Learning To Live (Zombie Overload Series)

by Wright, C. M.

  I walk over to them and hug them both. The rest of my family comes closer, surrounding us. I let go of my family and take a few steps back. Will and Bo end their embrace but keep an arm around each other. Will accepts handshakes, back slaps, and hugs from the other guys and they fire questions at him until I remind them we have other people to check on.

  We all move out of the barn and head to the house, keeping our eyes open. I see a couple undead coming from the main driveway and Bianca and I walk toward them, shooting as we get closer. Joining back up with the group, we line up on the porch while Kurt bangs on the door, telling everyone to let us in, it's safe now. I wouldn't have gone so far as to say it was "safe" exactly, but that's just me!

  Finally, Mom opens the door and we all file inside. Hugs all around and then we go through the same thing all over again with Will. Ash takes a flying leap in his arms and I have to put both hands on Will's back to keep him from falling over. Ash and Will both start crying and, again, my eyes fill with tears.

  As I look around at everyone else, I see they either have watery eyes, are outright sobbing, or are coughing and clearing their throats. I laugh at all of them, happy to be back with my family. Very, very happy to have my husband back, my own little family whole again.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Mom doctors the gashes on my throat and holy hell, does it burn! I wish I could kill that bitch again! Sara makes a big screaming fuss about how I should be tied up and gagged like she had to be. My brother, Andy, just walks over and puts her gag back on. She glares her hatred at me, and I grin real big back at her.

  I go back outside on the porch and Bianca, Will, Jake, Dad, Kurt, and all my brothers join me. We see undead trickling up the long driveway and I let out a sigh. Damn it. Well, who needs rest anyway?

  Leaving the porch, I go to Jake's truck and fill my pockets back up with ammo, then give everyone else a gun who doesn't already have one, handing out ammo to the ones who do.

  The ones who had stayed behind when we left to get Bianca tell me they ran out of ammo but the zombies just kept coming. They couldn't get to Jake's truck to get more and I feel a moment of irritation at Jake for not taking at least some of the weapons and ammo inside. I shrug it off-although reluctantly-since there's nothing I can do about it now, anyway. I leave the back of his truck open in case we need to get to it quickly, and walk toward the zombies.

  Some of our group stay on the road beside or behind me while others move through the trees, looking for any undead that may be lurking inside. We hear guns firing from within the woods. Those of us on the dirt drive walk and shoot, getting closer to the broken gate.

  When we reach the gate, some of the men lift it and we all take a look at it, deciding if it can be fixed-at least long enough until we can replace it. Will thinks rope and chains may hold it until we can get something better, so Ricky and Kurt jog back up the driveway to get some.

  While waiting, we shoot down more of the undead that show up. The two guys pull up in my and Will's truck and Will and I go over to help bring the chains and rope to the gate. Ryder and Ricky, being the most athletic, climb the fence next to the gate, chaining and roping the top. While some of us hold the gate up, the rest secure the middle and bottom on the sides.

  Finally finished, we step back and I suggest letting some of the zombies that are coming up the road try to get in so we know if it will hold. We do and it does-against the half-dozen here, anyway. How much more it can hold, I don't know. We shoot these and head back to the house.

  We all reload and then climb into the three Hummers and Kurt's truck, and head to the back of the house. Getting out of the vehicles, we check and clear the areas we couldn't get to earlier and then make our way to the back woods. Spreading out, we search and, again, scattered shots ring out. I take down two of my own. Making it to the very back, I'm impressed by the new fencing-actually it's more a wall than fence.

  I walk the wall until the end and follow the it back up in the direction of the house. I'm shocked at how much they had gotten finished while we were gone. The entire back and one side down to the barn has been done.

  I see the others pull up into the yard near the front of the house and I walk toward them. None of them even knew I had walked up here. Nice to freaking know they would have just left me behind. Asses!

  Will meets me halfway, puts his arm across my shoulders, and walks back toward the house with me.

  "Hey, Babe. How you doing?" he asks me.

  "Well, I'm tired as hell, dirty, had a frikken maggot on my face, and now I'm pissed off."

