Kate bit her lip as her head moved side to side. “I almost hate to say this, but Sam has vetted most of her vigilante group. Do we trust her or not?”
Bill shrugged his shoulders, but Greta said, “Everyone around the table except Kate, James, and Jack has been with Sam since our plane crashed. Why should I trust Tom or Bill more than Sam? Sure, she was a pain in the ass the first day, but so were my mother and me. I trust Sam.”
Tom responded. “I’ve been mulling over the same thoughts. I trust Sam. When she recovers, we’ll bring her into the group to plan how to fill our little community with hard-working folks who can fight to protect our way of life.”
Kate pushed the envelope. “That means that the ones we keep will eventually be told about our other locations, including the ranch.”
Tom sneered. “Crap. The fly in the ointment. I’ve been taught for over twenty years to never give our ranch’s location out to strangers, and we’ve already given it out to over a dozen people. If we get too large, someone will eventually get mad and try to get even by informing on us.”
Jack said, “I’m with you on that. I saw firsthand what can happen when a friend tells others about the ranch. We almost have to have a last resort fort to retreat to that isn’t known by every Tom, Dick, and Harry. No offense intended, Tom.”
“None was taken. I feel the same way, but who do we add to the group with knowledge of the location? Bill will eventually find a woman who can stand him. Greta, Sam, and Lucy will find boyfriends or mates. They will have to know our different locations,” Tom said.
Greta shrugged. “I’ll need some luck finding a boyfriend. You keep bringing more women here than men. How old is Joe?”
Kate beamed her little cupid smile. “He’s just a year younger than you are.”
Greta laughed. “Sorry, but I want a man, not a boy. Being exposed to Tom, Jack, Bill, and the others have made me appreciate a more mature man.”
Rick winked at his niece. “Greta, I guess all the women will have to keep a close eye on their men.”
Greta stumbled with her answer. “I, err, huh … I wouldn’t mess around with a married man. Besides, these women know how to use a gun and a knife. Don’t worry about me. I’ll be scouting every time we go on a scavenging trip.”
Tom made a timeout sign. “I’m going to lead a scavenging trip this week, and then as soon as Sam can travel, we’re going to check on Sam’s vigilante group. Greta will be going with us.”
Tom and Kate caught Greta after the meeting. Tom thanked Greta for her open and honest comments. “Greta, I’d like you to take on a temporary post over at our new community. I need a couple more strong people I can trust to help Bill and James. What do you think about going over there for a month or so?”
Greta frowned at first, and then a tight smile spread across her face. “I guess they need another good guard to help bring them into the fold. You’ll also want us to be good examples of supporting the group and helping weed out malcontents and problem children.”
“Yes, you kinda nailed what I was thinking. We’ll bring in all the new recruits through the community, and that’s where we’ll vet them and begin their training. You could be a big help.”
Greta said, “Works for me. I’ll start packing.”
Tom said, “We’ll leave at first light in the morning.”
“I’ll be ready.”
Greta left in a hurry. Kate said, “Tom, did you just give her first crack at all the new men we take into the group?”
“Yep, and Sam will be moved over there as soon as she gets better. She needs to be close to her rebel force. I kinda wonder how in charge of that group she actually is versus what she says.”
Kate gave Tom a hug. “I like that plan. Can I select the next ten people to take into the community?”
***
They left the ranch on the way to the cabin by the cave. Tom looked to his right and saw his wife. She looked great in the saddle, but she would probably scare the crap out of ordinary citizens before the apocalypse happened. Kate wore a tactical vest with metal and ceramic plates on the front along with a Glock 17, three mags for the Glock, and four mags for her AR, which was in a scabbard Tom had made just for it. On her back was a backpack with her crossbow and bolts attached. She wore her bayonet on her leg just below the knee and had a Beretta 9-mm strapped to her thigh. Her camouflaged pants and shirt helped her blend into the woods. She was nearly invisible when not on horseback.
Granny B had forsaken her long skirts and white blouses as soon as she could after the lights went out. She preferred dressing in an all-black outfit with an old pair of paratrooper boots. She had the Beretta on her thigh with her .45 on her tactical vest. She always carried her rifle across her lap as she rode. Granny B didn’t want to waste a second if someone needed shootin’. She always wore her boonie hat even though it had the desert camo pattern and color. Granny B was a young mid-sixties lady who was physically fit and could hold her own with most men in a fight. She wore her hair in a bun like an older lady, just to keep her long hair out of her face.
Greta had become a trusted member of the group and had taken her training seriously after a rough
