Second Chances (33 page)

“Then why the hell won't you let a couple of us stand guard while you men work? More hands, the faster it goes right? We can fetch tools, fetch water, weed the farm, hell, we can do
a lot
of shit you big strong men can do!”

“You don't get it,” he said, shaking his head patiently.

“Then educate me,” she said, crossing her arms, eyes flashing dangerously.

“You don't belong out there. It's dangerous. Besides, you can't do the work.”

“And I just said there are some things I can do,” she said firmly, setting her gaze on him.

“Like I'd ever trust a woman with a gun?” he asked. He shook his head.

“Vicky? Max? Ciara?” She asked, throwing his words back at him. She wrinkled her nose at him.

He shrugged. “Okay, maybe her. Maybe the other two too. But the rest of you are only good for chores around here,” he said. “That and keeping the kids safe.” He hoped that last would shut her up. But he could tell it didn't work when she snorted derisively.

Her eyes flashed again. “If that's the way you feel, then you can damn well sleep on the couch outside, Miles Ruben Dunn!” Nicole said, eyes flashing.

“Bullshit,” he growled, now rising to his feet.

“Fine, I'll take the couch. You can make your own dinner,” she snarled.

“Why are you taking their side?” he demanded.

“Hello? I'm a fricking woman if you hadn't noticed lately!” she said, making a duh sigh with one hand. He scowled at her. “And I don't like being treated like dirt. Like a slave.”

“I'm trying to keep us alive,” he growled.

“Good for you!” she said. “If it hasn't gotten through that monumental thick head, so am I! So are a lot of people! Everyone here's trying to stay alive, no lemmings need apply! So get off your high and mighty tower and work with people! Stop being such a pompous ass!” she snarled, then stormed out.

\------{}------/

Of course he knew that wouldn't be the end of the argument. But he didn't find an excuse for her to go in when she took a shift on the wall or out with the others working in the fields. Nicole stopped at the base; she didn't leave the sight of the walls. He figured she'd make her point and then go back to the way things were eventually.

That didn't mean they were speaking beyond the usual grunt or half glance. She also slept in the truck, much to his annoyance. He told the others it was to deter thieves.

“So, how long are you going to let this shit go on?” he finally asked when dinner wasn't ready the third night in a row. She knew better than to pull that shit. They had a routine, meals at certain times. He was already in a mood about not having his nightly beer. Now this? He didn't need any feminine bullshit.

“I'm working remember?” she demanded caustically. “You want dinner, you make it yourself,” she said. “You're an adult. Oh wait, you can't order pizza or go to the bar here,” she said then laughed sarcastically.

“I'm...you know I can't cook!” He said.

“Aww...” She mocked. “Poor thing,” she teased, voice dripping with sarcasm. “My heart bleeds.”

“Seriously, Nicky, I've had it up to here with your feminist agenda crap. You need to get your priorities in order. Who's taking care of the kids and our stuff while you're gone?” he demanded. His stomach rumbled. He snarled; he always hated it when she got on her high horse. She held the damn cooking against him, that and sex. That pissed him off, cutting him off like that.

“Well, Jake's with you since he's a big man now,” she mocked, puffing herself up as she deepened her voice and strutted. “Sydney's with the other kids. I cut a deal with Tia Ortez since Dana and Sydney get along so well and since she's the only other girl in her age range. They're fine, Miles, leave them out of this.”

“And you fed them?”

“Um...maybe,” Nicole said smugly then shrugged. “Or Tia fed Sydney. I'm not sure, as I said, I've been busy, Miles,” she said.

“Colonel. I keep telling everyone. It's colonel,” he growled.

“Bull. It's Miles. We're married remember? Keep up your shit and you can pack and move your worthless ass out,” Nicole growled.

“What are you, on PMS or something?” he demanded, throwing his hands up in the air.

“I'm not the one who has an attitude. Remember mister bigot? You are the one spouting racist shit. I've seen the looks a few people shoot you. It's not respect, Miles. It's not quite fear. It's getting close to contempt since you can't seem to lose it.”

He scowled. He wasn't sure if she was right or not since he didn't have her intel. He had relied on her female connections to keep tabs on gossip and morale. Now she had clammed up on him. He had detected an undercurrent of anger, not quite directed at him, but close. He figured it was because he was in charge...but also because he'd taken shit from other people. Well, gee, too fricken bad, he thought.

“I don't have an attitude! Everyone else does! We've got to survive! You need to understand that! We need to work together!”

“That's bullshit and you know it Miles!” She snarled right back at him. “Blame everyone else; it's never your fault. You getting your ass canned from the army, not my fault. It's that spic bitch; she wouldn't kiss my ass since I'm white. This...” she waved a hand. “You screwed up. You never admit when you are wrong. Take what you want. Forgive your mistakes, mister
perfect
, but never forget anyone else's or any slight however unintentional. Yet you hold a grudge over the most asinine things! You expect other people to bow and scrape to you. Well, I damn well won't!”

“Hell yes! I've earned it! I'm keeping everyone including you alive!”

“Bullshit! Bull. SHIT! We're
all
working together to stay alive! This isn't a one man show Miles!” She said, stabbing his chest with her index finger. “This is a team effort! No I in
team
. Get over yourself mister high and mighty!” She said scornfully, stepping back.

He scowled blackly at her, tucking his clenched fists under his armpits to keep from lashing out physically at her.

“I think you better leave while you still can,” he ground out between clenched teeth.

She eyed him pityingly. “Or you'll what? Hit me again?” she demanded caustically. “Or the kids?”

“Unlike Earth you can't just run. There is no place to go. So you better learn to hold your sharp tongue and mind your manners,” he growled out.

