He followed the map to the dirt road leading up to Barker's compound and continued on several miles until he came to a bridge road spanning the river. He crossed the water and followed the road until he was approximately parallel to Barker’s place.
Rougher terrain on this side of the river decreased the chance of Barker’s group suspecting anyone hiding in the cedars and watching. Vixen's crew might as well hang out a "we're here" sign. None of the watchers had any training, and their leader refused to wait until he'd worked with them. He sighed as he climbed out of the car with his gear. Not his problem. He only hoped Vixen didn't get all of her subjects killed.
The pipe tobacco odor of the mountain cedars tickled his nose. He’d rather hide here in the heat of July, or any month other than when those blasted trees were blooming. His eyes watered, and his nose itched just being near the things.
He stayed far enough away from the river to mask any sounds he might make and laid on the ground under one of the trees. The low-hanging evergreen branches hid his body from anyone who happened to look his way using binoculars.
Children's voices punctuated the bubbling of the river. He trained his binoculars on the area below him. Several kids were playing chase and laughing. One of them broke off and joined a chubby woman who walked out of a building. She slipped her arm around the child for a second. The girl then ran back to the other kids.
A man further away near a small building knelt over a hide. Probably tanning it. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary here. Normal people going about their business. He would watch for as long as it took him to decide whether Reginald's group would refuse asylum to someone in need or if Vixen had lied, but so far, they seemed safe.
He moved his binoculars to the outer fenced area to see if he could spot Daniel or Marguerite. If he could see them from here, someone inside the camp would notice them. Movement caught his attention. He could barely make out an ATV. No way would he see much from this vantage point, so he turned his focus back to inside the camp.
Mary Anne had to exit the house at some point. Bryan wanted to see her for himself. It was time to determine whether Vixen was setting them up to attack innocent people or if Barker really was as evil as she claimed.
A car horn caught Josh's attention. He called Randi on the radio. "We've got someone at the gate who won't let up off the car horn. We're going to attract flesh-eaters if it keeps up."
"On my way."
She reached him and swiped the sweat from her forehead. They ran toward the front. "Whoever's out there is really are standing on the horn, aren't they?"
"Yep."
The most beautiful woman Josh had ever seen climbed out of the car. Petite and curvy she had long sable brown hair hanging in soft waves below her shoulders, full, kissable lips, and blue eyes he could get lost in.
"Close your mouth Barker. You act like you've never seen a woman before." Randi walked up to the gate. "May I help you?"
"Yes. I am Gabriele," she said with a slight French accent.
"Okay. I'm Randi. May I help you?"
A frown marred Gabriele's pretty face. "Did Reginald not tell you to expect me?"
"Uncle Reg? How do you know him?"
"I'm his friend." She held her hand out. "Please. He is expecting me. Do not make me stand out here any longer."
"I'll call the house and see if Reg is expecting someone." Randi walked out of earshot and unhooked the walkie from her belt.
"Why haven't I heard of you?" Josh asked. "That is, if you're such good friends with my uncle?" Was this woman the Vixen chick who abused Belle?
"Our, uh friendship was secret."
"Say what?"
Randi walked back to the gate. "I talked to Mary Anne. She--"
"Oh no, you must not speak to Mrs. Barker. She doesn't know Reginald and I are friends."
"Wanna bet?" Randi scoffed. "She's on her way. Said to let 'the heifer' come inside."
Gabriele's eyes went wide and her hand flew to her chest. "She called me a heifer? How dare she? That woman does not care for my Reginald the way she should."
Randi opened the gate and escorted Gabriele inside. "I'll drive your car. You and Josh meet me in the parking area." She stopped and looked at the woman. "How did you make it here from California, anyway?"
"I was not in California. Before everything happened, I flew to San Antonio to see a friend. We were safe for a while, but now, it is very bad." Where was the friend?
