EMP Antediluvian Courage : Book 3 Page 6

  He’d always been taught to turn the other cheek in church, but he couldn’t bring himself to do that. He wasn’t sure if he could hurt someone just to hurt them, but he was sure he could kill them if he was defending himself or his Pop Pop, or his friends. No, Alan knew he didn’t have it in him to turn the other cheek. He wasn’t sure he could kill either, but he’d not let anyone hurt the ones he loved.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Monroe ran up and down the front yard, staying well within the roped-off boundary keeping him away from the edges of the woods. No one wanted a repeat of two months ago, when a man had tried to take Marilyn hostage and used Monroe as a shield. He was running up and down, gathering black walnuts and putting them in a basket. The nuts, from the two massive trees, were scattered all over the ground, the squirrels having dropped many in their gathering madness.

  Earl was with him, sitting on a berm before a fox hole. His long gun lay across his lap as he watched the child run back and forth with such glee it brought a smile to everyone’s faces. Harry, Clay, Katie, Willene, and Marilyn were up on the porch, watching the busy antics of the child. Boggy was out on patrol with Brian, Clay’s police dog. Charlie was also out with them, though no one figured he’d be anything but company for Boggy.

  Angela was on the porch, playing between Willene’s feet. These days, she called Willene “Momma.” It was bittersweet, for when she’d called Willene that the first time, Willene had wept, a mix of sorrow that Angela would never know her real mother, and joy. Harry sat with Marilyn on the swing, while Clay and Katie had taken the glider. Harry took note that Clay and Katie were now openly affectionate, holding hands as they talked between themselves. It was good to see. Times were hard, and finding love and being loved was a blessing.

  He and Marilyn were also becoming close, but he still had a wall up. It was because of Franziska Gnodtke, his former fiancé, or rather girlfriend, he’d not asked her to marry him yet. She was only former because of his inability to leave this place. It was only been four and a half months ago since he’d said goodbye to Franziska, and yet, it felt as though it had been years. Each day extended, filled with frenetic activity to survive for just one day.

  But, after working hard, everything was in place and all could now breathe a sigh of relief. They had plenty of food from the garden, they had three bucks butchered and processed and put away. He’d taken some of the meat to the cave, not wishing to have it all in the house in case they were overrun or attacked by some outside force. Most of their food stores and supplies were still in the cave, with only a week’s worth being stored in the old farmhouse.

  There had been fewer and fewer run-ins with people finding their way through the mountains. Harry suspected that most were dead, either killed on the road by others or starved to death.

  With fall edging out summer, winter would be on its heels. When the temperatures fell, those who’d survived might die if they were not prepared. Life was hard, and every day had to be attended to. One had to think of what needed to be done for today, but also to plan for the future. Winter would be harder for those who’d not done it right. There was very little room for mistakes, and any mistakes could and did kill fast.

  He looked over at Marilyn. Her face held a soft smile as she watched Monroe. Getting to know her again after so many years had been eye-opening. He’d only seen her intermittently over the years since high school. But he couldn’t bring himself to be more than a friend. For now, life was uncertain. And when they went after Audrey, Yates, and their people, he may not come back. He didn’t want to start something, only to die. He also felt guilty and knew he shouldn’t, because he thought less and less of Fran these days.

  He struggled daily with his emotions, though. Here was a beautiful woman in front of him. Fran would move on with her life, if she hadn’t already. Each day, his mind vacillated between the women. He didn’t want to act because Marilyn deserved a man who was completely there with his attention and emotions. There should not be the ghost of a woman between them. He would not do that to her.

  “I wish I had half the energy of that boy,” Marilyn laughed. Harry grinned, his eyes crinkling.

  “He makes me tire just watching him,” Willene laughed, rocking slowly in her rocking chair. They were using Marilyn’s Wonderbag, a slow cooker without electricity, to make dinner. Harry’s stomach rumbled at the thought. A thick venison stew that had been cooking for nine hours. Willene had put a large pan of cornbread in the outdoor oven too. He wished they had fresh milk; he’d love a glass of cornbread and milk. Powdered milk just didn’t cut it.

