Ignoring her question, Gerald asked, “You need someone to relieve you for a while?”
“No, I’m teaching Alex and Adam to run it. I would be teaching Gavin as well, but he went and blew shit up,” Nancy huffed the last, crossing her arms.
Gerald chuckled. “Well, I have to say I stand corrected. We needed Gavin with us. Hell, the way he drove the little buggy chasing down that Humvee was priceless. The troop manning that machine gun never had a chance in hell to hit it and shot up half the bridge. If I would’ve been in the Hummer, I would’ve just pulled my pistol and shot myself.”
“Yeah, he is good,” Nelson said proudly, pushing Michelle off his lap. He kissed her cheek. “I’m going to sleep,” he said and walked out.
When Nelson was gone, Michelle turned to Gerald. “What happened that Nelson wants to stomp your ass?”
“Guy stuff,” Gerald said then spun around and left.
Nancy looked up at Michelle, shaking her head. “Do men always try to give us migraines?”
“Nope, I don’t think they know they do.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Nelson, wake up,” Michelle said, shaking him. Nelson gave a groan and rolled on his side, trying to get away from her. “Damn it, Nelson, you’ve slept for fourteen hours!” she snapped and popped his arm hard.
Nelson sat up in panic. “Who took the marshmallows from the midget?” he yelled. All expression left Michelle’s face, trying to figure out what kind of dream that came from. Looking around in confusion, Nelson saw Michelle kneeling on the bed with her mouth hanging open, gaping at him. “You wake me up?” he yawned, stretching his arms over his head.
“Marshmallows and a midget, what the hell were you dreaming?” Michelle droned.
Pausing his yawn, Nelson looked at her in shock. “What in the hell are you talking about?”
“You just jerked awake wanting to know who took the marshmallows from a midget,” Michelle said, still trying to figure it out but not having any luck.
“You’re hearing stuff,” Nelson said, looking at his watch. “Damn, 4 a.m. I didn’t miss a day, did I?”
“No, you said it very clear, Nelson,” Michelle said, snapping out of the shock. “What were you dreaming about?”
Nelson thought for a minute but couldn’t remember what or even if he was dreaming. “I don’t think I was dreaming,” he finally said then looked up at Michelle, who was starting to get irritated. “Hey, you don’t have any room to talk. I wake you up, and you call out for Tom Selleck.”
“It was once, nine years ago!”
“He’s the same age as Bernard,” Nelson said calmly as he sat up.
“Who gives a shit? He still looks good,” Michelle scoffed then slapped a hand over her mouth, realizing she said that out loud.
Shaking his head as he got out of bed, Nelson headed to the bathroom. “And you get mad when I stare at girls in bikinis at gun competitions.”
“Baby!” Michelle whined, climbing off the bed. “I’ve had a crush on him since I was a kid watching Magnum P.I.”
Poking his head out of the bathroom door, Nelson looked at her. “I’m growing a mustache.”
Michelle dropped back, sitting down hard on the bed in shock. “You hate stubble on your face, baby,” she said as Nelson yanked his head back in the bathroom. “You really wouldn’t look right with facial hair.”
“Oh, but I tell you that you look hot in a bikini,” he called out from the bathroom.
Pinching her bottom lip and trying to figure out how this got to be her fault and what she had done wrong, Michelle finally gave up. “Baby, you’re my only man,” she said, getting up. “I don’t say anything about you drooling over Dolly Parton.”
“You drool over her as much as I do,” Nelson said, still in the bathroom.
Not able to even argue that point, Michelle walked in the bathroom to find Nelson brushing his teeth. “Babe, I’m sorry if I upset you, but I woke you up so we could talk before going to the gym.”
“Marshmallows and midgets,” Nelson mumbled, spitting out a mouthful of toothpaste. “Shit, if I said that, hell, I want to know now,” he said then rinsed his mouth out.
Walking up behind him, Michelle wrapped her arms around his waist, hugging him and pressing her cheek on his back. “I’ll wear the outfit tonight if you forgive me,” she offered in a seductive voice.
