When Damon and Ryder were out of sight, Darby addressed the Guard, “You’ll be our guests until tomorrow morning and then you can return to Sector 4.” Travis Peck, at the front of the Guard troops, rode up to Darby. The Raiders nearby raised their weapons at the possible threat. Peck quickly lifted both hands into the air, palms out and empty. “Wait a second!”
“Did you have something to say?” asked Darby.
“What if some of us don’t want to go back?” Peck asked.
That was the last thing Darby had expected to hear. “I guess that would be up to you, if you think you can survive out here on your own.”
“Why can’t we join up with you?”
Darby didn’t answer right away. They, the Raiders, didn’t have the resources to take on feeding that many more mouths. And even if they could, how could he know if they could be trusted. They’d been enemies for the past five years. It could be just a way of getting inside their ranks, to destroy them, and then take over the valley. He guessed Peck probably didn’t even realize the Raiders didn’t have a real connection to the valley except through Ryder.
“And leave your families behind?” asked Darby.
“Those of us with families would go back just long enough to retrieve them. We’re all tired of living under the control of the governor.” There were nodding heads of agreement. “We were the ones who let Master Gant escape with his family.”
Another one of the Guard riders, Jason, who had been within earshot, made his way forward, “Actually,” he said, addressing Peck, “that wasn’t your doing.” He turned to Darby. “Don’t believe him. He was the only one of us who wanted to take them back and turn them over to the governor. The problem was that he got back first and told his version of the story to the governor, which apparently the governor and Damon seemed to prefer over ours, so he was promoted to Master of the Guard.”
“That’s true, but now I see I was wrong,” said Peck.
Jason wasn’t buying it. He faced Darby and rolled his eyes, “If there is anyone here among us you can’t trust, it’s him. As for what else he said, it’s true. We’d like nothing more than to leave the Guard and that place behind. Our families are the only thing holding us back. We need the shelter, food, and security for them.”
“As of tomorrow morning, you can go and do whatever you like,” announced Darby.
“Can we join you in your settlements, to start over the way Master Gant did?” asked Jason.
“You should know that Gant doesn’t live in one of our settlements, or in the valley. He’s off on his own.”
“Then we’ll go live with him,” Jason stated, “and help start a new community.”
“That’s not up to me to say,” said Darby, “but I wouldn’t count on it.” He paused. “Are you all thinking about leaving?” he asked the group as a whole. There seemed to be a consensus throughout the group with all nodding their heads.
The whole situation was becoming more complicated by the minute. Darby would just as soon they went back to the prison and stayed there. It would make things simpler on everyone. He didn’t know if he could trust any of them and it would be absurd to just take their word for it. What assurances could they give him? What would Ryder do?
***
CHAPTER NINE
During the night, the silence ended as a disturbance woke the camp.
“Riders coming!” shouted one of the sentries.
The Raiders readied themselves for trouble, closely watching the captured Guard. Their biggest concern was that it was Damon returning with reinforcements from Sector 4. But why? He’d already cursed these men, and there couldn’t have been more than a skeleton crew of the Guard left behind at the prison. Would he sacrifice even them for revenge?
Darby asked which direction they were coming from. When it was announced that the riders were coming from the south, tensions relaxed. Everyone they knew to the south were either friends or friendly acquaintances.
“Hello, camp!” came a shout from the darkness. “May we come in?”
“Identify yourselves!” Darby called out.
“Four men looking for a place to camp for the night,” said Gant.
“Come on in!” invited Darby, motioning for his men to take up positions on both sides of where they would be entering the camp. The men were alert and ready for any trouble. Four men in a buggy slowly rolled into the flickering light of the campfire. One of the men in front was immediately identified by both Raiders and Guard. Darby’s men, who had slipped into the darkness, just outside the glow of the fire, stepped back into the light with their weapons trained on the man they knew as Master Gant, the leader of the Guard and a threat. Not many of the Raiders were aware of Gants recent life-changing decision.
Darby stepped in quickly, waving his arms, “Don’t shoot!” he ordered. “He’s not a Guard anymore.”
The men, confused, kept their weapons on him and the other three. It made John and especially the boys uncomfortable. The Raiders were assuming that since they were all together, they were all threats. Darby, taking a second look, also recognized John, Ryder’s new friend. He still didn’t understand how or why he and Ryder had hit it off right from their first encounter.
“They’re all friends,” announced Darby. “Relax.”
A few of the Raiders showed expressions of disbelief. Those who knew Gant’s recent history relayed it to those who didn’t. The weapons were lowered slightly, but still poised to be used.
“May we get down?” asked Gant.
“Of course,” replied Darby.
When they had all stepped down, Darby asked, “Who else do you have with you?”
“I believe you already know John,” Gant said, pointing at him, “and these two are my son’s, Adam and Aaron.”
