“Where is your home located?”
“It’s only a mile northwest of here.”
They were able to get three trucks running and loaded them with the seeds, supplies, and auto parts. Tom took Kate and Jerry with him in the Dodge and sent the others back home.
Jerry asked, “Why are we risking our necks for a woman we don’t know?”
Kate said, “She’s been helping to free people and has been fighting Carlos for months. She should be exactly the kind of person we want to join our group.”
*
Chapter 19
Granny B’s Cabin by the cave.
Jackie had been on guard duty at the cabin by the cave for the past hour. Her two-hour shift was almost up when she saw the first coyote. She took her crossbow from her backpack and nocked a bolt. Gunfire could draw attention to their location and would only be used if they were attacked. The coyote could smell her but hadn’t seen her on top of the cabin yet. Jackie knew the beasts traveled in packs, and kept a close eye on the horses tied up beside the cabin.
As expected, the rest of the pack emerged from the shadows and headed for the horses. Jackie took aim at the leader and shot a bolt through its chest into its heart. She cocked the crossbow, nocked another bolt, and shot another coyote. Before Jackie could reload, the remaining monsters ran back into the woods. She made a mental note to convince Tom to start a war on the beasts.
Jackie had just gotten comfortable again when she saw the trucks drive up the valley from the east. Even in the dark, she recognized the lead farm truck. It was Tom and his team returning from their scavenger hunt. She was surprised at the line of trucks behind Jerry’s farm truck. She’d only expected to see Tom’s Dodge, Jerry’s farm truck, and perhaps one other vehicle. There were four trucks of all sizes, and all were loaded to the gills. Then she gasped. “I don’t see Tom’s truck.”
Jackie greeted her friends. “Hello! Where’s Tom, Kate, and Jerry?”
Bill walked up to Jackie. “They went to rescue someone before Carlos’s men find her. Hey, Tom brought a family into our group. He told me to hold them inside the cabin and cave for the next month during their trial period.”
Jackie rubbed her hands together. “Granny B will shit a brick, but Tom is our leader. Move them into the cabin, and I’ll do the best I can at indoctrination and cover our rules. Bill, could you get with the others and help figure out what work they can do to help out around here?”
Greta overheard them talking. “I planned to start raising rabbits and goats over here. The kids can help me.”
Jackie replied, “Let’s get them bedded down for the rest of the night and start after everyone gets rested. I’ll turn the kids over to you. Please make sure they don’t run around the cave and fall into one of the holes.”
***
Rick and Granny B walked into the kitchen at the same time. They did a double take when they saw Greta fixing breakfast for two kids they’d never seen before. Granny B fetched a cup of coffee and sat beside Greta. Rick sat on Greta’s other side.
“Greta, maybe you should introduce these children to the rest of us.”
“Of course, this tow-headed young man is Joe Green, and the beautiful young lady is his younger sister, Billie. Their parents are fast asleep in the back bedroom. Tom brought them back to join us. Jackie is scheduled to perform their orientation later this morning. Bill told me to tell you that all proper protocols were followed to the T when they brought them here. He’ll go over the rest of the story when he wakes up.”
Granny B said, “How nice. This is just wonderful.”
Greta replied, “Jackie bet you’d use much more colorful words.”
“I’m not done with the topic, but I don’t believe in shooting the messenger.”
Greta choked down a laugh. “The messenger is very, very grateful.”
Granny B looked the kids over. “Son, what’s your name?”
“I’m Joe Green, and this is my sister, Billie. Thanks for taking us into your home.”
The boy’s politeness pleased Granny B. “My, My, you’re a polite, young lad.”
Joe replied, “Mom always tells us to be nice to elderly people and strangers.”
Granny B snorted. “So, you think I’m elderly! Okay, I am a bit older than you two are. Now tell me why you think you had to leave your home and come here.”
Joe thought for a few seconds. “When the lights went out, a gang came to town and took over. They killed people who didn’t like them. They don’t believe in free speech or people’s rights. Dad said we had to get out of there before they killed us. They caught us before we could leave.”
Granny B extended her hand. “I’m Granny B, and you two are welcome in my home.”
Bill walked into the cabin. “Good morning. Rick, we brought four truckloads of supplies, seeds, and auto parts. Tom wants about half of what we brought back stored in the cave. The rest will go into the bunker at the ranch. Sorry, but we need to store the seeds down on this end of the cave. We already unloaded the rest of what goes here into the supply rooms at the other end.”
“Granny B, Greta, and I are the only ones awake now. Greta, I can help you take the stuff into the mouth of the cave, and then we can move it later,” Rick replied.
Joe said, “I can help carry stuff.”
Bill looked at the seventeen-year-old boy. “I’ll bet you can help us.
