“Anyone here is free to leave right now. There is a FEMA camp in Trinidad that would be glad to have you. You won’t live free there, but you will be protected. Anyone here is free to fish the lake or bathe as they see fit. I do believe Mitch over there is going to give a fishing class this afternoon for anyone needing a refresher or new to the idea. It’s your best chance to eat. We have a few in our group as well that will be fishing today and would be happy to help you out. Isn’t that right, Lance?”
“Well, we do need to restock. I guess so. Sure, we will all pitch in and break bread tonight. Are you okay with that, guys?” I asked Lonnie and Vlad.
“Sure,” Lonnie replied. “It gives us a good early start in the morning.”
“I would suggest,” said Vlad, “we move our camp closer this morning to be near the activities and to be prepared to get out only what we need tonight for an early departure in the morning. The longer we stay in one place, the more stuff we drag off the trailers.”
“We get a little too comfortable is what you’re saying,” I replied.
“Exactly,” he said. “I can always count on you to see the right side of things.”
“Do you mean your side?” I asked a bit sarcastically, in fun.
“Yes, that’s what I said,” he responded, laying on the thick accent. “Now if you will excuse me, I have a lady friend who has asked for a ride around the lake.”
“There it is,” I said, elbowing Lonnie lightly in the ribs. “Vlad, the ladies’ man, and Mike is becoming a motivational speaker right before our eyes.”
Mike smiled with us, lightening the mood for a split second, and didn’t seem to mind the observation before getting serious again. He motioned for Lonnie and me to go inside the new leader’s tent for a talk. It was just us and him, plus three of his apparent top security guys.
“I’ll make this quick,” said Mike. “I’m guessing you took care of the issue in the pit last night?”
“Yes, my guys finished it.”
“Good. Then it’s up to you to lead these people, at least the ones who stay, which looks like most now. They are counting on you to do the right thing, keep them protected and fed. It’s harder to accomplish when you’re doing the right thing, but not impossible. Can you do that?”
“Yes, I’m confident I can.”
“Good. We’re headed to Colorado, as you may already know, and have a good communication line. If I hear you allowing any nonsense to happen, as we had here just yesterday, I will come back here, if I have to walk, and take it from you the hard way. Are we clear?”
“Yes, we are,” he replied.
“Good, let’s get our camp moved and start fishing,” said Mike, grinning like none of this ever happened.
* * * *
“Lance, get your boys,” called out Mike, with a renewed sense of life I hadn’t seen since we brought my twin son back in New Mexico. “You too, Jake; bring your boy—and Lonnie, your girl and boy. And your friends, Lance. Tell the dads to bring their kids, and we meet lakeside. Dads and kids fishing in 30!” he called out excitedly.
“What’s up with him?” asked Jake, overhearing the rant. “Is he on drugs?”
“Yes, he is!” I told him, with only Vlad around. “He’s on the kind that kills everyone except the taker.”
“Only if they deserve it!” chimed in Vlad.
“He freed an entire village,” I added, “ruled by people worse…or maybe I should say less empathetic to the common person than him. He’s on a high, like last time with Nate’s group, but this one is bigger. You’re welcome, you know, Vlad, to join us fishing.”
“Oh no, I have a thing,” replied Vlad.
“You have a thing?” asked Jake, raising one eyebrow, not caring if he was prying.
“Yes, just a…well…just some plans for this afternoon is all.”
“Bring her by the lake; we can tell her funny stories about you,” I joked.
“Yes, that is precisely why I won’t. Maybe someday we will have some little guys running around with heavy Russian accents who like to fish! Until then, I have a thing.”
* * * *
We all pitched in on the pack-up. It goes quicker every time.
“Tomorrow should be a breeze,” remarked Joy, “and I’m ready to move on anyway.”
“Me too,” I told her. “Every stop makes me want to just plant roots and not head towards the one place I’m sure we will have to help defend with blood.”
“We’ve been doing that all along, honey—this whole time.”
“You’re right,” I agreed, kissing her on the forehead.
“Now go and get some quality time with the boys,” she told me. “Once we hit the road, it gets serious again, and I know you won’t see them much.”
“What about you?” She smiled, pointing towards the women on the trailer, holding up bottles of wine.
“We will miss you boys. It’s going to be so hard, in fact devastating, for a few long hours,” she quipped, keeping in character with some Southern Belle from a movie seventy-five years ago. “But as God is my witness, we will never be lonely again!”
“I don’t think that’s the line,” I pointed out, “but that’s a heck of an audition. You’ve got the part, sweetheart!”
“Oh my,” she said, with her hand over her mouth and still hamming it up. “It’s everything I’ve ever wanted.” I shook my head, laughing.
* * * *
“Come on, boys. Let’s go fishing with Uncle Mike.”
“Yay, Daddy! Can Danny come?”
“Sure, Hudson. He’ll be there with Javi and your friends from back home.”
* * * * * * *
Chapter Ten
Lake Pueblo State Park
Pueblo, Colorado
The afternoon was good. Not expected, but safe as
