When breakfast was done, everyone sat down and the large table seemed really small.
It was after ten when Arthur led the group up from Jack’s farm, driving various machines and trucks and trailers loaded with supplies. Parking them around the house, Arthur grabbed the baby sling and put Nicole in it. Heading to his shop, Arthur came out carrying his surveying equipment.
“You know how to use that?” Shawn cried out in wonder.
“Yeah, all of you will be learning today,” Arthur said, putting the stuff in his buggy. “We are marking today and tomorrow, we start to clear.”
Everyone ran for buggies as Pat climbed in Arthur’s. “Where am I going, Poppa?” he asked.
Pointing northwest, “That way and I’ll direct you,” Arthur chuckled and then stopped. “Hold on,” Arthur groaned, seeing Robin jumping in her pink Barbie Jeep. Climbing out, Arthur walked over and pulled Robin kicking and screaming out of the Jeep.
“Hey!” Arthur shouted and Robin stopped. “You wear clothes, I might let you drive your damn Jeep but walk around naked in cowboy boots, and you can forget that!”
Robin pouted as Arthur put her on his hip and walked back to his buggy. He could hear more than one kid snickering as he climbed back in the buggy. “Let’s try this again,” Arthur sighed as Robin leaned over to babble at Nicole and Nicole let out a squeal as she smiled at Robin.
“I’ll give you money, Robin, if you keep your clothes on,” Arthur tried bribing her.
“No,” Robin snapped, lifting her chin and then turned and kissed Arthur’s cheek. “Poppa,” Robin said clearly and smiled.
Hugging her tight, Arthur grinned as Pat weaved around the trees. “Okay, you’re a little cute, but would be much cuter with clothes. A pullup at the very least, please,” Arthur tried and Robin just giggled. “Yeah, you’re going to be my trying child,” Arthur mumbled and Robin kissed his cheek again.
Chapter Thirty Five
Not everyone is evil or indifferent
“Wendy,” Sally whispered, tapping Wendy’s shoulder. Registering the voice and tapping as not a dream, Wendy opened her eyes to see Sally wasn’t looking at her but at something else.
Sitting up, Wendy saw relief on Sally’s face that she was awake now. “What?” Wendy asked in a low voice.
“I heard engines stop near us,” Sally whispered.
Blinking her eyes, Wendy turned to the door of the large woodshed they were sleeping in. Then, she heard the unmistakable sound of a car door slamming. “Wake the others and try to keep the boys quiet,” Wendy said, grabbing her M4 and moving to the side of the door.
They were outside of the small town of Meadville, Mississippi. Getting off the highway this morning, this was the first place Wendy had found that she could hide the Tahoe. It was parked under an awning on the right side of the shed. It wasn’t completely hidden, but it was blocked from view from the road.
Glancing back, she saw the twins with the boys. “Move behind that tractor and be ready to run,” Wendy whispered and the twins carried Noah and Ryan behind the ancient tractor. Hearing another motor coming, Wendy turned north where the noise was coming from.
The town of Meadville was half a mile away and she had thought the shed was far enough away, but now regretted her decision as a truck drove past. It was heading north toward the town, but slowed on the small road that ran past the house the shed sat behind. Hearing it stop, Wendy knew it was close and then she heard faint voices before doors closing.
“Crap,” Wendy mumbled and glanced over at the Tahoe, thinking about just leaving. She knew it was more than one vehicle from hearing doors closing and from the voices, it was several people. Looking down at her rifle, Wendy checked it over as she took a deep breath to calm her nerves.
“Not everyone is an asshole,” she reminded herself.
Leaving the doorway, Wendy moved over to a window beside the door with more cover. Keeping low, Wendy peered outside and heard the voices spreading out. Thinking that meant they were walking away from their vehicles, Wendy turned to the Tahoe again, thinking about getting the kids and just hauling ass.
“I saw a trailer with gas cans!” Wendy heard someone yell out and felt a pang in her chest. Rising up so only her eyes were above the window seal, Wendy looked out over the backyard to the house and road.
Two men carrying rifles were casually walking down the road toward them.
Letting the scenarios play out in her head, Wendy pulled the stock of the M4 to her shoulder. Watching the men walk off the road passing the house and heading for the shed, Wendy made her choice and then prayed that she could live with the results.
When the men were halfway to the shed, Wendy moved to the edge of the door, raising the M4 up and flipping the safety off. Aiming at the man carrying his rifle in his hands, Wendy shouted out. “You need to leave, that’s our truck and gas!”
Both men stopped and saw her at the edge of the shed door fifty yards away, aiming at them. The man that had his rifle slung over his shoulder raised his hands. “We are just looking around,” he called out as the other man let his rifle aim toward the ground.
“I’m here right now, so just back off. We will be leaving soon and only used the shed to sleep in, so you can have what’s here when we leave,” Wendy told him, keeping the crosshairs on the man holding his rifle low.
Wendy saw the one holding his gun low mumble something to the other and shifted his weight to move. “You move and I’ll kill you,” Wendy
