Charlotte Hoaks. . . .(C. A. Hoaks)

Matt threw a wave over his shoulder and kept walking. “Fine by me.”

Matt walked into the house to find a home life of sorts. Amy was sitting in the middle of the small den playing with Claire. Jake and Amanda were sitting on the couch and hovering over the new baby while Larry sat in the kitchen cleaning a handgun. Matt settled on a kitchen chair.

“You look like shit,” Larry commented as he slid an oiled rage through a gun barrel. “What’s with the look?”

“Do you realize two-thirds of the people here can’t defend themselves?” Matt answered. “We keep bringing in people that are damned near helpless.”

Larry nodded. “So what’ve you got in mind?”

“Not sure but I plan on figuring it out before tomorrow morning. I’ve been thinking. We need a fallback for the kids so the adults can protect the camp without them being in the middle of it.”

“We’re all doing what we can.”

“No. Most of the women have been too busy to learn much. None of them are carrying guns or knives. That has to change.”

“I’ve got the older kids training. The fact is they’re getting pretty good.” Larry answered. “I think they would be able to protect themselves from one of the infected. I’d like to start firearms training, but we’d have to use pellet guns or paint guns to keep the noise down.”

“We have a good setup here. We have the fence across the front and the west side of the grounds, the pond at the back and the bluff at the east. But if something happens and we get overrun, we’re trapped. We need a back way outta here; either across the pond or down the bluff.”

“There’s a trail back behind the barn that follows the lake and heads back into the thickets. I have no idea where it goes.”

“We need to explore all those options,” Matt answered as he rubbed at the stubble on his chin. “Let’s get Jenkins and one of the men over here in about an hour and talk this through. If this is going to be our home, we all need to be able to fight for it.”

After a quick shower, Matt settled down in the recliner. Claire crawled across the carpet to reach up. Matt tickled her under the chin, and she grinned. She bounced on her toes and reached up.

“She wants you to pick her up,” Amy announced. “Claire Bear walked today.”

Matt grinned and reached down to pick up the toddler. Claire pulled at his damp hair, giggling and making faces. Matt turned to Amy.

“You doing okay princess?”

“Yes, sir.” She answered as her smile faded. “Claire misses mommy and daddy.” She looked at her feet. “I do too.”

Matt looked down at Claire then at Amy. “I’m sorry. I guess we’ve gotten sidetracked, haven’t we?” At her sad nod, he continued. “We’ve been helping a lot of people, but I promise, soon.”

“Okay,” Amy whispered.

Matt forced a cheerful smile. “What did you do today? Did you have fun?”

The camp was quiet for a time after the bus drove away. Without the dark cloud of Billings’ radical ravings hanging over everyone, life slowly began to be returned to the usual buzz of activities. Every once in a while even a bit of laughter and joy could be heard from the children on the playgrounds.

Maggie and the girls were given clothes and supplies. Both of the preacher’s campers were cleaned from top to bottom. Anything left behind that Maggie Sanders didn’t want was either trashed or cleaned and returned to the “trade” storage container for future distribution. Maggie and the girls moved into the larger of the two campers and settled in.

By six that afternoon, Jenkins and his men’s had returned. They parked the pick-ups then Jenkins walked up to Matt with a quiet smile.

“Billings’ wife never shut up. The whole way, she went on and on. God this…God that…judgment going to smite us all for letting that harlot kill God’s anointed. You get the picture.”

Matt grinned. “I’m glad to be rid of them. Where did you leave ‘em?

“We left them at a farm house in the middle of nowhere. I parked the bus, got out, and closed the door and flattened all the tires. Oh, a dozen dead bodies came stumbling out of the barn as we were driving away. I figured it would give them something to worry about besides us.

“You think they’ll make it?”

Jenkins shrugged. “Frankly, I hope not after what they did to Maggie’s family and the others.”

“Can’t say I feel much different,” Matt admitted. “But they got more of a chance than Billings gave the others. We sure didn’t need that crazy shit around here.”

Matt looked across the camp and realized how many people it now included. He glanced toward the playground where a dozen children from five to eleven played. The five teens brought in on the bus were in a corner with Larry learning how to defend themselves. Soon they would be ready for real firepower. As it was, they carried spears, and he would bet the kids could hold their own.

