Gathering Home, page 1
ONCE UPON AN
APOCALYPSE
Book III
Gathering Home
By
JEFF MOTES
Copyright © Thomas J. Motes, Jr. 2017
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.
Note
This is a work of fiction. While some of the locations in the series describe actual locations, this is intended only to lend a sense of authenticity. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
This work is intended for entertainment and to promote “outside the box” thinking. This is not a “how-to” guide. Neither the author, publisher, nor anyone else associated with this work assumes any responsibility or liability for the use or improper use of any information contained herein.
Credits
Editor – Felicia A. Sullivan
Cover Design – Brandi Doane McCann, eBook Cover Designs
Cover Models – Addison Powell and Dwain Roberts
Formatting – Polgarus Studio
ISBN – 978-1-946321-12-1 (soft cover)
ISBN – 978-1-946321-13-8 (hard cover)
ISBN – 978-1-946321-10-7 (Kindle)
ISBN – 978-1-946321-11-4 (ePub)
ISBN – 978-1-946321-14-5 (audiobook)
Library of Congress Control Number: 2016920553
Thomas J. Motes Jr., Jackson, Alabama
Published by Pine City Press
Acknowledgements
It is impossible to acknowledge all the individuals who have helped make this work possible. To each of you who have sent a text, an email, called me on the phone, or stopped me in town to provide encouragement – I thank you all. You have no idea how much those messages have meant to me.
I would be amiss if I didn’t specifically mention several people. I thank Addison Powell for posing as Lizzy for the cover, Dwain Roberts for again posing as John, John and Terri Bolen for allowing me to take pictures of their beautiful home, and Nathan and Susan Jackson for the use of their Ridley motorcycle. These pictures, combined with the wonderful talent of Brandi McCann, made for a fantastic cover.
A special thank you to my editor, Felicia Sullivan. As before, you have lifted a heavy burden off my shoulders.
I wouldn’t be the person I am without the guiding hands of my parents, Thomas and Glenda Motes. Dad, I thank you for teaching me the value of hard work and for the opportunity to learn many different things as a young person growing up. You helped set the foundation for my success. Mom, your selfless acts have been a role model for me. You’ve taught me to love, to forgive, and to persevere. Should all fall away from me in this world, I will always know you love me.
Jeff Motes—Author
Foreword
Wow, what an adventure this has been! I started on this journey in May 2015 in an effort to help family and friends better prepare themselves if the normal times we live in become no longer normal. I had no idea when I started this undertaking that it would reach many thousands of people. For those of you who have reached out to me and offered words of encouragement, I thank you all. It is truly a rewarding and humbling experience, knowing my efforts have meant so much to so many people.
I firmly believe that each person, red, yellow, black or white; Christian, Jew, Muslim, Atheist, or of any other religious leaning; male or female; rich or poor; young or old; regardless of their political affiliations or social standings, should prepare themselves for difficult times. I also believe unto whom much is given, much is required, and that each of us should do the best we can, with the best we have, to live and help those around us live. At the moment, we live in relatively peaceful and prosperous times. Use this time and the tools you have before you to learn and prepare yourselves and your families so that things might not be so bad when bad times come.
In Book 1 – The Journey Home, I referred to the Axiom of Threes as follows:
You can live -
Three weeks without food
Three days without water
Three hours without shelter
Three minutes without air
Three seconds without a defensive weapon
This axiom is not unique to me, as it has other similar forms that have been around for many years. It’s a generalization, of course, but it’s intended to give you an idea of the priorities of survival.
Not long after I published my first book, I gave a presentation to a group of individuals. One person asked me what I thought was the most important item to have. I replied, ‘A defensive weapon.’ The person scoffed at that idea, so I explained a little further. ‘It doesn’t matter if you have three weeks of food or three days of water or a shelter to protect you and your supplies from a raging storm if you are assaulted when you step out that door and are unable to defend yourself.’
I encourage each of you to consider the following:
What are the potential negative things that can happen to me and my family?
