by Reed, N. C.
Some things however, regardless of how inevitable, can be dealt with. Particularly with enough warning and sufficient preparations.
-
“Your herd looks good,” Dee Talbot noted as she, Samantha Walters, Teri Hartwell and Gordy Sanders completed their tour of the ranch. It was four days after the luau, a great way to be introduced to the ranch and the people who occupied it, Dee had decided. She and her children had settled into a small but comfortable cabin on the hill overlooking the ranch and now she was learning the layout. Her children we already in school and Jimi's arm was looking much better after just a few days of proper care. She and her children were still slightly malnourished, but well on their way to recovery.
“We've tried to work it carefully over the years,” Gordy told her. “We didn't specialize in breeding stock like Sam's family but we did strive to have the best possible beef cattle and we had a decent blood line thanks to that work.”
“You certainly do,” Dee complimented. “I notice you're holding what remained of Samantha's stock separately?”
“They're a bit too good a blood line to just use as random beef cattle,” Gordy smiled. “But I let Sam and Teri make those choices. Honestly they're better at it than I am.”
“He's being modest,” Teri assured Dee. “He has an excellent grasp of the cattle business.”
“Business, yes,” Gordy nodded. “All of which is pretty much useless now. I know how to work cattle and care for them. I was still just learning about running a breeding program when all this turned sour. So, I'm trying to learn from these two,” he indicated Sam and Teri, “who know way more about it than me and have a lot more practical experience.”
“A good plan,” Dee acknowledged. “A smart man or woman knows what they don't know and doesn't run from it.”
“That's me,” Gordy tried to keep a straight face but failed. “Smart.”
“Oh Lord,” Sam groaned, face palming. “From modest to arrogant in five point nine seconds.”
“Hey now, that's a little harsh,” he complained.
“If we can get back to the topic at hand,” Dee was losing her own battle with keeping a straight face. “I don't see anything wrong with your herd on first glance. Where are you at the moment on your breeding plan?”
“We were just about to start a new round,” Samantha admitted. “None of the cows are bred at present. We decided to wait for a few months and let things settle down some. It looks like we can count on a decent harvest and good hay, though, and we've already got good grass, so this time we were planning on letting about half of the cows that enter season to be bred.” Despite her tendency to blush at the mere mention of anything 'carnal' in nature, the cattle woman in Sam could talk freely about cattle breeding without so much as a hiccup.
“Without a market, what are you going to do with the excess?” Dee asked.
“We're trying to work out a way to distribute as much beef as we can to the hungry,” Sam sighed. “But it's hard to do and still be safe. Unfortunately, no matter how much you do for people, it's rarely enough. We have to protect ourselves first of all.”
“Absolutely,” Dee agreed at once. “Well, my advice would be to do no more than twenty percent at any one time,” she said after a brief pause. “While you have the resources to care for them, adding so many new head when you don't have a real and ready market might cause you difficulty down the road. If nothing else you can start rotating the herd by such a margin, and then you can stagger calf crops. Say, breed the first twenty percent or so, then two to three months later, the next, and so on. Not only will it spread the work out, it will limit the number of calves on hand and avoid having a flux of grown but otherwise useless cattle. Also, limiting how often the cattle are bred is good for their heath and will increase their longevity as well as the calf quality.”
“We had thought about that, but not that far ahead with regard to either quality or quantity,” Sam admitted. “We were hoping to get a good crop this time next year and have them ready to trade out or even give away by fall of next year.”
“Decide how many you'd like to have disposable by then and add ten percent to it,” Dee said at once. “You’ll need to speak to your community leaders and see what they have in mind before you begin. And remember, you need to breed for replacement stock as well. I know Sam is used to doing that and I assume you are, Gordy, but it bears mentioning nonetheless.”
“We had taken that into consideration,” Sam promised. “The goal at the moment was to be prepared for resuming operations whenever we could find an acceptable market, and also to maintain the quality and health of the herd overall.”
