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“Town?” The man laughed nervously and scratched at his neck again. “There’s nothing in town, lady. Town’s just a bunch of buildings with nobody in ‘em and nothing left for anyone!” The man’s voice was growing in volume and becoming more erratic as he spoke.
Dianne cast a quick backwards glance, relieve to see Mark crouched by the side of the house with his rifle in hand. “Sorry to hear that. You need to get moving, though. We don’t have anything here.”
The man cracked a wide smile as he pointed at the snowman near the front porch. “Looks like you’ve got time for diversions like that! Must have a nice bit of food around here, huh? Can’t you just spare a bite or three?”
Dianne pressed the stock of the rifle against her shoulder and leveled the barrel. She leaned into the weapon, letting her cheek rest on it as she lined up the holographic sight square on the man’s chest and took one small but menacing step forward. “I won’t tell you again. Leave right now. Or you won’t live to regret it.”
The man’s smile turned sour as his lips curled and wrinkled and his eyes narrowed. “What the hell’s your problem, lady? Can’t afford a guy a bit of food?” He started shuffling backwards down the driveway as Dianne took another step forward. “Fuck you, lady! I don’t need your charity!” The man tripped over himself as he tried to turn, sending up a cloud of powder into the air. He cursed and lashed out at the snow itself, grabbing fistfuls and sending them flying as he struggled to get back to h
is feet.
Dianne continued advancing slowly on him, scanning the trees to her left and right as she went along all while counting on Mark to watch her back. The man jumped over the gate at the end of the drive and staggered down the road back towards town, alternately mumbling and screaming obscenities and gibberish at no one in particular. He seemed to forget that Dianne was even there, not bothering to look back at her as he went along on his way.
Dianne stood at the gate, her rifle at the ready, watching the man until he was out of sight. When he was finally out of sight and earshot she turned back to the house and slowly walked back. She meandered to and fro across the driveway, looking in the woods for signs of footprints from someone other than the man she just ran off. Every few steps was accompanied by a quick glance backwards as she checked to make sure he was really gone.
When she got back to the house Mark was sitting on the front porch glancing around. He stood up as she approached and gave her a questioning look. “Who was that guy and what was wrong with him?”
Dianne shook her head and shrugged. “Beats me. Looks like he was on something.”
“On something?”
“Drugs, kiddo. He looked like he was withdrawing.” Dianne turned to look back down the driveway. “Someone like that’s dangerous.”
“You didn’t shoot him, though.”
Dianne shook her head. “I don’t want to kill anyone. Not if I can help it. Besides, by the time he got over the gate his mind was somewhere completely different. You go inside while I go check on the animals again. We’ll make an early dinner and trade keeping watch tonight.”
“Okay.” Mark trotted inside while Dianne lingered, heading around the side of the house and down the slope to the barns. She could tell that Mark was put off by the strange man but she was trying to remain upbeat about the situation to keep him and his siblings from worrying unduly. While Dianne was doing an admirable job of projecting a cool exterior she felt completely nervous and more than a little bit frightened inside.
“Keep it together, Dianne.” She whispered to herself as she stalked through the snow, checking the ground for footprints and the barns for any signs of a break-in. “Just keep it together.”
Chapter 7
The Waters’ Homestead
Outside Ellisville, VA
Steamed vegetables, macaroni and cheese and tilapia fillets made for an easy dinner for Dianne to cook. Once she and the children finished their meal she sat Mark and Jacob up with dish duty while she and Josie sat on the couch to read a book. While Josie sat and read the book aloud, Dianne half-listened, keeping part of her attention on the story and part on the tablet sitting next to her on the couch.
Views from the cameras pointed out from the house appeared and vanished from the screen as Dianne kept the camera app full-screened to better make out any and all details. Her rifle sat leaning up against the wall across the room while she felt the comforting bulge of her pistol pressing against her hip.
Dianne had originally thought that going through day-to-day life with a rifle and pistol on her and always on the ready for dangers would be a hard transition. In fact, though, it had been quite easy for her and for her children. Constant, gentle reminders to Jacob and Josie to always respect firearms ensured that the pair never went near the rifles she and Mark carried or the pistol that felt like it was an extension of her body.
When Mark and Jacob finished up with the dishes, she left Jacob and Josie to play in the living room while she took Mark to the front room to go over her plan for the evening. “Basically I want to play it safe for the next couple of nights. I’ll plan to stay up most of the night keeping watch, but I’d like you to sleep with your clothes and shoes on and be ready to jump up and help me if needed.”
“I can do that.” Mark nodded. “Are you expecting something bad?”
“Nah.” Dianne shook her head in what she hoped was a convincing manner. “That was the first person we’ve seen in a while, though, and he was pretty messed up. I want to stay extra vigilant without scaring your brother and sister.”
“Okay. Just let me know what to do.”
“Thanks, kiddo.” Dianne smiled and embraced Mark. “Sorry we’re going through this. I hate that you three are having to deal with everything.”
Mark shrugged. “It’s okay. I don’t think Josie even notices. And Jacob is… in his own world.”
Dianne chuckled. “That he is. He looks up to you, though. I’m proud of you for how much you’ve stepped up and how many responsibilities you’ve been taking on.” Mark lowered his head and mumbled a thank you as he tried to avert his face. “No, I’m serious, kiddo.” Dianne tugged on Mark’s chin and looked him in the eye. “You’re doing a great job. Your dad would be proud of you, too.”
Mark abruptly sat down on the narrow wooden bench in the front entry. “When do you think he’ll be home?”
