“Okay, I will talk it over with our groups and meet you back right here at 7 a.m. tomorrow. I have something important after that, so it will be quick, either way,” replied David.
“Thank you, and we will be here tomorrow morning,” Nate assured him.
* * * *
“You’re a good man, David,” I said, patting him on the shoulder when he returned with news of the meeting. “I don’t care what everyone else says,” I joked. “I know it’s true,” I added, laughing.
“Keep it up, and I’ll have just one best man in Mel!” he countered, with a smile.
“All right, brother, I’m just messing around. But seriously, it’s a good thing that you’re trying to do with Nate and whoever is left over there.”
“I’m just trying to keep them from getting slaughtered like sheep,” he replied. “I hope we don’t ensure a fight with those looking for their forward guards,” he added.
David took the lead, asking everyone in both groups to vote on whether or not to let Nate’s group join us.
I knew Joy and I would be doing the same with our group once we connected with our old friends, who were now just 40 miles away.
I was going to wait a couple of days, but Joy nearly broke my rib with an elbow and a stern look she had perfected over the past couple of days.
We relayed the information about our friends we left behind, who were waiting just behind both marching groups, and I asked if they could join us on the final leg to Colorado.
Most everyone agreed to bring Nate and his group over with us, and since the nays couldn’t come up with a logical argument to the contrary, we brought them over.
I was expecting a quick vote on our friends but didn’t get it. Several in our group had concerns about adding more mouths to feed. Only Jake, Nancy, Vlad and Mike agreed to the plan immediately.
“Tell me about the single female,” said Vlad… “I mean the sister. Is she pretty? Does she like guns? I’m joking, of course…well, kind of,” he said, breaking the tension.
“They all like guns,” I told him, “and I think she’s pretty. I mean, what do you think, Joy?” I asked, fumbling. “She’s pretty, right?”
I got a look from Jake, telling me to shut up, and Mike was trying hard not to laugh.
“Okay, I’m done for now,” I said, not being able to gauge the response from the others in our group.
* * * *
Tina and Beatrice planned the last details of the very first wedding of the apocalypse, at least as far as anyone here had heard.
Everyone in camp was excited about the news and doing their best to put other thoughts, fearful thoughts, out of their minds—at least for the morning.
Today was a good day. We were all back together again and planning the wedding of one of my best friends.
I made a toast at dinner to David and Tina, with Mel’s wine and the Colonel’s steaks.
After talking with Lonnie, we informed everyone that there would be a mandatory adult meeting following the ceremony tomorrow morning.
“The timing sucks,” I told David, pulling him aside, “but we have to prepare for what’s headed our way.”
“I know, brother, and we will. Marriage means nothing if you can’t keep the family.”
* * * *
We were up early, with the promised 7 a.m. meeting with Nate. David, Lonnie and Mike met him and his shrinking group of 10 across the river.
David spoke with Nate, asking the obvious question: Did the former soldiers know of the road crossing the river?
“I think so, since they brought your children across it when they took them,” Nate replied. “Did they relay that information to their commander? I just don’t know.”
“I want you to leave a note at your camp that is easy to spot,” David told him. “Address it to Uncle Buck, or whoever, saying they can find you and your group in Trinidad. It may be enough to keep them moving past here, and it’s at least worth a try. We will meet you on our side of the river in a few hours—let’s say 10:30—and will have an all-hands-on-deck meeting at 11 for defense preparation.”
* * * *
David headed home immediately following the meeting to get ready for his big day.
Tina opted to have Beatrice help her, Joy and Nancy with hair and makeup. Veronica and Suzie would be flower girls and ring bearers.
I did my best to find something decent to wear. I hadn’t even thought to bring the only suit I owned on the road trip.
“Jeans, crocodile-skin boots, and a nice shirt,” I told my boys, who were helping to dress me in our tent. “It will just have to do.”
Mel picked me up on the four-wheeler. We followed all of the kids up to Beatrice’s house for the ceremony.
Chairs of all types were set out behind her house in an orderly fashion, facing her back deck where the union would be witnessed. Bright red plastic chairs were mixed with dining room formal chairs, casual kitchen chairs, and a few bar stools that would seat the adults. Several blankets were spread out on the ground in front for the children.
Beatrice commenced the service at exactly 9 a.m., and in 15 minutes David was kissing his new bride.
All pitched in for a late breakfast before the meeting that we were all pushing to the back of our minds.
* * * * * * *
Chapter Eight
Raton Pass, New Mexico
Lonnie and Mike met Nate and his group at 10:30 on the river bank and escorted them to David’s side for the foreseeable next