“A sound plan,” Dee said approvingly. “I think you didn't need my help as much as you thought,” she laughed.
“We know nothing about the hogs as far as managing them,” Teri mentioned. “I was aiming for larger livestock in school, mostly equine and bovine. My interest in hogs is mostly limited to pork chops and bacon,” she admitted to laughs from the others.
“A good interest in my opinion,” Gordy approved. “There's still the dogs, too,” Gordy mentioned. “We have seven Kangal hounds that we'd like to see turn into a much larger group, ideally.”
“Let’s take a look at that,” Dee told Teri.
“We need to get back to work,” Gordy sighed. “I imagine the two of you can handle that, though,” he added.
“I'm sure we’ll make out,” Dee said dryly. “You two go ahead and make out, I mean off, wherever you need to go,” Dee added, delighting in Samantha's deep blush.
“Come on Mrs. Talbot,” Teri laughed as she reined her horse around. “Most of the dogs will be hanging around the school other than Gawain who rarely leaves Sam's side.”
-
Corey Raynard had a 'wing in a sling' thanks to his having been shot during the attack on the farm. His face and neck were peppered with stitches from the heavy splinters he had taken, but he was still able to be out and around. He was dressed in his uniform and wearing his gear, though his rifle was still in his cabin, useless to him with only one good arm. His sidearm was on his belt, however, and it was his off hand that was confined to a sling so he could at least protect himself.
He had been hanging out near the school for lack of anything better to do, thinking that someone staying near was a good plan. While he might not be able to do much, he could at least slow down whatever threat might appear and give others time to get the children to cover.
He was reclining in the shade and in danger of going to sleep when he felt something wet on his hand and looked down to see one of the already massive Kangal pups licking him. Laughing, Corey scratched the pup behind the ears, earning himself yet another lick as the dog forced her head further into his hand.
“Looks like you've got a friend,” he heard behind him and turned to see Teri Hartwell and a familiar face that he couldn't quite put a name to leading horses up behind him.
“Just got her, in fact,” Corey nodded. “How you doing Teri?”
“I'm good,” the vet student smiled. “Corey Raynard, this is Dee Talbot. Mrs. Talbot, this is Corey Raynard, one of the security team. Mrs. Talbot is new to our community Corey, and an expert in animal husbandry.”
“Cool,” Corey nodded. “Nice to meet you. I suppose you’ll be making sure the hogs keep providing us with delicious bacon then?”
“Among other things,” Dee laughed. “Including taking your new friend and helping her make more Kangals.”
“Good,” Corey nodded at once. “We need a pack of them. Dozens even, roaming this ranch and protecting everything and everyone on it.”
“They're very good at that sort of thing,” Dee nodded. “Looks like you might have been doing that job yourself, no?” she studied the youngster that couldn't be more than eighteen, tops. While she hadn't seen his face then, she was sure this was one of the young men who had saved her and her children before.
“Nah, just fell down the stairs,” Corey replied casually. “I'm a little clumsy, I'm af
raid.”
“And a liar,” Teri snorted. “He was shot while defending the farm from attack a few weeks back. And got riddled with splinters from a log that got shot up overhead.”
“Ouch,” Dee winced.
“Looks worse than it is,” Corey shrugged. “So, you're going to try and help my little friend here give us more hounds?” he asked Dee. Before she could answer, Corey's radio came to life.
-
“Bossman, Bossman, come back,” Jody Thompson's voice broke the silence as Clay's radio crackled into life. He picked up the radio and replied.
“Five confirmed Tangos approaching on foot, zero four zero, five hundred meters,” Jody reported. “All carrying long arms. No other traffic in sight at present. Advise.”
“Keep them under observation and let us know if the situation changes,” Clay ordered. “Home Plate from Bossman, come back.”
“Plate copies. Say traffic,” JJ replied at once.
“Roust Deuce and tell him we need a drone sweep of the perimeter ASAP. Advise when drone is airborne.”
“Plate copies all.”
