A Powerless World | Book 3 | Defend The Homestead Hunt, Jack (read my book TXT) 📖

I agree? They held me down. I had no choice,” she spat before her eyes welled and tears streaked her cheeks. “I hate them. I hate all of them.”

Martha looked at Colby as if she wanted to say something but she didn’t. Instead, she walked out of the room.

“Can I stay a while?” Nina asked. “At least until he wakes.”

Colby nodded. “Take all the time you need.”

He walked out and could hear his mother talking with the others outside. Colby made his way out in time to see them heading in different directions, each one assigned some task. “Colby, take Dylan and Zeke to collect the rifles.”

“Where are they?”

“I stashed them at your cousin’s in Redway.”

“Heath?”

She nodded, distracted, bellowing more orders to the others.

“Why would you put them with him? That guy is crazy.”

Martha jabbed a finger. “Watch your mouth. He’s your cousin. He’s still family.”

That didn’t matter to him.

He watched her head back into the house. Colby followed. Alicia and Kane sat on the porch, just observing the whirlwind of activity. He glanced at them and lifted a finger to indicate to give him a minute. He felt bad. Like he should be entertaining her or keeping her away from all of this, but she was getting dragged into the drama as much as he was.

“Why do you need them now?”

“Isn’t it obvious? To protect this homestead from an imminent attack, and, well because if they’re looking for it, there’s no safer place than here.”

“Then why didn’t you just bring it here in the first place?”

“Because…”

“Because?”

She ignored him and asked him to grab some more water and cloth so she could tend to Jessie. He collected what was needed but he wasn’t letting her off the hook that easily. Although he hadn’t been around in ten years, he remembered that look — the way she would distract them to avoid answering a question.

Colby returned.

“So?”

“So what?”

“Why didn’t you store them here?” Colby asked.

“Does it matter?”

She wouldn’t look him in the eyes. “What are you not telling me?”

“Colby, would you just go and do what I’ve asked. I have enough stress to deal with right now,” she said, glancing over at Nina, who was on the other side of the bed. Colby’s gaze bounced between them.

“You going to be okay here?” he asked.

“Of course I will,” his mother snapped.

“I was asking Nina.”

The look on his mother’s face was priceless. Nina managed to summon a smile of appreciation for him asking. She gave a nod. “I’ll be fine. Thanks, Colby.”

Benjamin assessed the unfolding situation.

Being present when Johnson delivered the news was every bit as much about assessing the potential threat level as it was about speaking to Derek. “Now again, this only applies if you decide to move into Eureka or if you plan on entering the city limits.”

Hank Strickland sat on a rocking chair, like a king on a throne.

In his peripheral vision, Benjamin could see a large number of armed individuals, male, female, they all looked comfortable holding weapons, capable even.

“Who made this new rule? Dan or you?” His eyes diverted to Benjamin.

“It was mutually agreed upon,” he said.

“And the council. Did they have a say in the matter?”

“That’s between them and us. We’re just the messenger,” Benjamin replied.

“Are you?”

Johnson was quick to ensure that things didn’t get heated. He stepped forward. “Now Hank. We’re not here to argue. Everyone is hearing the same message. What is being done is not to control the people but to protect them.”

“Is that right?”

If this guy and his family were supposed to be intimidating, they weren’t doing a very good job. His eyes scanned for Derek. He couldn’t see him. “Well, we’ll be going now.”

“Actually before we go, is Derek here?” Benjamin asked.

“Why?”

“I have a question for him after getting his assistance today.”

Hank turned his head. “Derek.”

Off to his left, Derek appeared, making his way through ten other guys. “Yeah?”

“A word in private.” Benjamin went to walk away and Hank chimed in.

“Oh no, whatever you need to ask you say it in front of us. We have no secrets.”

“I appreciate that. But…”

“But nothing. Ask, or leave. Those are your options.” Hank emphasized the word options, especially after they had been given theirs concerning moving into the city, or going to a FEMA camp, or surviving on their own.

Benjamin nodded, scanning faces. “All right. There was no arsenal of weapons or gold. Were you lying?”

Derek frowned. “No.”

“Weapons? Gold?” Hank asked, looking at his son.

“Keith Harrison told me,” he said. “Said he was paid to give Martha Riker a hand with a stockpile. He said she had a lot of guns.”

“Where were they taken?”

“I don’t know. You’d have to ask him but I doubt he’ll tell you. He said she only wanted it loaded into a truck.”

It struck him as odd that she wouldn’t have gotten her family to help.

“And where can I find this Harrison fellow?”

“I know his address,” Johnson said quietly to Benjamin.

“Was that it?” Hank asked. Benjamin stared at Derek. He’d contemplated taking him in but now he’d mentioned a third person, how could he charge him with a false report until they verified it with Harrison? “You know, if you’re wrong, you could be charged with making a false report of a crime.”

“I didn’t know it was a crime to own guns in California,” Hank said.

“It isn’t,” Johnson replied before turning to Benjamin and saying in a low voice, “What are you doing?”

He ignored Johnson and continued. “It will be if they are found to have made their way inside the boundaries of Eureka.”

Hank stood up. “Really? Well, I guess you better go find out.”

It was a threatening posture. Johnson was quick to smooth out the building tension, taking hold of Benjamin’s arm. “Hank. Thank you for your time. If you have any questions, you know where we are.” He kept a tight grip on Benjamin’s arm and strong-armed him back to the gate.

All the while he could hear the Stricklands chuckling behind them.

“You be sure to visit us again,