The McClane Apocalypse Book Ten

by Kate Morris

  “Won’t it be strange for all the kids, the next generation growing up here?” Hannah poses.

  “What do you mean?” Reagan asks.

  “They will all grow up thinking they’re all related. Brothers and sisters and such. Most of them won’t be related at all. It’s just funny.”

  Reagan chuffs through her nose. “Yeah, I guess I see what you mean. Bunch of misfits is what we are now.”

  “Not misfits,” Sue corrects. “We’re just a different, new kind of family.”

  “Yeah,” Reagan says and accepts a kiss on her scarred cheek from Hannah and then her sister’s soft caress in the same spot before she turns back to her task.

  Grandpa walks in, causing her to startle out of her daze, and says, “You all better come to the office. Find the men, too.”

  “What’s going on, Grandpa?” Sam asks.

  “Robert’s man is on the radio. The President is coming. He’s close now.”

  “Shit,” Reagan states. “Sam, watch Charlie. I’ll get the men.”

  Sue says, “I’ll help. Derek and Kelly are up at the equipment shed.”

  They rush to gather everyone and have Huntley and the other older children watch the younger ones. Grandpa calls up the fort again.

  Her father’s advisor, she thinks his name might be Ron, says, “Hello, McClane family. Our runners said the President is thirty miles out. He’s heading south now, though. We don’t know if he is planning on coming to Fort Knox or not. It seems his path has changed direction.”

  Reagan asks the room, “Where is he headed?”

  “Our town?” Derek questions. Then he asks Ron for the exact location of the President and how many men he has with him. Unfortunately, it is just as they’d thought. He has thousands.

  They cut the transmission, and the family falls silent. Grandpa sits behind his desk and rests back in his chair.

  “We may have to make our stand against him in town,” John says.

  “Bring our forces together,” Kelly adds.

  “He could be there by morning,” Sue comments more to herself than everyone else.

  “We call up K-Dog and Dave,” Derek says. “We need the fort to send as many as they can afford right now.”

  Reagan’s heart begins pounding in her chest. This is it. This could be what ends everything. The idea of losing her family, her husband, the farm is all too much.

  “What do we do?” Hannah cries with the emotion they are all feeling.

  “We’ll make a stand, Hannah,” Kelly says. “We’ve done it before. We’ll do it again. We can handle this.”

  It is the first time that Reagan has ever looked at Kelly when he makes a bold statement like that and not actually believe him. There is doubt hiding behind his eyes that she can see. It unnerves her as nothing else can.

  They leave the room so Derek and Grandpa can start pulling their resources and call their allies. She joins her sisters in the music room.

  “I can’t believe this,” Hannah says, wrapping her arms around her middle. Sue walks over and hugs her.

  “Don’t worry, Hannie,” her sister says. “They’ll get this figured out. They won’t let anything happen to us.”

  “We should get the hell out of here,” Paige says, her first instinct always to flee. “I just thought to myself the other night how I never wanted to leave the farm, ever. But we could be wiped out. We can’t just think of ourselves. We all have children now. We have to protect them at all costs, even if it means starting over somewhere else.”

  “No, we’re not running,” Reagan corrects her. “This is our home, damn it. We aren’t leaving.”

  “I agree,” Sam says and Sue repeats.

  “Sorry, you’re right,” Paige says. “I just don’t want anything to happen to our children.”

  “If Parker already told him of our town’s location and the farm, too, it doesn’t matter anyway,” she tells them, trying to reason this all out and find some sort of logical solution.

  “No, it won’t,” Sue says. “He knows where we are.”

  “Good God,” Reagan states. “You don’t think he’s coming here, do you?”

  Sue’s eyes dart to hers. “I hope not. I don’t think so. I think he’ll head to our town first.”

  “Maybe,” Reagan says, unsure if her sister’s theory is right.

