by N. C. Reed
“We’ll work on it,” she promised. “We’ll find a way, together, to help you not obsess over this stuff. And the first thing is for you not to worry about me. I can take care of myself just fine, thank you.” She was startled when Billy started to laugh. She pulled away from him, frowning.
“And that’s funny in what kind o’ way?” she demanded.
“It ain’t funny by itself,” he told her, still laughing. “It’s just, when I was thinking about all this, I could hear you in my head, saying almost that exact same thing. Almost word for word, even,” he added, still laughing.
“Oh,” Rhonda’s near anger left in a hurry, her face turning just a little red.
“So I guess you know me pretty well, then,” she added, grinning.
“Yeah, I guess I do,” he agreed, kissing her lightly. She liked the way Billy had loosened up since . . . well, since. He was even more fun to be around now than he had been before.
“Well, I think it’s time we get you cleaned up, and then get some food in you,” she ordered. “Do you need help cleaning up?”
“I think I can manage,” Billy said dryly. “Give me a few minutes.” He headed off to the shower.
He had let the water run until it was warm, and had just picked up the soap when the curtain moved slightly, and a now naked Rhonda stepped into the shower with him.
“I just thought I’m make sure,” she murmured, kissing him.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
The next day dawned bright and clear, with just a hint of a chill. It was the middle of fall, now, almost Halloween. There was a great deal still to be done before winter sat in, and Billy was anxious to get it done.
There was one thing in particular that he wanted to do. He had discussed it with Rhonda, and had gotten her opinion. She had readily agreed, saying that it was a good idea.
When Jerry and Toby arrived, Billy had pulled the older man aside, and explained what he had in mind. Jerry wasn’t opposed, and was even eager to help. Billy and Jerry decided that would be the next thing on the list, and they would do it tomorrow.
With that decided, they had headed out, two trucks pulling the two stock trailers. With some feed corn, it hadn’t proved too difficult to convince the hungry hogs to enter the trailers. It took a while to get everything done, and it took three trips, but by early afternoon, the ‘Farms’, as Billy now thought of them, were in the swine business. Thirty-one sows, eleven of which already had piglets, and nine grown boars, all fat and healthy looking. Those they couldn’t care for had been turned into the wild.
Billy and Jerry had discussed that one at length, going over the pro’s and cons. It was cruel to leave the others to die of starvation. They considered trying to maintain them where they were, riding over once in a while to feed them, and check their water. That idea had finally been rejected. So had gathering them all in one place off the farm. The work and materials involved seemed a bit more than they could take on, with work on their own places, plus their combined efforts.
Turning them loose meant some of them would certainly die, killed by dogs, or even the few larger cats around. Even coyotes might try and take down a domestic hog.
And feral pigs weren’t something to sneeze at either, the two men agreed. They were hard on crops, and were often as likely to attack a man as they were anything else. In the end, however, they felt that the risks were worthwhile. In a few years, those domestic pigs that survived might lead to herds of wild pigs that could be hunted for meat. And so the decision was made.
The last thing on the pig business list was the movement of a small silo. It wasn’t huge by any means, but would hold a good bit of corn. Enough, they judged, to feed the hogs through the winter. When spring came again, they hoped to have a better place for them, a larger pen, separated into smaller ones, where they would get more sun, and more air. For now, they were satisfied with what they had. If nothing else, they could always trim away the trees around the clearing, enlarging it.
The silo proved to be easier to load than unload, however. It was sturdily made, and quite heavy. Billy wondered more than once how they had ever managed to load it, considering how hard it was to get it off the trailer. But finally they had managed. It took s bit of shovel work to get the silo standing upright, but once it was done, they were satisfied with it.
“Now we gotta fill it,” Jerry said at last, rubbing his back.
“There’s some corn still in the fields,” Billy commented. “Might harvest that.”
“Take a good bit o’ fuel,” Jerry warned.
“There’s some left in town,” Billy sighed. “Might as well use it, I guess. Even Pri-D won’t make it last forever.”
