by N. C. Reed
“Are you threatening me?” Debbie asked, astonished.
“No, I’m telling you that I’ve had my fill. I’m finished. Starting today, if you can’t say something nice, or at least constructive, about anyone, I don’t want to hear it. Period. Understand?”
“So I have to like everyone and everything, or else, is that it?” Debbie challenged.
“You don’t have to like anything, or anyone,” George sighed. “But you’re going out of your way to make snide remarks about the people here, especially Billy and Rhonda. All because you can’t get your way, all the time. I’m sick of it. You hear? Sick!” He took a deep breath, allowing some of his anger to ease out on the exhale, and mindful that some were looking over to see what the fuss was about.
“Maybe it’s time. . .maybe we need to re-think things, Deb. Reckon I’ll be doing that while I walk home.” With that, George stuck his hands in his pockets and started for home.
Ralph watched his friend and house mate stalk off toward the house, and looked at Amy.
“Now what do you suppose that was all about?”
*****
George had made up his mind by the time he arrived at the house. He needed time to think, and he couldn’t do that in a house full of people. Reluctantly, he grabbed his duffle bag, and with long practiced ease packed his gear. He didn’t take too much, just enough for a couple days, if it came to that. He didn’t think it would, but in his frame of mind, he wasn’t taking any chances.
He didn’t know what else to do. His wife was apparently not the woman he thought he’d married. He’d never seen her like this. And he was sick at heart because of it.
He didn’t understand her problem. He’d known she wanted another child, but she wasn’t capable of having another. It was no one’s fault, but simple fact. Had that been what had turned her so bitter, so suddenly? Seeing someone have something she couldn’t have?
If so, then he had to rethink his life. The woman he’d fell in love with, the woman he had married, who had bore him his son, hadn’t been like that. This was new.
And it was killing him.
With things the way they are right now, I don’t need this, he thought to himself as he finished packing. My God, the world is dead, and she’s throwing snit fits over something like who’s married and who’s not, and the fact that two good people, out of the goodness of their hearts, gave a pair of orphans a good home.
The woman I married would have praised that decision.
Looking around the house one more time, George picked up his rifle and started up the road to the Clifton place.
He didn’t look back.
CHAPTER FORTY-ONE
“Did you hear?”
Rhonda looked at Michelle Silvers, who had practically ran through their yard to the back door.
“Hear what?” Rhonda asked. It was the day after the Thanksgiving dinner, and Rhonda was finishing her cleanup. Most of the work had been done before everyone left, but she had still needed to work in her own kitchen. She had barely finished when Shelly had appeared.
“George and Debbie!” Shelly exclaimed. “When the others got back last night, they found a note from George that he’d be spending a day or two at the Clifton place. I. . .I think he may leave her!”
“Wow,” she was taken back by the news. Shelly didn’t sound like she was gossiping, she sounded worried. That fact did not escape Rhonda’s attention.
“Any idea why?”
“Nothing specific, but momma did say that she was unhappy about Mary,” Shelly said, her voice sympathetic. “I know. . .I mean I was selfish when all this started, but. . .please, please tell me I wasn’t this bad,” she pleaded. Rhonda looked at her hope filled eyes, and smiled slightly.
“No, not quite,” she winked, and Shelly looked relieved. And embarrassed.
“I was a bitch, and I know it,” she murmured. “To everyone. But I was. . .you know what? It doesn’t matter what I was. I was wrong, and that’s all there is to it.” The determination in her voice made Rhonda take another look at Shelly.
“Shelly, you came around, and more than made up for most anything you did or said,” Rhonda said firmly. “Look at what you’ve done in the last few weeks. What you’ve learned. I’d say you’re doing fine.”
“Thanks, Rhonda,’ Shelly colored a little at the praise. “I really appreciate that.”
“Ah,” Rhonda waved the comment away, and motioned for Shelly to sit.
“Now, does anyone have any idea what happened, and why?”
