by N. C. Reed
“I. . .dangit, Billy, this is just what I was talkin’ about! We can’t just keep changing things from one minute to the next!”
“Facts is facts,” Billy shrugged. “Need someone in the truck with me. You need someone with you. And we’re burnin’ time arguing’ over this. Are we goin’ or not?”
“Well, since you’ve made up your mind, I guess we are!” Jerry shot back at him. Billy’s eyes flashed just a bit, and Jerry noticed it.
“I don’t aim to make decisions for no one ‘cept us,” he said quietly, indicating himself and Rhonda. “Your family has to make their own decisions too. I ain’t made up my mind about nothin’ to do with you and yours. Rhonda wants to go, she goes. That’s what I decided.” He leaned in just a little.
“Are we havin’ a problem about this, or are we going’ to get these other folks. Once we got more people, then they’ll always be someone about. That was sorta the point, if you’ll recall.”
Jerry looked at Billy for a minute then looked away. Finally he sighed in exasperation.
“Yeah, we’re going. That was the plan,” he agreed. “But. . .Billy you gotta stop surprising’ me with stuff like this. I’m an old man, and I’m set in my ways. I need some warnin’ ‘bout these changes. Don’t just spring’em on me all at once like.” Jerry’s voice was more pleading than demanding.
“Yeah,” Billy nodded after a minute of thought. “I see what you mean. I’m kinda set in my own ways, I guess. Helps me think clear. I’ll do that. No more surprises from now on,” he promised, and offered his hand.
“Thanks,” Jerry took the hand with a sigh of relief. For a minute there, he’d been thinking maybe he’d pushed his young neighbor too far.
“Okay, now that all that’s settled, we need to make with the leaving part of the plan,” Billy suggested.
“I need to tell Em and Shelly that Rhonda won’t be here,” Jerry nodded. “Won’t take but a minute.”
“We’ll be waitin’.” Jerry moved away to use the radio. Rhonda leaned down from the big truck. She’d heard everything, but hadn’t interfered.
“That went well,” she remarked, just a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
“Yep,” Billy nodded, stepping up onto the truck. Rhonda straightened up, giving Billy his seat. She snuggled into her own.
“I was being sarcastic,” she rolled her eyes.
“Yeah, I got that,” Billy nodded, checking the dials. He’d had the truck running for almost fifteen minutes. The idle had smoothed out, and the Freightliner seemed ready to go.
He saw Jerry waving in the mirror, and put the truck in gear.
“Here we go.”
*****
The trip was long. Everyone was pretty much bored except for Billy, who was in a constant state of near panic as he concentrated on driving the truck. He wanted to have the basics under control at least, before he reached the Maness place. His confidence was growing slowly, but he was constantly aware that he was only one error away from disaster.
“I don’t know how these guys did this,” he muttered once.
“What?” Rhonda looked over at him.
“I don’t know how drivers did this job,” Billy repeated. “I mean, the road ain’t got a soul on it, and I’m still nervous as a long tailed cat in a rockin’ chair factory. This thing is huge!”
“They just trained for it,” Rhonda shrugged. “Same way you learned to drive a truck.”
“I learned to drive on a dirt road,” Billy told her.
“You know what I mean,” she replied.
The two rode in companionable silence, each comfortable in the presence of the other. It took a little longer than Billy figured, but by ten o’clock they were where they were supposed to be.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Ralph Maness goggled a bit as Billy brought the Freightliner to a halt in front of him.
“Wow,” he managed as Billy and Rhonda climbed down. “Now that’s a truck.”
“Like it?” Rhonda asked. “We got a good deal on it,” she grinned. Maness just laughed and shook his head.
“Please tell me you live somewhere I can turn this thing around,” Billy almost pleaded.
“I live on a circle drive,” Ralph nodded. “You can make the whole circuit, come right back out on the highway.”
Billy sighed in relief. That was the best news he’d had all day.
“Well, let’s get goin’,” he said after a minute of small talk. “We don’t want to burn too much daylight. You folks all packed?”
“Yep,” Ralph nodded. “Purdy’s are packed too, just in case,” he added. “I think you’ll like’em. Good people. Known'em a good while.”