  His eyes caught movement up the highway. A truck was headed their way. He recognized it as Wilber’s truck, and wondered at the early visit. There wasn’t many disturbances these days, since it was a very rare vehicle that came past their house. He watched as the truck passed. It carried Alan, in the passenger’s side as well as Boney, and Wilber.

  Everyone waited for the three to make their way up the hill. Earl joined them, and Boggy stepped out of the woods at the east side of the house, walking up to the porch and joined everyone there.

  “Howdy all, how ya’ll doin’?” Boney called as he lifted his hand in greeting.

  Everyone on the porch said “hey,” and as the three came up on the porch, Willene went into the house, Marilyn following her. Monroe skipped behind his mother and Katie picked Angela up and placed her between herself and Clay. Boggy and Earl settled on the edge of the porch, each leaning their backs against the thick pillars that supported the overhanging roof of the porch. Alan went to sit beside Boggy and elbowed him. Both young men grinned.

  Wilber and Boney shifted the rocking chairs and took their seats as Willene came back out with a large tray of glasses and sweet sun tea. Harry got up and helped her pass around the glasses. Marilyn rejoined them, sitting beside Willene and Harry on the porch swing, and soon everyone was settled.

  “Where’s Monroe?” Earl asked.

  “He’s eating his dinner. He’ll be out in a bit. I didn’t think we’d want him to hear,” Marilyn smiled.

  “That’s probably best,” Boney smiled, though there wasn’t any humor to be seen in his smile now. He pulled out his pipe and, as though by silent agreement, Wilber, Harry, and Earl pulled out theirs too. Harry saw Willene grin and he winked at her, a smile curving on his lips. Marilyn bumped him and he grinned at her as well. She sniggered softly.

  The men took a few moments to get their pipes smoldering, and then a comfortable, fragrant fug encircled the occupants of the porch. No one spoke, though the rocking and squeaking of the swing, glider, and rocking chairs made up for the silence. Monroe came busting through the screen door and grinned like a wild man.

  He walked over to Earl, who took out a handkerchief and wiped the stew off the boy’s face. The child had stew smeared all over. Monroe kissed the side of Earl’s face, then ran off the porch, Charlie hard on his heels. Brian had come up onto the porch earlier and lay curled up at Clay’s feet.

  “So, me an’ Wilber, and Alan too, went on a little recon this mornin’. We snatched up Grady.” Boney grinned.

  Clay barked out a laugh. “He give you much trouble?”

  “Not a peep.” Wilber grinned. “Naw. Had a knife to his ’nads, pardon, ladies. His wife is a sound sleeper, so we walked him outta his house and took him fir a little ride. Someplace quiet. You know that old abandoned gas-n-go over on North Fork Road?”

  “Sure. It’s been closed for years,” Clay said, sitting forward on the swing. His arm hung down and he petted Brian on the head. The dog panted, his tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth.

  “Now, fir I go on, it’s gonna get brutal, the tellin’. Anyone here don’t wanna hear, might wanna take a powder,” Boney said, his voice deadly serious.

  Katie got up and kissed Clay on the cheek and smiled. “Sorry, it’s just not something I want to know about.”

  “Me either. I’ll go and get things ready for dinner. You boys gonna stay?” Marilyn asked.
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br />   Boney and Wilber nodded, smiles peeking around their pipes. Alan’s face creased in a brilliant smile, nodding his head enthusiastically.

  Marilyn and Katie disappeared inside the house. Everyone kept an eye on Monroe, and Clay picked Angela up, who’d now fallen asleep, and cradled her in his arms. Boggy got up and went to sit beside Clay.

  “Well, it weren’t pretty. Di’n’t help that I was still a little mad over Thornton,” Boney said.

  Wilber snorted. “Yon man knows how ta get some answers, I’ll give him that.”

  Boney grunted and puffed on his pipe. Harry looked over at Alan, who was listening intently. Looked like he hadn’t been in the same room when the men had gotten their answers. That’s good. Hearing about it and being there to witness it are two different things, Harry thought.

  “We secured him to a chair and I gave him a couple of head knocks, just to get warmed up. I took the pillercase off his noggin. He was madder ’n a wet hen,” Boney chuckled.