Clay grabbed his rifle and harness, then started for the direction the unknowns were coming from. Five of them, moving on the farm. What if they weren't the only team closing on them? Zero four zero was a compass heading, roughly north, northeast of their position. Just about right for someone trying to slip in on them from the Interstate. Maybe to snipe at people around the farm? Obviously, Holman still had no idea what kind of people he was dealing with despite whatever information he had gotten from Joshua Webb.
Or what if he did? Clay stopped short as his thought process came full circle. What if this was a test? Still counting spears, so to speak, but this time testing their sharpness? Seeing how the farm responded to something like this as opposed to an overt attack. For that matter, was this a precursor to such an attack rather than just an infiltration action?
“Scope, this is Bossman, come back,” he called finally.
“Go for Scope,” Nate replied at once. The background noise indicated he was gearing up as well.
“Collect Gunner and Ram and deal with this,” Clay ordered. “Quietly if possible,” he added. “This smells wrong.”
“Roger that,” Nate replied. “Gunner, Ram, how copy?”
“Gunner,” Zach replied at once.
“Ram,” Kade sounded as if he had just woke up.
“Building Two, three minutes,” Nate ordered. “Full gear. Like there's a reason.”
“Gunner is already en route,” Zach replied at once.
“Ram is moving,” Kade was a few seconds later replying, obviously trying to get rid of the cobwebs. Clay cursed his complacency at not realizing that Kade would be sleeping, having come off watch that morning. Still, if this was an attack then all hands would be needed. Clay decided to head for Building Two himself instead of heading for these stalkers as he had originally intended. He arrived to see Nate talking to Zach just as Kade was arriving.
“You're late,” Nate told the teen.
“Hey man, I was asleep at the top of the hill five minutes ago you know,” Kade replied.
“We're moving in a triangle oblique to our visitors,” Nate told the pair. “We’ll use that to flank them and get into position to see who they are, if possible.”
“Boss,” Nate nodded as Clay walked up on them.
“Take no chances,” Clay ordered without preamble. “If you even suspect they're a threat then eliminate them. They should know better than to approach us like this if they aren't a threat.”
“Roger that,” Nate nodded. “Let’s go you two.” The three started out at a slow jog, moving east in order to be able to flank their visitors.
“Tommy, report,” Clay ordered. “Scope moving with two, zero nine zero,” he added.
“Roger that. Still five, still moving. Direction and rate of travel unchanged.”
“Roger that.” Clay acknowledged just as Deuce arrived. The teen ducked inside without a word and reappeared a minute later with a drone in hand. Seconds later the powerful machine was spun up and his nephew stepped back, maneuvering the bird into the sky. It took a minute for the drone to get to altitude, but then the younger Sanders began to slowly spin the drone in place, eyeing the small tablet screen that was connected to the camera. Satisfied that the immediate area was clear, he began moving the drone to the outer perimeter of the ranch, moving slowly to allow him time to examine the ground.
“Anything?” Clay asked.
“Not immediately,” Deuce shook his head. “Still looking. Cattle don't look disturbed.”
Thinking of the cattle made Clay think of the dogs. Thinking of the dogs made him realize that he hadn't done anything about them.
“I need someone to call or account for the dogs,” he called over the radio to whoever might be listening. “We've got incoming.”
“All but one is accounted for already,” he heard a moment later from Corey. “Ter. . .Vet has them. The only one we don't have is Gawain.”
“I've got him in sight,” Gordy said next. “He's safe. We're good.”
“Roger that,” Clay acknowledged. Corey Raynard wasn't able to work but he was able to be up and around so he was helping where he could. Today that apparently included helping Terri Hartwell.
“Scope in position, waiting on approach,” Nate called two minutes later. “Tommy do you have us?”
“Affirmative,” Jody replied at once. “You are one fifty from target, they're at your two o'clock and will move across your front from northeast to southwest. Closest approach about fifty, give or take. Call it one minute to ninety seconds.”
