JAA Ch. 01: Aftermath

"Okay," Waylon replied turning and heading for another table to gather the three that would be accompanying him.

Michelle wandered away returning shortly with Susan and the three children. As the children sat, food for them was placed on the table and the three adults. A tall stocky woman with short brown hair smiled at Michelle and Susan, grunted at the kids and whacked Cappy on the back of the head. Cappy smiled and started to eat. The three kids gasped as Susan and Michelle laughed.

All this was orchestrated not only to put the children at ease but also, to divert Susan's attention from the four men who left as she was laughing with Michelle.

Waylon squatted behind the juniper bush watching Dutch as he went about fixing his lunch, Mark lay beside him. The other two were circling around to the other side of the small clearing where Dutch had set up camp. Mark was covering Dutch for the others, his rifle just poking through the bush.

There was a loud thud as something landed beside Dutch in the snow. Dutch startled looked down. Jumped up and immediately took off running as best he could in the deep snow surrounding the clearing, right at Waylon and Mark, all the time looking behind him. Waylon stood as Dutch ran right into him, bouncing off and landing on his back staring up into Waylon's dark eyes.

"Not you, it can't be, it can't be you," Dutch exclaimed.

"It's me all right, you worthless piece of scum," Waylon answered.

Waylon was laughing as Mark rose from behind the bush pointing the rifle at Dutch's face. When he saw the look in Mark's eyes, he rolled to his right and covered his head with his arms. Waylon laughed all the harder, his booming voice bringing the other pair from the other side of the clearing.

Reaching down over the bush Waylon grabbed Dutch by the back of his coat and hauled him to his feet. Paul stepped forward with some wrist straps and attached them to Dutch's wrists behind his back. Waylon let go of Dutch.

"March Mr. Higgins," Waylon said softly as he pointed in the direction Dutch should go.

The trip back to the valley went without incident. With Waylon in front of him and Mark behind him, poking him in the back with the rifle, Dutch had no time to try anything. Besides, he knew they probably had orders to take him alive but, to shoot him if he caused any trouble. So, he did not cause any trouble. As they marched into the compound of cabins, Dutch started to become nervous as to his fate. There were many more people here than he thought there would be. As he looked around, he spotted those three kids he had traveled with for a while.

When Betty saw Dutch she screamed and ran toward him, the shovel in her hand raised high in the air. It was obvious what her intent was and Dutch tried to backpedal away from her but, Mark stuck his foot out and tripped him up. Dutch lay on his back, the only thing he could do was watch, as the girl with the shovel got closer and closer.

At the last minute, just before the shovel hit Dutch in the head, Waylon grabbed the handle and pushed up. Betty, wild-eyed with anger, let go of the shovel and jumped on Dutch, pounding his face with her fists. Mark leaned in, grabbing Betty around the waist, pulling her off Dutch and swinging her around to his side.

"Let me at him! I'm gonna kill him for what he did!" Betty screamed.

Michelle showed up just then and grabbed Betty by the arms and shook her. Betty calmed down slightly as Waylon picked up Dutch and pushed him on his way. Michelle hugged Betty trying to console her as her rapist went to see Cappy.

"Betty, Cappy will see he gets what coming to him. Don't worry about that. He also has some other things to answer for around here. He'll get his."

"Well if he doesn't I will see that he does."

"I'm sure you would. Now go back to what you were doing and relax, he can't hurt you anymore."

Betty picked up her shovel and went back over to where her brother was helping them dig a new trench.

Michelle watched as Betty went back to digging. She shook her head as she went back to putting supplies they had brought with them away.

"Dutch Higgins, how do you plead?"

"To what?"

"To the charges of...one, multiple counts of rape of the girl, Betty Styles, two, accomplice to the murder of Billy Johnson and three, the attempted kidnapping of Doctor Susan Reynolds."

"Not guilty."

"Then by the power vested in me, I hereby bind you over for trial by a jury of your peers. Trial to begin tomorrow."

"A jury of my peers? And where are you going to find anyone around here that could possibly be my peer?"

"One of us is right here Dutch," Cappy said from behind Dutch.

"You were never my peer."

"No, I have always been better than you Dutch and you know I have."

"Who else then?"

