Walkers (Book 1): The Beginning (10 page)

     I let the men take care of the deer while I tried to console Mandy. That didn't go over very well so I let Sarah handle it. Lacy had disappeared with Randy so I hope they brought back a pallet of condoms. Grabbing a chicken leg, I sat at the table and nursed a bottle of raspberry tea until the men started to filter in putting the front and back quarters and tenderloin on the counter. Bubba was standing at one end of the counter, on his hind legs begging. Howard scooped him up and wandered into the other room saying something about dog farts and deer meat.

     Sarah came in and began to clean the meat. I joined her and we cut and wrapped the deer, putting most of it in the new freezer of the fridge and some we planned to have the next day for dinner.

     Mason took Flynn and showed him around. He choose a bedroom in the basement because he planned to take the night guard duty and sleeping in the dark basement would be better and quieter. I agreed.

     Tomorrow the trailers would be emptied except for one and the others would be lined up to start our fence. The south of the lodge had the cliff wall which ran southwest and ended at a ravine which ran the western edge of the property. So those sections were ok. We started the fence at the end of the ravine toward the road. Then we planned the fence to run along the road to the gate and put a solar powered remote controlled gate. One hundred six feet (or two 53 foot trailers) of fence was begun at the edge of the ravine. We would need a lot more trailers but for now, the cameras did the job.

     Howard was busy getting the snow mobiles ready for the winter. There were four of them and had their own garage. There was a ranch house at the intersection where the paved road ended and the gravel road to our place started. Howard proposed to take a truck with a snow plow there and two snow mobiles so we could get in and out during the winter.

     Mason, Flynn and Duke started work on the wind generators while we made plans for the winter. I wanted the windows covered with plastic so we needed a trailer full of plastic and tape. A new list was made.

     We set up one of the rooms near the kitchen as a clinic. I was satisfied with the results. Flynn seemed to be a hard worker and had some ideas that were noteworthy. He manned the cameras at night and didn't complain. We didn't see him during the day while he slept, so there wasn't a lot of interaction with him. When he did stay up to help, he was friendly enough. He and Mason became fast friends so life settled a bit and we let it.

                                                       
CHAPTER 9

     The sun woke me around 10 a.m.  Mason, Flynn and Howard had gone to town. We had chosen a different city this time hoping they wouldn't run into trouble. I expected them back sometime today, hopefully with at least three trailers. They each drove a semi out so all they had to do was fill the trailers, hook up and drive away.

     We've had a wonderful week since they got back with Flynn with no excitement at all. That was fine with me, I could almost breathe easy and was starting to relax. That is, till one morning when I opened the bathroom door and there stood a very naked Randy, getting out of our shower. Crap! I squeezed my eyes shut, then I turned, closed my door and went over to the window seat and sat down. Crap!

     Ok, so now what do I do. I put on my new satin housecoat, walked out into the hall and when I started to knock on Lacy’s door, it flew open and we nearly collided. I grabbed her hand and pulled her back to my room and shut the door. She went over the window seat and sat, then started to open her mouth.

     "Before you say anything, are you using condoms? Cause if you aren't I'm gonna kick your ass." Blushing she started to say something and I cut her short again. "The next thing is I can't deal with a naked Randy under any circumstances so you both are moving to the south suite...it has a sitting room and private bath. Today, now, you're doing this cause I can't deal with a naked Randy, I just can't. I won't either, I don't have to and it ain't happening again".

     I was pacing from the door back to her and then back to the door, repeatedly. When I got back to her, she grabbed my hands and stopped me.

     "We are using condoms, JD, we aren't children and we don't want any for a while. Relax, I was going to ask about the honeymoon suite but I was putting it off. I didn't know how you'd react. Now that's settled I want to talk about you".

     "Me? What's wrong with me? Nothing, that's what,. I'm just fine now that we have a home and I don't have to worry about turning a corner and running into a walker every time I leave the house. So you don't have anything to talk about to me about, that’s what"

     "Wow. Well." She started to stand up. "Ok, well now may not be the time."

