As they made their way to the bird's nest, they passed the kids.
“Albert, Albert!” they all said in unison. “We think Misty is pregnant,” Ryland said. “Look how fat she is.”
Albert looked at the goat and noticed she had filled out a bit. “I think you may be right. I guess we better be ready for a baby or two soon.”
Neil looked at the kids with an odd look. It made Albert uneasy. “Let's get down there. Tara has been up there a while and needs a break.”
“How did you get the goats anyway?” Neil asked.
Albert shrugged. “A little bartering with a fellow a ways from here.” He wasn't about to give this guy too much information.
“Are you going to eat those chickens?” he asked, pointing to the area where the chickens were happily scratching in the dirt.
“No. We prefer the eggs,” Albert explained. “A steady supply of food is more important than a one hit wonder meal.”
Albert could see Neil scanning the area, taking in the various visible defenses they had in place. He was regretting his decision to bring him out here.
“Tara!” he called out when they got closer, “We're here.”
She climbed down the tree and looked at Neil then Albert.
“It's okay. Chase knows,” he said answering her unspoken question.
“It's been quiet,” she said. “I did see a black bear in the distance. I'll make sure to remind the kids to stay close. Duke would only encourage a bear to attack and that dog is never far from the kids.”
“Wouldn't it be better to have the dog to defend the kids?” Neil asked.
Tara shook her head. “No. A dog is more likely to put the bear on guard. Duke would definitely want to protect the kids and may step into the bear's space or even follow the thing. We used to camp a lot and the rule was no dogs unless they were on a leash. It’s far too risky for the dog and us.”
Neil seemed surprised at the answer. “Good to know, I guess.”
“Let's go,” Albert said, climbing the rungs nailed to the massive tree.
Once in place, Albert let Neil get the bird's eye view.
“This is really pretty up here,” Neil said. “I can see why you spend so much time up here.”
Albert shrugged. “It's nice, quiet and I get lots of time to think.”
“What do you have to think about? Don't you have nothing but time to think?” Neil joked.
Albert smiled. “Have you ever tried to think with four kids, an infant and a bunch of people roaming about?”
Neil chuckled. “I guess that’d make it tough.”
He went back to staring into the distance. Albert noticed the second Neil stiffened.
“What's wrong?” he asked, crawling to his knees from his seated position and then standing up.
Neil pointed. “There. Give me the gun.”
Before Albert knew what he was doing, Neil had grabbed the rifle, aimed and fired. The person that had been approaching the perimeter of the lodge property dropped to the ground. Albert stared in shock at the scene, waiting to see if the person would move. Nothing.
He turned to Neil. “What did you do that for? You don't even know who that was! That could have been someone looking for help!”
“Or it could have been one of the bad guys,” Neil said, putting the gun down and heading towards the ladder out of the nest.
Albert followed him down, only a little surprised at how quick Neil was moving. He hadn't moved like that since he’d been awake, which put Albert on high alert.
They reached the man at the same time. Albert was winded from the fast pace, but wasn't about to let Neil get to the stranger without him there to see what was said or done.
Albert froze when he saw the Army uniform. “It was a US soldier! You killed one of your own men!”
Neil was staring at the body of the young man, whose uniform was faded and frayed around the edges. The man had clearly been wearing the uniform for a long time. He looked back at Neil who didn’t seem upset.
“You didn't recognize him? Was he from your unit?”
Neil shook his head. “I don't know who he is. You don't wait to see if someone is going to shoot you first, Albert. Shoot to kill and ask for forgiveness later.”
Albert hid the horror he felt at such cold words. He stared at the man he’d been trying to accept at face value, but now, something felt off. A soldier didn't kill another soldier and ask for forgiveness. It was as if Neil didn't recognize the man or the uniform. How many soldiers were wandering around out here? It was more likely the dead man had been a part of the same unit as Neil. Was Neil trying to hide something and killing any witnesses that’d reveal his secret?
