“I got it, bro,” Connor said, walking up behind him. “Keep an eye on the trees just in case.”
“Squeezer?” Tank asked. “I thought Connor left him back in Colorado.”
“He did,” James said, watching his brother out of the corner of his eye as his gaze scanned the line of trees over the hood of his truck. James didn’t think they had anything to worry about. That man was long gone, but he kept watch anyway. “This is another ball python we found.”
“Odd coincidence,” Tank said.
“That’s exactly what we thought,” James said.
Connor ignored the conversation and crouched down by the open back door, looking at Squeezer. Resting his hand next to the snake, he slowly slid it closer. Squeezer flicked his tongue at Connor’s hand but didn’t act aggressively. After a minute, Connor had a calm Squeezer in his hands.
“It just takes the right touch,” Connor said.
“You’ve always had a way with animals,” Tank said.
“Where are we going to keep him now that we don’t have a cage?” James asked.
“I’ll just empty one of the backpacks and put him in it,” Connor said. “He’ll be fine in there. I’ll leave it unzipped a little for air.”
He walked over to the LAPV, rummaging around in the backseat. Chloe came over from organizing the last of the stuff in the back, and Connor joined them shortly after, watching the trees.
“I think he’s gone, bro,” James said.
“Probably,” Connor said, his eyes still scanning.
“It looks like it was a nice truck,” Chloe said.
“It was,” James said. “She was one of the best.”
“There you go, making it all weird again,” Chloe said.
“We should do something,” Connor said.
“Like a funeral,” Chloe said, sarcastically.
“Yes!” Tank said. “Like a warrior’s funeral.”
“A pyre?” James asked.
Tank pulled a grenade from his vest. “Even better.”
“Oh yeah,” James said. “But let me grab something quick.”
Running over, he pulled out his multi-tool and unscrewed the license plates. He gazed down at the black Montana plates with a white bighorn sheep skull set in the background. The feeling of loss grew in him.
“We’re good now,” James said, coming back.
“If you’re really doing this, we need to move the car so we don’t blow it up, too,” Chloe said.
“It’s not a ‘car,’” Tank said. “It’s an armored truck… thing.”
“Whatever,” Chloe said, rolling her eyes.
“And we need a plan,” Connor said, “so we know where we’re going because this is going to draw some attention.”
“All good ideas,” Tank said, “but let’s hurry. I’m itchin’ to blow this baby up!”
“We can all agree these were the Reclaimers, right?” James asked.
“Yep,” Connor said.
“And we can agree that these were their vehicles,” James said, “and that they stopped here for some reason and got shot up?”
“More than likely,” Tank said.
“Then where are the bodies from before?” Chloe asked.
They all looked at each other, shrugging.
“Maybe where the three came out of the trees?” Connor asked.
They walked over to the east side of the interstate and looked into the ditch. There were five bodies lying out with various gunshot wounds and holes in their heads.
“I guess that explains that,” Connor said.
“So they stopped here,” Tank said, “and were ambushed but then stayed here. Why?”
“Maybe it happened right before we got here and they were still licking their wounds,” Connor said.
“Could be,” James said. “That means that the rest of our group continued on north. Maybe Emmett stopped here to hold them off while the rest gained ground. Then he met up with them later.”
“Probably,” Connor said.
“Even if we’re wrong on all of it,” James said, “one thing is for sure. Our group isn’t here and we didn’t pass anybody headin’ south. So they have to be headin’ north.”
“I think we can count on that,” Tank said. “The way you guys make it sound, they’ll know to wait at the border, at least for a few days.”
“They should,” James said.
“So that’s it,” Tank said. “We head north.”
“That’s the plan,” James said. “Always was the plan. Things just keep slowing us down.”
“Now that we have all that figured out,” Tank said. “Let’s move the rig so I can blow your truck up!”
“Can I drive it?” James asked.
“For now,” Tank said. “A rebound always helps with the grieving process.”
“Yes!” James said, running over and climbing into the driver’s seat of the LAPV. He stuck his head back out the open door. “Bro, this thing is awesome!”
“I know,” Tank said.
James drove it around the other vehicles and parked it two hundred yards north of them. He walked back and saw that Connor and Chloe had gotten down on the far side of the interstate. Tank was in the median, ready to toss the grenade and then run back.
“Ready?” Tank asked.
“Shouldn’t you say something?” Chloe asked.
“Yes, I should.” James was silent for a few moments, and then he smiled. “She used to be a survivor like us, until she took a bullet to the axle.”
Connor and Tank chuckled.
“You’re an idiot,” Tank said. “But well put.”
He pulled the pin on the grenade and tossed it, running back to them. It landed and rolled under the truck, coming to rest right in front of the rear axle. Tank jumped down behind the edge of the interstate, joining them. They waited for a few seconds.
The grenade exploded and shortly after, the truck. Flames sprouted towards the sky, and the sound of the blast echoed around the hills. The flames continued to spread until they had consumed the entire truck. James looked on with awe, a small piece of him truly sad that he’d lost his truck, which was ridiculous. It was just a machine, after all. But he would still miss it.
