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

Della hurried to the white fencing surrounding the paddock. She hid behind a post and studied the paddock and then the area around the outermost buildings. The horses must have heard her because they raced to the corner nearest the buildings. The wandering pair of monsters had noticed the movements and turned to head in their direction.

When the infected finished feeding on the bodies at the front of the paddock they would come for the rest. She had to move.

Della climbed over the white fencing and hurried across the open pasture toward the gate where the remaining horse gathered. She drew closer and the beautiful black and brown horses stamped and skittered away from her. They were terrified.

She glance toward the front of the pasture and realized the infected had lost interest in the remains of the dead and now where stumbling toward the remaining animals. The horses began prancing and charging toward the gate, then back toward the open paddock looking for escape.

Della stopped and whispered. “Whoa…it’s okay.” She cooed. The big black mare turned at the sound. Della kept whispering calming words and the mare separated from the group and nickered. The black took a step toward Della and she stopped. She held out her hand and the horse nuzzled her palm. The mare snorted.

“I’ll get you out of here. Just let me through girl.” She stepped forward and the black stepped to the side. Slowly Della made her way to the gate. She walked past the nervous animals with the black at her side.

Della stepped around a brown horse to the wooden gate and reached over the top to unhook the latch. She pulled the gate toward her and all but the black mare charged through almost trampling Della in the mad rush to escape.

She stumbled back against the gate and fell to her knees. An infected appeared from behind the spooked animals and reached toward Della. The black dashed forward and reared up. Her metal shoed hooves came down on the infected teen. The black reared again and again until the monster lay still.

Della pulled herself to her feet, retrieved the gun and looked at the remains of the infected. The black nudged her toward the gate. “Got it. Let’s go girl before the rest of those monsters get here.”

The horse and Della got through the gate and Della re-latched the gate. She grabbed a rope hanging from a fence post and looped it around the gate.

“Just in case the latch gives out.”

She turned from the fence and jogged to the barn door. She slowed and looked into the gloom. The building had a main passageway with horse stalls on either side opening toward the middle. While the rest of the horses raced through the corridor and disappeared behind the buildings, the black followed Della.

She approached the stables with a real sense of foreboding. It was dark inside. She was terrified at the thought of entering the stable but knew she had to find the veterinary supplies.

Finally, she squared her shoulders and walked into the gloom. She got to the first door and recognized it as a stall. She quickened her pace and hurried past five more, toward the opposite end of the building. Each dark opened gate terrified her but she moved through the building out into the barn yard beyond. The office wasn’t in the building. She walked out into the sun and looked from one side of the opened ground to the other.

The owner’s home was a white plantation style mansion with white pillars and a huge veranda circling the house. The gravel drive sat empty. The only evidence of something amiss was the front door standing open and a single shattered window glass.

Della glanced toward a building resembling a miniature of the stable facing the stable. Someone had been working at planting a flat of flowers around the front door. The half empty flat and tools lay at the side of the bed. Above the door, was a sign advertising the ranch office. Della glanced around the yard then jogged toward the office.

With the 9mm in hand she approached the building. Della could hear the mare walking close on her heels. Feeling paranoid Della looked from left to right and back again. When she glanced around looking for more infected, she realized the mare had been calm until she got near the office building.  Now the black shied away from the building and pranced back and forth nervously.

She stepped closer to the door and peeked through the window. Her breath caught in her throat. There was blood smeared on the inside of the glass door. A bloody handprint on the door handle spoke volumes. Now I know why the horse is upset.

“Shit!” She cursed as she stepped back and glanced around. She saw the hoe and reached out to wrap her hands around the handle. She slid the handgun into the bag over her shoulder and looked inside the window again. The monster inside was still looking out a back window. She could do this.  One quick swing of the hoe and the monster would no long be a problem.

The black horse reared up and screamed. Della turned. “Okay…I know. But I have to do this.  Be quiet!”

Just as she reached for the door again a bloodied body slammed against the glass. Della fell back and stumbled to the ground.  The infected man, dressed in a pair of bloody khaki pants and polo shirt, snarled and clawed from behind the glass.

“Now you’ve done it.”  Della scolded the black horse.

Della leaned against the hoe and watched the monster claw and scream in frustration too stupid to know as long as the door was closed it couldn’t get to the black horse. That was it…release the latch and the infected man’s weight would push open the door.

