Escaping Vegas

by Dennis Elder

  Beaver shot off another three round burst, again hitting his ex-boss in the back again.

  The men next to Beaver could see the bullets were striking the target so they egged him on.

  “Kill him,” shouted one of Beaver’s comrades. “Keep firing. You’ll get him sooner or later.”

  Beaver pulled up his automatic rifle again and carefully sighted on the man below. Then, just as he reached for the trigger again, the back of his head suddenly exploded. The men with him, who had been watching Beaver shoot, were initially confused. It took a full second and a half for the sound to catch up with the bullet. That was when the men suddenly realized he’d been shot.

  Slowly the remaining convicts gathered around Beaver body. His head looked like a deflated ball. There was a thumb sized hole just above his right eyebrow. But the entire back of his head was just… missing.

  “What the hell kinda gun could do something like that?” said one of the men as he looked back to the North. “You don’t think that shot came from the other side do ya?”

  Suddenly the surviving men who had tried unsuccessfully to flank the Mauraders earlier finally returned to the remaining convicts. They arrived just in time to hear several concerns about the long shot across the valley.

  “They got some kind of sniper goin over there,” said one of the surviving men. “They killed five of us before we could get a shot off. We never even saw the guy.”

  One of the older men turned back to the North.

  “So, they could shoot us down now,” said the older man. “Anytime they wanted to.”

  The men looked at each other. Then the older man spoke.

  “I don’t know about the rest of you boys,” he began. “But I like my head just the way it is. So, I believe I’ll be going back South, and I mean right now.”

  With that the older man moved toward his tent and began packing up his gear. All the other ex-convicts were right behind him.

  By now Tyrone and Frank had finally gotten to Mark. Tyrone picked the Major up like he weighed nothing, turned back the North and began walking. Mark knew he couldn’t walk. But being carried like a child was just… well.

  “You know this is embarrassing,” said Mark.

  Tyrone just smiled.

  “And you know we won’t ever let you forget it, sir,” added Frank.

  Frank brought up the rear, providing back facing cover just in case any more stray bullets came their way. But through his scope he could see that the men to the distant South were leaving, and fast.

  Chapter 177: Epilogue

  The rest of the day was spent tending to Mark’s wounds and burying Caroline. The ground was frozen solid so they set her down at the base of a large rock slide and covered her body with big stones so the animals would never be able to disturb it.

  When Jake finally came down from the mountain they built a big fire and ate their remaining food around it. Jacob and the kids were back too. Mark told Jacob he was proud of the young man for protecting the children and following orders.

  “It was hard not to come down once I heard the shooting start,” said Jacob.

  They set their tents upright and spent one more night in the hills above the long valley. They’d start out fresh in the morning.

  Mark’s wound was superficial. Doc closed it with five snitches. He was able to ride alright. Teresa pulled Susie behind her now. Tyrone had earned a rest. Anyway, it was only twenty five miles to the next town of Beaver, Utah. However, by the time they finally got to the town, the snow was nearly two feet deep. They all needed shelter, and fast.

  They found a group of homes about a mile East of the freeway. There were five new homes on the street and the group spread out for the night. The beds were a welcome treat.

  The snow fell all night and then all through the next day. They wouldn’t be traveling for a while.

  The temperature dropped too.

  When one of the girls asked why there was so much snow, Kevin, their resident scientist voiced an opinion. “Could be the gamma ray burst altered the weather patterns. Who knows.”

  Nobody had a better explanation. And it just kept snowing.

  Soon each home was outfitted with a wood burning stove. Everybody spent their days either collecting firewood, searching for food or hunting game. Jeremy saw a deer a day after they arrived. After that they’d go hunting for fresh meat ever three days or so. There were a large number of deer in the hills above the town.

  They had rousing games of Monopoly and Risk. They crowned a risk champion every Friday night. Gracie, to everyone’s surprise became the resident Risk master.

  Mark had hoped they would make it all the way to Salt Lake before winter set in. But after two weeks he admitted to everyone they’d be spending this winter in Beaver. The roads probably wouldn’t melt off until late April. They’d just have to find ways to pass the time between now and then.

  After a good dinner of venison stew, Mark and Frank found themselves around the chessboard. They were both pretty good now and enjoyed a game nearly every night.

  “You’re move,” said Mark.

  Mark considered attacking early with his queen. But that hadn’t worked so well during the last game.

  “I’m kinda glad we can rest here for a while,” said Frank. Then he suddenly moved his bishop half way across the board.

  Mark watched Frank’s move and considered blocking it with a knight.

  “Well it certainly was good we got stranded in this town,” replied Mark. “Could have gotten caught in some one room house somewhere.”

  “Yea,” chuckled Frank. “All of us in a one room cabin. Talk about your cabin fever.”

  “Amen, said Mark, then he moved his knight.

  A few minutes passed between the two men as each moved several times across the board. Then Frank got serious.

  “You think it will get any easier in Salt Lake,” asked Frank, still holding a finger on a recently moved pawn, not ready to complete the act.

  Mark didn’t answer. He was focused on the game and pretty sure he’d have Frank in check if he let go of his pawn. His mind raced with the possibilities. Then he got serious.

  “One thing’s for sure though,” said Mark, just as Frank lifted his arched finger off his castle.

  “What’s that,” asked Frank.

  “I don’t think it could get much worse,” said Mark.

  Then Mark leaned forward realizing his opportunity.

  “And buy the way, Check.”