Turners | Book 3 | Junction

by Thomas, Ellis

  It was a beautiful, silky, white sleeveless gown with a deep scoop in back. Softly gathering just below the hips, it was gorgeous. It was not a froufrou gown—Frances and Krissy knew Sydney so well. Together, they had created a gown that was elegant because of its simplicity. It couldn’t have been a more perfect dress for her most wonderful day. Sydney gently folded it back up and placed it in the box, and then she and Savannah headed back to their rooms to get ready. Frances and Krissy went with Sydney, of course, and Jen and Leesa went to help Savannah.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  The day was glorious! Sydney couldn’t think of any other way to describe it. There was a euphoric feeling of hope in the air, and she dared to dream of a real future.

  Around two o’clock, everyone started gathering in the park, which Deby had transformed into a fairytale setting. Flowers grown especially for the occasion had been strategically placed, and a beautiful arbor had been built for the couples to stand under.

  At two-thirty, with a string quartet playing a lovely melody, Savannah and Jeremy headed down the aisle, with Sydney and Joshua following. About halfway to the arbor, tears welled up in Sydney’s eyes and started flowing down her face. She couldn’t help it and didn’t know why she was crying, but since this was the happiest moment she had ever experienced, she chalked it up to joy spilling over. Joshua walked by her side, holding her right hand, which was gently tucked in his bent arm while she held her bouquet in her left hand. She was embarrassed at the waterworks streaming down her cheeks, but when she looked at Joshua, he was wearing that beautiful, peaceful smile of his, and she immediately felt entirely at ease.

  George presided over both weddings flawlessly. Although it was a serious and life-changing occasion, he managed to sprinkle humor throughout the ceremony. Afterward, everyone headed to the mess hall, which also had been decorated, and the celebration continued with a wonderful banquet. The dancing went on well into the evening.

  As things were winding down, Aaron announced his gift to Sydney and Joshua. Since they didn’t have a “place” anywhere, he and Jen had found a small, unused hut and decorated it like a honeymoon suite. Blushing, Sydney thanked them. Judging by Joshua’s profuse thank-yous, he was really, really looking forward to seeing it!

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  The newlyweds finally made their way to the “suite” to enjoy the rest of their wedding night. It was everything Sydney had dreamed it would be. Joshua was gentle and considerate, and they took their time exploring each other and savoring the sheer excitement of being together completely. They were heart mates before, but this night they became soul mates. There would never be another in either of their lives.

  The next morning, they went to the mess hall for a late breakfast and ran into Jeremy and Savannah as they were leaving. Savannah and Sydney couldn’t help but blush when they saw each other, but the guys were oblivious.

  “So, I guess we’ve joined the ranks of the hitched,” Savannah said.

  “Yep, and it’s not so bad!” Sydney replied with a laugh.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Two blissful weeks had passed since the double nuptials, and Joshua, Sydney, and the boys needed to get back to Junction. George, Krissy, and Frances had left the day after the weddings because they were needed so much at home. The boys wanted to get back to see how the canine corps were getting along and, frankly, they missed their friends.

  So, two and half weeks into their married life, Sydney and Joshua packed up and headed back with boys and dogs in tow.

  The journey to Junction was uneventful. The Turners they encountered were easily dispatched, and there were no ambushes on the road. Joshua and Sydney enjoyed their first trip as husband and wife, and the boys clearly were happy that they had finally tied the knot.

  Driving into Junction, though, was another story. Fred, George, and Jon saw them coming and headed out to meet them. The looks on their faces said things were not well.

  Jon smiled and spoke first. “Congratulations to you both. Frances and Krissy told us all about your beautiful wedding.” Then, on a more serious note, he continued. “Glad you’re back, though. We didn’t want to bother you so soon after your wedding, but we’ve had some rough times here.”

  “How so?” Joshua asked, and the boys and Sydney came closer so they wouldn’t miss anything.

