Into the High Country Read online

  Into the High Country

  A long Lonely Road book

  With

  John Walker and the girls

  By

  TJ Reeder

  All rights reserved

  March 21, 2013

  After returning to Lake Powell and spending time getting May established as family with Buck and crew and old Molly, we just settled down for a while. We spent time every day riding all over the canyons looking for places to maybe start our main settlement. We didn’t want to encroach on Joe and Willy’s set up and their canyon was too small to grow as much as we expected the new one to grow.

  We spent about a month just loafing when Sandy came up with the idea to take this time to head back to Texas and spend time with my Mother and Miz Sheri and the entire clan. I had to agree because come spring we were heading for the high lonesome and retrace the route Sandy and I used heading south. We wanted to visit all the folks we had met and hopefully they had all weathered the hard times.

  So, on a bright warm late fall day we loaded up in the Dodge truck and rolled out. We left the animals except Walker. Molly was very happy to remain behind with her kids all of whom played with her at every opportunity. When not doing that she was very busy napping in the sun then the shade when it got warmer in the afternoon. It’s good to know exactly what ya wanna do and Molly did!

  We stopped off for a few hours and visited with Charley and Sandy made a bee line for the old woman who greeted her with a hug, which surprised me but then Sandy does have a way. She took May along and they had a good visit, how I ain’t got a clue coz I don’t think the old woman speaks much English.

  I saw May come back to the truck which I had loaded and get several cans of coffee and by god I know it wasn’t in there before we left. May was now in the special group it seems.

  My policy now days is don’t ask coz ya ain’t gonna get an answer so why lower yourself to their level. May stopped short of the door and said “John I heard that”. Shit! I think I thought, she added I heard that too so stop cussing.

  Charley just sat there looking at me with pity so I said “Ok, go ahead and say it.” He just shook his head and said “We can’t sell because if they find their way back you will pay a big price.” I asked why if “we” sell them do “I” have to pay a big price? He smiled and said “I’m an old man and my mommy won’t let them hurt me, you on the other hand are screwed!”

  Stoic my old white wrinkled ass! And out the door came” It ain’t wrinkled”! And laughter. Time to go!

  We headed on down the road stopping for nothing. Sandy took great pleasure in pointing out the interesting places, like “There’s where john got shot in the ass.” I fail to see the humor in it, really. After a while it seemed like we had had a fight every few miles, or I don’t remember that many. She pointed out the general area where the folks were waiting to ambush us to get the disc. And of course heard all about the easy shot I blew taking out their leader instead of wounding him.

  I hate her which got me a flashing smile and “No you don’t.” I’m surrounded by witches. Now there was a thought! Charles’s mom has to be over a hundred maybe… Sandy looked at me and said “John, don’t go there.” Now that was spooky so I dropped it and it took several minutes to remember I was thinking it not speaking it.

  We crossed into Texas and of course had to stop at the check point and there was Bear Jackson standing with the Guard Commander Harry Jackson (no kin). Bear stuck out his paw and clinching my teeth I shook it and he didn’t try to crust it, while I was shaking Harry’s hand I saw Sandy looking up at him and saying “Bear, you remember me?” He said “I sure do Miz Sandy” she then said “Do you remember our first hand shake?” He replied with a big grin “I sure do!” She said “Do I need to remind you” he just shook his head all the time grinning like a fool. She stuck her hand out and he was as gentle as could be.

  She then introduced him to May with the words “I taught her to shoot so be a good Bear ok”? He even took off his hat and sorta bowed when he shook her hand. Sandy reached over and patted his head and said “ Good boy, good bear” Harry and I were standing shaking with tears rolling down while this giant would have wagged his tail if he had one and I swear if she asked he would grow one. I think he fell in love with May right there. Sandy said down boy, she belongs to us! And both laughed at the look that hit him.

  Harry told us to come on in and have a cup or two so we did. Sandy asked about General Will and we watched Harry’s eyes grow sad, He said the old man had died shortly after we left but he was smiling when he went and insisted the docs leave his boots on. We buried him in his dress blues with all his medals and did the whole thing, taps, 21 gun salute and folded the flag which he wanted Sandy to have.

  Sandy got up and walked away followed by May who returned shortly and ask Harry where he was buried and after he told them I heard the truck drive off followed immediately by a second vehicle, I looked questioningly at Harry who said “John, he’s buried out in the hills in the old cemetery where Miz Ellie was buried. That’s where he wanted to be planted as he put it. So her husband is on one side and Will’s on the other. I knew she was gonna go when she heard so I arranged some shooters to follow, but they won’t intrude.”

  I thanked Harry and Bear who looked at his watch and said well what ya know! It’s happy hour in and Harry and I joined him in saying Bangkok!! Good friends!

  It was two hours before the girls returned, both had been crying and had sat and told Will all about their experiences. She broke open a bottle of my JW and took a drink May took one and she poured the rest on the grave. She took time to introduce them to Miz Ellie and her husband. Sounds silly I know but not to us.We rolled out as soon as we made our manners, Sandy hugged Bear and called him a big dumb red neck dip shit, he smiled and said “Awww thanks Wyatt!”

