Odd Billy Todd (26 page)

“Let’s move!” Ralph nodded, running for his truck. Jerry gave Toby a brief hug, then hurried off with George. Billy looked at Toby, and held out his fist.

“Time to cowboy up,” he grinned. Toby returned the grin, bumped fists, and ran to the Ford. Billy climbed up into the cab. The two women, and their children, were in the sleeper, with Rhonda sitting in the passenger seat.

“You heard?” he asked, strapping himself in and checking the truck.

“We did,” Rhonda nodded curtly. She was afraid, but hiding it very well.

“Wish you’d stayed home now?” Billy asked, grinning. That made Rhonda smile.

“Nope!”

“Ladies, you may want to hunker down,” Billy told the women in the sleeper. “If we see someone on the road, we’re gonna run right over’em.”

“I can shoot,” Debbie told him flatly.

“Me too,” Amy added, surprising them.

“Rhonda, hand out whatever extra we brought,” Billy shrugged. “Don’t chamber a round until and unless we have to fight, though,” he added. “Don’t want to get shot by accident. Gonna be a bumpy ride.”

With that, he put the truck into gear, and started the Freightliner moving.

“We’re leading, so if anyone is coming this way, we’ll see them first,” Billy warned Rhonda. “Help me be watching. If someone’s in the way, and they look hostile, I’m gonna bowl right over’em, so ya’ll be prepared for a rough ride,” he added for the sleeper passengers.

“We know how many there might be?” Rhonda asked.

“Least a dozen, maybe a couple more, if they brung’em all,” Billy told her. “What worries me is they might try to follow us. George and Jerry are takin’ the rear, so they should be able to stop’em.”

“Hope so,” Rhonda said quietly, he eyes on the road ahead.

“Good thing we came on today, I’m thinkin’,” he added, grinning.

“I’m glad you did, too,” Amy said quietly. “They would have gotten us alone, and separated, if you hadn’t.”

“Well, they ain’t got nothin’ yet,” Billy told her over his shoulder. “Maybe we’re a mite more’n they bargained for. We’ll see.” He looked at Rhonda.

“Think that little toy o’ yours might come in handy, ‘bout now,” he said. She nodded, and reached for a small bag at her feet. She withdrew one of the MP-5's, and slotted a magazine into it.

“Ain’t never really used one o’ these before, ya know,” she said casually.

“Reckon the noise might be enough to make’em keep their heads down a mite,” Billy chuckled. “I know it would me.”

“What about you?” Rhonda asked, indicating the bag. Billy shook his head.

“Can’t. Need both hands for the wheel.” Rhonda nodded, her eyes back on the road.

They were, according to Ralph, about three road miles from the highway. Billy hoped that was right. He’d already logged a mile since leaving the Purdy farm. If they could get on the highway, they would stand a better chance, especially of the raiders attacked piecemeal. They could damage one group, and then hopefully either evade or damage the second.

Doing so, he hoped, without any damage to the vehicles, or the people inside them.

If they could just make it to the hig. . . .

“There they are!”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

There they were indeed. Four motorcycles, followed by a pickup truck with two men in the back, leaning their weapons over the truck’s roll bar.

Billy hadn’t slowed. When the lead motorcycle drew a shotgun from somewhere around his handlebars, Billy stomped the accelerator. He’d deliberately avoided shifting too high, wanting the rig wound out in case he needed speed. It was slow going on the back road anyway.

Now, the Freightliner responded. Although the trailer was pretty loaded, it was a much lighter load than the truck was accustomed to pulling. The truck had no problem gaining speed.

“Hold on!” Billy called, right before he smashed into the very surprised motorcyclist with the shotgun. Billy could see the man’s eyes go wide as he realized Billy wasn’t stopping. Then, both the bike and the rider were gone.

“We’ve made contact!” Rhonda yelled into the radio. “Four bikes and a truck. One bike down!”

The other bikers managed to swerve away from the oncoming semi, two of them choosing Rhonda’s side. She took the opportunity to spray them with the MP-5. She knew she hit at least one of the bikers, but she also trashed both bikes in the process.

“Bike on your side, Toby!” she yelled into the radio. Billy could hear Toby’s rifle, crack crack crack crack,behind them. He didn’t care if the teenager had hit anything or not, so long as Toby was okay. He didn’t hear any return fire.

The driver of the pickup had braked hard, seeing the semi coming. That in turn had thrown the two men in the back around violently, preventing them from shooting for a few seconds. Now, they were back up, and started shooting wildly in the direction of the big truck. The windshield starred, but held.

“Get down!” Billy ordered Rhonda, just as he hit the pickup.

The pickup’s driver was trying to get out of Billy’s way, backing away to Billy’s left, but Billy wasn’t having that. If he allowed them to just sit there, then the two shooters would have a clear shot at Toby, and then at the others. Aiming the nose of the big rig right at the front left wheel of the pickup, he hit the truck square in the side.