  “We had an attack by a significant number of Turners the night after George and the girls got back. Since then, we’ve had two more large encounters in the last week. And, we’ve had some casualties.” He paused, and Sydney’s heart stopped. Please not Frances or Krissy, she silently prayed.

  “Two of the Charles children were infected, along with the entire Perez family,” Jon went on. “They couldn’t be saved. The Turners were new and fast and pinned them in on the east side of town before we were able to get over there. We’ve increased our vigilance, and we’re hoping and praying the worst has passed.”

  Sydney could see Joshua’s mind working, but before he could say anything, Jon’s radio crackled on, and a voice notified them that another group of the decayed was coming toward Junction. It was still away off, so there was no need to rush. The patrol would keep them in sight and let Jon know if things changed.

  “Can we use Captain Jack and Aussie?” Joshua asked.

  George spoke up. “Jack’s been an asset lately in warning us when Turners were around town, and we’ve been keeping a sharp eye on him. He also voiced a definite negative opinion when some travelers showed up about ten days ago. Turned out they really were up to no good. They seemed all right at first, but we heightened our alert on them because of Jack, and we caught them looting guns and gas two nights after they got here. As for Aussie, she’s made herself quite at home and has become very protective of her new town family. They really are quite a pair.”

  With obvious pride, Joshua said, “The pups Krissy gave to the boys have been responding to the training they’ve been undergoing. The boys have done a phenomenal job, and I think the dogs are ready to go out with us on patrol. In my opinion, they listen and respond to commands exceptionally well.”

  Mason, Christian, and Austin basked in the praise. Well, they had done a great job! Even the coyote pups were coming along well, as young as they were.

  “So, seven pups, along with Jack and Aussie, gives us nine members in our canine patrol at this point.” Joshua looked at the boys. “Do you three think your dogs are ready for some action?”

  “This is as good a time as any to see what they can do,” Mason said. Christian and Austin agreed, so it was settled that they would go out on their first run that afternoon. Jack and Aussie would go along the first few times to be examples for the young dogs.

  “Krissy will want to go out too, because of Captain Jack, so I’ll go let her know,” George said. He told them again how good it was to see them and then went to prepare Krissy.

  The boys were excited to get a chance to finally give the pups some “live” action and started making their plans. Sydney hoped they would all prove to be as alert and cautious as Jack. She had become quite attached to them, and it would be devastating to lose one.

  The men started going over the approach to use for the group headed their way, so Sydney told them she was going over to Vic’s to see Frances. In unison, Mason, Christian, and Austin said they wanted to go, too. Sydney guessed they weren’t that absorbed in their strategizing.

  “I’ll be just a few minutes behind you,” Joshua called after them.

  18 Initiations

  Outside Vic’s, the boys instructed Digger, Queenie, and Ginger to wait for them on the sidewalk. Amazingly obedient, the dogs lay down and got comfortable on the porch as the boys went inside.

  Joy and Leandra were in the storefront sorting items that some of the townspeople had dropped off for bartering. When they saw Sydney and the boys, they greeted them with hugs and walked with them into the café, where Frances was coming out of the kitchen. Sydney noticed the bulge in her apron pocket. She wasn’t the type who need
ed a second lesson!

  “Can’t believe how much I’ve missed you all!” Frances said. “Sit down and I’ll get something on the table right away. You must be starving after that long drive!” Sydney silently blessed Frances’ knack for taking care of people, as she and the boys began to anticipate what Frances would whip up. Ten minutes later, Frances was passing out bowls of turkey noodle soup and turkey sandwiches. Sydney was always amazed at how fast she conjured up these little feasts. She must have food cooking around the clock, Sydney thought.

  As they started eating, Frances pulled an extra chair over next to Sydney so they could all exchange the latest news.

  Between mouthfuls, Christian said, “First of all, we’re going to take all the pups out on their first patrol in a little while. We think they’re ready, and it’ll be a great chance to see how well they listen and obey in unfamiliar places and situations.”

