Defending No Where (The No Where Apocalypse Book 3) (13 page)

And each day we steadfastly watched the road, always on guard for some type of sneak attack. My pistol never left my side, even when I went to the outhouse. Lettie’s old 30-30 sat propped next to the door, ready for action if need be.

Daisy finally gave in to the idea of me going after them before they came for us. I’m not sure if it was the pressure of the situation, or maybe it was one of the whispered conferences I heard Daisy and Violet having late at night. Or perhaps it was when Violet changed her vote, and Daisy knew she was outnumbered.
 

Whatever the reason, we all finally agreed.

Anytime I noticed any movement on the road, or anywhere for that matter, a knot formed in the pit of my stomach. At first, I drew my weapon every time a twig snapped or a squirrel chased another through the woods. I found myself flinching at every sound, every strange sight.
 

I knew hunting down Barster could lead to my eventual demise, but I had to do it, and however it happened, it needed to be soon. If for no other reason, we needed a release from the constant tension that filled our days.

I heard the screen door close and then footsteps. Someone was coming to visit me while I took an extended break from chopping wood. I felt a hand take mine, small delicate fingers intertwining my rough calloused digits.

“Daisy,” I said with a smile.

“Close, but you only had two choices.” I jumped back at the sound of Violet’s voice.
What was she up to now,
I wondered.

“Don’t worry, she fell asleep putting Libby and Hope down for their nap,” Violet said, pointing at the house. “The curtains are even drawn. She won’t see us.”

Circling a log to get a few extra steps away, I studied her skeptically. “She won’t see us because nothing we’re going to be doing is worth seeing,” I said firmly. There, now she knew where we stood.

She crossed her arms, staring into the woods. “You know, when you kissed me last week, I noticed you let it linger an extra moment.”

I felt my eyes bug open. “You kissed me!” I countered in a hushed whisper.

She looked back at me and rolled her eyes. “Whatever, Romeo. You just didn’t seem too hasty to end our lip lock.”

“Violet,” I said, as evenly as possible, peering through the front window. I needed to be sure Daisy wasn’t standing there, listening in on something she might misconstrue. “You’re 15 years old. As delightful as you may think—”

“I’m 18,” she countered.

I felt my eyes narrow. “Three falls ago you said you were 12. This next spring will be the third one since whatever went wrong. That makes you 15 now, and 16 in the spring.”

A sly smile curled the corners of her lips. “And you were the only one whoever bought that story.”

“What?”

She took a step closer. “Mom thought I’d be less attractive, and safer, if we told people I was 12, that way we wouldn’t have a bunch of men like you perving on me all the time. Because I looked so young, she knew people would believe it. At least she hoped they would.”

 
She took another step closer and I became a little uncomfortable. “Dizzy never believed it; he saw right through it somehow. Lettie laughed the first time Mom told her. She said I didn’t have the hips of a 12 year old. Daisy never could remember what age we agreed upon for our little fib. Not that you ever noticed.”

She grinned, pointing a finger at me. “But you bought it. Hook…” she took another step closer, “…line...” another step and she was next to me, taking my hand. “…and sinker.” She raised it to her mouth and kissed it.

“I don’t believe you.” I actually wasn’t sure, but the confusion pulsing through my brain made it hard to think clearly.

“I’ll be 19 next spring. All of a sudden I’m not so young anymore, am I, Mr. Reiniger?”

She still had my hand in hers. I tugged it away. Lord only knew where it could have ended up next.

“It doesn’t change a thing, Violet. Daisy and I are a couple. And you know that.” I stepped away and picked up my ax. “Now, why don’t you fill the water buckets for tonight, as long as everyone else is napping.”

She turned, flipping her brown hair over her shoulder. “Okay, play hard to get. I can wait.” She skipped several paces before stopping and turning. “But remember, I love you. I said it first. And I’m the only one thus far. But you knew that, right?”

I watched her scoop the bucket off the stump by the corner of the house before disappearing into the woods.
What the hell is she up to?
I pondered in stunned confusion. Well g
ood luck, little girl. I’m not interested.

We ate another evening meal in silence. While I exchanged smiles with Daisy, I caught Violet staring at us…or perhaps it was just me. She was going to ruin my life if she wasn’t careful.