Even Carl, the young man with Downs Syndrome, was practicing. Despite his usual ungainliness, he was learning to defend himself. Matt smiled. They had kids who were becoming warriors. Larry ended his class and walked back toward the office while the kids went their separate ways, still carrying their spears.

“You got quite a gathering here,” Tate commented as she walked toward Matt.

“I guess about fifty or so adult.” Matt looked troubled. “Most could barely take care of themselves when they came.”

“What do you mean?

“Most of the women are pretty helpless. Only half a dozen or so had the skill to fight back if they got in trouble.”

“Larry is doing the training for the kids, why not the women?”

“We try, but the women are pretty busy between wiping noses, chores around camp, and all the damned laundry,” Matt observed as he walked away. “Not enough time, and not enough people to train ‘em.”

“Then do something about it,” Tate called after him. “I’m moving into the small camper. And you still owe me a trip to Hondo.”

Brian looked at Billy and pointed at Leon who had appeared at the far edge of the camp. He raised a hand and held up two fingers. Six down; where was Juan? Brian glanced toward the shadows where the last guard had been stationed. He didn’t see the guard, but Juan was still missing. Brian took two steps toward the next sleeper to the right. He moved closer and was hovering over the man when an angry yelp pierced the quiet. Brian pounced and quickly jammed the blade in the man’s head then jerked it free. He leaped to the next man while the man rolled to his knee trying to get to his feet. The man reached for a handgun, but Brian kicked out, knocking the weapon from his hand before he could bring it up and aim. A quick grab and Brian pulled the man’s arm behind his body and jabbed his knife into the man neck. The man’s free hand clutched at his neck while his knees gave way. Brian rode the body to the ground and made a second stab at his temple. He stepped free, just as a man a few feet away raised and fired his handgun. Brian fell on the man as the camp devolved into chaos. Brian captured the shooter’s wrist with his free hand. The momentum drove them both to the ground. Together they rolled and fought for control of the gun. Left, right, a fist slammed into Brian’s head. He fell back, taking the massive man with him. He pushed the guy to the side and pushed the barrel of the man’s handgun toward his chest and covered the finger on the trigger with his own. He squeezed. The explosion drove spikes in Brian’s eardrums, but the man grew still. The gun sent the bullet the man’s sternum through the top of the man’s head. Brian rolled free of the body gasping for breath. Time went from slow motion to double-time in a heartbeat. Gunfire exploded around him. The sounds of struggle invaded Brian’s world with a quick three-sixty and realized they had five men still standing. He jumped to his feet, grabbed the handgun from his last kill and fired twice. The first shot took off the head of a man raising a bat to swing at a limping Juan. The second bullet hit a man taking off half his face. The impact spun him around then he dropped to the ground. Juan limped across the camp to help Leon where he struggled with another man. Brian got to his feet and ran toward the outlaw left to guard the two women.

Brian stepped free, just as a man a few feet away raised and fired his handgun. Brian fell on the man as the camp devolved into chaos. Brian captured the shooter’s wrist with his free hand. The momentum drove them both to the ground. Together they rolled and fought for control of the gun. Left, right, a fist slammed into Brian’s head. He fell back, taking the massive man with him. He pushed the guy to the side and pushed the barrel of the man’s handgun toward his chest and covered the finger on the trigger with his own. He squeezed. The explosion drove spikes in Brian’s eardrums, but the man grew still. The gun sent the bullet the man’s sternum through the top of the man’s head. Brian rolled free of the body gasping for breath. Time went from slow motion to double-time in a heartbeat. Gunfire exploded around him. The sounds of struggle invaded Brian’s world with a quick three-sixty and realized they had five men still standing. He jumped to his feet, grabbed the handgun from his last kill and fired twice. The first shot took off the head of a man raising a bat to swing at a limping Juan. The second bullet hit a man taking off half his face. The impact spun him around then he dropped to the ground. Juan limped across the camp to help Leon where he struggled with another man. Brian got to his feet and ran toward the outlaw left to guard the two women.

