a good shot?"
Tim smiled and wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.
"I guess I got lucky."
Thankfully, the gas can was full, and after loading the can into the SUV, Dan and Tim drove toward the next house. Adrenaline still coursed through Dan's body. If it weren't for the watchful eyes of his companion, he would've been wounded, maybe even killed. Perhaps the man was more experienced than he let on.
"I appreciate what you did for me back there, Tim," Dan said.
"No problem. It's the least I can do, considering what you folks have done for me." Tim smiled. "You saved my life."
"Where'd you learn to shoot like that?"
"My dad used to take me to the ranges when I was a kid. He always said I had a knack for it, but I didn't believe him."
"Well, lucky for me, your dad was right."
There was no fuel at the second property, but at the third, they found another gallon of gas. Satisfied with the take, Dan and Tim returned to the SUV, heading back in the direction of the Sanders'. Late afternoon was approaching, and the sun had lowered slightly in the sky. The diminishing light was a reminder for Dan to keep moving. Nightfall was hours away, but one could never count on safe travels.
What they'd just encountered was proof of that. Thank God Tim had been there to help him.
Tim stared out the window, taking in the rolling fields and hills. Dan wondered what was going through the man's mind. For the past week, Dan's life had been filled with silent prayer—thanking God for each day he and the others survived. Maybe Tim was having similar thoughts.
After a few moments, Tim broke the silence. "Meredith mentioned you folks might be heading out east."
"That's the plan. Once the infected get weaker, we're going to head for safety."
"It'll be strange when the infected are gone." Tim paused, staring wistfully at the road. "So many people dead…so many lives lost…"
"I hear you. But it'll be safer, at least."
"Yep," Tim said. "No question about that."
Chapter Thirteen
With Dan and Tim out of sight, John's fears fermented. The girls sat across from him, engaged in a card game, but he was much too restless to sit and play. After watching them a while, John got up and paced the house. He explored each room, checking and re-checking the cabinets and drawers, as if he might've missed something in the days prior. Ernie followed him, panting happily, his paws clicking the hardwood.
John felt bad going through the Sanders' belongings. Even though he knew they were deceased, it didn't seem right. He'd met the Sanders several times while dating Meredith, and they'd seemed like nice people. It was hard to imagine them transformed into snarling, rabid beasts. He was glad he hadn't had to witness that.
After perusing the kitchen and the bedrooms, John wandered back into the living room. "I'm going to head outside and get some air," he told the girls.
"Okay," Meredith said.
"Will you be all right?"
"We'll be fine."
John removed the barricade and stepped out into the yard. Meredith secured the house behind him. The fresh air was a blessing after being indoors. For the past week, John had felt cooped up and contained. John preferred the smell of the grass and the natural gust of the wind to the stale air of a house.
He looked out over the Sanders' sprawling property. In front of him was the small garden they'd been tending. Several semi-ripe tomatoes hung on the vine, sharing space with cucumbers, squash, and carrots. At the end of the driveway was the barn, which they'd locked to avoid the prying hands of the creatures. The property stretched as far as the eye could see, transforming from well-kept grass to untended fields and brush.
There were no other properties in sight.
He was startled by the sound of an engine. Dan and Tim . John headed for the driveway. He stared past Meredith's pickup, expecting to find the graffiti-covered SUV rolling toward him. But there was nothing there.
He listened as the noise increased, but
Tim smiled and wiped a bead of sweat from his forehead.
"I guess I got lucky."
Thankfully, the gas can was full, and after loading the can into the SUV, Dan and Tim drove toward the next house. Adrenaline still coursed through Dan's body. If it weren't for the watchful eyes of his companion, he would've been wounded, maybe even killed. Perhaps the man was more experienced than he let on.
"I appreciate what you did for me back there, Tim," Dan said.
"No problem. It's the least I can do, considering what you folks have done for me." Tim smiled. "You saved my life."
"Where'd you learn to shoot like that?"
"My dad used to take me to the ranges when I was a kid. He always said I had a knack for it, but I didn't believe him."
"Well, lucky for me, your dad was right."
There was no fuel at the second property, but at the third, they found another gallon of gas. Satisfied with the take, Dan and Tim returned to the SUV, heading back in the direction of the Sanders'. Late afternoon was approaching, and the sun had lowered slightly in the sky. The diminishing light was a reminder for Dan to keep moving. Nightfall was hours away, but one could never count on safe travels.
What they'd just encountered was proof of that. Thank God Tim had been there to help him.
Tim stared out the window, taking in the rolling fields and hills. Dan wondered what was going through the man's mind. For the past week, Dan's life had been filled with silent prayer—thanking God for each day he and the others survived. Maybe Tim was having similar thoughts.
After a few moments, Tim broke the silence. "Meredith mentioned you folks might be heading out east."
"That's the plan. Once the infected get weaker, we're going to head for safety."
"It'll be strange when the infected are gone." Tim paused, staring wistfully at the road. "So many people dead…so many lives lost…"
"I hear you. But it'll be safer, at least."
"Yep," Tim said. "No question about that."
Chapter Thirteen
With Dan and Tim out of sight, John's fears fermented. The girls sat across from him, engaged in a card game, but he was much too restless to sit and play. After watching them a while, John got up and paced the house. He explored each room, checking and re-checking the cabinets and drawers, as if he might've missed something in the days prior. Ernie followed him, panting happily, his paws clicking the hardwood.
John felt bad going through the Sanders' belongings. Even though he knew they were deceased, it didn't seem right. He'd met the Sanders several times while dating Meredith, and they'd seemed like nice people. It was hard to imagine them transformed into snarling, rabid beasts. He was glad he hadn't had to witness that.
After perusing the kitchen and the bedrooms, John wandered back into the living room. "I'm going to head outside and get some air," he told the girls.
"Okay," Meredith said.
"Will you be all right?"
"We'll be fine."
John removed the barricade and stepped out into the yard. Meredith secured the house behind him. The fresh air was a blessing after being indoors. For the past week, John had felt cooped up and contained. John preferred the smell of the grass and the natural gust of the wind to the stale air of a house.
He looked out over the Sanders' sprawling property. In front of him was the small garden they'd been tending. Several semi-ripe tomatoes hung on the vine, sharing space with cucumbers, squash, and carrots. At the end of the driveway was the barn, which they'd locked to avoid the prying hands of the creatures. The property stretched as far as the eye could see, transforming from well-kept grass to untended fields and brush.
There were no other properties in sight.
He was startled by the sound of an engine. Dan and Tim . John headed for the driveway. He stared past Meredith's pickup, expecting to find the graffiti-covered SUV rolling toward him. But there was nothing there.
He listened as the noise increased, but
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