Free Walkers (Book 1): The Beginning by Zelda Davis-Lindsey

could do. Since the virus, a forest fire would just have to burn itself out.
         We slowly drifted quietly off to our beds. Mason checked on Mandy, gave her some more aspirin for the fever and pain then climbed into the fuel truck to bed. I left Lacy and Randy to spoon in the starlight, whatever, and climbed into bed just knowing I would be too wound up to sleep. Next thing I knew it was morning.
         Mandy's fever was down the next day and we headed west.
         Soon we turned south into the mountains leaving the paved road for gravel, weaving around the mountains for several miles before coming to the main gate made with logs. The sign read "Lion's Lodge".
         We drove over the cattle guard and about another mile winding around a large hill until finally there is was in front of us just as I had described it. I noticed right away that the wind generator was still. There were no vehicles in the large parking area out front and the front door was standing wide open. Chickens free ranged but there were no other signs of livestock.
         Several bodies littered the yard and some windows were broken out but I still sat there sporting the biggest of grins. Everyone just sat in their outfits, staring. I was so relieved I almost cried. I could've sat there for the rest of the day, if three walkers hadn't walked around the corner of the lodge.
         "Oh for pete's sake, don't these people have a home?"
         I sighed, got up, took down my bow, cocked it, took a deep breath and stepped out to clean house.
     
     
     
                                                                          CHAPTER7
     
     
          I nailed the first the first one in the mouth, then Mason shot the second and third one. We stood in the yard and waited since sound attracts em and if any were in the house they should be walking out about...yep, WHOA! Big boy. Bang! I slowly crept up the steps, bow ready, out the broken window another stepped, TWANG! Arrow through the eye, bang! Bullet though the ear. We were on a roll. Where the hell did they all come from?
         By the time the smoke cleared, I was out of arrows and Mason was reloading his rifle and we both were sweat soaked. I was reminded of a song...Walkers to the left of me, walkers to the right; here I am, stuck in the middle with you. Yep, I was pumped up. Must of been the spam.
         I counted eleven but I wouldn't relax until every inch of the place had been searched. We did the old cop routine though the downstairs and then up the stairs. No closet went unsearched, no restroom or pantry wasn't examined. Around furniture, under beds, behind shower curtains all received a thorough look see. Mason and Randy secured the basement. Then the outbuildings got a good going over and only one walker was found locked in the tack room of the barn. I have no idea how he got in there. By the time we hauled the bodies into a pile and set them on fire, it was nearing afternoon.
         We padlocked every outbuilding so we knew it was secure. Randy and Lacy then chased chickens till they were back in the pen then secured it so they'd stay there. I gave them each a black marker and told them to mark every egg they found. While they stood and looked at each other I explained that come morning and they went looking for eggs for breakfast, then the ones that didn't have a mark would be a fresh egg. They walked away mumbling to themselves. Later, I heard it was like an Easter Egg Hunt, only they got to scribble on the eggs.
         Sarah was heating up a large canned ham in the RV She had instant potatoes, corn and sliced tomatoes she had found growing in the garden. For dessert, she'd made a peach cobbler. She said it was a welcome home dinner. We did her meal justice then went to work securing the lodge. The door needed reinforcing and the window boarded over until it could be replaced.
         Inside