  “I bet. That man is as vicious as you want. Never did like him,” Clay said.

  “So, I asked him where his crew held up and where the town’s food supply was. That old boy spit on me,” Boney grinned. It wasn’t a nice grin, Harry noticed.

  “So, I took out one of my cigarettes an’ lit up,” Wilber said.

  “And I borrowed that roll-up. I gave him a little taste oh what he gave my friend. He buckled fast. But of course, I gave him a few more burns, just to make sure he knew I wasn’t messin’ round. Said most of the boys is held up at Bluemont Bed an’ Breakfast. It was Jeff Bluemont’s granny’s place, but closed down a couple years ago. Looks like the KKK took it over,” Boney said.

  “We got them sticks. Maybe we could blow ’em up?” Boggy said quietly. Everyone looked over at the young man.

  Clay pulled away from him. “Damn, brah, serious, aren’t we?” Clay sniggered.

  Boggy grinned shyly. Harry was glad Boggy was on their side. That was a good idea. Blow that place to bits.

  “They keep their food stores there?” Harry asked, thinking they’d need to get the food out before they blew it up.

  “Naw, Mayor Audrey has it at his house. Greedy gomer. Grady also said they’s lookin’ for Anderson’s stash, said that Andy’d had the bulk of provisions and had put it someplace, but ain’t nobody knows where it is,” Wilber laughed.

  “Me an’ my boys is gonna hit a few of the boys tonight. We know where three are going to be. Bobby White, Darrel Mopes, and Tommy Shipp are gonna be playin’ poker at Mopes’s house. Gonna pay them a little visit tonight,” Boney grinned.

  “What did you do with Grady?” Clay asked.

  “Put him in an empty oil barrel. Anyone opens that, will get a nasty surprise. Grady also said them boys got some gals that ain’t wanna be there,” Wilber said.

  “We aim ta send them gals on home to their families. We’ll take them boys an’ anyone else there, down,” Boney said.

  “Need help?” Harry asked.

  “Naw, me an’ the boys have been feelin' a little antsy, need to feed that beast.” Boney grinned, and Wilber nodded.

  Alan looked at his grandfather, scrutinizing him with a speculative gaze. Harry bit his lip, trying not to laugh.

  “Grady also said the men are getting disorderly on account they’s lookin’ fir Anderson’s stash. Yates seems ta be biting at Audrey’s ass. A lot of internal squabbling, sounds like. With Anderson having the majority of the haul, Grady thought maybe things might implode. The town is running low on supplies. More like Audrey’s been chewin’ his way through it,” Boney snorted.

  “Is there a lot of support for the KKK?” Willene asked, getting up and taking the sleeping child from Clay.

  “Grady said there was at first, but then Audrey kept holdin’ back on supplies an’ food. Said sheriff was try’n’ ta rein him in. Lot of people died, ’specially the elderly and the very young,” Wilber said sadly.

  “Now most of the townspeople is afraid of them ’cause they keep coming by, looking for more food. No one has extra to give. Gerhard has been sending food to the town, but I guess only the top boys in the klavern are getting those supplies.”

  “That works in our favor. I don’t think the fine folks from town will get in our way when we go to take them out,” Harry speculated. He pulled and puffed on his pipe. He turned when Marilyn and Katie came to the screen door.

  “If you want to set out the TV trays for everyone, we can serve ya’ll some dinner,” Marilyn said.

  Harry and Boggy got up and went into the house and brought out several TV trays and set them around the porch.

  “You don’t gotta feed us,” Boney announced.

  “Speak fir yourself, I’m ’bout starved,” Wilber laughed. Alan grinned and nodded his head in agreement.

  Within a few minutes, everyone was sitting on the porch, quiet for a few moments, enjoying the company. Boggy said grace and everyone dug into the venison stew. Large fluffy squares of cornbread sat on several platters and was passed around, a block of butter on a floral dish as well.

  “Where on earth did you get that butter?” Boney asked.

  “From the dairy down the road; traded some fresh venison for it.” Harry grinned and winked at Willene. They’d gone down the day after they’d begged two deer. He and Willene had walked down the road and up the long, winding driveway to the dairy. Joshua Kinkade had met them at a large barbed-wire barricade.