  We decided to just roll on through the night and get home, which sounded funny since we also called Lake Powell home as well as Fort Navajo. I guess we will never be homeless. By morning we rolled into Casa de Sheri where we were greeted like long lost family which we are. Miz Sheri was the same sweet loving Queen of the Whole fkn Universe. All was well with her family.

  My Mom was still kicking and had a pot of Black eyed peas cooking and was about to put the corn bread in the oven. 94 years young and doing pretty damn good! As soon as I walked in she said dinner was about ready and to get washed up. Sandy hugged her and introduced May. Mom said there was plenty and to help set the table. Both girls set to work and chatted with Mom who seemed to think we were here all the time. I often wonder… well we all wonder don’t we?

  After dinner and the clean-up we headed to the cabin to settle in and catch a nap. I left the girls to go see Rick who was as usual working his ass off. I often feel guilty about not being here, usually for two maybe three seconds but I get over it. He understands, besides he’s more of a “do it my way, myself, perfect is almost good enough” kinda guy, whereas I’m a close enough is good enough kinda guy.

  I found him cutting down a tree that had the gall to die and become firewood which is funny because I burned more in a week in the high country than he does all winter. I think he just likes cutting wood. If he ever runs out of treated gasoline he will be using a buck saw and axe. That’s just the way he is.

  We spent an hour catching me up on things. He did say that some folks still seemed to pack a grudge

  over Sandy shooting the dip shit fake preacher and his sneaky flunky when they tried to murder me. I said I’d pass it on to Sandy but I knew her answer “Fuckem if they can’t take a joke.”

  I did mention there was a third woman in our family now causing him to laugh and ask just how old I was. I said “age has nothing to do with it, it’s good cle
an living!” Now that really got a laugh.

  I asked after his family, they were all doing well; he was a grandpa twice over now. I told him I had something for Chris his beautiful wife, that Sandy found and brought with us, he said it can’t be a gun coz she never lets go of one. I said no, it’s a case of the biggest bottles of Crown Royal made. He said she would be very happy since she ran out months ago.

  I was concerned about the people holding grudges about the shooting. He said it was more that the dead would-be gun fighter had a couple of brothers who were vowing all kinds of shit against the whole homestead to the point they had been avoiding town all together. Now that really pissed me off.

  I asked if they had talked to Fred the town marshal but Rick said no, they just avoided the issue since they needed nothing from town. Well this just kept pissing me off because a person should be able to go to town when they want even if they didn’t need to. I also knew Wyatt was gonna say fuck this and head right in first thing, and I was going with her.

  After leaving Rick torturing that big ol tree I headed to the cabin porch and a sit down. I peeked into the cabin and both girls were sound asleep so I just got up and headed for the truck figuring to settle this town issue right now. That didn’t work, the keys were missing. I don’t think the key had ever been out of it. So I headed back inside and quietly looked for the key, without opening an eye Sandy said “John, you’re not going to town alone so get yer tired ass in bed.” May said “ditto.”

  Both scooted over enough for me to fit between them and it was morning before my eyes opened. I’ve never been one to sleep well crowded but I had become accustomed to it out of a lack of choice.

  I realized I was alone so I staggered up and headed out the door for the solar shower and promptly scalded my ass! I forgot just how hot that black water tank gets in the direct sun but after a bit I eased into it and more or less got used to it. All I had to do was turn the cold valve to have it dilute the hot but that would be admitting I was a pansy who couldn’t take a little pain. I’m my own worst enemy. I heard Sandy say “No shit Sherlock!” I hate her, then they both started laughing, I hate May too.

  After getting dressed I asked Wyatt what she had in mind which promptly brought “I’m hungry for some of Sally’s cooking, which meant back to the scene of the last problem.” I was more inclined to see Fred but food sounded good so after making sure we were loaded for bear, off we went.

  We parked the truck right in front of Sally’s place and trooped inside where we found Fred nursing a cup of coffee. He took one look and said “Ah shit.” Sandy just hugged him and jerked his head down for a kiss, poor Fred didn’t stand a chance.

  After shaking hands and intros with him and May which caused Fred look at me and shake his head, I just smiled and said “Hey, it was their idea.” The smiles didn’t last long because before I could say a word Fred told me what was going on and who to look out for. It seemed the sneaky gunman wanna-be had several brothers and uncles and cousins and even a few friends, all of whom had been vowing all sorts of doom on the homestead and me and Sandy.

  I sipped my coffee while Sandy and May went into the kitchen with Sally for girl talk with lots of giggling going on. Finally I asked Fred just where the town folks stood on the issue and where he stood. Fred is a good friend and I will do nothing to cause him grief. He said the town folks were pretty well out of it, all of them recognized that Sandy had no choice in the mess and that the so called preacher did try to set up a murder, and was also abusing women and girls all in the name of the Lord. Amen!

