by N. C. Reed
*****
“Man, this is heavy!” Danny exclaimed, as he, Rhonda, and Mary hauled a crate from the barn to where Toby would be able to get it into the truck.
“Yep,” Rhonda nodded. She wanted to know what was going on, but there was no way Toby would wait around to explain. She’d have to get the story from the woman. What was her name? Regina. Yeah, that was it.
The last box Billy had wanted was just on the ground when Toby roared up in the yard again. He jumped out, and ran to the boxes. Danny helped him load, while Toby explained as quickly as possible what had happened.
“So they’re going to attack the town, now?” Rhonda asked.
“No idea,” Toby admitted, short of breath. “But Billy don’t aim to leave no young’uns in their hands. That much I do know.” Rhonda nodded, sighing. He certainly wouldn’t do that.
“That’s it. Rommel!” Toby called. The big dog trotted up, looking at Toby in puzzlement.
“Rommel, you wanna go for a ride?” Toby asked hesitantly, opening the door. Rommel looked at Rhonda.
“Go on, boy,” she encouraged. Rommel calmly walked to the truck, and hopped in.
“Whew,” Toby sighed, closing the door. “Didn’t know but what he wouldn’t want to go. I got to go, Rhonda. You’ll see to them, right?” he asked.
“Soon as you get gone, I’ll head up there,” she promised. Mary was already digging out diapers, powdered formula, and baby food, among other needs.
“Well, I got to go,” Toby declared.
“Be careful!” Rhonda called. Toby waved, and then shot down the drive way. Rhonda shook her head. Twenty minutes, maybe, since Toby had pulled up, and he was already on the way back. She looked at Danny.
“Let’s go help Mary. Looks like we got a bunch of new neighbors.”
*****
Rhonda and Mary left Danny looking out for the farm. They loaded diapers, formula, baby food, food for more adult needs, and clothing for all sizes and ages. She also added basic hygiene needs like soap, shampoo, and ‘lady things’, as Billy called it. Without knowing what else might be needed, it was all she could do, Rhonda decided.
They stopped briefly to get Amy, explaining what had happened. Debbie couldn’t stop herself.
“You mean you aren’t taking the children yourself?” she asked acidly. Rhonda looked at her, eyes narrowing dangerously.
“I’ve had about all from you I need or want,” the little red head told her, voice low and dangerously calm. “Whatever you problem is, you need to get over it, before I break my foot off in your stuck-up ass.”
“Are you threatening me?” Debbie asked, astonished. No one had really spoken to her so directly about her own future well being before, despite her spiteful bickering.
“I’m warning you, plain and simple,” Rhonda corrected her. “I’m fed up with your bullshit. Come at me with it again, and you’ll be sucking soup through a straw. You need to pull whatever it is out of your craw, and get with the program. The rest of us are trying to survive, and do what we can for others as we can. All you’re doing is running your mouth. I don’t aim to listen to it any more. And that’s my last warning,” she added. “Next time, it’ll be my fist.” With that, Rhonda stalked out of the house, leaving Amy to gather her kit and follow. Almost as an afterthought, she decided to take Amanda with her.
Debbie was still sitting there blinking like an owl, when the truck left the yard.
*****
Toby had stopped for less than five minutes to get Terry Blaine before pointing the Ford back toward Columbia. Blaine had looked warily at Rommel, in the back seat, but the dog had merely looked at him, licked his own nose, and then took a seat where he could peer out the rear window behind Toby.
“Why is he here?” Blaine asked.
“Billy said bring him,” Toby shrugged, watching the road. “All I know.”
“So, tell me what happened.”
Toby spent the trip explaining what had transpired. He had finished just as they rolled up to the still smoking house. He picked up his radio, set it to the pre-arranged frequency, and called for the others.
*****
George, Billy and Pete had humped two miles in less than thirty minutes, careful to keep watch. They had frog-hopped, one always still and on the lookout while the other two moved, all the way, checking their back trail as often as they did what was in front of them. There was no way to know if the five men they had taken out at the Townsend home were the only group out and about.
