Nathan Jones - First Winter

The three glanced at Matt, who hesitated, shrugged, then nodded. They’d already sent people to Grimes and he’d treated them okay. “That’s fine with me,” Lucas said. “I welcome the chance to finally tell our side of the story.”

“I suppose Rick can take over on the radio for a day or two,” Chauncey said. He leaned down and rapped on his wooden prosthetic. “As long as I won’t have to do much walking.”

Attention settled on Deb, and she wilted slightly in fear. “I’d prefer to talk about the attack here, if you don’t mind. I don’t want to go anywhere.”

Grimes gave her a curious look. “I’ll make sure your situation is comfortable and provide for your needs while you’re assisting me. You’ll be treated well.”

Deb gave Matt a beseeching look. He stepped closer to the colonel, lowering his voice. “Ms. Rutledge has suffered some traumatic events recently. She was a blockhead prisoner.”

“Ah. I understand,” Grimes said. He genuinely seemed to: likely he’d heard more than his share of reports about the atrocities committed by the enemy. “Although I hope she knows there’s a world of difference between Gold Bloc soldiers and the servicemen and women of the United States Armed Forces.”

Matt agreed completely and was sure Deb would be safe if she went. Still, he hesitated to bring up that their recent encounters with the military had been less than favorable. “Maybe she can tell her story while we go see about the prisoners.”

“That’s fine.” Grimes turned to face him fully. “You’ll let us take them off your hands, won’t you?”

“As long as they receive justice for their crimes and are prevented from harming other innocents,” Matt agreed. Personally he was happy not to have to worry about them, especially if it meant not having to order the execution of those whose crimes demanded it. He’d been dreading that eventuality.

“You have my word on it.” Grimes politely offered an arm to Deb. “Please relate what happened to your patrol in as detailed and accurate a manner as possible, Ms. Rutledge. Your testimony, as well as that of those who confronted the accused in their camp, and Mayor Larson himself when he was shot, will be important in seeing they receive the proper punishment for their crimes.”

Deb was obviously reluctant to make physical contact with a stranger, considering she was skittish even around Trev, but she hesitantly took his arm as Matt led the way through town to where the prisoners were being held. Behind them the rest of the town’s delegation and the military convoy followed.

Aspen Hill waited with something between anticipation and dread for Grimes to come back with news, or at least send word through Lucas and Chauncey.

In spite of the ever-present threat of winter looming over them not much work was accomplished that day. Those who’d taken part in the morning attack were resting, especially those who’d been with Gutierrez watching the camp all night. There was also the sense of mourning for members of the patrol who’d died yesterday.

And, it had to be said, there was the tenseness of having four soldiers guarding the clinic in rotating shifts. They were there to keep watch on the prisoners who were too wounded to move, at least until a properly equipped medical vehicle could come pick them up. But although the soldiers were courteous when addressed and expressionless otherwise, Matt got the sense they were also there to keep any Aspen Hill citizens from getting ideas about exacting their own vengeance.

A reasonable precaution, if unnecessary.

Derek manning the radio reported that while Grimes and his staff weren’t relaying any news, the colonel was still having his people touch base with the town every few hours. Almost as if trying to make up for his previous blatant silence in the face of their pleas for help. A bit of news did trickle through, though, mostly from secondary sources.

The biggest news was that a serious upset was happening in Rogers’s camp. Apparently Grimes had been “displeased” with the conditions there and had called for resources to be relocated from another camp to aid in the immediate needs of the refugees until things could be sorted out. Matt wasn’t sure if that meant Rogers had been tossed out, hopefully with a swift kick to see him out the door, but it seemed like a good sign.

In spite of everything there were a few attempts by displaced refugees in the area to sneak into town. Either they hadn’t heard about the camp to the north being wiped out, and the military finally being active in the area to put down the chaos, or they were making one last desperate attempt to do something, anything. Probably as a prelude to fleeing the area. Either way Trev’s defenders rounded them up and tossed them in the makeshift prison cabin for Grimes to deal with when he returned.

At the very least, when they reported the attempted intrusions over the radio the military responded promptly on the issue, with assurances they’d handle it and instructions to hold the prisoners unharmed until then. It looked as if someone had finally gotten the message, probably after having it screamed in his ear by an irate NCO taking his own flak from up the chain of command.

Night fell with no further word, and everyone went to sleep in tense anticipation. The next day brought the sudden arrival of cold weather, accompanied by a stiff wind and high scudding clouds overhead. The chill held on until nearly noon, when it finally relented enough for people to swap from coats to light jackets, or even long-sleeved shirts.

That was also when they got news that Grimes was headed their way, to bring Chauncey and Lucas back home and to fill the town in on what had happened since his earlier visit.

Matt was more relaxed in his response this time around. He didn’t require everyone to stay indoors, although he did ask them to not crowd if they could avoid it. And while he had Trev get the defenders in place, just as a precaution, he didn’t expect there was any threat.

This time the colonel came with a much smaller convoy, just three trucks. Again the man hopped down from his vehicle without any sort of protective escort, although he was accompanied by Lucas and Chauncey.

The three made their way to the gathered crowd to explain the situation. Grimes didn’t seem to mind letting everyone know what was going on. In fact, he was happy to raise his voice for those farther back as he gave them the news.

First off, as they’d suspected Rogers was no longer in charge of the refugee camp. He’d been relieved of duty and faced a dishonorable discharge. The major’s replacement was doing his best to fix the situation there.

Second off, Grimes had patrols scouring as much of the area as possible to find the displaced refugees and bring them back to camp, where they’d be watched for the time being. For those accused of committing crimes, if witnesses came forward and could eyeball the perpetrator the colonel’s staff would do their best to ensure justice was done.

Grimes couldn’t force the refugees to come back with him, aside from those suspected of committing crimes. But today’s sudden turn to cold weather actually helped there. Few of the men out on the mountainsides were equipped to handle even these temperatures at night, which meant they wouldn’t have much choice besides returning to a refugee camp and hoping for a better situation this time around.

Matt had been hoping for a bit sterner punishments, but he supposed he’d have to take what he could get. People like Rogers had a way of ducking consequences, and as for the bandits who’d killed their victims, and so wouldn’t have to worry about witnesses, there wasn’t much anyone could do to even pinpoint who they were, let alone accuse them.