Josh followed Gabriele. His uncle was having an affair with this woman. How could he cheat on Aunt Mary Anne? She was the best. Besides, what did this French beauty see in his uncle? Not to be mean, but he was old. Well, older. Although for an older man, he looked fit and dressed nice. What was her angle? Women who looked like Gabriele didn't latch on to men his uncle's age unless they had an ulterior motive. Usually money, but his uncle wasn't wealthy.
"You and my uncle huh?"
"Yes. I love my Reginald very much."
Josh raised an eyebrow. "Really?"
"But of course." She put her hand on Josh's arm. He jerked it away. They hadn't checked this woman out, yet. "You must understand he is most kind and generous. The men I have met in the past did not treat me with respect as a colleague, but Reginald, he worked with me. I was in a lab in California, but we collaborated on several experiments. He valued me for my brains."
Yeah right. Uncle Reg may have thought she was intelligent, but he didn't have an affair with her because of it. That was all looks, and she had them to spare.
They reached the parking area, as Aunt Mary Anne flew toward them. "How dare you come to my home and invade the sanctity of my family!"
"My dear Reginald, he invited me."
"I don't care." Mary Anne shoved the woman backwards. "You will not participate in any part of my family. I can't in good conscious send you out into this plague ravaged world to meet your death, but you will not set foot into the house."
"But of course. Reginald and I will find another place."
Mary Anne slapped the woman hard enough to cause her to stumble. "Reginald is my husband, you little home-wrecker. He's not leaving with you. In fact, if I catch you trying to speak to him, I will take you out there and feed you to the creatures you helped create. Do you understand me?"
"I do not think you can do that."
"Try me." Mary Anne stepped closer to Gabriele. Almost nose to nose. "You may think I'm a sweet little housewife, but I've lived through more than you can imagine, and I'll kill you without a second's hesitation."
"All righty now." Randi stepped in between the women. "Why doesn't Gabriele stay in the motor home with me?
"I want to speak to my Reginald before we make these arrangements."
"No." Randi snapped her fingers at the woman. "Pay attention. You are the mistress. Mary Anne is his wife. She has the rights here. If you refuse to abide by her terms, I'll take you into town and leave you somewhere safe. Those are your choices. You live in the camper with me and avoid Reginald, or you leave."
Josh grinned at Randi's no-nonsense tone. The woman had moxie for sure.
"I want to hear it from him that he does not want me anymore."
"Look lady, I get that your looks have gotten you what you want for far too long, but no more stalling. I gave you two choices." Randi latched on to her arm in a tight grip. "If you don't decide for yourself, then I'll make the decision for you."
Gabriele closed her eyes for a second, and when she opened them, a single tear ran down her cheek. Neat trick. This beauty'd probably been manipulating people since the crib. "You do not understand."
"No, you're the one who doesn't get it." Randi's fingertips turned white. How hard was she squeezing Gabriele's arm? Josh figured the woman would have bruises in the shape of Randi's fingers. "Your manipulative little tear doesn't get you anywhere with me. I realize men probably fall over themselves to make you happy, but darlin' I ain't a man, and I've known trouble-makers like you since preschool."
"Oh fine. I will st
ay in the camper." She said the word 'camper' as though Randi had suggested she sleep in a swamp with nothing between her and the elements. Her French accent slipped, and Josh thought he detected a hint of a Deep South accent.
"Good choice." Mary Anne turned to walk toward the house but looked over her shoulder. "I'll be watching you. If I say you're gone, Randi will take you out of here."
"Let's go." Randi pointed to the first tower. "You'll have to strip while I check you for bites or scratches."
Gabriele's eyes went wide. "You must be kidding. I don't strip for anyone."
"Then climb in your car and drive away." Randi crossed her arms. "You're not allowed inside that gate…" She pointed to the inner fence. "until I know you're not infected."
"No."
"Did I say this was negotiable? You have two choices. One, get your rear in that tower and strip, or climb into your car and high-tail it out of here." Randi stepped closer to Gabriele and pushed her shoulder with her forefinger. "Sorry, but those are the choices."