What is the likelihood these things could happen?
What are the consequences if those things do happen?
What can I do to mitigate the negative consequences?
Then plan accordingly, considering your personal situation and resources.
Acronyms have been used in various places. If you have difficulty understanding a term, please consult the Glossary in the back of the book.
I hope you find this third installment as thought provoking as the prior two. Keep some tissue close at hand – just in case.
Jeff Motes—Author
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Chapter 1 – Day 6 – Jimmy – A Touchy Conversation
Chapter 2 – Day 6 – Will – A Deadly Encounter
Chapter 3 – Day 6 – Jimmy – Deceit
Chapter 4 – Day 6 – Lizzy – I Don’t Want to Die
Chapter 5 – Day 6 – Will – Pastor Ezell
Chapter 6 – Day 6 – Lizzy – Amy’s Plea
Chapter 7 – Day 6 – Jimmy – Home Again
Chapter 8 – Day 6 – Will – A Time of Reflection
Chapter 9 – Day 6 – Lizzy – A New Feeling
Chapter 10 – Day 7 – Jimmy – Our Turn
Chapter 11 – Day 7 – Will – Amy
Chapter 12 – Day 7 – Lizzy – Breakfast
Chapter 13 – Day 7 – Jimmy – Pastor Ezell’s Community
Chapter 14 – Day 7 – Lizzy – Carter
Chapter 15 – Day 7 – Jimmy – Terms of Indenture
Chapter 16 – Day 8 – Lizzy – Deer Hunt
Chapter 17 – Day 8 – Will – Sharing
Chapter 18 – Day 8 – Jimmy – Things of Value
Chapter 19 – Day 8 – Will – What Are You Doing Here?
Chapter 20 – Day 8 – Lizzy – Smokehouse
Chapter 21 – Day 8 – Lizzy – The Creek
Chapter 22 – Day 9 – Jimmy – Contemplation
Chapter 23 – Day 9 – Will – A Talk With Amy
Chapter 24 – Day 9 – Jimmy – Let’s Make a Deal
Chapter 25 – Day 9 – Lizzy – We’re Staying Here
Chapter 26 – Day 9 – Will – Beauty
Chapter 27 – Day 9 – Lizzy – Another Hunt
Chapter 28 – Day 10 – Jimmy – Gas
Chapter 29 – Day 10 – Will – Fade to Black
Chapter 30 – Day 10 – Lizzy – Will!
Chapter 31 – Day 10 – Jimmy – The Posse
Chapter 32 – Day 10 – Will – The Hilton Residence
Chapter 33 – Day 10 – Lizzy – Keisha
Chapter 34 – Day 10 – Will – Interrogation
Chapter 35 – Day 10 – Will – To the Death
Chapter 36 – Day 10 – Will – Finality
Chapter 37 – Day 10 – Lizzy – Comfort
Chapter 38 – Day 10 – Jimmy – No Trade
Chapter 39 – Day 11 – Jimmy – The Clarke County Sheriff’s Office
Chapter 40 – Day 11 – Jimmy – Preparations
Chapter 41 – Day 11 – Will – Betrayal
Chapter 42 – Day 11 – Lizzy – Why Are You Doing This?
Chapter 43 – Day 11 – Jimmy – For Them
Chapter 44 – Day 11 – Will – It Should Work Both Ways
Chapter 45 – Day 11 – Lizzy – A Trip to the Bathroom
Chapter 46 – Day 12 – Will – Sheeple
Chapter 47 – Day 12 – Jimmy – Want to Change Your Mind?