The man had gotten to his feet during the chaos and rushed to hide behind the two women. He held a gun to the younger woman’s head and watched the last two of his friends killed, his eyes big as saucers. A quick glance and Brian knew the guard was the last man standing. When the man remained hunched behind the woman, Brian slowed his pace. “Stay back!” The man shouted. “I don’t want to have to shoot anyone.”

Brian stopped when he got ten feet from the man. He dropped the confiscated gun and raised his hand, palm out. “Look around. Your friends are all dead.”

“Friends? Hell, you don’t have any idea what you’re talking about.”

“Please…don’t hurt my daughter.” Pleaded the middle-aged woman. “She’s all I have left.”

“All I want is outta here, lady.” The man whispered.

“See we can work this out. My name is Brian. What’s your name?”

“Henry Dodd. I have to go back. If I don’t go back, they’ll marry my girls off to one of those fake survivalist nut cases.” Henry answered.

Brian heard Leon and Billy approaching from behind. He raised a hand. “What are you talking about?”

“These assholes are not my friends. My neighbor was a big-time survivalist. He talked me into coming with him to their camp when this shit happened. I took my family. Hell, how was I to know it was a bunch of nut cases. When we got there, it was either join up and be part of it or die. If I die, they have my wife and four daughters.”

Leon stepped up behind Brian. “You believe ‘em?”

The older woman stood up and held up her cuffed hands. “I believe him. He tried to stop them when they killed my husband and son. He wouldn’t let them rape us.” She looked back over her shoulder. “I don’t think he meant us any harm and I don’t believe he would have hurt my daughter.”

She reached out, and Henry gave her the handgun, then he held up his hands while the woman held out the gun to Brian.

Brian rushed closer to take the gun. “Get away from the women.” He ordered.

Henry got to his feet as only a defeated man can. His shoulders slumped, and a resigned expectation of dying was evident with every step.

“Give me the key to free the women, then sit your ass down,” Brian ordered.

Henry handed over the key then sat down on the trampled grass. “What are you going to do with me?”

Brian walked up behind him and quickly used zip ties to secure his hands. “That’ll depend on what you tell us.”

It took three days before Liz opened her eyes and saw her father sitting at her side. His face sagged, and eyes looked as if he hadn’t slept in days. He had nodded off while he sat in a straight-backed chair next to the bed.

Liz took a deep breath and moved her head to the right. She realized she was in one of six hospital beds now arranged against a wall in the lodge’s small conference room. Each bed was set up to receive a patient, fresh sheets, and blankets folded at the foot. At the head of each bed was an IV pole, an oxygen tank with regulators, tubing and cannulas, and a plastic bag of resuscitation equipment typical in a medical ward. She turned her head back to the left. Behind her father, she could see the next room had been transformed into a clinic or exam room. She could see a gurney, a medical cart with dozens of drawers and even a defibrillator on the top. She wondered if the tall cabinet with the equipment on top was an ultrasound. She wondered who was moving around in the room.

Suddenly the silhouette of a tall woman filled the doorway. “Oh, my. You’re awake.”

Suddenly Will Edmond’s eyes jerked open, and he whispered hoarsely. “Liz! Thank God.” He reached out to clutch at her hand. “

“Dad” Liz whispered as tears filled her eyes. “Oh Dad, I…I lost them.” Her voice caught as she whispered. “I couldn’t save my girls.”

Will moved to the side of the bed and wrapped his arms around Liz. “Shush. It’s all right.” He rocked her as he whispered words of comfort until her racking sobs began to quieten. “I know what happened. The girls are in God’s hands.”

“But it’s my fault. I should have….” She protested.

“Should have what, exactly?” He asked gently.

“I….” Liz began.

“You did what you had to at the time, and the girls are with soldiers. We have to have faith that they’ll protect them with their lives.” Liz slumped against her father’s chest until she grew quiet then he eased her back against the pillow. “You have another child to think of now.”

Liz nodded. “What’s wrong with me?”

The woman that had been standing in the doorway stepped into the room. “Hi, Liz. I’m Cassie Matherson, for all intents and purposes, your medical professional.” She stepped closer, and Liz saw a tall woman with the body of an athlete.

“What’s wrong with me?” Liz asked.

