by Payne, T. L.
The doors of the two bedrooms popped open simultaneously. Zach appeared, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, and was bumped sideways into the wall by Harmony, who flew out of the opposite doorway, oblivious of Zach’s presence, talking a mile a minute about spices and potato wedges and secret ingredients she could add to make her special burgers.
“Do we have any onions?” Harmony asked no one in particular.
“Springhouse,” Zach said, but Harmony was too busy talking about the pros and cons of fries vs. wedges, and rolling up her sleeves to wash her hands, to acknowledge the responses.
“I’ve got watch,” Zach said, picking up his rifle and pack and pushing through the screen door in one fluid motion.
Harmony, Rank, and Maddie cut up the beef for the grinder as Ron filled in Ryan on the poacher situation. Then Lugnut told him of his plan to set up surveillance that night to catch the poachers in the act if they returned. Ron and Lugnut set off back to Ron’s farm about the time Harmony began grinding the beef for the burgers.
“I’m going to leave you to it now, Harmony. It is my turn for watch duty at the road. I’ll send Zach back to help you put the meat in the springhouse. You have to watch for snakes down there,” Maddie said.
“Springhouse?” Harmony asked.
“The little building down by the river. It is built over a spring. The early settlers of this land used it as a refrigerator. The cold water from the spring keeps things from spoiling. That’s where we’ll keep the diary from the goats,” Maddie said.
“I didn’t know you could do that. But won’t the animals get into it?”
“No, it is made of solid concrete block.”
“Okay. I’ll finish up here and be ready when Zack arrives.”
Maddie shoved two MREs into her pack and slung it over her shoulder. Grabbing her rifle, she headed for the door.
“Oh, by the way, I haven’t told the guys yet, but I asked Austin to stay on here after the trial.”
“That’s good,” Rank said.
Harmony stopped what she was doing and turned to face Maddie.
“You did?”
“Yeah. I thought we could use extra people to keep watch and help get ready for winter. What do you think about him staying?”
Harmony turned back to the bowl of ground beef and picked up a kitchen towel. As she wiped her hands, she appeared to contemplate her reply.
“I’m glad, I guess. I’m sure Austin will be a lot of help to you guys.”
“But? I hear a but in there,” Maddie said.
“No. There’s no but. I just…”
“Is it Zach?”
Harmony turned her head toward her. Maddie could see that her cheeks were flushed.
“He doesn’t seem to like Austin much.”
“He’ll get over it,” Maddie said, placing her hand on the doorknob.
Buster sprang to his feet and trotted over. He’d been lying under the table out of Maddie’s view.
“Is that all that you are worried about?”
“Yeah. I just don’t want conflict,” Harmony said.
Maddie opened the door and pushed back the screen. As Buster rushed past her, she said, “Trust me, there won’t be any.”
Maddie thought about that as she walked to her post along the road. So far, everyone seemed to get along. She knew that wouldn’t last forever with eight people and a giant dog living under one roof, but she was pretty sure they could work out any issues they had. But that might not be as easy as they started adding more people to their group.
At the moment, although they needed additional people, they didn’t have the room to house everyone comfortably. At some point, Maddie thought, they’d have to start building more structures for people to live in. She hoped there was still someone around who knows construction. If they had to rely on their group to build anything, she feared they might have a mess on their hands.
“Zach, Harmony needs your help,” Maddie said, waiting for her brother to appear in the door of the tree blind.
When she saw him poke his head out, she tossed him one of the MREs she had put in her bag.
“Is Austin too busy?” Zach asked, catching the MRE.
“He is on watch, and besides, I don’t think he knows where the springhouse is located.”
Zach climbed down the stairs. He slung his rifle over his shoulder and turned toward Maddie, pulling open the MRE.
“Make sure you take the machete. It looked pretty overgrown over there when I passed it yesterday. Watch for snakes,” Maddie said, heading off toward her watch location.
“You sound like Mom more every day.”
Maddie slowed, then sped up again. She tried her best not to think about how much she missed her mom and how worried she really was. As the days went by, it got harder and harder to stay positive. The nightmares she was having lately revolved around all the horrible things that could be occurring to her mother.
“She’s gonna make it home, Maddie. She is one tough lady,” Zach said, stepping off toward the cabin.
“I know. I believe it, too,” she called over her shoulders, continuing her march.
Maddie thought about how lucky they had been to find each other, after being separated by hundreds of miles—and how crazy lucky it was that Rank and Lugnut had survived their trek through St. Louis to rescued Jason. Things, just weeks ago, she would have thought impossible.
Mom will make it home. Even if she has to use every trick Dad taught us. She’ll make it. She has too.
After Rank relieved Maddie from guard duty at the road, she headed back to the cabin to see if Harmony needed help with dinner.
Maybe there are freshly baked rolls that need taste testing.
She thought about how lucky they were to have found Harmony. Having someone who knew how to cook was amazing. If they had to rely on her or the guys’ skills in the kitchen, they would be eating plain beans and rice for every meal—and she shuddered to think what life would be like when the hot sauce ran out.
