Defending Home

by Jeffrey Miller

  Defending Home

  By Jeffrey Miller

  Contributions by Nancy Miller

  Edited By

  Lorraine Elzia

  KINDLE EDITION

  *******

  Copyright 2017 Jeffrey Miller

  Kindle Edition, License Notes

  This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Kindle.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  Table of Contents

  Introduction

  From Escaping Home

  Chapter 1 - Defending Home

  Chapter 2 - Problems

  Chapter 3 - Radio Chatter

  Chapter 4 - Training

  Chapter 5 - Loaded for Bear

  Chapter 6 - Poking the Bear

  Chapter 7 - Splitting Up is Hard to Do

  Chapter 8 - The Father Complex

  Chapter 9 - A Good Time

  Chapter 10 - Time to Ride

  Chapter 11 - The Bear in Hibernation

  Chapter 12 - Out in the Cold

  Chapter 13 - Warm Buns

  Chapter 14 - Day After Day

  Chapter 15 - The End Brings New Beginnings

  Introduction

  Nate Michaels and his family made it to northern Wyoming. The trek from Fritch, Texas, took nearly two weeks. The real test for him and his family would now begin as they would need to adapt to a colder, harsher environment. The challenges on society were becoming worse. The National Power Grid was still down, and no one knew when it would ever be back up again. When the economic collapse occurred, it was late spring. Soon cooler weather would fall upon the nation, making things harder; especially for those living in the northern states. Skills for survival would be tested; along with the ability to find other important resources like food. The number of fatalities in the states was staggering. In the once highly populated urban areas, the bodies were being gathered up and set on fire. Once, where Football games were played, now were host to mass cremations to keep the spread of disease down.

  From Escaping Home

  “Dad, I think we are here. Go slow and keep your hands up, they had family protecting them last time,” Nate said.

  Henry understood and appreciated the advice.

  Nate drove up to the gate and stopped. He walked up to the latch and waited. He could sense he was being watched. He couldn’t tell from where, but knew that close by, someone was watching. In the distance, Nate could barely hear a radio and someone talking. Soon, he heard what sounded like a few small four-wheelers approaching. On one of them, he could see the unmistakable long red hair flying in the wind. Sammie was coming. On the other, he could see Gene’s smile from fifty yards away.

  Nate sighed in relief that they all had made it. As they pulled up, two men walked out from behind what seemed to be a duck blind placed in the bushes. They carried AK-47s. Nate recognized one to be the brother of Sammie. Randy walked up, opened the gate, and shook Nate’s hand.

  “Welcome back, friend,” he said with a slight drawl. Nate wondered if Randy had lived in the south somewhere before crap hit the fan.

  “Glad to be here, Randy. Thank you,” Nate replied.

  He turned and waved his family over. Gene and Sammie were now pulling up. From the corner of his eye, Nate saw her dismount fast and begin running in his direction He turned just in time to catch her as she jumped in the air and into his arms. Nate, stunned by her actions and somewhat embarrassed, returned her hug and briefly held her. Sammie then whispered into his ear.

  “Welcome to your new home, Nate,” she said as she hugged him.

  Sammie was a strong woman. Nate could feel that. Her hair blew in his face, hiding her kiss on his cheek.

  It’s good to be finally here, Nate thought.

  The End.

  Chapter 1

  Defending Home

  A few days earlier, Nate and his family arrived at their location just east of the Big Horn mountain range. It was a grueling trip having encountered many things along the way that gave hint to the utter devastation that truly existed in the states. It seemed the worst was yet to come. The bright spot of their journey was finding Nicole. She had become a great asset to the family. She was a strong willed and courageous young woman. She is what Nate’s mother needed right now – help, and Nicole was willing to provide just that. Both Nate’s parents seemed to have more life in them with Ben and Nicole around. Nate could see the difference in their attitudes even though they were now living in a strange land far from where they spent their entire lives.

  Nate and his family were coming to grips with what they would need to do to contribute to the small community around them. Things would be different now with the need for everyone to have jobs. There was still no electricity from the grid. They did, however, have some solar ability, but everyone used it wisely. They were fortunate to have good well water, and natural rivers and streams not far away. Other creature comforts such as heating were something that they were now preparing.

  Prior to their arrival, Gene and his son were busy with cutting and stacking many cords of firewood. Each home had a wood burning stove and a fireplace. Each kitchen had working propane stoves, but they were rarely used since the economic collapse.

  Gene was the type who made sure he was prepared regardless of the situation, and long ago he had two below ground propane tanks installed at each home he owned. Both tanks had been filled two weeks before the crash and societal decay.

  Nate stood at the edge of the property line looking down into the expansive valley below. He was using a pair of strong binoculars Gene had given to him. After arriving, Gene asked everyone if they would be alright with having assigned jobs based on their abilities and skill sets. This was an important idea, and one that Nate embraced. It was obvious what Nate’s primary job would be. With his past, and skillset, no one would be better suited.

