by Bobby Akart
“That’s awful,” added Madison. “They have to take care of sick people.”
“Well, according to Junior’s men, they didn’t have anything to trade,” said Stubby. “To make matters worse, they confiscated the horses and the Wyatts’ wagon. The Harts barely made it home before the young man’s feet gave way.”
Madison joined Maria in clearing away the dishes. Colton squeezed his wife’s hand and gave her a reassuring smile. He turned his attention to Stubby.
“I suspect there’s more to talk about,” said Colton.
“Yes,” started Stubby. “The Hart boy reported that groups are making their way out of Memphis, just as we suspected. They’re breaking into every home along the way. Just as we discussed a few days ago, it’s a matter of time before we’ll have to deal with them.”
Jake, still recovering from the initial bite of Deer Holler, knocked back the last of the fresh milk. He began to create a makeshift map on the table, using unused knives and forks. “I can’t say for certain, of course, but I don’t think we need to be concerned with any threats coming from our south,” said Jake as he drew a finger along the tablecloth. “Did Mrs. Hart indicate how far off the road these refugees are wandering? There’s a pretty good ways between us and the highway.”
“She didn’t say,” replied Stubby, “but I think we have to be prepared for more visitors. Like those two from the other day.”
“Not to mention that one of them got away,” said Chase. “Who knows where he ran off to?”
“Right,” replied Stubby. “I think we need to expand our security perimeter to include patrols around Federal Road where it passes between the Wyatt and Hart farms. I think we even need to patrol up towards Pittsburg Landing.”
“Wow,” said Jake. “That’s a lot of territory. I don’t think we can defend that much.”
Stubby stood and walked into the kitchen to retrieve a map he’d drawn on a poster board. The Tennessee River, Savannah, Crump and Highway 64 were all clearly marked. He also had a Sharpie to add to the sketch.
“Here at the house, it’s about ten miles to Highway 64,” explained Stubby. “The Wyatt farm, at its northernmost fence row, is eight miles, and Lizzie’s place is even closer than that. If we can keep them from coming down Federal Road, we might be able to encourage them elsewhere.”
“Do you have a plan?” asked Colton.
Stubby wrote Five Ds on his poster board and circled it. “After the visit by Junior’s men the other day and the increased activity of potentially dangerous refugees, I decided we need to beef up our security. In the military, it’s referred to as the five Ds of perimeter security.”
He slouched back into his chair and set the poster board on the table. Stubby studied the faces of the civilians surrounding him. Women, teenagers, and two men with no military experience returned his stare. He wondered if they could all understand the threats they faced from an overwhelming force, whether with guns or sheer numbers. He decided to lay it out in the simplest terms.
“Preparation without security is meaningless. We’re way ahead of our neighbors in terms of food storage, defensive capabilities, and medical supplies. As some of us have experienced, the world is no longer full of unicorns and rainbows. Unless you’re prepared to give up all of this, or even your lives, we need to put together a bigger security plan.”
Colton looked around the table. “Tell us what we need to do.”
“First, we need to give the appearance that we’ve put together a defendable perimeter. I propose we block all roads coming into Federal Road from State Road 22. This will prevent future visits by Junior and his men or anyone else with an operating vehicle.”
“What if we need to get out in the Wagoneer?” asked Madison.
“There are plenty of trails through the woods,” replied Jake. “If not, we’ll make trails with the Wyatts’ old Ford tractor. Plus, I think I know where an old Bobcat skid steer is located. If it runs, that’ll be worth its weight in gold.”
“How do we block the roads?” asked Alex.
Stubby sat up in his chair. “The easiest way will be to drop trees across them, using our chainsaws. The gasoline you found the other day was a huge help, but we’ll need more.”
“Alex and I will find some for us,” chimed in Chase.
Madison shot Colton a glance. Stubby surmised that mama didn’t want her daughter foraging around the countryside, but unfortunately, she was good at it. He might as well address the issue.
