Survive Texas Dead

by C. A. Hoaks

  “Is that a fucking drawbridge?” John asked.

  “Looks like it,” Harry laughed. “Brilliant.”

  Randy stopped his truck, got out of the cab and Miquel climbed behind the wheel. Randy walked the length of the caravan stopping at each vehicle. When he got to the camper, Harry opened the side window, and Randy ordered. “Follow Miguel and park the vehicle in front of the lodge. We have a procedure in place to ensure we’re not bringing infected into the compound. “I’ll be taking Liz in first. Everyone else waits inside their vehicle until it’s your turn.”

  “No problem.” Harry nodded. “A few more minutes is not going to kill any of us.” Harry hesitated then asked. “Are you sure that bridge is sturdy enough for this rig?”

  “Shouldn’t be a problem. May even take an eighteen-wheeler, depending on load. We have it reinforced. Just take it slow and keep moving.” Randy snorted. “I’ll ride with you.”

  “No problem, come on around,” Harry answered.

  A few minutes later the caravan pulled up in front of the Lodge. Harry got out from behind the wheel and followed Randy to the back of the camper. “You kids sit tight for now.”

  “Yes, sir,” Cody answered.

  When they got to the back bedroom, Harry used his knuckle against the door frame. Liz lay still. Harry whispered. “Lizzy? Lizzy, girl you’re home.” She lay still. Harry walked to the side of the bed ready to jostle her awake, but when he saw her face, he stopped still. Liz’s face was flushed and glistened with moisture. He turned to Randy. “Get in here.”

  Harry reached down to lay his hand on her shoulder. He shook gently. “Lizzy, wake up now. You’re scaring me.” Liz remained still and unmoving. “Liz is unconscious. We need to get her inside right now.”

  Randy slid an arm under Liz’s shoulders and then behind her knees. He grunted as he got to his feet. “She doesn't weigh hardly nothing. What have you done to her?” He accused as he sidestepped through the door and made his way to the door.

  Harry looked stricken, “We should have noticed how much weight she’s lost.”

  John followed Harry. “We were a little busy if you’ll recall. You were gimpy, and I had a busted rib or two.”

  “Exactly! We let her take care of us like we were a pair of geriatrics.” Harry lamented as he opened the side door.

  Harry, John, the kids, and the dog rushed to follow, but Randy turned and snarled. “What the hell are you doing? I told you….”.

  “Are you going to stand here arguing? She needs to see the doctor now!” Harry insisted.

  Randy hesitated then answered. “Come on,” He glanced at the kids. “Do as you’re told and be quiet.”

  Meanwhile, two women appeared on the front porch with welcoming smiles. When they saw Randy carrying Liz, the younger woman rushed down the step to begin examining Liz. “Is she bit?”

  “Hell, no,” Harry growled. “She’s pregnant. We had an accident a few days ago.”

  With Liz in his arms, Randy pushed his way past everyone, “It’s Liz. Will’s daughter.”

  Wilma reached toward John and the kids. “Let’s let them take care of her. If you come with me, we’ll get you cleared and a snack, okay.”

  John looked at her with an angry scowled. “We ain’t bit.”

  After letting Randy, Harry and Cassie disappeared into the building Wilma stepped in front of the door, holding up her hand. Two Hispanic men appeared from behind the building, both wearing sidearms. “I’m sure that’s true, but we have a process and everyone, and I mean everyone who walks in this door gets inspected. You can relax and make it easy for everyone or….” She let her voice trail off to glanced at the two men then continued while giving John a big smile. “My friends will assist either way.”

  John sighed. “Fine. But ain’t no man checkin’ her out.”

  “Of course not.” Wilma led them into the lodge. “You needn’t worry. I’ll assure you of that.”

  All three of the newcomers looked around in awe. Their footsteps slowed as they look around the massive room with two fireplaces and an open stairway to a second story balcony.

  John turned to Cody and whispered. “Quite a little hidy-hole. Not what I expected for sure.”

  Cody grabbed his sister’s hand then leaned toward John to answer, “Everyone said lodge, but this is a hotel.”