  Nate looked down the ridge and saw Randy tying off the barbed wire at a pole. Randy was Sammie’s younger brother by five years, and Nate really liked the young man. Nate was asked if over time he could teach Randy some of his skills. Nate agreed to do it. He knew that there may come a time when Randy would need to act as a guard for the family. Nate had already assessed Randy in firearms, and he was a good shot. Having been a hunter all his life, Randy was very familiar with most, but not all, firearms. Nate, however, felt he was level headed, and already acting in the roll Gene suggested for him.

  Nate focused on the far-off smoke he could see rising over the small hill. Behind that hill lay a small town that Nate didn’t know the name of. The smoke itself wasn’t anything unusual for these times. He knew the causes could be one of many things. Nate continued to scan the area until he heard someone approaching from behind. The slight shuffling sound of the gait told him who it was…Sammie.

  “See anything?” she asked. Sammie stood just behind him as he continued to scan the valley. Nate could sense her moving a little closer. As she moved closer, he felt comfortable and wanted to put his arm around her but hesitated, feeling it was maybe too soon.

  “This wind is picking up; glad you are big enough to block some of it,” she said, moving an inch closer. Sammie was now parallel to him, hiding from the wind. She was right, the winds were picking up, and there was a slight chill in the air.

  “Is this chill normal for the time of year here?” Nate asked. He put down the binoculars and turned to see her looking up at him. She was wearing a brown and gold hoody that had a bronco rider on the front.
The letters were old and peeling, but it was the Wyoming Cowboys. Her arms were crossed as if she were trying to stay warm. It was nearly 5:00 p.m.; the sun would be setting very soon.

  “Not usually this nippy. All we need is for winter to set in early. I was really hoping things would stay kind of average like last year,” she replied.

  “Where I’m from, ‘average’ can change in twenty-four hours. There is an old saying in Texas, ‘if you don’t like the weather, just wait twenty-four hours, and it will change,’” Nate said with a smile.

  Sammie smiled back. She loved his smile. There was something about Nate that from day one of meeting him, she was attracted to. It had nothing to do with the fact that he saved her parents, but was more about the strength that seemed to flow out of him. The inner strength alone that he possessed could lift others; that seemed to inspire Sammie. She often wondered if that trait was what made him a good leader in the military. That possibility moved her as well.

  “Well, we also have our share of strange weather, Mr. Texan,” she replied, poking at him. Nate smiled and looked over her shoulder to keep an eye on Randy who was now further down the fence line doing repairs.

  “Randy is doing a good job on that wire. He will be done soon, and then we will head back,” Nate said, turning his attention back to Sammie’s gaze.

  “Ok. Well, if you don’t mind, I will wait with you. I’ve got all my chores done and I need some fresh air,” remarked. Sammie was now living back with her parents. Shortly after the crash, she knew things would rapidly deteriorate, and getting back to her parent’s place would become hard. Her ability to stay close to the hospital even before it lost all power and ability to help people grew difficult daily. She gathered what she could from her apartment and headed home to her parents. Her brother and his wife Kimberly had their own spread adjacent to families.

  Nate could see Randy waving his arms, indicating that he was done. Nate waved back. He tucked the binoculars inside his own jacket, slung his rifle off his shoulder, and held it down along his body. He placed his other hand on Sammie’s shoulder and motioned that Randy was ready to head back.

  Sammie started to walk alongside Nate as he headed to the point along the fence where they would converge.

  “Sometime…will you show me how to shoot that gun?” she said, looking at his 45-70 lever action in his hand.

  “You bet, I think you would enjoy shooting it,” Nate replied. He held the gun up looking at it proudly.

  Everyone had a job. Ben seemed to transform from the day that he met Nate. Perhaps it was the fact that he had no choice but to grow up after his grandmother passed away. Ben’s job was to assist his grandparents, and to take care of Samson – who showed he was a loyal pet to them all from the day Nate found him abandoned on a highway on his way home several months earlier. Ben was helping stack more firewood. They had six more cords of wood; Gene had already cut ten cords. Henry hadn’t used an ax in a long time, but he found cutting firewood refreshing. For an old man, working that ax was getting him back in shape. He had always been the type to stay in shape having been in the Marines. Betty was closely watching her husband. She was nervous he might have a heart attack or something. The fact was that Henry needed this work, just as Betty needed her duties; they both needed to stay fit and prepared – not just physically, but mentally as well.

  Henry raised his ax up and stopped. He spotted something odd in the sky. He couldn’t hear the sound yet, but it would be coming as the high-flying craft drew closer. Slowly, he started to see what looked like people dropping from high altitude. He watched for a few more seconds until he realized the plane would soon be nearly overhead, coming from the east. He dropped his ax and ran inside.

  Nate was just sitting down to eat hot oatmeal when his father came through the house calling for him. Nate dropped the spoon and stood.

  “What’s wrong, dad?” Nate said, meeting him halfway across the room. He could tell something serious was occurring just by the intensity of Henry’s eyes.

  “Better come take a look at this. Bring your binoculars,” Henry said as he went to get his own. In seconds, they were outside.

  Nate stepped off the porch and looked in the direction where Henry pointed. Nate could already tell from the formation that what they were looking at were soldiers deploying from a very high altitude.

