by Payne, T. L.
“Yeah, but I don’t know how impartial they are gonna be.”
“Zach, you mind staying here while I escort… I’m sorry. What was your name?” Maddie asked.
“I’m Anthony. Anthony Stoddard.”
“Sheriff Stoddard’s son?” Maddie asked.
“Grandson.”
“I’m sorry for your loss.”
She hated the saying. Loss was such an inadequate word to describe what he and his family were feeling. But it had become the universal word for his situation.
“Thank you,” he said, and he looked away.
Maddie took the reins of the second horse and led him through the gate.
“Can you ride?” Anthony asked.
“Yes.”
“You can ride him if you want.”
Maddie pulled herself up into the saddle as Zach drug the gate closed. She led Anthony across the creek and down the wooded path that led to the cabin. She stopped at the edge of the woods and called out.
“Cinnamon.”
“Latte,” a voice called from the barn.
“Okay. Let’s go,” she said, nudging the brown and white horse.
Austin and Rank stepped around the corner of the barn as they approached. Austin threw up one hand and Anthony did the same. In a county of only twenty-five thousand people, Maddie wasn’t surprised they knew each other.
“What’s up, Anthony?” Austin asked.
“Jacob sent me to get you. The judge started the trial this morning.”
“What? Already?”
“The mob grew overnight. They are threatening to burn the county jail down if we don’t bring them out. Alison’s dad and brother are the ring leaders. You know how they are.”
“Yeah. They’re nothing like Alison.”
Austin turned to Rank.
“Alison was one of the deputies killed by the Jewells.”
“They started the trial without Austin?” Maddie said.
“They didn’t have much choice. Jacob said to get back as fast as possible. He hoped conducting the trial would hold them off.”
“Harmony told Austin we’d go and support him. I didn’t like that plan at the time, but now it sounds like Austin might need protection,” Maddie said, as Austin ran inside to gather his pack.
“I agree. Let’s go wake Lugnut and Ryan.”
Maddie heard the pounding of hooves approaching behind them. She turned to see Ron emerging from the wood line.
“I just had a visit…” Ron looked at Anthony and stopped.
“I guess you know already,” he said, hopping down from his horse.
“The trial? Yeah,” Maddie said. “Rank is getting Lugnut. We are all going.”
Harmony followed Austin out of the door. Lugnut and Rank were close behind. Jason was helping Ryan down the steps as Ron explained to Lugnut what had occurred at the jail overnight.
“I am not as concerned, now with the convicts gone. But I still don’t think we should leave the cabin unguarded,” Lugnut said.
“We need to get going,” Rank said.
“We should take the Jeep,” Maddie said.
“Will we all fit?” Harmony asked.
“No. I’m sorry, Harmony. You will need to stay here this time. Until you’re proficient with a gun, it’s just too dangerous,” Ryan said. “Besides, I need you here to protect the cabin.”
Harmony didn’t look pleased. She hugged Austin and turned to go inside.
“I’ll be back. After the trial is over, I mean. Maddie asked me to stay for a bit and help get ready for winter,” Austin said.
A broad smile crossed Harmony’s face, and she ran up the stairs into the cabin.
Zach turned and stared hard at Maddie.
“We need people, Zach. People who know how to shoot. We can’t guard this place with just the four of us.”
“Maddie is right, Zach. The more people with weapons training we have, the less time we have to spend on watch,” Rank said.
Lugnut backed the jeep out of the barn as the rest of them grabbed the packs and extra ammo.
“Maddie, you drive. Ron, if Zach will ride up front, Rank and I will keep track of Austin and pull rear security from the back seat,” Lugnut said, as he popped the back hatch and tossed in his pack.
Maddie unholstered her pistol, checked the magazine, and re-holstered it before sliding into the driver’s seat. Her dad had lovingly restored the 1970 Jeep Wagoneer and given it to her mother for her birthday two years before his death. Maddie had only driven it a handful of times. She hoped she would not be the one to get the first scratch on it.
