After a period of time, Turk gave the signal to open the door. As they flung open the big double doors, at both ends of the barn, the inside was flooded with light. In the middle of the floor, was parked a newer F150 4X4, tied to the bumpers were a pair of zeds. An older couple, the woman to the front bumper and the man to the rear. Turk and Red strode in from each end and almost as one, ended the old couples torment.
The truck was an extended cab model, with a matching camper cover, over the bed. Turk opened the back of the truck. “Let's see what these two were supposed to be guardin.”
“What kinda dumb sum bitch would be collectin baubles and paper money. Did they actually think this crap had value?” Turk asked, angrily.
Margo tugged on Turk's arm. “What has got you so mad?”.
Turk pointed at the deceased couple. “They probably owned this place and when things fell apart one, or more of their hands killed them, took what money and so called valuables they had and then they musta went around lootin, every place around. At least their greed caught up with them and they got what they deserved. When times are bad little darlin, folks are supposed to help each other and not take advantage. I lost my Grammy a few years back, when the area was flooding. She offered shelter to a young couple and they beat her, took the few dollars and little food she had, and left her to die. I guess old memories, just got dredged up. Times like this, you gotta be real careful who you trust.”
“I trust you, Papa Bear.”
“I'm honored. Mark my word, I will never fail that trust. Miri, would you be so kind as to clean this trash out and we'll see if this here barn, holds somethin we can use.”
Red and Lizzie searched down one side of the barn, while Turk and Margo searched the other. Their efforts produced a couple of spools of barbed wire and a big pile of metal fence posts. They loaded it all, into the back of the truck. As luck would have it, the keys were left in the truck. Turk sent Miri and the girls to gather up tack, brushes and tools, for the horses and had Red help him get the truck ready to run.
Red knew him well enough, by now, that this meant he wanted to talk to her. “So Papa Bear, what's on your mind?”
Turk chuckled. “That just started today. Took me by surprise at first, just betwixt you and me, I kinda like it.” Then a bit more seriously. “Miri seems to be losin her focus, pullin into herself.”
“You noticed that to? I think it all has become incredibly real to her. I'm not sure she could handle it, if we go on the road again.”
“That is a possibility though, she's gonna have to deal with it.”
Red squeezed his hand. “For now, get everyone back home safe.”
While the truck battery was charging, Red and Turk distributed their salvage, between the truck and the willys. Selected two of the better horse trailers, stored in the barn and pulled them out. Once the truck was running and out of the barn, they sealed the barn back up.
“Alright Margo, how do we get the horses?” Turk asked.
Margo selected a bridle and bit and handed it to Lizzie, she slipped a length of rope over the hilt of her knife and filled her pockets with bean pods, from their lunch. “I'll go down first and get the big guy. When I do, Lizzie can come down and we'll get the bridle on him. Once he's under control, the mares won't be a problem and you come in with the trailers and we load up and leave.”
“We shouldn't be wasting time on this, we should just forget these creatures and leave.” Miri urged.
“Just a little longer Miri, the horses give us a choice from always having to find gas.” Red urged.
Turk drew his rifle and took aim on the stallion as Margo, made her way into the pasture. The big black stallion focused its eyes on Margo. Its ears pulled back and its nostrils flared. In the past year, the only thing that came in on two feet, bit and clawed at him and his mares. He trampled them into the field and turned them to pulp, under his hooves. This one was different, it didn't have the fetid dead smell. Her soft words triggered a memory of someone else, causing him to pause.
As Margo got closer, the stallion pawed the ground. “Its okay big fella. Look, I got some nice treats for you, its okay” Margo said, as soothingly as she could.
Finally Margo was standing directly in front of the big horse, holding out a bean pod. He eyed her carefully, smelled the bean pod in her hand and after what seemed like an eternity to the group waiting at the side of the pasture, ate it up.
“They’re good aren't they. My friend Pete grows these. You'd like him.” Margo continued to feed the stallion bean pods and kept up a stream of chatter. Once she could sense he had calmed she slipped the noose of the lasso over his head. The stallion stiffened when Margo cinched up the noose, causing Turk to release the safety on his rifle. Margo quickly quieted the horse with soothing words and another treat.
Margo pulled his head down so she could scratch behind his ears, under his chin and kiss his muzzle. While she did this she waved for Lizzie to come down. When Lizzie arrived, Margo had her hold the rope on the stallion and Margo fitted the bridle on him. Then Margo used the rope to tether the mares together.
Margo went to the colt and called to Lizzie, “Come here Lizzie, get to know this little guy.”
Lizzie began feeding the colt, the last of the beans. “What do you think I should call him, Margo?”
“It's up to you, get to know him and see what fits. I'm gonna call his dad Bucephalus. You know, from Alexander the Great, but I think I'll call him Bo for short.”
The girls held tight onto the horses as Turk and Red drove down with the trailers. Margo stood proudly as Turk pulled up, “I told you Papa Bear, piece of cake. Now help me up, Bo needs to know who's boss.”