  Nate focused on the sight and the plane. Perhaps it was U.S. Forces trying to set up some control points to get things going again. Nate watched as paratroopers deployed one after another. Then he noticed the plane was not American military.

  “Dad, can I use your binoculars?” Nate asked. Henry slowly pulled them down and had a worried look on his face, but he didn’t say anything. Nate stoically placed the binoculars to his eyes and spoke out loud.

  “Dear God!” Nate removed them and turned to Henry.

  “Russian…I know, son. That plane is nearly over us too,” Henry said.

  Nate was already looking back up and watching the men coming down. Some would be on them soon.

  “We need to gather everyone up fast, dad. Get your rifle; I will grab my gear too. We don’t have much time.”

  Nate ran inside and retrieved his AR-15 and a few pistols, along with some magazines for both firearms. He had to move fast. Ben was watching him and seemed confused at what he saw. Within a few seconds, Nate’s mom, along with Nicole, walked in.

  “Nate, what’s wrong? What are you doing?” Betty asked with a look of concern on her face.

  About this time Henry came into the house.

  “Dad, explain everything to them, but don’t let anyone leave. I will go tell the others,” Nate said as he rushed out the front door taking time to look up. He knew he didn’t have much longer before the troops – however many of them that there were – would be on the ground. Nate was running full throttle to Gene’s house and was nearly there when Gene ran out with a rifle in hand. Henry had already contacted him on the Ham radio.

  “We need to get everyone down in the basements. I’m not sure we will be able to hold them off, Gene. I assume they are here for something other than humanitarian reasons.”

  Gene nodded, looking very nervous.

  “What are you going to do?” Gene asked about the same time that Sammie came out the door.

  “They are coming down beyond the ridge line; we will have the advantage of height. I will go and see what I can do.”

  Nate quickly turned and took off. Sammie started after him, but Gene grabbed her arm just as she saw a paratrooper falling just over the hill.

  Nate saw his father coming with his sniper rifle slung over his shoulder. The plane was past them now, but they didn’t see any more troops dropping from the plane. Most of them had fallen to the east. That didn’t mean they were out of danger, since many of the paratroopers fell much too close for comfort. Then off in the distance, Nate could hear distinct sounds of small arms fire and a few heavier explosions. There were several military bases spread all over Wyoming, so he was certain they would get a lot of resistance. However, just how many troops were deployed in this invasion was not known.

  Nate and Henry reached the point on the property where they figured might give them their best advantage of seeing who was dropping in for dinner. Quickly, they fell to the ground and pulled up their binoculars. Nate scanned the flat area down from his vantage point which had a slight gradual slope down to the valley below that. He was searching for the parachutes blowing around, and soon saw several still attached. He only saw movement from two. The two were very close, and were moving toward the three that didn’t seem to deploy their chutes. Nate figured they were dead. He also considered the possibility that they may have been asked in to help reestablish our nation. Perhaps they were part of a peacekeeping force. Nate didn’t care much for the thought, but there was the chance.

  “Dad, what if they are a peace keeping force? I seriously doubt this, but what if?” Nate knew what his father’s response would be.

  “Oh, hell no
. When has any nation ever bothered to help us? Especially not like this. This has to be some attempt to get at the U.S. when we are weak,” Henry said wholeheartedly.

  There was a high-pitched sound coming from the high-flying aircraft that deployed the troops. Nate and his father turned to see it now smoking and descending rapidly. Something mechanically catastrophic happened to the plane. Nate raised the binoculars and watched as the plane was coming down. He could clearly see it was a Russian made transport, one of the older LLyushian types with four massive engines.

  Smoke wasn’t coming from any of the engines, but it seemed to be coming from inside the craft. Whatever the reason, it was coming down fast and he didn’t see anyone leaving the plane. Its current course was taking it further north into the Bighorn Mountains. Both watched as it disappeared over a mountain, and moments later, a large explosion could be heard followed by a rising smoke cloud.

  The attention to that scene was diverted back to the sound of heavy gunfire off to the east. The sound echoed for some distance. Experience told Nate it was a good distance away, but the nearby troops would still be an issue. He was now working under the assumption that these paratroopers were Russian, and highly trained. There were many questions he had. Number one, how big was this force? They only saw one plane, and it could hold up to 125 paratroopers. Nate didn’t see any supportive equipment dropped, nor any artillery; which was good news. One piece was the new air droppable 120 mm artillery called the “Lotus.” He was glad that this piece wasn’t being utilized. This was a ground assault without artillery for some reason.

  “Dad, I need to get down there and see what’s going on,” Nate said, but he noticed Henry was watching something down the slope.

  Henry motioned for Nate to lie flat. Nate did as direct. Henry, now using hand gestures, pointed with two fingers up to his eyes, and then pointed in the direction he wanted Nate to look in. Nate didn’t need his binoculars to see what was coming up the hill. A small patrol of three men, in staggered formation, was slowly moving toward them. Two of the men were carrying what appeared to be AK-74s, while the third had a long sniper rifle slung over his back. The man with the sniper rifle also was carrying a small folding stock AK-47.