Della stepped out of sight while the black seemed to sense there was a plan in play.  She stomped the bare packed ground and whinnied.  The rest happened so quickly, Della had little time to even think about the danger.

With her back pressed against the wall, she reached over and depressed the latch, the infected it the door and it swung open.  Not expecting the freedom to reach his prey, the infected fell from the building.

Della raised the hoe and slammed it down as the monster’s head from behind.

The blade struck the skull and skid down the side of his head landing on the man’s shoulder with a snap of a collarbone. She jerked the hoe up again then slammed it down on his head with all her might. The man fell and she stumbled to her knees.

Before she could get to her feet the mare slammed her hooved into the mangled head. Terrified, Della quickly got to her feet and backed toward the building.

When the infected man remained still, the mare nickered and strolled up to Della for a nuzzled and pat on the nose.

Della pressed her face against the mare’s head and took a deep breath. “I’m not sure if this relationship is going to work out long term, but for now, we’re a team. Okay?”

The mare whinnied.

Della turned and walked toward the office.  She looked through the gore smeared door and into the room beyond. It seemed empty.  She grabbed the hoe and opened the door and stepped inside.

She walked around the office, opened the cabinets and found nothing useful. At the side of the office were two doors. A quick peek, verified one was a bathroom and the second a room with white cabinets, sink and table. A medical bag sat on the table. She opened the bag and after a quick perusal, she continued her search.

At one side of the room was a cabinet with a lock on the door. Della pulled a knife from the her bag. She jammed it in between the doors and popped the door open.

Inside was a variety of medical supplies including bottles of antibiotics, syringes, vials and a variety of medical dressings. Della swept supplies into the bag. When it was full, she filled her shoulder bag with bandages, take and sponges.  After a final glance around, she headed back out the door. When she got back in the office, she emptied the trash bag and stepped in the bathroom to retrieve all the toilet paper.

She’d made a haul, antibiotics for Steve and toilet paper for the outhouse.  All she had to do was get to the ATV and get back to the cabin.

On the third morning after arriving at the cabin, Della woke with the rising sun sending shafts of light through the open window. She climbed down the ladder from the loft. Sleeping there had turned out more comfortable than she thought it would be. Opening two trap windows at the ends of the cabin allowed for a cooling cross breeze.

Millie fed kindling into the stove. When the heat from the few glowing coals caught the kindling, she added three small split pieces of wood. She set a kettle of water on the stove to boil and readied the last of her strips of willow bark to soak. She sliced Spam and laid it in a cast iron skillet to warm next to the kettle.

“He ain’t good.” Millie announced when Della drew close.

Della nodded. “I know. I’ve got to find him antibiotics.”

“I ‘member seein’ a horse ranch about ten miles back. It said thoroughbreds. A big operation could mean vet supplies. Vets use same medicine as people.” Millie answered.

“I remember. Behind the white fence was a sign advertising Quarter horses, I think.”

“It could be dangerous. It’s close to that last town we passed.” Darlene added.

Millie nodded. “We need that young man. He’s the one that knew to get us out of Utopia and has kept us alive. If he doesn’t get antibiotics he might just die.”

As if in agreement, Steve moaned softly from the bunk at the back of the room.

The three women sat down at the table speaking softly.

“I have to be the one to go.” Announced Della. “I’m the only one that can go.”

Darlene looked frightened. “You can’t go alone.”

“I have to. Zack needs to check the traps if we’re going to stay here long enough for Steve to get well. If something bad happens and you have to leave, Zack’s the only one that will be able to protect the rest of you. Steve is too sick.”

“She’s right.” Millie agreed. “We’ll send Zack to check the traps because he won’t want to let you go without him.”

“I’ll take the ATV we found in the shed and take one of the five gallon containers of gas so I have plenty of gas. Zack already checked it out and it runs. If I take it, you’ll still have transportation since Zack filled in the wash and the road is wide enough for the truck.” Della argued.

Darlene’s mouth turned down with concern. “I don’t like you going alone.”

Millie answered. “If we’re going to make it, we have to do for ourselves.. We have to stop depending on the menfolk to do ever’thing. The world has changed.”

“Maybe I could come.” Darlene volunteered.”

