“Lucy just told me, and she clearly thought they’d just moved in the last few days.”
Tom’s head shook. “How did she communicate with them? Is she lying or lying about lying to us? It seems like most of what she says is to cover up other lies.”
Kate bit her lip and rubbed her hands together. “Perhaps we need to write a timeline that has everything we know about her. I’m wondering if she’s on our side or her ex-lover, Carlos.”
Tom said, “I’m sending for Granny, Bill, and Greta. We need their input.”
***
Tom had filled everyone in on the situation with Sam and her dishonesty. About half of the people didn’t know Sam very well, and some had never seen her until she came back. The consensus was no one wanted to trust her and that she had to be supervised while staying with them.
Tom didn’t like what he heard, but the evidence supported the lack of trust. “I agree, and I’ll make assignments. What’s your opinion about bringing her people into the Community? I don’t want them to know about the cave or ranch.”
Bill said, “We need to place them at the cabin by the cave. They don’t know about the Community, and Sam will probably tell them about the cave.”
Granny B said, “Sam was gone when we started going to the cave. Lucy has never been to the cave. Sam would only be guessing its location, and even then, she probably couldn’t find it without one of us taking them there.”
Tom agreed with his grandmother. “She’s right. It can’t be the cave. It has to be our location of last resort. What doesn’t make sense is why Sam wants to move her people so far from her target, Carlos? I think we set them up somewhere besides our existing camps.”
Everyone agreed, and that made Bill happy. He caught Tom and said, “We have some great people at the Community. I’d hate to see them hurt by something stupid that Sam and her people do.”
Tom replied, “I’ll talk with Sam and see why those people are this far from Ashland.”
Granny B stepped up to Tom. “Rick called over the walkie-talkie. He reported that the lazy group had gone home.”
“Great, they only pretended to search for survivors. I hope Carlos doesn’t find out.”
Granny B said, “Tom, I can spit farther than I’d trust Sam or Lucy.”
***
“Sam, bringing these people up here in the hills doesn’t make sense if you plan to attack Ashland. Besides, I’ll not allow attacks to originate from our home base. Come clean now. What’s your plan?”
Sam didn’t immediately answer and then said, “These aren’t the fighters. They’re a mixture of wounded, old, women, and children. I’d hoped you would take them into the ranch, just like you’ve done with others.”
“Sam, why didn’t you ask before bringing them up here? Do any of them know the location of the ranch?”
Sam looked up. “No. I just told them directions to the area where they had camped. I would never expose our people to any danger.”
“And yet, the gang could have followed them up here.”
“I told them to be careful and not come if anyone followed them.”
Tom was frustrated because he didn’t think he was hearing the truth or maybe all of the facts. “So, these people near us would never have contact with the fighters?”
Sam shifted on the bed. “Yes, they’d come back and forth. They need to rest at a safe place away from the war in Ashland and to see their families.”
Tom said, “That can’t happen. Eventually, someone would follow them or see their tracks. You’re going to help us get them moved to a safe place away from here.”
“I promised them a safe place to hide.”
“Then you’d better get your butt in gear and help find a place for them to hide. It will not be here. Do you understand me?”
Tears came flooding down her cheeks, and she sobbed something unintelligible. Then she said, “Tom, I still love you and want you to want me again.”
“Sam, I’m married to the woman of my dreams, and that will never happen. Now stop the tears and get ready to travel tomorrow morning. I have a team scouting the area east of Ashland for a suitable place for your people. I hope you know that if you didn’t plan to continue the attacks, we might have been able to take your people in. But the safety of my people is my primary goal.”
The tears stopped. “We’ll stop the attacks if you’ll take them into the ranch.”
“Sam, Sam! You’re to the point of lying to me to get what you want! No! That won’t work! I don’t trust them to stop and become a part of our group.”
***
Tom played the recording of his conversation with Sam to Kate, Granny B, Jackie, and Rick. Granny B laughed, “I’m surprised she didn’t try to take her clothes off and …”
Kate interrupted. “I’ve heard enough to throw her butt into the pit at the cave. The lying bitch will say or do anything to get what she wants.”
Tom placed his arm over Kate’s shoulder, being careful not to touch her ribs. “I agree. She’ll do anything to get that group up here with us. Her explanation didn’t hold water. What the hell is her motive?”
Jackie said, “She knew where the ranch is and could have betrayed us at any time. I know she had a relationship with Carlos, but this is something else. I think we need a team to go to their camp and see what her so-called people have to say. We might learn something useful.”
“That’s a great idea. Kate and Jackie will use the drones today to scout the area
