names I’ve never bothered learning.”
Kelly snickered. I continued. “There was another woman in the group, Cindy. She was Wanda’s daughter. She got infected and didn’t make it.”
I didn’t explain the circumstances, or that Wanda blamed Rowdy for her daughter’s ultimate death.
“Here we are,” I said as I drove into the parking lot of the church. There was a goodly amount of smoke coming out of the chimney of the wood stove Mac had recently installed.
I pointed at the church and continued. “The whole purpose of the radio tower is to invite survivors to join us and form a community. The church is going to be the staging area for any new arrivals. I imagine Mac has them in there getting everything cleaned up. Let’s go say hello.”
We were met at the door by Wanda. I introduced Konya and the dogs, and let Kelly introduce the rest. Konya was cordial to everyone, and even gave Mac a smile, but he seemed nervous. Maybe he wasn’t used to being around so many people at once. After several minutes of conversation, Konya motioned me off to the side.
“Zach, would you mind carrying me back to my van?” he asked.
“Sure, Konya, are you leaving?”
Konya nodded. “I got some things to take care of back at the camp.”
I nodded in understanding, spoke with Kelly briefly and had Konya back at his van twenty minutes later. He loaded up his stuff and Julie joined me as we bid him farewell. He stood by his van silently for a moment before responding.
“Tell everyone thanks for the hospitality if you don’t mind.”
“I guess it was uncomfortable to be around so many people after living on your own for so long,” I said. Konya nodded slightly but didn’t say anything. “Well, you have a standing invitation with us.” Konya looked at me and nodded again.
“I appreciate it,” he said and drove off without further comment.
“Did we do something to offend him?” Julie asked.
“No, he’s just not used to people. Fred said not to crowd him and he’ll be back.”
Chapter 8 – The Elephant on the Golf Course
“Cum dumpster?” I asked. I had lured Andie into one of our greenhouses under the pretense of tending to our herbs and vegetables. Andie glared at me.
“It’s what she is, she’s fucking Terry,” she retorted.
“It’s Terry’s fault too, don’t you think?” I asked. She avoided eye contact and concentrated on watering some plants.
“I knew you’d take her side.”
“No, I’m always on your side,” I said quietly.
“You’re about to tell me not to hurt her.”
“Yes, I’m asking you not to,” I said. “She’s moved out of the house, there shouldn’t be any further issues.”
Andie did not respond. She set the water bucket on the ground and turned her back to me. I walked over to her and put my arm around her shoulder. There were tears in her eyes. I gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“It’s okay, I’ll live,” she wiped her eyes and sighed. “So, what do I do now?”
I thought for a minute. “How about this, the weather has been sunny the past couple of days. If it holds out tomorrow, why don’t the four of us go horseback riding? I’ll get Rhonda to babysit. Bo has practically been begging us to take the horses out for some exercise. It’ll be like a double date. Spending time with Terry will be nice, right?”
So, my grand plan of repairing the tenuous relationship between Andie and Terry, marred by a latent case of infidelity, seemed like a brilliant idea. We packed a lunch and a tarp for ground cover, and went horseback riding down Franklin Pike. The surroundings were quiet, the houses along the roadway barren and lonely looking. The conversation was intermittent, with Julie and I doing most of the talking.
“I’m getting hungry. Let’s look for a place to set up, what do you guys say?” I suggested.
We settled on the seventh hole of a private golf course located on Franklin Pike. It had an open
Kelly snickered. I continued. “There was another woman in the group, Cindy. She was Wanda’s daughter. She got infected and didn’t make it.”
I didn’t explain the circumstances, or that Wanda blamed Rowdy for her daughter’s ultimate death.
“Here we are,” I said as I drove into the parking lot of the church. There was a goodly amount of smoke coming out of the chimney of the wood stove Mac had recently installed.
I pointed at the church and continued. “The whole purpose of the radio tower is to invite survivors to join us and form a community. The church is going to be the staging area for any new arrivals. I imagine Mac has them in there getting everything cleaned up. Let’s go say hello.”
We were met at the door by Wanda. I introduced Konya and the dogs, and let Kelly introduce the rest. Konya was cordial to everyone, and even gave Mac a smile, but he seemed nervous. Maybe he wasn’t used to being around so many people at once. After several minutes of conversation, Konya motioned me off to the side.
“Zach, would you mind carrying me back to my van?” he asked.
“Sure, Konya, are you leaving?”
Konya nodded. “I got some things to take care of back at the camp.”
I nodded in understanding, spoke with Kelly briefly and had Konya back at his van twenty minutes later. He loaded up his stuff and Julie joined me as we bid him farewell. He stood by his van silently for a moment before responding.
“Tell everyone thanks for the hospitality if you don’t mind.”
“I guess it was uncomfortable to be around so many people after living on your own for so long,” I said. Konya nodded slightly but didn’t say anything. “Well, you have a standing invitation with us.” Konya looked at me and nodded again.
“I appreciate it,” he said and drove off without further comment.
“Did we do something to offend him?” Julie asked.
“No, he’s just not used to people. Fred said not to crowd him and he’ll be back.”
Chapter 8 – The Elephant on the Golf Course
“Cum dumpster?” I asked. I had lured Andie into one of our greenhouses under the pretense of tending to our herbs and vegetables. Andie glared at me.
“It’s what she is, she’s fucking Terry,” she retorted.
“It’s Terry’s fault too, don’t you think?” I asked. She avoided eye contact and concentrated on watering some plants.
“I knew you’d take her side.”
“No, I’m always on your side,” I said quietly.
“You’re about to tell me not to hurt her.”
“Yes, I’m asking you not to,” I said. “She’s moved out of the house, there shouldn’t be any further issues.”
Andie did not respond. She set the water bucket on the ground and turned her back to me. I walked over to her and put my arm around her shoulder. There were tears in her eyes. I gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze.
“I’m sorry,” I said.
“It’s okay, I’ll live,” she wiped her eyes and sighed. “So, what do I do now?”
I thought for a minute. “How about this, the weather has been sunny the past couple of days. If it holds out tomorrow, why don’t the four of us go horseback riding? I’ll get Rhonda to babysit. Bo has practically been begging us to take the horses out for some exercise. It’ll be like a double date. Spending time with Terry will be nice, right?”
So, my grand plan of repairing the tenuous relationship between Andie and Terry, marred by a latent case of infidelity, seemed like a brilliant idea. We packed a lunch and a tarp for ground cover, and went horseback riding down Franklin Pike. The surroundings were quiet, the houses along the roadway barren and lonely looking. The conversation was intermittent, with Julie and I doing most of the talking.
“I’m getting hungry. Let’s look for a place to set up, what do you guys say?” I suggested.
We settled on the seventh hole of a private golf course located on Franklin Pike. It had an open
Similar Books