“Dehydration and poor nutrition to start with then you’re covered in bruised, insect bites, infected injuries and oh yeah, you’re pregnant,” Cassie answered.

Liz forced a smile. “Is that all?”

Cassie sighed. “I don’t think so.”

“Well?” Liz watched her father turn away.

“Not really sure, could be a few things.”

Liz looked at her arm with the IV tubing taped to her skin. “But you’re a doctor, right?”

Cassie answered. “I’m a Physician’s Assistant. I’m treating you with antibiotics for now.”

Will interrupted Cassie before she could continue, “You’re getting better, and we’ll figure this out the rest.” He looked from Cassie to Liz and then back at Cassie again.

Cassie laughed. “We’re working on it. Daniel is downloading medical textbooks, left and right. I’ve got an ultrasound and microscope, so I have some basic tools to work with.”

Liz gave Cassie a wane smile. “Sounds like a plan.”

Suddenly there was a commotion outside the door. Harry, John and the two kids stumbled through a side door. An Australian Shepard was trailing behind.

“Trailer axle on the truck would be my guess.” Steve turned and looked through the back window.

“You think we can fix it?” Della asked.

Steve laughed. “With what? We don’t have any tools. We’re gonna have to leave the trailer. I knew pulling that big trailer was a bad idea.” He answered as he slid on his walking prosthetics. “You three stay here, we’re going to disconnect the trailer and let the horses loose. Come on Zack.”

Zack opened the driver’s door and stepped out into the afternoon heat. “Sure is hot.”

“Let’s get this done.” Steve stepped out of the truck and made his way to the back of the truck.

Steve stared at the hitch for a moment, then pulled the handle of the jack up and began turning it. He turned to Zack. “Unhook the chains and the catch on the hitch, so it’ll come off the hitch.”

Zack raised the latch then asked. “Want me to do that?”

“No, head to the back and get the horses out. Tie them up for now.”

Zack disappeared around the back of the trailer. One by one he led the horses out of the trailer and tied them to scrub brush near a streambed to drink from the trickle of water still remaining.

When all five horses were drinking, he hurried back to the truck just as Steve finished the last turn of the jack. He sniffed then commented, “I smell gas.”

“Gas?” Steve whispered as he wiped his arm across his forehead damp with sweat. He sniffed, bent over then slammed his hand against the tailgate. “Can’t we get a break?”

“What?” Zack asked.

Steve pointed to the ground under the truck. “Unless I miss my guess, most of the quarter tank of gas we had left is now on the ground.”

“Oh.”

Della and Darlene got out of the truck with Penny on their heels.

“Are we going to go?” Della asked. “It’s really getting hot in the truck.”

“We can’t leave the horses tied up,” Darlene commented.

“We have to make a decision,” Steve said as he leaned against the back bumper.

“What do you mean?” Della asked.

“The truck won’t go much farther. There’s a hole in the gas tank, and we can’t fix it. We might go a few miles but no more than twenty then we’ll be walking.”

“We have the horses.” Darlene protested.

“We can’t bring them, the trailer is shot,” Steve answered. “Or…”

“Or what?” Della asked.

“Or we ride off into the sunset,” Steve answered. “Without the sunset.”

Penny grabbed her mother’s arm. “We cowboys?”

Steve laughed. “I guess, we be cowboys.”

“What happened?” Ask Darlene in a soft whisper. She pulled a sleeping Penny closer.

Everyone in the truck stared at the mayhem that had been visited on the resident of Valentine Texas.

“Maybe, it was a tornado?” Della asked.

Steve answered. “There was that storm three days ago.”

“Oh, God. The people?” Della whispered.

Steve picked up a pair of binoculars and studied the road ahead. He could see the road ahead was littered with the remains. Valentine had been a small community of less than a hundred people according to a twisted green sign clinging to a single upright post. It was hard to tell now, but Steve guessed there had been thirty or forty buildings before the storm but the force of the tornado had reduced all to a pile of debris. Trees were stripped of leaves and torn from the ground and now were scattered amid the cars and trucks of undeterminable ages and colors. Water stood along the road and in the ditches within the destruction that had been Valentine.

“I don’t think we can get through there.” He paused then added.

“Should I turn around?” Zack asked.