With everyone sitting snuggly in the Jeep, Maddie made her way across the creek, hitting the sandbar just right to avoid flooding the floorboard and getting them stuck. Once safely on the other side, she let out the breath she’d been holding.
As they passed Sunshine’s End Road, Maddie noticed a man in camo perched in a tree above the gate. She pointed as they drove by. Ron threw up a hand in greeting, and the man returned the wave.
Austin was more quiet than usual on the drive down to the Texas County Justice Center in Houston. Maddie knew there would be a crowd but did not expect so many. It looked like the entire county had come out for the trial.
Lugnut, Rank, and Ron flanked Austin as they escorted him into the building. Maddie and Zach stayed with the jeep to make sure it wasn’t stolen or vandalized. A few minutes later, Lugnut and Rank got back in.
“Jacob said to park the jeep over at the sheriff’s office garage around back. He wants us to help stand guard at the doors of the courthouse,” Rank said.
After parking the jeep behind the sheriff’s office, Maddie, Zack, Rank, and Lugnut all ran back to the front of the Justice Center. They pushed their way through the crowd to join Jacob in front of the double glass doors.
The two-story brick building housed the sheriff’s department, the county jail, and the courthouse. Built in 2007, the Justice Center usually employed twenty-one jailers and four full-time bailiffs. Today, only ten men and women in uniform stood between the angry mob and the Jewell family.
After several hours of standing with her back to the brick wall, Maddie’s was getting tired, hungry, and feeling annoyed with the crowd of people gathered there.
Don’t they have stuff to do? Firewood doesn’t cut itself. They are going to be in for a shock come winter when they discover how much wood it’s going to take to cook and heat their homes.
While the prosecutor laid out the case before the twelve men and women inside, the crowd outside had already made up their minds. The situation reminded Maddie of the news footage of high-profile trials that often ended in rioting if the mob didn’t receive the verdict they demanded. She wasn’t sure that wouldn’t happen today. The Jewells didn’t exactly receive twelve impartial jurors. And who knew who they had even found to represent them as their attorney. Were there any defense attorneys brave—or stupid—enough to defend the county’s most hated family?
Nevertheless, they were receiving a trial, and there was still some semblance of civilization going on, it appeared.
Although the crowd was vocally hostile, when an elderly woman wearing a blue flower print house dress and white apron approached, they parted, allowing her to pass through the group. Each nodded a greeting. Elderly men tipped their hats and even the young people gave the woman respect.
As she emerged from the crowd, Maddie immediately noticed that she carried a basket covered with a checkered towel. She stared straight at Jacob. A broad smile crossed her face.
“Grand, you shouldn’t have come down here. It isn’t safe right now,” Jacob said as he kissed his grandmother’s cheek.
“Oh, these people ain’t gonna hurt nobody. They’re good, hard-working folks. They’re just upset about the murders of the Hensons, Sheriff Stoddard and his deputies. These things just don’t happen around here. It’s disturbing,” Jacob’s grandmother said. “Besides, I knew you wouldn’t have time to come home to get supper, so I brought s
upper to you.”
“Awe, Grand, you are the best. I bet you could hear my stomach growling all the way across town.”
Pulling back the towel, his grandmother displayed a basket full of sandwiches.
“I brought enough for you to share with your deputies.”
Maddie’s stomach growled and her mouth salivated at the aroma of freshly baked bread. She reached her hand back and touched the zipper of her pack. The energy bar she’d had for lunch had been less than satisfying, and the MRE she had brought didn’t sound appetizing, now that she could smell the bread. She turned to face Zach.
“Which MRE did you bring?” Maddie asked.
“I don’t even know. I just grabbed a couple. It doesn’t even matter anymore. They all taste the same. Gross,” Zach said.
Maddie felt a hand on her shoulder and turned. There it was right in front of her. The basket was full of heavenly sandwiches. She didn’t even care what was on the bread. She just craved bread.
