Odd Billy Todd (44 page)

“On the way.”

“Let’s head over there,” he said. “At least we can ride on the way back.”

*****

“Look’s like a good set-up,” Terry commented, having looked around. The truck was unloaded, and now backed into the attached garage. The sun was gone, and the light was provided by a shielded lantern. Rommel was delighted to see Billy, and hadn’t left his side. Billy was rubbing the dog’s massive head absently.

“We can hoof it into town for recon,” George nodded. “Nothing in the houses around us. We’re clear, at least for now.”

“No idea of the enemy numbers?” Blaine asked. The word hung heavy around the lantern for a moment. Terry sighed, and sat back.

“I guess we need to establish some Rules of Engagement,” he said.

“What for?” Billy asked, looking at the three other men. “I don’t see a need. We already know the kind o’ men we’re lookin’ for. The kind that burns down a daycare center, and then threatens to kill the young’uns if the woman don’t. . .co-operate.” His tone made it plain he knew what he was saying.

“Ain’t no kinda real man in that crowd. If they’re holdin’ a gun, we shoot’em. If they’re hurtin’ anybody, we shoot’em. If they’re stealin’, we shoot’em. If they threaten any women or kids, we shoot’em. If they’re still alive, we shoot’em again. That ‘bout covers it, don’t it?”

No one spoke for a moment. All of them looked at Billy, surprise on their face. Not at him, but at themselves. Finally, George chuckled darkly.

“Billy, I really like having you around. You always make better sense than I do.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Rhonda took in the scene in front of her in silence.

Four women, seven children, aged one to seven years.

“Well, it looks like you’ve done an excellent job,” Amy told her, re-packing her equipment. “You’re all in good health for the most part. I do see signs of malnutrition, but very little. You’ve done well.”

“Thank you,” Regina sighed. “It’s. . .it was a struggle, every day, but there wasn’t anything else to be done,” she looked at the children, all of whom were now sleeping. “No one came for them. I. . .I actually called HHS, asking what I should do. No one answered.”

“If not for you, these kids would all be dead,” Rhonda told her. “For them, it was a good thing no one answered. I don’t know how you managed.”

“It wasn’t all me, I assure you,” Regina replied. “If not for the others, I’d have gone mad. As it is. . . .” The older woman trailed off, her stamina about spent. She had been forced to be strong for so long, and she was so tired. Fatigue that had been held at bay for months had started creeping into her as the house warmed, and as she realized that she and the others were safe. Suddenly, she teetered just a bit.

“Maybe you better sit down,” Amy said, concerned.

“I’m fine,” Regina promised, but her pale features betrayed her.

“No, you’re not,” Rhonda told her, taking an arm and guiding her to a chair. “You’re exhausted is what you are. Sit,” she ordered. Regina sat.

“We’re all tired,” she murmured. “Always something to be done.”

“Well, you need rest,” Amy declared. “And we can see after the kids. All of you,” she ordered, looking at the other women, who were almost dead on their feet from exhaustion. “Rest. The beds are made, I think. If not, I know there’s bed clothes here. There’s enough of us to watch over the children while you sleep.”

“Absolutely,” Amanda nodded. The teenager was sitting on the floor, next to the huge warm pallet where the children were currently dead to the world asleep. “I’ll watch them. I haven’t baby sat in a long time,” she added, grinning.

“I can help,” Mary added from where she was watching the one year old slumber after his first formula in three weeks. “I can stay. I can, right?” she added, looking at Rhonda.

“Of course you can,” Rhonda nodded. “I’ll stay, too. Danny can watch the house. I’ll go and tell him, and bring back some other things. You four get settled, and get some rest.”

“Could we. . .could we shower, first?” one of the Pinsons asked. “I mean, with hot water?”

“Sure,” Amy nodded. “See if any of the clothes Rhonda brought will fit. If not, we’ll find something else for you. Somewhere.”

The four women, relieved of their burden after so long, didn’t know what to do with themselves at first. The mention of hot water showers sparked a bit of life into them.

“They need rest,” Amy told Rhonda, as the four others went to clean up and change their grimy clothes. “And a lot of it, too. They’re on the edge.”

“I thought so too,” Rhonda nodded. “Well, we can let the girls stay here for a day or two, and take turns with them, I guess. Shelly and Miss Em will help, I’m sure.” She frowned.

“Thinking about Debbie?” Amy asked. Rhonda nodded.

