Surviving Day by Day (Book 3): Still They Come (26 page)

Colt looked at Alden with fear in his eyes. Alden placed his hand on his shoulder, “It’ll be okay.”

As Colt walked in, Stray Eagle stood up and walked up to him. The two men stood looking at each other for a minute, when Stray Eagle spoke. “I owe you a debt of life.”

Colts face went from frightened to confused as Stray Eagle continued, “Niz fought to protect this group as if it were her own, and in turn you treated her as one of your own.” He reached out and took Colts hand. “Then as one of your own, you made sure her death was honorable. You saved her spirit and set it free.”

Stray Eagles grip was almost crushing Colts as he finished. Colt looked into his eyes and saw the tears, “I only wish I could have done more.”

Stray Eagle let go and lowered his head, “Those words have been spoken too often.” Turning, Stray Eagle walked back into Alden’s room. Alden turned and motioned for the rest of the group. “Charlie, we need to prepare a wagon for Stray Eagle, he’ll be leaving soon.”

Charlie turned and headed back through the kitchen, followed by Ceara. No words were spoken as they brought out fresh horses and got the wagon hooked up.

As Charlie and Ceara led the horses out, Tabitha held the back door open. Stray Eagle walked out carrying Niz’s body followed by the others. He placed Niz in the back of the wagon; then climbed up in the seat. Alden walked up to him, “You want me to ride with you?”

Stray Eagle looked down at him then to Beth’s bandaged hand, “No old friend. Your people need you here.”

The group stood and watched as the wagon moved off to the south. The wind had come up and the dust created an eerie image, as the wagon passed from view.

Tabitha stood with everyone, watching as Stray Eagle headed out on his journey back to their home. There they could begin the ceremony for Niz. The breeze was blowing through the trees and the air felt dry. For a moment or two, Tabitha took in nature and at that very instant had become one with it. If only there could be a cure to end this whole mess, but that just did not seem like it was going to be popping up anytime soon.

Tabitha looked over to see that Alden had taken another long drink from his coffee cup, his other arm was around Beth, as she rested her head on his shoulder. Tabitha ran her hand over her face while turning around to make her way back into the kitchen. Ceara noticed, deciding to follow, to see if she could help out with anything.

“What are you doing and do you need any help with it?” asked Ceara.

Tabitha was rummaging through pots and pans, barely looking back to answer her, “Red, honestly, I have no idea what is going to happen now. It is a moment by moment, or a minute by minute kind of thing here and all I was thinking is that no matter what, everyone must be hungry, right? So I decided to just start looking for something to fix up for everyone.”

Ceara grabbed the plates that Beth had given to her so long ago, and she began setting the places. One by one, she sat the plates down and with each one; a tear fell from the corner of her right eye. This could possibly be Beth’s last supper with everyone. Ceara did not want that thought in her head, so to get it out of there, she quickly spoke up, “How about we do something fun and just have a game night food menu?”

Tabitha snorted, stood up, and placed her hand on her hip then with a sarcastic tone, Tabitha spoke, “Well hot wings, nachos and little smokies are out of the question….. Unless Red, you can pull something out of your ass.”

Ceara wiped a tear from her eye, and continued looking at the blue china. “I just meant something like a potluck or something that everyone would enjoy….. say something that would bring up some of the fun memories, and journeys that we all have had when we all met up.”

Tabitha thought the idea was good, but Ceara was trying to forget, or even turn back time. Tabitha didn’t want her doing that, the emotions everyone was having were hard, but they would have to deal with them. “Red, honey, everything is going to be ok…. it always is, and we will grow stronger from this. Let’s not focus on what could've been done different, or how could of we avoided the whole situation all together. That will drive you nuts, so please, just stop right there.”

Tabitha looked at the beautiful china and nodded in agreement with Ceara, “But you got something there with a potluck, to remember good memories and good times. You are right about good feelings, and like it or not, we all have had several. That idea, Red, is one of the best ones you have had yet! So I say let’s look around and see what we have.”

Ceara leaned her head on Tabitha’s shoulder and whispered, “This is going to be so damn hard….”

Tabitha quickly interrupted, “So let’s make it not so hard where we can, ok?”

Ceara nodded her head in agreement, and quickly wrapped her arms around Tabitha, trying to transfer all her feelings in that hug.

After what seemed like minutes, both ladies got started in the kitchen by rummaging through all of the cabinets, nooks, and crannies that they could find, to throw a happy and fun meal together.