“A fitting end to a worthy steed,” James said.
“Can we go now?” Chloe asked.
“Yes,” Connor said, glancing at the trees.
“Time to hit the road,” James said, starting to walk to the rig with the rest following. “We need to name the LAPV.”
“I know,” Tank said. “Scourge!”
James chuckled. “That’s perfect.”
“Let me guess,” Chloe said. “Video game reference?”
“Pretty much,” Tank said. “We are weird mofos, after all.”
They loaded up into Scourge and started down I-90 again, heading north. James took off his helmet, setting it next to him as he looked out the window at the rolling hills. This may very well be the last time he ever saw Montana. While he’d been born and raised in Alaska, and later moved to Colorado, this place would always hold a special place in his heart. He’d miss the rolling plains, Ponderosa pine forests, gumbo hills, and the sunrises and sunsets that could only be seen in big sky country. Then again, he’d always liked Alaska more and was looking forward to living in the mountains again. He’d be able to hunt moose, bear, and Dall sheep. They’d finally be safe. Even with it being only eight days into the apocalypse that still seemed like a foreign concept. What would it be like to not always be on edge? As he looked out the window, his eyelids began to droop, and before he knew it, he was sound asleep.
25
Sweet Grass
Post-outbreak day eight, afternoon
Alexis watched from the passenger’s seat as her dad finished fueling up the truck. Raindrops fell against the windshield. It wasn’t a downpour like the other night but more than just a light rain.
She looked around at the small town
of Raynesford. There were only a couple of buildings right here by the two-pump gas station. The rest of the town—the other dozen buildings—was farther down the road. They’d been making good progress so far by staying off the interstate. There were fewer vehicles to go around and the roads were mostly clear. They’d only had to get on I-94 from Colstrip to Cowtown where they turned onto US-12. This was the first time they’d stopped since Lame Deer. Emmett and Greg had cleared the small gas station, and now the kids and adults were all in there using the restroom and stretching their legs. Away from the immediate threat of being eaten, the kids had begun to liven up. They were more like kids—playing games, annoying adults, and asking if they were there yet. They didn’t even know where “there” was, but they wanted to be there, and soon.
Her dad jumped into the driver’s seat, shivering as he did.
“It’s raining just enough to get soaked,” Emmett said.
“So what’s up with you and Troy?” Alexis asked.
It was the first time they’d been alone. Olive and Felix were inside with the rest. He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he pulled his truck forward, letting the next vehicle in line fill up.
“He rubs me wrong,” Emmett said.
“Come on. I know it’s more than that.”
“Nope, that’s it.”
She wanted to push her dad for more information because she knew he was lying. She didn’t, however. Over the years she’d learned that the more she pushed, the more he resisted. The trick was to wait until he was distracted and then ask him. That way, he’d usually respond without thinking and she’d get the truth.
The rain continued to come down outside as they fueled up all the vehicles. What would happen when gas stations ran out of fuel? There was only a limited amount. Would it take weeks? Or was there enough spread out over the country to last years? Would civilization ever stabilize enough to go back to how it was before? Or had humanity been forever changed by this event? She wondered if this was the end times she’d learned about in Sunday school, or something entirely different—just a small blip in the history of humanity.
Everyone finished fueling and using the restroom. Beverly brought Olive and Felix over to them and Alexis thanked her.
“We’re all responsible for these little ones now,” Beverly said. “They’re our future, more so now than before.”
She walked over and climbed into the passenger seat of the minivan. Everyone had switched drivers to give the others a break, but her dad climbed back into the driver’s seat.
“You know I could drive for a bit and you could get some sleep,” Alexis said.
“Thanks, honey, but I’m good,” Emmett responded, shutting the door and starting the truck.
“I was only asking to be nice, dad,” Alexis said, opening her door. “I’m either going to drive or you’ll have to leave me here.”
She climbed out of the truck and walked around to the driver’s side. Her dad watched her standing in the rain for only a couple of seconds before he got out, grumbling. She smiled as she climbed in. Immediately, she adjusted the seat and mirrors. Looking over at her dad, she put the truck into drive.
“I was fine,” Emmett said, putting a hand over his mouth as he yawned.
“Sure,” Alexis said, turning onto the highway.
“Yay!” Olive said. “Alexis gets to drive.”
“Oh, great,” Felix said.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Alexis asked, glancing back at him.
“You know,” Felix said, looking to Emmett, “girl drivers… or… aren’t they supposed to be bad or something? I hear jokes in school.”
Alexis and Emmett started laughing.
“Those are just jokes,” Emmett said. “Although, that is true sometimes.”
“Oh,” Felix said. “So we’re safe with her driving?”
“Roger,” Emmett said. “My daughter is a great driver. Who do you think taught her?”
“Good,” Olive said. “Now, we have a game to finish.”
