Free Liberty or Tyranny by John Grit Page B

to heat even one bedroom. He felt exhausted. A heavy weight pressed on his shoulders. Some of the townspeople had stood up for Brian, and he couldn’t forget that. Chesty and Kendell’s murder was yet to be fully investigated and those involved brought to some kind of justice. A duty to stay and do what he could gnawed at his gut. Yet, he feared for the safety of Brian and Deni and felt so tired of the fighting and killing and dying. His first responsibility was to his family. He knew that. Yet…
    Deni woke soon after, in the mood to argue. Sitting at the dining table, she stated flatly, “We should leave town as soon as possible.”
    Nate didn’t want a fight with her, thinking she had taken it all so well, considering the simple wedding and no honeymoon, yet no complaints about any of it.
    “Wasn’t Kendell enough?” she asked.
    His silence seemed to anger her more than if he had told her he wasn’t leaving town until he was ready.
    Then Brian walked in and stated he was staying in town until he had hunted down every last one involved in Kendell’s death. “You two go on to the farm. I’ll stay here and help Tyrone and Atticus find out who sent Chesty and Kendell’s killers.”
    She waited exactly ten seconds for Nate to tell him he was coming with them and not staying in town, before exploding. “Damn it, Nate, hold your temper and start thinking straight. I know you’re pissed. So am I.”
    “It’s not that,” Nate said. “It’s what they did for Brian after Kendell’s murder. It makes me think some of them are worth fighting for.”
    She lost her momentum for a second. “I can’t argue with that.”
    “I know what you’re thinking,” Nate said. “I already wish I’d taken you, Brian, and Kendell away from this place. Kendell would still be alive.”
    She tilted her head and looked at him, determined. “There’s still the three of us. We’re not dead yet.”
    Brian threw himself on a couch. “Will it really be all that much safer at the farm? Is any place safe anymore?”
    She crossed her arms. “You’re making too much sense, Brian, shut up.”
    “There are advantages and disadvantages to going back to the farm,” Nate said. “One disadvantage is we’ll be isolated and easily outnumbered if attacked by raiders again.”
    “Or the terrorists, or whatever the hell they are,” Brian added. “This world isn’t going to get any better by itself. Someone has to stand up and make it happen. Kendell did his part.”
    Deni leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. “I see I’m outvoted. If we’re going to stay, we need to be more careful than we’ve been in the past. Staying in a regular house like this is too dangerous. Maybe Col. Donovan will let us stay at the base.”
    Nate thought for a moment. “Maybe not the base, but you’re right about finding a defendable place to use for our headquarters.”
    Deni sat up straight. “You don’t trust Donovan?”
    “Yes,” Nate answered. “But I don’t trust his superiors or those in Washington. We have no idea what kind of government we have now. We know we have a new president and many new congressmen, but did you or I or Tyrone or anyone else we know vote since the plague? How can that be legit?” He grew grim. “Understand something, both of you. I’m declaring war on everyone involved in these terrorist attacks, and I don’t care who they are. Kendell and Chesty didn’t die for nothing. Someone is going to pay.”
    “I knew you were as pissed as me.” Brian reached for his rifle. “Mel has to go back to the Guard, but with Tyrone, Atticus, and the three of us, we have a rifle team, anyway.”
    “Hold on, soldier,” Deni warned. “That’s a good start, but we need more help.”
    “Yes we do.” Nate stood. “But for now let’s pack up and touch base with Tyron and Atticus, let them know we’re staying.”
    Brian started for his bedroom to get his partially dry clothes that were still hanging over the tub. “And ask