“No Mr. Wilson again today,” Daisy said, causing me to jump. “He should be here tomorrow or the next day with some more food.”

Violet forked a green bean and lifted it to her nose, sniffing it suspiciously. “Yep,” she replied, stuffing it into her mouth.

Beside Daisy, Libby chomped on a piece of dried venison. “I hope Grandpa Wilson brings us something decent to eat this time,” she complained. “I didn’t like his last delivery.”

Daisy turned and stroked the top of her daughter’s head. “We mustn’t complain about free food, Libby. Grandpa Wilson has been very good to us.”

Setting her fork on the table, Libby stared at her mother. “But he took Grandma Lettie.”

“We traded Grandma for some food,” Violet inserted, grinning at me. “Not a very good trade, based on what we’ve received lately.”

“It only has been a few weeks,” Daisy countered, eyeing Violet casually. “You can’t expect Lettie to perform miracles overnight, can you Vi?”

“It’s been three weeks, and it wasn’t a fair trade,” Violet snarked.

Damn that child, or teen, or whatever she was. Now she was picking fights with her only female friend left within five miles. I had no idea what her latest ploy was, but it seemed foolish to me.

“Bob, what do you think?” Daisy asked, catching me off guard. A smile flashed across Violet’s face. Damn it, she needed to stop this game.

“Lettie had to go, Violet,” I answered. Her eyes narrowed with anger. “Otherwise we’d starve to death. You know that.”

She rose from her spot, pointing a fork at me. “You’d agree with anything Daisy told you to. Why don’t you grow a spine?” Tossing her fork onto the table, she ran to the bedroom and slammed the door. Hope began screaming.

“Oh no,” Daisy fretted, getting up from her spot, “now the baby’s awake. Oh, poor Vi will be all in a tizzy now. Can you clean up while I help her, sweetie?”

I nodded, piling plates on top of one another. “Sure, no problem.”

“Oh, and Bob?” Daisy whispered. “Maybe you could be a little sweeter to Vi, please? She looks up to you so, and I really think she could use a kind word or two from you. You know how she thinks you walk on water.”

The bedroom door creaked open and Hope’s cries intensified. When the door closed, I heard Daisy’s sweet voice singing a lullaby. I listened closely to see if the two women said anything to one another.

Not only was Violet playing me like a cheap guitar, she was warming up on Daisy as well.

Day 1,097

Two days later, Wilson arrived during a drizzle. In one hand, he carried a large goody bag of supplies. In the other was a small satchel, most likely containing clothes. I spied him coming through the front window with Daisy at my side. Once she realized he was coming to stay, she left in tears, running into the bedroom with Violet.

My breath caught a little and I felt a slight chill run through my veins. I was really going to do this, I thought. For a fleeting moment, before Wilson reached our front door, I doubted myself.

I studied myself in the mirror. “You could die,” I whispered to the ghost of my former self. A man no longer recognizable in my eyes, a man shot and left for dead twice, a man who had taken the lives of others.

I listened to the sounds coming from the bedroom. Violet and Libby were comforting Daisy, begging her to dry her tears. Daisy’s sniffles saying it was all right. Hope cooing, Libby was probably entertaining her.

“If you don’t do this, they’re all dead within a month,” I warned my mirrored self.
 

Wilson was a dozen steps from the front door. I took a deep breath and pulled up my loose pants.

It was show time.

Day 1,097 — continued

As if it were a special occasion, we sipped tea like civilized people. But it wasn’t a special occasion, not for me. I’d said I’d make coffee. Wilson claimed that sounded fine.

The bedroom door flung open and Daisy appeared with red swollen eyes, a broad smile and a plan.

So, we had tea.

Daisy brought out tiny floral cups and saucers I’d scavenged somewhere for her, though I couldn’t recall any longer where or even when I had found them. After the water boiled long enough for her liking, she and Violet seeped the teabags in a matching floral pot. I hated it when they plotted together. Nothing good ever came of it.

Blowing on his tea, Wilson shot me a crooked smile. I couldn’t blame him. The hot beverage tasted like dirt, and the cups looked out of place in our large calloused hands. I decided to bite my tongue for a bit just to humor Daisy. But I didn’t plan on this being a long farewell party.

