Next World Series (Vol. 3): Families First [Second Wind]

by Ewing, Lance K.

  “That’s also assuming they are close to here now, and traveling in a straight line,” added Lonnie.

  “Their final destination will be less than 15 miles from Saddle Ranch, but that is an issue for another day,” I added.

  “So, the choices…” said Lonnie. “We clear the area across the bridge, up to the main road, before traveling with the children, and prepare to leave in the next day or two. But we will have to tiptoe around towns and cities, just as we did getting here.

  “Or we try to figure out when the main Topeka group will be coming through and follow a safe distance behind them. The downside is getting a later start by a couple of weeks, maybe more.”

  “They may have scouts following the group, but they will most likely not expect an attack from behind, unless it’s military,” added Mike.

  “Let’s discuss the options tonight and reconvene in the morning over breakfast,” I said.

  I pulled Lonnie, Jake, Mike and Steve aside for the last bit of information, not wanting to worry the rest of the group.

  “The Topeka group,” I started, with a noticeable sigh and clenched teeth, “have a few ways to get to their final destination at Horsetooth Reservoir.

  “One stays on I-25 into the city of Fort Collins, after blasting a hole through the northern border of Loveland.

  “The other two bring them through the center of Loveland, and at least one probable route brings them within one mile of Saddle Ranch.

  “I’m quite sure they have the entire four miles across the valley secured by now, but the marchers could go right past the northern border of the valley, only 100 feet away.

  “This is my biggest concern, not only for my family and the others residing in that valley but also for our group as we try to start a new life.”

  “Lance,” came the call on the radio from Jim. “I’ve got your parents on the line.”

  Quickly heading to Beatrice’s house, where he had the radio set up in Dean’s workshop at her insistence, I was excited to hear their voices.

  “Hello!” I said, with Joy and the boys gathered around. “We’re all here,” I announced as she and the boys said hi.

  “Great, honey,” replied Sharon. “I’ve got Dad and Karl here as well. I’m sure you remember John,” she added.

  “Of course! How are you, sir?” I asked.

  “We’re hanging in there,” John replied. “Your parents were able to give us a fighting chance, thanks to the information you had told them over the years about power outages and EMPs.

  How many are in your group?”

  “We’re about 20 men, women and children now. We’re at the halfway point at a location I won’t mention over the radio for obvious reasons. A few have decided to stay here; however, the rest of us are headed that way if that’s all right.”

  There was a long pause, and I was getting nervous. Had I promised something I couldn’t deliver? Were we not welcome there, after all we had gone through to get this far? Joy looked at me, questioningly.

  “Hello,” I said, now just wanting an answer.

  “We lost them,” said Jim. “Hold on, and I’ll try to reconnect.”

  Ten agonizing minutes later, we were back on.

  “Sorry about that,” said John. “We lost you for a bit. I’m not sure what happened. How many did you say are in your group, Lance?”

  “About 20 men, women and children.”

  “Well, that sounds fine to me,” replied John. “Your parents told the council and me you would likely be headed here with a small group. We were actually prepared for up to 30 of you, so there shouldn’t be any accommodation issues, even if you pick up a few strays along the way. How long until you get here?”

  “Well, we’re not sure just yet,” I replied. “At the soonest, it would be about a week or two; at the longest, hopefully a month.

  “There is something you should know, and I’ll relay the information as best I can without giving away any locations.

  “Dad, do you remember where we used to go hiking, maybe five miles northeast from the general store my friends and I would ride our dirt bikes to during the summer?”

  “You mean the place with the rock, near the water?” Bill asked carefully, not to give a name to the location.

  “Yes, that’s it,” I told him. There is a large and growing group from the Midwest headed to that very spot, as we speak.

  “My best guess is that their main body is about 3-5 weeks out, but they have forward observers scouting out the way and looking for supplies to be confiscated. They are on the main interstate as best we can tell, and I’m not sure if they will turn when they get your way or not. Does that make sense, Dad?”

  “Yes, I know what you’re implying, and we will take the necessary precautions, just in case.

  And just so you know, we are working closely with Samuel now.”

  I was interested to hear about their progress on security and provisions but didn’t want any details going out that could jeopardize the community.

  I knew they had likely secured the entire valley, since they were working with Samuel.

  Taking with my mom and brother Karl, I kept the rest of the conversation light, giving the boys a chance to talk to their grandparents and uncle.

  * * * *

  Most of us took the night off, with a couple of people volunteering to stay on security detail.