“Bullshit, Miles,” she growled, eyes flashing. “You want to hit me, mister big strong man that you are? Go for it. I can't stop you. But if you want to hold onto what's precious to you, and I do mean your two boys between your legs, you'd
better
kill me. You so much as lay a finger on me again and I'll make you
regret
it. Because the first chance I get they'll come
off
one way or another,” she snarled, then stomped out.

He blamed their argument on the stress and did his best to put it behind him. His stomach growled again, but suddenly he wasn't very hungry anymore.

\------{}------/

A truce was declared when he, Abe and Vicky formed an informal council. The three of them were joined by other experts in various fields...when those people were available or willing. They held a council meeting at least once a week, and people could air their differences there.

Miles noted some of the women wore long skirts or dresses. He wondered briefly if Nicole would get into it but then shook it off. Besides, he liked seeing her long legs in her jeans. Seeing her struggle to get them on was usually something that made him horny.

They made up slowly as the councils went on. Nicole was accepted for her own role on the counsel, speaking for many of the other women in the group. That seemed to mollify the last of her ire for them to take the final steps to make up. They had a fragile peace now. She'd even moved back in the bedroom with him after a couple times he'd come to her defense in a council meeting or stepped up to barbeque. He was glad, and he kept his trap shut when she didn't say anything but fell back into the routine of things once more. He knew better than to crow an “I told you so.”

\------{}------/

Clay was found in deposits around the banks of the river further upstream. The best clay was found in a dried riverbed a half mile off to the east, however. The river bed was dry; apparently the river had shifted course. It was a white clay, one of the best according to their pottery experts. After they cleaned it, they used it for plates, etc.

“It's not like we need fine china,” Miles grumbled.

“It'll come in handy,” Vicky said. “And hey, they are contributing,” she said.

“With what? It's not edible! Can't eat it,” Miles growled.

“No...” Vicky drawled. “But we can store stuff in it. Food, seeds, produce, grain, water,” she said. “Plastic won't last forever. We'll need more things,” she said. Grudgingly he nodded.

Jesus held up a brace of feathered things when he came through the gate. Vicky nodded and gave the man a thumbs-up.

The snares they set up brought in a couple of animals daily. A few were six-legged rabbits, a few were the bird-like bipeds the spics called Pollo Lagartos, chicken lizards. They did taste like chicken Miles admitted.

“Think we'll bring in more?” Vicky asked.

“Probably.”

“We've got a few people asking to catch them alive to see if we can use them as chickens,” she said. Miles grunted. “Oh, by the way, Jesus and Irma want to take their plane up,” she said.

Miles looked thoughtfully about, then spat. “Ain't happening. No runway and we're low on fuel,” he grumbled.

“Fuel is different for the Cessna they've got, Colonel. They've got two barrels of it plus a full tank,” Vicky said.

“So?”

“So aviation fuel is different than gas you get at a gas station. We can't use it in a truck. So, I'm giving them a green light. Joe's working on grading the north and eastern roads. When he has a stretch long enough and flat enough, they'll give it a shot.”

“Are you serious? On what, a dirt patch?” Miles demanded.

“They said they've taken off from worse. Both have years of experience flying in South and Central America. Ever heard of Quito airport in Ecuador? Jesus flew out of that a few times. He also flew in and out of Toncontin in Honduras and a couple freaky strips in the Caribbean as well.”

“So?”

“So the point is they are willing to do it, and they've got the experience. I say we get out of their way and let them do it.”

“What do they hope to achieve in this joyride?”

“I'll...you know, I'll get back to you on that,” Vicky said, shaking a finger at him. “Prior planning prevents piss poor performance. Good point,” she said thoughtfully. “Mapping definitely, I'll see if we can get some good cameras for them....” He shook his head as she wandered off.

\------{}------/

Miles had to admit, sometimes this world was just too cool. NATGEO would eat their hearts out to film some of the shit they saw every day. Take for instance the foggy morning. He'd taken a team into the woods to hunt and cut lumber. But they'd been awed by a flock of strutters in the forest.

The things were oversized turkeys really. Nicole had dredged up an old book of Jake’s, one on dinosaurs. She'd named the strutters Struthomimus or Galimimus, with some Citipati and others thrown in for good measure.

The animals moved with agility through the forest, heads darting about, occasionally making cheeps or clucks just like the overgrown chickens they were. Or turkeys. Or whatever, he thought. The animals were quite beautiful, browns, speckled spots, and such. He'd love to have his hunting buddies around right about now he thought.

Suddenly a commotion made the animals turn as if one animal away. He watched with narrowed eyes as a Rex family lunged out of the forest on three sides. The animals turned to run, but a large bald Rex picked one off, while another Rex slammed a pair of strutters into a bush. They were entangled long enough for the Rex to move in and bite, finishing them off.

The flock, however, turned to escape on the east, right into the path of the humans. Diego and the other gauchos either threw bolos, lassos, or used trip lines to catch the animals as they passed. They picked off a dozen animals in short order.

“Damn what a rush!” Miles said, grinning from ear to ear as he watched them work. He turned to check the Rex family, but they were still eating. He turned to the others and motioned them to secure their prizes and get off. He was surprised when Diego didn't kill the animals right away.

“I don't want to attract El Rey,” Diego said. “Besides, I've got an idea,” he said.

“Oh?”

“You like omelets, jefe?” Diego asked. He grinned at Miles. Miles paused, looking thoughtful then shrugged. He turned to see the remaining flock join or pass through some triceratops nearby. He turned back to his own people and realized they had their own hands full. The bird-like things had been bound and blindfolded but were still a struggling handful for the men.