*****
“I got no idea,” Ralph shook his head. “None. When we got home, he was gone. The note was all there was.”
“Mebbe he just decided on the way home,” Billy shrugged. “Didn’t say nothin’ cause he hadn’t made his mind up.” Ralph considered that.
“Yeah, could be,” he nodded finally. “I know they had words, him and Deb, right before he left the party.”
“Reckon we oughta ride up and check on him,” Billy sighed.
“No,” Jerry Silvers said firmly. “I’ll go. Just me,” he added, when Billy was about to speak again. “Me and him talked a little, few days ago.”
“What’d he say?” Ralph asked, interested.
“Nothin’ I aim to repeat,” Jerry told him abruptly. “He want’s it told, reckon he can tell it.” Ralph looked sheepish at the rebuke, but nodded his head.
“Wasn’t meaning to pry,” he promised. “He’s. . .well, he’s my friend, Jerry. If I can help him, I want to.”
“And that’s a fine notion,” Jerry commended. “Keep it handy. He might need it. But let him ask for it. Even it’s just coming to talk to you.”
“Yes, sir,” Ralph nodded.
“I can help, let me know,” was all Billy had to say.
*****
“Hey Jerry,” George nodded, as Jerry rode up. The older man dismounted, and joined the former soldier on the porch.
“George,” Jerry returned the greeting. “How you makin’ it?”
“Gettin’ by,” came the drawled out reply.
“Lotta folks wonderin’ about you this morning,” Jerry noted, taking a seat.
“Sorry about that.”
“Ain’t no need o’ being sorry,” Jerry raised a hand. “They just wonder what’s wrong, and can they help.”
“Reckon not,” George sighed. “Don’t know that there is any help,” he added with a shrug. “Just. . .I need some time to think on things.”
“I take it your problem has grown?”
“Yeah, I think so,” George nodded. “Or, at least, it ain’t shrunk any. I thought maybe it had. But at the dinner she started in again. I. . .I don’t know what to do, what to think. It’s like the woman I married ain’t here anymore, you know? She’s like a different person, here of late. It’s confusing, and I don’t care for it, to be honest.”
“Reckon we’ve all been changed in some way, after all that’s happened,” Jerry nodded.
“This is different,” George shook his head. “There’s. . .I don’t know, there’s something wrong,” he shrugged. “She’s so. . .so bitter,” he almost spat. “Over nothing, too.”
“Might be she don’t see it as nothin’,” Jerry replied. “Might be she see’s it as a serious thing, and wonders why you don’t.”
“You think she’s right?” George asked in concern.
“Nope,” Jerry shook his head. “I’m talking about what she may think. I know she’s wrong, and so do you. Just saying that, to her, she might seem right.” George nodded absently.
“I got no way of convincing her otherwise,” he said sadly. “It’s to the point where I can’t stand the idea of hearing her speak, Jerry. I’m always afraid of what might come out of her mouth, if she does.”
“Ain’t no way to have to live,” Jerry agreed. “I guess you’ve tried talking all this through?”
“In a manner,” George shrugged. “She agrees, won’t do it again, and so forth and so on. But then she does. Every time.”
>
“Well, I can see where that would frustrate you.”
“I’m thinking of taking a road trip,” George said suddenly. Jerry didn’t hide his surprise.
“Where to?”
“Don’t know, just yet,” George admitted. “I want to see what’s left. Who’s left, I guess. Look around, some. See what there is still to scavenge. That kind of thing.”
“Don’t reckon we need anything, George.”
“Maybe not now,” the soldier replied. “But we will. And there’s no point in letting things go to waste, can we help it.”
“Well, ‘spect there’s some truth in that,” Jerry allowed. “Still, not a good time to be off and away. Especially alone.”
“Was thinking I’d see if Pete wanted to tag along,” George shrugged. “He’s usually up for a good adventure.”
“Tell me about him,” Jerry prompted, and George grinned.
“Got you worried, does he?” Jerry’s face reddened a bit, but he nodded, hesitantly.