"Me," Waylon's deep voice answered.

"And me," shouted Susan and Michelle in unison.

"Sue maybe, you being anywhere near my peer Michelle is doubtful."

"Yeah, two out of three falls, right here right now," Michelle, shouted from the back of the room.

"Easy girl, you wouldn't want to get hurt. Stacking the deck against me aren't you, Cappy?"

"I don't think so. I believe anyone here would be able to be objective enough to listen to the evidence and deliberate long and hard on the testimony presented and find you guilty of all charges."

A laugh rippled through the room at Cappy's joke.

"That's what I figured."

"Enough!" shouted the presiding judge. "Having accepted the plea from the guilty...I mean charged...the prisoner will be placed in the custody of the bailiff. Courts adjourned." Eddy slammed his gavel on the table he sat behind, leaned back in his chair and watched Dutch escorted from the cabin. Once Dutch was out of earshot the group huddled around the table. Present were Cappy, Eddy, Susan, Michelle, Waylon, Mark, and Lacy.

"What are we going to do with him?" Susan asked.

"We are going to try him for his crimes. He will be found guilty and sentenced in accordance with the laws of the state of Texas and the United States of America," Cappy stated flatly.

"And what will his sentence be?" Susan asked.

"That is what we are here for now. So what does everyone think should happen to Mister Higgins if he's found guilty?"

"Are those the real charges against him? Did he actually do all those things?" Lacy asked.

"Yes, the bastard did," Sue said, sadly.

"Okay, let see now, one count of attempted kidnapping, one count of aiding and abetting murder, before and after the fact and multiple counts of rape. Was the girl underage when she was raped by him?" Lacy looked to Cappy.

"No. The rape charge is dubious as she consented but only because she was keeping him away from her younger sister. So, we will only consider the sentencing for the first two charges now. If he is convicted of rape then we will consider that."

The group looked around at each other all nodding, except Sue and Michelle. Both these women, being who and what they were, were against killing, except when necessary.

"I would vote for banishment," Sue said to the group.

"We tried that, he still was found not five miles from this site. And do you really want him out there to do what he did to Betty?"

"No, but... "

"No buts about it Sue. Please try to be realistic in your thinking. The man is an animal. I thought if he was with me, here, he would keep, I could keep him in check. I was wrong. This is as much my fault as his. I too should be on trial... "

"NO!" Sue and Michelle shouted.

"Definitely not," said the rest of the group around the table.

"Then what do we do with him? In earlier days, he would be given a life sentence. We don't have the facilities to keep him locked up for very long. We can't spare the manpower it would take to keep him locked up. What do we do?"

Susan and Michelle looked at each other, then both rose from their seats.

"We will abstain from the debate," Sue said as she and Michelle turned and left the room.

Cappy shook his head as he stared at the tabletop in front of him. As the pair left the room, Cappy rose and followed them out. At the door, he turned left and went outside. Waylon was hurrying to catch up with him.

"Waylon, go back, get something to eat. I'll be back in a minute."

"You sure you don't want some company?"

"No. Now go."

Cappy continued while Waylon just stood there watching his friend. Knowing what was going to happen. Turning another corner Cappy entered the building that served as Dutch's jail. As he entered, he nodded at Luke.

"Luke, go get some chow. I'll watch him while you're gone."

"Thanks, Cappy," Luke told him and left.

"So what do I owe the honor... "

"Shut the fuck up asshole. Why, why Susan?"

"Why? Because I want to live and she is pleasant to look at and knows things that would help me stay alive."

"Why Betty Styles?"

"Hey, that was just a passing fancy, no meaning, no malice on my part."

"What to do with you? There are those who think we should just shoot you. Others that think you should be let go to fend for yourself."

"What do you think John?"

Cappy's head swiveled at the use of his given name.

"I'm one of those that would have you shot," Cappy said turning his back on Dutch.

"You haven't got the balls... "

The sound of the shot rang in Cappy's ears as he watched Dutch slip to the ground. Holstering his pistol Cappy turned and opened the door closing it behind him as a crowd of people rushed to the building. Michelle and Susan were at the head of the crowd.

"What did you do... " Susan started, then dropped to her knees as her husband came up behind her and mouthed 'Thank you' to Cappy.