Chapter 48 – Day 12 – Lizzy – I’ll Try
Chapter 49 – Day 12 – Will – Wait
Chapter 50 – Day 12 – Jimmy – You’ll Understand Later
Chapter 51 – Day 12 – Will – I’m Going to Help You
Chapter 52 – Day 13 – Jimmy – James Harris
Chapter 53 – Day 13 – Will – Don’t Leave Me
Chapter 54 – Day 13 – Lizzy – Tom Hickman
Chapter 55 – Day 13 – Will – Fleeing
Chapter 56 – Day 13 – Jill – Pieces of a Puzzle
Chapter 57 – Day 13 – Jill – At John’s House
Chapter 58 – Day 13 – Jimmy – Deputies
Chapter 59 – Day 13 – Jill – A Talk With Mother
Chapter 60 – Day 13 – Jimmy – You Bastard!
Chapter 61 – Day 13 – John – The Wrigh
Chapter 62 – Day 13 – Lizzy – Flash Bang!
Chapter 63 – Day 13 – John – Dad!
Chapter 64 – Day 13 – Jill – Where Are Lizzy and John?
Chapter 65 – Day 13 – John– You Used to be My Friend!
Chapter 66 – Day 13 – John – Want to Trade Sandwiches?
Chapter 67 – Day 13 – Jill – Enter the Man
Glossary of Acronyms
Chapter 1
Jimmy
A Touchy Conversation
Day 6
I hardly slept a wink during the night. Different scenarios have been playing through my mind. It’s clear we need Will to stay here or at least keep coming back here. There is no other means for our family to survive. We have no supplies, no survival skills, and nothing to trade for those things. The $400,000 in my retirement account and the $100,000 at the bank are of no use to me right now. My brokerage account and mutual funds are worthless, too. Even if I had access to our money, what good would it do? A ragged, worn-out bike cost me $1,000. It’s probably more now. The thought of that guy stealing my bike and refusing to sell it back makes me want to squash him and his brat kid! But those thoughts have to be pushed aside for now. There are more serious things to consider for now.
Around midnight, Will changed the guard. Maybe it was midnight. I don’t know for certain since there isn’t a working timepiece in the house other than the watch on Will’s wrist. It seems like it’s been a few hours since the girls came downstairs. The voices of their muffled conversations had been drifting into the bedroom, but it’s been silent for a while.
There are only two ways we can keep Will coming here. One is to keep Lizzy here. The other is for Amy to keep him here. Forcing Lizzy to stay is not an option. Will seems too confident to allow that to happen. Maybe I can convince her to stay, though. An idea has been forming in my head all night. It depends upon a great many things. It’ll be tricky, but it might work. I only have to get Lizzy to want to stay a few days. If she does and I can convince Amy of the need to get close to Will, I’m confident he won’t be able to resist her. Once she works herself close to Will, maybe he’ll invite us all to his house. Judging by the supplies he brought, there has got to be much more there. At the very least, it will be better than here. Then it won’t matter if Lizzy stays with us or not. In fact, it will be better if she doesn’t. Still, we’ve got to get to that bridge before we can cross it.
I pause in my thoughts; they’re hard to believe. I’m actually going to push my daughter on a guy for food? What’s wrong with me? Nothing. Nothing at all. I want Amy to live, I want our family to survive, and Will seems like our best chance. It’s either that or Amy will starve or end up with the Hiltons. So which is worse? Will is certainly a better alternative to either. Lizzy is a nice girl, and I don’t want her to get hurt, but the survival of my own family takes precedence over anybody else.
A new idea comes to mind, and I rise from the bed.
Lynn stirs. “Jimmy, what is it?”
“I’m going to check on the girls,” I whisper. “I’ll be right back.”
She settles back into her pillow. The dim glow of the candle allows just enough light to move around. Soon, we’ll be without candles or any source of light at night. Maybe Will has candles, too.
At the entry to the great room, I pause. Lizzy is asleep on the couch. Amy is sitting in one of the recliners holding something in her lap. Looks like a pair of binoculars, but it’s dark and hard to tell. She’s startled when I take another step into the room.
I hold my finger to my lips. “Shh…we don’t want to wake everybody.”
“Dad, you scared me.”
“Sorry, I couldn’t sleep and thought I would make sure you girls are okay. Looks like Lizzy left you awake by yourself.”
