Free The Fall of America: Premonition of Death by W.R. Benton

was wondering if we were thinking the same thing, and we are." I replied and then added, "let me out of here so I can run to the bushes, I have to pee."
    Tom laughed and opened the door.
    The rain was steady, but not hard and the night air was brisk. I did my morning toilet and as I moved toward the barn, Skillet ran to my side, which startled me a little.
    "How are you, big guy?" I asked as I stopped to scratch his ears.
    He moved in close to me and placed his head against my thigh. Lawdy, I wish I didn't have to leave him out in the rain like this. He has to stay out, he's our first line of defense, I thought as I started for the door.
    Once at the door, I turned, but Skillet had disappeared.
    "Quiet?" Tom asked.
    "Yep, but the dogs are out in the rain and I don't like it much."
    "We ain't got much of a choice really. I figure it's just a matter of time before some of Patton's men figure out who attacked them."
    "Maybe, but maybe not, too. I don't think his death meant anything to them at all. He was a paycheck, only he paid with women, booze and drugs. Hell, I suspect they're all fighting over who's the new leader this morning."
    "Maybe they are." He replied with a flat tone. He's tired, I thought.
    "I'm going to put on a pot of coffee," I said and moved to the table.
    Tom was still looking out the door and I was facing a wall filling an old coffee pot with water, when the sound of two pistol shots filled the air. I spun around, brought my shotgun up, to see Sandra holding her pistol like she was on a shooting range. She had both hands on her pistol, and wore a look of complete anger.
    "What are you shooting at?" Tom asked from the door.
    "Martha, or Marty! She just went out the back door!"
    "Tom, stay where you are, I'll look for her!" I yelled as I began to run.
    I'd just opened the back door when I heard the dogs barking and then the loud boom of a shotgun. I heard a dog or two yelping in pain, so I moved toward the sound. The rain was harder now, with an occasional flash of lightning, which meant I had to be cautious. At the next flash of light, I saw Marty running toward the woods and I let her go, because I saw I had three dogs down. My dogs meant more to me than catching her, even though I knew she was running to Patton's old farm.
    I moved forward and squatted by my dogs. Newt and Benji were both dead, and Skillet was in pain. Maybe Sandra can help him, I thought, as I picked him and moved for the barn.
    I'm glad it's raining, because no one will see my tears, I thought and then slipped in the mud and fell to my right knee. I stood and moved toward the barn again.
    Staggering like a drunk under the weight of Skillet, I prayed, "Lord, I don't usually ask you for much, but this time I need your help. Let this dog live, Lord. He's a good dog, and I don't ask for me so much as for him. He deserves to live. But, no matter what happens, Thy will be done. This I ask in the name of Jesus, amen."
    I entered the barn and was met by Sandra. "Skillet?"
    "Marty killed Newt and Benji, and Skillet was hit hard. I couldn't see the injury in the dark and brought him in so you could look at him."
    "Put him on my blanket and I'll get the medical supplies."
    I lowered him to the blanket and gazed into his big brown eyes. I could see his pain and fear, so I rubbed his head and spoke to him, "You're a good dog, Skillet. Good boy."
    He whimpered and I heard Sandra say, "You go to Tom and brief him on what happened."
    I met Skillet's eyes once more, stood and then walked to the door.
    I explained to Tom what had happened and how Marty escaped. He shook his head and said, "I shouldn't have given her that gun yet."
    "Well, don't blame yourself, because she was a good liar. I believed her."
    Sandra stood and made her way to us. Unconsciously she ran her bloodstained hands through her hair and said, "He's not going to make it, John. He's been hit in the lungs and I can't stop the bleeding. Do you want me to put him down with painkiller?"
    I