  Wilma led them to a hallway with open doors across from a first aid station where voices whispered in hushed tones. “This way, please. Mr. Edmond’s daughter is in good hands. My daughter is a fine doctor.” At the next doorway, Wilma pointed inside and stepped back. “You and the boy can go into that room. Jose will give you a quick once-over then you’re free to wander around. Maria is gathering drinks and snacks and will be bringing them out into the great room real soon.”

  The men disappeared into the room, and the door closed. A second man stopped outside the door.

  Wilma turned to the preteen girl. “Hi, my name is Wilma. What’s your name?” Trace answered then she continued. “Well, Trace let’s go in here and make sure you don’t have sores that need to be treated.” They stepped inside, and Wilma completed her inspection then let the young girl replace her clothes before they walked back into the hall chatting like old friends. John and Cody both stepped out of the second room buttoning shirts.

  Jose gave a quick nod, and both men headed for the front door.

  Wilma smiled as she led them out into the great room. “Now, you folks are probably hungry. There is a dining room to the left of the stairs, Maria and a couple ladies will bring out refreshments in shortly. Dinner won’t be for a couple hours. Meanwhile, Jose, and I have more people to bring inside so if you’ll excuse me.”

  “Sure,” John answered as he led the kids off to find the dining room.

  Wilma stuck her head in the exam room where Randy and Harry stood watching as Cassie inserted a needle into Liz’s arm. “You two can’t do anything more. Randy, I think we need to get inspections done then figure out what we’re doing with all these folks. The general won’t be back until dark, so it’s left up to you.”

  “I want that ultrasound you snagged at the vet office, brought inside as soon as you’re done,” Cassie added.

  “Right.” He looked at Harry. “Come on, Harry. Let’s get the rest of these people checked out then settled in.”

  Chapter 21

  Sad Goodbyes

  Zack slipped the truck into gear and stepped on the accelerator. The pickup pulled away from the cabin as his eyes filled with unshed tears. “We could make her come.” He whispered.

  “It was her decision. She only has a few days of medication left.” Steve answered.

  “What if someone comes?” Darlene argued.

  “She has a gun,” Steve answered.

  “She can barely see. How can she protect herself?”

  “Not why I gave it to her,” Steve answered with a catch in his voice. “Enough. Drop it.”

  Darlene flopped back in the seat more than a little angry while Della remained quiet and stoic. Her words had failed to dissuade Millie when she announced her intention of staying behind. Despite Della arguments, Millie remained resolute.

  Millie slammed a skillet on the stove and declare. “Enough! Not another word, Della.” She turned back to the wood stove and dropped pieces of fat for frying the rabbit caught in a snare earlier in the day. A short time later, the evening meal was served, and despite the cloud tension, everyone respected Millie’s decision.

  Zack followed the narrow trail back to the shed and corral. The horses milled around the gate, anticipating their daily allotment of hay. Zack stopped the truck, and Della jumped out of the back seat door anxious to be out of the cab and the sadness of sniffles and tears. Leaving Penny to sit with Steve, Darlene climbed out of the truck cab and back to the pen where she bridled each of the equine. Dell hurried to the trailer and stood next to the hitch with her arm above the connection.

  “Can you do this?” Steve asked with a raised brow.

>   “Hope so,” Zack answered. He slipped the truck into reverse, and the vehicle moved back toward the trailer. Della pointed to the right. When Zack seem to ignore her guidance, she made a more frantic pointing motion and yelling, “Right! Go to the right!”

  Steve turned and could see he was missing the hitch. “Hold up a minute.” Zack kept moving, and Steve shouted. “Stop!” Zack stopped, nearly jerking Penny from his arms. Steve leaned forward. “Let’s try this again, but this time, you do what I say. Let’s do this slow and easy, okay?”

  “Alright.” Zack pulled the truck forward, stopped then put the pickup in reverse.

  “Straighten the wheel before you start moving, then just do as I say,” Steve spoke calmly.

  After three long minutes of left then right and back again, the trailer was connected, and Zack pulled the livestock transport from the barn. “Damn. That’ a lot longer than I thought it would be.” He stopped when he got well past the gate and again slipped the truck into reverse.