Della answered. “You’re the only one left to protect Penny, Millie and Steve while both of us are gone.”

They all turned at the sound of heavy footsteps coming into the house though the front door of the cabin.

“All’s quiet. Glad I won’t be working on that wash again today.” Zack noticed the women seated at the table and asked. “What’s going on? Is Steve any better?”

Millie answered. “About the same. You need to head out early to check traps today. I need willow bark to make more tea for Steve.”

“I can do that. I can check the traps and be back with the bark in a couple hours.” Zack announced. “If I can get some breakfast, I can leave right away.”

Millie stepped to the cabinet and pulled out a cloth wrapped loaf of bread. She cut a wedge and laid a single slice of warmed Spam on top. She handed him the sandwich and a bottle of water. “Off you go. Don’t forget your hatchet and that knife you found in the shed. Remember, pink bark and don’t take it from the same tree.”

Looking a little confused by being pushed out the back door, Zack accepted the offering and stepped outside. He threw a wave over his shoulder and called out. “Later, I guess.”

Della chuckled. “Now that was a bum-rush if I ever saw one.”

Millie grinned. “Boy was a bit heavy and that walking every morning is trimming him down real good. He’s turning into a nice lookin’ young man without all sittin’ around.”

Della shook her head chuckling. “You always get what you want, Millie?”

Millie answered. “I see what needs done and that man needs antibiotics or he ain’t gonna make it.”

Della glanced at her watch. “I need to get moving. It’s going to take thirty to forty-five minutes before I get to the ranch. Give me an hour to find what I need and then forty-five minutes to get back. I should be back before noon.”

Millie gave Della a hard look. “Stay away from people, a black gal on her own could find herself in trouble. Some people might try to take advantage.”

Darlene looked frightened. “I don’t like you doing this alone.”

“I’ve got the gun.” Della answered.

“Breakfast is ready.” Millie answered.

She set more bread and Spam on the table and the three women ate quickly. When they were finished, Millie handed Della a bag. “Got you a couple of those power bars and three bottles of water to take with you. You best be going. ‘Member what the boy said ‘bout that gas line being a problem.”

She and Darlene hurried to the shed and pushed ATV around the back of the cabin to the road. They pushed the vehicle down the road until they passed over the repaired wash and Della climbed on the tattered seat.

“Don’t forget the valve.”  Darlene commented.

“Got it.”  Della answered.

The machine had been used harshly over the years. The motor leaked gas somewhere so someone had added a shut off valve. They had mounted a rifle rack on the front and mounted an extended platform on the back.

“Are you sure about this?” Darlene asked.

“No. But I’ve got no choice. I’m not letting him die.” Della turned the key in the ATV and the motor roared to life. She clutched then kicked the machine into gear.

“Be careful.” Darlene called out as the ATV pulled away.

Della used the steep path to the blacktop to get familiar with riding the four-wheeled vehicle. She had ridden an ATV once, but it had been years ago. It short ride, since the guy she was dating didn’t care for the sideline. He lasted about as long as the ride.

When Della got to the blacktop she slowed the machine and looked both up and down the highway. There was a lot more cars than had been there when they last traveled the highway. She felt exposed and vulnerable when she pulled off the mountain road and onto the highway. She accelerated as she thought of Steve and the faint red lines spreading from the lesions on his left leg.

Della worried about a cluster of vehicles ahead.  She slowed as she approached the first vehicle. It had two flat tires on the driver’s side. She glanced through the open doors and was shocked to see evidence of a hasty exit. Suit cases had been thrown open and clothing left in a pile inside the vehicle. From what she could see, it was all adults clothing.

She stopped the machine and turned off the engine. Della glanced around and saw nothing to give a hint of where the occupants had gone. She decided to check it out since she was there.  She stuffed anything that looked useable and closed up the case.  She threw it into the carrier and lashed it down with a bungee cord.

When she was done, she stepped back on the ATV and cranked the engine.  She accelerated and the four-wheeler rolled forward. The next vehicle was disabled as well. Again she saw no one nor evidence of the occupants having been attacked by the infected.

Della dodged around two more stalled cars then accelerated down the open road.  The drive was almost pleasant with the wind on her face. Just as she got to the start of the white fencing she saw a terrible accident involving several vehicles locked together across the entrance to the ranch driveway. She stopped the ATV and pulled off the road into a small stand of bushes. Della turned off the key and the quiet was suddenly overwhelming.

