As Arthur turned back to the firing line, Andrea mumbled, “Holy shit, sixteen.”
“Guys,” Arthur said as everyone on the firing line had stopped shooting and were listening, so Arthur glanced at them. “You know when I had my first real birthday party? You know, friends coming over, cake, and presents?” Arthur asked and then headed to the firing line to help pack up.
Grabbing the 10/22s, Arthur checked them and winked at those on the firing line and then looked up at Shawn and Andrea. “My son was ten years old and he and Wendy threw me a surprise birthday party down there in the office house. We lived there until I finished this house. I have to say, it was worth the wait,” Arthur smiled.
Seeing Jodi and Betty had their ARs, Arthur walked over and picked Nicole up from the playpen. “We are so throwing him a party,” Shawn mumbled, watching Arthur walk away while surrounded by the kids.
“Okay, we need to find out when his birthday is,” Andrea nodded as the group rounded the knoll.
Throwing up his hands, “He just told us,” Shawn snapped. “October 21st.”
“He remembers the day he chose to walk the line,” Andrea said.
“Poppa also told me the reason he stopped doing the stupid shit was he was on a full academic scholarship,” Shawn said, heading to the house. “He said colleges and corporations don’t support people who resist them.”
“The government better be glad Poppa decided to settle down. If he hadn’t, I’m sure he would be rich and they would be poor,” Andrea chuckled, heading to the house and heard a small splash.
“Robin!” Arthur shouted. “Take your boots off, not your panties before you jump in the swimming pool!” Arthur bellowed and Andrea heard a much bigger splash.
Chapter Thirty
A fear can be passed on
Hearing a giggle, Wendy opened her eyes as she sat up. Beside her on the blanket, Noah was playing with Ryan. Holding a stuffed toy, Noah would hold it over Ryan until it touched his face and jerk it back. Ryan would let out a giggle and then Noah would do it again.
“Did they wake you?” Jo Ann asked and Wendy turned to see Jo Ann sitting on the small trailer, looking out of the barn Wendy had pulled into last night.
Glancing at her watch and seeing she had slept for six hours, “I was supposed to be up two hours ago,” Wendy said, pushing herself off the ground.
“Nah, you’re driving, so Sally and I took watch,” Jo Ann smiled. “Clouds are moving in.”
Walking to the door, Wendy looked up at the dark clouds rolling in from the south. “Glad we left when we did,” she said, feeling the fear building in her gut from storm clouds. Feeling Jo Ann step up beside her, Wendy looked down.
The only one actually wearing clothes was Noah. They were still wearing the wetsuits. The twins were wearing t-shirts over the wetsuits and Wendy saw Jo Ann had on a pair of tennis shoes they had picked up. “Pants didn’t fit?” she asked and Jo Ann shook her head.
They were just north of Raleigh, Florida which was just a dot on a map. “How long until Sally gets up?” Wendy asked, moving to the trailer.
Looking at her watch, “Four o’clock,” Jo Ann answered and moved over to help Wendy pull the gas tanks off. “How much gas did we use?”
“We have just over a quarter of a tank,” Wendy told her, grabbing the funnel. “We were averaging twenty miles a gallon.”
As Wendy put the funnel in the gas tank, she looked over and saw Jo Ann concentrating hard. “So, we need seventy-five gallons to get home,” Jo Ann finally said.
“Very good,” Wendy smiled. “We have six five-gallon cans, so how much is that?”
“Thirty gallons,” Jo Ann answered quickly. “So, we won’t have to get gas every time we stop?”
Pausing before she lifted up the first gas can, “No, if we stop and can fill the cans, we will,” Wendy told her with a serious face. “We may have to change directions or any number of things. Always try to stay ahead of problems.”
Nodding, Jo Ann moved over and helped Wendy lift the can up to the funnel. “It’s heavy,” Jo Ann grunted.
“Yes, it is,” Wendy said and saw Noah come over while looking up at her and holding the stuffed animal up. “Can’t play right now,” Wendy told him, tilting the can back so the gas wouldn’t overflow the funnel.
“Noah, sit with Ryan so he doesn’t roll off the blanket,” Jo Ann said liking the fact that the can was getting lighter. Noah took off back to the blanket and sat down.
It took three and a half cans to top off the Tahoe and both were panting as Wendy grabbed the hose from the Tahoe. She looked at the four cases of bottled water and two cases of sports drinks, hoping that would be enough to get them home.
“Wake Sally, so we can get some gas,” Wendy said, picking up an empty can.
When Sally got up and saw Wendy at the door while holding the can, “Hold on, I saw something that will help,” Sally said and ran into the barn. She came back rolling a red wagon.
“That’s great,” Wendy said, putting the can she was carrying in the wagon. She turned to see Jo Ann putting the baby pack carrier on and moved over and helped. When Wendy put Ryan in, she saw Ryan was almost half the length of the twins with his legs hanging down.
Checking her vest, Wendy grabbed the M4 off the dash since she didn’t have to carry gas cans. Draping the single point sling over her head, Wendy checked the rifle and
