The Jared Chronicles | Book 2 | Tears of Chaos

by Tippins, Rick

  “What the hell?” Jared hissed angrily.

  “Relax, man,” John soothed, pointing toward Shannon and the stranger.

  Jared rotated his head and saw Shannon speaking briefly with the stranger before the man left and disappeared into the brush surrounding the house.

  “Something happened while we were gone. The guy wasn’t even armed, and Shannon seemed good to go with him being here,” John pointed out in a hushed voice.

  Jared processed what he’d just seen and had to agree. Without waiting, John got to his feet and gave a short whistle, causing Shannon to spin on her heel, a look of concern washing over her face. John gave a short wave and stood fully erect. Jared followed John’s lead and also waved.

  “Spread out a little just in case I’m wrong,” John said through the side of his now smiling mouth.

  Jared stepped several yards to the right as the two men advanced on the now relieved-looking former schoolteacher.

  As they neared Shannon, the woman pivoted and called out, “Carlos, Calvin, the boys are home!”

  Calvin stumbled out of the house, looking a bit disheveled, but immediately grinned ear to ear as he saw who it was. John saw the stranger appear from the side of the ranch house and stop uncertainly.

  John held his rifle at low ready, but was facing the stranger in case the man suddenly needed to be shot. “We all good here?” John asked, looking straight at Calvin.

  The older man stepped stiffly from the house’s porch, waving a boney hand at John and Jared.

  “For God’s sake, don’t shoot him. This is Carlos. He stopped in a few nights ago, half starved to death, along with his son, Salvador.” Calvin concluded his statement by waving a hesitant Carlos over to meet the two returning men.

  That evening, the ranch house somehow seemed smaller with all the new people under the small structure’s roof. Six people had been hard enough to find a place to sit or sleep, but now with eleven, the group was sure to get cozy. They all sat in either the living room or the kitchen, and still, they were in close proximity to one another. Shannon and Jared prepared food from their stores while the rest of the group waited patiently. When Jared and Stephani recounted the Tongan barbeque story, the room fell silent as each member listened and salivated.

  Calvin brought up the white elephant in the room, asking where the guy they’d gone to find was. He assumed Dwight hadn’t been located or refused to relocate, and was shocked by Jared’s account of all the trouble they had endured, only to have Dwight shot and killed halfway back.

  After dinner, Jared brought out the pony box along with the small bear he’d taken from Essie’s former home.

  “You went to my house,” Essie squealed, leaping to her feet and snatching the items from Jared’s hands before wrapping her small arms around his neck and planting a very unexpected kiss on his cheek.

  John observed the scene with Essie with more than a little concern written on his face. Jared sensed John’s disapproval of what he’d done, but didn’t care. Essie was so elated it was now worth the risk he’d taken. John, on the other hand, didn’t see it that way. Jared had deviated from the mission, doing so with an inexperienced woman in tow. This was reckless, in John’s opinion, and he planned on addressing it with the younger man, just not now in front of everyone.

  The people sat eating together, getting to know one another and learning each person’s story. Carlos seemed uncomfortable in the presence of John and Jared’s returning group, even though Shannon and Calvin made it clear the man was more than welcome. Jared stepped outside to relieve himself and found Calvin on his heels.

  “I know Carlos was a surprise. Hell, he was a surprise to Shannon and me when he appeared out of thin air, holding a machete, but the man has worked harder than any man I’ve ever known, and all he’s asked for is food and shelter for him and his son,” Calvin informed Jared, knowing he and John would want a private accounting of how the stranger was now part of their community.

  Jared nodded his head and smiled. “It isn’t an issue with me, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

  Calvin looked relieved. “I knew you’d see value in him. I should have known the man who brings home children could see the need for an additional set of grown hands around here.”

  Jared scowled. “What’s that supposed to mean?” he fired back at Calvin.

