“No, but my sister is listening.” He whispered.
“I need to go to a clothing store.” Sam was getting frustrated.
Tom felt sorry for her. “Okay, there’s a Bi-Mart between here and the animal clinic. We’ll stop there and let Sam select some clothes.”
Sam grabbed Tom by the lapels and said, “You’re a work-in-progress but might be worth the effort.”
Tom pulled away and led them down the street to the Bi-Mart. They searched the area for others and didn’t see any movement. Tom entered the store, and as usual, it had been looted. Tom pointed to the food section. “You two find us some food while I escort Sam to the women’s clothing.”
The store wasn’t that large but had a good selection of women, teens, and children’s clothing. Sam found some suitable jeans and several blouses before leading Tom to the underwear. “Here, hold these and look away.”
“It’s dark. I can’t see you, anyway.”
“Look away!”
“Okay,” Tom said but didn’t look away.
Tom heard her throw her old clothes away. “Hand me a pair of panties.”
Tom sorted through the bundle of clothes and reached out with the panties. Sam laughed and said, “I usually wear black, but I guess as long as they fit, I’ll be happy. Now a t-shirt.”
A few seconds later, he heard pants and finally socks. “I guess we need to find you a couple pairs of sneakers.”
Sam responded. “Yes, follow me. You aren’t too smart, but make a good pack animal.”
“Yep, that’s me, a pack mule.”
Sam put a pair of hiking boots on and stuffed a pair of running shoes in her bag. “I need something else. Follow me. I think it’s toward the front of the store.”
“We need to be moving on.”
Sam huffed. “Don’t you want me to look pretty?”
“You are pretty. Let’s get moving.” Tom said in a gruff voice.
“Tom, I’ve done everything but throw myself at you, and you just stood there with a dumb look on your face. I wondered if you even liked women.”
Tom exhaled sharply. “Of course, I like women. I’m just not good at all the feely touchy stuff. Once you get to know me, you’ll find me quite charming.”
Sam exhaled. “So, I’m not wasting my time with you?”
Tom rubbed his jaw. He liked her but not as she wanted, or maybe just needed. “Sorry, I’m focused on keeping us alive.”
Before Sam could answer, a shot rang out across the store, and Tom fell to the floor. At the same time, Sam dropped to a crouch and found Tom lying on the floor. She searched for the wound and felt the warm sticky blood on his side. She whispered, “Tom, Tom. Don’t …”
Two rough hands grabbed Sam from behind, and then the man stifled her scream. She struggled and received a blow to her head.
*
Chapter 27
Ashland, Oregon
Rick and Jackie had filled their bags with cans and boxes of various foods picked from the food section's wreckage. They enjoyed each other’s company, so the time flew. They’d forgotten about their friends when the sound of gunfire rang through the building. Rick and Jackie dove for the floor and watched to see any flashes of gunfire so they could see where the shot came from. “Rick, I think that came from where Tom and Sam went. Let’s go.”
“Whoa! Slow down and be careful. Let’s not walk into an ambush.”
They dropped their bags and moved in a crouched position toward their friends. Jackie heard something. A muffled scream came from only two aisles from them. Jackie whispered, “That was Sam trying to scream!”
Before they could move, the sound of something crashing to the floor scared Jackie. “Let’s roll!”
Jackie shouldered her AR15 and switched the light on. She moved as fast as she could while keeping her head below the top of the shelves. A dark figure came around the end of the aisle and began shooting. Jackie calmly aimed and fired three rounds into the man. She stepped over him and hit two more men before they could fire. Then gunfire erupted to her left side. The blasts were from a prone position, and the bullets were striking the back of the store. Jackie heard several shrieks and groans. The shooter had hit his target.
Tom crumpled to the floor with his head bouncing against the polished concrete. He saw stars and was almost unconscious when Sam whispered. He woke in time to see the man striking Sam. Tom tried to move, but his head and side were in excruciating pain. Sam lay limp in the man’s arms. The Hispanic sneered at Tom and said, “Samantha is mine and will stay mine. You can have that brat. She’s not my kid. You’re going to die for violating my woman.”
Tom asked, “How did you find her?”
“You need to be more careful when you choose your friends, dumbass,” Carlos said just as he heard gunfire and his men screaming as they died. “Adios!”
Before Carlos could fire, two of his men grabbed him and Sam. They rushed them out of the store and into a waiting 1955 Chevy. Tom rolled over and began shooting the remaining men with his AR. It was a turkey shoot. He could see them in the dark, and they could only see his flash. He shot, moved, and shot again. He’d shot four before Jackie joined in and killed two more.
Jackie ran to Tom and tried to push him to the floor. “Tom, you’ve been shot!”
“They took Sam. It was her ex-boyfriend, Carlos. Follow me,” Tom said as he struggled to his feet. He was dizzy and stumbled twice before gaining his footing. He found what he was looking for. The man was trying to crawl away. Tom kicked the thug in the side. “Where are they taking Sam?”
“Screw you!”
Tom
