Doc and Matt spent half an hour collecting jars of home canning, half a dozen rounds of deer sausage and several packages of hard cheddar and gouda cheese.
“This is a hell of a stash,” Doc commented as he sliced off a chunk of sausage. “You gotta know country folks would have extra food around the house.”
Matt nodded. “In the morning I want to check for a garden or fruit trees.”
“Sounds like a plan. With being this far from a major highway, these folks were in pretty good shape.” Doc continued. “I guess old age is a weakness we all face eventually. They couldn’t do anything about that.”
After spending a few more minutes stacking the food stuff in two wooden boxes, Matt rigged a rope handle on each box then announced.
“Time to get this stuff back down to the store.”
Each man picked up a box and clutched a weapon in their free hand. They stepped out of the house and headed down the gray shadow that was the lane leading back to the store. The full moon provided enough light Matt pocketed the small LED light.
“Slow and easy. I don’t want to break any of these jars.”
“Got it.” Doc answered.
“Where did that bunch pick up you and your people?” Matt asked.
“My son and his family had a lake house on Medina Lake. It was only the second day and my wife and I lived far enough out, we didn’t see anything but what was on the television. My son was heading to his lake house and stopped long enough for me and Helen to load up the car and follow. About eight families made it up there. Some belonged there, others we settled in the empty houses. There was a cluster of six houses within sight of each other. We shared what we could. We had a couple generators, couple boats, and plenty of fishing gear. It wasn’t bad. We figured we were pretty safe with only one way in and that was a gravel lane. Problem was, my son and only three others had firearms with ‘em.”
“Sounds pretty sweet.” Matt commented. “Except for the lack of firearms.”
“Would have been.” Doc answered. “Seems that bunch of rednecks were riding the backroad looking for exactly what we had; lots of women and not enough men or arms to protect ourselves.”
“Sounds like a bad deal.”
“They had to have been watching us for days. They waited until three of the men were out fishing and used a deer rifle to take them out. Just like that, my son and two other men were dead. My daughter-in-law came out of the cabin with a rifle and they dropped her right on the porch in front of the girls.
By then, the rest of the adults including me and Helen were gathered up and on our knees. They called the kids out telling them they would start killing the parents if they didn’t come out quick enough. The poor girls could barely walk they were so devastated.”
“Poor kids.” Matt mumbled.
Doc stopped and traded the box from his left hand to his right. “There were nearly forty people. When everyone was present and accounted for, they executed five men and four teen boys.” Doc started walking again. His voice was barely more than a whisper when he continued. “By then, the rest of us were in shock and so terrified we just did as we were told. They herded the women and children in the trucks. They knew I was a doctor and who my granddaughters were. They told me and Helen to get what we needed for the girls and get in the car. If we did anything to cross them, they would kill the girls. We had no choice.” His voice trailed off.
“You did what you had to do to protect the girls. They had just seen their folks killed.” Matt commented. “ Let’s get this inside.” Matt knocked on the door.
“Well, you took your sweet time.” Tate groused. “I’m getting cleaned up. The kids are at the back of the store sleeping. The rest of the women are in the break room.”
“No problem, I’ll keep watch soon as I set this stuff down.” Matt answered.
“You two might get cleaned up when I’m done. You both smell like shit.” She walked away without looking back.
Charlotte Hoaks. . . .(C. A. Hoaks) 