“So, Mr. Wilson,” Daisy started, trying to smile and hold back sniffles and tears. “Tell me and Vi all about how Lettie is doing. We’re just bursting for news.”

I noticed his eyes flash my way before he gave the gals a decent smile. Well decent enough for a man whose idea of a smile looked like he was passing bad gas.

“She’s good,” he answered. “Doing well.”

Daisy nodded. “And the garden? Has she been able to help?”

Wilson eased a bit. “Oh yeah, everything looks a lot better already. That old gal knows all the tricks.”

Violet cleared her throat. “And how are your sons?” she asked.

I’m sure my mouth dropped obscenely open with her question. Like she gave a damn about how Jimmy or Johnny were doing.

“Something wrong, Bob?” Violet scolded. Damn it, busted.

I shook my head in a small way. “No.” I figured the pending fight could wait a few minutes. Daisy’s smile helped quell my growing anger, though Violet’s pissy expression made my anger want to boil over. Daisy won…for now.

“Boys are fine,” Wilson answered. “Work hard and eat like mules.” He let out a snort/laugh. “So that’s good, I guess.”

“And Nate?” Violet continued. “How’s my brother?”

“Ha!” I couldn’t help it. The questions were getting more and more ridiculous.

Violet’s eyes bored into mine. “If there’s a problem, Bob, perhaps we can discuss it later.”

I thought about shrugging, but decided it was my turn to speak.

“Like you give a rat’s ass about Nate,” I raged. “You’ve never asked about him once in all this time. Spare me the show.”

Daisy placed her hand gently on my arm. “Please try and be gentle with Vi’s feelings,” she said in a soft voice. “She’s worried about Nate.”

I turned to face her and shook my head. “She’s stalling. You’re both stalling. I know what you’re doing. Just so we’re square on that.”

Giving me another of her patented smiles, Daisy acted as if she had no idea what I was talking about. But I knew better.

“We’re going to be civilized,” Violet shrieked from across the table. “Before you go off and get slaughtered, we’re going to behave like decent people one last time.” She leapt from her chair. “You owe us that much you son of a bitch!”

I held back a grin. She and her co-conspirator were busted and they both knew it.

“Vi,” Daisy replied quietly, “we talked about this. We aren’t going to get upset or show improper emotion. Please, sit down and let’s continue our conversation with Mr. Wilson and Bob.”

Glaring at me like never before — and that said a lot — Violet straightened her thin blue sleeveless shirt and retook her spot.

“Now, where were we?” Daisy asked as if nothing had happened. “I believe Vi was asking about her brother. Is he well, Mr. Wilson?”

Tightlipped and bug-eyed, Wilson studied our group perplexedly. And who could blame him? We were one happy dysfunctional family unit.

“Yep,” he answered without emotion, “Nate’s doing just fine. Fits in well with my boys. He’s a good worker.”

Daisy and Violet smiled. I rolled my eyes, crossed my arms and leaned back in my chair. This was going to take a while.

I gave it another half hour before pushing the small talk aside. One more mention of weather, crops or kids, and I would have screamed.

“They’re back in the area, aren’t they?” I asked, sliding my chair a little closer to Wilson’s.

His lips tightened as he watched Daisy and Violet leave the table to take care of their respective children.

“Yep,” he answered just above a whisper. “But I can’t tell you their exact location. Just the area I know they’re in.”

That was good enough for me. As long as I had a general idea and could track them down in a day or two, that was all that mattered. Yeah, it would have been better knowing the precise spot they holed up in, but I’d waited long enough.

“So, where they at?” I asked, noting Daisy listening in on our conversation.

“Get me a piece of paper and a pencil. I can draw you a map of the area. Can’t walk you right up to their front door, but I can get you close.”

I rose and rifled through a pile of clutter on an end table. I knew we had clean paper somewhere in this small place.
 

Peeking at Violet, I dared a question. “We got any pencils or pens left around here?” She was the one who drew most of the time with Libby and helped her practice her letters.

I saw a slight grin curl the corners of her lips.

Now what?

Day 1,097 — continued

Wilson gave me a strange look as I passed his choice of writing devices across the table. He probably thought we were all a bunch of loons. He might’ve been right.

I smiled at him. “You have your choice of colors: black, blue, green, purple or orange.”

“Crayons,” he said, as if they were diseased or something.