by Mark Goodwin
“I can handle that.”
Warren and Martha Wilcox arrived next. “What’s happening?” Warren asked.
Don quickly explained the evidence against Dean.
More residents hurried to Pete Davis’ garage, all wondering what matter could be so pressing that it would validate the calling of such an impromptu meeting. Kate spoke to those she knew, encouraging them to be patient.
“Sam, you hang back so Dean doesn’t pick up the scent of trouble. Take your rifle up into the woods and watch from there. You never know, the situation could require a sniper.” Kate patted him on the back and sent him on his way.
Next, James Dean led a phalanx of ten men across the road. The rangers wore camouflage fatigues, tactical vests, and were heavily armed with assault rifles. Skeeter, Andy Reese, and Gene Tifton were among them.
Kate, Gavin, Pritchard, and the Cobbs stood along the back wall, rifles held at low ready. Jack stood guard next to the podium with his AR-15. The tension in the room had never been higher.
James Dean surveyed the room. He seemed to know the subject of the meeting revolved around him.
Don walked to the podium. “Thank you to everyone for coming on such short notice.”
Dean immediately interrupted. “I hope this is good, Don. You’ve disrupted the entire community’s day.”
“It will be worthwhile, I guarantee you.” He glared at Dean. “The security council has discovered evidence concerning our arson investigation of the fire at Mrs. Rita Dean’s home.”
Mrs. Dean called out, “It was them rascals over in Laurel Ridge, weren’t it? Are you fixin’ to bring them in?”
“No, Mrs. Dean, the evidence doesn’t support that theory at all.” Don’s eyes looked sorry about the information he had to give her. “And the evidence has just been paraded right in front of our noses.” He held up the magazine from Sam’s vest. “If you’ll take a close look at the tactical vests being worn by the rangers, you’ll notice many of the magazines have the same paint as the one I’m holding.”
“What’s your point, Don?” Gene Tifton glanced down at his vest, then back up.
“This paint is an identical match to what was used to inscribe the threat on the back of Mrs. Dean’s house.”
Rita Dean walked to the podium. “Let me see that!” She snatched the evidence from Don.
The room erupted in murmuring.
“Oh, come on, Don! You’ll have to do better than that,” James Dean sneered.
“I think the evidence is good enough. The security council is going to take James Dean and Skeeter into custody. We will form a tribunal and hold court to determine if they’re guilty. If they’re found guilty, the tribunal will determine the sentence. Gavin, Kate, will your team please come forward to arrest Mr. Dean and Skeeter?”
“That’s not happening,” James Dean said. “Rangers!” The militia drew their weapons as did Kate and the other people from the security council.
Rita Dean watched in horror. She looked one last time at the magazine in her hand, then she turned to her grandson. “Jimmy, I’m ashamed of you. You pert near burnt my house down. I reckon you’ve made up some addled reason in your head that makes it alright accordin’ to your twisted mind, but it ain’t okay. I’m an old woman, and you were supposed to protect me.”
Her words swept like a wave across the crowd. Rita Dean’s willingness to accept the evidence was as good as a conviction in the mind of the populace.
“Grandma! It’s lies, don’t believe them!”
“I don’t want to hear no more of it, Jimmy! That Skeeter boy had been hangin’ about the house all day. He disappeared about a half an hour before the fire. Then he popped right back up about the time Don and them came to put it out. Never did sit right with me.”
“Grandma, I can explain.”
The old woman walked away with her head hung low.
Dean’s army remained true to their leader. James Dean looked at Don. “Looks like we’ve got a Mexican standoff. Only two ways this can end.”
Don signaled for Pete Davis to start ushering out the non-combatants. “I’m listening.”
“You can let me and my men walk out of here, or we can carpet Pete’s floor in carnage. A bloodbath would mean that the rangers and the security council will be completely wiped out. That would make Apple Blossom Acres easy pickin’s for the Badger Creek Gang.”
