The Road Home Read online

“Hope everybody got out in time,” Lita said.

  “They all got warned,” Richardson said. “Look, headlights coming on the southbound side. Those look like big vehicles.”

  They passed them, the wind pushing their truck towards the right side of the lane.

  “Wow, that’s a lot of troop transport trucks,” Lita said. “They’re going fast, too.”

  “Hope they watch their speed when they go through that town section we just left.”

  “You wish we were following them, don’t you?”

  “Well, kinda, yeah,” Richardson said. “That’s overwhelming force. It’s possible we’ll be able to go back to that hotel in a little while.”

  “If there’s blood and body parts lying around, I think I’d rather pick someplace else,” Lita said. “Even if it’s enemy blood and body parts.” She looked at Richardson and they both chuckled.

  “We wouldn’t have thought this was funny a few months ago,” Richardson said. “Hope the society can go back to being peaceful after this mess.”

  Lita nodded, watching out the windshield. “Those transports are still coming. That’s a lot of troops.”

  “Check the app. Are the enemy fighters at the hotel yet?”

  Lita looked at her phone, fingers moving on the screen. “There’s a swarm of hits at the hotel, and more coming up from Highway 306. Looks like about a hundred.”

  “And we have 200 well-armed National Guard troops on the way there. Those enemy slugs will crap their pants. Wish we could watch it on the satellite feed.”

  “Your boss will be, I suspect. Hope the enemy doesn’t have anything nasty up their sleeve.”

  “Like what?” Richardson asked.

  “Oh, I don’t know. Poison gas. Willie peter.”

  Richardson’s phone rang. He handed it to Lita, and she put it on speaker.

  “You believe this, dude?” Juan Carlos asked.

  “Yeah, this is a large force,” Richardson said, “but they told us they were sending a couple hundred men.”

  “I guess that’s what two hundred men look like, then. Where’re we going?”

  “I’m getting tired,” Madison said.

  “I’ll look for possibilities,” Lita said. “Fair enough?”

  “Fair enough,” Madison said.

  “Okay, talk to you later,” Juan Carlos said. He ended the call.

  “Well, it has been a long day,” Richardson said. “I’m a little tired myself. It’s almost ten.”

  Lita looked at her phone for a few minutes as the convoy of troop transports continued past them. “How sure are you that the National Guard is gonna beat these guys?”

  “Really sure, given the numbers,” Richardson said. “If we didn’t have the apps, I wouldn’t say that. Why?”

  “There’s a place up ahead, not too far, but it’s still in the Canyon Lake area. It’s right off Highway 306.”

  “How far?”

  “Five miles,” she said. “You’d turn right on Longhorn Flats.”

  “We haven’t seen any enemy fighters to the north of us on Highway 306,” Richardson said, “and if any of them survive the battle at our hotel, they’ll flee south, more than likely. They don’t know we were there, anyway.”

  “We don’t think they knew,” Lita said.

  “How would they?”

  Lita shot him a deadpan look.

  “Okay, okay, you’re right,” Richardson said. “I’m not worried about the location, but if you are, we can go further.”

  “I’ll call them. They might not even have any vacancy.”

  “Do that,” Richardson said. Lita put the phone to her ear, having a hushed conversation for a moment. Then she gave a thumb up sign, making eye contact with Richardson, her eyebrows questioning. He nodded yes.

  Lita spoke a couple more minutes and hung up. “They have three rooms, and they’ll give a discount to DPS people.”

  “So we’re set?”

  “Yes,” Lita said. “I’ll text the others.”

  “Finally reached the end of the caravan,” Richardson said as the last of the trucks went by.

  “Maybe you can contact Wallis and ask how it went later. I’ll sleep better.”

  “Might be a little late to call him,” Richardson said.

  “You can at least text him, right?”

  “I will,” Richardson said, “and we’ve all got the apps, so if anybody shows up, we can high-tail it. Or ignore it, since they don’t know where we are.”

  “Fair enough,” Lita said. “They got the message. We’re gonna be on it soon, so keep your eyes open. This road is pretty dark now that we’re a few miles out of town.”

