Escaping Home

by Jeffrey Miller

  Nate couldn’t believe what he was hearing, yet knew it was the truth.

  Nate stood the man up.

  “So, what became of the pregnant girl?” Nate asked, almost afraid of the answer.

  Don smiled.

  Nate became aggravated at the sight of his sheepish grin.

  “Why the hell are you smiling?” Nate demanded to know.

  Don quickly lost the smile and explained.

  “She met me on the way out of town. She said she wanted to be with me and have the baby know his father. She brought extra food and water and we left town together.”

  Nate was shocked. The only thing Nate thought was either the girl was crazy, or she had Stockholm syndrome. Maybe she had both. Whatever the reason, it still left one question, where is the woman?

  “Where is she then?” Nate asked.

  Don looked up the road and pointed.

  “You can barely see it from here, but we are both staying in that abandoned home up the road.”

  Nate looked in the direction and could see through the swaying trees what appeared to be a home.

  “So, you are telling me that you didn’t hurt anyone to take the house? So, if we go up the road I will find a pregnant young lady waiting for you?” Nate asked, knowing this was the finale test of his truthfulness.

  “We can go up there now if you like,” Don replied.

  “Oh, we will; and if what you say is true, why did you attempt to kill my family?” Nate asked, wanting to see his reply.

  “I needed food. Besides that, I wouldn’t have shoot anyone. The rifle is empty minus the one bullet to scare them. I was scared and hungry. That is the truth. I am from New Jersey. I have never hunted. The other guys always did the hunting; I kept the generator running,” Don explained.

  Nate pulled him away from the river and they started back to the semi.

  “You were never going to kill me, were you?” Don asked.

  Nate wanted to say yes, only because he threatened his family.

  “Don, I could have killed you long ago if I wanted to,” Nate replied.

  When Nate got back, he explained everything that he had discussed with Don at the river. Nate’s mother and father agreed they would be the better people in this situation and help out; mostly for the baby’s sake. First, Nate had to be sure what Don said was true. The main reason they decided to respond in this manner was because of the innocent child that would come into the upside down world.

  Nate decided to walk Don half way up the road to the home, and allow him to go get the woman and bring her to him. Nate carried his rifle, letting Don walk ahead of him.

  “Ok, I will wait here. Go get her, and don’t try to pull anything. Don, if what you say is true, we will help all of you.”

  Nate couldn’t believe he had just said that. It was his mother rubbing off on him, but he also knew it was the right thing to do.

  “I won’t be long,” Don said as he ran off to the home. In only a few minutes, Nate saw the young lady appear with Don. She did appear to be pregnant and they walked closer. He was holding her hand. As she came closer, she recognized Nate and smiled.

  “I can’t believe this…it’s really you!” she said as she came within a few feet of Nate. He smiled and clearly remembered her.

  “So, you are here of your own free will?” Nate had to ask.

  She smiled.

  “Yes, things were not good, and in some ways, I can’t forgive Don for his past, but he has changed. He told me briefly what he tried to do to your family. I am sorry for that,” she replied.

  “He is lucky, and so are you that I didn’t kill him earlier. I will not ask how you two came to be; that’s not my business. What I hope is that you both realize that you have a second chance to do something here and start a real life,” Nate said.

  “I am sorry for what I did to your family and especially to the boy. I would not have hurt any of them even with a loaded gun. I know none of this means anything to you because you already convicted me, and rightly so. You are right; I should be in jail for my actions,” Don stated.

  “I won’t argue that, but maybe this is what was meant to be,” Nate replied.

  Nate told them both that they would all be leaving in the morning. He also explained that they would give them some food, but that they would really need to learn how to live off of their surroundings. Nate pointed out the water resource, as well as the fishing he could do to live. The young woman —Debra — stated that she was growing a few vegetables in the backyard of the home. She had been saving seeds from tomatoes and found some other wild growing plants already in the yard when they found the abandoned home.

