“How are you holding up?” Dallas asked as a warm breeze wafted through the covered porch. The August nights had proven to be warmer in the valley, causing everyone to peel off the layers of protective clothing.
Butcher sighed loudly. “It’s like I’m holding something fragile and I don’t know how to hold it right. He tells me he’s feeling stronger, but I don’t see it. He is too pale still and barely keeps any food down.”
Dallas nodded. She felt bad keeping a guard on him twenty-four seven, but until he was back to normal, she wasn’t taking any chances. “Let’s check out the barn.” She motioned to Hunter to come with them. “How’s your dad?”
“He’s doing okay. Crusty as ever, so it’s hard to tell.”
Dallas forced a grin as they made their way to the barn. The evening air was filled with a melody of scents from wisteria to cow manure. At the front of the barn, Dallas turned and placed a hand on each of their shoulders.
“So, here’s the deal. Both of you have an injured loved one and your focus will be diverted from any task at hand. No matter how much you think you can give one hundred percent to the group right now, you can’t. You both know you can’t. Do not fight me on this, or I’m gonna get seriously pissed off. I want you both to stay with the second Fuchs and your husband and your dad, at least until they are better.”
“Dallas––”
“I’m sorry, Butcher, but I need everyone at the top of their game and both of you are not.” She hesitated, waiting for a diatribe that did not come. “Good. Nurse your guys back to health. Straighten the Monster out while you’re in there, but take some time to relax and get some much needed rest.” They called anti-aircraft weapon mounted on top of the second Fuchs Monster.
“I won’t relax until Z and Roper are back,” Hunter announced almost defiantly.
Dallas patted his shoulder. “I appreciate the sentiment and am right there with you, but I need you both to be on your A game when we get into the Bay Area. God knows what’s going on there. Rest. Chill out, because once we make the final push to the city, who knows what will go down.”
All three turned towards the barn entrance and drew a weapon: Hunter held his crossbow, Butcher her sidearm, and Dallas her machete. “Okay. Let’s clear this just so we don’t have any surprises tonight.” Flinging open the barn door, Dallas slowly lowered the machete.
“Jesus H.”
Swaying gently were three corpses hanging from the rafters, most of the meat gone from their bones.
“Wonder how many Americans went out like that,” Butcher was more pensive and sad, not lowering her sidearm.
“No kidding.” Hunter swung his crossbow to his back and pulled out a machete.
Dallas held up her hand and they all stopped moving. “Hear that?”
A slight scraping sound could be heard on the other side of a stack of hay bales.
Dallas motioned for Hunter to go around the other side. She mouthed, “Stay here,” to Butcher, who nodded.
Keeping her machete raised like a baseball bat, Dallas slowly peered around the haystack.
“What the fuck?” Hunter gasped.
Tethered to a stake was a zombie.
“Put it down,” Dallas ordered, quickly checking behind the stack for more.
With one powerful stroke, Hunter took the head off. The body crumpled to the dirt floor.
The zombie’s left ankle had no flesh or meat on it whatsoever, the thin chain around it having worn it all off long ago.
“Probably a family member,” Dallas said. “He’s been dead quite a––”
BOOM!
BOOM!
Butcher’s gun fired once, then again, as nine man eaters appeared from various horse stalls. As she pulled the trigger to take out a third, the gun jammed.
“Get up on the loft!” Dallas yelled, jumping between Butcher and the hungry horde moving toward Butcher, the only food source they actually saw.
In four strides, Butcher was to the ladder and scrambled up while Dallas and Hunter quickly dispatched the remaining zombies with the machetes.
“Well, you have to appreciate folks who understood the need to keep the fuckers contained,” Hunter said.
“Horse trailer is over there,” Butcher said, pointing from her loft. “Looks like just a two-seater.”
Dallas nodded and made her way to it.
“Not a very old one. We’ll be able to take two...if she finds them.”
“You think she will?”
Dallas thought a moment. “I do. Roper knows horses better than anyone. She knows what to look for. If they’re still alive, she’ll find them.”
“Then let’s get this thing out of here and connected to one of the Hummers.”
