Free The Day After Never - Covenant (Post-Apocalyptic Dystopian Thriller - Book 3) by Russell Blake

hands now. I’ll make it.”
    Lucas nodded. “You better. We’re screwed if you don’t.”
    Colt grimaced and saved his energy, his message conveyed, and they continued in silence, the only sound the clip-clop of hooves and the occasional moan of the wind out of the east.
     

Chapter 14
    Artesia’s perimeter wall swam into view as Duke and Aaron pushed their horses hard, anxious to make it to the town’s protection before sundown. They’d made decent time, and Duke was hoping that Lucas was still there so he could discuss setting up another trading post, perhaps with him as a partner. After all, the former lawman was honest, knew weapons, and Duke could trust him in a pinch –the most important quality in a business associate. Duke could manage the actual trading, and Lucas the logistics of operating the site. At least, that was going to be his pitch.
    They slowed as they neared the guard post, which was manned by two riflemen who didn’t look welcoming. They eyed Duke like he’d stolen their horses, and the larger one called out, “Town’s closed down. Move on.”
    “I’m here to see Bruce.”
    “He ain’t here.”
    “Where’d he go?”
    “Beats me.”
    “When’s he going to come back?”
    “Same answer. I don’t keep his schedule.”
    Duke’s shoulders sagged, but he had a lie ready. “Bastard owes me money. I’m here to collect.”
    “Can’t let you in.”
    “He’s got some of my gear. I’m going to get it one way or another.”
    The guard exchanged a glance with the other, clearly not expecting a confrontation with Bruce’s debtors. Duke sensed an opening and pressed the point.
    “Look,” he said. “I got no truck with you. But he has my stuff. I’m not going to just shrug and go home. I came here for my gear, and I’m going to get it. You got no right to protect the little weasel – my family’s life depends on it. You try to block me, you’re endangering them. I won’t take kindly to that. Neither would you in my shoes.”
    The man looked Duke over, assessing his weathered face, and shifted to Aaron. He had a hurried discussion with his partner and then straightened as he addressed Duke.
    “Don’t much like being threatened.”
    “Didn’t mean it that way. I don’t want trouble, but I’m also not going away empty-handed. Rode way too long for that, and fair’s fair.”
    “How long you reckon it’ll take?”
    “Not long. Although I hate to have to spend the night outside the wall if I can find an area to bunk for the night.”
    The man pushed the gate aside. “Bruce has a fair parcel of land. Nobody’s on it. If you was to camp there, I doubt anyone would care. Long as it’s only for the night.”
    Duke tilted his head at the guard. “Appreciate it. Where’s his place at? First time I’ve been here.”
    The man stopped opening the gate. “Thought you said he had your gear.”
    “That’s right. He came and got it. Probably because he planned to screw me out of it.”
    The guard considered Duke’s words and then resumed sliding the gate open. “None of my business. Just don’t get into any trouble, or it’s my ass for letting you in.”
    “Don’t worry. Just want what’s mine.”
    They rode through the gap, leading their spare horses, and stopped by the guard post. The men gave them directions to Bruce’s trailer, and they made their way along the perimeter road until they arrived at a broken-down single-wide mobile home sorely in need of repair. The gate to the grounds was open, and as they entered, a man watched from across the street, shotgun in hand. When they dismounted, he ambled over and nodded a greeting.
    “He ain’t here,” the watcher said.
    “Any idea where he went?”
    “Scuttlebutt’s that he cut out and headed north.”
    “To Roswell?”
    “I figure.” The man shifted from foot to foot and glanced at the trailer. “Ain’t nuthin’ worth spit in there. Been cleaned out.”
    “Little prick had a bunch of my gear,” Duke growled.