“That’s exactly what I hoped you’d say, Chase,” said Stubby. “You two are excellent shooters and have experience. I am going to place one nonnegotiable provision on your scavenging duties.”
“What’s that?” asked Alex.
“Recon,” replied Stubby. “When you guys go out, I want you to take plenty of time to do surveillance of the properties you plan on entering. I want you to understand scavenging, foraging, looting, or whatever term you choose has the inherent risk of reciprocal fear.”
“What do you mean by that?” asked Alex.
Madison reached for Colton’s hand and squeezed it. Stubby doubted she’d ever get comfortable with Alex’s role within the group. He hoped he wasn’t making a mistake, as he’d grown fond of the young woman.
“Reciprocal fear is the compounding of each combatant’s fears of what the other combatant fears. Sometimes, the term is used in relation to surprise attacks. If a nation is afraid the enemy is about to launch a surprise attack against them, they might initiate hostilities first—out of fear. As events occur, a multiplier effect takes hold, ensuring that a hot war occurs. The same applies to this situation. If Alex and Chase are afraid they might be fired upon and the occupants of a house have the same fear, this will most assuredly lead to a gun battle.”
“So we’ll keep our heads together, right, Chase?” said Alex.
“Yeah, of course,” replied Chase.
Stubby moved to clarify. “Here’s what I’m saying. First, don’t get cocky out there. You’ve had some success, but every situation is different. Second, don’t get in a hurry. Take all the time you need to guarantee the property is vacant. If you’re not one hundred percent positive, move along. There will be other opportunities.”
“Okay, no problem,” said Chase.
“One more thing,” added Stubby. “We’re on a specific mission right now. Focus on weapons, ammo, and fuel. Don’t worry about food although you could make a list or, better yet, hide it away. We can go back and get it later. For now, we need to focus on security.”
“Okay, General.” Chase laughed. “When do we get started?”
“Hold on there, cowboy,” said Stubby. “The cutting of the trees will form suitable barricades to both deter and deny vehicles access. I propose that we also create signs warning people away. Most security companies will tell you that the first line of defense is their security signs. They’ll tell you that depending on whether you have a gun-shy or a brazen burglar, simple signage will turn them in another, less defended direction.”
“We’ll look for spray-paint cans too,” interjected Alex.
“What if they slip past the log barriers and walk through the woods?” asked Emily.
“Good question, Emily. That relates to the third D, which is detect. Except for Chase’s blueticks, which perform an important hunting function, we’re going to deploy all of our dogs from the three farms to the outside perimeter. They will detect any strangers and create a barking alarm system. There might be false alarms, but our patrols will be all over it. Also, a barking dog has a strong deterrent effect.”
Jake nodded with approval. “I like it. It’s like defending a castle except we don’t have a moat.”
Colton laughed. “We could expand the latrine and compost facility to surround the house. That’ll keep the marauders away.”
“Zombies, too,” added Alex.
“I suppose we could reassign the youngest among us to dig several new latrines to create a moat,” said Bessie.
�
��Forget it,” insisted Alex. “I’d rather fight the zombies.”
“The house is in the clearing and over a thousand yards from the woods,” said Stubby, who attempted to get the discussion back on course. “Only an expert marksman with a high-powered sniper rifle could shoot at us from that distance, and I suspect they’d have better things to do with their skills.”
Stubby pushed away from the table and tossed the Sharpie on top of his poster board. “Jake and Colton, I’d like you guys to ride up to the Wyatt place and inform them of our plans. Javy and I will supervise cutting trees at the points farthest away from Shiloh Ranch near State Road 22.”
“What about us?” asked Chase.
“I have a list for you two. Follow me.”
Chapter 14
Noon, October 5
Hamburg-Purdy Road
Shiloh
The horses’ hooves clapped the asphalt as Alex and Chase methodically made their way towards the first homes on the list. Much of the area surrounding Shiloh Ranch was part of the Shiloh National Military Park. Located to the north of the Wyatt place, closer to Pittsburg Landing, the park would provide an additional buffer from stray travelers. Other than the area surrounding the visitors’ center, much of the park was heavily wooded and wouldn’t lend much to intruders. Once the roads were blocked, Stubby felt it was likely they would turn around and push east or north along the river.
