by Robert Boren
“I’ll take another of those,” Clem said.
“Me too, Willard said, filling both glasses with ice and pouring.
“There they go again,” Sarah said as the voices drifted across the street. She looked at Clem and laughed. “Hope it’s worth it to them.”
“If they stop and Elmer doesn’t end up over here, it’s worth it,” Willard said.
Garrett laughed. “Hey, that’s my sister you’re talking about.”
“Elmer needs more protection than she does,” Willard said.
“That sounded kinda naughty,” Sarah said, slurring a little more.
Willard chuckled. “Actually, I’m kinda envious. Not of Susanne, mind you, but of the situation.”
Sam’s phone rang. “Uh oh, maybe I stayed too late.” He looked at it. “Ji-Ho.” He got off his stool and walked away, having a hushed conversation.
“Crap, I hope the party isn’t over,” Clem said. “I’m enjoying this.”
“Me too,” Sarah said.
Sam came back with a wide grin on his face. “We’re about to have company.”
“They’re here?” Garrett asked.
“Yep, just pulling in now,” Sam said. He typed out a text and sent it.
“What now?” Ed asked him.
“I just let Erica know not to wait up. I haven’t seen these guys for a while.”
“Maybe I’d better go into the basement and grab a few more bottles of the good stuff,” Willard said.
Garrett nodded. “Yeah, do that.”
“How are you doing?” Clem asked Sarah.
“Fine. Glad I slowed down a little. I was on the edge of control there for a while. Feeling better now.”
“Good,” Clem said.
The swinging doors creaked, everybody turning to see Ji-Ho coming in, followed by Ted, Jules, Tex, and Sparky.
“Why are you always in a saloon, you old son of a bitch?” Ted asked, walking up to Sam. They embraced.
“Been way too long,” Sam said. “Tex, how the hell are you?”
“Never been better, partner. This looks like my kind of place.”
“Hey, Sam,” Sparky said. “Long time no see. You remember Jules?”
“Sure,” Sam said. “How’s it going, Jules?”
“Very good, old friend. Great to finally be with you.”
Sam and Ji-Ho introduced everybody, while Willard lined up drinks for all.
“You okay, Ji-Ho?” Sam asked, eyeing him.
“Tired,” he said softly. “Illness is progressing a little, but I’ll be okay tomorrow if I get enough sleep. I leave soon.”
“We have development tonight, need to discuss for minute,” Jules said. “Mind?”
“No problem here,” Garrett said. “Maybe we ought to go sit at the round table over there. Easier to chat.”
“Yeah, do that, and I’ll bring a bottle over,” Willard said.
“That stuff is insane,” Tex said. “What kind is it?”
Willard told him as they walked over, holding the bottle up in front of him.
“Damn, this stuff is over a hundred years old?” Tex asked. “No wonder it’s so good.”
“You need me?” Clem asked.
“Not unless you’re interested,” Sam said. “I’ll fill you in later.”
“Great, thanks,” Clem said. Sarah looked at him and mouthed thank you.
“I hear from Ivan little while ago,” Jules said. “Ben Dover’s recruitment team got attacked when they were moving out of their offices in Sacramento.”
“No,” Ji-Ho said. “Did anybody survive?”
“Ben only,” Jules said. “He already picked up, getting on plane tonight. He come here, set up, if that okay.”
“Fine by me,” Garrett said, “but what about our situation? Wasn’t he the key to fielding a million citizens?”
“Yes,” Jules said, “luckily they got beyond hump, recruitment snowballing. We should be good, but he need to develop new team. Maybe you have people who can help. Your data man, no?”
“Seth,” Sam said. “Yeah, he’d be helpful, I’m sure, and his history program is running now. He’s got his woman helping him, and she’s very sharp. She can keep that going by herself while he works with Ben Dover.”
“Anything more?” Ji-Ho asked.
“That was the main thing,” Ted said. “You look way too tired. Go to bed. We’ll catch up in the morning.”
