Conflicted Home (The Survivalist Book 9) A American (fun to read .TXT) 📖

and the corners nearly perfect. It was more than a hole after all. When we were finished, Thad and I went to the truck and slid the OD green bag out and carried her back to the spot, laying her down for a moment so Thad could get down in the hole. Danny interjected, “I don’t want her in this. I want something better.”

“This is the best, Danny. Really,” I replied.

But Danny was insistent and wouldn’t let up until Thad reached out and took him by the shoulder. “Danny, my friend, trust me when I say this. You do not want to see her like this. Remember her how she was. Not like this.”

Danny hadn’t seen her body. We had quickly put Bobbie into the body bag before he could see her for this very reason. I didn’t want to see, but as his friend, I really didn’t want him to. It was a horrible sight that I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Especially someone I cared for.

Thad’s words had an impact on Danny. He knew Thad spoke from personal experience. He knew he’d buried not only his wife, but also his son in the same condition. And he’d done it alone. At least Danny wasn’t alone. We couldn’t change Thad’s past, but at least we could help Danny deal with it.

As tears began to run down his face, Danny nodded, “You’re right. You’re right.” He knelt down and put his hand on the bag, running it back and forth. I was struck by it, for I knew what Bobbie looked like under his hand. My stomach began to protest, the whole image threatening a loss of control. But I fought it. I didn’t want that as the memory of his wife’s burial either.

Thad stepped gently into the grave and Danny, with his good hand, and I helped lower her down. Once she was in her resting place, Thad carefully climbed out and we stood there for a minute in silence, giving Danny the opportunity to say whatever he needed to. He didn’t utter anything aloud, but I was certain he was saying what he needed to silently.

When Danny stood up and grabbed a shovel, Thad and I did likewise and we filled the grave in. When the work was done, Danny’s shovel was completely covered in blood, all the way down to the spade. Doc sat on the porch and watched the process. Once he saw we were done, he came out and put an arm around Danny. “Come on back to the house so I can clean that up,” he said.

Danny didn’t protest and the two of them went back to the house together. Thad and I carried the shovels back to the shed, stopping by the hose to clean Danny’s shovel. But his blood had stained the wood; it would be a lasting reminder of the day.

“Tomorrow, we’ll have a service for Bobbie,” I said as I used my hand to scrub the handle of the shovel.

“That’d be good. We needed to get this done as soon as possible,” Thad replied.

I nodded. “It needed to be done.”

“How’s Mel taking it?”

Turning off the water, I shook my hands as we walked towards the shed, “Rough. They’ve known each other their entire lives. The kids grew up with them their entire lives. It’s tough on all of them.”

Thad leaned his shovel into a corner of the shed. “I can relate to how they feel.”

“I know you can, my friend. I’m sorry for everyone.”

Thad looked up into the sky and ran his hands through his hair. “Maybe someday it will calm down.”

“Maybe. But in the meantime, you really need a haircut.”

Thad smiled weakly. “Yeah. Mary said the same thing.”

“I’ve got clippers, you know.”

“I’ll come over later and let you sheer me,” he replied, again with a weak smile.

“I’m going to go over and talk to Sarge. They’ve got those three prisoners. I want to see what they’ve found out.”

“I’ll come with you.”

We went back to the house. The smell of cooking filled the air as we stepped inside. Jess and Fred were preparing supper, under Kay’s supervision naturally. She sat at the bar, keeping watch over the goings-on in her kitchen. The thought of her kitchen struck me. It was Bobbie’s kitchen. It was her kitchen before today anyway.

Aric was sitting at the table. I looked over and asked, “Hey, we’re going to see the old man. You want to go?”

He was immediately on his feet. “Damn right I do.”

Thad stepped over to Kay. “How you doing, Miss Kay?”

She reached out and touched his arm. “I’m fine, Thad. Thank you for asking.”

“If you need anything, be sure to let us know.”

She patted his arm, “I will.”

We left the house and headed down the road. It was getting late and the sun was starting its final descent. With the sun closer to the horizon, the temperature dipped ever so slightly. It was a refreshing change, little as it was. Pulling my bandanna from my pocket, I mopped my forehead and said, “Damn, I can’t wait for winter.”

“Then you’ll be looking forward to spring,” Thad replied.

“Nope,” I replied as I stuffed the cloth back into my pocket. “I love cold weather.”

“What the hell are you doing here then?” Aric asked.

“I have no earthly idea. I’ve left several times. But I always came back for some reason.”

“I couldn’t wait to get here,” Aric replied. “I grew up in the Midwest. Snow is pretty to some people. Usually, it’s people that don’t have to shovel that shit before school in the morning.”

I looked up into the fading sky where countless insects darted to and fro. “I wish three feet would fall right now.”

Aric howled. “That’d make this walk real pleasant!”

I laughed. “We wouldn’t be sweating like we are!”

“I’ll take the heat,” Thad said. “I like the heat. Never was a fan of the cold. Winter here in Florida isn’t too bad. I like it.”

As we passed the bunker, Wallner stepped out. “Hey, guys.”

I smiled, “Looks