  Calvin smiled wickedly and winked. “You’ve brought two home; I’d say you’ve formed a habit, kid.”

  Jared snorted as he wheeled about and headed off to complete his business. Jared stopped a short distance away and, without looking over his shoulder, responded, “You should talk. I rescue children, sure, but you, Calvin, have a record of taking in young good-looking women.”

  Calvin didn’t respond as Jared zipped up, turned and took half a step before freezing. Shannon stood motionless on the front steps leading from the porch to the yard. If Calvin had a wicked smile before, his expression was downright devilish now as he stood looking back and forth between a stunned and embarrassed Jared and a curious Shannon.

  “Preying on naïve younger women, are you, Calvin?” Shannon said in a singsong voice before shooting Jared a smile he couldn’t quite interpret. Shannon spun and walked back into the house with what Jared felt was a hair more hip movement than he was used to from the woman.

  Once Shannon was inside, Calvin covered his mouth and laughed long and hard as Jared stomped past the old man on his way back into the house, where he was sure he would feel awkward after he’d placed his foot down his own throat.

  Back inside the house, Jared went straight to Essie, fussing over her hair and asking about the bear in an effort to assimilate into the group without feeling uncomfortable. Jared and Essie remained seated in a chair in the corner of the living room as the conversation around them quieted after the great meal combined with the later hour caused everyone to begin winding down for the evening.

  Calvin had returned and was talking to Stephani and John about the Tongans while Devon sat not far away, disengaged from any of the conversations.

  “So, they had a smoked deer?” Calvin asked. “Where were they getting water?”

  “Dunno.” Stephani shrugged. “We drank punch—I guess they had to get water for that, but I didn’t ask.”

  “They have a well,” Devon said quietly, his chin resting in his hand.

  Every head in the room turned and stared at the teen. “How do you know that?” John asked, his eyes narrowing not in suspicion, but more in curiosity.

  “I just know. It’s in a shed in the backyard,” Devon said, looking like he wished he’d kept his mouth shut now that he was the focal point of the conversation.

  Jared leaned forward. “There was a shed in the far corner.” He shifted his gaze to Devon. “Have you been in the yard?”

  Devon stared at Jared for a moment, then slowly nodded.

  “Were you invited?” Jared prodded.

  Devon shook his head this time, a look of guilt washing across his boyish face.

  “There are no secrets here, kid,” John interrupted. “Why were you in that yard, and how did you get there without getting killed?”

  Devon looked like a trapped rat as he went from being a quiet unnoticed teen in the corner to the center of attention. “I—ah, used to sneak in there and take food they left out. I saw them get water from the well. They rigged some kind of pump and get water that way,” the teen finished, waiting for the adults to ridicule him for the theft, but it never came.

  Jared looked at John and shook his head. “This kid is something else,” Jared said in amazement.

  John agreed by shaking his head in disbelief. Although John wasn’t privy to the Tongan property’s layout, Jared had explained it to him, and the fact that Devon was able to move in and out of secure areas the way he had since the event brought an idea to John’s mind. Tomorrow after he’d chewed Jared’s ass for endangering Stephani, he would also talk to him about the awkward, sneaky introvert being used to scout their own p
erimeter. The teen seemed more comfortable when he was working alone and had proven he could get in and out of places even John doubted he could have accessed.

  Jared went back to murmuring with Essie while the rest of the group returned to their hushed conversations. Jared held his breath as Shannon rose from the kitchen chair she’d been seated on and walked straight over, dropping onto the arm of the chair Jared was in.

  “Essie, take one of the candles and go get your bear and other things ready in your room,” she said with a warm smile.

  Essie hugged both Jared and Shannon before scampering off down the hall. When the child was gone, Shannon looked down at Jared.

  “That was the best thing I’ve heard in a long time,” she said with a whimsical look. “Don’t feel weird that I overheard it. I needed it. A lady needs a compliment every now and again, and well, lately, compliments have been few and far between if not outright extinct.”