  Joshua came in and joined them at the table. Always thinking ahead, Frances had set an extra place for him. Joshua took his seat with a big “thank you” to her and proceeded to dig in.

  “Have you been handling the pups also, Joshua?” she asked when he had cleared his third mouthful.

  “Not a bit. These guys,” he said, waving his spoon at the boys, “have been more than up to the task all by themselves. They spend every day with the pups, teaching, playing, and loving on them. If the pups are going to respond to anyone, it’ll be them. Those dogs are also very protective of the boys, and I’m sure that’ll prove to be invaluable.”

  After finishing lunch and thanking Frances yet again, they all headed over to see Krissy, who was outside with Jon and Fred when they got there.

  “So good to have you all back,” she said as she hugged them one by one—including the three dogs. “George had some other business to attend to, but he said he’d try to catch up with us later. Is everyone ready for the virgin pup patrol?”

  They all laughed, and the boys couldn’t wait to show her what their dogs could do.

  After hearing the dogs would be going out to meet the new group of Turners, Fred decided to stay close to them. Dogs in tow, the whole group set off for the side of town where the Turners were expected to arrive. On the way, they met up with the townspeople who had taken the other four pups from Jack and Aussie’s litter and gave the siblings a little time to get reacquainted. Everyone was well-armed, and the dogs were kept on long leashes for the time being, until it was evident how they would respond to a real-life attack.

  Arriving at the designated rendezvous point, they all took their positions and waited. Within a few minutes the patrol drove up and updated them. They could already see the Turners churning up the dust. The dogs started to growl and raise their hackles—they had been trained to recognize the scent of Turners and were waiting for their master’s commands. Creosote bushes were thick in this area and could hide a lot.

  About two dozen Turners were closing in, from what the patrol could tell. The shooters started spreading out in their prearranged formations. The boys had taught the dogs not to bark or run toward the Turners. So far, they were the picture of obedience.

  Then, one Turner got within about a hundred yards and Tiger shot out straight for it, breaking his leash and barking wildly. Brent, his trainer, called for him to come back, but it was too late. The Turners reacted to the barking dog and sped up.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Unfortunately, most of these Turners were fresh ones, and their lust for flesh drove them at an astonishing speed. The rest of the canine patrol stopped where they were, as they had been trained to do, and let the human patrol lead. Tiger, however, ran right into the mob and was swiftly devoured.

  The shooters took aim at the staggering mass, dropping as many as they could, but because these Turners were so recently animated, their speed made the task extra challenging. A handful managed to get within the “comfort zone.” Then, a couple of them made it within two arms’ distance of Christian. Queenie jumped at the closest Turner and knocked it off balance while keeping out of the other one’s reach. Fred, who was standing to Christian’s left, took aim and shot the Turner that Queenie had pushed back. Austin sighted in on the second one and pulled the trigger, effectively stopping the voracious pilot.

  Focusing on Christian, Fred hadn’t noticed the small Turner that had staggered toward him from behind. He screamed out as it bit deep into the back of his thigh, its weight propelling Fred face forward to the ground. After taking out a Turner that was getting too close to her, Sydney turned toward Fred’s scream and realized what had happened. She fired at the small Turner, severing its head. Turning her gaze to Fred, she physically hurt as she watched him writhing on the ground. He looked at her in agony and said, “Do it.” Sydney’s throat and chest constricted, aching with emotion. She knew there was no choice. She brought Fred’s head in her sight and pulled the trigger. Her eyes filled with tears and she struggled to see, but there were still Turners left to contend with.

  Once they had finished off the rest of the foul-smelling swarm, the townspeople began to pile the corpses as they waited for the truck to bring the materials needed to burn the bodies. Fred was gently laid to the side, his head covered. Those responsible for disposing of remains took his body and completed their duty. As with all townspeople, a memorial would be held to properly pay respects.

  Sydney’s heart broke to lose Fred, but she was filled with unimaginable relief that it had not been Christian writhing on the ground. While the boys had worked hard to train the dogs, what Queenie had done was out of pure instinct. She had saved her master without allowing the infected one to touch her. Christian was right: she was a queen at heart.

