“Ah, okay. Is there anyone else who should hear it?”
“Yes. Here she comes.”
“Hey, honey. Mike has something to share with us.”
“I heard,” Joy replied, sitting down next to me, with Mike on my other side.
“I know you both haven’t known me for too long, and what you do know is messy at best,” he started. “There are a couple of reasons I’m able to do what I do without getting scared or, at the very least, too nervous about completing the task.
“First, I’m not afraid to die. I’m not sure if I’ll go to the same place as my brother and sister, but it won’t be so bad if I can.
“Second, I see things, or hear them maybe. I’m not sure how it works, but I know the outcome to a degree if I intervene in a situation versus if I don’t. Maybe it’s all in my head, or God uses me as some kind of bad angel that cleans up messes. I don’t know. What I do know is none of it ever really worried me before. Even the battle we had after adding Sheila and Javi to my life didn’t cause me concern. It’s what lies ahead that worries me, keeps me from sleeping good—the Great Battle, the one for the Valley.”
“I understand what you’re saying,” I said. “I still have family there and friends I grew up with. Plus, we’ll all be there, and we’ve already faced them once.”
“No, we faced a small part of them,” Mike said. I see them in my dreams, I guess, but they are not just the group who headed past us, giving us a small skirmish. They are growing and his radio show or announcements...”
“More like rants,” said Joy.
“Okay, rants, misguided revelations, or whatever we want to call them,” continued Mike. “They’re working on drawing people from all directions to Horsetooth Lake. By the time we see the Great Battle, I’m not sure even the Colonel’s men can save us.”
“So, what are you saying?” I asked.
“You’ve seen the movie The Stand, right?”
“By Stephen King. Of course,” I replied.
“I haven’t seen it,” said Joy.
“What?!” we both asked, overdramatizing our concern of her missing a truly classic story.
“There are two groups after an apocalyptic event,” I said. “One good and one bad. Both had dreams guiding them to either side, and this is what I’m guessing we’re going to talk about with Mike. But the good group sent spies to the other side, hoping to gain valuable information before an attack. Am I close?” I asked.
“Like a shot between the eyes,” Mike responded. “We are far enough up the mountain to make it to the other side, but once we do we’re sitting ducks—no eyes in the air until maybe the last minute and none on the ground... I’m going in as a spy,” he added, pausing for a response.
“Wait, what?” asked Joy. “Why aren’t you shocked by this?” she asked me.
“I’ve seen the movie and read the book twice, that’s why. You don’t have a bicycle, Mike, and it’s a long way to walk.”
“But you do have an Indian,” we both said together.
“Can’t someone else go?” asked Joy, realizing she was trying to keep the guy around she nearly pushed away only days ago.
“Sure, someone else could go, but if they get wind of it or suspect anything, who else do you want to take the punishment and still not talk? Plus, I’ll be riding alone all the way to their camp.”
“Okay, I see your position,” she agreed. “What does Sheila have to say about it?”
“Nothing yet,” Mike replied, “and that brings me to my next point, Lance. If I don’t make it back, I need your word you will make sure she and Javi have a safe place to call home. Always welcome, no matter what.”
“Of course! I mean yes, you have my word,” I added, not wanting to sound like I took the responsibility lightly.
“I’ll talk to Lonnie next and then Sheila. If we are a go, I’ll be gone tomorrow, and we will work out the plans tonight. I think it goes without saying to keep this under wraps until I make an announcement.”
“Sure,” I replied. “We always do.”
* * * *
We watched him head back to the truck and briefly speak with Lonnie, pointing at us. Ten minutes later, he was back in his vehicle, and the yelling could be heard outside the closed windows, followed by sobbing, as he opened one for air.
Joy and I made our way over to outside the Vet’s office, awaiting any news. We could clearly see the children playing on the swing from there. “Listen,” I told Joy. “All I hear is the wind in the trees and the creek as the loudest sounds beyond their happy screams.” It was peaceful, almost like home.
* * * *
A full 45 minutes went by before we saw Mike again.
“I have an announcement,” is all he said, gathering every adult and not worrying about the kids overhearing. “I’ll make this quick,” he said, with Sheila crying softly and Joy hugging her. “I’m leaving the group for a while but hope to return when you reach Saddle Ranch. I won’t go into the details of why or where, but rest assured it’s for your own safety. Each of you has treated us like family, which means something to me, Sheila and Javi. They will stay on with all of you until it’s safe for me to return. Any questions can be brought to Lonnie or Lance as they come up. I will head out in the morning.”
“Which way will you be headed?” asked Steve.
“Towards the sun. Thanks, everyone, and enjoy your afternoon.”
I was surprised not to get a litany of questions straightaway but knew they would eventually come.
“I have news,” said Nancy, putting her hand on my shoulder.
“Is he going to be okay?” I asked, jumping up. Most people don’t put a hand on your shoulder when they are delivering good news.
“I