“Ain’t gonna be a problem sharin’ the house with’em, I expect?” Billy asked. “Ain’t got but the one place nearby, and it’s the only one suitable to live in, right now.”
“No, should be fine,” Ralph shook his head. “You said it was four bedroom?”
“Yeah, pretty big place,” Rhonda nodded. “Two couples and two kids oughta be able to make a good home there, and not get on one another’s nerves too much.”
“We’ll get by,” Ralph assured her. “The main thing, we’ll be together, and closer to others. Things are gettin’ a bit hinky anymore.”
“Had trouble?” Billy asked.
“We ain’t. Not yet, anyway,” Ralph shook his head. “But there’s trouble coming’, looks like. That hit on Franklin hurt. People are just now seeing’ how bad. Raiders took every bite o’ food they could find, and stripped the place of anything usable.”
“Seems like folks didn’t really notice at first, what with all the killed and wounded. They’re noticing’ now. Already had several working’ their way out into the country side, lookin’ for food. Some ain’t choosy how they get it, neither,” he added.
“Well, that’s sounds like a reason to get a move on,” Billy suggested. “So let’s get at it. Like to be close to home ‘fore dark.”
He and Rhonda climbed aboard, and Ralph got into his own truck. They followed carefully. There was only one bad moment, when it came time to turn onto Ralph’s road. The road looked a little narrow.
Billy swung out as wide as he could, and Rhonda watched her own mirror carefully as the trailer made the turn behind the Freightliner. Billy cleared the culvert with barely a foot to spare.
“I hope it’s easier to get back out,” Billy muttered through gritted teeth. Rhonda nodded, knowing Billy was worried about driving the big rig.
Five minutes later, they were sitting in front of Ralph’s place. It was a small house, with a very neat yard. A garden plot to the side of the house stretched around behind. His shop was visible from the road.
There were five people in the yard, waiting. A tall, trim woman, with athletic good looks embraced Ralph as he got out of his truck, which told them this was Amy. Her daughter was, indeed, almost a mirror image of her mother.
Nearby was a large, heavily muscled man with short cropped hair. Next to him stood a much smaller woman, with long dark hair, and a friendly, fresh-faced look. The boy between them favored his father. It was apparent that he would rival his father in size, once he grew to manhood.
“Billy, Rhonda, Jerry, and Toby,” Ralph pointed to each, “this is Amy Thomas, and her daughter Amanda. And this is George Purdy, his wife Debbie, and their son Georgie.” Ralph pointed to each in turn.
“Please to meet you folks,” Rhonda smiled, talking each hand in turn.
“Same here,” Debbie Purdy smiled.
“Heard a lot about you folks,” George nodded.
“Sure have,” Amy smiled. “Course, knowin’ Ralph, I’m sure it was all lies, and you folks are actually good people,” she added, chuckling. Rhonda laughed. She decided right away that she and Amy at least would get along.
“Well, it’s prob’ly not all lies,” Jerry dead panned, drawing another round of laughter.
“Reckon we need to get down to business,” Billy said quietly as the chatter died down. “You
folks know the deal, I’m takin’ it?” he asked George and Debbie.
“We’ll share a house with Ralph and Amy,” George nodded. “I’ve got my rig ready to move. I can shoe, of course, but I can also smith. My forge is mobile, but I can set it off. And, if we can get the materials, I can build a larger, more permanent one, too.”
“I’m a school teacher,” Debbie said. “I know that’s not a skill that’s in immediate demand, but I think it will be important in years to come. Meanwhile, I know how to ride, and how to shoot. I grew up on a farm, and can deal with animals without a problem.”
“Well, I’m an RN,” Amy spoke next. “But I started out as an EMT. Worked my way through nursing school that way. And. . .well. . .okay, I grabbed everything I could get my hands on when I ran,” she admitted sheepishly. “I’ve got meds, bandages, books, IV’s, everything. It’s not an endless supply, but I’ve got a good bit of everything. It’ll last a while,” she shrugged. “And I’ve got five years of ER experience on top of the EMT work,” she added.
