Jacqueline Druga - No Man's Land

Hannah opened her Barbie pack and handed me an apple before she backed up.

The horse was beautiful, but I could tell he needed help. He wasn’t going to just stand right up and trot off anywhere. Not yet.

The situation about Jason the transport man was unfortunate… for him. We had lucked out. That horse and cart would get us to Sanctuary Sixteen and get us there faster. I honestly didn’t know how much more Edward could take. He needed to get to sanctuary. He needed medical attention. Finding the horse and cart was a blessing. I was fearful because nothing easy ever is free and something told me, somewhere, somehow, I would have a price to pay.

Once again, my life had become a living example of Oregon Trail . My wagon was the cart and the oxen was the one single horse that Hannah named Mary.

Even though Mary wasn’t the best gender name for him.

He was a good horse, strong and he devoured the apples. I could tell he had been drinking water that had puddled on the side of the road. It took a good two hours before he was strong enough to stand. That alone was evidence enough why he needed to take it easy. I would walk him, putting only Hannah and the baby in the cart for the first day. I’d pull the wagon because I didn’t want to put strain on him. I contemplated going back to Mavis’ house and let the horse heal. I felt Edward couldn’t afford the delay without medical attention so we kept going.

First thing, as promised, after I got Mary on his feet, I had to tend to Jason. He was still in the cart. His body bloated. Moving him wasn’t fun, his skin separated easily and a sticky fluid leaked out. Thankfully, he had a sleeping bag in the cart. I used that to touch him. Every time I bumped him or moved him gasses escaped with a noise adding to the already foul smell, along with bringing out the true child in Hannah. With every noise, she giggled, groaned, or made comments.

Somewhere in the process we lost Leah. She wandered off while we tended to Mary and never returned.

“She’ll be back,” Hannah said. “I bet she went to look for food.”

“Well, she had us, usually that’s her point of attack first. Remember we’re her McDonald’s menu?”

“Nah, I think she likes us. She’s trained now.”

“Hannah, honey, it doesn’t work that way,” I explained.

“You believe that. When she comes back, you’ll see. She’ll be all fresh and fed. Maybe she learned to chase mice like George.”

“Maybe.”

Hannah was right. In my gut, I didn’t feel Leah was gone for good either.

So much time had passed in getting the horse and taking care of Jason, we only made it another two miles before making camp for the night.

We found a little league field. Hannah and Edward slept in the dugout. She sprawled across a bench and Edward slept in the basket Mavis had given us.

I was well rested and I stayed up pretty much the whole night, keeping an eye out on things.

I did doze off for a short while, back against the dugout wall. I was confident that I would wake up at the simplest noise. Of course, I was wrong.

“Are you going to Sixteen?” a female voice asked.

I jolted awake.

The sun was behind the tall thin figure of a woman, making her a shadow.

“Is that your horse over there?” she asked.

She stepped closer and I saw her. A woman, maybe a little younger than me. Long dark hair, wearing a dirty tee shirt and jeans. Her face was smeared with dirt.

“If you’re going to Sixteen, can I travel with you?”

Before I could answer, Hannah did.

“No.”

I looked over my shoulder, Hannah stood there with a scowl on her face.

“Hannah?” I questioned.

“No!” She vigorously shook her head. “We don’t know her. I don’t want her to come. I don’t trust strangers.”

The woman held up both her hands. “I understand. My name is Diana. I just don’t want to travel the rest of the way alone. I’ve had problems by myself. I’m sure you guys know the Vee aren’t the only bad things.”

“We do,” I said.

“Judging by your face, I believe you do,” Diana said, obviously referencing my healing bruises. “Is that… is that a baby?”

“It’s none of your business what I have!” Hannah raced over and covered Edward.

“It’s okay.” Diana leaned to her right, then took a step. “Hannah? Is that your name? I’ll stay away from you. Okay? I know you’re scared. I know kids. I have… I have two sons. One is about your age.”

“Well, go to them then,” Hannah snapped.

Diana lowered her head.

I closed my eyes for a second. “Wow. I’ve never seen her like this.”

“It’s alright. I have some food. I’d be happy to share if…”

“No, we have plenty,” I said.

“Calvin!” Hannah shouted with almost a whine. “Don’t be telling her what we got.”

Diana chuckled. “Smart kid. Can I travel with you?”

“Sure.”

‘No!” Hannah yelled. “No.”

“Hold on,” I told Diana then walked into the dugout. I lowered my voice. “Hannah, what’s going on?”

“Nothin’. I don’t want her coming. I don’t trust her.”

“Do you know her?” I asked. “You can tell me.”

“No, I don’t know her. I’d tell you if I did. We don’t know her.”

“We didn’t know Mavis either. You were nice to her.”

“Well, that’s because she looked like my grandma. She doesn’t.” Hannah pointed at Diana. “Just because she’s a woman don’t mean she’s not dangerous. I mean, where’d she come from, Calvin? We ain’t in plain view. Like she was wandering around looking for a ball field and said, ‘Oh I’ll stop there. Look people.’ No. Don’t trust her. She’ll take our stuff. She’ll try to kill Edward.”

“She will not.”

“The moment he makes a noise and attracts them things she will. Everyone wants to.”

“Hannah, please. We’ll watch her. Okay. I’ll be diligent. If she is harmless, then we should let her join us. You and I both know there are some dangerous people out there.”

“Fine.” Hannah huffed, then whispered, “You remember the moment she does anything bad, she’s gonna be a number one value meal.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

Hannah raised her eyebrows. “You said we were a McDonald’s menu. Remember?”

“My God, did you just suggest that?”

Hannah ignored me and went over to Edward. “I’m gonna get Edward ready. You get the horse and stuff.”

I went back to Diana and put the backpack in the wagon. I explained we’d let Hannah adjust. Diana was fine with giving her space. I also explained that the horse still wasn’t a hundred percent, and I was walking along side.

“Maybe for the last leg, we’ll ride him in,” I said.

“I don’t mind walking,” Diana replied.

“Hey, Hannah, I’m going to take the cart and wagon and head toward the road. “We’ll eat in a few, okay?”

“Okay. Fine. I’m mixing his bottle. I’ll be right there.”

I grabbed the handle of the wagon and the horse’s rein and started walking.

“She yours?” Diana asked.

“She is now. If that makes sense?”

“She’s very protective.”

“That’s not a bad thing.”

“Thank you for letting me join you. I’ve been on foot for weeks.”

“No car?”

“Not since I ran out of gas outside of Cleveland,” Diana said. “I promise to pull my weight. I am pretty…” she paused.

“What?”

“I’m pretty good with a gun. Stay back. I’ll take care of this one.” She pulled a revolver from the back of her pants, stepped ahead of me and lifted her arm.

It took a second to register what she was doing. Then it did. I let go of the rein and wagon and took a few steps forward.