They were nearing the city’s edge, now. Technically they were inside the city limits, having passed the sign sometime back, but now they were getting into the city proper. That meant slowing down, and proceeding more carefully. They moved carefully into the shadow of a small store that had been ransacked, and nearly demolished. There was nothing of value left, bit it provided them with cover.
“According to our friend,” George told them, “we shouldn’t be more than two, maybe two-and-a-half miles from this ‘house’ of theirs. We can’t put too great a stock in what he said, though. He was as likely to lie, as he was to tell the truth. So, we find a place to hole up, set up camp, and start some recon. Once we find them, then we watch, and plan a way to take them out.”
“Works for me,” Pete nodded from where he was watching the front. Billy nodded, but then looked around him.
“I don’t think this place is gonna do as a camp,” he noted.
“No, it won’t,” George sighed. “We need to find a house that’s empty, or, even better, a barn. Somewhere we can hide the truck, and where people aren’t as likely to snoop around. I’ve seen a few places like that on the way in. We’re still far enough out we may find what we need, but we’ll have to start looking now. Closer in we get, less likely we are to find something useful.”
“Need to get off this highway, too,” Billy offered. “Get off on some of these side roads, might find a big old house, maybe with a garage. A two story place’d give us a good overlook. Make it easier to keep a watch.” George looked at Billy for a moment.
“Are you sure you were never in the military?” he asked, grinning. Billy nodded.
“I read a lot,” he shrugged. “And common sense tells me, the higher we are, the more we can see.”
“Got you there, George,” Peter called from the front. “Sounds like we got a plan. How about we see about putting it into action.” George nodded.
“Always need a plan,” Billy stood. “Got a plan, half o’ the work’s already done.”
“Let’s go,” George agreed. “We want to be settled before dark.”
*****
It had taken less than an hour to find what they wanted. Less than a mile off the highway, near enough to the city to actually see into it, and empty. Completely empty. No furniture, nothing.
“Wonder if anyone ever even lived here,” George said, looking around. There weren’t even any light fixtures.
“Maybe not,” Pete said from a side window. “There’s a few more on down, some with construction materials still there. I think this was a development, maybe. A new one. No one ever had the chance to live here.”
“Works for me,” Billy said, shrugging out of his gear. “That means there ain’t no bodies here, and ain’t nobody hid out in the house, hopin’ to get by. We need to check around before dark, though. Make sure we’re alone.”
“Pete and I will do that,” George nodded. “I want you and that rifle upstairs. If we run into trouble, we’ll need you to back us up.”
“I can do that,” Billy agreed. Taking his gear, he headed up the stairs.
“I don’t know about you,” Pete said, when Billy was out of sight, “but I’m always glad he’s around. Funny, huh?” George shook his head.
“No, I agree. Billy’s something else. I’ve never seen anyone see through the smoke as quick as he does. He doesn’t give himself enough credit.”
“Had a cousin like that,” Two Bears commented, as the two stripped down for their patrol. “Ha
d a birth defect. Mom was a drunk,” he added. Drinking was a huge problem on most reservations. “He. . .he had some problems, but he could always find a way to get things done. He learned the old ways from our grandfather. Wish I’d paid more attention to the old man, now.”
“Yeah,” George nodded. “Well, Billy paid attention. I don’t know anyone who could have done as well as he has in this new world of ours. No one.” He checked his rifle, and his pistol.
“Let’s go. We got a lot to do before dark.”
They had just finished checking the last adjoining house, and clearing it, when Toby called.
“Ya’ll there?”he asked, avoiding anything revealing.
“We’re here, Toby. Come on up the road a ways. When you see a little store that’s been hard used, wait for us there. We’ll be a minute.”
“On the way.”
“Let’s head over there,” he said. “At least we can ride on the way back.”