As they worked to create an opening for backing one of the Hummers into the barn, Dallas looked at her watch.
How long did she give her lover before going after her?
How long would they remain safe at this ranch?
Dallas paused and studied the swaying figures hanging from the rafters. Suicide had only been a momentary option for her once. Just once. And it wasn’t anything she had intended, planned, or even thought briefly about.
It just happened.
It was back when they first started this journey together. Roper had fallen in the street and a horde had descended upon her in the blink of an eye. Dallas had run, without thought, without a plan, into the enormous horde and wrapped her arms around Roper. She hadn’t wanted Roper to die alone. Even before they became lovers, Dallas knew she could never live with herself if she just stood by and watched Roper get eaten, so she hauled ass into the street, wrapped her arms around Roper, and waited for the biting and clawing that never came. Although it wasn’t suicide in the conventional sense, it had been a conscious decision on her part to stay with Roper until the bitter end.
Not long after that, they discovered they were both lesbians and that maybe that was why the horde hadn’t attacked them.
That fact changed everything.
She could understand why many people chose the suicidal route. The day-to-day fear of being attacked, eaten, or turned was enough to make anyone just want to end it. Once all hope was lost, what was there?
Right now, she poured all of her hope into Roper finding even one of her horses. Just one. One horse might lift her lover’s spirits in a way nothing else ever could.
“Just one,” Dallas whispered to herself. “Just one.”
Although much thinner than when she’d let him free, Merlin was still very strong and had no problem carrying the weight of the two women over the hill.
“He’s a gorgeous animal,” Zoe said, wrapping her arms tightly around Roper’s waist and locking her fingers together.
“Yes, he is.”
“How in the hell did he know…you know…”
Roper caressed his soft neck. “To help? Horses are very smart and they have great memories. He knew it was me. He then knew he had to fight for his own survival. If a horse kicks you in the head, you’re done. Toast. Kaput. Fini.”
“Yeah. I saw it. What’s worse is I heard it. I’m going to hear that sound of hooves cracking skulls for weeks.”
“I couldn’t hold that dog off any longer. Merlin got to us in the nick of time.” Roper looked at the hard, dry ground and realized the horse was on a well-worn path. “He knows where he’s going.”
“Well, I just wish he was going toward the ranch and not away. It’s gonna be dark soon.”
Leaning over, Roper whispered, “Where’s Gwen? Take me to Gwen, boy.”
At the sound of the horse’s name, Merlin’s ears flicked back and forth and he picked up his pace. As they rounded a corner, Merlin came to a stop.
“Why’d he stop?”
Roper slid off the black horse. “Stay here.” Walking forwards slowly, Roper knew the moment she saw dead animal that it was Gwen. Dropping to her knees, she felt the wind forced from her as she looked upon the rotting carcass of one of her beloved animals.
&nb
sp; “Oh Gwen...I’m so, so sorry.”
Scavengers had ravaged the horse, but there was enough of her left for Roper to know it was her.
Bowing her head, Roper wept uncontrollably. She cried for Gwen, who didn’t make it. She cried for Churchill, Peanut, Safety, Colby, Cass, and all who had been lost along the way. She cried for her unknown future and her unlived past. She cried for all of the losses that had happened and had yet to happen.
“I’m so sorry, girl. If I could have done it better, I would have.”
An eagle cawed overhead as Roper wiped her face. She wondered how Gwen had lost her life. Was it to that mangy pack of dogs? Wolves? Humans? Had she suffered?
“Umm. Roper?”
It was Zoe’s voice, softer than Roper had ever heard.
“I’ll be there in a––”
“I think you should look.”
Blowing out a sigh and wiping her snotty nose with her sleeve, Roper rose, turned, and dropped her jaw.
Standing next to Merlin, tall, proud, and majestic, was Morgana.
“Oh...my...God,” Roper murmured, slowly walking toward the tall horse. Morgana, too, was thinner, but there was something in her eyes, something akin to fire. She was more than alive. She was full of life.
“Morgana,” Roper said softly, unmoving. “It’s okay, girl. It’s me.”