  The kids watched the classic baseball movie called The Sandlot. My boys always loved the part where the kid called Squints put himself in a near-drowning state by jumping into the deep end of the pool, even though he couldn’t swim. The lifeguard that they all had a crush on, named Wendy Peppercorn, saved him and was giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation when he winked to his friends and tried to kiss her. He gained respect from his friends that day, while getting them all banished from the pool for life, and he would eventually marry the very same girl.

  “They’re going to miss the movies for sure when we head out,” I told Joy.

  “About that,” she said. “What do think we should do?”

  “Well,” I told her, “I vote to let the Topeka group pass and follow a safe distance behind. One, it eliminates the guaranteed fight with those across the bridge and doesn’t present a new fight with the rest of them.

  “Two, should they try to breach this property, David and his group are going to need our help and firepower to defend them.

  “Three, it’s the path of least resistance, straight up the middle of the state. If there is a major roadblock, we won’t be the first to encounter it. We will know which way they are headed, once they get to Loveland, and we can warn the Ranch if needed.

  “I’ll present my views when we all meet in the morning and see if anyone has another idea. One thing is for sure—we can’t wait another year to go.”

  The boys wanted to sleep in Veronica and Suzie’s tent. David, setting up another, gave him and Tina some alone time and the same for Joy and me.

  Mike and Tom were on perimeter patrol again. For Mike, it was calming, quietly waiting in the darkness for something, anything to peak his interest. He would not be disappointed this night, as the bushes next to the river road shook side to side.

  “A hog, maybe,” said Tom, “or possibly a bear. Either way, it’s good meat.”

  “Hold on,” whispered Mike, half hoping it would be a zealous soldier he could face, one-on-one.

  All at once, everything was still. There was no more movement from the side of the road…only silence.

  “If you are going to shoot me, then get on with it,” came a female voice, as a figure emerged from the second bush back.

  Mike, seeing a young female in the road through his night-vision goggles, called to Tom, “Hold your fire.”

  “I’m with you on that,” he replied, seeing the same image.

  “We’re not going to shoot you,” called out Mike, “but come up here nice and slow, hands out to your sides.”

  The young girl did exactly as instructed, and as she neare
d he could see she was no more than 13-14 years old. Her jet-black hair, long and straight, hung in her face. Seeing her face as she brushed her hair back, Mike saw a beautiful girl that had both innocence and battle scars.

  “What’s your name?” asked Mike,

  “Katie,” she replied. “Now you,” she stated.

  “I’m Mike, and this here is Tom.”

  “Who else is with you?” asked Tom.

  “What do you mean?” she replied.

  “Listen, lady. I’m a hunter and a darn good one. I can tell by the movement of the bushes that you’re either hiding another person, or an animal that could feed our group, and I never fire on something I can’t see. So, which is it?”

  “Come on out!” called Katie. “It’s my little brother, Jonah. He’s only six and really scared.”

  “We’re not going to hurt you,” said Mike, “but we need to talk a bit if that’s OK?”

  “OK,” Katie agreed. “But no one takes my brother from me, not ever!” she screamed.

  “Katie, it’s OK,” whispered Mike. “You’re safe here. I was a police officer only a few weeks ago, and I protect children. Do you understand?”

  “Yes,” she replied, still reserved, but starting to come around.

  “It’s just those men, those bastards that killed our mom and dad. I want them to die!” she shouted, rage turning to tears as she put her head on Mike’s shoulder, sobbing.

  Frozen, Mike was out of his element. Emotion was not on his list of attributes, but today, at this moment, he felt something he couldn’t describe. It started as anxiousness as she embraced him, quickly turning to something resembling compassion, and finally vengeance as he plotted to avenge her parents’ death.

  Jonah, grabbing his sister’s leg, was shaking and crying while calling for his mommy.

  “Are you being followed?” asked Mike.

  “No, sir. I don’t think so. The guards across the river were drunk and asleep when we left.”

  “How did you know to come over here?” Mike asked.

  “Well, we saw someone the other night come across and do something to the tents of the bad men. He looked like you,” Katie continued, “but it was dark, so I’m not sure.”

  “How did you see me that night?” asked Mike. “Weren’t you asleep?”

  “I’m always up now, since it’s just my brother and me… Anyway, the next day we saw you fighting one of the head men on the bridge, and I knew we had to find you.”

  “What about your parents?” asked Mike.

  “The day your people first came across our camp, I saw you shoot the Keeper. My parents said you were bad, and I believed them then.

  “But that man called the Keeper was really bad. He hurt people…women…and even my…I mean…our mom,” she added, hugging her brother. “I’m glad he’s gone. The second guy was nicer, but nobody listened to him.