“Any man around my daughter worries me,” he admitted.
“Pete’s a good man, Jerry,” George said seriously. “He’s not so wild as he was just a couple years ago. Kinda grown up, of late. Proud of him, to be honest,” he admitted.
“Pete won’t do anything disrespectful, Jerry. I’d stake all I got on it. It just ain’t his way.” Jerry looked a little relieved at that.
“Wasn’t passin’ judgement,” he told George after a minute. “Just. . .checking, so to speak.”
“Any father worth his salt would,” George nodded. “Though I’d say the attraction is mutual,” he grinned.
“And that don’t help me none at all,” the older man grumbled. George laughed.
“One time, must be four, five years ago now, we was in Iraq. . . .”
*****
Jerry was a while getting back, but Billy was waiting when the older man rode into the yard.
“Afternoon, neighbor,” Billy nodded.
“Hey, Billy,” Jerry nodded, stepping out of his saddle.
“How’d it go?”
“Man’s got a lot on him,” Jerry shrugged. “Seems Deborah still has some issues. Maybe relating to Mary,” he added hesitantly. Billy’s eyes narrowed just a bit.
“Ain’t nothin’ for you to worry on,” Jerry added hastily. “Just saying, that seems to be what set her off. Got George terribly confused.”
“Understandable,” Billy agreed. “I thought all this was settled, though.”
“Far as everyone else is concerned, it is,” Jerry agreed. “She’s the only one with the problem. She’ll either get over it, or she won’t,” he shrugged. “Have to just see.”
“So what’s George gonna do?”
“Says he’s thinking on taking a road trip,” Jerry told him. “Wants to go out and see what’s left of things, and of the people. Scope things out, like, and maybe pick up usable stuff while he’s at it.”
“Sounds like a good plan,” Billy said thoughtfully. “I’ve had that idea more’n once. Ain’t had time to act on it, though.”
“Well, he’s of a mind to ask Two Bears about it,” Jerry informed him. “See about the two of them making a trip.”
“Wonder if he’d want some comp’ny?” Billy mused.
“Don’t know,” Jerry frowned. “You thinking of going with him?”
“Might do,” Billy nodded. “Me and Toby both, if you can spare him.”
“Toby?” Jerry looked surprised. “Why Toby?”
“Man grown, now days,” Billy shrugged. “Do him good, I think.”
“I don’t know, Billy,” Jerry sounded worried. “Might be dangerous.”
“Ain’t no more so that some of the other things we’ve had to do of late,” Billy pointed out. “And the experience’d be good for him, too.” Jerry thought that over, and finally nodded, though hesitant.
“Reckon if he wants to go, be wrong to try and prevent him,” he said finally.
“Reckon I’ll ask George, see what he says, ‘fore I get Toby’s hopes up,” Billy said. “Might be fun, at that.”
*****
“More the merrier,” George nodded, when Billy brought the idea up. “Don’t bother me none at all, you two wanting in.”
“I been wantin’ to do the same thing,” Billy told him. “Just ain’t had the time. Figure now, maybe, we do.”
“I got nothing but time at the moment,” George nodded, glumly. “I got a hankering to see what’s what, you know?” Billy nodded. He did know. Over time, he had lost the urge to sit at home, and let the world go by. He wanted to see what was left. Who was left. Seeing kids like Mary and Danny was still working on Billy’s mind. If they had made it, maybe others had as well. He wanted to see. And help them, if they had.
“Tomorrow?” George asked, watching as his young friend worked through something. Billy looked at him for a long moment, then nodded.
“Tomorrow.”
*****
“And I’m supposed to just sit here, while you go out and ‘see for yourself,” Rhonda huffed. “Is that it?”
“Don’t ‘spect you’ll do much sittin’,” Billy shook his head as he finished putting his bag together. “Plenty o’ work to do. Course, I ‘spect you to have those two doin’ as much as they can. They got to learn, in case somethin’ happens to us. This place’ll be theirs, if that was to happen. They need to know how to live.”