Beth walked slowly into the kitchen; she was holding her hand as if she was favoring it a little bit. The pulsing of the pressure around the wound was beginning to bother her, and a headache was beginning to come on. Tabitha turned around and quickly assessed Beth’s appearance. “Beth…” Tabitha asked, “Come sit down over here, what can I get you?”

Beth put her hand on her head and spoke softly, “My head is beginning to pound, and the wound is throbbing so badly, if you could go get me some pain reliever, that would be great.”

Tabitha had no idea where to begin, so she just started asking questions; “Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or something a little stronger, to help you faster?”

Beth sat straight up and with a smile on her face she continued, “A glass of my sweet tea, along with some Ibuprofen, would be a great way to start. I would like something a little stronger that I have it in my room. Please go, when you get time, and get me a syringe, along with the bottle of Morphine.”

Ceara made the tea quickly; then went over to the cabinet to retrieve the Ibuprofen. She handed the Ibuprofen first for Beth to pop in her mouth, then handed her the tea to wash them down.

Tabitha smiled, “Well, Red is on the ball, so let me go get your medication…. anything else?”

Beth looked over her shoulder, “My black journal on top of the desk in our room and a pen too.” Within moments, Tabitha was off getting everything that Beth had requested. Before another minute had passed, Tabitha was laying everything in front of Beth.

Beth felt a little rough, but nothing out of the ordinary, yet. Her symptoms had started with her balance, now was developing a pounding in her head, along with pressure around the wound. Calmly, Beth began to prepare the needle for a small injection of morphine. Ceara and Tabitha were sitting at the table watching her very closely.

Ceara spoke softly, “What are you doing this for Beth?”

Beth replied as she swabbed her arm with an alcohol pad and then gave herself an injection of 10cc’s of morphine. “I need to keep my head straight, so that I can write down any and all symptoms that happen to me. I want a diary from this side of things. I understand we all have seen what happens, but how many truly know it, as it happens within the person.”

Beth looked from Ceara to Tabitha, hoping they understood what she meant, “If and when you find someone that have some knowledge of medicine, they can use this to help them with whatever they already may know.” Beth turned around and looked at Tabitha, “Was there a bottle marked Penicillin in there?”

Tabitha shook her head, “I don’t know girl, but let me go look.”

After a few minutes of searching, Tabitha found the bottle of Penicillin and quickly shouted out in a very loud and happy voice, “FOUND IT!”

Within seconds, Tabitha brought the bottle in and handed it to Beth. Beth got another syringe and filled it half way up and then asked Tabitha to inject it into her hip.

“Hell, woman, I have never done anything like that before.” said Tabitha nervously.

Beth stood up and edged down her pants just enough so that the top portion of her right hip could be seen. She then handed Tabitha an alcohol swab and told her to clean the area before giving her the injection. Before it was started, it was over and Beth was pulling up her jeans once more. She then sat down and began writing into her journal.

ENTRY 2

Burning and pulsating pressure around the bite site; accompanied with pulsating and throbbing headache. It has been less then twelve hours and chose to administer one shot of 10 cc’s of morphine, accompanied by two tablets of Ibuprofen, and a large dose of Penicillin. My hope is if there is a way of slowing the infection down, this may be one way. I am well aware that in just a few days, I will not be around to see how this goes; only time will tell.

Later that afternoon, once Beth had gone to lay down, Ceara watched as Colt paced around the house, she laid a hand on Charlie’s leg and motioned toward Colt. Charlie looked over and back to Ceara as if saying, “What do you expect?” Ceara shrugged, then got up and joined Colt. He stopped his pacing and looked down into her eyes, “What?”

Ceara got tears in her eyes and Colt started pacing again, “Don’t start that shit!”

Charlie jumped up, “Hey, there isn’t a reason to be mean; she was just wanting to help you.”

Colt looked from Charlie to Ceara, “I’m sorry, just have so many thoughts, and I just don’t want to voice any of them. Not now, okay?”

Ceara nodded, “Of course it’s okay, but we are here, if you need to talk. You know that, don’t you?”

Charlie joined Ceara, “Honey, Colt knows that.”

He looked to Colt, “If you want to blow off steam, I think we could figure out a way to get that old punching bag hung out in the barn?”

Colt shook his head, “We have more important things to think about than punching a bag. Not to mention that I am not leaving this house again.”

Ceara looked confused, “Why aren’t you leaving the house?”

Colt looked out the window, “If I hadn’t left earlier, Beth wouldn’t have been bit. If I hadn’t gone to the store, Jessica wouldn’t have been bit.”