*****
“Look’s like a good set-up,” Terry commented, having looked around. The truck was unloaded, and now backed into the attached garage. The sun was gone, and the light was provided by a shielded lantern. Rommel was delighted to see Billy, and hadn’t left his side. Billy was rubbing the dog’s massive head absently.
“We can hoof it into town for recon,” George nodded. “Nothing in the houses around us. We’re clear, at least for now.”
“No idea of the enemy numbers?” Blaine asked. The word hung heavy around the lantern for a moment. Terry sighed, and sat back.
“I guess we need to establish some Rules of Engagement,” he said.
“What for?” Billy asked, looking at the three other men. “I don’t see a need. We already know the kind o’ men we’re lookin’ for. The kind that burns down a daycare center, and then threatens to kill the young’uns if the woman don’t. . .co-operate.” His tone made it plain he knew what he was saying.
“Ain’t no kinda real man in that crowd. If they’re holdin’ a gun, we shoot’em. If they’re hurtin’ anybody, we shoot’em. If they’re stealin’, we shoot’em. If they threaten any women or kids, we shoot’em. If they’re still alive, we shoot’em again. That ‘bout covers it, don’t it?”
No one spoke for a moment. All of them looked at Billy, surprise on their face. Not at him, but at themselves. Finally, George chuckled darkly.
“Billy, I really like having you around. You always make better sense than I do.”
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
Rhonda took in the scene in front of her in silence.
Four women, seven children, aged one to seven years.
“Well, it looks like you’ve done an excellent job,” Amy told her, re-packing her equipment. “You’re all in good health for the most part. I do see signs of malnutrition, but very little. You’ve done well.”
“Thank you,” Regina sighed. “It’s. . .it was a struggle, every day, but there wasn’t anything else to be done,” she looked at the children, all of whom were now sleeping. “No one came for them. I. . .I actually called HHS, asking what I should do. No one answered.”
“If not for you, these kids would all be dead,” Rhonda told her. “For them, it was a good thing no one answered. I don’t know how you managed.”
“It wasn’t all me, I assure you,” Regina replied. “If not for the others, I’d have gone mad. As it is. . . .” The older woman trailed off, her stamina about spent. She had been forced to be strong for so long, and she was so tired. Fatigue that had been held at bay for months had started creeping into her as the house warmed, and as she realized that she and the others were safe. Suddenly, she teetered just a bit.
“Maybe you better sit down,” Amy said, concerned.
“I’m fine,” Regina promised, but her pale features betrayed her.
“No, you’re not,” Rhonda told her, taking an arm and guiding her to a chair. “You’re exhausted is what you are. Sit,” she ordered. Regina sat.
“We’re all tired,” she murmured. “Always something to be done.”
“Well, you need rest,” Amy declared. “And we can see after the kids. All of you,” she ordered, looking at the other women, who were almost dead on their feet from exhaustion. “Rest. The beds are made, I think. If not, I know there’s bed clothes here. There’s enough of us to watch over the children while you sleep.”
“Absolutely,” Amanda nodded. The teenager was sitting on the floor, next to the huge warm pallet where the children were currently dead to the world asleep. “I’ll watch them. I haven’t baby sat in a long time,” she added, grinning.
“I can help,” Mary added from where she was watching the one year old slumber after his first formula in three weeks. “I can stay. I can, right?” she added, looking at Rhonda.
“Of course you can,” Rhonda nodded. “I’ll stay, too. Danny can watch the house. I’ll go and tell him, and bring back some other things. You four get settled, and get some rest.”
“Could we. . .could we shower, first?” one of the Pinsons asked. “I mean, with hot water?”
“Sure,” Amy nodded. “See if any of the clothes Rhonda brought will fit. If not, we’ll find something else for you. Somewhere.”
The four women, relieved of their burden after so long, didn’t know what to do with themselves at first. The mention of hot water showers sparked a bit of life into them.
“They need rest,” Amy told Rhonda, as the four others went to clean up and change their grimy clothes. “And a lot of it, too. They’re on the edge.”