“Yes,” came the short answer. “She should be helping. But I don’t want these women to have to put up with the crap she’s gave me.”

“I know,” Amy sighed heavily. “On the bright side, maybe she will adopt one of these darling girls, and that will make her happy.”

“Can we trust her with a baby?” Rhonda asked. “I mean, is she nuts, or does she just hate me? If it’s me, then no problem. She can hate away.”

“She’s sane,” Amy told her. “May not look like it, but she is. She just wants what she wants. No matter what. That’s not insane. It’s just selfish.”

“No matter how much the world changes, people stay the same,” Rhonda sighed. “Well, I don’t want Mary around her until she’s a bit more. . .unselfish. But if she’s willing to take care of them, she needs to help. She don’t seem to do much else.”

“She works at home,” Amy found herself defending her house mate, much to her own surprise. “I mean, she works, too. House is clean, meals cooked even when I don’t have the time to help. Like I said. She just wants what she wants.”

“Maybe helping here will do her good then,” Rhonda nodded. “If not, I can always kick her ass.”

*****

The four women from Columbia all took their first warm showers in months. Soap and shampoo, even lotions, they hadn’t seen so much in a very long time. By the time the last one was out, the first was already asleep.

Regina was the last, reluctant to be asleep when the other three were out. One of them had been awake at all times for so long, she couldn’t seem to let go of the routine. Amanda and Mary both tried to persuade her to lie down, but Regina kept putting it off. Finally, Mary heard Rhonda pull up in Billy’s truck. She went to the door, and helped Rhonda get things inside.

“I’ll stay with you tonight, and probably tomorrow night,” Rhonda told the older woman. “Amy will be here after that, unless Shelly or Miss Em decide to come over. You haven’t met them yet,” Rhonda said at Regina’s look of confusion.

“And why aren’t you in bed?” Rhonda demanded abruptly. Regina blinked at her.

“Ah, I don’t know, exactly,” she admitted. “I. . .that is. . .we always had someone awake. All the time. Just in case.”

“Ain’t no need o’ that here,” Rhonda assured her. “We can take care just fine. And if we need help, it’s nothing more than a radio call or a truck ride away. So you get some sleep. You need it.”

“We can take care of the kids for a few days, but after that, I’m afraid it’ll be you four again, in all likelihood. We all got farms and chores to do and the like. But we can give you a few days help, to let you get rested.”

“I. . .I don’t know what to say,” Regina said softly, a tear flowing from one eye. “We’ve been alone so long. . . .”

“I know,” Rhonda told her kindly. “So was I. Not like you, I was completely alone.”

“Me, too,” Mary offered. Regina looked at her, and then back to Rhonda.

“She was living alone in the house down the street,” Rhonda nodded. “We didn’t know she was there until we went to clean the house up for some folks who moved into the house a few days ago. Nearly blowed poor Billy’s head off,” she chuckled.

“I didn’t mean too!” Mary added, blushing a bit. “I was just scared!”

“I know, sweetie,” Rhonda smiled at her.

“You had a gun?” Regina looked aghast.

“She has a gun,” Rhonda corrected her. “All of us do. And carry it wherever we go, at all times,” she added, pointing to where her rifle sat by the door. “We don’t have much choice. According to what your story is, you should realize that by now.”

“I just. . .I never owned a gun,” Regina shook head. “I couldn’t take the chance, with all the children in the house. And why would I ever need one?” she asked, the irony plain in her voice. “I never imagined anything like this happening, or I would have been better prepared for it.”

“I’d say you did pretty good, considering,” Rhonda told her. “I mean, you kept yourself, three other adults, and seven kids alive, and reasonably healthy in the worst possible circumstances. Can’t do much better than that.”

“Thank you,” Regina smiled. “I guess we’ll need to learn to use guns as well?”

“Won’t force you,” Rhonda shrugged. “Happens you’re against it. But we can’t always be lookin’ out for you, either. Like I said, we all got things that have to be done. Every day. We’re surviving, but it’s hard work. And it ain’t never done, seems like.”

“We don’t mind working,” Regina assured her, stifling a yawn. “And, you’re right. After today, I think learning to use a firearm should be high on our list. We lost. . .well, we lost pretty much everything,” she sighed, tears again streaming.

“Don’t worry over that right now,” Rhonda patted her leg gently. “Just get some rest. We’ll be here. No worries.”