  We just sat for a while until I said “you know I have no options in this matter?” He said yeah he did. I told him I wouldn’t push the issue but wouldn’t let this bunch of redneck white trash bastards cause problems for the Homestead. He said he understood that. We sat for a while longer until I finally understood what was going on. And I asked Fred right out if he had been threatened. And of course he had and was very worried about it because he knew he couldn’t handle the whole clan of trash alone and nobody seemed willing to become involved in a blood feud with a big family of inbred trash. It kinda reminded me of that old movie “High Noon” where folks want peace as long as their ass ain’t on the line.

  But these folks around here were not like that so I was surprised. Fred said he thought it was because this was a huge family we were talking about and were the kind to carry a grudge forever and most folks figured they might just back shoot from the trees with not a feeling.

  I told Fred my ol grandpa always said “Boy, ya cain’t kill a snake by stompin its tail, ya just gotta go right up and stomp it’s head.” I loved my grandpa. So having said that I asked if it was best to just take it to them? He knew we had enough firepower to end it once and for all. But that would endanger women and kids and I wasn’t gonna do that.

  So the best I could come up with was to invite them to a set down talk and try to settle it peacefully. Fred said “Lots of luck!”

  I could not believe we hadn’t been here 24 hours and shit was already coming at us. And all I could think of was trying to talk sense to a bunch of inbred, walleyed, banjo picking, porch sittin, country fucks (I liked that and always wanted to use it) who believed might makes right. Well actually it kinda does but ya gotta be right before you use might.

  But we would attempt to do it the right way. But one way or the other it was gonna end real soon. Like tomorrow. I asked Fred to set up a meeting and to pick a spot where they would have to have a Carlos Hathcock to be able to snipe us, and I doubted they had one. On the other hand, we did have one and he was gonna be on over watch.

  We had our breakfast and settled up with Miz Sally and Fred said he would be out when he had an answer and a location. We headed home and spent the day preparing for the meeting. I had a talk with the guy who was gonna be our ace in the hole, whose main job was locating the people I knew would be out there waiting for a chance. I gave him my 308 bolt gun with the can and 100 rounds of the best match ammo Federal ever made. I told him to figure out everything he needed and to not fall in love with my rifle!

  We spent the next several days just being home, spent time with Mom and helping out where needed. The old place was in great shape now that there was plenty of help and Miz Sheri wasn’t having to run 23 hours a day trying to do it all herself. In a lot of ways I agree with Charley that the EMP may have saved humanity and the planet. Folks didn’t seem real worried about getting things back like they were.

  After a week passed, Fred showed up and said that the Higgins clan said they would meet us but we should expect nothing to make things better. Fred said he knew without a doubt they were planning to kill us. He had picked a place for the meeting and tried to make it as safe as possible but that’s never a given.

  The meet up was gonna be in an old rest stop on the interstate and in open country. As soon as we knew where it was, my shooter left with two good scouts to look it over. The meeting was set up for 3 days from today. That night the scouts were back with the news they had spent the day watching the other side scouting out the best place to set up their shooters. He smiled and said “them ol boys don’t know shit about the fine art of sniper work.”

  His plan was to ease into place before dawn of the meeting day and would be using gillie suits. He had a spotter plus another team who would be in closer to give support for us when it was needed. Each side was bringing four people with Fred as the impartial person there as a witness. I looked at Fred and said “you know they plan to kill you too right?” He just nodded so I told him I thought he needed to stay away but that didn’t hold water with Fred. He was tired of these assholes because besides being a pimple on the ass of humanity they were always a problem when they came to town. I told him I was very glad he was going to be there.

  On the morning of the day of the meet we were up and dressed before daybreak. None of us ate anything because I had always heard getting shot in the gut area was worse if you had a lot of digested food in there. What a crappy thi
ng to think about. The girls were both wearing their body armor under loose clothing, and both had their shoulder rigs on plus a spare in the back of their jeans. I had my Para P-14 with 4 magazines all with +2 extensions. If I couldn’t shoot my way out with 65 rounds I should retire. I also had that Officers model in the ankle rig.

  And God bless him Fred had showed up the night before with a set of body armor that fit me! Where he got it I’ll never know coz he just smiled when I asked. Right at good light we left for the 20 mile drive to the meeting area. When we arrived Fred was already there and here come the other side from the opposite direction. We arrived at the same time and while they parked wherever they stopped I backed into where I wanted to park. We stepped out and headed for the place where Fred waited. It was a picnic table but none of us was gonna set down that was for damn sure.

  They were a filthy bunch, all with a wad of chew in their jaws. I could smell them from 10 feet away and wasn’t getting close. I stood right in front of the one I figured was the spokesman and the girls were on each side of me. Fred was off to my right at the head of the table but back a bit. I almost smiled when I noticed Fred was standing right beside a round concrete fixture that had a water faucet sticking up, plenty big enough to drop behind. Ol Fred ain’t no dummy for damn sure.

  I looked them over and told them who I was and said I understand there’s a problem. Before the eldest could speak one of the hotheads shouted “Yer goddamn right we have a problem!!” “And what would that be?” I asked. The eldest man held up a hand but the hothead wouldn’t shut up and I knew it was done with when he took hold of the lapels of his old coat and looking at me sadly sighed and looked down and never looked up again, His way of saying “I’m out of this.”