  Debra and Don said they had well water, but also would use the river at times after sterilizing and filtering. Nate asked them to go back in their home, and that they would see them in the morning. They turned to leave, and Nate could hear Debra tell Don she was hungry. Don told her he would try to go fish when they got back and that he hoped the spear wouldn’t break this time.

  “Don, wait. Just wait right here. I need to run back to the truck and will be right back.”

  Nate would not be able to rest knowing he allowed a pregnant woman to go hungry. Once again, he had to remember the help he received along his journey, and he couldn’t turn a blind eye to even Don.

  Nate turned and quickly headed back to the semi. He could see his father standing by watching Nate as he came back.

  “What’s wrong, Nate?” Henry asked.

  Betty walked up after putting a large pot of water on the open fire pit grill. Nate told his parents about Debra, their situation, and what he wanted to do. He really didn’t want them at their campsite tonight; he just didn’t feel comfortable about that. However, he wanted to give her something they could eat, and he would give Don an old fishing rod and reel from the several he had brought along with them for the trip. Maybe Don could get some fish while she prepared whatever they decide to give them.

  Betty agreed that Nate’s idea was a generous one, and she went to the semi and dug through the large plastic tub filled with foods. She removed a twenty-pound bag of rice and a smaller bag of lentils. She then reached into a small box that was filled with small packages from several Asian restaurants she had collected over time in the past years; mostly soy sauce. Betty was known for her extensive collections of these items. Nate laughed when he saw her hand full of soy sauce.

  Nate went to the Tundra and removed and old zebco 202. The rod and reel were probably older than Don, and should last him a long time. Nate grabbed a small clear box that came with a few sets of cheap fishing combos. Inside were bobbers, hooks, a few artificial lures, and some sinkers.

  Betty handed the heavy bag of food to Nate, and with his rifle slung over his shoulder, he carried the food and fishing gear back up the road.

  Nate walked up and handed Debra the bag. She looked inside and her face welled up with tears. Nate handed the gear to Don. He was genuinely shocked.

  “Oh my God, thank you so much, Nate. This will last us a long time,” Debra said, rummaging through the nylon shopping bag – one of the recycled types. She could hardly hold the bag it was so heavy.

  “I don’t know what to say. Thank you,” Don said, looking at the reel. He had constructed a spear from some items around the home, but had only been successful a few times. This would increase his chances drastically.

  “Just keep in mind that you both have a kid coming and you better start stocking up and building a reserve. I only wish there were others around here to help you when the time comes to deliver,” Nate added.

  “No worries about that, I helped with many births and I am a nurse by trade. I will be fine,” Debra said.

  This was great news Nate thought; at least the kid will have a chance.

  “Ok, that’s good. I’m heading back to our camp. We will be leaving out in the morning. When we pull up, I will honk. I have a few other items that might help,” Nate said.

  They agreed and thanked Nate aga
in.

  Nate headed back slowly to the camp. He wasn’t sure why he was so agreeable to all of this, but felt even Don needed a second chance. He knew in a different time he would still be in jail and the woman would raise up a child on her own. Maybe, just maybe, way out here in the middle of nowhere, Don would rehabilitate himself. He seemed to be slowly on the right path with a strong woman helping guide him. Perhaps that was why she came to the jail, the reason why she met him outside town prepared to go with him. Maybe she saw the good in him and knew in time he would be a real man, and not some walking tough guy wannabe from New Jersey. For now though, Nate’s thoughts were on some hot food. He would also be trying to get some fishing in with what remained of the evening.

  Nate’s family sat around the open fire ring at the camp. The evening was with clear skies, and the sounds of the river made it very peaceful. Nate had some luck at the river, having only returned with Ben and Nicole. Turns out, Nicole was a good fisherwoman. Her father used to go fishing often, and she learned much from him. She taught Ben a few things, and he caught his first trout. All in all, they came back to the trucks with six good-sized trout. Nate prepped them, and they were a good addition to the freeze-dried cheese and macaroni his mother made in a large pot on the open fire.

