Tom lowered his pistol. “I’m Tom, and this is my wife, Jackie.”
Jackie gave Tom a stern look. “Where were you trying to go? Is your wife or family nearby?”
“Just away from here. They killed my dad and girlfriend during their initial attack on our ranch. The dumb bastards just take everything and don’t think about needing to raise cattle for the future.”
Jackie asked several questions before Rick asked, “Where you from, and what are you doing here?”
Tom answered before Jackie had a chance. “We own a ranch southeast of here and just got back in the area from California. We wanted to see what Ashland was like before going on to the ranch.”
“The gang might have already taken your ranch. What’s the ranch’s name?”
“The Rocking T is the name, and the brand is a rocking T.”
“I don’t remember hearing that name, and no cattle have been driven down here with that brand. Could I go with you to your ranch? I’m a good hand, and I’ll work hard for grub and a place to lay my head.”
Jackie asked, “Can you handle a gun?”
“I was a grunt in the Army and was proficient with a 9-mm pistol, an M4, and a SAW. I saw enough action in Iran and Turkey for a lifetime. I was drafted, but done my best to keep America free of those terrorists.”
Jackie looked at Tom with what are best called ‘puppy dog eyes.’ Tom saw the gleam in Jackie’s eyes and went against his first inclination. “We’ll take you back to the group and take a vote. We’re cautious about who knows where our ranch is located. Our grandpa kept the ranch’s business away from the Ashland – Medford area, so we could hide the ranch for the reason we face now.”
Rick looked at Jackie. “I thought you two were married.”
Tom replied, “Heavens, no! I said that just in case you were a man without honor.”
Rick smiled at Jackie. “So, your grandfather was a doomsday prepper? I guess a lot of people wish they’d done that.”
“He was a prepper and trained us for years to be survivalists and preppers. We need to get back to our camp. You can fill us in on the way,” Tom said and motioned for Jackie and Rick to follow.
They walked the two and a half miles to the airport, where the truck was parked in a hangar. Rick saw the truck. “You have a running vehicle! The gang has a few ATVs but no cars or trucks. Nothing runs. How did you …?”
Tom filled him in on why older vehicles would run, and then Jackie and Rick talked while Tom kept watching to make sure no one had followed them. Tom interrupted their conversation. “We only drive from midnight to just before sunrise to avoid running into people like the ones who’ve taken over Ashland. We’ll take turns at guard duty and rest most of the day.”
Rick said, “Sounds good. I’m beat.”
Tom and Jackie took all of the guard duty so Rick could catch up on his rest. The truth was they didn’t know if they could trust him yet. They discussed how to handle letting him down if Granny B objected. Rick was sound asleep most of the day and didn’t wake up until evening.
Jackie saw him stir. “Hey, sleeping beauty, it’s wakey wakey time. You hungry? We dined on Granny B’s greens, dried fish, and a granola bar.”
Rick laughed. “I’d give about anything for a cheeseburger, fries, and a chocolate malt. Having said that, pass the weeds and fish.”
They left the hangar around midnight and drove the backroads to Emigrant Lake. Tom stopped a half-mile from their camp in a clump of woods to check if anyone had followed them. No one had, so after waiting a while, Tom drove on over to their camp. As usual, no one greeted them until Granny B was sure the vehicle's occupants were friendly. Rick stepped out of the truck and walked between Jackie and Tom.
Brenda saw Rick and ran to him, jumping into his arms. She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. “Rick, you’re alive! I was afraid I’d never see you again.”
Tom and Jackie were dumbfounded. Jackie glared at Brenda. “I see you know each other. Rick wants to join our group. Can you vouch for him?”
Brenda gave Rick another kiss on the cheek while Greta joined in hugging Rick. “Of course, I can vouch for my baby brother. This is Rick Grimes, my brother.”
Jackie smiled and felt relieved. “He didn’t tell us he had a sister, but then we only met him yesterday.”
Rick turned to Jackie. “And you had a husband when we met. Actually, Brenda and I have a baby sister and a brother somewhere around Boston. I guess it’ll be a while before we see them again.”
Tom interrupted the chatter. “Granny B, this is Rick, and he’s been a captive of the gang controlling Ashland.”
Brenda gasped. “Did they take over my home?”
“Yes, that was one of their targets after they learned the lay of the land. Their leader, Jock, set up his headquarters and home there. The place is a shi … “ he looked around and said, “it’s been used and abused. You’ll have a hissy fit when you see it.”
Rick filled everyone in on what he knew about the gang and the events since the lights went out over the next hour. The situation was worse than they’d thought.
*