The horse swished her tail once, blew wind from her nostrils and then started down the hill toward a small creek. Merlin turned and followed.
“Uh, Roper? He’s following her. ” Zoe clutched her crossbow resting against her chest. “This horse thing is way out of my skill set.”
“It’s okay, Z. Just scoot forward and hold his mane. He won’t buck you off.” Roper trotted after the pair of horses as they slowly walked down the embankment.
Roper covered her mouth with her hand, more tears coming to her eyes when she saw it.
“Lancelot.” She made a move toward him, but the grey horse surprised her by stamping his front foot and lowering his head.
“It’s okay, boy. It’s me. You know it’s me, don’tcha boy?”
The horse kept his head lowered, his eyes locked onto Roper’s face.
“Oh my God…look!”
Tearing her eyes from Lancelot, Roper followed Zoe’s gaze. Standing behind a large fruitless mulberry was a small grey colt.
“Oh. Wow.” Roper knelt on one knee and Lancelot raised his head. “You had a baby? My God, all this death and destruction and you managed to bring beauty into the world.” Tears silently rolled down her face. “Look at her.”
“It’s a baby,” Zoe murmured almost like a little girl. “A little, tiny horse.”
“It’s his son,” Roper whispered. “Look at his coloring. He’s beautiful.”
“From Gwen?”
“Could be, but I doubt it. We were never successful in getting her pregnant, and not for lack of trying. He must have found another female out here.” Roper rose and stood still as Lancelot slowly walked forward. “You done good, boy. Really good.”
Suddenly, both Lancelot and Morgana were nuzzling her, wanting her to pet them, to love them up as she always had. She laughed as their soft, pink noses sniffed her and nudged her hands, trying to get her to pet them.
“You had a baby,” she marveled, caressing his soft pink muzzle. “A beautiful little boy.”
Now, she could put two and two together. She figured something had come after them, maybe those dogs. Gwen probably defended the baby with her life. She’d seen Gwen do so once before. It was just her way. Maybe the baby was hers, but the coloring was all wrong.
“I’ve never seen a baby horse,” Zoe said quietly.
Roper held her hand out. “Then come on down and pet him.”
“Really?” Zoe winced slightly as she climbed off the horse.
“Really. Wait here.” Roper slowly walked toward the baby, Lancelot walking next to her. Softly, she made the same chuffing sound as Lancelot before kneeling in front of the baby. “Hi there, gorgeous. Your daddy trusts me. Will you? Come on. Come over here.” Roper turned from the baby and started petting Lancelot and Morgana.
Ever so slowly, the colt came out from behind the tree and walked cautiously over to his dad, who lowered his head and rubbed his face against the baby.
Roper gently put her palm out for the colt to sniff and then lightly caressed its mane. “Just approach him carefully. He’s not used to humans and he will take his cues from his father.” She looked at Zoe, who stood wide eyed. “It’s okay, Z. He’s so sweet. Like his daddy.”
Zoe stood still as the baby warily walked over to her and allowed Zoe to pet his head.
“So soft,” Zoe said, her voice as gentle as her touch. “No wonder you came back for them, Rope. They are so awesome.”
“Yes, they are.” Roper smiled, loving up all three adult horses who now leaned their heads and necks into her. “We’ll take Merlin and Morgana back with us.”
“What? We can’t leave the baby.”
“Can and must. He needs room to grow, to roam, to be a real horse. Merlin and Morgana are domesticated. Percival isn’t.” Roper laughed. “Seems like a good colt name, doesn’t it?”
Zoe grinned. “Percival, eh? Is that from some King Arthur thing?”
“My favorite tale as a kid, yeah. Percival was considered the truest of knights. I think Lance would love that name for his son.”
“So we’re leaving him and his dad?”
Roper sighed, new tears springing to life. “Yeah. It’s only fair. He was born free. He ought to remain free. It’s all he knows.”
Zoe glanced at the setting sun. “We better get back, Rope. They’ll worry if we wait much longer.”