“Roger that, standing by,” Nate replied. Clay listened and then turned to Leon.
“Deuce?”
“I'm still checking the perimeter, but clear so far,” his nephew didn't look away from the screen. “I've cleared from here to Nickel Creek and then west to our line, and now back to the road. Passing behind the cabins now. Still clear.”
“We need to clear the rest,” Clay stressed.
“This only moves so fast,” Deuce replied calmly. “Wanting it faster won't make it go faster, Uncle Clay.”
Clay didn't say anything to that. His nephew knew best when it came to the 'toy', so he'd have to let that be the last word on it. It was what it was. Patience would be the order of the day.
-
Nate was lying in sage grass, Kade to one side and Zach to the other. All three had attached suppressors to their rifles and were waiting to see what happened.
There was no way this wasn't bad news. Clay was right about that. Anyone who wasn't a threat wouldn't be approaching them like this, trying to come in from a direction no one might expect. Even as he was thinking that, he noticed the five of them go to ground.
“Scope has lost visual,” he said over the radio. “Targets have gone to ground.”
“I have them,” Jody's quiet baritone filled his ear. “They're setting up a rifle. I'm going to discourage them. Hold where you are.”
“Holding,” Nate whispered. He looked left and right and got a wave from each of his squad mates. They had heard.
Three seconds later soil erupted to their front about seventy-five yards away, along with what looked like part of a rifle. The heavy boom of a large bore rifle followed a split second later, along with shouts and one scream of pain from the direction of the dirt eruption.
A second such eruption happened before the sound had settled as Jody put another round down range, apparently hitting pay dirt as another geyser, this time of blood, erupted from the same spot. Three figures suddenly leaped to their feet out of the grass and began running back the way they had come. Nate hissed the go ahead to Kade and Zach as he put his sights on the middle runner and pulled the trigger. His rifle was echoed by first Zach's and then Kade's as all three runners hit the ground.
“I confirm five targets on the ground,” Jody said softly.
“We’ll just wait here to see if they're playing
with us,” Nate decided. “Let us know if we need to move. We’ll give it ten minutes or so and then move in.”
“Roger that.”
-
“What's going on?” Dee asked as several armed women appeared at the school and helped corral the children into cover. Corey had made sure all the dogs were nearby and stayed close to the school as well.
“Some men are trying to sneak onto the farm,” Corey told her. “They've got a heavy rifle so odds are they're trying to set up a sniper team and target people on the farm from a long way out. We 're-,” He was cut off as a large rifle boomed from the direction of Building Two.
“Jesus what was that!” Dee ducked instinctively.
“That's Jody,” Corey replied. “Team sniper. They must have tried to set up and target us or he would have waited. I'd -,” he was again cut off as the large bore rifle spoke once more.
“Is he shooting people?” Dee Talbot asked.
“I'd say he probably is,” Corey nodded. “Keep in mind that these people are sneaking up on us,” he added. “We've been attacked already several times so we have to-,” Once again Corey's explanation was interrupted as a volley of quieter and more distant rifle fire rattled off in the distance.
“That's probably the response unit finishing them off,” Corey explained. “If they had been peaceable no one would have fired,” he informed Mrs. Talbot. “I... wait,” he pressed his hand to his ear, listening. “Okay, they've put down the infiltrators and now they're waiting to see if it's safe to approach. For now, there's no restriction on movement if you guys want to get somewhere else.”
“I think I’ll stay here with you, assuming you don't mind,” Teri shook her head. “I like it just fine right here.”
“I don't have anywhere to be myself,” Dee Talbot agreed. “I must say you two are awfully calm about all this,” she added.
“I'm afraid we're used to it,” Teri admitted. “And I doubt Corey would seem any more perturbed if they were actually shooting at him,” she added.
“I'm scared to death,” he assured her, his tone indicating that he was lying. “I'm so scared I can't move a muscle hardly,” he claimed even as he continued to pet the dog that had befriended him.