  “Trouble?” Harry had asked.

  “Little, not so much nowadays. What can I do for you, Harry?” Joshua was a big man, in his early sixties. Harry had known him all his life. He and his mother would get fresh milk, trading eggs for a few bottles, when he was young. Joshua’s father had run the dairy back then.

  “Got some fresh venison to trade from some butter, if you have any,” Harry had grinned.

  Joshua had laughed, and they’d both headed to the farmhouse. Joshua explained that they still had about thirty of their dairy cows, but had slaughtered two to eat and preserve for the unforeseen future. It was a small dairy farm, and had become very important.

  “I have been thinking, once we get those folks out of the coal mine, we’re going to have to relocate some of them. Ones that don’t have families. I’ll ask Joshua if they can take a family for the winter, perhaps,” Harry said.

  “Good idea. I’ll be askin’ round myself, quiet-like. It’s goin’ ta be a hard winter for all. If we kin find that Anderson’s food stores, we can ration it out,” Boney said.

  “I kin snoop around. Ain’t nobody gonna look twice at me,” Alan volunteered.

  “Well, just you be careful, grandson. I’ve grown awful fond of ya,” Wilber grinned.

  “This is some fine stew,” Boney said, wiping his mouth with a napkin.

  “Would you like more? We have plenty,” Marilyn smiled.

  “Why yes, ma’m, I would,” Boney grinned.

  The rest of the late afternoon, everyone sat on the porch, laughing and talking. It had been a long time since they’d had guests and it felt good. It also felt like normal, old times. Once the gas was gone, however, it might be a thing of the past. Harry thought they might want to look into getting a horse. He knew the dairy had a few. It was something to think about. Perhaps they could rig up some kind of small wagon or buggy for the horse to pull.

  Twilight was tingeing the sky with lavender and pinks. The mountains blocked out the sun fast, swallowing the light. There was a glow that edged along the rim of the mountains, setting the mountains on fire. Boney, Wilber, and Alan rose to take their leave. Willene came out with two large bags of black walnuts.

  “Lord, it’s been a long time since I’ve eaten those. Thanks kindly.” Boney grinned. He walked over to Clay and gave him a hug.

  “Good hunting, cuz.” Clay grinned.

  Boney giggled like a naughty boy and made his way down the hill. Wilber and Alan stayed behind, talking to Harry.

  “We got word to Gerhard about ending the hostage’s stay in the coal m
ine,” Wilber said.

  “Good. When we do this, I’m hoping we can take the guards out before they get off a single shot. Then I figure we get those folks out and get them tucked away.”

  “Like I said, we’ll make some discrete inquires on places to put them. I ’spect most will have a place,” Wilber said. He shook Harry’s hand, and Alan did the same, grinning shyly. Harry patted the thin youth on the back. He hoped the boy would have luck finding Anderson’s stash. That would really help the town through the winter.

  He walked back up the hill to the house and watched as Clay disappeared into the woods. He would take the watch after Clay. Coming up on the porch, he heard the women talking in the kitchen, amid sporadic laughter. He could also hear dishes clinking, and figured they were washing up. The light was fading fast, shadows lengthening. The tree frogs began to peep.

  He sat in the swing, relaxing into it as he did so. Earl was looking out in the distance.

  “What’s on your mind, Earl?” Harry asked.

  Earl got up from the porch floor and went to sit beside Harry on the swing. “Juss wonderin’ how many folks is left in town. I wonder how many has died of starvation or from the mayor’s people. When we went to see Boney that day, there was nary a soul ta be seen.”

  “I hate to say it, but I suspect the lucky ones were outside of town. Those that lived in town were hit pretty hard, I’m sure, by Audrey’s and Yates’s people taking what little they had. And if Audrey’s been using up those supplies on just his own people, then I’m afraid there may not be many left,” Harry said.

  “Lord oh mercy, bad enough we lose everything that was modern, but ta also lose because of a greedy peckerwood.” Earl shook his head. They both heard the kitchen screen door slam and heard Boggy’s deep voice. Harry though he’d gone to collect eggs from the chicken lot.