by Joe Nobody
“Slow down, partner. Take it easy. Start from the beginning,” Nick soothed.
For the next 20 minutes, Bishop paced the living room floor, recounting the events of the rescue mission. He told the story of Deke’s death in the graveyard, details about the Circus and the information provided by the former army officer.
After he had finished, Nick looked at Diana and said, “I thought as much. A setup. They killed all those men out at Chamber’s Valley to set Bishop up.”
“Why me?” a confused Bishop asked. “Why go to all that trouble to make me look bad?”
Diana stared at the floor, her voice cold and monotone. “It wasn’t you, Bishop. It was our government. After the US delegation showed the evidence of your crime, the news spread around the Alliance like wildfire. The people had been so relieved to avoid war… so upbeat that we were going to have a new trading partner. When Washington announced that the deal was off until you were apprehended and turned over to them, people felt like the rug had been pulled out from under them.”
Nick cleared his throat, adding to the story. “Terri supported you 100%, but their proof was very convincing. People started gathering in the square, demanding that she be arrested and held until you were captured. Rumors spread; stories were exaggerated. That’s when we decided it was best if she head for the ranch. I’m sure she and Hunter are okay. I escorted them there myself.”
“I had people demanding we do something… anything to restore Washington’s faith in us. The whole thing began to spiral out of control. We even had a bunch of folks form a committee and drive toward Fort Hood, probably trying to cut a side deal. The council members all traveled back to their hometowns, trying to get everyone to calm down. There’s even been a call for new elections.”
It all fell into place for Bishop. It had been a clever, well-planned ruse, and it was working. He started to turn to Nick when the picture window glass exploded inward, a brick landing on the rug. “Murderer!” someone yelled as a car sped off down the street.
After recovering from the shock of the incident, Bishop turned and asked, “Nick, can you give me a ride to the ranch? I think Terri and I need to pack up and head out of here.”
Nick turned and looked at Diana, the mayor nodding her agreement. “That’s probably not a bad idea. You and Terri could take a vacation for a while, let things cool off, and give us some time to prove the truth.”
After the meaning of Bishop’s words had soaked in, Diana’s thoughts turned to Terri and the baby. “Bishop, where would you go?”
“I’ve always wanted to see the Rocky Mountains,” he responded calmly. “I hear they’re beautiful this time of year.”
Bishop indeed felt like a criminal. As he and Nick drove through Alpha, he kept low in the seat to avoid being spotted. His “WANTED” poster was everywhere.
Despite Nick’s insistence that he and Terri could remain at the ranch, Bishop wasn’t buying it. No one knew for sure how Pete was reacting to the ploy, and the mayor of Meraton had a map to the otherwise off-the-grid home. Bishop had faith in the man, but only for as long as the bartender believed his friend was worthy of such trust. If Pete bought the government’s story, he might give up the map.
Deke’s team of contractors had been able to pinpoint the ranch as well. Using tax records from the courthouse basement, they had discovered the location with little effort. While Bishop thought he had removed any such trail, that basement was stuffed to the gills with archives. He might have missed something.
Then there was Nick himself. While Bishop believed Nick would die before revealing the site of the couple’s homestead, he didn’t think the man would allow his son, Kevin, to perish in order to keep the secret.
“What if some bounty hunter kidnaps your son, Nick? What if a group of vigilantes take Diana and demand you spill the beans?” Bishop had asked his dear friend. “No, it’s better for everyone if we bug out. We did it once; we can do it again.”
“But the baby,” Nick protested as they left the outskirts of town. “You didn’t have Hunter then.”
Bishop shrugged it off. “This place was becoming too damn crowded anyway. A man needs some elbowroom. I was thinking about heading out after Terri got tired of being in the government anyway,” he pretended.
The rest of the short trip passed quickly, both men clouded by the uncertainty of the future. When Nick finally negotiated the tricky, booby-trapped approach to Bishop’s property, the two men looked up to see Terri stepping from the camper, Hunter riding in his papoose.