  “This is a little different,” Steve instructed. “You turn the wheel in the opposite direction you want the trailer to go. It seems crazy, but that’s how you do it backing up a trailer. Now, straighten the wheel and get a clean start.”

  Zack took his foot off the break and with a few adjustments, the trailer rolled toward the gate.

  “Wheel to the right,” Steve instructed. “Ease off the gas. Slightly to the left.” A moment later he announced. “That’s it. Stop.”

  Zack stepped on the breaks and slammed the shifter into park with a sigh of relief. “Shit. I would never have gotten that done by myself.”

  Penny climbed into the back seat of the cab to watch all the action from the side window. Della and Zack walked into the shed, and each carried a saddle to load in the front of the trailer. Darlene had tied each of the bridled mounts to the side of the pen. She walked to the horse closest to the gate and walked the mare through the entrance to the open trailer door. Once the equipment and horses were loaded, everyone made a trip to the back of the shed. Zack climbed back in the cab while Darlene, Penny, and Della settled in the back seat of the truck.

  Penny bounced on the seat while she called out to Zack. “Go! We go get Granny?”

  Steve sighed. “We go.” He stapped Zack on his shoulder and gave him a nod at the uncomfortable look on the kid’s face. “Remember, slow and easy taking off, and it’ll take longer to stop with the extra weight.”

  Zack shifted in the seat. “Got it.”

  Darlene interjected. “You could break a horse’s leg too.”

  “I got it,” Zack answered impatiently.

  The drive down the access road was a bit hairy, but once they pulled on the blacktop the morning wore on pretty uneventful as they drove down State Road 505 toward US 90 West. The rough hill country terrain had disappeared shortly after they left the cabin and trees grew more stunted, and patches of bare earth turned into even more arid land. The road was straight as an arrow and seemed to disappear into the distance. Mountains gradually appeared through the morning haze.

  Zack pressed his foot on the gas, but Steve interrupted. “Keep it around forty.”

  “I see a sign. It says, Valentine. Is there a town by that name?”

  “Valentine, Texas is pretty famous? I saw a special on television about that town. The post office receives thousands of cards every year so they can stamp them as being sent from Valentine.” Darlene announced.

  Della laughed. “There was a movie filmed here in the nineties called ‘Dancer, Texas.’”

  “And that’s important why?” Steve turned and asked.

  Della poked him with the tip of a slender finger. “Just thought it was a cute movie. I wonder if the eighty or ninety people who lived here are still alive.”

  Steve chuckled. “I guess we’ll know soon enough. It’s not much more than a mile ahead. Then we pass Lobo. Then hopefully, a clear shot to the mountains.”

  “There’s a Prada store there.” Della laughed. “I saw it on a Sunday morning program, Prada Marfa was erected as a work of art. It has shoes and stuff from a Prada collection.”

  “Shoes?” Darlene asked. “Can we stop?”

  Della shrugged. “No. It’s not like that. It wasn’t a real store, it never opened. Supposedly, it’s an earth-friendly building that will decay and fall into ruin along with the shoes and purses. Everything is eco-friendly. I doubt anything there will be worth our time.”

  “Not many places to wear high heels now,” Steve added.

  Darlene sighed. I could have tried on a pair of Prada shoes. I’ve always wanted to.”

  Zack interrupted the conversation when he stepped on the breaks. “There’s your Prada store, but where’s the rest of the town?”

  Chapter 22

  Captives

  “What are we going to do?” Leon whispered.

  Brian stepped back pulling Leon with him as he answered, “Nothing right now.”

  “What?” Leon snorted. “You can’t be serious. You know what’ll happen to those two?”

  “Come on.” Brian eased back down the hill. When he was out of sight of the mayhem beyond, he jogged toward the truck with Leon close on his heels. At the pickup, he retrieved a sniper rifle with a scope and extra magazines from behind the seat. “We can’t save everyone, but I won’t abandon those two. Take the truck back and get Billy and Juan. Gear up and get back here as fast as you can. Park down the road about a quarter mile and make your way to the tree near the road.” Leon jumped into the truck and cranked the engine. Brian leaned close. “Don’t use the lights or race the engine. I don’t want them hearing the vehicle. You got thirty minutes. Tell the women to haul ass if they hear a vehicle without lights blinking, just in case.”