“Makes sense,” Jerry finally nodded. “We’ll see can we get someone’s combine runnin’, and gather what we can. At least fill this up. Might store some more off site, too, you know,” he added, thinking.
“Yeah. Any extra can go to stretch the horse feed, or the cattle’s hay, come winter,” Billy nodded. “Any idea how long stored corn will last?” he asked the older man.
“I ain’t never had enough left after the winter to know,” Jerry shrugged. “I guess we’ll find out, if there’s enough.”
“Reckon,” Billy nodded. “Well, let’s get over to the house. Rhonda will have us something ready to eat and we can take the time to lay things out for tomorrow.”
“What are we doing tomorrow?” Toby asked.
“You’ll see,” Billy grinned at him. “C’mon. We can start today, so we’re ready for tomorrow. Rhonda should have things laid out, by now.” Jerry and Toby drove home, parking the truck and unhitching the trailer. They were soon back, having walked through the woods. Billy had already put his trailer up, and was sitting outside, with some objects on a folding table, covered by a sheet.
“Toby,” Billy looked at the teenager closely. “I figure you been doing a man’s work. I’m glad to see it. Your pa is a good man, and he deserves it.”
“I know,” Toby said, somewhat shamefaced. “I. . .I already told him I’m sorry for not helping more sooner. I just figured this would all go away. I done seen, now, that ain’t gonna be.” Jerry nodded, backing the boy’s statement.
“Back in settler days,” Billy went on, “boy your age’d most like already be married, and be counted a man. Be doing a man’s work. I aim to treat you like a man, from now on. That means when you do something unmanly, you get treated like any other man. Get that?” Toby nodded.
“I aim to be good, Billy,” he said, his voice sincere. “And I. . .I’m right sorry how I treated you, before. It ain’t just that it wasn’t right, but you ain’t. . .I mean, everything people say ain’t always true, y’know?” Billy smiled.
“Yeah, Toby, I do. And don’t worry over it. Let’s say that all that’s behind us, startin’ today. I judge you from now on, on what you do from now on. You do me the same way. You live with that?”
“I sure can!” Toby smiled.
“Good, then,” Billy nodded, and pulled the sheet off the table.
Toby gasped at the hardware sitting in front of him.
“Holy smokes!” Jerry and Billy both laughed at his expression.
“Toby, I know you got a rifle,” Billy said. “But it’s a hunting rifle. Bolt action, I believe?” Toby nodded.
“Well, these ain’t huntin’ rifles,” Billy pointed to the table. “We’re gonna get you checked out on these, and then take you shooting tomorrow, so you know what you’re doing.”
“Toby, son,” Jerry looked at his son. “There’s bad people about. I know you know that, and you know that’s why we been tryin’ to keep still, and not bring attention to ourselves. But once we get out, like we did today, and like we’ll have to goin’ over to Franklin, then people will see us. And some will want to hurt us. Take from us.”
“Some will want to hurt your mother, or sister, or Miss Rhonda, in ways we’ve talked about since all this started. You recall?” Toby’s eyes narrowed at that. He did recall, and he didn’t like
it. He and his sister almost never agreed on anything. But she was his sister, and he’d been damned if any low life was going to hurt her if he could stop it. As for his mother, Toby figured he could kill a man who spoke to his mother wrong, let alone touched her in a harmful manner.
“Well, you’re gonna have to help us protect them,” Jerry continued. “That means you need the tools to do it with. And, comes to it, so do I,” he admitted. “I got them, honestly, just ain’t bothered to bring them out. And I had a small carbine for you to use. Billy suggested this, though, and I took him up on it. Figure your sister can use that carbine, she ever comes out of her shell,” he grinned.
“Okay!” Toby grinned, suddenly realizing that he was going to get one of these beautiful rifles.
“Toby, Miss Rhonda and I talked this over, and decided to give you a rifle, a shotgun, and two handguns. We’ll go over each one today, talking about safety and care, letting you handle each one. Tomorrow morning, we’ll saddle up, and ride away a ways, so we won’t spook the animals, and let you shoot until you’re sure you know what you’re doing. After that, we’ll practice when and if we can, but never, ever close to home. Understand?”