The pickup, a short bed 4x4 model that had been raised significantly, tipped dangerously onto it’s side, and Billy wrenched his wheel back to the right, careful not to over-correct. The resulting turn let the semi break free, but allowed the trailer to sideswipe the already teetering pickup, sending it over on it’s side.

“Road’s clear, truck down, maybe one cycle still up!” Rhonda advised the others. “Watch for passengers. We took fire, but I think we’re okay!”

“Left side cycle rider’s down,” Toby called.

“Good job, kid,” Billy nodded grimly.

“Got two on foot on the left!” Ralph called out. “Rifles!”

Crack crack, crack crack.

“They’re down,” George said calmly. “I think we’re clear.”

Billy was having to fight the truck a little, but the gauges all said the truck was okay. He figured they might have damaged a tire, or a support. Whatever it was, he wasn’t going to stop as long as the truck would run. It didn’t matter if it ever ran again, so long as they made it home.

“Highway coming up!” Amy told him. “Just over that rise.”

“How wide is the turn?” Billy asked.

“Remember there’s a passing lane?” Amy said. “Heading up a hill?” Billy nodded.

“You’re going to hit the road right where the passing lane starts. You’ll be going up hill as soon as you hit the highway.” Billy grimaced at that, but there was nothing he could do about it now.

“What’s wrong?” Rhonda asked.

“Truck took some damage,” he told her. “I can hold it, but goin’ up hill might be slow. Slow is bad.”

“Slow is bad,” Rhonda agreed. She picked up the radio.

“We’re almost to the highway. The truck’s damaged, but still going. We aren’t stopping, but it’ll be slow going, trying to get up that hill. T. . .second truck, you may want to drop back a little, and give us room.”

“Got it,” Toby replied at once. He sounded as sure of himself as he ever had. Rhonda looked over at Billy.

“You can do this,” she said simply. He snorted.

“You can,” she insisted. “If I didn’t think that, I wouldn’t be in here.” Billy nodded, never taking his eyes from the road. They topped the rise, and Billy could see the highway, about one hundred fifty yards away. He was grateful to have a little time to study the road.

He noted that the road he was on didn’t have much rise on it, for which he was thankful. The highway had only the barest hint of an incline at the intersection, which should make the turn easier. He hoped. He down shifted, and started angling the wheel for the right hand side of the road, wanting as much turning clearance as he could get. As he steered back left, straightening the truck, there was a loud crash from underneath, and the truck jolted like it had hit a speed bump. Billy had to fight the wheel for a second, but then, suddenly, the truck was handling much better.

“Bi. . .uh, Big Rig,” Toby’s voice came over the radio, “truck handling any better?” When Rhonda looked at him, Billy nodded. She keyed the radio.

“Yeah, why?” she replied.

“Well, you just kicked out a used Harley,” Toby told them. “And, uh, a used Harley rider, too,” he added. Billy shook his head.

“Thanks,” was all Rhonda could think to say.

Billy hit the turn still going about twenty miles an hour. In his own truck, he would have been going much faster. But Billy was scared. He didn’t want to stop the rig, since it would take forever to get it going again, especially uphill.

At the same time, he was afraid to go very fast, because the trailer might tip over, taking the rig with it. He hoped that he was going slow enough that something like that wouldn’t happen.

It didn’t.

The Freightliner made the turn well, all things considered. As soon as Billy straightened out, he downshifted, and hit the accelerator. The truck surged forward, slowly but steadily gaining speed.

“We’re clear!” Rhonda announced over the radio.

“Everyone’s on the road, behind you. Let’s hit it,” George replied a few seconds later.

“Anyone damaged besides us?” Rhonda asked. “Anyone hurt?”

Everyone checked in okay. Apparently no one had been shot at other than the semi.

“Everyone okay back there?” Billy asked over his shoulder.

“I think we’re fine,” Amy told him, having already checked everyone over out of habit. “Just a little rattled.”

“Yeah, that happens to us a lot,” Rhonda sighed.

Nervous laughter filled the cab as Billy pointed the rig toward home.

*****

The mini convoy stopped after ten miles with no pursuit. The passengers in the semi rejoined their own vehicles, and Jerry came back to the Ford, with Toby standing there.

“I’m real proud o’ you, son,” Jerry said quietly. Toby smiled, his face showing the pleasure the words brought him.

“I am too,” Billy nodded. “Good work. Like I said, you’ll do to ride with.”

“Thanks, Billy,” Toby grinned.

“Okay, if ever-body's where they want to be, we need to be movin’,” Billy ordered. “We still got a way’s to paddle, and it’s near on dark.”

“What time is it, Billy?” Toby challenged, looking at his watch. Billy looked at the sky, frowning.

“Say, five. . .fifteen, or so, I’m guessin’,” he told the teen. Toby shook his head, and showed Rhonda and Jerry the watch.

“Five twenty-two on the nose,” Jerry shook his own head. Billy just shrugged.

“What’s that all about?” Ralph asked, as Billy headed for the semi.

“No one can figure out how Billy always knows what time it is,” Rhonda grinned. “And ‘fore you ask, no, I don’t know either,” she teased Toby. “You’ll just have to weasel it out of him on your own.” Toby laughed as he went to the Ford.

