admitted Karl, “even though I’m on dishwashing duty.”
Bill said grace tonight:
Dear Lord, thank you for this abundant meal we have partaken in. We are privileged to have our good friend and neighbor, Samuel, joining us tonight. Our hearts are heavy as we wait on updates about our fearless leader, John. Please help him to heal swiftly and return to us.
We are your humble servants in this next world. In your name we pray. Amen.
“Samuel! Samuel!” came the call from a young man running into the dining room. “It’s John. He’s awake!”
Bill and Samuel jumped up from the table and ran out to Samuel’s truck. They made it to the West’s hospital in five minutes, with Samuel fishtailing into the hospital parking lot.
“Hold on,” implored Dr. Melton, as they rushed into the lobby. “He’s only been awake for about 30 minutes and he’s still very weak… Don’t go asking him a bunch of questions right now,” she added.
“Sure,” said Bill. “I just want to see him.”
Dr. Melton led them back to an awake but sluggish John.
“What happened?” asked John in a labored voice. “How long have I been here?”
“It’s just been a couple days,” replied Bill. “You’re in good hands and we all want you to get better.”
John closed his eyes and didn’t say another word. “Is he unconscious again?” asked Samuel.
“No,” Dr. Melton replied. “He’s just sleeping now. His recovery will take a while. Check back tomorrow if you want. I’ll be up your way tomorrow as well to check on one of your pregnant women. Mac offered to show me around.”
“Oh, he did?” asked Bill.
“Is that OK?” she asked…“I mean me looking around?”
“Yes, of course,” said Bill. “I’ll tell Mac to give you the grand tour.”
“I’ll take you home,” offered Samuel to Bill.
“It’s all right. I can walk.”
“Not yet,” stated Samuel. “We can’t risk having both you and John out of commission.”
Samuel dropped Bill off at the Pavilion, where most of the diners were still eating.
“You didn’t get to eat,” observed Bill to Samuel.
“Well, it’s getting late. I’d take my plate to go, though.”
“Think I’ll do the same,” added Bill.
Bill made a quick announcement to what was left of the dinner crowd about John, giving only the highlights and not answering questions at this time.
Bill pulled Mac aside on his way home and said, “I hear you’re showing Dr. Melton around here tomorrow.”
“Yes, she asked me. Is that OK?"
“Sure, have her check on all three of our expecting mothers… And Mac, don’t forget she’s married.”
“Yes, sir. How’s John really doing?” he asked.
“He’s awake and recovery will be slow is all I know now.”
Bill warmed his meal on the grill at home and paired it with a glass of Merlot. “Today was a good day,” he told Sharon, after telling her about seeing John for a few minutes at the hospital.
“Dr. Melton will be by tomorrow. Mac is going to take her around to meet the expecting women, just in case there are any issues.”
“Oh boy!” exclaimed Sharon.
“Oh boy what??”
“You did tell Mac to behave himself with her, right?” asked Sharon.
“Yes, ma’am. I surely did.”
Bill was up early and checked in on John around 7 a.m. To his surprise, John was awake and talking a bit.
“They won’t tell me what happened,” John said, “but I remember most of it…well, up to when I blacked out, I guess. Someone shot me, Bill.”
“I know, John. We’re trying to find out if it was an accident or something else.”
“Who would want to do that?” asked John.
“I don’t know, John. We’re just glad you pulled through. It was scary for a while, but they fixed you up good here in this hospital.”
“How are things running in my absence?”
“Everything is fine and I’m keeping an eye on everyone until you get better. I’m also keeping the elders informed on a regular basis.”
“That’s good,” agreed John. “Some other men may have used this chance to take the leadership position.”
“No, sir. Not me,” stated Bill. “Not as long as you’re breathing. Your recovery will take some time, according to Dr. Melton. I will help you in any way you need me to. I’ll
address the group at lunch today and update them on your recovery, if that’s all right.”
“Oh, sure,” replied John, “but don’t make too much fuss about it.”
“Get some rest, my friend, and I’ll check back in the morning.”
Bill informed the lunch crowd on John’s recovery and answered the standard questions about what happened and when John might be back at the helm.
Next World Series (Vol. 1): Families First Page 20