“Let's head back. We need to let Chase know what happened. He'll want to investigate. There may be others. We need to know what they're all about,” Albert said, heading back to the lodge. He wanted to get Chase's opinion and fast. He was getting a bad feeling about Neil, which made him very worried about Wyatt and the rest of the group. He especially didn't like being alone with the guy.
24
Megan, Wyatt and Bryan circled the area twice before they went in on the ground floor of the Douglass house. They wanted to make sure they hadn't been followed. Once inside, Wyatt tapped on the floor, letting the people below know they were coming down.
Megan dropped in and was met by Willow. “Did you get it?” she asked.
Megan smiled. “We did.”
Willow returned her smile and a few tears rolled down her cheeks.
Giving her friend a hug. “We're so close. We’re going to get him help,” Megan vowed.
Mary walked into the room. “Glad to see you’re back. It didn't take you as long as we’d thought. That has to be a good thing, right?”
“It wasn't too bad.” Wyatt checked his watch, seeing it was past midnight. “I want to get started early in the morning.”
“How early?” Willow asked.
“Around four or five. We need to move when we can see, but before the city wakes up. I don't want to wait until tomorrow night,” he replied.
Willow grimaced, but agreed. “We'll be ready. I doubt I’ll sleep a wink tonight.”
“Should we go over the route?” Keith asked from the doorway to the other room.
“Yes, please,” Wyatt replied. “I know we talked about it earlier, but I want to make sure there are no mistakes. I can't afford to take these guys down the wrong road.”
“I'll grab that other map,” Keith said, turning to grab the street map he’d used to show Wyatt tonight's route.
Wyatt rubbed a hand down his face. Megan walked to him and gave him a quick hug. “We kicked butt today. Tomorrow will be fine. You’re doing everything you can to protect us and help JJ. This isn't all on you. Let us shoulder some of the burden.”
He hugged her back. “I'm tired. Exhausted, really. I can't wait to get JJ to the doctor, get him fixed up, go home, and wait for winter. I think I’m looking forward to that first snow day when we get stuck inside.”
She grinned. “Me, too. Although, I was hoping we’d have our own cabin to get snowbound in, but maybe next year.”
Wyatt shook his head. “There’s always one crisis or another. It seems like we’re always chasing our tails.”
“We can only take things one day at a time. Eventually things will settle down.”
Keith returned with the map. Megan left to help Willow get JJ settled in for the night. She could hear Dick and Bryan adding their opinions to the route Wyatt and Keith had plotted. She felt confident all would be well. She crawled into her bed and drifted in and out of sleep, listening to the men talk. When they were finished, Bryan and Wyatt crawled into the beds on the floor.
“Keith and Dick are going to go with us on the first stretch,” Wyatt said in the darkness to no one in particular.
Megan murmured an agreement before she fell back to sleep.
As usual, she was awakened before her body and mind were ready early the next morning.
“We need to
go,” Wyatt said softly.
Groans from the others on the floor indicated they’d all been sleeping soundly as well. Megan couldn't wait to sleep in her own bed. The floor was rough.
“I'm ready,” Willow said, practically jumping up.
Megan blinked. “Already?”
“I was up earlier and got our bag together,” she said.
Mary came into the room, carrying a basket. “I have some ammunition Keith wanted you to have. I'll leave it here for you to distribute.”
“Thank you!” they all said in unison. Ammunition was an extremely valuable gift and one they hadn’t expected.
“I'll get the bags sorted,” Wyatt said, standing and stretching.
Megan stood and helped Willow fold the blankets. Within minutes, they were all standing in the middle of the room, looking at each other. This was it. This was what they’d walked for a week to do. The adrenaline was shooting through Megan's veins to the point her skin was tingling.
“Ready,” Megan said.
Everyone echoed the sentiment. Keith and Dick came into the room, each wearing gun belts and shoulder holsters.