Three horses were tied outside the barn. She gave Bluejeans a pat on his neck and scratched his nose before heading inside.
“Hey, in the barn,” she called out as she crossed the yard.
“Good afternoon, Maddie,” Jason called down.
“You looking forward to having hamburgers this evening, Jason?”
Jason had been a health nut before the EMP and rarely ever ate beef. She bet his attitude toward food would change now.
“I am.”
“Who’s on the third horse. Do you know?” Maddie asked as she reached the steps.
“I think it is Ron’s friend, the prison guard. We met him our first day here, I believe.”
“Oh. Okay,” Maddie said, nodding. She gave a little wave over her shoulder and headed toward the cabin.
Everyone not on watch was seated at the long farm table.
“Hey, Maddie. You remember Todd Simmons?” Ron asked.
“Yeah. Hey, Todd. How are things at the prison?”
“We were just discussing that and what we’re going to do with all of the prisoners we’ve got,” Todd said.
Maddie grabbed herself a glass and poured it full of sweet tea. After lifting the lid to the half-empty sugar container, she scooped four teaspoons into her drink. She continued stirring as she sat down at the table next to Austin.
Todd looked down at her glass, then over to Ron.
“Maddie is experimenting to see how fast she can develop diabetes,” Ron said.
“I like my sweet tea, southern-sweet,” she said as she took a long pull, licking her lips.
The outside temperature was still pretty warm for that time of year, and the walk back from the road with all her gear and pack left her sweaty and feeling sticky. The southern sweet tea hit the spot, though. She didn’t care if they teased her about it.
“Todd said the military had been helping guard the prisoners and was providing all the meals, water, and fuel to keep the prison running. But now, they have received orders t
o head to Peoria to help with some conflict there before heading to protect our northern border,” Ron said.
Maddie's heart sank, and she looked to Ryan.
Emma.
“Sheriff Stoddard had said that the military was pulling out of Fort Leonard Wood. We didn’t get a chance to really discuss the impact that it would have on this part of the county. I’d forgotten about it after the…” Lugnut said.
She looked down at her glass of tea. They had been just about to get into that when Jacob had arrived to tell them about Austin’s sister being missing. With all that occurred, Maddie had completely forgotten about the military leaving.
The military moving north not only would have an impact on them but possibly for Emma and the group in Peoria. She knew that Larry and his group would do everything they could to protect Emma. Her immediate concern was about the prison.
“What’s going to happen at the prison when they pull out?” Maddie asked avoiding the subject of Austin’s sister.
“I’ve talked to Jacob about it. He is trying to get the judge to make a decision one way or another about what to do with the inmates who are still there. All he seems focused on is the ones loose in the county. He wants every one of them rounded back up and brought back to serve their terms, unless and until the governor commutes their sentences or pardons them.”
“Would the governor do that?” Ryan asked.
Maddie leaned forward to look at Ryan, who sat that the end of the table with his leg propped on a small ottoman. She did a double take. He’d trimmed his beard. He hadn’t shaved it all off, but it was short. She pointed to her face, then back to his. Ryan smiled and ran his hand across his chin.
“Sheriff Stoddard and Jacob have both sent couriers to the state capital to ask the governor what to do about the prison. None of them have returned. The post commander sent a memo to the governor too, and we should hear something back, maybe even today. I’m not sure what FEMA will do when the military pulls their soldiers out of the prison. They have provided medical supplies and food, as well. We will have to see what they do without the military escort.” Todd said.
“Keep us informed about what they decide to do. If they let another twelve hundred prisoners go, that will have a major impact on us here—to say the least. But for now, our immediate concern is what to do about the convicts we have causing trouble right here in our own neck of the woods,” Lugnut said.
“I’m going to stop in and talk to Jacob on my way to the prison today. He said he should be at his house this afternoon. I’ll tell him what happened at Ron’s place and about the group of convicts held up at the other farm. I’m not sure that he’ll be able to do much, though. We may have to deal with them ourselves. But we don’t want to get crossways with the judge on it, so it would be good to get permission first.”
“What the hell is it with this judge. Everyone acts like he is king around here. Is he some heavy-handed dictator or what?” Maddie asked.
“Well, it’s complicated. You’d have to understand Texas County history and the respect some families have around here. The judge’s relatives were one of the founding families and have been influential in the area ever since. Everyone looks up to the judge as the last remaining member of the pioneers’ families.”
“So, that’s what makes everyone want to follow his orders?” Rank asked.
“That is where it gets complicated. If the judge is against you, everyone is against you. It is more about shunning than any direct punishment. It is weird, and I didn’t understand any of it when I moved here, either.”
“The judge is fairly harmless. He is a busybody and gets into everyone’s business. It keeps him busy down at the community center where he spends his time after court dismisses each day. That is where he learns about what all the young people are up to by talking to their grandparents,” Ron said.
“With the county commission basically phoning it in, he has stepped up as the community leader. People are content to let him do so for now. He has been successful at pulling the community together to help one another. The community center is this area’s FEMA distribution site,” Todd said.