Other than the brief introductions, Darby made no effort to make them feel welcome. He had fought against the Guard on many occasions over the last few years and he still saw Gant as their leader. How could a man like that change overnight? It made him suspicious, just as he was of the Guard being held captive.
He didn’t really have anything against John, except that he was a stranger and he’d made Ryder split his time between them. He didn’t know him well enough to call him a friend or to trust him, but he knew Ryder trusted him, so for now, he’d give him the benefit of the doubt. He also knew that John had been forced by the Guard to work in the fields over the last few years, developing a healthy dislike for the Guard and the governor just as he had.
Darby was indifferent toward them. In his mind, they weren’t needed. They could take care of this on their own. “I was told you were coming.”
“Samuel asked us to help rescue Ryder and Levi,” explained Gant.
Darby had to catch himself from laughing. “You two and these two boys? That’s it? Yeah, that should do it.” He paused. “We need to talk.” He waved for them to follow him to the fire at the center of the camp.
Gant was distracted. He noticed a large group of men sitting on the ground, huddled together at the edge of the camp. As he came closer, his eyes widened when he realized they were all in Guard uniforms. He continued past the fire to get a closer look. The faces were familiar, one in particular, when one of the men looked up at him. Both men were awe struck. “Master Gant,” “Jason,” they called out.
As Gant quickened his pace to get to Jason, one of the Raider’s stepped into his path, weapon ready to fire. He could have brushed the man aside easily, but controlled his actions, not wanting to create a situation. Gant turned back to Darby, “What’s going on here?”
“We captured these men this afternoon on their way to Paradise valley. They were led by a man called Damon, the governor’s counselor.”
Daniel looked over the group. “I know Damon, but I don’t see him.”
“He negotiated his release, to supposedly return to Sector 4.”
“You couldn’t stop him?” asked Gant, showing his disappointment and anger.
Darby sensed he was being
accused of negligence, and he didn’t like it. “There wasn’t anything we could do. He had a shotgun pointed point-blank at Ryder.”
“You saw Ryder?” asked John.
“That’s right. But, like I said, there wasn’t anything we could do without risking Ryder’s life.”
“And Levi?”
“We think he’s still in the prison.”
Gant calmed down after a deep breath. “I’m sure you did everything you could.” It seemed to relieve some of the tension that had begun to mount between the two.
“What happened to Ryder and Damon then?” asked Gant.
“They rode back to the north. That’s the only option we gave them. Damon was supposed to leave Ryder up the trail, but I doubt if he did.”
“Then we need to continue to the governor’s compound. Levi still needs our help, and by the time we get there, and from what you said, Ryder will probably be back inside too.”
“We thought we might get a chance to rescue Ryder,” admitted Darby, “But it never happened. We did accomplish one thing though; we stopped them from getting any closer to the valley.”
“I’m sure Samuel and the people living there will be very grateful,” replied John.
“You’re probably right,” said Darby, “but if you want to know the truth, most of us are here for Ryder. Preventing the Guard from reaching the valley is secondary. Of course, we know it’s what Ryder would consider a priority.”
“We have another situation now,” continued Darby. “Our intention was to release these men in the morning, however, they don’t want to go back to work for the governor. They want to go back just long enough to gather their families and get out. And afterward, some would like to join us and some would like to start over like you did. First of all, I don’t know if I can trust them and second, even if I did, we don’t have the resources to provide for them and their families. I think I can speak for Samuel by saying he doesn’t have the space or resources there either.”
“Even if Samuel was open to the idea,” said Gant, “the other people of Paradise wouldn’t be. I know that from personal experience. There is another place, but I’m not sure I can make that offer. It’s not ours to give. What do you think, John?”
“I don’t know any of them. I hate to be selfish, but I’m not sure I’m ready for something like that.”
“I don’t blame them for wanting to get away from there,” said Gant, “but the timing is all wrong. Do you think Damon is expecting the guards to come back?”
“I don’t know,” answered Darby. “He wasn’t very happy when they refused to follow his order to fire on us, even though it would have been suicide, but now he’s got to be short-handed without them. By necessity, he may need them to go back, at least for the short term until they can be replaced.”
“That’s what I was thinking. A short time frame may be all we need though,” speculated Gant. “Maybe there’s a way to rescue Ryder, Levi, and the Guard’s families.” His eyes had never left Jason. “May I speak with him?” he asked Darby, referring to Jason.
Darby nodded and motioned for the guard to let him pass.
Daniel knelt down by Jason, the two shaking hands like old friends would.
“How have you been, Master Gant?” asked Jason. “And your family?”
“Fine, and I think you can call me Daniel now.”
“And your new home?” asked Jason, anxious to hear that there was something better.
“Good.”
“Do you have any regrets about leaving?” he asked. And before Daniel had a chance to answer, “What I really want to know is ‘was it worth it’?”
“No regrets and it was absolutely worth it. One of the best decisions I ever made. Thank you for letting us go.”