“Take care, Mary,” Willow said, giving the woman a quick hug. “Thank you so much for the diapers and taking care of us. If we don't see you before we head home, I want you to know how glad I am we met.”
They all said their goodbyes and left the small underground shelter. Megan took a deep breath when they stepped outside. It wasn't like the air at the lodge. The air in the city was rank. The heat combined with human waste, smoke from fires, and trash decaying all over was very uninviting and hung low like a blanket over the city. She couldn't wait to get back to their mountain home.
There was a tap on her shoulder. Bryan pointed towards Wyatt who was steadily making his way down the block behind Keith and Dick. She quickly moved to get close behind him with Willow behind her and Bryan bringing up the rear.
Wyatt threw up a hand the second a shot rang out. Megan looked around his shoulder in time to see a man drop to the ground in the middle of the street.
“Clear,” Keith called out from up front.
They began moving again. Megan was thankful there were only a few more encounters with gang members. Keith and Dick proved to be very adept at dispatching each person who threatened them. Megan developed a new respect for their way of living. They’d managed to survive this long in the city simply by being methodical and ruthless.
“This is where we turn back,” Keith said. “You're about halfway there. Follow this street up and you will run right into the NRU.”
“Thanks for all your help,” Wyatt told him clapping him on the shoulder. “You all take care and if you’re ever in our neck of the woods, stop by for a visit,” he said with a smile. It was meant as a joke, but if the Douglasses ever did find themselves close by, they’d be welcomed with open arms.
Megan gave each of the men a quick hug and wished them well.
Once the two were gone, Wyatt laid out the plan for everyone. “We’re probably going to run into a lot more resistance than what we went through. Keep your guard up. If you see someone in a military uniform, don't shoot. This place is likely going to be very well guarded. Hopefully, they wear uniforms and are easily identifiable. We don't want to show up, kill the good guys and then ask for help,” Wyatt explained.
“Got it,” Megan said.
“Let's move!”
Megan followed close behind Wyatt, already missing Keith and Dick. She’d felt stronger and more protected with them leading the way. Now, it was the four of them. She had to fight back the feeling of vulnerability that came with their much smaller numbers.
“God be with us,” she muttered under her breath.
25
“Look!” Megan pointed excitedly to the flag waving in the air. “It's Old Glory! I never thought I’d be so happy to see a tattered American flag waving in the air. We made it!”
Willow was grinning from ear to ear. Bryan placed a hand on her shoulder in support. It’d been a long journey, but they’d made it.
“We can't all walk up to the front gates,” Wyatt said, bursting the bubble of excitement that had encased them. “Bryan, you stay here with Willow and JJ while we negotiate a deal.”
Megan waited to see if Bryan would argue. The last time she and Wyatt had left them behind, Evan had been killed. He didn't argue or seem upset by the order at all. It could’ve been the excitement of reaching their destination or he understood why it was necessary.
“We need to find somewhere to take cover. We can't stand out here on the street,” Bryan replied instead of demanding to go with them.
“Good idea. Let's do some quick scouting in the area. Megan, stay with Willow while we check some of these buildings. They look vacant, but hard telling what's hiding inside,” Wyatt ordered.
Megan nudged Willow behind her and into the corner of the brick building. Her heart raced with fear. Being solely responsible for JJ and Willow was intimidating. She silently prayed for Wyatt and Bryan to hurry back.
When they came around the corner, she breathed a sigh of relief. “Anything?” she asked.
“Yep, let's go,” Bryan said, gesturing for them to follow.
Megan motioned Willow to go in front of her. She followed the others into the small office building that’d been boarded up. The glass was broken all over the floor and with the boarded windows, it was dark in the space.
“Stay in the back corner. I don't think anyone saw us come in here. We'll close the door on our way out. Bryan, shoot anyone that comes through that door,” Wyatt instructed.
“Got it,” he said, pulling his gun from the shoulder holster, checking the clip and popping it back in. “I'm ready. Hurry back.”