Michelle just stood there dumbfounded, staring at Cappy as George put his arm around her. To Cappy's surprise, Jenny appeared at his side slipping her hand into his.

"Everyone go back to work, go back to whatever you were doing. A problem that needed solving was just solved. Go."

"Leave!" the shout, heard by all, was obeyed by all. Waylon stepped up to Cappy and Jenny. He placed his hand on Cappy's shoulder. "You know I would have done that for you, my friend?"

"I know my friend but, it was something I needed to do. I find myself very tired all of a sudden. Jenny is there a room ready for us?"

"Of course my darling. Of course," Jenny said soothingly leading Cappy back to the main cabin.

Waylon followed if only to keep others away from his friend. Once Jenny helped Cappy to bed, she quietly backed out and closed the door. Outside the door, she found Lucy setting a chair down against the wall.

"What are you doing?"

"Susan, well Mark, asked if I would keep an eye on Cappy, just in case."

"Do you think that's necessary?"

"I don't know. There are a couple of people in this group that I don't know all that well."

"I see. Guess it's time I had a talk with everyone," Jenny said turning and walking away.

Chapter 21

The convoy moved slowly along the two-lane highway as Linda scanned the terrain ahead. Jimmy was in the turret just behind her as they rolled up on a couple walking along the road. The pair did not even turn as the humvee coasted along beside them.

"Excuse me," Linda said.

The pair stopped, turned toward them and smiled.

"What can we do for you, Miss?" The man asked.

"I was just wondering if you needed any help."

"No, can't say as we do young lady but, thanks for asking."

The man was in his late fifties while the woman looked to be in her late forties. They looked healthy from what Linda could see.

"Can we give you a lift somewhere?"

"No, we just live up the road a piece, no trouble to walk."

"Okay then, be well."

"We'll try."

Linda tapped Floyd on the shoulder and he sped up. The two on the side of the road stood in awe as trucks and buses passed by.

"I hope they all make it to where ever they are headed, Ma."

"Me too, Pa. She sure was nice to stop and asked if we needed help."

"Sure was." The two continued on their way as the last bus past them kicking up little dirt devils.

"I hope those two make it to where ever they're going," Linda said to Floyd as they sped down the road to their final destination.

They had been on the move for three days, on their way to Texas. A large contingent had left ten days ago. They had heard that their vehicles had finally given up the ghost and they had to walk the last fifteen klicks.

Linda sure hoped their trucks, buses, and humvee's held up for the last leg of the trip. The route they followed changed at the last minute as gangs and pirates had blockaded most of the interstates. They had pretty much left the back roads free for traffic with only a couple small checkpoints set. Two choppers had scouted the route with the last of the jp the group had. They had hopes of obtaining more when they got to Texas but they were not counting their chickens.

So far, they had breezed past two checkpoints manned by only three people each. They were most likely only expecting people on foot or single vehicles. The guards, if you could call them that stood in amazement as the convoy just raced past them.

Four hours later they were halted about a quarter mile from a checkpoint that had several trucks across the road.

"What do you think?" Linda asked Seacrest.

"Give me and four of the guys thirty minutes and we'll let you know by radio. Meanwhile, I would have about twenty men circle to the right and get behind them ready to hit them hard if we need too."

"Alright make it happen. We'll stand by here but, I want some flankers out on either side to catch any sneakers they may have out."

"Good call, I'll make it happen, Ma'am," Seacrest nodded and went back along the line of vehicles.

Four groups of men and women gathered to the rear of the column for about twenty minutes. No movement or activity was going on at the checkpoint. When Linda looked back at the rear of the column the group of people was gone. Vanished into the brush and woods that lined the road they were on.

"Street Gang to Charlie One," Seacrest's voice crackled over the radio.

"Charlie One, go," Linda replied.

"Checkpoint is deserted... "

Small arms fire broke out on the opposite side of the road by the checkpoint. Men ran out of the woods into the road and turned to fire back the way they had come. None of them was dressed as the groups Linda had sent out. Two humvees flew past Linda's hummer down the road to lend support to the men and women now engaged in battle.

"Street Gang, report, please," Linda said softly.

"Charlie One, bandits engaged by Falcon team, Street Gang in position to lend support if needed."