  “What’s the name of this place?”

  “Fisherman’s Hideaway,” she said.

  Richardson chuckled. “It’s kinda far from the water for that name.”

  “Be nice. I’ll watch the GPS so you don’t over-shoot.”

  “Thanks,” Richardson said.

  “We were lucky back there.”

  “Lucky we got away?” Richardson asked.

  “Yes, and lucky we figured it out and could report it to leadership,” Lita said. “I was all for hitting the sack before we figured out who the band was.”

  “Me too,” Richardson said. “Wonder where they ended up?”

  “Good question. We’re about half a mile from the road now, so be ready. Slow down a little.”

  Richardson nodded. He was just about to make the turn when his phone rang. “Dammit. Can’t reach it and make the turn.”

  “It’s a cell, you can see the number,” Lita said. “There goes Juan Carlos. Watch the road. That’s a sharp turn.”

  He made the right turn, then turned left into the driveway, parking next to Juan Carlos in front of the redwood-painted office building.

  “Home sweet home,” Lita said, pausing as Richardson put the phone to his ear, listening to the voice message. He smiled broadly, then slipped the phone back in his pocket.

  “The battle over already?”

  “No,” Richardson said. “Harley. He’s gonna be fine. He’ll rejoin us early next week.”

  “Thank God,” Lita said. “Let’s get out. Brendan and Hannah just parked.”

  Richardson leaned over and kissed her, then got out of the truck.

  “What are you grinning about?” Brendan asked as he walked up.

  “Harley. He’s gonna be fine.”

  “Excellent,” Brendan said.

  “That’s great, dude,” Juan Carlos said, meeting them on the walkway to the office. They went through the front door, into a combination coffee shop and motel office. An old man sat behind the counter with a slightly younger woman, both with gray hair, skin showing years of lake sun.

  “You Lita?” asked the man, sitting up straighter.

  “That’s me,” Lita said.

  “I’m Winston, and this is Nell,” he said. “Welcome to the Fisherman’s Hideaway.”

  “Glad you had vacancies,” Lita said.

  The couple glanced at each other and chuckled. Nell looked at Lita. “Honey, all we got is vacancies these days. Good thing we got low expenses.”

  “Seems like the way now,” Richardson said. “I’m Richardson—DPS. This is Brendan and Juan Carlos, and their wives Hannah and Madison.”

  “Pleased to make your acquaintance,” Nell said. “Will you be staying long?”

  “Hopefully longer than the last place,” Brendan quipped.

  “Uh oh, you weren’t at the resort, were you?”

  “Yep,” Richardson said. “Got out before the enemy showed up.”

  “You didn’t want to stick around and fight them?” Winston asked.

  “We were ordered to leave,” Richardson said.

  “Why?” Winston asked.

  “We’re the last of the DPS Patrol Boaters, and we’re needed to train new recruits,” Brendan said. Richardson shot him a glance.

  “Long story, and we can’t tell you about it right now,” Richardson said. “I’d appr
eciate it if you’d keep this to yourselves.”

  “Wait, were you guys involved in the water dust-up in San Antonio a while back?” asked Winston.

  “No comment,” Lita said.

  “Honey, get out some of that cherry pie, and some ice cream too,” Winston said. “I want to treat our guests.”

  “Oh, you don’t have to do that,” Richardson said.

  “Let them do it, dude,” Juan Carlos said. Madison snickered.

  “Home made today,” Nell said, getting up.

  “Thanks,” Richardson said.

  “I’ll give them their keys while you do that,” Winston said, working the machine as he grinned at them. “Real life celebrities. Maybe someday when this is over you can tell us your story.”

  “I don’t see why not,” Richardson said.

  He handed the keys over. “It’s rooms three, five, and seven. They’re next to each other and can be made adjoining if you want.”

  “Thanks,” Richardson said.

  “You want to put your stuff away, or have pie first?” Winston asked.

  “Pie,” Juan Carlos said.

  “How do you stay thin, man?” Brendan asked.

  “Go to that table over yonder,” Winston said, pointing to a large round table near the front windows.