  They spend the remainder of the day quietly preparing for what is ahead. The men are packing the trucks full of cans of ammo and weaponry. The mortars are even put in. Food rations are packed in case the battle rages for days. Throughout the day, Reagan has to excuse herself to the bathroom where she throws up. She’s definitely not pregnant this time. Her stomach just won’t settle at the thought of what she could lose in the next few days.

  Another call comes in from Ron, during which he confirms the President’s location and where he has stopped for the night.

  “We should sneak over there and snipe him,” Reagan says.

  Others agree, especially Simon, who would probably be the one doing it.

  “I don’t agree,” Grandpa states finally. “We can’t kill this man. He was as misled by Parker as my son.”

  “Well, he’s not exactly coming here for a sit-down chat with us, Herb,” Derek says. “He’s the enemy. We have to treat him as a hostile adversary. If we don’t, he could crush us.”

  “What if he comes here to the farm instead?” Reagan puts forth.

  “He won’t,” John says with confidence, something of which she is deplete at the moment. “He knows we’re running a military operation here. He probably knows about us, about Derek, about our abilities to set traps, trip-wires, all of it. Parker would’ve warned him about the farm being a fortress.”

  “But the town’s another thing,” Kelly says. “As much as we’ve tried to fortify it, Parker knew of its weak spots.”

  “Yes, that’s true,” Sue agrees. “He would’ve.”

  “I feel confident he’s going there,” Derek says.

  “We’re only going to be a few miles away,” her husband assures them. “We can be back here in minutes.”

  Reagan nods unsurely. If they make the wrong decision, it could get many of them, if not all of them, killed.

  “I still say we either ambush them or take out the President,” Reagan repeats.

  “He is the leader of a lot of men, Reagan,” her grandfather points out. “They would be essentially leaderless.”

  “So?” she asks, not caring if it sounds immature. “I don’t care, Grandpa.”

  “He has a son, Reagan,” he says. “A young boy. Think of your Jacob. Think of Charlotte. You wouldn’t want either of them growing up without John. He is all his boy has, according to Robert.”

  She flinches first at the thought of her children not having their father in their lives and then at the mention of her own father’s name.

  “We need to be ready, Herb,” Derek counters. “This man is not coming here to become allies. Robert said he would be angry because so many of his people left with him. Parker only fueled that anger and the hatred and misunderstanding and distrust between the two men.”

  Her grandfather hangs his head as if he finds the whole situation too much to handle right now.

  “Don’t worry, Grandpa,” she says, trying to alleviate some of his pain. “The guys will get this all worked out.”

  “I think we should go, too,” Sam says. “Me, you, Paige, we’re all good shots. We could help.”

  “There will be enough volunteers between the Fort Knox communities, K-Dog’s, and Dave’s,” Derek says with confidence. Then turns to his wife. “I would rather take them than you women. If something goes bad, someone has to get the children packed into vehicles, take the horses and whatever supplies you can manage, and get out of the area. Huntley will scout a safe path to take for you. Send him ahead. You all know the emergency plans. Follow them just like you are to do for any other situation like this, Sue.”

  Reagan nods. Sue does, as well.

  “Eve
ryone should turn in and try to get some rest,” Grandpa says.

  “When are you leaving for town?” Sue asks nervously.

  “We’ll leave before dawn,” her husband answers. “Don’t worry. We’ll wake everyone and let them know of the plan. We’ll need you all up and ready to defend the place if something were to happen until we can get home or to get the hell out of here if you can’t.”

  The meeting ends, and everyone goes to bed. John spends some time reading a story to Jacob, who they allow to sleep with them tonight. She would imagine the other children are spending time with their fathers, as well. The men realize this may be the last time they see them.

  Once Jacob and Charlotte are asleep, John leads her to the walk-in closet where he makes love to her on the plush carpeting. John is always attentive and giving in their lovemaking. Tonight, he is intense and lingers a long time before they are finished. Then he carries her to their bed, and instead of putting Jacob between them, he spoons into the back of her and holds her close. Reagan pushes back even more firmly, needing to feel him against her skin. Neither of them sleeps. They simply lie together in the dark, occasionally stroking the other’s fingers or shoulder or arm. She wants to absorb him into her, the feel of him, the taste, his smell, every last bit. If this is the last time she’s going to see her husband alive, she’s not about to sleep and regret it later. She wants every last second to count.