“Why not?” Toby asked. It wasn’t a challenge, but rather just simple curiosity. And perhaps the chance to learn something.
“Gunfire is loud, and carries a long way,” Jerry told him. “If someone was about, and heard, they could use it to try and find us. We don’t want that. If you have to shoot, here at home, it needs to be to protect yourself, or others. Understand, now?”
“Yes, sir,” Toby nodded. Billy was pleased. The boy had come a long way in a short time.
“One last thing, while I’m thinking about it,” Billy said. “Don’t ever, ever, say anything to Miss Rhonda about needin’ any protection, okay?”
“Why not?” Toby asked, again just wondering.
“Because it’ll make my life much harder than it needs to be,” Billy answered. “And I won’t like that. Got it?”
“I got it,” Toby grinned. And he did, too, it was plain.
“Okay, Toby,” Billy said finally. “These came from Miss Rhonda’s daddy’s place. There wasn’t much left,” he lied a little, “but these are among the best that he had still in stock. So let’s get started. This here, is an AR-15. . . .”
*****
By the time they had finished letting Toby get used to his new weapons, Rhonda had food waiting. The three men sat down around the table, with Rhonda joining them.
“Miss Rhonda, I want to thank you for the guns,” Toby said after the blessing had been made. “I really appreciate it, and I promise I’ll take good care of them.”
“I’m sure you will, sweetie,” Rhonda smiled. “I wouldn’t have given them to you, otherwise. Billy and your father think it’s time you were treated like a grown up, and I know you’ve been doing a man’s job these last weeks, cause I’ve seen it myself. Just remember that using a gun has consequences. Make sure before you act.”
“I will,” Toby nodded.
“And don’t call me Miss Rhonda no more,” she added. “I ain’t but three, maybe four years older’n you. ‘Miss’ makes me sound a lot older, and I ain’t sure I like it.”
“Okay, Rhonda,” Toby smiled around his sandwich. They ate then, talking about odds and ends, and the trip tomorrow, and the need to find a combine they could operate, and get the corn they could gathered. Finally, Jerry pushed his chair back.
“Reckon we better be gettin’ home, folks,” he declared. “Might good eatin’ young’un,” he winked at Rhonda.
“Thank you,” she smiled. “Day after tomorrow, when we ain’t shootin’ and the like, I want the four o’ ya’ll to come over to supper. Reckon we can swap out, and visit back and forth. Sound good to you?”
“Sure does,” Jerry nodded. “We’ll see you two in the morning.”
“Well, I have to say, Toby has changed an awful lot in the last week or two,” Rhonda smiled at Billy. “Looks like you really did good on that one, dear.”
“Hope so,” Billy nodded. “He needs to learn all he can. And his pa needs the help. You aimin’ to go with us tomorrow?” he asked.
“I’d like to, but I hate to you rob you three of your ‘guy time’,” Rhonda replied.
“Don’t worry none ‘bout that,” Billy waved the idea away. “You want to go, you go.”
“Do you want me to?” Rhonda asked, looking up at him.
“I wouldn’t mind it,” Billy replied.
“Well, then, I guess I’ll just go,” Rhonda smiled.
“Well, good then,” Billy didn’t seem to know the way out of this conversation.
“You got work still to do, as I recall,” Rhonda helped him.
“Dangit!” Billy slapped his leg. “Forgot all about that!” He kissed her lightly, and then was out the door, heading for the barn, Rommel right behind.
Rhonda looked down at Dottie, who was still sitting beside her.
“Boys.”
*****
The next day was cloudy, and there was a definite chill in the air. Still, it wasn’t that bad, and there was no reason to put off going to the range.
“Where you plannin’ to take us, Billy?” Jerry asked, as they finished loading the horses. Jerry had brought his M-1 Garand, and was looking forward to a chance to shoot it.
“Me and daddy use to go to the gravel pit, over on Hancock Road. Ain’t but a little ways, through the woods. We can be there in less’n an hour.”
“That’s a good spot, right enough,” Jerry nodded.