“Wow,” Rhonda managed. Jerry gave a low whistle.
“How’re you folks set for food, and weapons?” Billy asked, ever practical.
“Well, ‘sides what I got off you,” Ralph said, “I’ve got a Remington 870, and 700 chambered for .30-06.”
“I’ve got a 870, and a side by side,” George added. “Also got a Savage .308. Got a couple Ruger 10-22's as well, and a .22 pistol, and an old Colt 1911 I got when I was in service.”
“You were in service?” Jerry asked, interested.
“Yes, sir,” the younger man nodded. “Served eight years in the Army. Infantry,” he added quietly. Billy was pleased to hear that.
“As for food, we got about three months worth of dry goods,” Ralph added. “Rice, flour, what not.”
“We’ve got more, since I can,” Debbie put in. “Probably go four, six months, if we stretch it.”
“Well, we can add to that, with beef, pork, and fresh eggs,” Rhonda told them, and all smiled at that.
“Sounds like we can get by okay until we can get some planting done in the spring,” Billy nodded. In fact, they could get by for probably two years, but he didn’t see the need to say that.
“George, Debbie, we all share in the work,” Jerry said. “You’ll be over to the old Franklin place, and that’s where we’re runnin’ the majority of the cattle. You’ll need to look after them. We’ve got horses and tack aplenty. I understand all of you ride?”
“Even Georgie,” George nodded. “We’ve got horses, and tack, too. And I’ve got a six-horse trailer, so we can pull it behind my truck. I think I’ve got enough fuel to make the trip.”
“We brought some,” Billy told him. “Gas and diesel too.”
“Well, we can make it, then,” Ralph nodded. Billy looked at Rhonda, who nodded ever so slightly. He looked at Jerry, and saw that the older man was looking at him expectantly. When Billy raised his eyebrows in question, Jerry nodded at him. Billy turned back to the Purdy's.
“Looks like you’re in,” he said simply. The relief on the couple’s face was palpable.
“You folks all packed?” Jerry asked.
“We are,” George nodded. “Just in case. All I need to do is load the horses, and we’re good to go.”
“Then I guess we better get loadin’ stuff,” Jerry smiled. “We got a lot of work to do, I’m guessin’.”
*****
There was indeed a lot of work to do.
Ralph had already loaded his own trailer, so there wasn’t as much of his shop to load. Amy and Amanda had packed, but everything had to be loaded on the truck. Seeing the big rig, instead of two pickups with trailers, made both women rethink their strategy. As a result, several pieces of cherished furniture were added to the load.
Billy thanked the stars that George and Debbie Purdy lived on the same road that Ralph did. That same wonderful, wide, gently curving, circular road.
It took a while, but with so many adults working, the truck was finally loaded.
“Make sure anything you might need tonight is in your personal rigs,” Billy warned. “I can’t see us unpackin’ this thing tonight.”
“Or tomorrow, either,” George added, chuckling.
“Works for me,” Billy agreed. He was tired, and it was still a long way home.
At long last, with the sun threatening to fall behind the trees soon, their task was done. A small convoy was formed along the road in front of the Purdy house.
“Ya’ll made sure you ain’t left nothin’ you want behind, right?” Billy asked. “Still room in the truck. I don’t relish makin’ this trip again. Takes a lot o' fuel.”
The others consulted among themselves, and decided they had everything.
“I think we’re ready to go,” George said quietly, looking at his home, now mostly empty.
“It’s just a house,” Debbie told him softly.
“No, it ain’t,” he shook his head. “Been my home, my family’s home, for near three generations. Hate to leave it.”
“We can still stay,” Debbie told him, her voice still soft, but tinged with a hint of fear.
“No, we can’t,” George shook his head again, then looked down at his wife. “Home’s where you and Georgie are, I reckon. And we know we can’t stay here, all alone. We’ve been lucky so far. Luck won’t hold forever.”
Debbie stood on her toes to kiss George’s rough cheek. The two had only been married ten years. Georgie had been born while George was overseas.