  19 The Sickness

  The canine patrol had been tested and proved to have the mettle needed for the task, so it was time to build it up. Krissy and the boys helped to choose an extra person to work with each of the dogs. This way, if one partner were compromised, the other would easily be able to take control. The boys served as each other’s backup.

  Krissy also made sure that Aussie and Captain Jack remained “compatible,” with the hope that there would be more litters.

  Joshua had radioed Jeremy to tell him that the canine patrol was a success, and the good news spread throughout Aftertown. Jeremy and Aaron set up scouting parties to round up more canines, either to train or bear pups.

  Within a month, they’d acquired fourteen animals, so Joshua and Sydney prepared to go back with the boys to help train the new “recruits.” Nobody knew more about training the canine patrols than the boys.

  Sydney was feeling a little “off” before they set out, but there was no way she was going to miss the chance to see Jen and Savannah.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~

  They arrived in Aftertown three days later, early in the morning. Aaron, Jeremy, Jen, and Savannah were the first to greet them as the boys and the dogs spilled out. Jen’s belly was a great deal larger, and she looked so uncomfortable. Savannah, on the other hand, was still a radiant newlywed.

  Mason, Christian, and Austin didn’t waste any time. They wanted to see the new dogs they were there to help train, so Sydney and Joshua hurried to keep up. They found them in a separated section of one of the barns. There was quite an assortment—everything from pups to adults, and every kind of mutt mix imaginable. Cages had been set up to separate those that were more feral. The rest were housed two to a pen. Whoever had made the pens had done a nice job, making sure the dogs had plenty of room to move around in.

  Austin went to the pup section first, where he was promptly covered with licks. Christian and Mason, meanwhile, dipped their fingers in some cold gravy that Rosie had brought over earlier and approached the older animals, moving slowly and speaking in low, soothing voices to let the dogs know they could be trusted.

  It looked like everything was going well, so Sydney decided to pop over to the clinic to see how Leesa and Deby were doing. Running into Rosie and Mother Martha on her way, she stopped to chat.

  “You doing
okay?” Rosie asked Sydney right off, noticing that she looked a little pale.

  “Yeah. I’m feeling a little under the weather, but I’m sure whatever it is will pass,” Sydney assured her.

  “Just what is ailing you?” the older woman wanted to know.

  “I’m really tired all the time, and my stomach is upset a lot,” Sydney replied.

  She didn’t quite understand the look that passed between the two women. Rosie smiled, patted Sydney’s arm, and simply said, “I’m sure it’ll pass, too.”

  They continued their conversation, exchanging news and cooking and gardening tips. Sydney loved to gather tidbits that she could share with Frances, and every once in a while, she stumbled onto something that Frances would actually use. Sydney didn’t realize how much time had passed until Leesa walked up behind her and gave her a big hug.

  “I heard you were on your way to see me!” Leesa said, placing her hands on her hips as if she were annoyed. They all laughed.

  “Time absolutely flies when I’m here!” Sydney said as she hugged Leesa back. “You look wonderful. How are you?”

  “Fantastic! I’m going to be a doctor!” she answered matter-of-factly. “I’m getting to do more serious work in the lab, too. I’m helping to categorize the different samples the scientists are working on. They seem to be getting close to developing a strain that will stop the infection. It’s such fascinating work. How are the boys?”

  “They’re doing great. They’re checking out the new dogs,” Sydney told her. “I’ll bet those dogs will be doing anything the boys want them to within a week!”

  Giving Mother Martha and Rosie each another hug, Sydney started off for the clinic with Leesa, but they didn’t make it very far. Within minutes, the dreaded alarm went off.

  Running for the nearest cache, Leesa and Sydney pulled out a couple of rifles and some boxes of ammunition and then headed straight for the area that was under attack. Sydney found Joshua and the boys, and Leesa went over to some friends of hers.