Don seemed to recognize the truth in Dean’s statement. “Where will you go if we let you leave?”
“We’ll vacate the neighborhood. It’s obvious our services aren’t appreciated around here and I’m not the kind to stick around where I’m not wanted.”
“Let me talk it over with Jack.” Don’s voice could not be heard for several minutes.
Kate listened to the exchange but could not watch. Her eye looked down the sight of her AK-47. On the other side stood Andy Reese with an AR-15 pointed at her. Her palms grew sweaty and her mouth grew dry.
Finally, Don answered. “You’ll leave right away.”
“I need to gather my things. We’ll be out by morning.”
“You’ll be out in two hours.”
“We’ll be gone in three.”
Don called out orders, “Security council guards, back away from the doors. Allow the rangers to exit peaceably. Keep your sights trained on them.”
Kate, Gavin, Pritchard, and the Cobbs stepped to the side of the rear doors.
James Dean and Skeeter left. Then, one by one, the remaining rangers left the building.
Kate sighed after they were gone. “Now what?”
Don and Jack came to stand by the others. Don said, “Now, we get ready for war.”
“For war?” Corey Cobb asked.
Don nodded. “Dean already had his sights on Laurel Ridge. Today’s events will only cause him to speed up his timeline. The rangers will try to take Laurel Ridge when they leave here.”
“We have to warn them!” Kate exclaimed.
“I’m meeting Herman at the top of the hill in a few minutes,” Don replied.
No longer worried that the weapons would be used to kill Sam, Kate felt much more generous. “Perhaps we should offer them more guns. Maybe we can even spare a few shooters.”
“Are you volunteering?” Don asked.
Kate looked at Gavin who offered a shallow nod. “Yes, I guess I am.”
“We’ll go too.” Annie put one hand around her father and held the other in the air.
Don put his hand on her shoulder. “I need some people at the gate. If Dean sees the front gate abandoned, he’ll know something is up. Jack, Mr. Pritchard, you’ll go with Kate and Gavin. The Cobbs and I will stand guard at the gate until we see the rangers move out. Then, we’ll follow them into the woods. I’m almost certain Dean will take them through the woods.”
“How will we know when they’re moving?” Kate asked.
Don’s brow furrowed. “He has three hours. I expect that he’ll use as much of that as possible, but we can’t be sure without visual confirmation.”
“I can put Rainey in the woods with binoculars and a radio.” Jack never volunteered his daughter for anything, but this fight was for all the marbles. He held up his radio.
Kate grabbed it before he pressed the talk key. “No! Remember what Sam said. Dean is monitoring all our channels.”
“Then let’s use it to put out some false information,” Jack smirked and pressed the talk key. “Rainey, I’m going to need your help. Don wants everyone who can pull a trigger to be near the gate this evening. Go ahead and get ready. I’ll be down to get you in a few minutes.”
Rainey’s voice came back over the radio. “Okay, Dad.”
“Now they are sure to go over the mountain to get to Laurel Ridge,” said Gavin.
Kate squeezed the grip of her AK-47. “And we’ll be waiting for them when they get there.”
CHAPTER 22
O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.
Ps
alm 25:2
“Put in a fresh magazine, then push the slide forward.” Kate demonstrated the basic operation of the AK-47 for Herman Sweeny and Wesley Holloway, the Laurel Ridge gate guard with the over-under shotgun.
Wesley gently nudged the bolt shut on his rifle. “Like that?”
“Um, you can be a little more aggressive with it. Somali pirates use these guns. You’re not going to break it. It’s built to withstand more abuse than you could throw at it. And give the bottom of the magazine a good slap after you put it in. If it’s not seated properly in the well, the bolt won’t catch the round.”
Wes seemed to have no idea what she was talking about but followed her directions anyway. The bolt snapped shut with a loud clack.
Kate patted him on the back. “Much better. Mr. Sweeny, your turn.”
“Please, call me Herman.” The tall HOA president ran his reload drill with much more confidence.
