The man’s features morphed from desperation to anger. “So you’re going to leave her here to die all alone in the middle of the road? What kind of sick monsters are you?” His fists clenched and he rushed Griz and Clutch.
Griz hit him in the stomach with the butt of his rifle just as Don reached them. “Get on the ground! Face down and arms stretched out!”
His daughter screamed, and the teenager rushed over and grabbed her to keep her from running to Don.
“Keep her quiet,” Clutch snapped.
“Don’t hurt my little girl!” Don cried out.
“Please,” Maggie limped forward. “Let’s all take a moment and talk. Don’s just worried about Brenda. He doesn’t mean anything by it. We’ve all been through a lot lately.”
“She’s going to be dead soon,” Clutch said. “It sucks, but wishing for something different isn’t going to keep her alive.”
“She’s not coming along,” Griz said. “If you want to stay with her, you can.”
Maggie wagged a finger. “We’re good people. We work hard and wouldn’t wish harm on anything. Please don’t leave us here.”
“The choice is yours,” Griz replied.
Don guffawed. “That’s no choice. I won’t abandon my wife.”
“Uh, guys?” I said, motioning to the tree line. “We need to make a decision and fast.”
Several deer ran out from the trees and across the road. Deer were skittish creatures, tending to hide unless spooked by a predator, and, there was one predator in abundance around here.
Zeds.
Chapter XX
I stepped around the Humvee. Don climbed to his feet. No one spoke while we waited to see how big a herd we had to deal with.
Finally, a single shape emerged. We all let out a collective sigh.
Maggie’s hand fluttered over her heart. “Oh, thank God.”
The huge, mangy wolf—or large dog; it was too hard to tell from this distance—stepped out from the shadows, eyed us as though deciding which would be easier prey, and then slowly turned to follow the deer. The deer had made a large U-turn around us and stopped only a couple hundred meters from where we stood. Wolves had multiplied since the outbreak. Large dogs were now joining their ranks, and these new packs feared neither humans nor zeds. Both became their dinner.
Once the wolf was a safe distance away and no others appeared, I let out the breath I’d been holding.
“Anyone in the mood for some venison for dinner?” Jase said from atop the Humvee.
I glanced at Clutch, and his lips curved upward.
We each raised our rifles. “I’ll take the big one on the left.”
“I’ve got mine,” Clutch said.
“Three,” Jase said quietly. “Two.”
We fired at the exact same instant.
Two deer fell, and I grinned, thinking of the first real meal I’d have since the catfish ordeal.
“Let’s hurry up and grab them in case the noise draws attention,” Griz said.
“They’re all yours,” I said, still smiling. While I enjoyed eating fresh meat, I hated seeing it when it was still literally doe-eyed and bushy-tailed.
Griz smirked. “I’ll haul them back, but I think I’ve got the better end of the deal. You guys will have to haul this group if they’re coming.” He gestured toward the small band of stranded newcomers. Then, his features hardened. “I’m sorry, but we can’t take in a casualty. It’s against protocol. You know that, right?”
I swallowed, glancing back at the woman who was starting to groan again, holding her stomach. The morphine was wearing off too quickly. Don was already growing tense again as he watched us.
“Get us a kit,” Clutch said tightly. “I’ll handle it from here.”
Griz gave the slightest nod before heading around the back of his Humvee.
“What kit are you talking about?” Don asked. “What are you doing?”
Clutch didn’t say anything, and Don turned to me. “What are you talking about doing to my wife?”