David Robbins - Twin Cities Run

“What about the Watchers?” Zahner asked.

Hickok patted the Colts in his holsters. “We know how to handle them varmits. Besides, how are they going to stop over a thousand people?”

“And what about the Uglies?” Bear threw in.

Hickok picked up his Henry from the bench. “The Family can provide a Warrior escort, and we’ll take care of the mutates.”

“I’m actually beginning to believe it’s possible,” Zahner said, astounded.

“I thought it was a pipe dream at first.”

“I’ll leave you boys to work out the details,” Hickok informed them. “I’ve got an errand to attend to right now.”

“Where are you going?” Joshua inquired as Hickok strolled off.

“Got something to attend to, pard.”

“He sure is actin’ strange,” Bear commented.

“It’s normal for him,” Joshua observed. He turned back to the others.

“So here is what I propose,” he told them. “First, take a vote of your respective groups and determine if they agree on the relocation.”

“We don’t need to vote,” Reverend Paul interrupted. “My brethren will do whatever I tell them to do.”

“A vote wouldn’t hurt,” Joshua tactfully offered.

“Maybe,” Paul replied, unwilling to commit himself.

Joshua shrugged, deciding if he pressed the point, forced Paul to agree to a vote, contention might result. “If everyone accepts the move, begin your preparations.”

“Like what?” Bear asked.

“Store what food you can for the journey. Make packs for carrying extra clothes and tools and books and whatever else you want to take along. When you leave the Twin Cities, it might be forever. Whatever you can reasonably take along, take, just so it won’t slow you down.”

“When do you think we could leave?” Zahner brought up the question uppermost on their minds.

“If all goes well,” Joshua answered, “and the Spirit guides us in wisdom and understanding, you could conceivably depart the Twin Cities in late spring or early summer of next year.”

“That long off?” Bear complained.

“We couldn’t possibly be ready before then,” Joshua explained. “And as I noted earlier, you couldn’t make the trip in the winter.”

“Out of the Twins,” Zahner said to himself, realizing the feelings Bertha must have felt. No wonder she had refused to return.

“Is there anything we haven’t covered?” Joshua queried them.

“How soon will you return with news of the Family’s decision?” Reverend Paul wanted to know.

“Give us a month.”

“You won’t run out on us?” Bear demanded.

“Do you believe Hickok would run out on you?” Joshua retorted.

Bear grinned. “No way. If he says he’s gonna do somethin’, then it’s as good as done.”

“I have another suggestion to make,” Joshua said slowly.

“What?” Zahner asked.

“Impose a truce between yourselves. Cease the foolish fighting. Try and work together to prepare for the march to the Home. I know what I am asking is not easy for you, but I pray you will give it a try.”

“It will be difficult,” Reverend Paul admitted. “But not impossible. If I lay down the law, my brethren will comply.”

“The Nomads are more democratic,” Zahner commented acidly. “Still, all of us are committed to achieving peace. I don’t anticipate any trouble in our camp.”

“How about you. Bear?” Joshua faced him.

“Some of the Porns might not like the idea too much,” Bear conceded.

“How will you handle them?”

“Easy.” Bear grinned. “I’ll just tell ’em that whoever don’t like the idea can take it up with Hickok.”

She was patiently waiting for him, sitting up on the cot, propped against three pillows.

Hickok pushed the tent flap aside and entered. “Hello, Black Beauty,” he said softly.

“Don’t just stand there, White Meat!” She motioned with her left arm, her right side still swathed in bandages. “Come over here!”

Hickok complied, stopping next to the cot.

“Don’t I get a hug?” Bertha baited him. “I missed you, honky!” She reached up and pulled him down to the cot, pressing him close with her good arm. He responded, but she sensed an aloof coolness about him, his embrace light and constrained. “Is somethin’ the matter?” she asked as he drew back.

“What could be the matter?” Hickok placed the Henry on the ground.

“I don’t know,” she answered uncertainly. Something was wrong, but what? Why was he acting so cold? Hadn’t he missed her the way she had missed him?

“I’m happy you’re okay,” Hickok stated quietly, smiling.

“I thought you were dead,” she informed him. “I hear that Joshua is alive too. What about Blade and Geronimo?”

Hickok looked down and sadly shook his head.

“I’m really sorry,” she soothed him. “I know how much those two meant to you.”

“They were my best pards.” His voice was choked with sorrow.

“What’s goin’ on out there?” Bertha quickly changed the subject.

“They’re making plans to evacuate the Twins.”

“Really?”

“Yep. They all want to come and live with us, just like you did.”

“Like I still do,” she corrected him. “I’m lookin’ to set up house with a crazy bastard I know.” She noticed he didn’t grin, and her blood raced.

What the hell was wrong? What had she done? Had he found someone else?

“How was it with the Porns?” she questioned him.” I hear you killed thirty of them in a gunfight.

“Not quite,” Hickok replied.

“Meet any good-lookin’ foxes?” she joked, laughing, except in her eyes.

“Nope.”

“You feelin’ okay?”

“Yep. I was bruised a bit, and I had to take a bath…”

“Had to?”

“Don’t ask. Beyond that, it wasn’t any big deal. How are you holding up?” He gently touched her bandaged side.

“They tell me I can’t get out of this cot for a couple of weeks at least,” she said bitterly. “I took an arrow in the chest. I’ll live, but I’ll be a while healing.”

“Who did it?” he demanded angrily. “The Wacks?”

“Uhhhh,” she hesitated, fearful of what he might do if she told him the truth. If Z was right, and peace was just around the corner, it wouldn’t do to have Hickok gun down Tommy and Vint. Well, Vint maybe. But she liked Tommy. “It’s all kind of hazy…” she finally answered.

“You don’t need to talk about it,” Hickok told her.

“Thanks.”

Hickok shifted, trying to find the right words to say to her. Should he tell her about Bear? What Bear had said? Or let her learn for herself, firsthand, from the horse’s mouth, so to speak?

“What are your plans?” she demurely inquired.

“Josh and I are going back to the Home.”

“Oh.” The single word conveyed her depth of despair.

“Hey! Cheer up!” He tenderly stroked her neck. “I’m coming back.”

Bertha averted his gaze. She was confused and emotionally torn by his reserved demeanor.

“I will be back,” Hickok vowed. “We’re going to the Home to see if the Family will accept the relocation scheme. After the Family votes on it, I’m coming right back. Even if they vote against the plan, I’m coming back. I have a number of things to settle here.”

Bertha was at a total loss for words.

“You have some settling to do yourself,” he advised her.

“I do?”

“You do.”

“I don’t understand.”

Hickok sighed, weariness pervading his soul.

“What do you mean?” Bertha asked him.

Hickok stared at the tent opening. “I met a friend of yours. Says the two of you are very… close.”