“A man, he attacked me on the road. I woke in his house, tied up. That was a week ago, I think. It’s hard to know, as the days have all bled into the next.”

  August shot a look to Nellis. “Who was this guy?”

  “Some fat fuck, he’s dead now,” Ray answered.

  “I wasn’t talking to you,” August spat.

  “I don’t know, but like Ray said, he’s dead. He shot at us, hitting Ray, but I shot him dead. We entered his house and found her, at first we—”

  “You,” Ray said, interrupting Nellis.

  “Stop the bullshit,” August barked at Ray.

  “Sorry, boss,” Ray said.

  “Continue,” August ordered.

  “We saw her, assumed she was the woman we were looking for, and went directly to see Scott,” Nellis explained.

  “You didn’t think that she wasn’t pregnant or at least looked like she’d just had a baby? How about the hair color? Her hair is light. Ava told me the woman has very dark hair with a big belly.”

  “Could she be remembering wrong? I mean, she is a little kid,” Ray interjected smugly.

  “Get him out of here,” August ordered Scott.

  “You, out, now,” Scott snapped at Ray.

  Doing what he was told, Ray left the house.

  “How many times do I have to repeat myself about stupidity? Huh? Scott, you know I hate that above most things. This poor woman, Jaime here, has been suffering, and we bring her here, and if my niece hadn’t said anything, I would have tortured and killed an innocent woman.”

  “I’m sorry, boss,” Nellis said.

  “You know something, sorry may not be enough,” August said. He turned to Scott and continued, “Untie her, and get some clothes from my closet.”

  Scott nodded. He cut her bindings and quickly raced away to get fresh clothes.

  The floorboards creaked under August’s weight as he approached Nellis. “I’ve never met you, but my first impression isn’t a good one.”

  “Boss, I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”

  “I hear that all the time, like literally, all the time.”

  Emerging from the darkened hall, Scott had an armful of clothes. “I found these. They were…” he said, pausing before he uttered August’s dead wife’s name. “I’m assuming this is okay?”

  Not looking at Scott, August replied, “They’re fine.”

  “Boss, what can I do to make up for this?” Nellis asked.

  “I’m still thinking about that,” August answered. He turned and went back to Jaime, who was now dressing. “Do you want to get cleaned up? I have a nice big tub. You can go wash before you get dressed.”

  “This is fine. I just want to get back on the road,” she answered.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “I owe you an apology, and I’d like to help you. Tell me, what can I do for you?”

  “Are you serious?”

  “Yes, name your price.”

  “I need a car and a weapon, food, water.”

  August shot Scott a look.

  Without a second’s hesitation, Scott rushed off.

  “Consider it done.”

  Jaime finished dressing, slipped on a pair of oversized Uggs, and stood. “I’d like to leave.”

  “Sure, I’ll walk you out,” August said.

  August led Jaime and Nellis out the door and into the driveway. Before exiting the house, he turned on a light near the garage. This illuminated the expansive drive and surrounding area.

  Leaning against the truck, Ray picked his teeth with a thin branch.

  Stoically standing off to the side was Scott, his arms crossed and his stare fixed on Ray.

  “You two have gear in there?” August asked Nellis.

  “Yes, boss, I have a day pack and Ray…”

  “I’ve got my shit too, in the bed,” Ray said.

  His head cocked, August gave Ray a hard stare. “You’re the asshole of this duo, aren’t you?”

  Stiffening his spine, Ray tossed the branch and replied, “I consider myself a more direct person.”

  “You two fucked up today, you know that,” August said.

  “Boss, I’m sorry, I’ll do better,” Nellis said.

  “It was all his fault,” Ray barked.

  Turning to Jaime, August asked, “What should I do with these two?”

  Tension spread across her face. “What do you mean?”

  Ray and Nellis both knew what that meant. Sensing what was about to happen, Ray slowly began to lower his right hand down to the back strap of his holstered pistol.