“Here, dear,” the woman said, handing Maddie a sandwich.
Maddie thought she would cry. It smelled so good.
After the woman had delivered all of her sandwiches, Jacob approached Lugnut.
“I need to run my grandmother home. She just lives a few blocks away, but I don’t want her walking. Can you help hold things together for a few minutes?”
“Sure. I understand,” Lugnut said, nodding to the others.
Just as Jacob and his grandmother had rounded the corner of the building, the bailiff appeared in the double doors. As he cracked open the door, the crowd pushed forward. Two deputies pushed them back as the third stepped inside the courthouse. A moment later, the deputies walked down the line of guards, whispering to each one.
“The jury is back. They’ve reached a verdict. The judge said we could let the people in to hear it. But I think we should wait until Jacob returns.”
Lugnut nodded then turned to Maddie and Zack.
“We need to be prepared. No matter which way this thing goes, it could get ugly.”
“What the hell happened?” Maddie yelled as she placed a hand on Ron’s stomach. The pool of blood beneath him told her that the bullet had gone through.
“Austin grabbed my rifle and ran off toward the gunfire,” Rank said.
“One of the gunmen sprinted around the side of the building. Austin took off after them, and Ron ran after Austin,” Zach said, kneeling down and placing both his hands over Maddie’s.
As Maddie and Zach applied pressure to Ron’s stomach wound, Rank ran back to the Jeep to get the first aid kit.
Lugnut came and stood behind them.
“We have to get out of here. It isn’t safe. We have no idea how many of them there are. We are exposed here,” Lugnut said.
“Zach, run tell Rank to bring the Jeep. Hurry!” Maddie said.
“No. We need to carry Ron to the Jeep,” Lugnut said, taking hold of Ron’s legs.
“You two grab his arms,” Lugnut said.
“What about Austin, Mrs. Ousley and Anna?”
“We will see to Austin, Maddie. You get your friend to safety,” Mrs. Ousley said, appearing from behind a vehicle.
“But the men in the shop,” Maddie said.
“Those five men coming across the field right there are my kin. I suspect they’ll take care of the rest of those still in the shop. Don’t you worry. Now, you go on and get your friend home.”
The three of them carried Ron for fifty feet before he began slipping from Maddie’s grasp. They sat him down on damp leaves under a hickory tree. He cried out as Maddie adjusted her grip, and they picked him up once more. Hickory nuts crunched beneath their feet as they slowly carried him toward the Jeep.
Rank met them halfway.
“Put him down,” Rank demanded.
Once he was back on the ground, Rank proceeded to pull gauze pads from the medical kit. Lugnut unbuckled the straps of Ron’s overalls and pulled up his shirt. A pea-sized hole seeped blood. Most of the blood was coming from his back. Rank rolled him over onto his side. Ron cried out. His face was pale. Blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
“How bad is it?” Ron asked.
“It exited in the upper middle of your back,” Rank said, his expression grim.
Ron closed his eyes then slowly opened them.
Rank bandaged his wounds as best he could, and they carried Ron to the Jeep. No one spoke as they turned onto Highway 32 and headed toward the cabin.
Maddie held Ron’s head in her lap. She stroked his hair. Her tears dripped onto his cheek making it appear that he was shedding tears of blood. He coughed and blood spurted from his mouth. Each cough felt like talons ripping out her heart. She knew it was bad. Very bad. She prayed. She hadn’t prayed since her father had died, but she begged God to spare Ron.
“Just hang on, Ron, please,” she pled.
Maddie leaned over and kissed the top of his head.
“Please hang on, Ron. We need you. I need you,” she cried.
“Little Bit, you are so much stronger than you know,” Ron said between coughs.
“You’re a survivor. You’re a leader, just like your dad,” came Ron’s words through his thick, black mass of mustache hair.
Ron coughed again and Maddie turned his head to the side to help clear blood from his mouth.