His plans for Alex and Chase involved visiting known residents along Hamburg-Purdy Road. Stubby knew the owners and expected them to be home. He also knew that the folks on this list were not dangerous. They had been longtime residents of the Shiloh area, including several who’d been around for generations. He asked the teens to act as ambassadors as well. They would check on their neighbors and exchange information.
But he admonished them to be careful. Things are not always as you might expect, and a misread of first appearances might get you in trouble.
They crossed the Sherman Road intersection and approached the first home, which belonged to Mrs. Denise Keef. Her deceased husband had been a longtime family friend of the Crumps, and Stubby regretted not checking in on her sooner.
They tied off their horses and walked the last hundred yards toward the house. It had been so quiet that it would’ve been easy to let their guard down. Alex vowed to be diligent as they moved forward with their plan. In a way, she felt like she had to protect herself and Chase—from himself.
The fallen leaves provided very little cover. Chase led them down a four-wheeler trail, which dumped them out into a clearing about two hundred yards from the front door. They remained in position for fifteen minutes, studying the surroundings through binoculars and their rifle scopes.
“Do you see a car or anything?” asked Chase.
“No. The carport is empty and the two small buildings to the rear don’t look like they’re big enough to hold a vehicle.”
“Whadya think?”
“Chase, I know what I said before about recon, but there are absolutely no signs of life around here. It sure seems deserted.”
“Good enough for me,” he said. “Let’s go check it out and then retrieve the horses. I’d be pissed if someone ran off with them while we’re lying in this field.”
“Me too. Let’s go.” They began to run across the field toward the home, using large mature oak trees to conceal their approach. Taking turns, they darted across the field from trunk to trunk. Despite their disagreements in the past, Alex and Chase were on the same page and maneuvered accordingly.
They fanned out and worked their way through the tree-lined perimeter. A dog began barking in the distance to their west. If someone was inside, it didn’t stir their interest. At the rear of the house, Alex caught up with Chase and they crouched behind an old bass boat.
“I don’t think anybody’s home, but maybe we should knock before going in,” said Alex.
“Lead the way.”
Alex ran toward the storage building and poked her AR-15 barrel into the open door first. It was uninhabited, but she did catch a glimpse of two gas cans. She left the building and met Chase at the back door.
“My building had an old four-wheeler in it and some tools,” whispered Chase.
“Kinda the same for me. Old boat parts and a couple of gas cans. Should we knock or what?”
Chase nodded and ran past the back door so they could cover both sides. He steadied his rifle and pounded on the door.
“Mrs. Keef? Are you home? Stubby Crump sent us to check on you.”
They waited for a moment and Alex strained to pick up any discernible sound. It was quiet. She looked to Chase and nodded. Do it again.
He thumped the half-wooden and half-glass door. Sheer curtains obstructed their view of the interior.
“Mrs. Keef? My name is Chase—”
Hissssssss! Reeeeeaaaaaar!
Two cats bolted out of the small swinging pet door installed in the rear entry. Startled, Alex shrieked, and Chase fell to his knees. They both recovered quickly and began scanning the yard with their guns until they fell into a fit of laughter.
“That’s one heckuva welcoming committee!” exclaimed Chase.
“Yeah, they were not happy about us pounding on their door.”
“I’m guessin’ that Mrs. Keef isn’t home,” added Chase. “Let’s go in.”
Chase took the buttstock of his rifle and broke out a single pane in the top of the door. He carefully reached in and opened the bolt lock, allowing them to enter.
“Whoa, what’s that smell?” whispered Alex.
“I dunno, but we’re fixin’ to find out,” replied Chase. “Follow me.”