“I thought so too,” Rhonda nodded. “Well, we can let the girls stay here for a day or two, and take turns with them, I guess. Shelly and Miss Em will help, I’m sure.” She frowned.
“Thinking about Debbie?” Amy asked. Rhonda nodded.
“Yes,” came the short answer. “She should be helping. But I don’t want these women to have to put up with the crap she’s gave me.”
“I know,” Amy sighed heavily. “On the bright side, maybe she will adopt one of these darling girls, and that will make her happy.”
“Can we trust her with a baby?” Rhonda asked. “I mean, is she nuts, or does she just hate me? If it’s me, then no problem. She can hate away.”
“She’s sane,” Amy told her. “May not look like it, but she is. She just wants what she wants. No matter what. That’s not insane. It’s just selfish.”
“No matter how much the world changes, people stay the same,” Rhonda sighed. “Well, I don’t want Mary around her until she’s a bit more. . .unselfish. But if she’s willing to take care of them, she needs to help. She don’t seem to do much else.”
“She works at home,” Amy found herself defending her house mate, much to her own surprise. “I mean, she works, too. House is clean, meals cooked even when I don’t have the time to help. Like I said. She just wants what she wants.”
“Maybe helping here will do her good then,” Rhonda nodded. “If not, I can always kick her ass.”
*****
The four women from Columbia all took their first warm showers in months. Soap and shampoo, even lotions, they hadn’t seen so much in a very long time. By the time the last one was out, the first was already asleep.
Regina was the last, reluctant to be asleep when the other three were out. One of them had been awake at all times for so long, she couldn’t seem to let go of the routine. Amanda and Mary both tried to persuade her to lie down, but Regina kept putting it off. Finally, Mary heard Rhonda pull up in Billy’s truck. She went to the door, and helped Rhonda get things inside.
“I’ll stay with you tonight, and probably tomorrow night,” Rhonda told the older woman. “Amy will be here after that, unless Shelly or Miss Em decide to come over. You haven’t met them yet,” Rhonda said at Regina’s look of confusion.
“And why aren’t you in bed?” Rhonda demanded abruptly. Regina blinked at her.
“Ah, I don’t know, exactly,” she admitted. “I. . .that is. . .we always had someone awake. All the time. Just in case.”
<
br /> “Ain’t no need o’ that here,” Rhonda assured her. “We can take care just fine. And if we need help, it’s nothing more than a radio call or a truck ride away. So you get some sleep. You need it.”
“We can take care of the kids for a few days, but after that, I’m afraid it’ll be you four again, in all likelihood. We all got farms and chores to do and the like. But we can give you a few days help, to let you get rested.”
“I. . .I don’t know what to say,” Regina said softly, a tear flowing from one eye. “We’ve been alone so long. . . .”
“I know,” Rhonda told her kindly. “So was I. Not like you, I was completely alone.”
“Me, too,” Mary offered. Regina looked at her, and then back to Rhonda.
“She was living alone in the house down the street,” Rhonda nodded. “We didn’t know she was there until we went to clean the house up for some folks who moved into the house a few days ago. Nearly blowed poor Billy’s head off,” she chuckled.
“I didn’t mean too!” Mary added, blushing a bit. “I was just scared!”
“I know, sweetie,” Rhonda smiled at her.
“You had a gun?” Regina looked aghast.
“She has a gun,” Rhonda corrected her. “All of us do. And carry it wherever we go, at all times,” she added, pointing to where her rifle sat by the door. “We don’t have much choice. According to what your story is, you should realize that by now.”
“I just. . .I never owned a gun,” Regina shook head. “I couldn’t take the chance, with all the children in the house. And why would I ever need one?” she asked, the irony plain in her voice. “I never imagined anything like this happening, or I would have been better prepared for it.”
“I’d say you did pretty good, considering,” Rhonda told her. “I mean, you kept yourself, three other adults, and seven kids alive, and reasonably healthy in the worst possible circumstances. Can’t do much better than that.”
