JR handed Mona a bag of potato chips, Oreos, a bag of cashews, and a bottle of water she found in a small pantry.
“Thank you,” Mona said as she tore open the chips and cookies.
JR felt compassion for the woman’s plight and understood fully how she felt.
Mona continued, “This morning, that last zombie beat the door down and chased me out of the house I’d taken refuge in. I don’t like guns and didn’t have one. If it wasn’t for you, they would have gotten me. I couldn’t run any further. Thank you. You saved my life.”
Sam and JR were finished rummaging the kitchen and stood listening. He said, “So you’ve been hiding for almost two weeks?” He loaded their plunder in two medium size suitcases JR found in a bedroom closet.
Mona nodded and looked at the floor. “I found clothing that almost fit and changed several times. I slept in stranger’s beds and stole their food.” She looked up defiantly. “And I’d do it again to survive.”
JR put her hand on Mona’s shoulder. “So would we.” She laughed raucously. “In fact, that’s what we’re doing right now.”
Sam spoke, “You can’t go to Canada; the border’s closed and they’re shooting anyone who tries to enter between official crossing sites. Unless the Canadians have been overrun like we have, of course. Unfortunately, you’re on your own with nowhere to go.”
While Mona hung her head in despair and cried, JR and Sam stepped away. “Would you be okay . . . JR hesitated, “with taking Mona with us? We can’t just abandon her, or she’ll be a zombie or starved and dead before a week is out.”
Sam looked down and exhaled loudly. “I don’t know. Think this through first; our cabin is cramped as is with the two of us. Will you get jealous if we brush against each other or if we joke around like you and I do? Are you okay with having another attractive, shapely woman in close quarters? And I’m not saying that because there’s some chance I’d cheat on you; I won’t. But can you handle our closeness on your end?” Redness rose in JR’s cheeks as her anger built along with a frown. “I see you’re getting upset just thinking about this, but it’s about your reaction to her, not mine. Before you say things you’ll later regret, go outside alone and think this through.”
JR stared harshly at Sam, then at Mona. She spun around and stormed out the front door; the house shook as the door slammed violently behind her then bounced open. Smokey barked then ran behind his mistress.
Sam exhaled loudly. “Well, that went over like a ripe beer fart at a Baptist tent revival.” There was silence for pregnant minutes as the pair avoided looking at each other.
“Sam,” Mona spoke from across the room, “I couldn’t help hearing everything you said. Are you attracted to me?”
“You are attractive, but no, I’m not personally drawn to you. I love JR. I just don’t want a relationship between the two of you to develop like two cats with their tails tied together before they’re thrown across a clothesline to fight to the death. JR is hot-tempered, and I want this settled up front.”
“I don’t want to come between you two. I’ll leave.”
“That may not be necessary. Calm down and give JR time to hash it out. She’s a good person but temperamental as hell. Give her time.”
Mona shook her head as she quietly closed the door behind her.
Sam followed her out shaking his head. “Women.”
JR stood leaned against an old oak with her left knee bent and the foot against the trunk as she faced across the street. She heard movement and glanced to her left as her right hand palmed her handgun, then she stood on both feet. Tears streaked down her cheeks as she focused on Mona hurriedly slinking away with her head bowed.
JR spoke loudly, “Mona, stop!”
Mona ignored her.
“GODDAMN IT, Mona STOP! We need to talk.” Smokey stood at full attention.
Sam sat on the porch step and grinned knowingly as he watched, listened, and stood guard.
JR raced to Mona, stepped past her, turned, and stood face to face a foot apart. Calmly, almost apologetically JR said, “We need to talk.” She took Mona’s hand. “I can be a selfish bitch at times; I love Sam. That’s why I reacted badly when he made me deal with my feeling out in the open. He knows me well enough to know my temper would eventually reject you if it was allowed to fester on its own. That’s how I am. By addressing it up front and dealing with it now, I’m forced to see how childish I acted. The worst part is I didn’t immediately give Sam the trust and love he deserves. Please come with us. We’ll work it out. You’ll need to learn to shoot even if you don’t like guns; it’s the new law of the land. Later if you want to leave, you’ll be able to defend yourself and have a chance of existing on your own.”
Mona took JR’s other hand in hers. “I’m not a cheap tart. I’ll not come between you and Sam. I promise. It’s obvious you love each other, and I respect that.”
No more was said, and Sam let