“I think I will,” Regina nodded, rising from her chair. “I have no way of thanking you, you know. I mean, if not for those men, and now you, we’d be dead, or wishing we were. Or at the least, homeless and without anything.”

“Don’t think on that right now,” Rhonda urged, smiling. “Rest, relax, and recover. We’ll worry on replacing what you lost, or getting what you need, when that’s done. Deal?”

“Deal,” Regina smiled. With that she headed off to the bedroom she’d picked out for herself. After she had gone, Amanda looked at Rhonda.

“She’s had it rough,” the teenager said.

“They all have, but her most of all,” Rhonda agreed. “She feels responsible for the adults, and the children all. Too much for one person alone.”

“Well, we can help,” Mary said, looking again at the tiny infant. “And things will be better for them.”

“Yes, sweetie, they will,” Rhonda nodded. “They will.”

*****

The sun was creeping over the trees as George, Terry and Peter prepared to depart. George looked at Billy.

“You see anything, you let us know. And be ready to support us if we come in running, or come get us if we need to scram.”

“We’ll take care of it,” Billy assured him. “Ya’ll be careful.” George nodded, then looked to his friends.

“Let’s boogie,” he ordered.

“Keep the fires burning,” Pete joked, and led off.

Billy and Toby watched them out of sight, then headed up stairs. They settled in by the window overlooking the street.

“One of us is here, all the time,” Billy told Toby. “The other can make checks out the other windows, and make sure we stay clear. Got your radio?” Toby nodded, holding the small FRS radio up for Billy to see.

“Make sure it’s on when you leave the room. Might not want to shout, if someone’s close.”

“Okay,” Toby agreed. “If they find that bunch, what are we gonna do?”

“Reckon we’ll see.”

*****

George watched as his two comrades leap-frogged down another street. They were three hours into their sweep. In another two hours, they would need to head back, if they wanted to be near the house before it was dark. Thanks to Billy, they had night vision equipment, almost as good as they had used in Iraq and Afghanistan. George didn’t really want to know how or where Billy had managed to get them. He was just grateful to have them. If need be, they could stay out as long as their batteries held on.

He was about to move when Peter Two Bears’ hand came up, balled into a fist. He opened his hand a second later, spread as far as his fingers would allow.

Spread out.

George and Terry immediately went to cover, each one moving to a different side of Two Bears’ position. Peter ducked low, looking to see if he had their attention. Then his hand started signing.

Three Tangos. Armed. Moving across our path.

Both men signaled they understood, then hunkered down to watch. In less than a minute, three unsavory looking characters ambled past, talking among themselves, and making far too much noise. One was armed with a sawed off shotgun, another with a lever action rifle, and a third with an AR.

“Boss is some pissed about Shorty and them, sneaking off the way they did,” Sawed Off remarked, walking along without a care in the world.

“Sure is,” Lever Action nodded. He wasn’t paying any more attention than the first man. “I sure wouldn’t want to be in their shoes, they show back up. He’ll probably shoot’em all.”

“Shut up, and watch where you’re goin’,” AR ordered quietly. “We’re supposed to be on patrol. Act like it.”

“Aw, there ain’t nothin’ out here,” Sawed Off responded. “We do this shit ever day, and don’t see nothin’. Ain’t nobody left. Not no more,” he added, giggling. George was pretty sure Sawed Off was a meth head.

“Just because nothing was here yesterday don’t make it so today,” AR shot back. “And keep your damn voice down. Noise carries long way nowdays.”

“Give it a rest,” Lever Action snorted. “You always act like you’re King Shit on Turd Mountain, playing like you know so much. You ain’t no soldier, and besides, no one died and put you in charge.”

“Keep talking, lard ass,” AR growled, fingering his rifle. “I’d as soon shoot you two as look at you. Tell the Boss you ran out when I wasn’t looking. Or,” he grinned evilly, “tell him you was talking about running off to join Shorty, and I shot you for that. Might get a reward for that.”

The argument continued, but the three were moving away now, passed the three former soldiers’ position. Two Bears watched them for bit longer, then looked to George. George nodded, and flashed a sign.

Follow them.

He could scarcely believe their luck. If what they had heard was accurate, they had just stumbled upon the perfect resource. A trio of idiots who would lead them exactly where they wanted to go.

Can’t count on stupidity, though, he warned himself, getting ready to move. Someone in there at least has enough sense to send out a patrol. And the one with the AR seems like a dedicated Mall Ninja. He might have some decent firepower. Even a blind squirrel finds an acorn now and then.