A broad smile spread across Jason’s face. Being told it had been worth the risk were the exact words he had wanted to hear. Several others who were sitting close by, intrigued by what they’d heard, moved even closer.
“Tell us about where you live now,” one asked.
He didn’t want to give them false hope. They may not be as lucky as he was. “It’s just a place. It just doesn’t have Davis or Damon. It doesn’t matter where you end up, as long as you’re free.” Several heads nodded agreement.
“Were there any repercussions?” Gant asked Jason. “Were you able to control Peck?”
Jason hesitated and then with a grin said, “The governor and Damon chose to believe his story rather than ours, but we came out alright.”
“Really?” asked Gant.
“No, not really,” said one of the others. “Jason was demoted and Travis Peck was made Master of the Guard.” He pointed to one of the Guard with his back to them, wearing the Master’s distinct red uniform.
Gant couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Peck had been the one person who was against letting his family go, insisting they all be taken back for punishment and to set an example.
“Is that true?” he asked Jason, more out of disbelief than questioning the man’s words. Then, before Jason could confirm it, he remembered, the Peck he had known was exactly the type of soldier Damon and the governor would want leading the Guard, a person willing to do anything to keep his new position of authority, anything to get ahead.
“It’s true,” said Jason, his shoulders slumping and his eyes drifting toward the ground. “I guess they chose to believe him because he’s like them.”
The other man continued, “A few of the men disappeared and Peck replaced them with his friends.”
Peck overheard parts of the conversation and saw repeated side-glances at him. He knew they were talking about him and began to slowly scoot away to put as much distance between himself and Gant as possible. Everyone could see he was afraid.
Even though Gant was surprised at the revelation, Peck wasn’t his primary concern. “They tell me all of you want to stay out here. Is that right?”
“Yes,” answered Jason for the rest of the men. “This is our chance to get away from that place, just like you did.”
“I think that’s great and I’d like nothing better for you, but … this isn’t the right time,” said Gant.
Jason looked at him with confusion and disbelief. “And why not?” he asked, not understanding, and on the verge of becoming angry. They had the same right to get out from under the governor and Damon as Gant had.
“Haven’t you thought about your families?” Gant asked.
“Of course we have. We intend to go back and get them. Since most of us want to go, there shouldn’t be much resistance. As far as where we’ll go afterward … I don’t know. Maybe we could follow you.”
“I don’t think that’ll be possible.”
“Why not?”
“Because I was invited there. It wouldn’t be up to me.”
“You could talk to them for us, couldn’t you?” Jason persisted.
“Perhaps.” Gant paused. “Have you thought about how your leaving could affect Ryder and his brother?”
“What difference does that make?”
Gant took a deep breath. They weren’t seeing the big picture. They wanted his help but weren’t able to see how their leaving might jeopardize Ryder’s and Levi’s rescue. Of course he understood, they were desperate, and it wasn’t just for them, it was for their families. Even he had left without considering the possible repercussions to them. So, he couldn’t be too critical.
“Couldn’t you put it off until they’re safe?” Gant asked.
“We don’t know either one of them or owe them anything.”
“Then, would you be willing to do it as a personal favor to me? And I should mention that their father would be very grateful.”
“I’m sure he would, but I don’t see how that would matter to our families.”
“He’s the one who offered me a place to live. I can’t speak for him, but perhaps he’d be able to show his gratitude to you and the others in a similar way,” coaxed Gant.
Jason went silent as he thought abo
ut it. “There’s a lot at stake here, Master Gant. We’ll have to talk it over.”
“Good enough,” said Gant, standing. “That’s all I ask, that you give it the proper consideration. Talk with the others and we’ll talk more in the morning.” He took one last look at Peck who was avoiding making eye contact. “I wouldn’t trust him if I was you.”
“Don’t worry, we don’t,” said Jason.
Gant rejoined Darby and John at the camp fire.
“So?” asked Darby.
“They confirmed what you said. It seems they’ve made up their minds; they just want to take their families and get out of there. And I don’t blame them for that. But, I told them it could jeopardize Levi and Ryder’s lives. That in itself didn’t seem to make much difference to them, so I asked if they would consider going back temporarily until we could help Ryder and Levi. I also mentioned that their father would be grateful, and he might be able to help them find a place to settle.”
“I wonder how Samuel’s going to feel about that,” mentioned John.
“I told them I couldn’t speak for him, but I know Samuel, and I think he’ll help if he can.”
“What did they say?” asked Darby.
“They have to think about it. They’ll give me their answer in the morning.”
“Maybe we can help each other,” stated Darby. “If they go back, why can’t they help get Ryder and Levi out and we can protect them while they get their families out.”
Gant took a good look over the group of the guards. “From what I can see here, there can only be a skeleton crew of the Guard left back at the compound. And it’s possible some of them have been waiting for a chance to get out too.”
“So, either with or without the help of these men,” Darby pointed out, “a rescue is going to be simplified considerably since there shouldn’t be any resistance.”
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