  "Why? Wait, a maggot? Huh?" He stops and forces me to face him.

  "Yes, a maggot. And I'm pissed off because none of you jerks even noticed I wasn't with you. You morons would have just left me back there!"

  Will looks at me for a moment, then grins. Putting his arm back across my shoulders, he turns us and we continue walking.

  "I saw you walk back. I see more than you think I do," he says the last part with a warning in his voice.

  I look over and up at him with a worried expression. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Later. I just can't deal with much more right now.

  We enter the house and are immediately blasted by noise of raised voices from everyone trying to talk at once. Kids screaming in fun and running around, footsteps, and chairs moving. My head is about to explode!

  I throw my hands up over my ears and Will grabs my raised arm, pulling me to the stairs. Mom calls out asking him "what's wrong" and he tells her I have a headache and just need to rest. Mom and some of my sisters start hushing everyone and the volume lowers for a couple seconds. I roll my eyes and grin at Will as we make our way up the stairs.

  First I insist on a shower. I mean, really? Who can sleep when they are filthy and can still feel a maggot plopping on their face? Don't lie! You couldn't either!

  Will runs out to grab some more clothes, and I'm pretty sure I'm almost out of clean fatigues. I strip and get in the shower while I wait for him. As he comes in, I ask him to take my clothes to Mom and ask her if she will wash my fatigues. He says he will and tells me he also brought my toothbrush and paste. Ah, bless him!

  I use Rose's shampoo, conditioner, and soap. Here I am, enjoying a shower once again, long after I thought showers would be a thing of the past.

  I hear the door open and ask Will for a towel. Holding out one arm, I shut the shower off. Feeling the soft cotton in my hand, I open the shower curtain and start to step over the side of the tub, when I look up. Startled, I trip and fall straight into the arms of...Jake!

  Chapter Twenty

  Jake catches me, wrapping his arms around me and holding me tight. Of course-at that very moment-I hear a throat clear and look up to see Will at the door, arms crossed.

  Oh, wow! This looks pretty damn bad-Jake with his arms around my waist and my arms around his neck-me naked and him in the room in the first place. How the hell can I explain this so Will believes me? Well, I guess I'd better at least try.

  "Will! This really isn't what it looks like, I swear!" Boy if that isn't a line from half-a-million movies-but it's the truth!

  Seething with rage and hands now clenched tightly at his side, he snarls out, "Well if that's true, then why the hell are you still hanging all over him?" I jerk my head back and look at my arms still tight around Jake's neck.

  Flinging them down and scooping up my towel, I back away, pressing against the far wall. I wrap the towel around myself and anxiously watch both men.

  Jake, with his cocky grin, has no idea what I know. Will takes a few steps toward Jake. Jake straightens, his grin spreading wider. Just as Jake opens his mouth to say something to enrage Will further-I'm sure-Will's arm is a blur as it comes up and connects with Jake's face.

  Jake flies into the tub, his feet never touching the ground. Will stalks over and grabs Jake by his shirt front, raising him up. Another punch to Jake's face, and Jake's body relaxes as he loses consciousness.

  I know Will hasn't le
t out all of his anger and I don't really know what to do. I want to go to him, but he's scary as hell when he's pissed. Sexy, too! His body looks bigger, bulging with muscles. What people see when he's dressed is an illusion to what's underneath, but when he gets pissed off, clothes or not, you get to see how powerful he really is.

  "Will, stop. You'll kill him!"

  He turns to me and I flinch at the wild anger in his eyes. He thrusts his hand out to me and I just look at it, not stupid enough to move toward it. My eyes flick back to his and chills shoot through my body. Yep, those kind of chills! I love it when he's mad-that's why I make him that way so much. Again, so sexy! But this is a little more than just mad. This is pure rage.

  He growls at me, his hand still out. I hesitantly put my hand in his and he pulls me out of the room. Pulling me roughly down the hall, he kicks a slightly open door and it slams against the wall.