Roper kissed Percival’s nose and whispered something in his ear. Then, she laid her face against Lancelot’s neck and cried into his soft fur. “I am more proud of you than when we won barrel racing, than when you stomped on that rattler for me. I will miss you until the day I die, but you’ll be happier out here. I know you will be. You stay safe. Take care of your baby and know that I will think of you every single day. I love you.”
They rode slowly back to Dallas and the others, leaving Lance and Percival to a zombie-free life in the wild.
“Pay up,” Hunter said to Omar as they watched Roper and Zoe astride the two horses.
“Holy shit,” Omar said, handing over a sharpening stone. “Not in a million years.”
Hunter chuckled. “You’re newer. There are things these women can do that stump even the military.” He pocketed the stone. “They are awesome.”
“I’m impressed.”
Dallas and Butcher blew past everyone on their way out to meet them.
“I never doubted you, lover,” Dallas said, helping Roper off Merlin. “I’m just glad you made it––” Then her eyes rested upon their torn clothing, the blood stains. “Uh...in one piece?”
Zoe grinned and showed her the suit. “Have I mentioned how much these hazmat suits rock?”
Akiko appeared out of nowhere. “The mesh is strong enough to resist seventy pounds of crushing power per square inch. Whatever attacked you didn’t get very far.”
Zoe smiled and showed her pant leg. “Not for lack of trying.”
“Pack of feral dogs,” Roper explained. “Had me dead to rights until Merlin crushed in their heads.”
“The horse saved you?”
Roper grinned.
Dallas turned her attention to the fading sun peeking over the hillside. “Come on in. We’re resting here for the night.”
Roper stroked the length of Merlin’s nose. “Horse trailer?”
“Barn. With all the hay these two can eat. Zoe, I want Akiko to check you over just to make sure none of those teeth got you.”
“I’m fine, Dallas. Really.”
Dallas lightly brushed some of Zoe’s stray hairs off her forehead. “How much would it suck to live through this only to die of rabies?”
Zoe pursed her lips. “You want me to trust this hot bod
to that woman?”
Dallas smiled. “I want you to trust me. Please. Let her take a quick look.”
“Fine. But if she touches my breast, I might like it.” Zoe quickly caught up to Akiko. “Come on, Kiko, let’s let your eyes roam all over my taut and extremely sexy bod. Lucky you.”
Dallas wrapped her arms around Roper and pulled her into a hug. “The other two?”
Roper clutched Dallas’s back. “Gwen didn’t make it, but get this: Lance sired a baby.”
Dallas pulled away, a huge grin on her face. “And?”
“And I left them to the freedom he was born in. We can’t really take care of another baby. We’ve got our hands full as it is.” Roper clicked her teeth and both horses followed her. “Barn safe?”
“It is now. Wasn’t when we got here.”
“Everyone good?”
Dallas nodded. “Fletcher is up and about. Luke is gaining his strength back. All in all, I’d say we’ve done a remarkable job of getting across the mine fields.”
Roper stopped and took Dallas’s face in her hands. “Because we have an amazing leader. You have really created a wonderful team here, my love. Regardless of who we go after or what we decide to do, we have one very solid marching army.”
“So, you’re going to keep following me?”
Roper chuckled. “To the ends of the earth, my love. I shouldn’t have barked at you like that. I’m sorry.”
Dallas flung the barn doors open, and both horses loped on in and immediately started eating. “No, I’m sorry. You were right. I have changed. I’ve changed a lot. I guess I should have talked to you about my feelings and my change of plans. I just can’t do it anymore, sweetheart. After losing Cassie and the others, my heart sorta hardened.”
“I get that, Dallas, I really do, but I’m the one who gets to be hard, not you. We need you to lead with your head, not your heart. Your heart wants to protect those you love most, but your head knows you are responsible for far more people than that.” Roper kissed her softly. “When we get to Alcatraz, let’s sit down with Einstein and Butcher and our core people and see what everyone wants to do.”
“I’d like that.” Dallas looked over at the horses. “They’re thin,” she said, wrapping an arm around Roper’s waist. “So are you.”
Pedal to the Metal (Riders of the Apocalypse Book 4) Page 16