     "Time? for what? Just sit your little ass back down and tell me what you're talking about".

     "Well, we, Randy and me, noticed that you and Mason are, well, are...friendly"

     "And just what is wrong with us being friendly?"

     "Nothing, but well, Flynn has been showing an interest when you're around and Mason has noticed and we, Randy and me, we thought maybe you might be interested in Flynn too, so well, you have to decide."

     "Decide? Decide what?"

     "Well, which one you want."

     "Want? What? What the hell are you talkin about?"

     She looked at me like I had grown two heads. Mason and Flynn? They aren't interested in me, are they? I mean, Mason kissed me a couple of times, and I've admired his ass whenever I had the chance and Flynn’s ass was fine to but, oh crap! I'm screwed.

     I sat down on the window seat with Lacy. Moaning, I put my face in my hands and rocked back and forth. She put her arm around me and I thought I heard a giggle come from her. I looked up quickly but that's when she got up and walked to the door. "We'll start moving our stuff to the other room. Seeing his butt is not something I want you to do either. Although, it is a fine one. Relax, I think you have a bit longer before they start dueling over you".

     I stared at the door long after she left. Then shaking myself like a dog, I took my stuff, went to Mason’s room and showered. Drying my hair as I stumbled back to my room, I thought about Mason and Flynn. When did Flynn become an issue? He's nice enough, even pulled out my chair for me once and every once in a while he will hold the door for me, but he's just being nice. Right? Crap! Tying my shoes, I decided to not think about it again. I wanted to take the four wheeler out and check the grounds. The cliff wall behind the lodge tapered down to a ravine and I wanted to check behind it.

    I drank my coffee and stared out the window contemplating Mason and Flynn. The noises up stairs told me Lacy and Randy was moving into the honeymoon suite and from the laughing and giggling it was going fine. I smiled at the thought of having my own bathroom again. A flash from the north caught my attention but when I stared long and hard at it, I didn't see anything else.

     I took my coffee into Duke's Den as we were calling it. Actually Sarah started it and it had stuck. He glanced up when I walked in, then hooked the small stool next to him with his foot and pulled it out for me to sit. He smiled when I sat the mug full of coffee in front of him.

     "What's up?" he said playing with the gate camera.

     "Not much. I thought I saw a reflection to the north of the lodge and wondered if you caught it to."

     "Yep, it was just that once. I don't know what it was. You gonna check it out?"

     "Might as well, I was gonna check behind the cliff wall and see what’s there. There's a road that runs around there so someone was using it for some reason."

     "Take someone with you when you do, Randy maybe."

     "No, no that's alright, I'll take Lacy, and she can handle herself."
     Duke snuck a look at me and raised one eyebrow. (How do you raise one eyebrow...I've tried it and it's like they're both connected). "Ok, you should be ok. I might use Randy in my helicopter experiment."

     "Oh, are you that close?"

     "If it works, I'll give you a special viewing when you get back"

     "Sounds good" Mussing his hair, and him hollering "Hey" behind me I walked back to the kitchen to await Lacy. Mandy was at the table, so I quickly sat next her with my back to the wall. I learned from the last time.

     Bumping shoulders with her, she smiled and offered me part of her pop tart. She had declined to eat the deer. I hoped she would eventually eat it, but she was holding out so far.

     Sarah was busy putting together a stew in the crock pot. I wasn't about to mention the deer meat in front of Mandy but it would cook all day and the guys would have a good meal when they returned. She had already started the fresh bread and the smells in the kitchen brought back good memories of my childhood.

     "Me and Lacys going out to the ravine and check things out, as soon as she and Randy move into the honeymoon suite. I found him all natural in my shower this morning so I strongly suggested they make the move...today."

     "What’s 'all natural' mean?" Mandy asked around her pastry. She asked a lot questions and it seemed like nothing got past her.

     "Ask your dad," Sarah said as she stirred the stew. Mandy jumped down and ran to the front room followed closely by Bubba. Sarah covered the stew then sat at the table.

