by M. D. Massey
Returning, I can’t help but voice my thoughts. “What will the neighbors think of us moving all this stuff out?”
“I think the real question is where were they when she moved it all in?” Cole laughs as he takes the keys from my hand and starts toward the car blocking the driveway.
Dawson gives him a high-five as Haley and I stare after them.
“How is Cole related again?” I ask.
“I think he’s the bastard child of Mason’s sister, Ginny. She never married, and that was a no-no. So she left the mountain, but when Cole got too much to handle as a pre-teen, she sent him to Mason and Pop to straighten him out.” Haley explains. “He’s never had the problem with me that some of the others have had. Probably because he and Dawson are close to the same age and were more like brothers than cousins. When he left for the military, away from the Jackson clan, he seemed to come home with a broader view than those that have always lived on the mountain.” Haley assesses the boxes as she speaks.
“Here’s what we need, a dolly to move this stuff with.” Haley gives a wink. “Not that I mind the guys having to take their shirts off and use their muscles, but this way, even you and I can work. Plus, I don’t take my shirt off no matter how hot it gets.”
“That’s no fair, Haley. You’re just trying to tease us. Now, we boys will just wait right here while you two do the work.” Cole leans by the opening of the trailer.
“Uh-uh, man. I’m not getting caught in that trap. Move your butt and let’s get this loaded. I don’t really want to be out driving after dark since we saw some of the roads are going to be completely blocked on our way back.” Dawson slaps the back of Cole’s head as he passes by and starts moving things to the trailer.
“Sure, whatever. Take all the fun out of the zombie apocalypse.” Cole places a board on the ground to allow the dolly to roll onto the truck.
“How long do you think it will take both of you to get the rest of the supplies we need?” Haley starts carrying the lighter boxes to Cole for him to load and pack.
“Um, about two hours. Right, Dawson?” Cole restacks the boxes from the dolly with the heaviest on the bottom.
“Yeah, that should just about cover it. Do you want to get started? Then whatever the girls don’t have loaded, we can finish helping load.”
“Sounds good to me.” Cole finishes the stack in front of him.
“Why don’t you guys circle through the alley and leave the other trailer there. I can almost guarantee that my mom has the shed out back just as full as this is and that way, we can get it emptied as well.” I carry two more boxes into the trailer where Cole places them on the top of the pile.
“Come hop in the truck and I’ll drive you around,” Dawson offers.
“Haley, will you unlock the door back there so I can get in without having to go all the way down the street?” I call over my shoulder.
The guys make short work of unhooking the trailer and getting it set up while I open the gate and venture into the back yard.
The trail from the gate to the shed is clearly marked from all the recent usage.
There’s a lock on the shed door, but it’s partially latched to look locked. My mother could never remember where she had put the keys so we always made it look secure. At least it would deter the quick passerby.
The shed has the normal hygiene items that might not be available like shampoo, toothpaste, cotton balls, and liquid dish soap.
“Whew!” Dawson whistles as he glances in the shed door. “At least we’ll be clean if the world continues to go to pot.”
“Actually, Mom has been couponing for a long time and has a group that she goes shopping with, but she never keeps her stash. She normally donates most of it.” I defend what looks like simple craziness gone wrong.
“Not picking on her, sweetie. She’ll make sure that Cole over here doesn’t smell, even when he’s out in the woods hunting.” Dawson chuckles and ducks the expected slap from Cole.
“Oh, if this all goes wrong. I know of about ten houses that have stockpiles like this.” I offer, then realize that I’m talking like I could just go over and load their stuff up.
“We don’t kill people that aren’t shooting at us first. Don’t worry, we won’t put your mom’s church group on a hit list.” Cole tries to reassure me as the situation sinks into my brain.
“Really, we’re going to have to change that rule a little bit to anything that tries to kill me. Because these zombie things don’t have guns, but they’ll still kill us without a thought,” Dawson argues.
“Way to make me feel better, boys,” I retort sarcastically. “You’d better get going or we won’t make it back before dark.”
“Seriously, though, Haley has the guns in the pickup’s cab. Make sure that you both shoot first and ask questions later. Okay?” Cole slings an arm around my shoulders and kisses the top of my head, while Dawson does the same from the other side.
“Boys, she’s not used to a Jackson sandwich. Shoo!” Haley’s protective words make me laugh.
“They’re good. It made me think of how Brad would be hanging out with these two goofballs.” I wave off her concern.
“I think we’ve been dismissed.” Cole exchanges a look with Dawson above my head. They both release me and run to Haley for a sandwich.
“We didn’t want you to feel left out, honey,” Dawson drawls and moves in front of Haley to kiss her properly.
“Let’s go,” Cole tosses back as he races out of the fence and to his truck that still has a trailer.
Dawson isn’t far behind them.
I turn to Haley as their doors slam shut. “Do you know what they’re supposed to pick up?”
“Top secret. Known only to a select few of the Jackson clan,” Haley informs me.
“Oh, well. We have enough stuff to do here without borrowing trouble from them.” I go to follow her back into the garage to start loading stuff up.