She glanced from side to side try to assure herself she was alone. She took a deep breath trying to calm her racing heart and stepped off the four-wheeler. She picked up the small pack holding the handgun, water and protein bars. She pulled out the 9mm, released the magazine, checked the load, and slammed it back home.

“Okay. Let’s do this.” She whispered to herself.

She walked deeper into the woods at the side of the open paddock.  The ranch buildings were nearly half a mile from the entrance. A dozen infected fed on the carcasses of three horses. The pasture was a lethal prison for the half dozen or so horses left snorting and running from a couple monsters trying to catch them.

Della watched the horror in the quiet pasture for several minutes before she could drag up enough courage to move, she took a deep breath and stepped back into the shadows of the trees. She looked toward the stables in the distance. She could make her way toward the building and staying out of sight. She’d figure out how to cross the short expanse of pasture to the buildings when she got there, but for now she’d worry about getting there.

With a plan, she began jogging through the woods. Branches and briars whipped at her arms and legs. Devils Beggarticks, called stick-tights in Texas, clung to her pant legs, her shoes and the strings.

She came out of the woods a short distance from the stable and ranch buildings glanced back toward the feeding monsters. The surviving horses were all huddled together in front of her.  They stood trembling at the gate, eyes wild with terror. Where were the ranchers? Why were they not protecting the horses?

Millie directed Zack to cut the cable into six six-foot lengths. With her guidance, Zack created a one-way locking mechanism on an adjustable loop. He held up the first snare for Millie’s inspection.

She reached out with her hand. “Just a brush of fur will slide the loop tight” Sliding her hand into the loop, she pulled slightly and it snapped around her thin wrists. “They’ll be caught fast.”

She pulled the loop open and extracted her hand. She left Zack to make four more traps while she got to her feet and shuffled back into the cabin.

She pressed her fingers to Steve’s face then looked at Della.  “He’s not looking good. I’ll be looking for some willow when I go out with Zack. But unless we find a honey tree, that’s all I can do for him.”

“Better than nothing, I guess.”  Della answered.

Millie walked back out to find Zack had repeated the trap making while Millie was gone.  She guided him through making an anchor loop on a swivel on the opposite end of each cable.

“Now, they’re all done.” Millie announced. “We go to the woods.”

“Can I go Granny?” Penny asked.

Millie looked at Darlene than nodded. “If your mama will watch from the porch, you can come as far as the garden. When we get there, you gotta go back to the cabin.”

“Yes mam.” Penny nodded.

Millie walked inside the cabin and filled plastic bottles with clear fresh water. She opened cabinet doors until she found a small jar with a lid and dropped it in burlap sack she had fashioned into a shoulder bag.

Steve stirred in the bunk. He reached for his prosthetics when he saw the gathering of supplies being readied to go into the woods.

Millie raised her hand. “Not you. Someone has to protect the child and mother.” After a look around, she continued. “Della will take that pistol and a knife if you don’t mind.”

Darlene stepped to Millie and whispered. “He’s not doing well.”

“Give him that cup of broth I set near the stove. Take the warm water and clean his sores and bandage them with that ointment Della has. If we find a willow, I’ll bring some back for his fever.”

“I’ll do that soon as Penny gets back.” Darlene answered.

Millie led Penny, Della and Zack to the edge of the clearing. There, she pointed Penny back to the cabin. When the child was back in the arms of her mother and waving from the porch, she led Della and Zack into the woods.

The townspeople in Utopia had been generous in sharing clothes with all of them. Della had changed from her filthy scrubs to jeans, a t-shirt and a pair of jogging shoes. Zack was dressed in jeans and a t-shirts as well. After nearly a week in the same scrubs for both, it was a real relief. Neither looked like woodsmen, but Millie was determined to pass along what she knew.

As they walked, she pointed to plants. She described the ones that were toxic and which ones they could eat. She passed a willow tree and pulled handfuls of the young tender branches and stuffed them into her burlap bag.

Millie began talking about game trails and to spot them. She pointed at droppings and the differences between raccoon and what a squirrel left behind. She spoke quietly, but used each example to convey information.