Megan went out first, with Wyatt closing the door behind him and making sure it was latched.
“Are you ready?” he asked.
“Yes, let's get this over with. You have the box?”
He patted the pocket on the lower leg of his cargo pants. “Right here.”
With that, they moved forward, both on high alert, ready for anything.
“We're close,” Wyatt said in a low voice.
Megan put her hand out, grabbed Wyatt's arm. “Wait.”
She froze, put her head to the side to hear better and didn't breathe. She heard the sound again. It was JJ crying.
“Megan!” Willow's voice cut through the silent air.
Wyatt met her eyes, something was terribly wrong. No way would Bryan or Willow shout out and reveal their position.
Megan looked at the flag that was so close and then back to where they came from. They had to go back. Gaining entry to the NRU would have to wait.
“We have to get back there!” she whisper shouted to Wyatt, already moving down the street.
“Be ready to start shooting, Megan,” Wyatt warned.
She held her gun at her side as she ran down the street. They paused outside the door of the office where they’d left Bryan, Willow and JJ. The door was closed, but they could hear JJ crying and Willow sobbing.
“On the count of three,” Wyatt said, holding up his fingers to count down.
When the last finger dropped, he kicked open the door and Megan went in, crouched low with her gun aimed directly in front of her.
“No!” she cried when she saw Doyle standing behind Willow and JJ with a gun pointed at the baby's head.
She watched in horror as Doyle's hand shook. He was in full withdrawal and very unstable. There was a sheen of sweat on his face and his eyes were wild. Megan knew it was only a matter of time before his shaking hand slipped and pulled that trigger.
“Give me the box!” he demanded.
Bryan was on the ground, crumpled in a heap. “No,” she breathed. Her brain refused to form words. Denial was her only response. This couldn't be happening. Bryan couldn't be dead and the man who was clearly out of his mind wasn’t pressing the barrel of a gun into JJ's little head.
“Get away from the baby and we'll g
ive you the box,” Wyatt said from behind her.
Megan wanted to scream. If they gave Doyle the box, he’d kill them all anyway, the same way he killed Evan. “How did you even find us?”
The man grinned. “Had a conversation with your friends. Took a bit of persuading but they eventually pointed out the direction you were headed. Wasn’t hard to figure out from there.”
Megan realized he was talking about Keith and Dick and her stomach clenched in horror. “If you hurt them…”
His grin grew wider. “Relax. It isn’t anything a quick trip to the ER won’t fix. Oh wait, my bad.”
Tightening her grip on her gun, Megan fought the urge to pull the trigger. He was still too close to JJ and Willow. Once again, someone was injured, possibly life threatening all because of her. The guilt was too much, she was at her breaking point and she didn’t think it would take much to send her over the edge.
Doyle looked at Wyatt, then Willow who was clutching the baby against her chest. JJ's screams were getting louder. Megan knew it was only a matter of time before he started to turn blue. Willow had to calm the baby down, which wasn’t feasible when she was extremely worked up.
“Get away from them!” Megan demanded, pointing her gun directly at the unstable man. If he’d only take a step or two away.
He sneered, waved his gun back and forth between JJ and Willow. “Give me the box.”
“I said, we'll give you the box, but I'm not doing anything until you get that gun off them,” Wyatt said in a firm, hard voice.
Doyle took a small step back, before glaring at Willow. “Shut that kid up!”
She shot him a glare. “You scared him, you idiot!”
Megan almost smiled. Willow was scared, but she was still fighting. That was a good sign.
“Look, Doyle, we all want the same thing. To get the box to the NRU. How about we all go there together? You get whatever you’re after and we can find a doctor for the baby,” Wyatt said calmly.
Doyle’s hand dropped slightly as he turned to look at Willow and JJ. “Can’t you see he’s sick?” Megan spoke up. “It could be a win for all of us but first you have to put the gun down.”
EMP Lodge Series Box Set | Books 1-6 Page 94
