Free After the Republic by Frank L. Williams

located, then to another square. “Joshua and Rebecca will have this cabin. I have another cabin that’s open. Haven’t really thought about it beyond that.”
    Joshua interjected, “Everyone is being instructed that they will provide Thomas with some form of compensation for the use of his land. I’ll leave it to him to negotiate the specifics of that with each person or family.”
    “Understood.” Bob pointed at a wooded area on the map. “With your permission, Martin and I will set up camp here and our camp will serve as a security watch. I assume handling security for the property will suffice as compensation for the use of your land.”
    “Martin?” Thomas twisted the toothpick between his lips. “Who’s that?”
    “Martin!” Bob called out. Kane came jogging out of the barn. “Mr. Page, meet Kane Martin.”
    “Nice to meet you, sir!” Kane extended his hand.
    “You too, man.”
    Kane stood silently until Bob said, “Dismissed!” He did a quick about-face and returned to the barn. Thomas looked at Joshua with an expression of combined bewilderment and amusement.
    Joshua smirked. “C’mon, let’s take a look in the barn.”
    Inside the barn, Joshua’s Silverado was packed to the gills. Kane had loaded the truck with shovels, hoes and rakes, a pickaxe, two machetes, bags of corn, axes and wood splitters, a variety of hand saws, a bush axe, a box of nails, post-hole diggers, chicken wire, heavier wire for the cattle fence and a large toolbox containing hammers and other basic tools. He had also constructed a portable cage large enough to transport the chickens.
    “You’ve been hard at work,” Joshua observed.
    “Yes, sir!”
    “Martin is a workhorse,” Bob said. “One of the hardest working men I’ve ever commanded. Follows orders precisely.”
    Thomas flashed another perplexed grin in Joshua’s direction. Joshua chuckled quietly to himself. Oil and water. I hope they can get along.
    Suddenly Reagan ran to the barn door, growling and barking at the headlights turning into the driveway.
    “Expecting anyone else tonight?” Bob asked.
    “Nope.”
    “Do you recognize the vehicle?”
    Joshua walked to the barn door and studied the silver king-cab F-150 with a camper shell and large box trailer making its way toward the house. “No.”
    “Martin!” Bob bellowed. “Unknown vehicle. Observe.”
    Kane grabbed his .308 rifle and disappeared out of the back of the barn.
    “Bob!” Joshua clenched his teeth. “He’s not going to do anything rash, is he?”
    “Martin will not initiate,” Bob calmly replied.
    Joshua pursed his lips.
    Bob stepped outside and shined a spotlight at the truck. “Identify yourself!”
    The lights on the truck went dark, the engine shut off and the door opened. “I’m Drew Thompson. Who are you ?”
    Bob looked at Joshua.
    “Drew’s with us,” Joshua said. “He’s okay.”
    “Martin!” Bob called out. “Stand down!”
    Out of the corner of his eye Joshua saw a quick movement as Kane lowered his .308 and retreated from his vantage point near the corner of the barn, disappearing into the darkness like a ghost. Bob did an about-face and reentered the barn.
    “Those two cats are wound a little tight, ain’t they?” Thomas nodded toward the barn.
    Joshua chuckled but did not answer. “Drew, I take it you got a new vehicle?”
    Drew was sporting what appeared to be pair of brand new khakis, a light blue dress shirt and green sweater vest, polished brown dress shoes and leather jacket. He was also carrying a dark blue backpack on one shoulder.
    “Yes I did. I needed something that would move more cargo than my little car.”
    “Looks like you also found a change of clothes. I thought your apartment was destroyed?”
    “It was. I still own my parents’ old house in Dunn and had some items in storage there. I went there to get a few things and convinced a friend who owns a used car dealership to trade me this for the ‘Vette.”
    Joshua nodded. “Drew,