“No.” Steve glanced at the instrument panel. “We don’t have the gas to go back to the state road and change our route.” He pointed to a water-logged dirt path to the west. “Head that way. We’ll try to go around.”

Zack slipped the truck back into drive and turned onto the dirt road at the side of the only remnants of the building still standing.

They rode over the rut-pocked path for half a mile passing the back of what was left of a school. All that remained beside fragments of the walls was a sign for the Valentine School. The school building was a pile of adobe-colored bricks and twisted white metal from the roof. Amid the remains of the gym stood a mud-smeared basketball backboard with the net reduced to shreds. Clothing and toys littered the grass around the destroyed dwelling. Amid the shattered and broken wood was a body impaled on a vertical pipe. As the truck rolled past, the small child’s head turned, and the remaining arm reached out toward the sound.

“Oh God.” Darlene began to cry softly as she tucked Penny close.

Steve pointed in the distance. “When we get away from the debris field we can head back north then back east and get back on the highway.”

Zack left the dirt path and turned the truck to avoid clumps of scrub grass and brush. The steering wheel jerked as the truck bounced over rocks and water-filled puddles. The vehicle creaked and groaned with the uneven terrain while the wheels spun in the mud.

“This is getting bad,” Zack announced.

“Keep going,” Steve answered.

Zack turned the steering wheel back to the west, and the truck was more than a mile from the community. The ground grew more exacting with each minute. The vehicle was taking a real beating as it jolted over rocks and clumps of brush. Suddenly there was a loud boom, and the wheel jerked to the right while the engine roared with a sudden stain. Zack stepped on the brakes. He looked into the side mirror and saw the trailer was still sitting level while the truck tilted to the side.

“Well, that’s a real problem.” Zack sighed.

“What happened?” Darlene asked.

Matt and Larry ran from the house toward a gathering around the flag pole. The shooting had stopped. When Matt jogged up to the crowd, it parted to allow him to pass.

The yard was filled with the adult residents of the camp, while the children peaked from windows and doorways. Everyone stared at Jenkins and Maggie. Jenkins held a handgun by the barrel while Maggie stared at Roy and Billings, both lying dead in the gravel and sand.

“They didn’t deserve to live. That bastard raped my daughter and Mary. Roy killed my husband, and his sons knew what he was doing to those children. They are all as disgusting as Billings.” She took a breath and turned to walk toward the camper.

“Aren’t you going to stop her?” Screamed one of the boys.

Matt kicked the young man and ordered. “Shut up, or I’ll be shooting you. Your fate is still undecided. You watched and didn’t help those kids.” Matt took a breath. “Maggie saved me the trouble and hopefully got some measure of peace from the killing your old man and that bastard. Lord knows, she needs it.”

Suddenly the wives burst from the trailer and past the guard. When he tried to stop them, Matt shook his head not to bother. The crones stood staring at the bodies.

“What are we going to do with the rest of them?” Jenkins asked.

Matt looked around then ordered. “Everyone get busy doing what you need to be doing.” He turned to Jenkins. “Put the bodies in the back of that bus. Then bring those two dipshits and the wives. We’re giving them a chance to live but not here. I’m going to talk to Maggie, and her daughters.” Matt crossed the yard to the trailer that Maggie had entered. He knocked on the door, and a timid voice called out for him to enter. The four girls were sitting at the table staring at Maggie who sat quietly on a small couch crying.

“If you want me to leave, I’ll understand. Please don’t make the girls leave. They’re safe here, and I won’t be able to protect them.”

“No one is asking you to leave,” Matt answered. “I want to know about the boys. Did they take part in shooting your husband and the girl’s families? Simple question. All I need is a yes or no answer.”

Maggie looked up and took a deep breath. “No.”

Matt reached out and covered Maggie’s clenched hands. “You’re safe here, and you’re welcome to stay or go. It’s your choice. We work hard and try to help each other. If that suits you, this can be your home.”

“Thank you,” Maggie whispered.

“Take the time you need to get settled. Talk to Jasper and Joan about clothes, shoes, whatever you need. We have three meals a day at the food truck. Just watch for the crowd.”

“I don’t know what to say,” Maggie whispered.