“So how do we get the judge to let us handle these assholes who killed Ron’s cows—and are obviously breaking into houses? It is only a matter of time before we have a deadly confrontation with them,” Lugnut asked.
“Personally, I think it is better to send Jacob and his men in there first. If they refuse to surrender, which they likely will, then what choice is there but to take them by force. Then, when Jacob tells the judge he was rounding up prisoners, and they resisted, it will be the end of the story,” Todd said.
“Sounds like a plan to me,” Lugnut said, picking up his glass and heading to the living room.
“Where are you going?” Ryan asked.
Lugnut looked at his watch. Maddie was surprised he still wore it. Keeping track of the time was less necessary now.
“It just happens to be my nap time. I’m gonna put my feet up and take a little siesta.”
Maddie leaned against the giant oak tree next to the cabin and watched as Ron and Lugnut flipped burgers on the grill. Zach had spent half the afternoon moving stuff in the barn to get to the old Weber grill out. Now, he sat in a lawn chair with a hamburger and fries on a paper plate in his lap. The scene looked so normal. They’d done this very thing here many times when her family came to the cabin for the summer. She missed her mom’s potato salad. She missed her mom.
After dinner, Maddie returned to her post at the road. She waved at Todd as he rode his horse across the field and headed back to his house. Ron and Lugnut had gone back to Ron’s to set up hides around Ron’s place to watch for the thieves to return.
Maddie was chewing what was left of her jelly belly energy beans, fighting to stay awake, when she heard the first shots just a little after midnight. She wanted to jump down and run off to Ron’s farm, but she knew she needed to remain at her post until she was relieved. She was surprised she hadn’t seen anyone walking down the road. The convicts staying south of them would have had to come right by her to get to Ron’s place.
Holding onto the ladder of the deer stand, Maddie leaned out and looked up the road toward where she heard the shots. For a brief second, she thought she saw a figure dart across the road. Maddie climbed down and pulled her rifle to her shoulder and peered through the scope. She didn’t see anything. The shooting had stopped, and the tree frogs returned to their singing.
After scanning the area for another fifteen minutes or so, Maddie climbed back up into the tree stand but continued to watch the road.
About an hour after she heard the gunshots, a familiar voice called out from the darkness.
“Yellowjackets.”
“Lebanon,” Maddie called back.
“Their team sucks. We beat Lebanon in the finals,” Austin whispered as he reached the stand.
“Oh yeah? Then, why were you so touchy when I suggested using it as our countersign?”
“Because it’s dumb—and you just picked it because you heard me telling Zach about the last game. We would have won that game if the world hadn’t gone to shit.”
“I’m sure you would have,” Maddie said, dropping her pack to the ground and jumping from the bottom rung of the ladder.
Maddie felt bad for Zach, Austin, and Harmony. Their high school days were cut short and they likely would never attend another football game. Never go to prom. Never graduate from high school. They have to grow up way too soon. She was glad, now that she had been able to experience all of those things.
Rank was standing by the barn door when Maddie exited the woods. After providing him with the day’s countersign, she crossed the field. Rank waved as Maddie walked by. As she ascended the cabin steps, Maddie thought she heard a noise coming from the barn. She stopped and listened then turned and looked back toward the barn. The doors were closed. Not hearing anything, she proceeded into the cabin.
After dropping her pack and boots by the door, Ma
ddie walked into the kitchen. Ryan was standing at the sink, looking out the window in the direction of the barn.
“What is going on, Ryan?” Maddie asked as she poured herself a glass of tea.
She walked over and stood beside him. She leaned in and looked out at the barn doors. The door was cracked open now, and Rank was poking his head inside.
“What is he looking at?” Maddie asked.
“Convict.”
“What? What the hell? There are convicts in the barn?” Maddie asked, grabbing her rifle.
“Just one. They caught him over at Ron’s. Lugnut is asking him a few questions.”
“Asking?”
“Yeah. Asking.”
“Well, what the hell is Rank doing?”
“He is supposed to be on the lookout for the guy’s friends,” Ryan said, turning to face Maddie. “One of them got away.”
“That must have been the one I saw crossing the road,” Maddie said.
“You didn’t see them come by you?” Ryan asked, limping over to the table and taking a seat.
“No. They didn’t come from Grayson’s farm. This guy crossed down by the bridge, heading toward the spring.
“Damn. Maybe their group moved. I wish this damn leg of mine would hurry up and heal. This being crippled shit sucks. I should be out there,” Ryan said, pointing toward the barn.
Maddie contemplated going out there herself, but she worried what she might do if it were one of the guys who had held her, Zach and Harmony prisoner. No. She needed to let Lugnut and Rank do what they do. They need to know what that gang is up to and how many of them are there.
She yawned. She needed to get some sleep before her next watch but knew that wasn’t about to happen with the interrogation going on in the barn.
Chapter 20
Langston Cabin
Texas County, Missouri
Event + 17 days
Maddie heard voices down the hall and sat up to hear what was being said. She looked down at her feet. She was in her bunk, fully dressed. Maddie vaguely recalled sitting down to take her boots off, but nothing after that. Exhaustion had taken over.