“What?” Rhonda stammered.
“Well, we took’em in, didn’t we?” Billy shrugged. “Reckon we’re responsible for’em. Somethin’ happens to us, they need to know how to get by without us.”
“Then shouldn’t you be here, teaching them too?” she demanded.
“Will be,” Billy nodded. “I’ll be back.”
“And if you ain’t?” she challenged, eyes watering.
“I will be,” Billy said firmly.
“You’re going, no matter what, ain’t you?” Rhonda asked.
“Reckon so,” he nodded. “It’s got to be done. We ain’t goin’ far. Maybe fifty miles. See what we can find that’s still usable. Might find people. Might find more kids, like those two,” he nodded in the general direction of the living room, where Danny and Mary were reading. Rhonda’s attitude softened at that.
“That’s why you’re really going, isn’t it,” she asked, her voice soft.
“Mostly, yeah,” he admitted, turning to look at her. She took the three steps that separated them, and they embraced quietly.
“Promise you’ll be careful.”
“Always am.”
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
They had taken it slow, out of the gate. Billy was driving, since he was the most familiar with the territory they were traveling. Two Bears and George took the rear seat of the Ford, so they could provide fire on the flanks, and the rear, if it became necessary. They all hoped it wasn’t necessary.
On the second day they made camp less than ten miles from Columbia. The snow was gone, now, and several days of sun and light wind had dried a good deal of the mud. Enough that Billy had found a small dirt road that had led them through a pasture, and into a copse of woods, near a small stream. The stream was clear, and swelled with run off, a good source of water, once it was filtered.
So far their trip had not been that fruitful. A few smaller stores had yielded some items, including ammunition, canned goods, and some fuel. The fuel had been marked on the map for possible later use, the rest added to the back of the long wheel based truck.
They had seen horrible scenes of destruction, where fires had burned out of control, with no one left to contain them. They had seen cars on the side of the road with the bodies of occupants who had died on the road still inside. They had noted an abundance of wild game, and even some domestic animals, which they also noted on their map.
What they had not seen, anywhere, was people.
“Maybe they ain’t none,” Toby suggested as they sat around a small fire, eating their supper.
“Could be,” George ag
reed. “Unlikely, though,” he added. “We all made it. Imagine others did. Was a right smart o’ folks in Franklin at one time, remember.”
“And that train,” Billy reminded them. They had been very careful about train tracks.
“Right,” George nodded. “It’s not unrealistic to think we’ll find other people, Toby. The thing is, they might not want to be found.”
“Huh? Why?” the teen asked, dumbfounded.
“They’re scared,” Peter shrugged. “They don’t know us from the man on the moon, Tobe. They see us coming along, armed to the teeth, and their first reaction will be fear. It’s natural,” he added, seeing the boy frown. “Like I said, they don’t know us. How are they to know we’re peaceable, and don’t mean them harm?”
“Yeah,” the boy nodded, seeing the point. “I hadn’t thought on that. I. . .heck, I just figured it they saw someone else, they’d at least want to talk.”
“And they might,” George told him. “But, think of this. If you were a woman, alone or with others, or maybe with kids, and you saw four armed men around, how likely would you be to want to talk to them?”
“Makes sense,” Toby nodded. “Hadn’t thought about that.”
“Same goes for young’uns,” Billy noted. “If Mary and Danny made it, some others may have too.” Everyone nodded at that, not wanting to think of a child, alone, in this hard new world.
“Let’s get some rest,” George ordered, standing. “I’ll take first watch. Then Billy, then Toby, then Pete. We’ll break camp at first light, and get on the road.”
*****
“Hey, look there!” Toby pointed. “Ya’ll see that?”
‘That’ was a column of smoke to their front. Dark and angry looking against a clear morning sky. They had been on the road less than an hour.
“That’s a house fire,” George said softly. “See how that smoke is different shades of gray? Dark and light mixing together? House fire is almost the only thing that burns like that.”