“Good. Keep practicing. Once the bullets start flying, it will be much harder. The more you’ve done it, the easier it will be.” Kate walked out onto Herman’s porch where Jack, Vicky, Sam, David, Gavin, and Mr. Pritchard stood looking out over the mountains.
“What do you think? Are they ready?” Jack leaned against the rail.
“Are you kidding? They’ve never even held a battle rifle before. Of course they’re not ready.” Kate leaned next to him. “Did you find a good flanking position?”
Jack pointed down into the trees to the right. “That looks like as good of a place as any. We’ll have that small outcropping of rocks for cover. That thicket of holly trees will provide some visual concealment, but as you can see, most of the other trees are bare.”
“We have to work with what we have,” Gavin said.
Jack looked at Pritchard. “You, Vicky, and David will stay in the house. We’ll draw the rangers fire, which will provide your team an opportunity to pick them off from up here, a position of relative cover. Be aware of where our team is. We don’t want any friendly-fire incidents. When Don’s team arrives, watch out for them. Remember, my little girl is going to be with him. God help the person who injures her, friendly fire or not.”
Herman stuck his head out the door. “Our wives have made some refreshments for you. We don’t have much, but they wanted to show their appreciation.”
“That wasn’t necessary, but thank you.” Kate felt bad for the residents of Laurel Ridge who were barely getting by.
“It’d be an insult not to partake. Y’all come on.” Pritchard waved for the others to follow him.
Kim Sweeny, Herman’s wife, said, “Please, get a plate and make yourselves comfortable.”
Kate and her team walked in and helped themselves to the simple snacks laid out on the counter.
Herman introduced a fourth couple, also in their mid-sixties. “This is Stanley and Judy Hess, they live in the house next door.”
Judy Hess had a big smile on her face, which faded when she saw Kate’s team. She turned to her husband. “They’re mostly children, and girls, and an old man!”
Sam seemed to take offense. “Every one of us has killed ma’am. Most of us, more than once.”
Judy stepped back to stand behind Stanley. Her opinion of the rabble seemed to shift rather expeditiously and she made no further comments.
“What about the rest of the homes between here and the ridge? How will we defend them?” Marshall Yates, the other guard from the Laurel Ridge entrance gate held a small plate with some crackers and peanuts on it.
“We can’t hold the entire neighborhood.” Jack picked at a few nuts from his own plate. “We have to hope that they’ll choose to engage us here.”
“And if they don’t?” Yates asked.
“Then they’ll take one of the other houses as a stronghold and force us to bring the fight to them.”
“But you said you don’t think they’ll do that.” Herman stood nearby.
Kate adjusted the strap of her rifle. “Dean isn’t expecting you to be organized and he certainly doesn’t know we’ll be here. He’s coming because he thinks you’re an easy target. I’m pretty sure he’ll try to attack this house when he figures out this is where the people are.”
“What are we supposed to do?” Wes Holloway asked.
Jack pointed at the possible entry points. “You and the other men will guard the doors and windows in case of a breach. At all costs, you cannot let the rangers get inside.”
Ernest Martin’s voice came over the radio. “All is clear at the overwatch station.”
Kate pulled her rifle off of her shoulder. “That’s our cue.”
Herman Sweeny looked bewildered. “But the man said all is clear. And how are you getting a signal from your side anyway?”
“That was Ernest Martin. He lives on top of the hill. He’s using his radio to act as a repeater for the two sides of the mountain.” Kate double checked that she had a round in the chamber and made sure her safety was off. “All clear means the rangers are coming. Dean and his men are monitoring our frequency.”
Jack led the way to the front door. “My team, rally around me. We’re moving out.”
Kate, Gavin, and Sam followed Jack out the door and into the woods. They found their position behind the rocks.
“And now we wait.” Kate looked at Gavin.
He took her hand. “Whatever happens, remember that I love you forever.”
