“You crossed the wrong person. That’s why. It’s as simple as that.”
“And if I wasn’t alone?”
“Then whoever was traveling with you is dead. Listen to me. Consider this a second chance at life. Don’t play with fate,” Jeb said. “It might not be so forgiving next time.”
Jeb jerked the reins on his horse and began to leave. Colby remained, causing him to look back over his shoulder. “Are you coming or not?”
“You don’t want me to kill him, do you? That’s why you want me to leave.”
Jeb pulled his horse around and made his way back. “I brought that boy into this world, and if anyone is taking him out, it’s me. Not you. Now if you want to repay me for helping you. Leave. Leave town. Get far away from here. I’ll give you supplies for your journey… but leave.”
“I wish I could do that, but I’m not leaving until I know for sure what happened, and who else was with me. So you might as well tell me where he is.”
Jeb stared him square in the eye. “Whoever you were before this, you are one stubborn son of a gun.” He nodded. “Okay. I’ll take you as far as the outskirts but that’s it. You’re on your own from there. I won’t go in.”
“To where?”
“Santa Nella. It’s twelve miles south of here.”
Colby squeezed his eyes shut. The name sounded familiar. It was like trying to recall a dream, it was nothing but a vague memory.
They stayed off the main roads, crossing farmland and flat plains. Along the way, Jeb told him that Santa Nella was smaller than Gustine, with just over two thousand residents. It was located off Interstate 5, a major through road for those coming from the north or south.
He brought him up to speed on what he’d seen after the blackout.
“When the lights went out, most expected it to come back on within the first week. Once reports began spreading of an attack on America, that’s when it got chaotic. People hit the stores. Paying customers, I mean. They were still accepting cash but as you can expect, when you get two people fighting over products on Black Friday, how much more would they do it when they know that food on the shelf is the last they’ll be getting? Even with police and security, they couldn’t stop fights breaking out. It happened quickly. Of course, eventually, things took a turn for the worse, and people who didn’t have cash ran out of the stores with hands full of bread and flour, and carts full of water. Most taking more than they should.”
“And yourselves? Did you manage to get supplies?”
“We had most of what we needed on the farm — milk, chickens, cows, vegetables, in many ways we were positioned for this event. That’s why Bill sent those men. He’s not stupid. I’m not the first to get hit either. Several farm owners I know had home invasions in the second week. It wasn’t just Bill. Others were out there willing to do whatever was needed. You got to remember, people strike fast before others realize how dire the situation is. With no cameras, no phones, crime just became too easy.”
They rode side by side, the horses trotting along at a steady clip.
“It must burn you to know what he’s done.”
“It does. But God still loves him.”
“You have a strong faith.”
He nodded.
“You know he’ll take everything.”
“He can try.”
“Come on, Jeb. You weren’t going to stop those men, and you won’t stop those who come after them. He told you he would make your life a misery. He would have taken Jenna.”
“I’ll speak with him. This has to be a misunderstanding. He’ll listen to me.”
Colby scoffed. “And if he doesn’t?”
“Then I will take him out myself,” he said without looking at him.
“Really?” Colby was skeptical. “Your faith teaches you not to kill.”
He didn’t reply. It was clear he was lost in thought, thinking about how he would handle his son. Some men didn’t understand communication, all they knew was force. They rode in silence, taking in the sight of empty roads, a few cars stalled and abandoned, doors open, windows smashed.
Colby racked his brain trying to remember where he was when the lights went out but it wasn’t there. None of it was. Jeb said that the previous gash to the back of his head had probably played a role. The beating had just pushed him over the edge, contributed to the amnesia. “Any of this familiar to you?” Jeb asked, pointing to the way ahead.
“No.”
They approached the small town from the east, nearing a bridge that would take him over a river and down into town. Once they got to the start of the bridge, Jeb stopped. “This is as far as I go. Bill lived in an RV just west of McDonald’s. Again, though, I wish you would listen to me. All you’ll find in that town is trouble. It’s dangerous. I mean it.”
Colby reached out and shook his head. “I appreciate everything you’ve done.”
He patted his horse and the horse trotted forward.
Jeb watched as he crossed over the bridge. Colby looked off to the south and a series of memories hit him. It now looked familiar. The interstate. A vehicle. He was driving a truck. An old truck. Colby stopped the horse.
“You okay?” Jeb called out. Colby didn’t even realize he was still there. He gave him a reassuring wave and continued. The road took him by a huge Spanish-looking hotel on the left, an In-N-Out Burger place on the right, and a McDonald’s to the left. There was no blockade. No one waiting to stop him from entering. In many ways, the town seemed barren, empty of residents. Where had they all gone? Surely they wouldn’t have upped and left unless there was a FEMA camp nearby.
The only sound came from hooves clopping against the hard asphalt as he rode down the middle of the street, his eyes ticking