  “Don’t think about it!” Scott barked, twin model Springfield 1911s in each hand.

  “Boss, please, I’ve been with you since the beginning. I’m a hard worker. This was a simple mistake,” Nellis begged.

  “Well?” August asked Jaime.

  “I don’t understand what you’re asking me,” Jaime shot back.

  “Should I punish them?”

  “I think there’s been enough pain and misery. I just want to leave,” Jaime said.

  “Very well. You give her the keys to the truck,” August ordered Nellis.

  Compiling instantly, Nellis tossed the truck keys to her.

  She stared at the keys for a second in her open hand, looked back at August and asked, “You’re letting me go?”

  “Yeah, now get out of here,” August replied.

  She rushed to the driver’s door, threw it open, climbed in and started it up.

  “C’mon, man, she’s taking my gear,” Ray complained.

  She threw the truck into reverse and slammed on the accelerator. The truck’s rear wheels spun out, kicking out gravel; once she was positioned, she shifted the gear to drive and smashed her foot against the pedal. The truck surged forward. She sped down the drive and disappeared over a small rise, only the glow from her headlights gleaming through the trees.

  “Now what to do with you two?” August asked.

  Ray inched his right hand closer to his pistol.

  Seeing the movement, Scott again barked at him, “Don’t fucking do it.”

  “Well, if you’re going to kill me, I should at least try,” Ray said.

  Falling to his knees, and with his hands clasped as if in prayer, Nellis cried out, “Please, boss, don’t kill me. I think I might know where the real woman is. Yep, what’s-his-name mentioned where our guys went afterwards. I can take you there.”

  “Nellis right?” August asked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “You’re fine. You’re not going to die tonight.”

  “Thank you, thank you,” Nellis said.

  “What about me?” Ray asked.

  “Scott, I’ll leave this up to you. I’m tired and just want to go back inside,” August said. He turned around and headed back to the house.

  A single shot cracked, followed by the thud of a body hitting the ground.

  August paused at the front steps of his porch, turned back to see Ray’s body on the ground and Scott holstering his pistols. “Good decision.”

  “I could tell he was a shit bag,” Scott said.

  “You said you knew where she might be?” August asked Nellis.

  “Yes, sir, yep, I do.”

  “Scott, get that info from him and send out a large team. I want you leading it this time. And, Scott, don’t waste my time.”

  SEPTEMBER 20, 2016

  “Remember not only to say the right thing in the right place, but far more difficult still, to leave unsaid the wrong thing at the tempting moment.” – Benjamin Franklin

  OUTSKIRTS OF TRUCKEE, CALIFORNIA

  The weathered canvas of the old backpack was frayed on the edges of the straps and represented the only issue Lexi could find wrong with it.

  Joe had given her the pack after spending more than an hour in a vain attempt to get her to stay. After Anna’s comments, Lexi was done. She hated the thought of leaving, but she couldn’t see another way.

  “You’ll be needing this, I think,” Joe said from the doorway of Lexi’s bedroom.

  Lexi turned to see Joe holding an AR-15.

  “Oooh, what do you have there?” Lexi purred upon seeing the beautiful black rifle.

  “I’m not much of a fan of this sort of long gun, call me old-school. I remember when we got our M16s in Vietnam, what a piece of junk. I’ve never been a fan since.”

  “Can I?” Lexi asked.

  “Sure, it’s yours,” Joe said. “I got it from those guys you killed the other night. This one was mounted on the side of a quad.”

  Taking the rifle in her hands, she pulled the charging handle back and locked the bolt to the rear. Like she’d been trained, she ensured it was unloaded before examining it. From the butt of the rifle to the flash suppressor, she eyed it, happy to have a semiautomatic again. “How many mags did you find?”

  Joe held up a paper bag. “You’re gonna be happy, twelve of them, all thirty round and fully loaded. I also found additional rounds. This will weigh you down, but you’ll be wanting them I’m sure.”

