David grabbed a hold of Doug’s neck and head and tried to pull the man away from his mother, twisting with every bit of strength he had. Doug stepped away from the bed, clawing at David’s arms, trying to shake him loose. Doug balled up his fists and swung behind him, landing glancing blows, but David clung tight. Doug maneuvered to the doorway and repeatedly threw his body back against the corner of it, pinning David and knocking the air out of him with each blow. The third strike broke David’s grip and he dropped to the floor. Jennifer dove onto the floor where Doug had placed the knife and grabbed it.
Doug turned back towards the bed. “This isn’t how I planned this,” he snarled. “No one was going to get hurt.”
Jennifer stood against the far wall, clutching Doug’s knife. “Get out! Get out now!”
Doug laughed. “I’m not afraid of you and some twelve year old. Tell him to go back to his room! I just want one thing.” Doug stepped towards Jennifer. She raised the knife, prepared to strike. Doug shook his head. “This is your fault, Jenn. It didn’t have to be this way.” He came towards her quickly, deflected her swing, and then grabbed her wrist and forced the knife from her hands, before roughly pushing her onto the bed.
As he bent to pick up the weapon, David tackled him from behind and knocked Doug headfirst into the wall with enough force that Doug dropped to the ground.
Jennifer scrambled across the bed and pushed Emma onto the floor, then thrust her arm under the mattress searching for her gun.
“Stay away from my mother, you jerk!” David shrieked as he stepped back. His fists were raised in front of him and he rocked nervously from side to side.
Doug scrambled on the floor, searching in the darkness for his knife. His found it and stood up and turned towards David, who had backed across the room but was still threatening him.
Jennifer found the gun and raised it in front of her. “David, get out! Doug, back off! You get out of my house! I’ve got a gun!” she yelled. She could see well enough in the dark room to know she’d be able to hit her target.
Both of the men ignored her commands, and Doug lunged at David, who was standing near the doorway.
Jennifer pulled the trigger, but nothing happened.
David swung at Doug, hitting him on the cheek, at the same time that the blade pierced his abdomen. As Doug pulled the knife back, David dropped his hands to his belly and found it warm and wet. He lifted his hand in front of his eyes and saw that it was covered in something dark, then wiped it on his shirt and raised his fists defensively in front of himself again.
Jennifer screamed in horror. She shook the gun in her hand. “Work!” she shrieked, and then she remembered the safety. She fumbled for the button, found it with her shaking fingers, and released it as she desperately raised the gun again.
Jennifer heard David’s voice and could tell he was in a lot of pain. “I said stay away from my mother,” he repeated.
Doug stood back a few steps from David and could see the stain of blood spreading on the boy’s shirt. The situation had spiraled completely out of control and he let out a gasp. “You’re too brave, kid,” he said. “You shouldn’t have to die.” As Doug dropped the knife and stepped towards David, he heard a gunshot and felt something hot strike him in the shoulder and throw him against the wall. He turned to where he’d seen the flash and saw another one, then a third.
Doug dropped to his knees, feeling like a mule had kicked him in the chest with both feet. He tried to speak, to tell Jennifer he was sorry, that no one was supposed to get hurt, but all he heard was the gurgling noise from his chest. Then his eyes closed, and he collapsed to the ground.
With the sound of gunshots still ringing in her ears, Jennifer discarded the gun under the bed and leapt across the room to David. He had dropped to his knees and was clutching his stomach with both hands. “David!” she cried out. “Oh, David! How bad is it?”
“I think he stabbed me, Mom. There’s blood, and it hurts bad.”
“Oh, sweetie,” Jennifer sobbed. “Lay down and try to relax. I have to get Carol. She can help you. Keep pressure on it, okay, honey?”
David spoke through clenched teeth. “I’ll try, Mom, but I don’t feel so good.”
Jennifer ran to Emma, who was still hiding by the bed with a pillow over her head, grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. “Sweetie! You’ve got to stop crying! I need your help. David is hurt. Do you understand me?’
Emma nodded, her face twisted in fear.
“I’m going to get Mrs. Anderson next door, then the doctor. I need you to help hold a shirt on David’s stomach until we get back,” she said as she yanked open her dresser. “You’ve got to help your brother. It’s very important.”
Emma nodded and took the t-shirt from her mother, her hands trembling.
Jennifer found her sweatshirt and pants on the floor where Doug had tossed them, dressed, then stepped around Doug’s nearly naked body and knelt on the floor beside her children. “Hold it like this,” she instructed Emma as she folded the shirt over a couple of times and placed it on the wound, pressing down and making David flinch. “Emma, press hard and don’t look around. Just look at David and talk to him. Whatever you do, don’t let him fall asleep, okay? David, keep talking to your sister and make sure she doesn’t look at anything but you.”
Jennifer rushed into the hall, the smell of gunpowder burning her nose and reminding her of the nightmare she was living. At the end of the hall, Spencer was crying hysterically in his bedroom. Jennifer called to him as she ran to the front door. “Spencer, it’s going to be alright. I’ll be back soon.” Then she ran out into the night.
CHAPTER 30
Saturday, November 12th
East of Butte, Montana
Day 71
I made a decision two days ago that I hope I won’t regret. I left my cart behind so I can get through the hills and mountains easier. I’ve second-guessed myself ever since, but so far, things have worked out. I think with the short distance I have left to travel, I can make a good hard push to get there. My backpack is all that I’ve got, and I feel naked. As long as I can find shelter at night, I should be alright. The last few days have been nice after some cold and snow. I’m so close now I can hardly sleep.
I love you all
Monday, November 14th
Deer Creek, Montana
Day 73
I made it through Butte yesterday without incident, even got a hot meal at a church. People seem to have settled into some sort of acceptance of their condition, although hollow eyes and hungry faces are the norm. Some look like the walking dead. Even the children have little life in them. I only see the people near the highway, so I hope that they are the exception, but it’s hard to tell. Yesterday the priest at the church said that the government’s broadcasts don’t offer much hope, that they often play the same message for 2 or 3 days in a row. I know lots of people don’t have much hope, but I do. In three days, God willing, I’ll see my family again. Words can’t express how that makes me feel. On the other hand, the fear that something might happen to me after coming so far is a constant worry. I can’t wait to touch your faces, hold your hands, tuck the kids in bed—all joys worth walking twice the distance for.
I love you all.
Thursday, November 17th
Deer Creek, Montana
The green mile markers counted down to Kyle’s exit. For the past three days, he’d been walking on roads that he’d driven a hundred times before. Never had it looked so beautiful, and never had it taken so long to cover the distance. The anticipation of arriving home compelled him to push his limits, walking until well after dark, waking before sunrise to head off, and stopping for only a few minutes to eat what meager food he could scavenge. He had abandoned his cart on the east side of Butte when the mountains there rose up to greet him. Without the cart, he was making better time but was having to adjust to the absence of the security the cart had provided.