“We decided one of us would sleep for a while then switch out. I slept first; now it’s her turn. She’s only been asleep for maybe half an hour.”
“What’s in your lap?”
She turns the thing over in her hands. “Will says it’s a night vision device, lets you see in the dark. It works, but everything is black and green.”
The kid has a night vision device? How did he get something like that?
“Amy, that boy must be pretty smart.”
“Yeah, he is. He’s a great guy.”
“Have you thought anymore about what I said? You know, about him being your boyfriend?”
“Dad!” Amy nods over toward Lizzy sleeping on the couch. I forgot about her lying there. I better be careful.
“It must be getting close to 4:00 a.m. Will needs to get up and take his turn. Why don’t you go up there and wake him up? Before you wake him, check his watch. If it’s too early, just stay up there and rest. I’ll keep watch. I can’t sleep anyway.”
Amy remains silent for a few seconds, then rises. “Okay.”
She gives me the night vision device and heads up the stairs. She’s wearing a nightshirt and night shorts. If Will is in the bed and Amy crawls in to check his watch, there is no way he’s going to be able to resist. This may solve all our problems.
I hear footsteps coming down the stairs, and Will comes into the great room fully dressed.
“Good morning, Mr. Wright. I guess you could call it morning. It’s 3:30. Amy said she couldn’t stay awake any longer. I didn’t know you were down here, otherwise I might have slept a little longer myself.”
“I’m sorry, Will. Go back up and get some rest. I’ll keep watch until daylight.”
“Thanks, but since I’m already awake, I’ll just stay up. Besides, I should have slept on the couch. The floor was hard, and I forgot my ground pad at home.”
“Will, you should have just slept in the bed.”
“I’m good.”
He sits on the opposite end of the couch Lizzy is sleeping on. Her head is resting on the arm, and her feet are curled up. Unlike Amy, she’s fully dressed. Will leans into the corner of the couch and places his feet on the cushions, stopping just short of Lizzy’s feet. She doesn’t stir.
I’m going to have to get Lizzy to want to stay. Amy is not going to do what needs to be done. Not yet. I take a deep breath.
“Lizzy is a nice and intelligent young woman. We have grown to love her like a member of our family.”
“She’s nice and smart, that’s for sure.”
“When her mother or grandmother allows her to come over here, they place her under my care. They expect me to be responsible for her well-being until either they come get her or I take her home.”
“I appreciate you keeping her safe during these trying times, Mr. Wright. I’m sure Ms. Jill and Mrs. Barnes do, too.”
“Will, this whole situation puts me in a dilemma. You seem like a fine young man, but I have a responsibility to make sure Lizzy is taken care of and protected.”
“I’ll take care of her, don’t worry. I’ve got a place where I can keep her safe.”
“But I do have to worry. You told us yesterday you intend to take her to your house and that your father is not home. That means just you and her. I’m not so sure that’s a good idea.”
There is a brief pause before he answers. “Mrs. Barnes will be with us, too.”
“Didn’t you say you haven’t seen Mrs. Barnes in a few days?”
“True. The last time we talked a few days ago, she was agreeable to the idea of her and Lizzy coming out to Repose.”
I push a little further, trying to word everything carefully. “You also said you haven’t seen Mrs. Barnes in several days. What if something has happened to her? Or what if she’s changed her mind? Seems to me she would have sent a note or a letter if she wanted me to let Lizzy leave with somebody I don’t really know.”
The room is silent except for the gentle sound of Lizzy’s breathing.
“I didn’t get a note. It didn’t occur to me you would want one. Lizzy can vouch for me.”
“I’m sure she will, but I need to know for certain it’s okay with Mrs. Barnes for me to let Lizzy go with you.”
The tricky part is about to play out. There is no way I can keep him from taking her if he really wants to.
“Mr. Wright, I appreciate your concern, and I understand your feelings of responsibility, but I’m not leaving here without Lizzy.”