  “Mr. Michaels, do you think where we are going they will let me stay?” Nicole asked.

  Nate cold see the concern in her eyes. Nate felt like she was feeling alone, and maybe the fishing reminded her of her loss.

  “I see no issues that need concern you, Nicole. Wherever we go, you will be welcome to stay with us,” Nate reassured her.

  Nicole smiled. Ben was sitting close to her and acted like he wanted to mention something, but held back. Nate noticed this.

  “Ben, you want to say something?” Nate asked.

  Henry looked at Nate like he was confused about what he was reading in his son’s appearance. Ben had little quirks that Henry, nor Betty, had noticed yet; little mannerisms that Nate learned over the course of the summer together.

  “I hope Nicole will stay with us, it’s like having a sister. I never had one,” Ben replied nervously.

  Nicole grinned.

  “Well Ben, I never had any brothers or sisters, so I guess it’s new for both of us,” Nate suddenly realized he just became a father again. He didn’t let it show, but his father was looking at him in a manner that he knew very well. That look of, ha, look at what you did now. Nate gave him a sly grin that conveyed, don’t say a word.

  The night was drawing to a close. The wind was picking up and blowing out of the north. It was about this time that Nate could smell wood burning. Against the night sky and the full moon, he could see it rising from Don’s home. He did still have questions about that home, but didn’t get a feeling that Don was lying about it being abandoned. Many places probably would be in areas like this; maybe it was one of the homes that could be rented by vacationers. Nate didn’t know, but had to let it go. He was tired and he could see the eagerness of everyone else to get some rest.

  Nate and Henry decided on who would take the first shift. Henry won the coin toss and he went to the truck cab to get some rest. Nate would stay awake and try to plan out the next day’s route. He sat looking over the map. He recognized the towns to the north as some that he and Ben had traveled through. He would be going pretty close to Ben’s grandmother’s house if he chose the same path that he had taken before. He wondered if Ben wanted to visit that place and pay respects to his grandmother or not. That would need to be something he discussed with Ben.

  Nate was fighting to stay awake; it was almost 3:00 A.M. and soon it would be time for his father to wake up. Nicole slept in the Tundra’s front seat with Ben in the back seat. Nate wanted to ask his dad if he thought that soon he might try from a nearby mountain to get on the portable Ham and make contact with Sammie and her father. The further they drove north, the more he believed they might make it. The thing he hated the most about this current sad state of affairs, was the not knowing what was truly happening out in the world. He had his own ideas, but even he couldn’t fathom the real news that might be occurring.

  His thoughts were interrupted by the slow walk of his father. He was still trying to wake up. Henry had his rifle over his shoulder, and even in the moonlight, Nate could see how old his father looked. This trip, and stress of leaving everything behind, was catching up with him.

  “I see you are still awake,” Henry said.

  Nate gave a slight smile.

  “Only for about three more minutes,” Nate said, standing and stretching way up, his hands over his head.

  Henry watched his son.

  “Just think of the wasted talent of you not playing basketball,” Henry said with a laugh.

  Nate hated the sport. He liked baseball and football. Football was God in Texas.

  “Well, you know my thoughts on that sport; besides, I am short compared to most players these days,” Nate replied as he headed for the small two-man tent. Tonight he had company. As he crawled inside, he found Samson waiting for him. The dog stayed where he laid and waited for Nate to get inside and zip up the flap before he moved closer. This was something new, Samson had not done this before, but Nate didn’t mind. He threw the blanket over himself and part of it covered the dog. He closed his eyes, and in about a minute, the day’s events once again faded away.

  Henry didn’t wake Nate for breakfast. He could hear him snoring from thirty feet away. Ben had unzipped the tent and let Samson out before zipping it back up. Betty had warmed up leftovers from the previous night’s dinner. No one minded a bit. The food was eaten eagerly.

