“What about holding Junior accountable?”
Cooper paused before responding, “It’s up to you all. But, my daddy taught me to always leave the other guy a way to save face when negotiating. I don’t think someone like Hodges will publicly agree to do anything to his son.” Cooper held up a finger to stifle the protests, “But, I’m willing to bet that you take twenty percent from Hodges, that Junior will get punished well and good.”
A disturbance came from the back of the crowd. It was Keith. “Not good enough! He’s raping my wife, for God’s sakes! He’s gotta get punished!” Cooper caught the glint of a killer in Keith’s eyes and watched his muscles ripple as he struggled to free himself from those around him who were trying to restrain him.
Cooper had an idea, “Keith, I bet you’d beat the hell outta Junior if given the chance?”
That brought a baritone laugh from him, “I could have whipped that weasel in a bar fight a month ago. Now, I’ll tear him limb from limb.”
“Good. That’s what I thought. You gave us our third demand. Keith and Junior go toe to toe in a fair fight. No holds barred.”
The shouting and applause was so loud that Cooper felt like he’d just been elected the Mayor of some small town. Before he could enjoy the elation, he heard his father’s voice. When getting people to do something they will be scared to do, get them to commit to each other, not you. That will hold. His father had been talking about workers confronting an abusive boss or going out on strike. Cooper was taking this group up against a boss with guns.
He quieted the group once again. “So, if you’re in, raise your hand.” Every single hand shot rapidly skyward.
“Now, stop looking at me. Look at each other. Look each other in the eye. Any one of you get cold feet tonight, you remember who you are committing to. It ain’t me. It’s to each other. It’s to this community. It’s to what’s right. It’s to saying you won’t ever have to worry ‘bout Junior coming for your wife, your daughter, or your mama next time he wants to.” Cooper felt the weight of his words and saw them sinking in. He paused to let it all happen. When most of the crowd had turned back towards him, he continued, “You all in?”
Cooper had expected another chorus of yells and applause. Instead, he looked out onto the crowd and saw neighbors, relatives, and friends looking each other squarely in the eye with an unspoken promise. Jaws were firmly set. Some eyes glistened in the light cast by the moon and the headlights. Many had clasped hands or were holding one another by their shoulders. A few grabbed one another in tight embraces. A chill ran down his spine. Now, I know what my father was talking about when he spoke of the ‘electricity of that damned thing called solidarity’.
“I know one thing to be true,” he muttered to Miles, who stood next to him on the hood.
“What’s that?”
“I wouldn’t want to be Sheriff Hodges come the morning. There’s a reckoning coming.”
The rest had been details and the myriad of questions that took another hour to sort through. Cooper let Miles handle most of it, but jumped in when he had to. Miles had thanked him profusely after the meeting and a dozen men had come to introduce themselves and thank him for his help in getting things organized. He was offered, and took a few nips, from flasks containing alcohol of all kinds. The homebrews burned his throat like kerosene while the store bought whiskeys felt like sweet water going down. His belly and his head felt warm and light by the time the group had dispersed. Instinctively, he made his way to the Jeep.
Dranko stopped him, “I think we should just stay here.”
“Really? Why?”
“Fuel. Things are set back home ‘til the morning. We brought our gear. We need to start conserving anywhere we can.”
Cooper didn’t like the idea of being away from Jake for the night, but agreed with his friend’s reasoning. Before the plague, I could have just called and checked in. Cell phones had been down for a while and the land lines were dead up in Estacada, as well as most places across the United States.
“Alright, let’s bunk here. That fine by you, Miles?”
“Sure thing.”
“There’s one added plus to your plan,” Cooper said, directing his comment at Dranko.
“I surely won’t die tomorrow.”
Dranko grinned at him, smelling the setup, “Why’s that?”
“Because God wouldn’t let my last night on this fine earth be spent sleeping next to an ugly mug like you. Even post-Brushfire, I don’t believe he’s that cruel.”
Dranko clutched his chest, feigning a wound. Then, the three men fell into easy laughter.
Chapter Ten
Cooper and Miles awoke early the next morning, the nervous anticipation of the coming day doing its work. Dranko continued sleeping soundly, as did Lily, Bethany and the children. The two men crept quietly about the house while getting dressed and readying some hot water. With a steaming cup of tea and a dry slice of stove-toasted bread in hand, they went outside.
“You were lucky you were on propane up here,” Cooper commented, his breath frosting.
Miles nodded, “Luckier still that we had just been filled up about two weeks before everything went to hell. Wood fired cooking would change a lot of things.”
“It will change a lot of things. You’ll run dry on propane soon enough.”
Mile frowned, “Yeah, I know. At least I have a few months to get ready for it. Some of my friends already have. Chopping wood ain’t no joke.”
Silence lingered between them. Cooper sipped the tea, each time burning his lips. He welcomed the contrast between the cold air and the scorching tea. He breathed in the clean, frosty air deep into his lungs. It burned him, but it woke him faster than any cup of caffeine would ever do. He savored the morning quiet. He wished he could take the peace that surrounded him now and bake it into his body so that he could bring it with him. Must be thinking about the conflict that’s coming up today. Cooper wished he could tell how it would unfold. He took a big bit of the dry, tasteless toast. He washed it down with a burning gulp of the tea. I’d kill for some butter right now. He laughed at his own thought. But, I’d only maim for some coffee.
“You have any idea how Hodges will react to being confronted?”
Miles sucked his cheeks in, thinking. Finally, he blew out the air before talking, “I think he’ll be reasonable.” He paused again, his eyes squinting in deep thought. “It’s his son I’m worried about. He’s a hothead. Has been since the day he was born.
“You ready for today?”
Miles laughed nervously, “Ha! That’s a good one. “
He smiled back, “What makes you say that?”
“I just mean, how do you get ready for something like this? I feel a little like I’m about to deliver the Declaration of Independence to the King or something.” He shook his head in disbelief when he’d finished.
Cooper finished a drink of tea, blew out a long exhale of steam, “Well, you sort of are doing that. Can I give you some advice?”
“Always.”
“Keep what you say short. But, most importantly, pitch whatever you say to the people who are in the middle.”
“What do you mean?”
“Think about those who are with us right now, but could be talked out of it. Think of those who aren’t with you in the room, but could be won over to support you when they hear what you said. Pitch what you say to those people. What you say will be repeated on down the line.”