  Chapter Thirty-four

  Cory

  Pulling away in the truck is one of the hardest things he’s ever done. But, nonetheless, at five a.m., they drive out the lane, each man trying not to look in the rear-view mirror for a sign of their wife and their loved ones.

  They received a message last night that the President and his caravan haven’t moved for a while. It seems they are sending runners out, too, probably spying on the base, their town, other towns. It would seem that the President has a few men in his group who are very versed in losing a tail, as well. Robert’s men lost track of the runners almost immediately. They are now in the dark. The President is at a standstill and hasn’t moved. Cory wonders if the man is having a moment of indecision, or if he is waiting for something. He hopes it isn’t more people trailing behind them that he’s waiting for. They are already outnumbered.

  John drives them to the gate in town where they are permitted entrance and met by the sheriff. Within an hour, all forces and allies are gathered. Dave and nearly a hundred from his camp and town, K-Dog and ten of his men, the townsmen who can fight, and over three hundred from the fort. Hundreds of men unpack crates of ammo from the vehicles from their own compounds.

  Derek directs the chaos along with Dave and orders men to different spots and where to set up ammo deposits that can be accessed by everyone fighting with them. They also order guards on the outside of the fence at hundred-yard intervals and about a half mile out to watch for scouts from the President to move in and do recon on them.

  The town sheriff directs his men to secure the women and children in the basement of the town hall, also where they have their prisoners locked up. If mortar rounds fall, it will be the safest place for them. Listening posts-observation posts, or LPOPs as the military men refer to them, are already in place, too, and being manned by trusted people with that sort of experience.

  “Mrs. B!” Cory calls out to his favorite librarian. “Hey, you need to get to the basement.”

  “I will. I just want to lock up the library first,” she says, pulling her brown wool dress coat closer together to ward off the chill in the morning air.

  “Mrs. B, I’ll get it,” he tells her.

  “Oh, no, I think I should…”

  “I’ve got it,” Cory interrupts. He would like to tell her it’s silly to lock up the library from invaders. The President isn’t coming to the town to steal books. He indulges her anyway, escorts her to a sheriff’s deputy, and then locks her precious library. He can understand her reticence in leaving it unsecured. It’s all she has left. It’s her life’s work.

  “Bro’,” Simon calls behind him, “Kel needs help moving a few mortars into place.”

  “Got it,” he agrees and jogs after his friend.

  The mortars are going to cover every end of the town in all directions and will hopefully deter the President and keep him and his men back. Fifty cals are positioned along the wall, as well.

  Last night on their final call, Ron from Fort Knox told them that they believe there are closer to five thousand in the President’s caravan, mostly men, mostly warriors, all armed. They have brought with them armored vehicles and equipment that could take them out. They have brought their own toys to the party. Robert’s wife, Lucy, and Lucas and G also came with the men from Fort Knox. He’s a good soldier. They sent a runner to take Lucy and Gretchen back to the farm, but Luke stayed in town to help them. Cory is glad to have him on their team. He just hopes that what they have in their arsenal of men and equipment will even the playing field just a skosh.

  “Cor, get the drones up,” Derek orders as soon as they wrap their strategy meeting.

  “Yes, sir,” he answers and rushes to the truck with Simon. “I’ve got ‘em both packed in this box here.”

  He yanks the box toward the tailgate and works to get them set up. One of the sheriff’s deputies comes over with his brother and volunteers to take turns running them. They both have experience, so Cory is glad for the help.

  John finds them after they send the drones up into the air and says, “Hey, you two, run a perimeter check on the south side. We don’t know if he’ll flank. I would imagine he’s gonna try and surround the town.”