“Nothing to say. Just know you and the girls are safe.” Matt rose and cleared his throat. “I’ve got things to do.” He crossed the room and stepped out into the morning sunshine. The bodies had been removed. Jenkins and two men guarded the two young men now seated on the ground in front of the women’s camper.

Jenkins turned around and slammed his fist against the door. “Get out here now.”

The four women came outside looking even more browbeaten then before. Finally, a crone with tightly bound gray hair at the back of her head looked up.

“What are you going to do with my sons?”

“The six of you stood by and watched while those men murdered people and raped children. Maggie said none of you took part, so I’m inclined to let you live.” All six faces brightened until Matt continued. “But not here.”

“But we…” The woman began.

Matt interrupted. “You will be given ten gallons of gas in the bus. It has enough food and water loaded for three days. You will be driven away from here, and when my men leave, you can go any direction you want but do not come back here. We will give you no weapons, you can learn to fend for yourself or not. Frankly, I don’t care.”

“But…”

“No buts.” Matt continued. “You’ll be alive when we leave you. The rest is up to you.” You have ten minutes to get whatever you want to take from the camper. Limit it to what you can carry out in one trip. No food. Only clothes.” Matt turned to Jenkins when the preacher’s women had been dismissed. “Take three men and one of the trucks with the extended cab. Make sure the bus has what I promised. Put ten gallons of gas in the tank. That’s all. No maps, no guns. Blindfold them and leave them as far from here as you dare. If you can, do a little backtracking and make a few circles so they can’t stumble back here by dark. Before you leave them, loosen the rope on the old women. She can untie the rest when she works her way lose.”

“I got a place in mind. It’s on the far side of Kerrville.” Jenkins answered. “Might be a little hairy getting there and back, but they won’t be coming back.”

“Better sit down for this,” Matt suggested before he relayed what he had found at the preacher’s trailer. “I got the men under guard and zip-tied to the flagpole. The old women are in the camper under guard. The victims, four girls and a woman, are in the two bedroom camper next to your camper.”

“What are you going to do with the men?” Doc asked.

“Billings is a rapist, and Roy killed people.” Matt ran his hand through his hair. “I won’t let that stand without being punished. The women and the sons, well, they were party to the whole thing in one way or another so they can’t stay here.”

“I’m glad you see that,” Helen added.

“Young man, you and your friends have some decisions to make. In the meantime, we’re not as young as we used to be and delivering a baby is hard work.” He turned to his wife. “Coming, dear? Let’s go to our new home and bed down for the night.”

Helen picked up a bag and followed Doc out the door. “I’ll check on the new folks.”

Larry appeared in the doorway of the kitchen. “I think we need to get the rest of the campers from the campsite where we found the others. We don’t want anyone to settle down anywhere near us.”

“And we can use the extra room,” Matt added. “If we’re going to stay here, we need a way to give folks a little room to spread out.”

“You think it’ll be long term?” Larry asked.

Matt nodded. “You know what it’s like out there. We’ve got a secure place. We sure can’t load up all those kids and trek across the country to a place we don’t know can even support us. How big can a hunting camp be?”

“What about the girls. We promised to take them to their grandfather.”

Matt sighed. “I know. Believe me, that weighs heavy as well.”

“Maybe in a couple weeks. If we can get the camp stable, then Jenkins can take over for a few days, we get the kids north and then come back.” Larry suggested.

Matt sighed. “I’m beat. Let’s get some sleep then we question those women and figure out what to do about the wives and the sons.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Larry crossed the room to a stack of sleeping bags and dug one out to spread out on the floor. He took off his gun belt and laid it next to him as he settled into the far corner.

Matt watched his buddy for a couple minutes then did the same. He woke once in the night to the sound of the newborn crying. He smiled at the sound, rolled over and went back to sleep.

Dawn came with the sound of gunshots. Matt bolted upright. Larry rolled over and jumped to his feet with a gun in hand.

“What the fuck is going on?” Asked Larry.

“How would I know! Let’s get out there.” Matt answered as he strapped on his gun belt. Jake appeared at the door, and he ordered. “Stay here. Protect the kids and Amanda until we know what’s going on.”

Jake nodded and pulled his side arm and checked the load. “Got it.”