  “Got it.” Leon shoved the truck into gear and pulled out onto the broken asphalt and quickly disappeared into the night.

  Brian carried his personal arsenal to the tree at the crest of the hill to watch the camp when the two women were led to a truck where they were chained to a bumper. A grizzled old man was given a key before the leader snarled and shoved him out of the way. The man picked himself up and picked up a sleeping bag then spread it out near the women. He spoke to them briefly then lay down turning to face the men and party ensuing. The girls huddled together against the bumper watching the rest of the camp grow rowdier with each drink.

  The felonious crew passed around two more bottles. They scrounged food and filled metal cups with alcohol as they sat around the fire growing more raucous by the minute. Brian was sure the current celebration would obscure any distant rumble of the returning truck. Having time for the others to return would all depend on how long the boss let the party continued.

  Brian glanced at his watch, ignoring the mosquitos buzzing and lighting on his bare skin. Ten minutes. He imagined Billy, Leo and Juan arming and loading up. He slowly screwed the silencer on the end of his rifle as he watched the assailants and victims. Not doing any serious long distance shooting in a really long time, Brian watched the celebration spin up into a full-blown party. The men toasted each other for a well-executed ambush and the plethora of supplies and women. As the salutes grew more raucous, one of the men approached the women rubbing at the front of his jeans. The guard jerked upright and growled curses while pointing a gun in the man’s direction. The would-be abuser crept back to his friends amid a myriad of laughter from his cohorts.

  Brian slowly released his breath as he watched one of the men shove his way through the celebrating group breaking up the party. He pointed and snarled at four individuals, and they headed off to stand in the shadows at the edge of the camp. The drinking suddenly ended, and the carousers began to settle down. Brian glanced at his watch and cringed. He had been hoping the party would continue to cover the sound of the truck’s return in the quiet of the night. He watched as one after another retrieved bed-rolls then began bedding down.

  The fire waned and became little more than a red glow of coals. Brian rechecked his watch and reali
zed it had been almost forty minutes. He heard a snap of a twig in the distance and turned to see multiple shadows making their way toward his hiding place. “Finally!” He cursed under his breath.

  He eased back into the shadows and waited. Each of the figures approaching clutched weapons. One by one, Brian recognized Leon, Juan, and Billy. Then he saw the two women following a few feet behind the men.

  “Crap.” He whispered as he slipped out of the shadows and duck-walked back down the side of the road to meet the five members of his group at the base of the hill. When he met them, he realized each carried a bladed weapon and a gun.

  “We brought both vehicles. They’re parked a quarter mile down the road. The girls didn’t want to be left alone, and after a discussion, we decided it was better to stay together.”

  “This is not a fucking democracy!” Brian declared. He took a deep breath through his nose and exhaled through his parted lips. Finally, he spoke again. “Alright, you’re all here, so all the dry-firing is going to pay off or not. We have a dozen bad guys. We have to make sure to take them all out to save the captives.”

  The two women stood staring at him while gasping for breath after running from the vehicles.

  “I need to get in shape.” Margo quipped.

  “What are you two doing here?” Brian demanded.

  “My fault. Leon told us what happened. Those women are going to be scared. We can help.” Margo answered.

  “Besides, what if you aren’t successful? If you fail, we’re left to fend for ourselves. We need to help just to protect ourselves.”

  “We loaded up the rest of our supplies and brought both vehicles,” Juan announced. “Just in case.”

  “Well, that was a vote of confidence.” Admitting defeat, Brian held up his hands, palms out. “By the time the shooting starts, Billy and I should have taken out the guards on the far side of the camp. Leon and Juan, you will need to take out the guards on this side of the camp. You two women, get to the girls. Get the keys for the chain to free the girls. The guard has it in his shirt pocket. Get them free and protect them. If you see anyone besides one of us coming over the hill, get in the truck and leave. You have the map. Dump the big truck as soon as you can and keep going. Don’t come back because we’ll be dead. Get as far away from here as you can.”