Millie walked deeper into the woods studying the ground as she went. “I’ll show you what to look for, but you’ll have to go deeper into the woods to set the traps. I’m just about tuckered out.” At that point she pointed to the ground. “This is a game trail. Animals use the same paths to move from one place to another. Look for a choke point, a place where the trail narrows. That’s where you put the snare.”

She spent the next ten minutes showing how to place the snare. “We have to decide what size animal you’re trying to catch. This may not be easy, since different critters can use the same trail. The animal needs to stick his head through the loop. For now, let’s just say about eight or nine inches.”

Both Della and Zack nodded with each bit of information.

Finally, Della announced. “I think we got it.”

Millie stood with the aid of Zack big hand. “Use that hatchet to mark a trail so you don’t get lost. Don’t go more than a mile out. You got five more snares. Don’t put them too close. A struggling critter will warn off other animals.”

“Yes mam.” Zack answered.

“Don’t get lost. Stay together and mark the trees like I showed you.” She sighed with a puzzled look on her wrinkled face. Go a mile south, then a mile west and then north again. Always go to the right. Use that compass in the knife.” Millie ordered.

Della smiled. “We’ll be fine.”

Millie sighed. “I wish I could go with you, but my legs won’t make it. Be careful. If you be quiet you won’t scare off the game.”

Della and Zack watched the old woman hobble away. She placed her feet carefully on the path as she shuffled back toward the cabin. She had seemed so tireless since arriving at the cabin. Watching her now they realized, she was desperate to share as much information as possible. She provided answers and was determined to do whatever she could to help extend their stay. They realized that with her knowledge of foraging and trapping they could stay for quite a while.

Without Millie, the group would have only been able to spend a week or so at the cabin. Now, if their trapping efforts were successful, they could give Steve time to heal.

“Well, are we doing this?” Zack grinned. “Can you believe we’re doing this?”

Della smiled. “Not really. Lead out trail blazer.”

Della reached into the bag slung over her shoulder to verify the handgun was still present while Zack clutched a hatchet in his hand. He marked the tree as Millie had directed then verified the direction.

They walked deeper into the woods, following the game trail to avoid briars and brush, so when the trail turned they turned. When the trail forked, they kept to the right fork. They set each of the five additional snare traps.

“Well, how do you think we’re doing?”  Zack asked.

“I’m pretty sure we’re doing it correctly.  Now if we can just follow the same trail to recover the game. That is, if we catch anything.”  Della chuckled.

In the end, they found themselves near the base of the narrow road leading up to the cabin when they came out of the woods. Both Della and Zack were sweaty and dirty from their trek through the woods when they got back to the cabin. It was nearly five in the afternoon when Della walked inside the cabin.

Steve asked from the bunk. “Well, how did it go?”

“Long hot walk.” Della answered as she wiped at the perspiration at the side of her face. She settled on a chair at the table.

“See anything interesting? Other people or signs of other people?” Steve asked.

“There’s a good sized watering hole that spills into a small stream. It’ looks clean. We saw fish.”

Zack stomped up the steps appeared at the cabin door. He went to the sink and began pumping the handle. A moment later, water began to flow clear and fresh. He stuck his head under the flow and scrubbed at the dirt and dust clinging to his face and neck. “It’s hot as hell out there. Not even a hint of a breeze.”

Millie pulled his hand from the pump handle and pumped it slow and steady. Zack scrubbed at his face with both hand then pulled the shirt over his head and stuck it under the flow. He wrung it out, then wiped at his face and neck then draped it around his neck.

When Zack stepped back from the sink, he carried two large mason jars of water. He handed one to Della and then settled on a chair.

Millie handed Della a wet towel.

She nodded at the old woman. “Well that was an adventure.”

“Gal, did you two do a good job?” Minnie asked.

Zack wiped at his face and hands. “Yes mam. We did just like you showed us. How long before we know?”

“Trapping ain’t knowing until you follow the trail and check your traps, first thing in the morning. You be hoping for night critters.”

“We gotta get up early, we just got back.” Zack complained.

“If we’re planning on eating what we trap, we might want it fresh.” Millie answered.

“This isn’t such a bad place to be.” Darlene walked in the cabin to join the small gathering with Penny at hand. “Maybe we should stay here until the government gets the infected under control.”

“Maybe.” Steve answered. “For a while.” He lay back on the bunk and closed his eyes.