  “Set them down over there,” Lexi said, motioning with her head to the bed. On it was the pack and spread out neatly were her clothes, miscellaneous gear and items for Sasha.

  Joe walked over and set the bag of magazines and extra ammunition down. He saw the map on the right corner of the bed. “You follow that like I said. I marked all the waypoints you’re gonna need to get there. It’s actually a good time to go, best to get up there before the snows come.”

  Still ogling her new possession, she suddenly thought of something else. “I need a semiauto pistol. What did you do with the ones those guys had?”

  “Oh, in the shed,” Joe replied. “Say, is there no way I can convince you to stay? I think it’s gonna be hard on you and the little one.” He looked over at the crib and watched as Sasha slept.

  She frowned and set the rifle on the bed. “Anna asked me to leave, so I’m going to leave. I have to honor her wishes.”

  “But you must understand, she’s just going through an episode.”

  “Call it what you want. She wants me to leave, and I need to honor her wishes. We just don’t see eye to eye. I’m always going to be grateful and I’ll come and visit,” she teased.

  “Please do. Maybe I’ll even come visit you all, you know, check in on ya and the little one. Plus I’ll have to bring you all some resupplies.”

  “I will be needing some Spam, that’s for sure,” Lexi quipped.

  “There’s plenty of game up there. You know how to—”

  With a tender touch on his shoulder, Lexi interrupted Joe. “I can handle myself. I know how to kill and field dress whatever animal I take down.”

  “But there’s no power up there, just how?”

  “I’ll be fine…we’ll be fine,” Lexi said, casting a look to Sasha.

  A shadow cast from the doorway.

  Lexi turned to see Anna hovering just outside her door in the hall. “I’ve made breakfast and have packed some food for you and Sasha.”

  “Thank you, Anna.”

  “Come let’s all go break bread one last time,” Joe said, a weak smile on his face. He walked past Lexi and up to Anna. He draped his arm over her shoulder and the two disappeared.

  Lexi stepped up to the crib and looked down.

  With even but deep breaths, Sasha’s chest rose and fell.

  “I’ll be right back, and then we’re going for a hike, okay?” Lexi said and headed for the kitchen.

  ◆◆◆

  “Is that the house?” Scott asked, concealed behind a large rock, a pair of binoculars in his hand.

  “He said Joe lived a couple of miles away, I can only assume this is old Joe’s house,” Nellis replied.

  Behind the men were another ten well-armed soldiers of the Clancy Clan.

  “How about I head down and just knock on the door?” Nellis asked.

  “No, that will just alarm them. Let’s stay hidden and keep surveilling. They’re bound to come out; then we’ll go in there with force,” Scott replied.

  “Boss, can I ask you a question?” Nellis asked.

  “Sure, but let’s establish this, I’m not the boss; now go ahead.”

  “Why didn’t you kill me?”

  “On account you still had value, that’s why,” Scott answered simply and honestly.

  “If I hadn’t mentioned old Joe’s place, would I still be alive?”

  “Nope.”

  “And now that I’ve taken you here, is my value gone?”

  “Nellis, you’re fine now. I just recommend you stay off the skyline, as they say. If you’re going to do something, make sure it’s right. My brother hates failure and mistakes.”

  “I know that, he has a reputation for it.”

  “I think he gets a bit carried away. I wouldn’t go around killing everyone all the time,” Scott confessed.

  “Yeah, he sort of has many of the men freaked out. Some say that…” Nellis said before stopping himself.

  “Go on.”

  “No, it’s nothing.”

  “Yeah, you have something to say about the men, and I’d like to know,” Scott insisted.

  “I’m afraid to,” Nellis said. He brought his bare hands to his mouth and blew on them. “It’s chilly this morning.”

  “I don’t care about the weather. If there’s morale problems, I need to know,” Scott said.

  “Well, the men are concerned, they’re in a state of fear all the time. Some do the bare minimum just because if they fail at something, August will have them killed.”

  “So what you’re saying is we could be more productive if we were more lenient?”