“Thanks,” Ji-Ho said. “Glad you all here. Great to see. Good night.” He got up and walked out the door.
“He’s in bad shape, partner,” Tex said.
“I’m with him every day, so I’m not seeing it as sharply as you are,” Sam said. “Hope he can hold it together.”
“Does the team know about his cancer?” Ted asked.
“Only a few of us,” Sam said. “He doesn’t want his niece to know, but it’s gonna come to a head pretty soon, I’m afraid.”
“Is Ivan really coming here?” Garrett asked.
Jules chuckled. “He’ll make an appearance, I’m sure, but he like ghost. All over the place. Hard to pin down. Hard to keep track.”
“I’d like to meet him,” Ed said. “Love his style.”
“He does have that,” Ted said. “He’s a little more docile than he used to be, from what I can tell.”
“Oh, I don’t know, partner,” Tex said. “The enemy might not agree.”
“That good point,” Jules said, a wicked grin on his face. “Well, I go. Have lovely woman waiting. See in morning.”
“Same here,” Tex said. “I’ll walk with you. Thanks for the fine whiskey, Willard.”
“It’s an honor to serve,” Willard said. “I’m sure we’ll toss a few back in the coming days.”
“I’ll stick around for a little while, I think,” Sparky said.
“Me too, if you don’t mind,” Ted said.
“Okay, guys, have fun,” Tex said, walking out with Jules.
“Another drink?” Willard asked the remaining men.
“I’m game,” Ted said.
The others nodded in agreement, so Willard poured.
{12}
Boxcars
C lem and Sarah watched as Jules and Tex left the saloon. The argument across the street flared up again, Willard and Garrett laughing, telling the others about the situation.
“Sam is so glad to see those guys,” Clem said.
“You know anything about them?”
“War buddies, basically.” Clem got up and went behind the bar, getting some ice for his glass. “You want another?”
“Don’t know if I should,” she said. “Oh, what the heck.” She drank down the last few drops and slid the glass to him. He made the new drinks, shooting a glance at Willard, who gave him a thumb up.
“I can’t believe Susanne and Elmer,” Sarah whispered as Clem sat next to her again, leaning in close.
“Hard way to live,” Clem said, “but then you don’t know what’s between a couple. The make-up sex might be a big part of their dynamic.”
Sarah blushed. “That’s what they were talking about, huh?”
“Did I really just say that?” Clem asked.
She touched his shoulder. “It’s okay. We’re both adults, you know.”
“I guess,” Clem said, taking a sip. “This stuff has me going pretty good.”
“I’m drunk. Been a lot of years.”
“You aren’t slurring as much,” Clem said.
She giggled. “You’re slurring more. I think it’s kinda cute. You never drank that much back at the RV Park.”
“Oh, I drank quite a bit,” Clem said, “but up to a certain point, I hide it well.”
“You’re beyond that point tonight,” Sarah said, shooting him a grin.
“Maybe a tad.”
“How much is a tad?” she asked, her eyes dancing with his.
“More than a smidgen, I guess.”
She punched him playfully on the upper arm. “That’s not an answer.”
“Sure
it is,” he said. “Maybe not a good answer.”
She laughed, then took another sip of her drink. “My head feels tingly.”
“I’m sure it does. Mine does. I like it.” He smiled, turning to look at the table, where the others were chatting and laughing. “They’re having fun.”
“You want to join them?” Sarah asked.
“No, I’m having a better time with you. We can if you want to, though.”
The doors creaked, swinging as Anna walked in.
“Uh oh,” Sarah whispered. “The jig’s up.”
Clem snickered.
“Garrett, you ready to go?” Anna asked.
“Everybody, this is Anna,” Garrett said. “The woman of the house.”
She smiled, shaking her head. “How much have you had to drink?”
“Quite a bit,” Garrett said. “Come join us.”
She sighed, then came over. “Where am I gonna sit?” Garrett pushed back and patted his lap.