“Colt, you can’t really believe that! You are not to blame for either of them getting bit!”

Colt shook his head, “Really, you think that? Then you explain why it is that the women I am with always seem to end up….”

He couldn’t bring himself to finish the statement, “I’m just not leaving again and nothing and no one is going to make me.”

Charlie eased his hand into Ceara’s, “The man has made his choice, leave him be.”

Ceara and Charlie joined Alden on the back patio, Ceara looked him right in the eyes, “You have to fix this.”

“Little girl, I can fix a lot of things, but this isn’t one of them.” Alden sipped his coffee watching the horizon.

Charlie looked the same direction; “What’cha looking for boss;

Company?”

Ceara looked to Charlie; then to the horizon, and back to Alden, “What are you seeing?”

“Not seeing, feeling…”

Ceara sighed, “Okay, fine… what are you feeling?”

“Feeling things are about to be more fucked up than we are ready to deal with. Feeling Colt is as useless as a grave robber at a
crematorium. Feeling we should have moved on a long time ago. Feeling that we may have unwanted company in the few days and we ain’t ready for it.”

Alden set his coffee cup down and leaned forward, “You are so focused on what is going on in the house, that you all have forgotten that Beth may not be the only one in danger. If I was alone, I would have packed up three days ago and been long gone from here. I am letting you kids make me soft.”

Charlie pulled up a chair, “Alden, we ain’t done anything to cause that. We have always done what you told us. So I am not trying to be mean, or piss you off, but if you are going soft, it is because you care about us. That isn’t our fault.” Ceara nodded her head in agreement.

“Yeah, I know kid… that isn’t what I was saying. What I am saying is, I started caring more about comfort than surviving. I am to blame for Beth, not Colt.”

Colt stepped out the back door, “Well, if the grave robber can add his two cents… We are here now, so the ‘what ifs’ are over. We can’t pack up and move before the wanderers attack, so we may as well get ready for it. When I said I won’t leave the house, I meant it, but I will fortify the house more and take out as many of those things as I can.”

Tabitha joined them, “Bitching, talking, or kumbaya singing isn’t doing shit. How about we make a plan? Today proved they are closer than we thought, or there are more groups around. Either we stand or we leave, but we still need a plan.”

Alden sat back again, “I need to think on this, with the attack today, things have changed. Who has first watch?”

Colt held up his hand, “Beth and I did, but I can do it alone.”

“I am capable of doing my duties, thank you.”

Everyone jumped except Alden, when Beth joined them on the patio. “I came out to tell everyone that dinner is done.” She smiled to Tabitha and Ceara, “Even though some of us forgot they were making a special dinner.”

Tabitha and Ceara jumped up, “Sorry, forgot all about that, come on, Ceara.”

Alden stood up, “Well, no one has to tell me twice… let’s eat.” When Charlie got up, Alden motioned for him to wait, “You stand watch while we eat, as soon I’m done, I’ll relieve you.”

Charlie nodded, “Okay, keep a plate hot for me.”

Alden smiled, “I’ll see what I can do.”

An hour later, the dinner was done, and kitchen was cleaned. Beth came in the living room with a glass of tea for herself and a cup of coffee for Alden. “I will have watch with Colt, so you guys need to get some sleep. To be honest, I really don’t think I want to spend much of my remaining time sleeping.”

Alden took the cup and gave a sad smile, “I know honey, you doing ok?”

“I have a few pains, but I’m keeping my thoughts written down so they don’t get mixed up. I will have a talk with Colt tonight, he needs to stop the self-pity and blame game he is playing.”

Alden stood up, to head to his room, “Beth, his feelings are his, and he has to live with them. You can’t decide how he deals with them.”

Tabitha tossed the dish towel on the counter, “I have second watch with Alden, so I am headed to bed, kiddies, Night, all.”

Charlie and Ceara laughed and said their goodnights to the others as well. Beth held out her good hand to Colt, “Care to have a game of rummy?”

Colt, without hesitation, took her hand and squeezed it tightly. “Honey, I have to make this house safer; and playing cards isn’t helping.” His nerves were completely shot, and his stomach was in so much turmoil that he could taste dinner coming back up.

Beth continued to look at him with all the love and sincerity that she had within her; then spoke, “Colt, please… everybody is trying to settle down and get ready for bed. There is absolutely no way that you’re going to make this place any safer without keeping us awake. Isn’t that why we were just discussing who takes watch? Something else, Colt, just what exactly do you think that you could do right now to make this place any safer than it already is? Please, just give me a little time. I think we both need it, don’t you?”