“Don’t give up. You can make it. We are almost home,” Maddie cried as she wiped blood from his cheek with her sleeve.
His eyes were closed now, and Maddie couldn’t tell if he was still breathing. She felt a hand on her shoulder. It was offered as comfort, she knew, but she cringed under its weight. Maddie resented every gesture of well-meaning, sympathy and comfort, just as she had when it was offered to her when her dad had passed.
She’d known Ron since she could walk. She considered him family. She had always felt safer just knowing he was in the world. She could pick up the phone and wherever he was, whatever he was doing, she knew he’d drop everything and be there if she needed him. She realized how blessed she’d been. She and Zach had several people who would do that for them.
Maddie put her hand on Ron’s chest. She prayed she would feel it rise and fall.
She didn’t.
Maddie put two fingers to his neck.
“No. No. No. Please, God. I need him,” she whispered as she buried her face in his neck.
Maddie rocked him gently.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” she cried.
The Jeep skidded to a stop. Maddie heard the door open and the sound of boots on loose gravel. She held tight to Ron as the Jeep continued again, bouncing across the rutted field and through the creek. She felt the ice cold water on her ankles.
The Jeep might get stuck.
She looked up. Anger rose. They’d missed the sand bar and driven into the deeper water. Anger. That had been her go-to emotion after her father passed.
What the hell are they rushing for now? It’s too late. He’s gone.
She wanted to scream. She wanted to pound something. She wanted to drive right back there and kill those sons-of-bitches all over again. Slowly and painfully, this time.
Maddie screamed. Rage from deep inside her rose and exited her throat.
Lugnut slammed on the brakes. Everyone turned to her as she pounded her fist on the seat. Zach put his hand on her shoulder again, but this time, she didn’t cringe. She leaned in, and Zach slid his arm around her shoulders. He pulled her close and the two siblings cried.
Maddie’s tears were for Ron and for her dad. Also, for her mom, who she wasn’t sure she’d ever see again. She cried for the world that had lost a good man that day—a loss she was sure they would feel more often as fewer and fewer good people are left to stand up the new civilization. She cried for all the good ones who would not make it, and for those who did and had to survive this new life of turmoil.
Chapter 23
Khambalia Seekers Mission
Wright County, Missouri
Event + 18 days
Hobbling on her injured ankle, Beth tried to keep up with the girl in front of her. They led the women, single file, into the dark night. Beth attempted to look around to see where they were headed.
“Keep your head down,” an angry voice said.
She heard feet shuffling on the pavement. Beth couldn’t see the guards or Agnes. The beam of a flashlight illuminated a building ahead of the group. Beth’s mind raced, trying to discover a way to escape before they forced her inside. The closer they got, the more desperate she became. She didn’t know what awaited them in the building, but her instincts said it wasn’t good.
Beth took a chance and stepped to the side of the line of women. She looked over her shoulder, searching for the guards. She needed to know how many there were and where they were located before she made her move. Beth counted four men — two at the front and two behind them.
She needed a distraction. If it worked, she could slip away into the dark. They might not even realize she was gone until she’d had a chance to escape.
Stepping back in line, Beth shoved the woman in front of her with all her strength causing a domino effect in the row ahead. As the women fell, Beth seized the moment to move as quickly as her ankle allowed. She moved to her left, away from the line, and skipped and hopped to the corner of the building. Without stopping to see if she’d been spotted, Beth continued moving in the shadows along the side of the structure.
As she approached the rear of the building, the beam of a flashlight appeared in her path. She tried to turn to her left and get away but the man was upon her before she took her first step.
The man dragged her by her hair around to a rear door and shoved her inside. Beth stumbled and fell flat on her stomach. When she lifted her head, she was shocked to see a room full of women in white robes standing around a glowing blue ball in the middle of the room.
Beth felt hands on her arm as she was lifted to her feet. A woman slid a robe over Beth’s head and yanked it down over her shoulders.