“Not in this lifetime,” she said, pulling a chair next to his. She sat down, and Garrett introduced her to the others.
“Well that was interesting,” Clem said. “At least she doesn’t look mad.”
“She’s totally infatuated with Garrett,” Sarah whispered. “Look at them. That’s nice.”
“It is,” Clem said, moving closer to her. Then the arguing across the street started again, and he laughed.
“They haven’t gotten to the fun part yet, I guess,” Sarah said.
Clem looked at her, studying her eyes, quiet for a moment, then snapping out of it and looking away. He took another sip of whiskey.
“Mine’s almost out already,” Sarah said.
“Another?”
“Not so sure that would be a good idea,” she said, “you having another?”
“I’m thinking about it. I’d like to, but I’d probably regret it.”
“Then don’t,” she said. “I think I’ve had enough.”
“Anna’s taking Garrett home,” Clem said, watching the couple get up and say their goodbyes. They went out the door, the sound of horse hoofs starting, fading away as they headed down the street.
“Maybe I should be going too,” Sarah said.
“I’ll walk you home.”
“That would be nice,” she said, getting off the stool. Clem did the same. They were part way to the door when the arguing started again.
“Geez,” Clem said.
“Hey, there’s open rooms in the hotel, if you want to stay there instead of the peanut gallery across the street,” Willard said.
Sarah thought about it for a moment. “All my stuff is at the boarding house.”
“Whatever you want to do,” Willard said. “The keys for the empty rooms are hanging on the wall behind the front desk.”
“Who’s watching that?” Clem asked.
Willard chuckled. “Me.”
Ted, Sparky, and Sam cracked up.
“Remind me not to leave you in charge,” Sam said. “Just kidding.”
“I’ll walk you to the boarding house to get your stuff, then back to the hotel if you’d like,” Clem said.
She looked at him. “That’s too much bother.”
“No it’s not, and the night air will do both of us some good.”
“All right.” They went out the doors, walking down the wooden sidewalk, then crossing the dusty street, entering the front door of the boarding house. “You can wait down here. No need for two of us to go up all those stairs.”
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Clem asked.
“I feel quite a bit better already,” she said, trying to ignore the angry words as she got to the stairwell.
Clem sat on a couch in the parlor, looking around at the replica décor Susanne had used. The yelling finally stopped, Clem wondering if Sarah wouldn’t just stay there instead. She came down the stairs a couple minutes later with a bag in her hand, her face red.
“What happened?” he asked.
“They’re into the fun part now,” she whispered. “I heard more than I wanted to.”
“Oh,” Clem said, laughing. “You can stay here if you want, then.”
“No, that will bother me as much as the yelling, I suspect, especially now.”
“Why especially now?”
“Because of the drinking,” she said, smiling as they walked out the door.
“Feels nice out here,” Clem said.
“Very nice. At least it’s helping the flush on my face.”
They strolled across the street and onto the wood sidewalk, going past the saloon.
“Looks like the rest of them are calling it a night,” Clem said.
“They’ve been on the road. They’re probably beat.”
“Probably.” There was a dim light on in the lobby of the hotel. Clem opened the door for Sarah, and followed her to the front desk. The wall behind had mail cubby holes and hooks, about half of which had keys.
“Which one are you in again?” she asked.
“Room twelve,” he said. “Nice view of the street.”
“Room eleven is open,” she said. “I’ll take that one. Still makes me a little nervous being alone, you know.”
“It hasn’t been that long,” Clem said. “Perfectly understandable.”
She picked the key off the hook, and they headed for the stairs, climbing up next to each other.
“There aren’t bathrooms inside the rooms, are there?”
Clem laughed. “No, this is old-school. Men’s and women’s rooms, with showers. Down at the end of the hallway, towards the back. They’re not bad. Good pressure in the showers. Kinda nice after what we’ve been living with.”
“Our rooms are adjoining, aren’t they?”