“We ready?” Rhonda asked, as she stepped outside with a small basket. There were sandwiches inside, and everyone had plenty of water.
“I got us loaded,” Billy nodded. “Waitin’ on you,” he teased.
“If you’re waitin’ on me, you’re walkin’ backwards,” she shot back, poking her tongue out at him. Everyone mounted up, and they set off, with Rommel in the lead, and Dottie loping close behind him.
Billy led them down small trails in the woods, then a fire trail used by state forestry for fighting wild fires. Soon enough, they emerged onto Hancock Road. From where they left the woods, it was only a ten minute ride to the gravel pit.
“Ain’t been here in years,” Jerry commented. “Used to come over here and shoot once in a while myself,” he added.
“Yes, sir,” Billy grinned. He knew that Jerry and his father had shot here in this pit together. Along with a few others that weren’t around anymore. Billy shook of that thought. No more o’ that, he warned himself.
“Well, Toby, what you want to try first?” Predictably, the teen held up the AR he had just removed from his saddle scabbard.
“I’d really like to shoot this one,” he grinned.
“Works for me,” Billy nodded. “Be back in a minute.” Billy went to set up the targets. They were old, now, and starting to rot around the edges, but were still serviceable. He set them up, and pasted a target on each one that he had brought from home. Rhonda walked along, and was helping him.
“This ain’t a bad place to shoot,” she commented idly.
“Nearest place to us, when we didn’t want to shoot at home,” Billy agreed. “Gunfire irritates the cows some,” he added, grinning.
“I can imagine,” Rhonda giggled. Their job done, the two walked back the thirty or so yards to where the Silvers were waiting. The horses had been picketed almost fifty yards away, near the entrance but out of sight of the road. Just in case.
“Okay, Toby,” Billy told him, handing him a pair of safety glasses and ear muffs. “Remember what you learned yesterday,” he cautioned. Then stepped back. Jerry was his father, it was his right to teach the boy.
“Toby, make sure the barrel ain’t obstructed,” he reminded.
“Already did, pa,” Toby smiled. “I have shot a gun before, you know,” he added jokingly. His father smiled at that.
“Just remember this ain’t your rifle,” he warned. “Every time you pull the trigger, it’s
gonna shoot.” Toby nodded.
“Insert the magazine, and chamber a round,” Jerry ordered. Toby deftly placed the magazine, then pulled and released the charging handle.
“Fire when you’re ready, son,” Jerry spoke loud enough Toby could hear through the muffs. Toby took two breaths, then flipped the safety to ‘fire’. Sighting carefully, he squeezed the trigger.
The recoil was less than he was used to, but the flat crack of the small round surprised him. He took aim again, and fired. He repeated that process until the thirty round magazine was empty. He flicked the rifle on safe, then removed his hearing protection.
“Well, let’s go see how you did,” Jerry patted his son’s shoulder. Everyone walked down range to the target Toby had been using. Billy gave a low whistle when he saw the target.
“Nice shootin’, Toby,” he told the teen. “I see a few fliers, but they would still be hits on a man sized target.”
“Trigger surprised me a time or two,” Toby admitted. “Take me a little to get used to it.”
“That’s what they call a combat trigger,” Rhonda told him. “It will take a little time, as it’s likely to be stiff at first. It’ll get better, though, and then it’ll be smooth as a baby’s bottom.” The men laughed at that, and she just waved them off.
“Let’s have you run another magazine, and then we’ll all join in,” Jerry suggested. Toby was eager to shoot again, and nodded readily.
After his second magazine, the others all took a turn. Jerry Silvers’ Garand was dead on, and the older man pitted the target twenty-four times out of twenty-four.
Rhonda used her Carbon 15, and cranked out twenty rounds in rapid fire. Toby almost goggled at the small target area of her shooting. Rhonda just smirked at all three before waltzing back to the line.
Billy went last. Lifting his M-4 style Bushmaster, he sighted, then let go of a thirty round magazine in about the same time Rhonda had fired her twenty. His fire was methodical, for all that it was fast, and he instantly dropped the magazine when it clicked empty, and shoved a new one home.