  “How long you gonna let him rest, grandpa?” Ben asked as he sipped on his black coffee.

  Henry was still surprised a boy, even a teen these days, found coffee to be a good thing. He admired Ben for even trying it when he did.

  “Oh, I figured we could wake him in about thirty minutes. I think he wants to move as far north today as possible. When this tank of diesel is gone, that’s it no more big rig. We will all be in your dad’s truck; dog and all,” Henry said.

  “Where are we, Henry?” Betty asked.

  Henry wasn’t too sure right now.

  “I’m not entirely certain, but I know we are west of Colorado Springs,” Henry replied.

  “It sure is pretty out here,” Nicole added. She stood and looked around, her long hair picking up the blowing winds. It got cold overnight, but not uncomfortable. Betty stood to start cleaning as Nicole helped. Ben sat looking down the road toward the home where Don was with Debra.

  “Grandpa, do bad people usually stay bad? It seems like he changed,” Ben said, pointing toward the home. Henry thought about the question and wanted to give him an honest answer.

  “Ben…some do, some don’t. It is hard to say on average, but in my experience, they always stay the same. All we can do is pray for them, and when they appear to be good, be cautious,” Henry replied.

  Henry woke Nate up about forty minutes after he said he would. Nate was really tired. Nate guzzled down two big cups of coffee and ate some leftovers his mom saved back. In less than twenty minutes, they were loaded and ready to stop by Don’s place. Nate already had the extra supplies everyone agreed to give them in the back of his truck. The small convoy drove the short distance to the small, old looking, ranch style home. There was a small sign covered in brush that read, The Big Sky Cabin. Nate laid on the horn once and stepped out of the truck when he saw both Don and Debra coming. Nate made sure he wore his pistol, but didn’t see anything in Don’s hands. It was still hard to trust him.

  Nate lowered the tailgate as both said good morning. That was the first time a day started off with someone other than his family saying good morning in a long time. Nate could see the fireplace behind them still emitting some smoke from the previous night’s cooler temperatures.

  “Good morning. We have gathered up a few more things for you all. I wish we could do more, but we have our own trip to worry about,
” Nate said. He noticed Don was acting strange. Debra elbowed him in the ribs once, then he spoke.

  “Nate, I have something I would like to say.”

  Nate was not certain which way this was going. He placed his hand on his weapon behind the view of them both.

  “What would that be, Don,” Nate asked.

  Don pointed at the front seat where Ben sat.

  “I would like to apologize to your son, Nate. I told Debra last night that I wished I had done so, and I didn’t wish to miss the chance again,” Don said. He sighed after getting it off his chest.

  “Don, I think that is a great idea and I must say that I am surprised,” Nate replied.

  Nate stopped what he was doing, walked over to where they both stood, and escorted them to the side of the truck. Nate opened his door so Don could see Ben. Henry and Betty watched from high up in the cab as something was being said.

  “Ben, I am very sorry for everything. I was not a good person to you from day one. I have no excuses for my actions, other than to say I was in a mental state that bordered on criminal insanity at the time. I hope someday you will forgive me. I really am lucky to have met both you and your dad because I would probably be dead by now otherwise,” Don finished.

  Nate was in shock. He did not expect such an apology. His words criminally insane where correct; so many people were acting in the exact same manner. In other words, without the collapse and being thrust into scenarios of life changing events, most would not act the way he did. Nate knew this wasn’t a justification, but it was the truth.

  “Thank you for saying that, sir. I hope you have a good life,” Ben replied, not knowing exactly how to reply to such words.

  “Thank you, Don,” Nate said, closing the door to the truck. He escorted them to the rear. Nate reached in and grabbed a small bag of odds and ends that his mother had plenty of. He handed the bag to Debra. Nate then grabbed an old rod/reel combo, and two small boxes of .22 caliber rifle ammo.

  Don looked shocked. He never imagined being given ammo.