L Akers - Shoot Like a Girl

Under all the clothes were two pairs of sneakers, a pair of flip-flops, and several vacuum-packed bags of feminine products, to include tampons, lotion, and a multi-pack of Burt’s Bees Rejuvenating chap stick—acai berry—her guilty pleasure.

She’d also packed Jake a tote, buying surplus army pants and shirts, as well as regular clothes and undergarments. It had sweat suits and winter gear, including two sets of expensive Under Armor compression shirts and pants for extra warmth in extreme cold. The only thing Jake wouldn’t have would be extra shoes and boots, so she’d reminded him earlier to look through their closet and grab some from the messy pile he kept there.

Jake hugged her tight. “I won’t forget anything,” he promised.

He climbed in, checked that everyone was ready, and turned the key, holding his breath. Gabby stood at his open window, her fingers crossed.

Ruby started right up, her engine spinning like a top.

A grin spread over both Jake and Gabby’s face.

Tina and Tarra jumped into the back of the truck, each with a pistol holstered to their side and a long gun in their hand. They laid the guns down near the cab and claimed their spots on two of the four hay bales that Grayson had thrown back there for seats. They might be itchy, but they’d be a lot more comfortable than just sitting on the narrow metal sides of the truck bed.

The two women were excited to just get away from the farm and be going somewhere , and checking out the condition of the roads and the world. For now, just the chance to ride down a road and see what the world looked like felt like leaving on a vacation. They both still hoped to come up with a plan to make the long trip home to their own husbands soon.

Grayson opened the passenger door, and weaseled his way into the truck, with Olivia nearly attached to him, still begging his forgiveness for giving away their food. “It’s fine, honey,” he lied. “Don’t worry about it.”

“I hope Doc can help your tooth.” She gave him one last guilty look, tears sparkling in her eyes, and gently kissed him goodbye. She quickly walked away, as Grayson flinched at the pain that even that light touch brought on.

She’d kissed his swollen cheek… again.

Grayson gave his sister-in-law a thumbs up. “Gabby, take care of your sister and Graysie while we’re gone. You and Graysie keep your guns on you, and try to make Puck stay in bed.”

Gabby returned his thumbs up, accepting her responsibility.

The truck rolled down the driveway and Grayson looked out his side-view mirror at his wife walking through the screen door.

It slammed loudly behind Olivia.

Stubborn woman.

He was still a bit angry, but nevertheless worried about leaving her here with only Gabby, Graysie and Puck. She’d refused to carry a gun on her side, claiming it wasn’t safe since it made her so uncomfortable. She was worried she’d shoot herself in the leg… or worse.

He wished either Tina or Tarra would stay behind, but Jake felt they needed them worse than the girls did. Other than the hoodrats that had chased Puck up the tree, and the meth-head in the neighbor’s barn that came after Graysie and then disappeared into thin air, they hadn’t seen hide nor hair of another human in these parts since the power had gone out.

They were far enough in the country that it would probably be weeks, if not longer, before the golden horde—crowds of unprepared people—came looking this far out for food and water.

At least they had Ozzie, he thought, as he focused on the road at the end of the driveway. Jake pulled to a stop, and out of habit, looked both ways before pulling out toward Tullymore.

A blur of black and white tore down the drive behind them and caught Grayson’s eye in the side-view mirror just before they turned out onto the road. Grayson threw out his arm, hitting Jake on the chest. “Stop!”

Graysie had come outside and accidentally let Ozzie out. They’d been trying to sneak off without him knowing. “Sorry, Daddy!” she yelled from the porch.

Jake skid to a sudden stop, nearly toppling Tina and Tarra in the back, and a moment later, Ozzie flew through the air, leaping over the tailgate in two bounds, and landed in the back with the women. His tongue lolled out the side of his mouth giving him a slightly goofy look, and he whined excitedly.

The dog eagerly stepped up to the back glass and stood on his hind legs staring in, giving his master a happy look through the glass. His wet nose left a long smear on the window.

Grayson sighed. It was going to break Ozzie’s heart to be left behind.

He stepped out of the truck, and called Ozzie down. He rubbed the silly dog’s head. “Sorry, boy,” he mumbled before standing up and pointing at the house. “You stay,” he firmly commanded. “Take care of your mama.”

Grayson visibly flinched as Ozzie tucked his head down and sadly turned away, looking as though he was walking the Green Mile back toward the farmhouse, as a chorus of “ Awww’s ” came at Grayson from the back of the truck.

Tina and Tarra both already loved the dog and couldn’t stand to see him sad.

Gabby and Graysie stood with their hands over their eyes, squinting down the long drive at the scene. “Come on, Ozzie, come here, boy!” they yelled.

Ozzie stopped his trek and looked back over his shoulder at Grayson, hoping he’d change his mind. His big brown eyes stared sadly at his master. “Go on.” Grayson pointed again. “Go home.”

To Gabby he yelled, “Give him a whole strip of my beef jerky, Gabby.”

“Want a treat, Ozzie? Come on! I’ll give you a big treat!” she yelled.

Ozzie’s spirit lifted and he punched the throttle, running toward Gabby and Graysie in excitement.

“Go, go, go,” Grayson said, jumping back into the truck, “Before he looks back again. Hang on, ladies!”

Jake punched it, knowing Grayson couldn’t bear to tell Ozzie no again. If the dog looked back one more time, Grayson would give in to his soulful eyes.

And that could be a mistake.

Elmer reached for the shotty, placing it between his legs, as he slowed the tractor down. So close to home, and now this. Irritably, he harrumphed.

A bale of hay slid off the top of the stack, disappearing into the wagon, and Emma’s head popped up. “What’s wrong, Elmer?” she yelled across the gap.

“Git your head down, girl!” He waved his hand backward at her.

Emma ignored him, staring out onto the road before them. “What’s going on? Where are we?”

“Looks like we may have company. I said git your head down ! And be quiet .”

Emma ducked and a second later the hay bale slid back into place.

Elmer rolled the tractor to a stop in front of a road block. In front of his path, two abandoned cars had been parked horizontally, one overlapping the other. He looked left… too many trees to get around that way. He looked right. A steep ditch filled with large rocks blocked that way; he’d never get through that with the wagon.

Not a sound could be heard, other than the tree crickets and katydids, chirping in anticipation of the coming dusk.

He waited several long moments, the tractor grumbling loudly and impatiently beneath him.

No signs of life, but something wasn’t right.

Finally, he put it in neutral, and climbed down, taking his shotty with him. He stood still beside the tractor rumbling a moment, and looked around suspiciously. Still no signs of anyone. He whispered to himself, “Gird your loins, you old fool. You can’t stand here all day.”

He stretched his stiff legs, looking over his shoulder the way they’d come. No one there either, he irritably stomped over to the two cars, hoping to find keys, and praying at least one of them had enough gas to start. He’d simply move one out of the way, and push the other, if he had to.