“We should get this loaded, then eat something before we start on the shed out back.”
“Absolutely. I’m in total agreement with that statement, but it’s going to take us longer without the boys to help,” Haley agrees enthusiastically.
“It’s so funny that you still call them boys when they’re both over thirty.”
“If the shoe fits,” she responds with a grin.
Two hours later, we have the garage empty, the shed boxed up and loaded. Before we start on the house, Dad comes out to find us.
“Did you two want to eat something and take a break? You’ve been working nonstop for hours now,” he says as he approaches the almost empty shed.
“Wow. I had no idea this thing had back walls.” He reaches over to give me a hug. “Looks great, honey. Your mom has omelets and bacon fried up.”
“Sounds good. I’m curious about the breakfast menu, though,” Haley says politely.
“There’s a good reason. We needed to clean out the refrigerator just in case we’re not able to come back, and there’s no point in wasting food,” Dad explains.
“Touché, Mr. Bates. I don’t know why I’m even asking questions. It’s a meal that I didn’t have to cook. Lead the way.” Haley hooks her arm through my dad’s and lets him escort her into the house.
I’m happy to see some of the weariness leave my dad’s face, and I can only hope it will continue to evaporate once we get back to Jackson Mountain.
A frantic knock at the door interrupts us as we settle in around the counter since the table has been used as a defensive item against the sliding doors.
Dad opens the door to Dawson, with Cole right behind him.
“Turn on the TV,” Cole demands. I hurry to comply as we crowd around it.
“Breaking news. The military is headed for the city of Memphis due to an overwhelming crisis that arose this afternoon at the hospital. They haven’t given us the details yet, but we do know that the local police are not allowing anyone to be brought here. All emergencies are being rerouted. They are recommending that eve
ryone head home early and stay inside this evening.” The reporter pauses to listen to a question being directed at him.
“We still don’t know at this time if the military is going to declare Martial Law, but considering the rumors we’ve been hearing from other cities where this infection has spread, it’s a good possibility.
“The recommendation is that everyone please approach anyone who is showing signs of sickness with caution. This infection is transferred in the same manner that the AIDS virus back in the ’80 s was. This virus can be transferred through blood, bodily fluids being exchanged, or in this case, a bite from a carrier.”
“Did he say bite?” Haley looks incredulous.
“I can’t believe they would say it on the news. They’re admitting how it gets passed around.”
“Shh!” Mom motions all of our attention back to the screen as a helicopter view is shown of the rapidly approaching tanks.
“We need to leave now. Haley’s trailer is full and so is the one out back. We only have to carry out the food from in here and we’re set.” I put things in motion, not wanting a repeat of the incidents that we’d had on the way here.
“Mom, can you put the food in three separate containers so that we can eat on the road?” I pray that she’ll follow through, but I can’t worry about it now.
The sense of urgency won’t leave my gut.
“Dawson, do you want to drive around and get the trailer connected while we fill the back of Haley’s truck? We should be done about the same time.”
I’m asking, but I don’t even realize that I’ve turned on my commanding tone.
“That’s the reason Brad married her,” Dawson jokes. “He likes to be bossed around.” The rest of their conversation is lost as they do what they’re told.
“I’m a little jealous,” Haley says. “I can’t ever get them to do the slightest thing and they jump at the chance to do what you tell them.”
“Yeah, right. They know what needs done, and if we’re going to survive, we have to work together.” I grin and start piling stuff in stacks for the dolly to haul out to the truck.
“Here you go, dear. I’ve put the meals in three different bags with utensils.” Mom holds out the bags to Haley, who looks confused.
“Mom, why don’t you go use the restroom before we go?” I lead her down the hallway, planning to make good use of the room when she’s done.
Everyone else has finished and is watching the replay of the newscast when we come out.
“Ready?” Cole questions the three of us.
“Yes. I’ve turned off everything and taken out the last bag of trash.” Dad holds up two duffle bags filled with their important information and personal items.
“We parked your car in the garage, and the shed, along with the back fence are both closed,” Dawson assures him.
“Why are you carrying luggage, Neil?” Mom asks, mystified.
“He’s helping the guys get ready to leave. Why don’t you come out and we can tell them goodbye?” Dad suggests with an arm around her shoulders, as the two guys take the bags from him and hurry outside.
“I’ll lock it up,” I call as I close up the second house that means something to me in less than two days.
I stand on the porch and watch as my father tenderly helps my mom step up into the truck and get settled.
Cole approaches me. “Do you think that you can ride with me for a while? I’m not used to driving as long as Dawson and Haley are.” He gives me a pleading look, with his lip stuck out.
“I’ll go tell Haley.” I start toward the truck, but he stops me. Ducking his head sheepishly, he says, “I already told her.”
I simply ignore him and start for his truck that is running at the curb.
“Do you know how to get there on the back roads?” I know that most men think they know it all, but half the time they really should have stopped for directions.
Cole gives me a condescending smirk. “Sweetie, I could make it to the mountain on foot. It might take about a week, but that place has a homing beacon and once it’s in your blood, you always know the way home.”