“Well, I guess we best be goin’,” Billy said quietly. He hated to intrude, but there was still a long trip to make. And at least some of it would be after dark.
As everyone headed for their respective vehicles, Billy heard something. At first he thought it was thunder, but there wasn’t a cloud to be seen anywhere. As the rumble continued without letup, it grew gradually louder.
“Vehicles,” Rhonda said from beside him. “Loud, too. Maybe motorcycles.”
“That’s all we need,” Billy sighed, and reached into the truck. He pulled his rifle from behind the seat, and then Rhonda’s, passing it to her.
“What’s goin’ on?” Jerry asked, as he and Toby came up to the truck, carrying their own rifles.
“I think we’re about to have company,” Billy said calmly. Ralph was running toward them.
“I think that’s the group that’s been runnin’ around here last week or so,” he told them, keeping his voice down. “May be they decided to come callin’ on us today.”
“Let’s get the women folk and the kids into the truck,” Billy ordered calmly. “Rhonda, get them squared away in the sleeper, and keep a watch over’em. Maybe we can just run away.”
“Maybe,” Jerry looked doubtful. “Depends on whether they come this far or not. Reckon they’ll stop at your place first, Ralph?”
“Might, but you can bet they’ll be sending some around from this side,” George had joined them. “Cut us off, like.”
“Well, we need to make a decision,” Billy told them flat out. “We either stand here, or we run. Which is it?”
“How many of them are there?” Jerry asked, looking at the other two men.
“At least a dozen,” George replied. “Might be one or two more or less, but I’d count on at least that many.”
“That ain’t bad odds, we surprise’em,” Billy mused. “Reckon we could get five or six right off, we played it right. Reckon they’d run, we was to hit’em that hard?”
“Prob’ly,” George grinned. He was going to like Billy Todd, he decided right then. “They ain’t really used to being opposed. Losing a bunch right off, like that, might break the rest.”
“Any idea how they’re armed?” Ralph asked. “I ain’t never seen’em.”
“Me either,” George admitted. “But they’re sloppy. Leave sign behind. I found shell casings for .223, .308, and .243, but the most was .22. I’d say they got three, maybe five guys that’s heavy armed, and the rest is just carrying’ what they c
an find, or get ammo for.”
“Well, I don’t wanna get shot, even with a .22,” Billy said dryly. “Still, we need a plan, and we need it right quick from the sound of it.”
“Well, we got two choices,” George said. “We either make a stand here, and try to fight them off, or else we high tail it, and hope we can blow through the one’s we think are coming in the other way.”
“I say we run,” Billy said suddenly. “We can bowl our way through’em with the rig, probably. If we stay here, then they might be able to just wait us out.”
“Agreed,” George said at once.
“Me too,” Ralph nodded.
“Works for me,” Jerry agreed. “Toby, drive our truck, and stay right on Billy’s rear end. George, I’ll ride with you, actually I’ll drive, an you can shoot.”
“Okay by me.”
“Wait a minute,” Billy said suddenly. He looked up into the truck. “Hand me that bag, honey.” Rhonda grabbed the bag in question and passed it down to him. Billy took the bag, handing it to George.
“M-4, select fire,” he said as he passed the bag over. “Ten mags. Suppose you know how to drive that?”
“I sure do!” George breathed. “Where did you. . . .”
“I ‘spect we can jaw on that later,” Billy told him. “Two grenades in there, too,” he added. “Let’s mount up. “All these rigs got a CB, so I suggest we use, say, channel 30. No names, and no word at all about where we’re headin’.”
“Let’s move!” Ralph nodded, running for his truck. Jerry gave Toby a brief hug, then hurried off with George. Billy looked at Toby, and held out his fist.
“Time to cowboy up,” he grinned. Toby returned the grin, bumped fists, and ran to the Ford. Billy climbed up into the cab. The two women, and their children, were in the sleeper, with Rhonda sitting in the passenger seat.
“You heard?” he asked, strapping himself in and checking the truck.
“We did,” Rhonda nodded curtly. She was afraid, but hiding it very well.
“Wish you’d stayed home now?” Billy asked, grinning. That made Rhonda smile.
“Nope!”