She did not want the fear of losing him to cloud her mind but was glad he’d said it. “Me, too.”
Time crept by while Kate and the rest of the team waited for the action to start. Gavin looked at his watch. “It’s been twenty minutes since we got the call. Do you think they’re still coming?”
“They’ll come.” Jack had been leaning against the rock for some time. He shifted his weight to his other leg. “I would imagine they’re rummaging through the first house on this side of the mountain. Herman’s is third from the top. We’ll hear them when they get next door.”
“Maybe we should hit them at that house.” Sam recommended.
Jack replied, “No. It’s better if we take our time. They’ll be on their toes for the first two houses. If all goes well, they’ll start to relax, get complacent. That’s what we want. Besides, we have a plan that involves multiple teams, we must stick to it.”
“Were you in the military?” Kate asked.
“No, but I’ve watched my share of bucks eating beneath a deer feeder. They act differently the first time than they do the third or fourth time.”
Crash, click! The sound of broken glass could be heard in the distance. Kate tensed up. “Sounds like they’re coming our way.”
“Yep.” Jack peered out from behind the rock. “Sounds like they’re next door.”
“Do you see them?” Sam asked.
“Not yet, but they’re coming.” Jack signaled for his team to be quiet.
Minutes later, Gavin looked at his watch.
“How long since they broke in?” Kate asked.
“Five minutes.” Gavin squinted, trying to see through the holly trees.
Soon after, the low echo of distant voices could be heard. What they were saying was indiscernible, but it was obvious the rangers had left the house.
“Sounds like they went through that house faster,” Sam said.
“Yeah, they’re probably in a hurry to clean out the residents and stake their claim. They figure they can go back and tally up the loot later.” Jack pulled his AR-15 tightly into his shoulder. “Be ready. Hold your fire until I give the order.”
Kate felt anxious about the coming encounter. Waiting made it ten times worse. She wanted to get it over with.
“Get down! Here they come!” Jack whispered.
Kate could see James Dean leading the pack toward Herman Sweeny’s house.
“Knock, knock, anybody home?” Dean called out to the house, but no one responded.
James Dean yelled once more, “Little pig, little pig, let me come in.”
“Maybe they’ve all le
ft, went to a FEMA camp or something,” Skeeter said.
“Oh they’re around somewhere,” Dean replied. “The last house had hot coals in the stove.”
Most of the rangers could be seen from Kate’s position.
“Everyone, pick a target.” Jack slowly took aim. “I’ve got Skeeter.”
Kate raised her rifle. “I’ve got Gene Tifton.”
“I’ve got Dean.” Gavin’s voice had an air of satisfaction.
“I’ll take Andy Reese,” Sam whispered.
“On three. One, two, three!”
Kate pulled the trigger. POW! She watched Tifton turn at the last second. She hit him in the arm, but it was not the kill shot she’d intended. Dean dropped his rifle and hollered in agony. He’d been shot in the hand. Skeeter lay dead on the ground and Andy Reese ducked behind a tree, seemingly unharmed.
“Take cover!” Dean yelped. “And somebody get my gun!”
The rangers scrambled to get out of the line of fire. One man ran to retrieve Dean’s rifle. Jack and Kate both took shots at him, but he kept moving and neither of them were able to hit him.
“Where are they?” Dean screamed. “Somebody needs to get eyes on them!”
“In that thicket, sir!”
“Okay, rally around me and get ready to flank. Remember your training.” Dean’s voice did not sound rattled from having been shot.
Worried, Kate turned to Gavin. “Now what?”
Jack answered her, “Pritchard’s team has us covered. This is all part of the plan. Take a deep breath and get ready to fight.”
Kate practiced her breathing exercises she’d used to control her social anxiety. A long breath in, hold for four counts, then let it out slowly. She held her rifle up and prepared to engage.
“Right there! I see ‘em!” Tifton yelled.
Gunfire rang out in both directions. Kate dropped to the ground and kept firing.