Gabriele stomped toward the tower muttering about the indecency of getting naked for Randi.
Josh carried Gabriele's suitcases to the RV. The woman brought four of them. He shook his head and flopped onto the sofa while he waited for Randi and Gabriele. How could the woman want that many suitcases during the apocalypse?
After a bit the women walked inside the RV. Randi held her mouth in a straight line. She led Gabriele to bedroom, opened the door, and motioned her inside. Randi glanced at the stack of suitcases and groaned. "Do you need everything in those?"
"But of course." Gabriele gasped. "How do I live without necessities?"
Randi stared at her for a while. "Fine, but if we have to evacuate, you aren't keeping all of that crap. You can have the bedroom, but I expect you to keep your junk in there. The toilet isn't composting. Do not use it under any circumstances." Randi pointed toward the tent set up near the RV. It was visible through the open blinds. "Do your business in there. We have no way of processing the waste, so the toilets in the tents are our only option."
"You expect me to go outside to use the facilities?" Gabriele's eyes went wide, and she shook her head. "That is unacceptable."
"You can shower in here because the gray water runs to the garden area. However, we cannot funnel black water, fecal matter, and urine, anywhere without putting everyone at risk for disease." Randi pointed to the tent, again. "I'm sorry, but that is your only option."
"Don't we have sewers? A septic tank? Are you barbarians?"
Randi clenched her hands into fists, and Josh put his hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you go into the other room for a bit? I'll explain this." He needed to get her out of her before she unleashed her wrath on Gabriele.
"We cannot have septic tanks because there is no way to vacuum them. There are no sewer lines out here in the midst of nothing, besides that the entire infrastructure has broken down. How did you use the facilities in San Antonio?"
"I don't know, but they worked."
"Did your friend live in the city or outside of town?"
"In the city."
"You can't tell me the toilets worked when the entire infrastructure has fallen."
"I don't know, but we used the toilets. Why can't we do the same here?"
"Because it's going to back up, and you'll have more problems than you started with." He pinned her with a glare. "Are you going to obey the rules, or do I need remove the toilet?"
"I want to be in the house with my Reginald."
"We don't always get what we want in life. It's time you learned that. Answer my question."
"Fine. I will go outside like a barbarian."
"Randi will be in soon to go over all of the rules of the compound." Josh joined Randi outside. "That woman is something else."
"She's just used to manipulating men to get what she wants." Randi shrugged. "Probably started about the time she could walk. I'm surprised it didn't work on you."
"Just because she's easy on the eyes doesn't mean anything." He looked back at the RV. "She agreed to use the tent facilities. I told her you would be in soon to tell her all of our rules."
"Oh, joy."
Josh chuckled. "Are you okay?"
"She doesn't bother me."
"No, I meant from earlier. It had to be hard to rehash the old hurts with your father this morning."
Randi lifted her chin and a vein in her neck pulsed. "I don't want to discuss it."
"You can't keep it bottled up."
"Leave it alone." She made a slashing motion with her hand. "The subject is off limits. If I want to discuss Raul with you or anyone else, I will bring it up."
Chapter 4
What are we going to do with the bones you don't use for bone stock?" Reginald pitched one into a pot. He'd offered to help Adriana in the smokehouse but hadn't realized how grueling the work of processing a deer was.
"Mark will take them and rid them of the rest of the tissue. He's been saving the tendons and stuff. Said he could make thread and even sterilize it for sutures if we run out of suture kits." Adriana raised an eyebrow. "That man can do anything. He informed us that we will not waste any part of the animal. He uses the urine from the bladder to help dehair the skins, and the brains to tan them."
"That sounds fun."
Adriana laughed at his deadpan tone. "Yeah. Dad's helping him. I don't know how many skins he has saved up, but he's getting into this off-grid living." She swiped her arm across her face. "Me, I'd rather go back to civilization. Maybe the government will get this sorted out soon."