Olive and Felix turned to each other and started playing another game of rock-paper-scissors. They were having a tournament, and Olive was up three hundred and five to two hundred and eighty. Alexis smiled at them and resumed her vigil.
“And you’re positive you know the way?” Emmett asked her.
Alexis rolled her eyes. “Stay on here until we get to MT-331, take that north all the way to US-2 to avoid Great Falls. Turn west and follow that until we hit I-15 and take that all the way to the border. Yes, dad, I got it.”
Emmett looked over at her, his expression pensive. “You’ve become a very strong and beautiful woman. I’m proud of you, Alexis. I love you.”
“I love you too, daddy.”
Her father beamed at her, then rested his head back and closed his eyes. That was the first time he’d ever smiled when she said “daddy.” She’d always known he secretly loved it, but it also annoyed him most times. The realization made her nervous. What brought on this sudden expression of emotion from him? She hadn’t seen him this open since Mason’s death. Usually, in order for that to happen, something had to be going wrong. But in a way, she guessed something was wrong every day now. It was probably just because of what’d happened. He’d had to wait on the ridge all day while she could’ve been killed at any second. It must’ve taken a lot of determination not to rescue her right away. He’d waited. Then, he and Ana had rescued them all.
Ana. That woman confused the crap out of her. She still wondered if Ana had done it to save them or herself. She’d said something about a debt, and Alexis wondered if she’d been referring to them helping her in the mall. Alexis just couldn’t get a read on her. She thought they’d connected so well, but it turned out they hardly had anything in common.
Ana is too selfish to have anything in common with me, Alexis thought, but felt bad as soon as she thought it.
It was just that the pain of betrayal was still too raw. Evan’s death replayed in her head and she shuddered. But he’d been about to kill her. She should be thanking Ana, not hating her.
It was all because of that vile woman—Jezz. That’s the one person Alexis could see herself killing. Actually, she relished the thought of Jezz on the ground, begging for her life, Alexis above her with a handgun pointed at her head…
Why was she fantasizing about that? She didn’t want to end people’s lives if she didn’t have to. She wanted to help them. That woman just made her see red. She was pure evil. Although, what if that wasn’t the whole truth? There was little doubt about one thing—something was definitely wrong with her. No sane person would indiscriminately kill like that. What did that say about Ana, then? Or her dad? Or James and Connor, for that matter? When they’d rescued them back in Safe Haven, they’d come in shooting anyone who was armed. And for what? To save a woman they didn’t even know. Or was it because they were hurting and wanted other people to hurt?
The questions spun circles in her head as she drove past field after field. Is that all this part of the country was—fields and barren hills? Where was the “out west” she was always hearing about, the rugged mountains and all that. She’d seen some on their drive so far, but not like she’d imagined. If she remembered right, the mountains were more west from where they were. But she figured she’d be seeing plenty of mountains soon enough, living in Alaska. What would that be like—living in a remote place with only a small group of people? The peace she felt about it was unexpected. But she liked these people, and if she was going to spend the rest of her life with them, this was a pretty good group. They were just missing one—James. Connor too, she quickly added so her mind wouldn’t get any ideas.
After they were established, would they try gathering more people to rebuild society? She liked that idea. They could be the foundation on which a new civilization was built. Each person would have a place, a role to play. How much of society would they replicate? Would there ever be traditional marriages again? Hopefully.
That had always been one of her biggest dreams, being able to wear a white dress and walk down the aisle with her dad. She let her mind entertain the fantasy as the miles passed by.
~~~
Emmett drove down I-15 north of Shelby. They had less than an hour to the Canadian border. He’d switched with Alexis at the interstate, just in case, and she hadn’t been angry at him taking control in the more dangerous situation. Once, she would have been pissed at him for taking any control from her, but she’d grown a lot in the last few years.
The sun was nearing the horizon, the rain having stopped an hour before. They were going to make it before dark as long as they didn’t run into trouble. He’d told the other drivers to be ready for anything. They were going to follow his lead. If he turned around and started speeding away, so were they. If he started shooting, they would too. If he came out with his hands up, they would follow suit. He’d said that last one with no intention of doing it again. Next time, he’d go down in a blaze of glory. He glanced over at his daughter. Okay, if she was in danger, he’d surrender, but only if there was no other option.
“Do you think James and Connor made it?” Alexis asked.
Emmett looked at her. “I’d bet so.”
“Where do you think they are?” Alexis asked.
“Probably either heading to, or at, the border, like we’re about to be.”
“I know they survived the ambush because Jezz said, ‘they were invited to the party.’”
“Then they should have no problem staying alive, as long as they don’t run into the other Reclaimers.”
“James can handle anything,” Olive said. “I’m not worried about him.”
“You’re right,” Alexis said. “They may even be there waiting for us.”
“We’ll know in a few minutes,” Emmett said.
“We’ve made good time today,” Alexis said.
“It’s amazing how easy it is when we’re not constantly being attacked,” Emmett said.
“Yeah,” Alexis said, “and a lot more pleasant.”
Wolf Pack Page 18