“Mine is adjoining with one of them. Not sure if it’s eleven or thirteen.”
They got to the top of the stairs and headed down the hallway, getting to Clem’s room first.
“Well, which is it adjoining?” she asked as he unlocked his door.
“Yours,” he said. “Let’s make sure it opens.” He followed her down to her door and watched her unlock it.
“It’s fine,” she said, looking inside. “Would it bother you if we had the adjoining doors unlocked?”
“You look nervous,” Clem said. “You gonna be okay?”
“I’m just used to sleeping close to somebody I know, that’s all,” she said.
“I don’t have a problem. Might want to knock first before you come in, though. I don’t have any PJs.”
She giggled. “Oh my.”
He started for her door.
“You can just use the inside door if you want,” she said.
“Okay,” he said, looking nervous.
She smiled, giving him a quick hug. “Thank you for being such a gentleman.”
“Gentleman?” Clem asked. “Even with my off-color remarks?”
She smiled. “I was pretty drunk earlier. You could’ve talked me into almost anything.”
He shrugged. “I could say the same thing, you know.”
She looked at him funny, but then smiled. “Okay, good night.” She kissed him on the cheek, and watched him open the door. Then he laughed.
“Shoot, I have to open the second door from my side. Been a while since I’ve been in one of these rooms, and my brain still isn’t firing on all cylinders.”
“Still feeling it some, huh?” she asked.
“We drank a lot. Don’t you feel it anymore?”
“I’m still half drunk,” she said, following him to the door. “See you in the morning.”
Clem nodded and left. She could hear him open and close his door, and then he knocked on the inside door. “You still decent?”
“Kinda,” she said. “Open it.”
He unlatched the door and pushed it open. “There, we know everything’s hunky-dory,” Clem said, not looking at her.
“What’s the matter?” she asked.
“You said you were only kinda decent,” he said.
&nb
sp; “I was talking about my mental state, silly.” She laughed, walking towards him. “Maybe we should’ve drank some more.”
“I’d better go to bed,” Clem said, looking embarrassed. He slipped back through the door, leaving it ajar. Sarah stood staring at it, a sly smile on her face.
***
The early morning sun couldn’t quite burn through the fog covering the border. Doug had been awake since about four. Jorge was still asleep, in the back of his pickup truck, parked on the north side of Old Highway 80. There were thousands of citizen warriors in the area now, digging in and waiting for the onslaught they knew would come. The waiting was the hardest part for Doug. The enemy had been sitting in the same place, moving only a couple miles towards them in the last several hours. Food and other supplies flowed into the town daily. The rumor was that friends of liberty from around the globe were paying for it all, but there were never names.
“Hey, man, they’re moving,” Jorge said, head poking up from his truck bed. You see that?”
“About time you woke up,” Doug said. “I haven’t looked for a while. It’s like watching paint dry.”
“Look at it, man.”
Doug nodded, pulling his phone out and loading the long-range app, his eyes getting wider. “They’re ten miles further than they were last time I checked.”
“Look behind them,” Jorge said, climbing out of the truck bed.
“Dammit,” Doug said. “Is that the other two hundred thousand?”
Jorge was next to him now. “Looks like.”
“We’re gonna get nailed,” Doug said. He shot Jorge a glance that was nervous but resolute. “This is where I make my stand.”
Jorge smiled, shaking his head. “We’ll fight our best, but when it’s time to split, we need to go. We’re worth more to the nation alive than dead. Don’t ever forget that.”
Doug nodded. “I know, but what’s coming might not be something we can escape.”
“I’m worried for the men who are on the first few rows of claymore mines.”
“Yes, they’re in the most danger,” Doug said, “but our position behind the k-rails won’t stand up to much. You know that, right?”
“I do,” Jorge said. “Feel a little guilty that we’re not in the first couple rows.”
“We’re not fast enough,” Doug said.
“Yeah, getting old sucks.”