Reginald shifted back and forth. He had to tell her. Randi had tried, but maybe coming from him, she'd listen. He swallowed several times. "There is no government."
"What do you mean?" She closed her eyes, took a couple of deep breaths, and turned her back to him. "I can't believe that." She grabbed a hunk of meat and sent it through the grinder.
Reginald shifted the bowl. "It's true. I worked for the government. Even the president is dead."
Adriana dashed at the tears in her eyes and rolled her shoulders. "You don't know that."
"I'm sorry, but it was on the news before everything went down. Ask Josh. He heard the report."
"Please, stop." Her breathing came in short pants. "I can't discuss this. Not when I have kids. The thought losing them to this horrible plague is more than…" Her mouth gaped open and her eyes went wide. "I'm sorry. I forgot about your son. That was a horrible thing to say."
"No, it wasn't." His voice dropped to just above a whisper as flashbacks of David's ravaged body came flooding into his mind. He shuddered, but forced the thoughts away. "It's the truth. I don't want your children, or mine, growing up in this, but the only option we have is to fight for them to have a chance."
She ground more of the meat without saying anything for a long time. She looked at him with wide glassy eyes. "No. This isn't how the world ends. I refuse to believe it." She shook her head. "It's not in the Bible."
"Honey, whether you believe how bad things are, or not, won't change reality." If his hands weren't dirty, he would hug the sweet young lady. Josh and Randi got so frustrated with her. Why didn't they understand she was terrified? Denying reality kept her fears at bay, at least a little. He moved in front of her. "I'm sorry." Sweat dripped off his face despite the cool temperatures. "This is my fault. I understand denial is a coping mechanism, but you need to develop another way to deal with this life."
"How?" Her voice cracked. "Randi's tough, and can fight. I can't do anything. If my children were in danger, I couldn't save them."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. I couldn't even shoot at an infected person to save Josh." The tears spilled over and ran down her cheeks. "He's protected me so often, and I stood there." She rubbed her arm across her nose. "I can't shoot the people at the fence. If someone gets in here and goes for my babies, I'll freeze just like I did with Josh, and they'll both die." She turned back to the grinder and dumped the last of the meat thro
ugh it.
"No, you won't."
"How do you know? I've always despised guns. My husband was a hunter, and I hated it. We fought over it often. I've always thought guns should be banned across the board."
"You've met my wife."
"Yes. She's almost as tough as Randi."
"Because she's been outside of the gates with our children. She's always been a pacifist and hates guns as much as you do. In fact, she was quite active in the antigun movement. If she'd had her way, they would've all been confiscated and melted into scrap." He moved the bowl to the table and began mixing the curing spices into the meat. "When the sick threatened our children, she killed them." And he'd put her in that situation. He'd turned his sweet, loving wife into a killer. Now, his daughter was learning to use a gun. If only he could go back and change things. "It wasn't easy for her. Taking human lives can't be easy for any of us, but at some point, instinct takes over."
"How do I live with killing others?"
Reginald stared at the floor. Good question. How did he learn to live with all of the destruction he'd caused? "I don't know."
"If I were more like Randi, I could do it."
"Have you looked at your sister, lately?"
Adriana frowned. "I see her every day."
"Yes." Reginald gave her a gentle smile. "But have you really looked at her? She's lost weight. Dark circles rim her eyes. She eats very little and works constantly. Sounds to me like someone who's struggling to live with killing others."
Chapter 5
Randi stepped into the marketplace. The odor of fish mingled with the stench of animals and unwashed bodies. Sweat rolled down her back. She focused on the shoppers. A young woman in a floral Hijab caught her attention. She watched her move in to place, and in slow motion she opened her wrap. A bomb. Randi gulped in air, aimed, and put a bullet between the woman's eyes before she could detonate it.
The woman dropped to the ground bomb intact. Randi ran to her. Her bayou-moss colored eyes stared, unseeing. Randi's heart hammered in her chest. The woman was nothing more than a girl. She'd killed a child.
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