     "Now that you have Lacy in a safe place, what about you? You deserve to be happy too, ya know? Mason and Flynn are both really great guys, although we don't much about Flynn yet."

     "You to? Geez, just this morning Lacy nailed me with this crap." I got up and started for the door. "You have to choose or they're gonna get in a fight." she said softly.

     "I haven't thought about it but I will now since that's all anyone can talk about."

     "Do it soon, it isn't fair to them."

     "Oh for heaven’s sake" then stomped out to the barn. I don't give a damn if it's fair to them or not. Let them beat each other up over the honor of holding the door for me. What a crock. I started up the four wheeler and tooted the horn for Lacy. While I waited I cocked my bow and set it aside. Soon Lacy came bouncing out and after locking her rifle into its slot in front of her we took off.

     She talked a mile a minute. Randy this and Randy that. I headed to the spot where I thought I had seen the reflection that morning and tried to tune her out. The terrain was bumpy and the going was slow but we finally stopped at the ravine and got out. Looking down into the ravine I was surprised at what I saw. Several walkers were milling around in the creek at the bottom.

     They saw us, and attempted to climb the ravine to get to us. Lacy started for her gun, but I stopped her and reached for the bow. I killed six before I ran out of arrows. I radioed Duke that he was going to hear a gunshot and Lacy killed the last one. I was glad the spring ran downhill away from us but it bothered me that they were contaminating the water.

     "Well, crap". I said and got the rope out from behind the seat and tied it to a yellow pine.

     "You're kidding right? You can't go down there."

     "They have to be moved away from the creek, Lacy. They're contaminating the water."

     "So, the water runs the other way, what do we care?"

     "Lacy, what if there is a family living somewhere down the creek, just trying to survive like us? You want them to drink that water? Keep a look out for me and if you see a walker shoot em in the head like I taught you".

     I started down the rope and when I got to the bottom I took a minute and to look around. Then I started to haul bodies as far from the creek as I could. By the time I was done, I was sweaty and tired.

     "Oh shit, JD, get up here right now. Now. Hurry. Dammit move your ass!!"

     I ran grabbing the rope, and banged into the bank, while trying to get a foothold in the loose rock. "Shoot" I yelled.

     "I can't, you're in the way". Crap, I thought as I tried to climb up the cliff but my feet kept slipping. Suddenly a hand clamped around my ankle and started to pull. I felt the rope starting to slide from my sweaty hands. I was swaying and kicking with my other foot while I tried to hang on. Then a loud shot rang out and the pressure on my foot disappeared. I just hung there for a minute and then worked my way back up to the top.

     Lacy helped me climb the last foot or so, and then we both sat on the ground.

     "And I thought it was getting boring around here." I said between pants. "If he's in the creek I'll send a letter of apology to the folks downstream." Then we started laughing as we shakily climbed into the mule.

                                                       
CHAPTER 10

     I started to wipe my sweaty palms on my pants then, ow,ow, OW!   flipped my hands up and down to relieve the pain.   The rope had torn the skin off my palms and inside fingers of both hands.  Dirt and gravel was sticking to the blood. Crap!

     Lacy thought we should have Sarah doctor them, so we headed back to the lodge.  Sarah took one look and shook her head.  We went into the clinic where she brought out the peroxide and burned the rest of the meat off my hands.  My ankle had a bracelette of bruises surrounding it, but no skin was broken, thank God, or Sarah would've burned it to.  My shoulder and hip was bruised, but I'd be okay.  I started limping out to the four wheeler again, when Randy met me half-way, pulling on leather work gloves.

      "Me and Lacy will check around that hillside for you.  Your hands have to hurt and I'm bored out of my mind.  Duke wants to show you something anyway".  he said as he climbed into the mule.

     Lacy came out then with her camera and leather gloves (Where is everyone getting gloves?)  climbed in with Randy and waved excitedly as they drove off.

     She wasn't that eager to go with me.   I  went in search of Duke.  His shirt was like a beacon in a maze of wires.  Today it was bright yellow and orange with red something or others on a background of teal.  Ouch!