  “Thanks so much,” Lita said, as the group went over and took seats.

  “I like this place,” Hannah said. “It’s homey, and it feels safe.”

  “Hope our guys win at the resort,” Madison said, “and I hope the enemy doesn’t know where we are.”

  “I know, our track record for avoiding trouble isn’t the greatest,” Lita said. “Almost passed on this place because it’s so close to the resort.”

  “Here comes the pie,” Juan Carlos said. Nell brought over a large tray with the six pieces, setting it down on the table next to them and handing them out.

  “Hope you all enjoy,” Nell said. She walked away as they dug in.

  “Oh my God,” Juan Carlos said, his eyes lighting up as he tasted it.

  “Yeah, it’s good,” Lita said after her first bite. The group was quiet while they ate, their weariness hitting them fast.

  “What next?” Madison asked, pushing the empty plate away.

  “Go to our rooms and sleep,” Juan Carlos said, “unless there’s more pie.”

  “No more for me,” Hannah said. “It’s already adding to my middle.”

  “Okay, I’ll text Wallis a little later to make sure our boys won the battle,” Richardson said. “We’ll let you guys know.”

  “Thanks, that’ll make me sleep better,” Madison said.

  “Me too,” Brendan said.

  “We ready?” Lita asked.

  Richardson nodded, and they all got up and headed for the doors, waving at Nell and Winston as they left.

  “Thanks for the pie,” Richardson said. “It was great!”

  “Come on in for breakfast in the morning, between eight and ten,” Nell said. “You’ll like it.”

  “Sounds good,” Lita said. “Thank you.”

  They walked outside. “Hear that?” Madison asked.

  “Gunfire in the distance,” Lita said. “I’ll never get used to that.”

  “Think we should bring the long guns in the rooms?” Juan Carlos asked.

  Richardson looked around. “Nobody here, so I think it’s okay if we do it fast.”

  The group got their stuff and went into their rooms.

  Chapter 4 – Waiting Room

  Kyle paced in the waiting area next to the emergency room, his eyes red from crying. It’d been almost two hours. The middle-aged woman at the reception desk wouldn’t tell him anything. He heard the door open, turning to see Jason and Carrie rush in with Chelsea. Junior and Rachel came in after them with Kelly, Brenda, Curt, and Amanda.

  “Hear anything?” Carrie asked.

  “No, all they’ll say is that the doctors are looking at her,” he said, brow furrowed. “Everybody get back to the RV park okay?”

  “Yep,” Amanda said. “Sydney and Don wanted to come, but we talked them into staying behind to work the social media operation.”

  “Good,” Kyle said.

  “Where’s Auntie Kate?” Chelsea asked.

  “She’s in with the doctor, sweetie,” Jason said, squatting next to her, brushing hair out of her eyes.

  The receptionist’s phone rang. She answered, glancing at Kyle, who rushed to the window. She nodded towards the door. He pulled it open and went inside.

  “I hope it’s good news,” Junior said. The group took seats in the waiting room.

  “I hope she’s okay,” Carrie said, trying to hide her tears from Chelsea.

  “There’s been movement around Williams, Arizona,” Junior said, looking at his phone.

  “Which way?” Jason asked.

  “East on I-40,” Junior said. Several of the others pulled their phones out. Chelsea leaned against Carrie and fell asleep.

  “Do we need to worry?” Rachel asked.

  “It’s not very many,” Kelly said, looking at his phone. “I see twenty or so.”

  “Yeah,” Junior said. “Wonder if the creeps we killed got word out that they were under attack?”

  “I’d say that’s likely,” Curt said. “If their team would’ve gotten the tanks, they’d still be several hours away from home, given the speed restriction of those flatbeds.”

  Junior snickered. “Those nasty grades to Flagstaff are between here and there. Wouldn’t be a fun place to drive those flatbeds.”

  “Seriously,” Curt said.

  Amanda looked at him. “I’ll bet they didn’t get word out, but they aren’t returning calls, and their RFID hits are just sitting out in the middle of nowhere.”

