“What wrong?” Clyde asked.
“Now they know we are coming.” Simon groaned. “We’ve lost the surprise.”
Clyde shrugged. “So?”
“So they’ll be prepared.” He rubbed at his neck as his muddled mind tried to think. “No surprise…. What should we do?”
“Burn them,” Clyde answered flatly.
Simon slowly nodded. “Then we keep going.” He turned back toward the road and heard his people fall into step behind him. “War is coming and Hell comes with us.”
Chapter 25
“Hatcher!” The sentry darted through the foyer and nearly beat down the door to the office. “We got a problem!”
Hatcher upended his chair and weaved through the office, making a hasty exit. He slid to a stop at the main doors and stared at Trevor’s RV. “What’s wrong?”
Trevor appeared at the front gates, his hands trembling. “They’re coming, man. Tons of ‘em.” He pointed down the road as he spoke. “And I swear, it looked just like Simon right out in front.”
Hatcher’s face creased with confusion. “Who’s coming?” He glanced to Roger. “Simon’s dead, right?”
“Ragers, man!” Trevor nearly screamed. He was bouncing up and down with nervous energy. “They were marching up the road like they owned it and they’re headed this way.”
Patricia appeared at his side and tugged at his arm. “Go! Now!” She pulled him back toward the RV and Trevor gave them all sad eyes.
“I’m sorry Mr. Hatcher, but I gotta do what’s best for Tricia.” She continued to pull him toward the RV and he paused at the door. “I’d stay and help you fend them off, but…” He glanced at the little girl as she crawled over the driver’s seat.
“No worries.” Hatcher nodded to him. “We’ve got this.” He stepped up to the driver’s window as Trevor pulled the seat belt on. “Thanks for giving us the heads up.”
With shaky hands Trevor reached out and took Hatcher’s grip. “I wish I could do more.”
“Go on.” Hatcher stepped back. “Good luck out there.”
He watched the RV spin gravel as Trevor accelerated away from the front entrance then turned and faced the people assembled at the main gates. “You heard the man. We got Zulus headed this way.”
“He said it looked like Simon was with them?” Roger muttered excitedly.
Hatcher shook his head. “Simon was killed; he’s dead, right?” Hatcher blew his breath out hard and glanced toward the road. “At least, he’d better be.”
Hank hitched his pants up and whistled to the assembled people. “Gear up! We got a fight coming!”
Mike Sutton sat up on the edge of the bed, his jaw clenched as Stella wrapped his middle with ACE bandages. “Tighter.”
“You still have to breathe, Mike.”
He grabbed the wrap from her hands and pulled it taught. “I need my insides to stay inside more than I need air, woman.” He turned eyes to her that she couldn’t quite read. “Have I told you today how much I love you?”
“No, but don’t start.” She snatched the wrap back from him and tightened her pull. “I’m sure the others can handle it. They don’t need you getting in their way.”
The man formerly known as Savage slipped off the edge of the tiny mattress and came to his full height. “When the day comes that I’m not willing to stand shoulder to shoulder and defend the woman I love, you may as well plant me in the ground.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of, Mike.” Stella tiptoed and kissed his hairy cheek. “You stay safe out there. You don’t have to be on the front lines.”
“I’ll go where I can do the most damage.” Mike side stepped her and reached for his flannel shirt. Tugging it on, he turned and gave her a soft smile. “You did good, woman. My middle don’t hurt. And I can still breathe.”
She placed her hand on his chest and stared into his eyes. For a moment she feared that it may be the last time she saw him. She buried that fear deep inside and pulled gently at his whiskers, pulling his face closer to hers. “You come home in one piece.” She tugged his beard smartly. “You hear me?”
He ignored the pain and gave her a nod. “Yes ma’am.” With a quick kiss to the tip of her nose he stepped out of the infirmary and turned towards the armory.
Stella fell back to the mattress and stifled a sob as he disappeared into the swarm of people. “Please, God…keep him safe.”
David Cooper slapped at Vicky’s hands. “Let me up. I can stand. That means I can shoot.”
“Your old wrinkled ass is staying right here in bed. You have healing to do.” David tried to fight her off but pulled something in his wound, buckling him back onto the mattress. “What did I tell you?” she chided.
He gasped and held his side. “At least get me a gun. If they get through the gates…”
“If they get through the gates, you won’t stop them.” She shot him an angry stare.
“It’s not for them.” His voice was barely a whisper. He cupped her cheek and pulled her closer. “I can’t become like that. And I damned sure don’t want to be eaten alive.”
Her eyes widened as she realized what he was asking. She pulled away and opened her mouth but no words came. “Coop, I don’t…I couldn’t…”
“You don’t have to pull the trigger, sweetie. Just hand me a pistol. I’ll drop as many as I can before I put the last shot to use, I promise.” He kissed the back of her hand. “I promise.”
Vicky Sue stood up straight and squared her shoulders. “It won’t come that that.”
“Call it insurance.” He gave her a crooked smile. “Or consider it blood pressure medicine. I won’t be near as worried if I had something other than my limp pecker in my hand.” He grinned wider at his joke, hoping it would put her more at ease.
She ignored his