Bishop had to smile, noticing the pistol on his wife’s belt. She’s learned so much, he thought, and it’s a shame she has had to.
Bishop jumped from the truck, running to meet his wife and son. Their reunion was joyful, but marred by an overhanging fog of the unknown. Nick stood by in silence, waiting for the hugs and kisses to end.
“I’ll be heading back into town, Bishop,” he stated. “I want to start working on your side of the story right away.”
“Before you go,” Bishop said, “Can I ask you to gather up some supplies and other odd items? I’d like to head out in a day or two.”
“Sure, buddy. Just name it.”
Bishop pulled his notepad from his vest and began jotting down a list. He tore off the page and handed it to his friend.
Nick scanned the paper and smiled. “No problem, brother. I’ll be back tomorrow with everything.”
“Thanks, man. I owe ya.”
After watching Nick leave, Bishop turned to Terri and said, “Let’s go have a seat. I’ve got one hell of a story to tell you.”
After playing with Hunter and then sleeping for several hours, Bishop began packing the truck. The effort was heartbreaking, the bed too small to hold all of their belongings. The addition of a third family member and all of the necessary supplies adding to the lack of storage space. Holy cow, Bishop muttered to himself, who knew something so small could require so much stuff?
Terri split her time between caring for the baby and gathering necessities. There were several friendly discussions over what to take and what to leave behind.
“You know what saddens me the most?” Terri asked, pausing over the box of canned goods she was filling. “I don’t think the Alliance can survive. We had such a good thing going, and now there are cracks forming in the dike. It could all fall apart at any time.”
Bishop nodded, understanding his wife’s remorse. “But it was always that way, Terri. The façade of society is always thinner than what we like to think. Besides, I wouldn’t underestimate Nick, Diana, and Pete. They’re good people and strong leaders. If anyone can hold it together, they can.”
“I suppose,” she responded. “Besides, I need to concentrate on us now. I need to keep my mind focused on our survival.”
Bishop nodded, appreciating his wife’s common sense attitude toward what was no doubt a shocking turn of events. “Do you remember when we decided to leave Houston? We were out on the back porch, making jokes about being Bonnie and Clyde. Seems kind of ironic now that we’re going on the lam, doesn’t it?”
Terri laughed, recalling that day which now seemed like a lifetime ago. She tilted her head, staring for a moment and then said, “I was scared then… really scared. Now, so much has changed, and I’m not frightened at all, not like before. I feel like we’re both stronger… better prepared for something like this.”
“I’m sure Bonnie and Clyde felt more confident after each bank robbery,” he teased.
“You may think I’m all strong and tough, but that’s not entirely true. I thought we had a future for Hunter. School, society, food… I thought we had it all worked out. Now I feel like we’re starting all over again. I am worried for Hunter’s future.”
Bishop moved to hug his spouse, pulling her close and patting the 9mm pistol on her belt, “You are so much stronger now, and I love you more than ever. We have to have faith that Nick and our friends will bring the truth to light. We have to believe that as much as anything.
If we do, then this little journey is just a vacation, a trip to the mountains during the tourist season.”
Finishing the hug, Terri returned to her packing in silence.
The sound of a horn honking in the distance alerted the couple that Nick had returned. As they left the camper to meet him, Bishop smiled when seeing the bed of his friend’s truck was full of supplies, including two 50-gallon drums of fuel.
It was what Nick was towing that really drew his attention, however. There, tagging along behind the approaching pickup was a small, lightweight pop-up camper.
Bishop noticed Terri’s attention was drawn to the trailer as well. “Our new home,” he announced.
“It’s so cute… does it have a hot tub?” Terri inquired with a wink to her mate.
Nick exited the cab, walking back with the couple to examine the camper. “I found it at that RV dealer over by Midland Station. The looters had concentrated on the big units and had left this little jewel alone. It’s brand new.”
The trio spent the rest of the afternoon packing and learning how to operate their new abode. Bishop was amazed at the amount of space inside after the top unfolded and the sides expanded. They would at least avoid sleeping on the ground or in the truck.