  Jared swallowed hard, then moved over, allowing Shannon to slip down into the chair next to him. “I didn’t know you were there. Sorry about that,” he said softly.

  Shannon scrunched her nose. “Did you hear anything I just said?”

  “Yeah, I, ah, I just didn’t want you to think I was—” Jared was cut off as Shannon placed a slender finger against his lips.

  “It was a nice thing to say. Leave it at that,” she warned softly.

  Jared and Shannon sat in silence, listening to the hushed voices of the rest of their growing community. At one point, John sent Devon out to check the perimeter and familiarize himself with the property. The teen didn’t hesitate, leaving the .22-caliber rifle behind as he slipped noiselessly out the front door. Shannon’s hip was hard and should have felt uncomfortable against his leg, but Jared somehow found enjoyment feeling Shannon’s body against his.

  The evening ended when Shannon showed Claire and Stephani to a room the three women and Essie would share, while the men split the other two rooms for sleeping purposes. Jared knew if they wanted to be comfortable, their community would need to add structures or move.

  Chapter 37

  The following day, John waited until he saw Jared leave the house, then followed him out. John caught up to Jared as the younger man walked out to the OP to relieve Barry and Devon.

  “Hey, man, we gotta talk about a couple of things,” John said as he drew abreast of Jared.

  Jared stopped and turned to face John, blowing air out through his mouth in an exasperated manner. He knew what was coming and didn’t want to hear it. The world was dangerous, that was a fact, and sometimes, the people who still survived had to take chances or stop living altogether.

  John gritted his teeth, knowing Jared was not going to be receptive to any criticism about the stuff he’d grabbed for Essie. “Listen, man, you can’t go off task like that when there are people counting on you. I get the ask-for-forgiveness-later thing, I did that shit all the time before this whole thing blew up in our faces, but things are different now. People are dying every day because they took a chance, and I don’t want any of those people to be one of us.”

  Jared cocked his head and gave John a closed-mouth smile. “True—but people were dying before the event. How many people were dying every single year in car accidents?” Jared didn’t wait for John’s answer. “Thousands, John, thousands of people died every year in car crashes, yet people would still load their families in a car and drive to Disneyland, not school or the doctor—Disneyland, a place for fun. They’d risk it all for fun. All I did was bring a little light into a girl’s life who has pretty much seen nothing but darkness since day one of this whole mess.”

  John was quiet for a moment, staring at his boots. “Nice metaphor, but you still should have run it by the rest of us. I’m sure you asked Stephani out there if she was good with it, but that girl looks at you and me in the wrong light. She sees us as invincible, and we are not. One of these days one of us is going to get it if things don’t stabilize at least a little bit,” John said, looking up at Jared.

  Jared wagged his head. “Well, if one of us gets it, I hope it’s you and not me,” he said with the beginnings of a grin starting to crease his youthful face.

  “Fuck you, bro,” John said, feigning shock. “But seriously, I get you like working alone and are used to handling things by yourself, but we all have to see this thing from the thirty-thousand-foot view, not the ten-foot view.”

  Jared relaxed and licked his dry lips. “Yeah, I know, but you would have been against it and—” He paused for a moment. “You’re right, but Essie is happy, so you’re also wrong.”

  “Jeez, man, just be more careful is all I’m saying,” John said by way of letting Jared know he’d spoken his piece and was finished. The men walked slowly towards the OP again, neither speaking for a few steps.

  “One other thing,” John piped.

  “Really?” Jared moaned.

  “No, it’s not about you. I think this creepy kid Devon needs to be used for what he is.”

  “What is he? And stop calling him creepy. You never know when someone is going to overhear you,” Jared admonished, remembering his faux pas from the night before.

