Free The No Where Apocalypse (Book 2): Surviving No Where by E.A. Lake

thought. He certainly looked dead—sallow skin, purple lips, chest not moving.
    “Okay, so you found some straggler dead on the side of the road and your group convinced you to drag him up to the next house,” I surmised aloud. “That way you can catch me off-guard, kill me, and take all my stuff.”
    Her act continued, featuring tears. “Why are you so cruel?” she cried. “Won’t you even offer to help bury my son?”
    Biting my lower lip, I shook away her faux mourning. “Yeah, you’d like that, wouldn’t you?”
    I placed a hand on her shoulder, which she swatted away. “Just tell me how long before your man, or men, get here so I can get a plan together. I don’t want to hurt you, but I ain’t going to let them kill me.”
    “I have no one!” she shrieked, pounding on my chest. “No man, no men, no one!”
    I pushed her away and studied the brush again. They were out there. I needed to go get my gun. Maybe I needed to drag the whole group with me.
    “Everyone’s got someone, lady,” I laughed. “I’ve been alone too long to let some skinny little gal sneak up on me, crying her story, and then letting down my guard. There’s no way you’re alone on this road. Not no more.”
    I spun and she shoved something up against my lower jaw, right under my chin. I felt the metal poke through my trimmed beard. When she cocked the hammer, I knew I had a problem.
    “Do I look like a person who needs someone else’s help?” she seethed in a whisper.

Year 3 - mid summer - WOP

    “I asked you a question,” she said in an almost sweet tone. “Do I look to you like I need any help, Bob ?”
    I raised my hands slowly, shaking my head. “Nope. You seem to be doing just fine.” I’d stepped into this one all on my own. Never saw it coming. “So, you gonna call for whoever’s with you now?”
    She sighed, jabbing the gun tighter to my chin. “Why won’t you believe me?” Disappointment clouded her voice.
    “Just not the way it works out here,” I answered, daring to look down at her. “How about you lower the gun and we discuss things in a civilized manner?”
    A grin crept to her lips. “Oh, suddenly you want to be civilized? That’s interesting.” The gun lowered and she stepped back.
    Grabbing her right arm, I twisted her wrist towards the woods and away from the children. “Give me that damned thing,” I hissed, pulling on the weapon with my left hand. She fought a little, but I was twice her size and easily wrestled it away.
    Shaking my head, I stared at the dainty pistol. “You threatened me with a pink-handled 22? Is it even loaded?”
    I raised the gun over my head and pointed behind us. “No!” she screamed as I pulled the trigger.
    The miniature bang caused the children and myself to flinch. The woman set her hands on her hips, glaring at me.
    “That’s just great,” she seethed. “I only had a dozen shots left. Now you’ve wasted one.” Her tiny hand shot forward. “May I have my gun back, please?”
    I didn’t believe she was actually going to shoot me, before or then. Still I wondered if that was a good idea. My answer came when she tore it from my hand.
    “You got a name?” I asked, watching her tuck the pistol into her dress pocket.
    “We all have names,” she answered, reaching to pick up her small child. “I’m Daisy, Daisy Vaughn if you must know. Not that last names matter anymore.” She ran her fingers through her daughter’s golden tresses. “This is Libby.”
    “Bob,” I replied, sticking my hand out to shake hers. “Bob Reiniger. And my friend’s son, Nate Luke.”
    For a moment, we stared at one another in the middle of the blacktop. For some reason I was at a loss for words. Something about Daisy made my tongue swell and my throat tighten.
    “Might you have some water to share?” she asked, her tired blue eyes focusing on mine. “And maybe a shovel?”
    I gestured towards the cabin with my left hand. Awkwardly I reached for the handle of the cart.