They cleared the kitchen and breakfast room and started down the hallway when two more cats rushed past their legs and through the back door. The house was a one-story rancher with all of the rooms connected by a common hallway. The ten-foot walls reached a peak in the ceiling held up by wooden post and beam construction. A large stone fireplace capped the end of the living area, and the master suite anchored the other end of the home.
Each room was methodically cleared by Chase and Alex. Inching along the dark hallway with their backs pressed against the wall, they approached the closed door to the master suite.
Alex covered her nose and mouth with her sweatshirt sleeve. Chase pulled out a bandana and did the same. The smell of death was emanating from the room and Alex was afraid of what they’d find inside.
She raised her weapon and used it to wave Chase to open the door. He flung it open and Alex immediately moved in to fill the void. The stench hit her in the face, but there were no dead bodies except for a lone fox carcass lying at the foot of the bed.
“It must have been chasing the cats and got stuck in here,” said Chase. “And from the smell, I’d say it was recent.”
“Ya think the fox found its way through the trapdoor?” asked Alex.
“Yup, and then somehow closed the bedroom door on itself.” Chase looked behind the door and found the remains of a cat. “Here ya go. He caught the cat behind the door and accidentally shut himself in.”
Alex dropped to a knee and looked under the bed. Another dead cat was pushed up under the bed skirt.
Chase opened the two forward-facing windows while Alex opened the rear sliding glass door. The slight breeze and cool air from outside provided welcome relief to their nostrils.
“I’ll run and get the horses while you open up the house and get started,” said Chase as he started for the front door. “When I get back, I’m gonna see if I can get that four-wheeler started.”
“Cool.”
Alex opened several more windows and then she immediately sought out the cat food. She wasn’t sure how they were surviving, but this would be a gourmet meal for the Keef cats this afternoon.
She quickly started the search for hidden weapons. She found a Marlin .22 rifle in a closet, with a brick of ammunition. In the nightstand, she found an old Smith & Wesson Model 10 .38-caliber revolver and a box of bullets. On top
of a shelf in a closet, she rummaged through some shoe boxes and uncovered a Glock 17 pistol. Another shoebox revealed nearly five hundred rounds of ammo.
Pleased with herself, she began to stack her finds on top of the kitchen table. The Keef cats returned home and were chowing down on Little Friskies when the sound of a horse whinnying signaled Chase’s return.
“Find anything good?” asked Chase as he entered the breakfast room.
Alex was emptying the cupboards of canned goods to pick up on a future trip. She remembered her instructions—hide the food.
“A few guns,” she replied. “We’ll find a place to stash this food where no one would think to look. I need to retrieve the gas cans from that storage building.”
“I’ll get the gas,” said Chase. “What else?”
“This ammo is heavy and we need to divide it up between our saddlebags.”
“Maybe not,” said Chase. “Give me a minute. I might be able to get that four-wheeler started. It looked like an old Yamaha Banshee. My dad used to have one when I was born. Mom made him give it up.”
Alex continued to gather canned goods out of the pantry as well as spices and condiments. Earlier, Bessie had reeled off a wish list of items that Alex made a mental note of.
The high-pitched whine of the engine indicated Chase’s success. An ATV was a major score and would help expand their patrol area. This immediately reminded Alex of the importance of gasoline, so she made her way to the storage shed to speed things up.
One gas can was half full and the other smaller can contained a fuel-oil mixture. A chainsaw hung on the wall and a large jug of Husqvarna Bar and Chain Oil sat underneath it. These were both good finds. Then, remembering their usefulness during their watch patrols on Harding Place, Alex searched the bass boat for its emergency kit. She was pleased to find two air horns that were still in their original packaging. She’d show Stubby how they could be used for perimeter communications.
Alex reviewed Stubby’s wish list and then waved Chase down, who’d accelerated around the yard, creating donuts.
“Let’s go, hot rod, you’re gonna attract attention,” said Alex. “Do you think this thing will make it back to the ranch?”