  “When the bad men came, they got us all together and took all the weapons. They told us we could join their group or go off on our own, and they divided us into two groups.

  “I counted nine of us choosing to head out on our own and the rest wanting to join their group. Only they were lying, because we didn’t have a choice. They went down the line, shooting everybody on our side, one after another, even our mom and dad.

  “In the end, Jonah and I were the only two left. I begged them not to hurt him, and the head guy said he would keep us alive because I looked pretty. He told me I would belong to him from that day forward.”

  “Did he hurt you?” Mike asked, already fearing the answer.

  She paused, looking off into the night sky.

  “He won’t anymore,” she finally spoke. “When I saw you were fooling with their tents, I knew there was another way. During the commotion, my brother and I ran out of the camp with some food we grabbed from our tent and went into the woods. We saw the bridge fight from down on the river bank, hiding in some bushes. I watched you throw that monster over the rail, but I still wasn’t sure you were good. You almost stepped on us when you climbed out of the river,” she added.

  “Where have you two been since then?” asked Tom.

  “In the forest, hiding. We drank from the river and ran out of food earlier today. Now we’re here. Should we move on?” she asked bluntly.

  “No. Not so fast, Katie,” said Mike. “I have someone I want you to meet. Stay with Tom here for a few minutes, and I’ll be right back.”

  A nervous Katie consoled her brother and last family member of the new-world.

  “Sheila,” Mike called quietly, shaking their tent.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked. “Is your shift over?”

  “Not yet,” Mike replied. “Get dressed. There are some people I want you to meet.”

  “Can it wait until morning?” she asked, laying her head back down on the pillow.

  “Nope. It’s a now kind of thing.”

  Tammy dressed and made the 1/8 mile walk back to the security post with Mike.

  “Katie and Jonah, this is my girlfriend, Sheila,” said Mike.

  “What do you know about kids?” Katie asked her, matter of factly.

  “Not much, I’m afraid,” a surprised Sheila replied.

  “That’s good to hear,” said Katie, lowering her defenses just a bit.

  “So, do you even like kids?”

  “Sure, I do,” replied Sheila. “I used to visit my nieces and nephews back East a few times a year before…well, you know. Are you two OK?” she asked.

  “We’re tired,” admitted Katie. “Can we sleep somewhere my brother will be safe?”

  “Sure, sweetie,” replied Sheila. “You can sleep in my tent, and our strong man Mike will watch over us for the rest of the night.”

  Katie agreed, exhausted from the past few days, and kept Jonah close to her side.

  * * * *

  Morning came early, with talk from both groups about what should be done moving forward.

  With a groggy Mike and Tom following the night shift, nobody knew yet about the new additions.

  Having all of the adults in attendance, including Sheila sitting where she could watch for the still-sleeping children, we submitted our plans.

  I opted to go first, hoping to get some agreement up front and then just talk logistics.

  I gave the same ideas I had given Joy last night, adding that staying through the winter would put an unfair strain on David’s group, as ours would run out of food before then.

  “We also need to make a stop in Trinidad to check in on our friend Vlad,” I continued. “As most of you who know him are aware, he was in bad shape arriving at the FEMA camp in Amarillo. We were told that he would lose his leg to infection, and he was transported to Trinidad by helicopter for the operation.

  “Vlad is much of the reason we have made it this far, and he is our friend. He may not have survived, or he may be able to continue our trip with us. I promised him a life of peace in the Rocky Mountains in exchange for his guns. I will do everything possible to keep that promise.”

  Mike was the only one up for taking out the guys across the bridge but didn’t care if we waited a few weeks after that.

  Thankfully Lonnie spoke up, agreeing with me that it would only pick a fight with the larger group, forcing them to retaliate.

  “Best case scenario,” added Jake, “they just move on past, not wanting to bother with a detour and river crossing to try and take our supplies and guns.”

  “If they do come on to the property from the highway, there is only one way in, across the river,” added David, “and a show of firepower might turn them back.”

  “There is no perfect scenario,” I ended with, “but let’s vote anyway.

  All in favor of waiting 2-4 weeks, until they pass, raise your hands.

  Nearly all hands raised, including women and men.

  “Those opposed?”

  Only Mark raised his hand, adding, “I would like you all to stay for a year or more.”

  David smiled, feelin
g proud of his son’s generosity and strength to stand for his beliefs.

  “Thank you, Mark,” I told him, “but we need to keep moving. Besides, with a few more weeks here, we can help build your greenhouses and beef up your perimeter security.”

  It was decided that Jim, Steve and Mark would rotate radio shifts and monitor 24 hours a day for the most updated information on the Kansas group and any other news we needed to know about.