  “Whatever,” John said. “Either way, the kid is straight badass at sneaking around and not being seen. The fact that we came in contact with him bewilders me after seeing how he can operate. I was thinking we send him out on his own to find a trailer. He’s totally suited for the job, and once he’s located what we need, he can act as a guide. I can make sure he knows how to use a map, and then we send him on his way.”

  Jared thought about John’s idea for a minute. “You should teach him how to shoot first. Give him a real weapon, not that little squirrel gun he has.”

  “No way, man, that’s the beauty of this kid. If I trained him to shoot, he might think he could take someone on and end up getting himself killed. I like that he’s a shifty surreptitious little bastard. I don’t want him out slinging lead with some idiot.” John was visibly excited by his idea.

  “Shouldn’t we ask him if he even wants to do something like that?” Jared asked in Devon’s defense.

  “I guarantee that kid will jump at the opportunity to do something for all of us that entails him skulking around all by his lonesome—I kept the phone book, so it’s not going to be some needle-in-a-haystack search. We can give him several places to check that are close to Solar Green, and send him on his way.”

  “Okay,” Jared said, seeing more pieces of his plan falling into place through his mind’s eye. “While Devon’s gone, we can get to know this Carlos guy a little better. He’s talking about setting up a water line fed by gravity to the house. Says he already started the project while we were gone. I for one would like to see what he’s done.”

  “We also need to rest, bro. Battle fatigue is a real thing, and we’ve been running on fumes for a while now. Good night’s sleep, solid meals, and constant hydration for a day or two,” John admonished as he stared at Jared, whose clothes hung on him like he’d borrowed them from an older brother.

  “I agree,” Jared capitulated. “We also need to get everyone in our party up to snuff on how to shoot just in case something happens.”

  John shook his head. “No, they don’t need to learn to shoot, they need alignment training more than anything. Sure, you and I can teach some basic gun safety in the beginning, but they need training that will align with our real-world problem. Standing and shooting at paper targets is all good, but nowadays ain’t like it was before. We need to get the most out of whatever we do. Shooting paper is a waste of ammunition, which we don’t have much of,” John announced.

  Jared slowly bobbed his head as he digested what John was suggesting. He thought back to Bart and his instruction, realizing it had involved very little alignment training. Due to the confines of Bart’s little gun shop, maybe the old man just didn’t have the room to teach Jared how it would really be when he faced off in a real game situation. Jared had been poorly prepared for the stress and panic
that rode shotgun during every gunfight, and only Bart’s enlightening words aided Jared in remaining tethered to a tiny strand of sanity during many of those terrifying times. If John could make those experiences easier for someone in their community, then Jared was all for it.

  “What do you need for the training?” Jared asked.

  “Ammo and more gun cleaning gear,” John said flatly. “Everything else I can make from stuff we have around here,” John added, waving his hand back at the ranch house.

  Jared knitted his brows for a moment before speaking. “We can go back to Bart’s store; he has all that stuff if it hasn’t been looted. We can use a couple of horses, bring it back to the solar place, and just add it to the trailer.”

  Their conversation ended when they reached the OP and relieved Barry, but asked Devon to stay. The teen looked nervously at Barry, who wheeled and headed toward the house, where a warm bed and meal awaited him. The three watched Barry walk back toward the house until he was finally out of earshot before John turned to Devon.

  “We have a job for you.”

  Devon stared back at John, not uttering a word, which was part of the reason John liked the quirky teen. He didn’t feel the need to talk nonstop, but chose rather to remain quiet and listen to the adults when they were in a group setting. Sure, the kid was peculiar, in John’s opinion, but John had met many people over his lifetime who were odd, yet who served a major role in their arena.

  “We need you to go back to the city and find a trailer, then come back here and guide us to it. I want to know where I’m going when we leave,” John explained.

  Jared studied the youngster, not quite able to read him as Devon picked at his nails while staring at the ground, his mouth moving, but no words forming. “You good with helping out like that?” Jared asked, using the word help in order to impress upon the lad he would be a useful part of their community if he did this thing.