  “I’m not saying more lenient; the men are accepting of punishment. It’s just that someone could answer a question wrong and that equals a death sentence.”

  Scott put the binoculars down and pondered what Nellis told him. He was opposed to August’s heavy-handed practices within the Clan but also knew what could happen if he openly stood against his brother’s actions. At times, in private, he talked to August about it, but got nowhere. August hadn’t just grown to be feared, he’d grown into something more, something bigger than life. And just the mention of his name struck terror in other men; like Marks had said to him just before he died, his name was now echoing off the halls of government both at the state level and in Cheyenne.

  “I don’t want to get in trouble. I’m just telling you what’s happening on the ground level so to speak,” Nellis said, anxiety rising in him as he now questioned ever opening his mouth about the topic.

  “I know my brother has a very heavy hand, but he does so to ensure we all thrive. What you don’t realize is many places are suffering, people are still starving; yet we aren’t. You and the other men eat good every day. You have booze to drink, cars to drive, and fuel to put in those cars. We’re doing good; he just expects a lot of his people. And just so you know, that includes me. He even holds his family to standards. You seem to have a pulse on what the men are talking about, can you do me a favor?”

  “Sure.”

  “Let them know, remind them of how good things are here. Sometimes people need perspective. For whatever reason humans have a knack for complaining without understanding what they have is good. Could things be better? Of course, but what August is doing, his vision, will result in us all succeeding.”

  “I’ll do my best. Not sure they’ll listen to me; there are some strong voices and personalities.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Nellis paused.

  Scott slid down off the boulder and faced Nellis. “Are you saying there are rumblings of insurrection or sedition?”

  “I’m just saying some men talk too much, that’s all; bravado. Sort of like Ray, they have big mouths.”

  “Who are they?”

  “Please, I’d rather not say,” Nellis said. He was in full regret for ever opening his mouth to begin with.

  “We might be here a while waiting. I suggest you tell me everything you know,” Scott growled.

  ◆◆◆

  “I brought it inside, I know I did,” Joe complained. He opened the pantry for the third time and began to remove items in a desperate attempt to find something he’d found for Lexi.

  “It’s not here, Joe,” Anna countered.

  “It’s fine. The eggs and Spam are perfect,” Lexi said.

  “It’s not for breakfast. I found it yesterday while I was out,” Joe replied, his agitation displayed in his tone.

  “You probably left it in the wagon,” Anna said.

  “I’ll go get it,” Lexi said, getting up from the table.

  “No, sit right there. It’s a gift,” Joe said. He turned quickly and hit the side of his kneecap on the side of the lower cabinet. “Argh!” he bellowed in pain as he doubled over. “Damn, that hurts.” He grabbed his knee and began to rub.

  “I’ll go. It’s a gift regardless if I get it from the wagon or not. It’s not like you’re going to wrap it or anything,” Lexi said and rushed to the front door.

  “I wanted it to be a surprise,” Joe said.

  “It still is, and now I can’t wait to see what it is,” Lexi said, throwing open the door and stepping out into the early morning sun.

  ◆◆◆

  “That’s all the names I know,” Nellis said, his head hung low.

  Scott patted Nellis on the arm and said, “You did the right thing. August rewards loyalty.”

  “Is being a rat considered loyal?”

  “You’re either with us or against us,” Scott said. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted movement at the front of the house. He looked and saw Lexi. “What do we have here?”

  Nellis peeked his head around the boulder. “That’s a young woman, dark hair, but she’s not pregnant.”

  “No, she’s not. Hmm, let’s keep watching.”

  They watched as Lexi made her way confidently to the shed adjacent the cabin. She opened the swing doors, and there in front of her was the wagon and the two quads. Seeing the quads, she pondered if she should take one. It would lessen the amount of time she’d be traveling.

  “Do you see what I’m seeing?” Scott asked.

  “Yes, sir, two quads, and I’m betting they belong to our guys,” Nellis said.

 

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