  “You think they can track their own chips?” Brenda asked.

  “Of course,” Kelly said. “Too bad this turned into such a mess. We probably could’ve drawn the militia into a fine kill zone with those chips, given a little time.”

  “Yeah,” Junior said. “I agree.”

  The door opened. Kyle came out with a big smile on his face.

  “She’s okay?” Carrie asked.

  “She’ll be fine,” he said. “Her side was just a flesh wound. Didn’t even nick any organs.”

  “Then why was she in there so long before they’d say anything?” Rachel asked.

  “She had a big goose egg on the back of her head from hitting the pavement,” he said. “They wanted to check that out, to make sure she didn’t have a concussion, or worse.”

  “Oh,” Carrie said. “How long does she have to stay?”

  “They want to keep her overnight, just to make sure no bleeding starts up,” Kyle said. “They’ll let me spend the night in the room they’re moving her too. You folks can go home and get some shut-eye.”

  “I’m so glad she’s okay,” Carrie said, not able to hold back tears anymore. Chelsea woke up from her shaking.

  “Did she die, mommy?” Chelsea asked, staring at her mother with worried eyes.

  “No, sweetie, she’s going to be fine,” Carrie said. “Mommy’s crying because she’s happy.”

  “Oh, good,” Chelsea said, hugging her mother.

  “We should go,” Kelly said. “Get some rest, and keep an eye on the apps.”

  “You see something?” Kyle asked.

  “About twenty hits, moving east from Williams,” Kelly said. “They’re probably wondering what happened to their people.”

  “I’ll keep my phone nearby, then,” Kyle said.

  The group said their goodbyes and left the hospital.

  “I’ll text the group and let them know she’s okay,” Carrie said as they walked out to their vehicles.

  Chapter 5 – Dallas Recruits

  Alex backed away from his PC, getting up to grab himself a beer. He looked out the window of the dingy apartment, missing the rolling golden hills around the MidPoint Café. It had been a few weeks since the battle. I-40 was destroyed, cutting off his rest
aurant. He was glad that the enemy was defeated, and he’d helped, but loss of the road killed his business. He locked it up and took his daughter Kitten with him, to participate in a battle down towards El Paso. After the Fort Stockton team left for New Mexico, the group slowly drifted apart. Alex and Kitten came to Jacksboro. They both found jobs at a local restaurant. He felt safe, but not happy.

  The front door opened. “Hey, dad,” Kitten said, coming in with her waitress uniform on. She’d lost a little weight, making her face even prettier than before, but she was still on the pudgy side, her light brown hair swaying as she walked.

  “How was work, honey?”

  “Boring,” she said, sitting down. “What are you up to?”

  “I was just looking at Don and Sydney’s page,” he said.

  Her face brightened. “Are they still in New Mexico?”

  “Doesn’t say,” Alex said. “Nothing about Chance, either.”

  “Stop it,” she said, face turning red.

  “I thought he would take you with him,” Alex said. “After the I-40 battle.”

  “That again,” she said, pulling off her white service shoes. “Would you have wanted me to go?”

  “I wish both of us would’ve gone,” Alex said, rubbing his bald head as he looked in the fridge. “Crap, out of beer.”

  “We need a few things from the market,” she said. “I’ll get you more beer. Why were you on Don and Sydney’s page?”

  “I got a recruitment message,” he said, sitting on the easy chair next to the couch.

  “Really? We gonna go?”

  “What’s this we stuff? You don’t want to fight.”

  “I was almost through my EMT training,” she said. “They could always use a medic, you know. I can do that.”

  “He’s not there,” Alex said, a smirk on his face. “He’s still in New Mexico.”

  “Stop,” she said. “What are they recruiting for?”

  “Dallas.”

  “There’s a big problem there?” she asked.

  “Sounds like it. They say we need three hundred thousand people to join the battle.”

  “Three hundred thousand?” she asked. “That’s a lot.”

  “It is,” Alex said, staring at the ceiling for a moment.

  “You want to go, don’t you?”

  He sighed. “Yes.”

  “Then let’s go. When would we have to leave?”