  Finding the room empty, he pulls me through and kicks the door closed. He jerks me to him and with a face hard as granite, brings his lips down hard, covering my own. I allow my towel to fall and our hands are all over each others bodies. The bed too far away at three feet-we sink to the floor.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  We lay in the bed, finally, and Will holds me in his arms. What? Did you really think I was going to tell you all the details? Perverts!

  I'm lightly rubbing my hand over his chest, barely able to keep my eyes open. I'm not even sure I can open my mouth to respond when Will asks if I'm ok, so I just nod.

  He pulls his arm out from under me and raises his upper body. Turning slightly, he looms over me and cradles my face with both hands. He looks deeply into my eyes.

  "I know what happened. I was outside in the hall when I heard you ask me for the towel. I looked around the door frame and saw it all. It's ok-I'm not mad at you-but I am going to kill that son-of-a-bitch," Will says with pure venom in his voice. I put my own hands on the back of his head and pull him down to me, and give him a deep kiss.

  "No, Will. We aren't murderers. These zombies don't count, but living people do. That's not you. That's not who you are."

  He pulls back slightly, breaking my hold on him. He gives me a look clearly telling me he feels otherwise.

  "Quit protecting his ass!" God, he's so pissed.

  "Will―"

  "If you're going to protect his stupid ass again, don't bother."

  I sigh and close my eyes-too tired to argue. I feel the bed sink as he lies back down and his arm settles over my stomach. The last thing I remember is his lips feather-soft on my temple and his voice telling me he loves me.

  Much later, with the sun bursting into the room, I wake up alone. I stretch and lie there a few more minutes, wondering if I really want to get up or not. Groaning, I sit up, figuring I've probably slept long enough and knowing we have so much to do. I see clean fatigues folded neatly at the bottom of the bed. Thank you, Mom.

  Standing and wrapping the sheet around me, I pick the clothes up and make my way back to the bathroom. I jump in the shower for a quick clean, then dress, and brush my teeth. Seeing my sisters hairbrush, I run it through my hair, working on the mess of tangles.

  My hair finally silky smooth again, I leave the bathroom and return to the bedroom. I put on the clean socks someone-Mom-left for me with the clothes, and then my boots. I find a ponytail holder and put my hair up, hoping to eliminate any new tangles, and I'm ready to go.

  Stopping on the last step of the stairs, I look around at all the people, some I love, some I like, and one I really hate. My boys and their cousins are sitting on the floor watching a kids DVD movie. Andy, Ricky, and Ryder are again arguing about how the zombies came to be.

  Sara is sitting on the couch, looking very uncomfortable and a complete mess. Her hair is tangled and her makeup a smeared disaster. I know she's been allowed bathroom trips, but I also know the trips didn't include showers. Damn, I bet she's pissed! And damn if that doesn't make me frikken deliriously happy!

  Mom and Dad are sitting at the table with Kurt, Rose, Kally, Coco, Ma, and Lindey, talking. I don't see Will, Jake, Greg, Bianca, the boy, or Sam. I ask the group at the table where Will is, and they tell me the last time they saw him, he was heading outside.

  I grab a coat and go out to the porch. Walking down one side and then the other, I find him on the barn side of the porch, sitting in the swing. I sit next to him and he puts his arm across my shoulders, pulling me against him. I lay my head on his shoulder, and without saying a word, we just sit and rock.

  After awhile, Will clears his throat and says, "Jake, his brother, Max, and Sam have gone to the Nebraska armory. Not sure if they will actually come back. Not sure I actually care."

  Well, I care! If at least long enough to drop off some ammo. Then they can go. I'm disgusted with myself when a twinge of fear that Jake will go shoots through me. I turn to Will, forcing a change to the direction my thoughts and feelings want to go.

  "Who's Max?" Did I miss something?

  "That's the boy we found with Bianca." Oh, so that's his name.

  "Speaking of Bianca, where is she?" I ask him.

  "Oh, yeah. With Jake-seems he's trying to get into her pants now. Better hers than yours, though. Just hope that jackass doesn't hurt her."

  I feel bile rise up at the thought of those two together. Damn it all to hell! Why can't I just stop feeling things for Jake? This is ridiculous!

