Conflicted Home (The Survivalist Book 9), A American [top android ebook reader TXT] 📗

“Told you,” Lee Ann said to Taylor, adjusting the sling of her H&K on her shoulder.

I glanced at Mel and smiled. She had her holstered Glock on her hip. She wasn’t a fan of the Springfield. The grip was too large for her hand and the .45 caliber recoil was too punishing. But the 9mm, she really liked. The Glock 19 grip fit her hand and the recoil was far more manageable.

Danny, Bobbie, Thad and Mary were in the yard when we arrived. “Y’all ready for this goat rope?” I asked.

“Should be fun,” Thad relied.

I shook his hand, then Danny’s, asking, “You going too?”

He nodded, “Yeah. I’m going. Bobbie and the kids are coming too.”

I smiled. “Cool. Little Bit will have a good time with them.”

“I’m going to drive the truck. Y’all hop in the back,” Thad said.

But the little truck was too small for all of us. We let the kids get in the back, and Danny, Mel and I walked up the road behind the truck. Lee Ann and Taylor kept the kids down inside the bed of the truck. As we made our way to where all the trucks were waiting, Mel asked, “You don’ think there’s going to be any trouble today, do you?”

I shook my head. “No. There might be some pushing and shoving, but that’s about it.”

“I’m a little nervous taking all the girls with us. We’ll all be in the same place, you know.”

I wrapped my arm around her. “We’ll be fine, babe.”

Sarge was busy getting everyone in order, sorting out who would drive what. Just like on our trip to get all of this, I would drive the fuel truck. There were three seats in it, so I told Mel to grab Little Bit and put her in the center seat. She thought that was the coolest thing ever, riding in the big Army truck, as she put it. Lee Ann and Taylor would ride in Sarge’s big War Wagon, with Aric, Fred and Jess.

Perez was leaned against the side of the five-ton truck, smoking cigarettes of course. He was going to drive it with Ian and Jamie along for the ride. I walked over and kicked the toe of his boot. “You know you can’t smoke in that truck. Army regs and all,” I couldn’t help but smile.

He laughed, showing his yellowed teeth. Pointing at me with a cigarette, he replied, “You’re funny.”

Sarge called everyone together. “All right, everyone, gather ‘round!” We all grouped around him. “This shouldn’t be a big deal today. We’re going to stop in Altoona, then move to Umatilla, before ending up in Eustis. At each stop, we’re going to hand out supplies to the folks there. We have supplies dedicated to give to the Guard troops in Eustis. Kay knows who’s getting what.”

“We also have special packages for certain people,” Kay added.

Sarge nodded. “We put together packages for Cecil, the Eustis PD and Judge Mitch.” Sarge pointed to the civilians in our group, “You people will be doing the distribution.” He then circled his finger over his head and pointed to his guys, “We’ll be providing security. We will not tolerate any violence from these folks. I know they’re hungry, but we’re here to help them. If things get out of hand, we’ll fire warning shots in the air. You folks just hunker down. If, and I seriously doubt this will happen, there is any sort of an exchange of gun fire, you will be inner security. Let us handle it, unless someone gets through us and to the trucks. Then it’s up to you to stop them.” He looked around at the faces gathered around him and asked, “Any questions?”

There probably were, but no one asked any and we quickly climbed into our trucks and got ready to go. I was sitting in the truck, the engine idling, when Wallner walked up. I opened the door so I could talk to him, “What’s up?”

He paused for a minute before answering. “Uh, me and the guys have talked. We’re not going back to the armory. We’re staying here. We’re providing security while you guys are gone today and will from now on.”

I was surprised. I knew they didn’t want to leave. But it seemed kind of like desertion to me. But then, these weren’t normal times and just because they were here didn’t mean they were shirking their duty.

“Well, that’s not up to me, buddy. We like having you guys here. But I’m sure Sheffield will be a little pissed about it.”

He shrugged. “He’s still got over forty people there. Besides, we’ve already talked to Top. He said we can stay.”

“I guess the old man will take it up with Sheffield,” I replied.

He patted the door of the truck, “Good luck today.”

I smiled back at him, “This’ll be a milk-run, buddy. We’ll see you in a couple of hours”

Sarge pulled out and all the vehicles fell in behind him. When I finally made it to the county road, I found the line of trucks stopped. Sarge came over the radio, “Y’all wait here. I’m going to take a package to Gena real quick.”

“That’s really nice,” Mel said. “I’d like to go visit her.”

“We can do that,” I replied. “Once we get back, we’ll take a ride over there.”

“I like Miss Gena,” Little Bit shouted.

We waited on the road, trucks idling for Sarge to get back. The radio broke again, it was Ted.

“Pull up the Guard’s net. They’ve got something going on.” He announced.

I pulled the radio from my vest and switched to the frequency.

…..know where they went.

Sandbag Four, Big Town Six. What was their last known location?

Moving west on citrus from our current position.

Big Town Seven, Big Town Six. You copying this?

Affirmative, Big Town Seven. I’m putting together a patrol now to go find them.

Suddenly, Sarge’s voice came over the radio. “Big Town Six, Stumpknocker. SITREP?”

There was a long pause. “Stumpknocker, we’re looking for an OPFOR recon unit spotted on citrus, moving west.”

“Big Town,