“Better go, little bit,” Jerry nodded to where Billy was looking back. “Think he’s ready to go.”

“This has been a rough day for him,” Rhonda nodded. “Driving that truck has made him nervous all day.”

“And gettin’ shot at didn’t?” Jerry asked.

“Oddly, no,” Rhonda frowned. “He was actually much calmer when they were shooting at us. Hmm.”

“Well, he won’t be calm long, we keep him waitin’,” Jerry chuckled. “And I’m as ready to get home as he is, to be honest.”

“Me too,” Rhonda sighed. “I ain’t doin’ nothin’ tomorrow I ain’t gotta,” she said over her shoulder, heading for the semi.

“You and me both, little’un,” Jerry laughed. “You and me both.”

*****

“It’s a lot nicer than I had hoped for,” Amy said at once, as Rhonda took her, Debbie, Amanda and Georgie into the house.

“Wow,” Debbie agreed. “I. . .I admit, I didn’t know what to expect. This is nice.”

“Yeah, it’s a great place,” Rhonda agreed. “There’s three bathrooms, and a large family room, with a separate dining room. Mister Franklin had a large family years ago. This house was in his family for a long time.”

“I know how that is,” Debbie nodded sadly. “George’s family have owned the place we lived in for almost ninety years. His granddaddy bought it right after World War One, I think.”

“Well, the beds are all made,” Rhonda informed them. “And the house was sprayed for bugs just a few days ago. Water works, but I’d let it run a few minutes before I drank it. Make sure the pipes are clear. Well’s out back. We can cover all that tomorrow, though, I guess.”

“Long as we can make some kind of supper, we’ll be fine,” Amy nodded.

“Ya’ll come over the hill in the morning, for breakfast,” Rhonda told them. “Miss Emma, that’s Jerry’s wife, and their daughter Shelly will want to meet you, I’m sure. We’ll have a good old fashioned country breakfast, but not too early. See you about nine?”

“Make it ten,” Amy chuckled. “I think I’m gonna sleep for a while, tonight, but it’ll be a while before I sleep, if you know what I mean.” Rhonda laughed.

“Yeah. It ain’t always like it was today. So far, we haven’t had any trouble here,” she immediately rapped her knuckles on the wooden door frame. “It’s always been when we were out, somewhere.”

“I hope we haven’t brought trouble to you from today,” Debbie said quietly.

“We weren’t being followed,” Rhonda shrugged. “If they didn’t follow us here, they’ll have to hunt for us. Someone may find us, eventually. But, tomorrow you’ll get a better idea of how isolated we really are, here.”

“Thank you, Rhonda,” said Amy, and Debbie joined her.

“For everything.”

“Hey, no problem,” Rhonda assured them. “Good night.”

The men were all gathered around the front, talking quietly when Rhonda came outside.

“I think they’ve about got your night planned out,” she told Ralph and George primly. “And we’ll see you all over at the house at ten, tomorrow morning for breakfast. I thought I’d give you a big feed, since you ain’t set up yet. After that, you’re on your own, though,” she laughed.

“I’ll tell Emma, soon’s we get home,” Jerry nodded.

“Good,” Rhonda smiled. “I told them I was sure Miss Emma and Shelly would both want to meet them all.”

“Well, I figure I’m headin’ home, right about now,” Billy told the crowd. “I’m give plumb out.”

“Wait a minute, Billy, and I’ll get your rifle,” George told him.

“Nope, you keep it,” Billy surprised the man. “You know how to use it, and I got a rifle, anyway. I ain’t no soldier, and ain’t ever been. Be like to shoot my foot off with that thing. I figure you can make good use of it.”

“I. . .I don’t know what to say,” George admitted.

“How ‘bout you take a look at our horses, after you settle in,” Billy told him, including Jerry in that wave. “Be good to have your opinion. Might need some work done, too.”

“Sure!” George agreed happily. “Be glad to!”

“Then I reckon we’ll see you folks in the mornin’,” Billy shook hands all around. Jerry and the others did the same, then all four piled into the Ford. Billy dropped the Silvers’ off at their house, then he and Rhonda went home.

The dogs were elated to see them, and they spent a few minutes playing with them. But soon the two were eating a small meal, and contemplating a warm shower and sleep.

“Long day,” Rhonda said, as they cleared their supper mess.

“Sure was,” Billy sighed. “I don’t recall bein’ this tired in along time.”

“Tomorrow will be a down day,” she declared. “We’ll do only what has to be done. Take it easy the rest o’ the day.” Billy almost objected, but then seemed to have second thoughts.

“You know, that sounds pretty good.”

“Thought so,” Rhonda smiled coyly. “Now, how ‘bout a shower, big boy?”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

By the time the ‘new folks’ had found their way to Billy’s, Rhonda, Emma and Shelly had a huge breakfast ready for them all. Billy’s table wasn’t really big enough for them all, so the crowd divided, as if on cue. Women to one table, men to another spot, with Georgie and Amanda sitting in the living room, watching a DVD.