"Affirmative."

The firefight went on for another five minutes with no calls for medical assistance from Street Gang or Falcon Team. One of the hummers that had gone down range returned with Street Gang and one prisoner.

"He said he wouldn't talk to anyone but our leader. So I brought him here Ma'am."

"What do you have to say that I would be interested in?"

"You are the leader? You lead these men?"

"And women."

"I have nothing to say... "

"Good. Take him out and shoot him," Linda told Seacrest.

Seacrest smiled and grabbing the man's shirt collar jumped down from the hummer's tailgate and started to drag him along.

"Wait, wait, there are three more barricades down this road. They are all mine, take me with you and I can get you past them."

"Are there more men than you had here?"

"No, not really."

"Then what makes you think we can't get by them without you?" Linda smiled down at the man. Her smile was not a pleasant one. "Shoot him."

The man screamed like a little baby being plunged into hot water.

"On second thought, tie him up and toss him in the back of my hummer here, he may be useful further down the road."

The man whimpered as Seacrest pulled him out and stood him up to be hogtied. Seacrest then unceremoniously dumped him in the back of Linda's hummer.

With the coming of darkness, Seacrest and Linda called a halt of the convoy. They had found a nice secluded area not far from the road and pulled all the buses, trucks and humvee's in a circle. Just like in the days of covered wagons. Dinner was prepared and the people fed and bedded down for the night.

Linda and Seacrest were sitting by the main fire sipping coffee and contemplating the next leg of the move. After the five-day trip from Chicago to southern Illinois, they had planned for more time on this leg of the trip. Ten days to be exact, so far they had been on the road for three days and had traveled more than half the distance needed. Linda hoped beyond all hope that they made their new home within the next couple of days.

"How far do you think we can travel tomorrow?" Linda asked Seacrest.

"Can't really say Linda, could be a long way or it could be a short trip tomorrow. You know we don't know what's ahead until we actually get there."

"I know, I was just hoping."

"I have my fingers crossed, that's for sure."

Linda's husband Jeremy quietly sat down next to Linda. Linda put her arm around his waist and lay her head on his shoulder. Seacrest smiled and got up and left them alone.

"Why do all the guys leave when I get the chance to be out here with you?"

"Because they know you don't get the chance to be alone with me much, silly."

"So what's on for tomorrow?"

"More of the same, until we get to our new home."

Jeremy took Linda's free hand in his raising it to his lips. Silently, he sat with his wife under the stars in front of the warm fire. The noise from the travelers was subdued. They all remembered the long arduous trip to downstate Illinois. They were not looking forward to this trip either, yet the end of the trip held promise for them. A new home, a safe place to live and raise a family, Linda's and Jeremy's kids were older than the others, adults in their own right. Fifteen and sixteen, a boy and a girl, Linda was very proud of her kids, as was Jeremy.

"Well, I better go back a get the young ones settled. Charlene and Steve told me to take the night off but, I just can't let myself relax until those children are back with their parents in Texas."

"All right sweetie, have a good night."

"I will. You be careful out there, I don't want to lose you."

"I will. Love. Give the kids a kiss from me will you."

"If they'll stand still long enough... "

"Bye."

Linda turned back to the fire, picked up her coffee, and took a sip. It was cold but she did not mind. Getting up she refilled her cup from the pot on the fire.

"Jeremy leave already?"

"Yes."

Seacrest sat back down by the fire as Linda took the rock next to him. She sipped her hot coffee staring into the fire.

"You know, before all this happened, my husband and I were talking about getting a divorce?"

"No, but, then again I didn't know you before five or six months ago."

"It wasn't that we hated each other. It was just that we never seemed to have any time together. Almost like now. The other night we talked for a long time. We snuggled up in the back of an empty truck and talked about our future, about our kids future, about what was happening and about our love for each other.

"In the end, we decided that when we get to Texas we would like to have some more children. Not right away but, after a year or two in Texas, after things settle down."

"Sounds good, really good."

"Are you married, Len?" Linda asked.

"No, never had the time. There was a girl, lady, that I was dating... but neither of us was ready to settle down. She went to Atlanta to be with her mother. Don't know if she ever made it there."