  “Yes, sir,” Cory says and hands over the controls to the deputy and his brother. “Let me get rid of some of this bulk first, Simon.” Cory ditches his coat, straps on his Kevlar vest over his long sleeve tee, and nods to his friend. Then he and Simon are jogging as the sun begins to rise.

  “Think this is going to be the day?” Simon asks.

  “I don’t know,” Cory answer honestly. “I’m just glad Paige didn’t fight harder to come with us.”

  “Yes, me, too. And Sam and Reagan, too,” Simon adds. “I didn’t think they’d relent so easily.”

  “I know what you mean,” he says, reflecting on everything they could lose. It’s not something Kelly and John like any of them to do in situations like this. Keep focused. Keep your head in the game. Don’t get distracted. Today, that’s not going to happen. This could be his last day on earth. Once the fighting starts, he’ll focus. For now, his mind keeps returning to the ones he left on the farm. “Hey, man, I think we should make a pact.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “If I’m killed before you, and it looks like this town will fall, I’d like you to get back to the farm and make sure Paige and Sam and the kids get out of there. I’ll do the same for you.”

  “What about John and the rest of the family here? We can’t just leave them behind.”

  “If I’m killed, you can figure they’re dead or will be soon after,” Cory says. “I’ve got a lot of experience with this shit. So do you. So do they. If we start dropping like flies, it’ll be over soon after. We’ll be the last to go down. If we get overrun, I’d like someone to get our women and kids and Doc outta there. Huntley can’t do it by himself. They’ll be sitting ducks. I’m sure this asshole will run over the farm after the town and then regroup and hit Knox in a few days. He’s not comin’ here for a fuckin’ tea party.”

  “Right,” Simon says with a concerned scowl. “I agree. He’s coming for a war. This is for power and territory.”

  “And vengeance and anger for taking all those people from his base in Colorado.”

  “And ego,” Simon reminds him.

  “That’s the worst reason,” Cory says. “That’s the worst one of all.”

  “Yeah, Cor,” his best friend says. “I’ll do it. I’ll get them. You do the same for me.”

  “You know it,” he agrees, and they punch fists. Then Cory gives him a one-ar
med hug, which is returned with a firm pat to the back.

  Simon nods and climbs the stairs to the platform behind the town wall. Cory jogs to another area about a hundred yards away and takes up a similar position. He pulls his binoculars from his pocket and begins scanning. Birds whistle to greet the morning sun. He hasn’t heard them since early fall. Soon they’ll need to plan their planting season at the farm. That is if they defeat the President and live through the day.

  He stays in position for about a half hour before he’s replaced by two men from town. Simon jogs back to the town hall with him where they meet up with his brother and Derek again.

  “Anything?” Derek asks.

  “No, what about the drones?” Cory asks.

  “Nothing yet,” Kelly answers.

  Cory frowns and considers their next move. “Want me to take a scouting party?”

  “No,” Derek says, running the operation.

  There is no stress apparent on Derek’s face. He’s calm, relaxed. Cory wonders if men like General Patton portrayed the same sense of calm around their men. He also wonders if Derek is doing it so as not to cause everyone to feel nerves going into this. Cory isn’t nervous. The only thing that concerns him is his wife and the rest of the family. If he is to meet his maker today, he’ll do so in battle next to his friends, his buddies, and go out knowing he died to defend them, his family, and their way of life. He’ll fight till his dying breath to preserve their freedom, their people, and to protect his family. He prays he is killed before Simon and that his friend can get to the farm and take the family far away from here.

  “No,” Derek continues. “We’ve got a dozen men out now watching them, as well as the men from the fort. We’ve got eyes on the group.”

  “Has anyone heard anything?” Simon asks.

  “Yes,” Derek answers. “They’re moving. They’ve split off into four groups. We heard back from one of the general’s men, who says that the one group still seems as if it’s heading our way. They aren’t moving quickly, though.”