After transferring the fuel and supplies from Nick’s truck to Bishop’s, the two men then set about loading the gold and other valuables stored in the Bat Cave into the big man’s empty pickup. The effort brought back memories of a darker time – when bank robbers ruled Meraton with fear and intimidation. Still, Bishop was happy to shed responsibility for the treasure.
Dusk was threatening by the time the backbreaking work was complete. Bishop’s pickup sat low on its springs, the weight of fuel, ammunition, rifles, and all the other necessities they could stuff inside, stressing the stout suspension.
“If you go slow, it should handle the weight in the bed, as well as towing the camper,” Nick judged.
“We’re not in any hurry,” Bishop replied. “Got no place we have to be.”
“I’m officially retired,” added Terri. “I’ll send you an address where you can forward by pension checks.”
The hard work involved in preparing for the bug out was nothing compared to what had to come next. When it was clear there was nothing else left to do, Nick looked to the west and announced, “I probably should be getting back. Diana has her hands full trying to keep the council together. We’ve even had a minor rebellion within the security forces. It’s going to be an interesting few weeks – that’s for sure.”
And then it was time. Time for the heart wrenching goodbyes, hugs, and handshakes.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the canyon as the three friends exchanged repeated embraces and promises. It was the worst Bishop could ever remember feeling, despite the reassurances of reuniting in the near future. None of the three felt overly optimistic at the possibility, all were afraid to say it.
Nick finally managed the cab of his truck, Bishop ready to follow his friend off their property for what was most likely the last time.
As Bishop moved to put the truck into gear, Terri reached across and grabbed his arm, a horrible look on her face. “We’ll be back,” he reassured, assuming his wife was having second thoughts. “It will be fine.”
“It’s not that,” she said, nearly choking while trying to subdue a laugh. “We forgot Hunter.”
“FUCK!” Bishop snapped, embarrassment all over his face. He threw the transmission into park and raced for the camper. He returned quickly, the still-sleeping child cradled in his arm.
A few moments later they were off, Hunter secure in his car seat, oblivious to the melancholy mental atmosphere that clouded the cab.
Epilogue
They exited Alpha heading north, the act of slinking through town, like escaping convicts, worsening Bishop’s mood.
During the drive from the ranch, there had been some debate over detouring to Meraton, a quick stop to say their goodbyes to Pete and Betty. They finally decided against the act – afraid their presence would poison their friends politically. In truth, both were unsure if they could handle any more emotion.
Terri rode in the backseat with Hunter, the baby’s safety chair buffered on one side by his mother, the other with boxes of supplies that dad had deemed most likely to stop a bullet. Bishop’s spare body armor was strapped onto the back of his son’s seat.
It was an odd scene, Terri riding back there next to her child, a diaper bag on one side, her rifle on the other. Bishop sensed prophetically that it was an image he would get used to. “Don’t clean the carbine with the burp rag,” he wanted to say, but held his tongue.
The front passenger seat was filled with boxes as well, with space reserved for his rifle and handgun so the weapons would be within easy reach. A newer model than what he’d recently been driving, Bishop was happy to see the truck’s GPS functioned properly, the technology replacing the need for the dreaded paper map.
Terri watched the lights of Alpha fade behind them, eventually turning to face the front windshield. “So Magellan, where are we heading?” she asked, her humor cheering Bishop up.
“Have you ever been to Utah?”
“No. Do they still have the choir?”
Bishop grunted. “I don’t know about that. Isn’t that in Salt Lake City? Anyway, a long time ago I visited an area everyone called ‘The Canyon Lands.’ It’s an entire corner of the state, thick with National Parks, reserves and open territory. It was beautiful, and there weren’t very many people or towns. I thought we might head that direction first.”
“Sounds good to me. Lead on, my love. As long as we are together, I’m a happy camper… no pun intended.
The End
From the Author:
Holding Their Own VII is scheduled for release in early 2014. Please visit us on Facebook (Joe.Nobody.Author) or at www.holdingyourground.com for the latest updates.
