Free America The Dead Book Two: The Road To Somewhere by Lindsey Rivers

Grows faster, resistant to
this and that, grows bigger, higher, more protein," Kate
elaborated.
    "Where could we find it?" Mike
asked.
    "I don't know," Ronnie said.
    "I bet Janet or Bob would know," Patty
said.
    Kate nodded. "Probably one of
them, what do you call it, feed
stores? I've seen them in farming
communities, you know, on A&E," she finished.
    "Yeah, I've seen those shows too," Patty
said.
    "Like small towns," Kate agreed. She hesitated,
“So... what did you two think about what Bob had a say?" She asked
at last.
    "We wanna do it," Ronnie said,
"but..."
    "We were wondering what you were going to do,"
Patty said. She looked at Kate and then Mike.
    "I think it's good," Mike said. "But I won't go
anywhere Kate wont. So I can't commit until she does."
    "She does," Kate said. "I wanted my man and my
best friend too. I got what I wanted." She smiled.
    "We're going," Patty squealed, launching
herself at Kate.
    "I can't believe it. We'll get to raise our
kids together," Kate said, every bit as excited as
Patty.
    Mike and Ronnie stood back, arms folded across
their chests and watched as the two hugged, squealed, and
congratulated each other.
    "Dude," Mike said.
    "Dude," Ronnie repeated grinning.
    "Don't you two pick on us," Patty said. Her
eyes were bright.
    "Wouldn't think of it," Mike said.
    "Me either," Ronnie said.
    "Sure you would," Kate said. They let go of
each other and turned to the men.
    "You're sure?" Kate asked Mike.
    "Yep," he said.
    "You?" Patty asked Ronnie.
    "Yes, ma'am," Ronnie said.
    "Yes!" Kate said and grabbed Patty
again.
    "Yahoo," Patty said as they jumped up and
down.
    "Yahoo?" Mike asked.
    "Old cowboy thing," Ronnie said.
    "You," Patty said slapping Ronnie's shoulder
softly, then pulling him to her and kissing him.
    "And you too," she said giving Mike a sisterly
kiss on the cheek.
    "Come here," Kate said. She kissed Mike and
then gave Ronnie a kiss on the forehead. "I guess we're pretty
happy," she said.
    "I guess you are, Babe," Mike said and kissed
her back.
    ~
    At midday, Mike and Ronnie left Kate and Patty,
who we're still going through the two smaller mom and pop stores,
finding all kinds of surprises, and headed over to the garage area.
Molly and Tom were finishing up bumpers on the last of the trucks,
while Bob was helping to remount the last two tires on the last of
Jeff's Hummers.
    "Ronnie and I want to take one of the pickups
down the road a bit, Bob," Mike said.
    "Sure," Bob said. "Anyone but that one," he
pointed at the one Molly and Tom were working on. "But that one
will be done in an hour or so if you want to wait."
    "Nope," Mike said. "One of the ones outside
will do just fine. Can we take you with us, or are you really
busy?" Mike asked.
    "Can if you want me. Sent Tim and Annie off to
spend some time alone. We're almost done. There's really nothing
left but that bumper and a test drive, and Molly and Tom can take
care of that."
    "Good, we need your opinion," Mike
said.
    Bob put some muscle into the last lug nut he
was tightening and then handed off the lug wrench to
Jeff.
    "Jeff, you want to come along?" Mike
asked.
    "Let me finish these lug nuts, and I'll be
right along," Jeff said.
    A few minutes later the pickup truck pulled
out, followed by the hummer, and headed down the road following
Jan's general directions.
    About a mile down the road, Mike spotted the
old partially collapsed barn and pulled down off the broken
pavement and headed towards it. He stopped the truck and backed
around, facing the road.
    "Stiff, but it walked right down off the
pavement like it was nothing, and in two wheel drive no less," Mike
said.
    Bob and Jeff walked up "What have we got here?"
Bob asked?. He looked over the barn, picking up on the faint
clucking sounds coming from the interior.
    "Guess you found Jan's chickens," Bob
said.
    "Yep, and that's what I wanted to talk to you
about... chickens. I don't know anything about them," he said, "or
cows, or horses, or... What else is there I should know