Suddenly, Michelle found her face in Nelson’s chest instead of pressed into his back. “Forgiven,” Nelson sang out, hugging her tight. I should’ve bought that damn outfit years ago, Michelle thought as Nelson kissed her neck.
He leaned back and looking down at her. “So what did you want to talk about?” he said, letting her go and reaching over to turn on the shower.
“What was in those trailers from the checkpoint?”
Blinking his eyes rapidly, Nelson tried to get blood to the correct head to understand the question. “Huh?”
“There were ten box trailers and a big horse trailer at the checkpoint. What was in them? I know what the tanker trailers carry.”
Stepping back, he just stared at her. “How did you even know, and what is so important about them?”
“Gerald brought them all here last night.”
Nelson’s legs gave out, and he sat down hard on the toilet; thankfully, the lid was down. “He did what?”
“They are all sitting at the very back of the field backed into the woods,” Michelle said.
Looking up at her, Nelson slowly stood up. “He went back and didn’t wake me up?”
“Yes, that’s why I want to know what is in them.”
“Who did he take with him?”
“Nelson!” Michelle snapped, wanting her question answered first.
“They were loaded from the reclamation patrols. Two were loaded with guns, one with ammo, some with food, another with boots, and one with gold, silver, and precious stones. The horse trailer was also filled with those. Now, who did he take with him?”
“Hank, his boys, Josh, Kevin, and Bernard,” Michelle said, feeling lightheaded. “One of those trailers is filled with gold?”
“Among other valuables,” Nelson said, getting up. “I’m taking a shower and going to have a chat with Gerald.”
“I don’t think he’ll be at the gym,” Michelle said as Nelson dropped his boxers, climbing in the shower. “They didn’t get finished till two last night.”
Closing the door, Nelson stood under the hot water. “Well, I’ll wake his ass up and see if he was dreaming about midgets and marshmallows.” Hearing the shower door open, he turned to see Michelle step in, and he raised his eyebrows. “Papa bear like.”
***
They stepped out of the cabin with Nelson carrying Devin and Michelle guiding Gavin. He had told them he wanted to start waking up for the gym with them, but it seemed he wasn’t going to wake up until he actually reached the gym.
“About damn time,” they heard off to the side. They turned to see Gerald walking over, holding out his hands for Devin. “I was about to just come in and get him.”
Nelson took a breath as Gerald took Devin and stopped that rant only to start another. “You went back without me?”
“You were tired,” Gerald said, walking off as he bounced Devin in his arms. “I think you only slept six hours the three days we were out.”
“Seven,” Nelson corrected. “Are you stupid? You could’ve waited if you were that concerned about my rest,” Nelson said, grabbing Michelle’s hand and pulling her to catch up to Gerald.
“Couldn’t take the risk of gangs or the feds coming back to get the shit,” Gerald said as Nelson and them caught up. “The OP/Com house was empty, and I mean stripped bare.”
“Shit,” Nelson said, looking off. “Think they just moved it for safe keeping, or are they using it?”
“Oh, I’m sure they are using it,” Gerald said as they walked out the front gate around the berm. “Those air jockeys got two Apaches and four Blackhawks. Saw the wreckage when we went back.”
“Not saying it won’t come in handy, especially the food for Hank’s group, but why the loot? It’s pretty much useless now. I mean, food, guns, and ammo are the currency now.”
“Like you said when we got here, this will end, and the next generation gets what we pass on,” Gerald said, nuzzling his nose in Devin’s neck, making him laugh.
“Yeah, but trailers full?” Nelson cried out.
“It’s just taking up space, Nelson. It’s not like we have to take care of it. Besides, I want our group to offer to give the horse trailer to Hank’s group.”
“Hell, you made them haul it back; why not the big trailer?”
Gerald stopped and turned to Nelson. “Our group put up the most fighters, and like you said, food and arms are more valuable now, and that’s what Hank’s group will get most of.”
“They didn’t even look in them before hauling them back?”
“No,” Gerald said, walking off. “I went in first to check the area and closed the trailers up.”