  "Bianca's a smart woman. If anything does happen between them, I'm sure she'll use her head, or at least use him if he's planning to use her. Besides, maybe it will work out between them," I tell him but my stomach twists in knots and my mind screams "No"!

  "Won't change how I feel about him even if they do get together. I'd still like to shove a sword through his head. I'm a jealous man, Canada. And I've never really been that way with anyone before, but I love you and you're worth fighting for-unless you instigate something with him, then what's the point? Obviously you don't really love me if you would do that."

  "Oh, just stop it! I do love you and I don't want anyone but you. And I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Jake kissing me in the truck at the armory. I'm sorry I didn't tell you about the way he'd been acting toward me. I had just really hoped Jake and I could be friends. Apparently, that's not something he seems capable of doing."

  Oh, come on, people! What am I supposed to say? "I love you, but when Jake touches me or grins that oh-so-sexy smile at me, I forget everything-including you?" Are you freakin' nuts?

  "I'd rather you not be friends with him." Will looks down at the floor of the porch, anguish written all over his face, and my heart skips a few beats. "Anyway-Dad, me, and the rest of the guys went and loaded up some more panels to fence off the property and brought them back while you were snoring all day―"

  I lightly smack his arm. "I don't snore!" I insist.

  "You do, too. How would you know, anyway-you being asleep and all."

  "Prove it. Until then, quit your lying!"

  Will chuckles and squeezes me tighter to him. "As I was saying before you rudely interrupted me-we decided to wait until this morning to put them up. We preferred to see what was coming for us."

  "Yeah, good idea. Although us girls could have done it in the dark. Unlike you guys, we aren't such big weenies."

  Will moves his arm down and tickles my side. I scream and fight him off me. Damn him! I hate being tickled!

  My scream fills the porch instantly with people, all ready to kill. When they see us, the men bitch and moan about how this isn't a good time to be screaming, blah, blah, blah-then they turn and go back inside, disgusted with us. See me not caring? The women either grin or let out a sigh of relief.

  Will and I grin sheepishly at them and offer an insincere "Sorry."

  We hear a motor at the end of the drive coming toward us, then Jake's Hummer bursts through the canopy of trees, heading for the front of the house.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  We all walk over to them and watch as they get out, surpri
sed when four strangers get out, as well. They are all wearing military fatigues so I think I can safely assume they came from the armory. Jake introduces them to us. Toby, John, Norman, and Helen. Yes, Helen. Women are in the military now, don't you know?

  Apparently, she and Sam have gotten pretty close, if their hand-holding means anything, plus Sam can hardly keep his eyes off her. And she can't stop giggling every time he whispers whatever he's whispering in her ear.

  I smother a laugh with a cough and hide my face behind Will's back. Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for both, really! But damned if they don't make an odd couple! Sam is about five feet tall and Helen is at least five-eight. See what I mean?But, hey, whatever works!

  Once I'm able to control my laughter, I step up beside Will. I study Bianca and Jake, but I can't tell if there is a relationship there or not. I groan silently to myself when the jealousy flares to life. Get the hell over it, stupid! You...do...not...CARE!

  Jake starts handing out ammo, then puts a bunch in mine and Will's truck. We tell him thanks, and he nods, without making eye contact with either of us. Will and I go to the back of Jake's truck and are shocked at the amount of ammo and weapons he has brought back.

  Jake hands Andy a bag of weapons and ammo to keep in the house and we take them inside. Rose has the Ricky and Ryder go into her room and bring out her large cedar chest, after she and I empty it. Then we store the guns and ammo inside, making then inaccessible to the kids. It has a lock, which she locks, then hangs the key up on a high nail so that all the adults have access if needed.

  I go over and sit on the floor between my boys and hold baby Grace. I haven't had time to spend with them and I missed them terribly. I watch as Jake goes over to Sara and removes the gag. Immediately she starts in with her bitching and Jake tells her to shut the hell up or the gag goes back on. With a glare directed at him, she presses her lips together. Then he unties her. Damn.