Margo rode Bo around as Turk loaded the mares and colt into the trailers. Suddenly Miri let out a scream. “I knew it, I knew it. We stick around wasting time, giving these girls whatever they asked for, and now we're trapped.”
Turk looked up to see a herd of seventy or so zeds, closing in on the entrance to the pasture. “Margo, time to get down now. We need to figure this out, but we may have to sacrifice the horses to get out of this.”
“Noooo” Margo wailed. “Papa Bear, I will not let you do that.”
“Red, please not my colt, there has got to be another way.” Lizzie begged.
“Yes the horses, that will work. Come on, what are you waiting for, Margo get down from that thing now, we don’t have much time. WHAT ARE YOU ALL DOING, WE HAVE GOT TO GO NOW.” Miri demanded, as she became increasingly agitated.
“Miri, you've got to get it together and give us a minute to think through our options.” Red directed.
“OPTIONS, OPTIONS. WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE THERE. For heaven's sake, if you two can't do anything, I'll do it.” Miri grumbled and went to the trailer to release the colt.
Lizzie stood her ground at the back of the trailer. “Miss Miri PLEASE STOP, your making things worse.”
Turk stepped between Lizzie and Miri. “MRS HENDERSON, QUIET YOURSELF. We are not goin to do anthin rash. One minute, is that too much to ask?” Turk turned to Red and began weighing their ability to exit the pasture, at a different point.
“I know what to do.” Margo said meekly.
In all the commotion, Margo went unheard, forcing her to place her fingers to her lips and emit a shrill whistle. “I SAID, I KNOW WHAT TO DO.”
Turk looked at Margo. “Real quick, what are you thinkin little Miss?”
“Let me and Bo do it. We'll ride over and lead the herd away and then get out. That group, will never be able to catch Bo, he's real fast.” Margo laid out.
“I don't know about that.” Turk started, but was quieted by Red’s hand on his shoulder.
“She's a young woman, not your little girl. She has thought this through and knows what she is doing.”
Turk walked over to Margo. “Your sure you can do this?”
“I can.” Margo replied confidently.
“It's not easy to see my girl growing up.” Turk quietly confided to he
r and then quickly agreed on a plan and a meet up location.
Turning to Red, Turk laid out the plan for her. “Darlin, you and Lizzie head out in the truck as soon as Margo, has got that group movin. Lizzie, you might have to help shoot any zeds, blockin the way. I'll be followin with Miri, but I can't trust her with a weapon right now.”
Margo waved a quick goodbye and gave an encouraging thumbs up as she tapped Bo's side with her heels. She gave him his head as she directed him to the far end of the pasture, causing her hair to billow back. As she approached the fence she leaned forward, hugging the horses neck as he flew over the top. Turk's heart jumped into his throat, when he saw Margo list to one side as they landed. Riding bareback, all she had was Bo's mane to catch hold of, to keep herself from sliding. The tug on his long mane must have stung Bo, but he showed no sign that it did.
Bo became somewhat confused, when Margo wheeled him, about to charge straight at the undead herd, but he had been trained to obey his rider and her gentle urging calmed him. Once half the distance to the herd had been closed, Margo slowed Bo to a canter and then a walk. Slipping the reins between her teeth, she raised her pistol with both hands and fired into the air. Bo jolted a bit at the noise. “Its okay boy, just a little noise.” When the horse relaxed underneath her, she fired again.
The second shot and the sight of the big animal approaching, got the herds attention away from the vehicles and onto the horse and its rider. Margo began firing over the stallions head, not really caring if she hit anything, but to focus the zeds attention on Bo. At about fifteen yards from the herd, she turned Bo about again and slowing his gait even more, the pair began moving away, drawing the herd with them.
As soon as the way was clear, Red took off. A few of the zeds at the back of the herd turned, about to head back to the vehicles, rushing in their direction. Lizzie began firing out of the window, but the bouncing vehicle made it nearly impossible to hit anything. Turk was close behind and plowed into a handful of zeds with the horse trailer, he was towing. Once the vehicles were clear, Margo and Bo were left alone to make their own way to the rendezvous point.
The fetid smell of the dead, washed across the big horse and his small rider, like a wave. Their incessant moaning rang, like a cacophony, in Bo's ears. Margo thought her heart was going to beat its way out of her chest and her breathing was becoming short and rapid. Knowing that Bo would pick up on her anxiety, she forced herself to breath slower and deeper. “Good boy, good boy, okay they are clear now, we can pick up the pace.”
Again, giving the horse his head he burst into a gallop, glad to be pulling away from the frightful creatures. This time when they cleared the fence, Margo was better prepared and did not lose her perch. She urged her steed to go even faster as they flew across the pasture and over the fence. on the opposite side.
As they entered the woods, she slowed their pace, not wanting to cause the horse injury, but the rush of galloping across the field and facing down a herd of zeds, urged every fiber of her being to continue to bolt. “We did it Bo, you and me, we saved em. We saved em all.” Margo proudly told the big stallion.