I feel my eyes tear up as I think of Brad and really hope that he can find his way back to us on the mountain really soon.
The trip to the less traveled highway only takes about thirty minutes, but we can see several areas where entire sections of streets have police barriers keeping anyone from entering.
Once on the highway, Cole becomes a chatty Cathy and starts to regale me with tales from his, Dawson’s, and Brad’s childhood growing up on Jackson Mountain.
“So why didn’t I see you around when Brad and I were dating, if you were the three amigos?” Since I have him all to myself, I can ask him questions about the family.
“I couldn’t get back from a time-sensitive mission overseas. They had me hopping from one thing to another before I got out. I think they wanted to make sure they got their money’s worth before I went to work in the private sector.”
While it appears that Cole isn’t paying attention to the road in front of him, I know from watching Brad drive that he could give you a description of everything important we’re driving past.
“So what do you do now that the military has finally allowed you to terrorize the civilian population?” I have no doubt that Cole is a playboy who has women falling at his feet constantly.
“If I told you, then I’d have to kill you,” he teases me. “Nah, I do security work for a couple of warehouses in Nashville. I’ve been called in to work a concert on occasion, but mostly it’s keeping people from wandering onto their property.”
“That must be quite a change of pace. Do you miss the military?”
“Nope. I don’t like someone telling me what to do. I know, wrong career for that, but this way, I’m my own boss and choose which security project I want that week. We’ve had to chase kids out that were trying to use the empty space for raves or parties,” Cole explains, seeming glad to talk to about anything.
“Worried about what Brad will do once he retires from the army?”
“I would be lying if I wasn’t concerned, but I know he’ll find something that fits who he is and hopefully, it’ll keep him happy. I know after years of action, the downtime will seem like its own version of prison.”
“Emma, you don’t have to worry. He’ll find something that makes him want to get up in the mornings. You and baby Pierce will be a huge part of that.”
Dusk has changed to dark as we continue along the less traveled highways.
We’re just leaving the Chattanooga area when someone runs into the road in front of us, causing us to swerve onto the shoulder.
The truck doesn’t even slow down as I look on in horror. The person gets up and starts to crawl after us.
“I almost told you to stop, but then I realized it must be an infected person.” I give a shudder.
We continue on, but about ten minutes later, Cole starts to have trouble holding the wheel straight.
He slows down and pulls over to the widest spot on the shoulder of the road and picks up the radio. “Jackson Team, we have a problem. Standby for info.”
“I’m going to see what’s wrong. Get your gun out and cover me.”
Within seconds he’s back, just as I strap my holsters onto my legs.
“We have a flat tire on the trailer.” He speaks into the radio, updating them and me at the same time.
“Hayley, continue on since you have extra cargo. Dawson, I’m going to need help changing this out. Emma can stand guard while we get it taken care of.” Cole gives me an encouraging look.
“I’m not sure about that. What if I freeze because it looks like a person?” My voice shakes with just the thought of it.
“Emma, this is where the rubber meets the road. You’ll do just fine, but I can always let you change the tire while Dawson and I stand watch.” Cole smirks at me again.
“Stop laughing at me.” I square my shoulders and scoot over toward the door he’s holding
open for me. “I’ve got this. Besides, you’ll never let me live it down and I can’t handle the years of stories.”
The headlights of an approaching vehicle can be seen and we both watch as first, Dawson, then Haley drive past us and make a U-turn, pulling up in front of our vehicle.
“Haley, I told you to keep going,” Cole admonished her.
“Tough! I’m here now. Get over it.” Haley sticks out her tongue.
“Really, Haley. I don’t want two more people to protect. I know you’re good, but they won’t be. I need you to keep going and get home so Nana and Pop know that we’re coming.” Cole motions her back to the truck.
“He’s right, babe. The less people out here, the better. Worst case, we can run to my truck and take off and come back in the daylight for this truck,” Dawson says, trying to reason with her.
“Then let’s all get in the two trucks and keep going.” Haley won’t be moved.
“Look, just stay in the truck with it running and we can use the lights to see what we’re doing. If something happens, you can take off and we’ll be right behind you.” Dawson relents.
I feel funny holding my gun, ready to shoot anything that moves as the two men start jacking up the trailer to change the tire.
Getting the tires switched out, we’re tightening the lug nuts when I hear something on the other side of the truck.
I peer around the hood. “Uh, Cole? Dawson? You might want to grab your guns.”
I hold my gun up as movement along the fence rustles the trees and struggles to get free of the barbed wire.
When a deer appears, I lower my gun and take a deep breath, only to swing the gun up and fire a shot as a person moves to attack the deer.
“Nice shot,” Dawson says from behind me as the deer escapes the zombie.
I had instinctively swung around with the gun held out in my hand. He catches it before I point it in his direction.
“Down, tiger. You got him. Cole’s almost finished, so I’ll help keep a look out.” Dawson has his gun out as well, but he looks more relaxed than I do with a gun.