Nelson looked down at Michelle as he started walking. “I would’ve looked in the trailer before hauling it. Wouldn’t you?”
“Yeah,” Michelle grinned. “But we know how to fight and what to risk. They don’t yet. They just do what you or Gerald say without question.”
They walked in to find the others waiting. As Gerald put Devin in his walker, Nelson and Matt loaded a bar with weights. “So are we back on our schedule now?” Nelson asked as Gerald climbed under the bar.
“Yes,” Gerald grunted, lifting the bar up and easing it to his chest ten times slowly. Racking the bar, he sat up. “Oklahoma is now with the Free States, and all but Seattle is under their control in Washington. From the reports, it will only be a day or so before it is under control.”
Nelson and Matt added weight as Gerald climbed back under the bar. “They took almost two whole states in a day?” Nelson huffed as Gerald lifted the bar.
“Yep,” Matt said, standing at the end of the bench and spotting for Gerald. As Gerald neared the end of his repetitions, his arms started getting weak, and Matt helped him push out the last two. “Watched the broadcast, and tens of thousands came out of Idaho and Utah along with the Patriots in Washington. They were driving trucks and cars to battle zones, get out and fight, then load up and push forward.”
“Damn,” Nelson moaned as Gerald racked the bar with Matt’s help.
Sitting up, Gerald grabbed a towel and wiped his face. “Canada lost a whole division along with the Germans, who were with them in Montana and North Dakota. Modern warfare is proving to be very costly for everyone.”
As Gerald talked, Matt and Nelson loaded the bar for his last set. “Any reports of starvation?” Nelson asked as Gerald climbed back under the bar.
“Not in the headlines from either side,” Matt said, helping Gerald lift the bar out of the rack. “There is no commerce now. Gold in the US is trading at twenty-two dollars an ounce now. On the boards from the Free States, they are saying it’s real bad in the cities, but they still have power. Even the Free States have taken over utilities. You work to eat there. In the Federal states, you are forced to work and maybe get food. Don’t work, and you get shot. Of course, that’s only what we hear from people who have escaped. There is not freedom of the press in Federal states.”
When Gerald squeezed out his last rep, Matt took the bar with ease and racked it, making Gerald feel really weak. Getting off the bench as Nelson climbed under the bar, Gerald grabbed his water bottle. “It’s going to get much worse before it gets better. They are burning bodies everywhere. There are reports of tens of thousands dying from disease alone this summer. Wait till winter.”
Nelson lifted the bar and pressed out ten fast reps then racked it. “Bet not many refugees are heading to the Federal states,” Nelson said, sitting up.
“On that, you would be wrong,” Gerald said, adding a plate to one side as Matt did the other. “Thousands are moving toward them.” Nelson just stared at Gerald in shock. “Nelson, the government is going to provide for them. The ones working are the ones in camps. The Free States don’t hold people against their will. If you want to leave, then they let you go. The feds don’t. They know those that want to leave are the workers and want freedom. That’s why only a small stream is coming out of the Federal states. They have to escape.”
“That’s so fucked up,” Nelson mumbled, climbing back under the bar.
“Hey,” Gerald snapped. “The babies are beside us. Watch your mouth.”
“You need to change your tampon,” Nelson said with a grunt, lifting the bar off the rack.
They finished their workout with Nelson not saying anything else. When they climbed in the hot tub, Devin and Mike squealed as the bubbles came on. “What’s wrong, baby?” Michelle said, sitting down beside Nelson, who looked lost in thought. “You look like you’re trying to decipher the universe.”
“We are so fucked,” he mumbled, laying his head back on the hot tub, and closed his eyes.
Michelle whipped her eyes up at Gerald, who was helping Devin kill bubbles. “What the hell did you tell him?”
“Just told him what was going on,” Gerald said as Devin started splashing hard.
“Babe, what is it?” Michelle asked, grabbing Nelson’s hand.
“Just what I said: We are fucked,” he said, cracking his eyes to look at her.