The organist led the congregation, in the hymn, Onward Christian Soldiers. As the hymn ended Preacher Josiah came out followed closely by Brother Zachary, Delilah, six of the Sisterhood and finally Mother Rachel. Delilah was carrying a large, ornate carafe filled with a deep red liquid that she placed on a small table that was set in front of the pulpit.
Preacher Josiah raised his hands for silence, before turning and making a slight bow to Mother Rachel. Mother pressed her palms together and raised her hands up, her fingertips just below her lower lip. Mother walked silently over to the table on which the carafe sat and extended her hands over the carafe, slightly parting her hands, but keeping the edges touching.
Mother closed her eyes and silently moved her lips. After a few moments she stopped mouthing her prayer and turned to Brother Zachary. Preacher Josiah filled a chalice from the carafe as Brother Zachary knelt before the Mother.
“Mother I am your vessel, fill me with your spirit so that I may spread your word of True Belief and rid the world of non-believers.” Zachary expressed.
Mother placed one hand onto Zachary’s forehead and again silently mouthed a prayer, before speaking aloud. “Stand Zachary and let the congregation see my emissary.”
Zachary turned to face the congregation briefly before turning to Preacher Josiah. Josiah handed the chalice to Zachary. “May the sins of your life be cleansed by the blood of the Mother.”
Zachary took a sip from the chalice, then moved to the sisterhood waiting behind the pulpit and repeated the ritual with each of them. At the same time Josiah filled two more chalices, moved past the fallen tethered at the front of the church and approached the first row of the congregation. Repeating the ritual he passed on the first chalice, each member in the congregation took a small sip before turning to the person next to them exclaiming. “May the sins of your life be cleansed by the blood of the Mother.” Josiah turned to the other side of the aisle and handed off the final chalice to the remainder of the congregation.
Chapter 8 - Interlopers
The location Turk picked to meet with Margo, was a short distance away. The section of woods Margo was riding through, ended at a three way intersection, so once Margo got to the road she wouldn't be far off. They pulled along side of the road and Turk placed Lizzie on top of the truck, with binoculars, while they checked on the horses.
“I'm sorry for the way I acted back there, I don't know what happened, I just panicked I guess.” Miri said, as contritely as she could.
“Got no time for that now Mrs. Henderson, we got a young gal out there on her own. Keep quiet and keep a look out for her.” Turk answered.
“I understand, but I just wanted you two to know...”
Red cut her off. “Miri not now.”
Turk continued to scan both directions from the intersection, looking for Margo. A flicker from the hills behind the horse ranch, caught his eye. Suddenly, he snapped his gaze back the other direction to see a flock of birds, leave their roost.
Red took Turk's hand. “It'll be okay it hasn't been long, she'll be here soon.”
“Miri keep an eye on Lizzie, I want to go in the woods to check for Margo.” Turk exclaimed.
Red followed him into the brush, at the edge of the woodlot. “Whats up?”
“Were bein watched and there's someone layin in wait, up ahead. We can't afford Miri goin into a panic again.”
“What? How on earth do you know this? How long have we been spied on?”
“How long, I have no idea. I just caught a glint off of a scope, while we was waitin and heard a car door slam, spookin that flock of birds overhead.”
“Good to know, we'll avoid them on the way back.”
“Wish we could, but pullin these trailers they'll just run us down. Best to deal with it head on.”
“Okay, how do we do that?”
“We don't, I do”
“Damn it, don't go pullin this cowboy shit on me. We are a team.”
Turk smiled, in admiration. “You know your pretty when your mad.”
“Don't change the subject, I'm not letting you run into a trap, while Miri and I slink away with the girls.”
“You’re not going anywhere, just wait till Margo arrives. She's got a part in this to.”
Almost on cue, Margo rode up and dove into Turk's arms. “Again, Again, Again. Did you see Bo and me? I told you we could do it.”
“Never a doubt lil darlin, never a doubt. You think Bo could take a passenger, on your next ride?”
“Sure, he couldn't go at a gallop, but we could ride double. Why, did something happen?”
“So let me get this straight. You're going to drive ahead, by yourself, to whomever is waiting up ahead. Miri, the girls and I are to take the other road. Once we are out of view, Margo and I hop on Bo and back you up, while you stall them with that glib tongue of yours.”
“Pre
tty much, but if that spotter comes along you'll need to stop him, before he goes after Miri. I reckon I can get the drop on those fellers, long enough for you to come along.”
“Seems like there is a lot of ifs in your plan.”
“We need to take control of the situation, if we run then they have the advantage. I'll be okay, I'm more worried about stirrin up a hornets nest and lettin you and Margo come chargin in. Also, I don't know if Miri can handle drivin back to camp.”
Red turned to Margo. “You're part of this plan, what do you think?”
“I think you and Miri, should ride the mares and Lizzie rides double with me. Miri, Lizzie and I will ambush the second group. The horses can go where cars can't, so we can get out quick if it is to much. Red, you can go ahead and be there to help out Turk.”
Red Rises (Book 2): Dead To Rights (HZA, Vol. 4) Page 19