Taking a breath to control her temper, she said, “Will you please expand on that?”
Nelson sat up, and the others looked over at him as he looked at Michelle. “With all the states that have seceded from the union, there can’t be more than forty million people, and that was before the losers left. With the best case scenario, twenty percent are the losers, then with the diseases and starvation, I’m sure we will lose another twenty percent, but I’m thinking more. That’s only twenty-five million people left. Only a third of your population can fight, or you can’t support a war. Germany learned that.
“That leaves over two hundred million under Federal control. Using those same losses, they will end up with a hundred and fifty million. That’s seven to one odds, and that sucks on any scale. That’s not even counting the EU. My God, they will be able to swarm us in bodies alone,” Nelson said, throwing his hands up.
Everyone sat quietly digesting what he said as Nancy cleared her throat. “Nelson, I told you that already,” she said in a hushed voice. “They were always going to have the numbers. Over half of the country supports the Free States, but they can’t join them. The feds are holding families hostage, putting anyone that supports freedom in camps, and forcing hard labor out of people just to live.
“We have a chance,” she said solemnly. “We want the right to live our life as we want, and that is worth fighting for.”
“I’m not saying we shouldn’t fight, but Nancy, seven to one.”
“Nelson, America has faced those odds before,” Gerald said as Devin yelled at the bubbles. “There weren’t even two and a half million people here in the colonies when the war started with Britain. They were a super power with a home population of ten million, not including their other colonies. Like George Washington said when the British landed a thirty thousand man army, ‘Only a protracted war will see us through.’ He knew they had the numbers.”
“Dude,” Nelson said, holding up his hands. “Don’t even go there. We had the second super power on our side: France. Gerald, most of the industry is in the Federal states under their control. We can’t even call another super power for aid.”
Gerald waited until Devin tired out some from splashing to continue. “Nelson, this war will decide the fate of the world. If the feds win, the freedom of the individual will forever be gone. The families with the money and power will decide the fate of all. You’re talking like we should just lie down and take it dry up the poop chute.”
Feeling exhausted, Nelson slumped back against the hot tub. “No, I just didn’t want to pass this war on to my kids.”
“Nelson,
not only us but our parents and grandparents made the mistakes we are now paying for. It can’t be fixed rapidly because it was broken over time.”
Nodding, Nelson stood up. “Yeah, that’s what I don’t like. The other side is using terror tactics to force compliance, and we aren’t.”
As Nelson moved to get out, Gerald nodded. “That is freedom: the right to choose what to fight for. Do I agree with it all the time? No. But I don’t think it’s right to force people to fight unless they want it.”
“Yes, it’s those that wished not to fight and gave our rights away that started this shit.”
“Nelson, you’re not naïve. Our government has done some evil shit to its own people without cause or punishment. Name one federal agent that has ever been prosecuted for crimes against the population. That’s not America. That’s not what is written on the Declaration of Independence or Constitution. That is those sitting in government. Remember, money buys votes, and only those with money can influence an election.”
Nelson climbed out, grabbing a towel and drying off. “Yes, and money and power will always bust the little man who just wants to live his life with his family.”
“That may be true, but our founding fathers put in a catch: the right to keep and bear arms. That is the only reason we all aren’t in a camp now,” Gerald said as Devin started a fresh attack.
“Yeah, at least we can fight a war for the next decade to decide how this will turn out,” Nelson said, grabbing his gear and walking out.
After Nelson left, everyone turned to Michelle. “What? I don’t know where the hell that came from,” she snapped, getting up.
“Is he tired?” Gerald asked as he stood, which pissed Devin off big time.
“He just slept fourteen hours,” Michelle said, climbing out.
Matt took Mike from Ashley as he stood to get out. “Maybe he needs some more rest.”
Drying off, Michelle shook her head. “No, he’s not tired. I’ll talk to him and find out. He was fine when he woke up. Granted, I hit him with the marshmallows and midget.” Everyone stopped what they were doing and just stared at her, trying to figure that one out.
Forgotten Forbidden America:: Patriots Reborn Page 32
