American Revenant (Book 2): Settlers and Sorrow by John L. Davis IV

bone.  “For that alone, I should
snap your damn neck.”
                Trippy
looked into the dark blue eyes staring at him and tears began to course down
his face.  He knew this man could do it, and easily.  He could also see that he
wanted
to do it.  He tried to speak, to beg
for his life, but the words would not come.  His throat was locked up in fear.
                Gordy
and Jimmy walked into the kitchen; saw the man laying unconscious on the floor,
and the one being held by Rick.  They also saw the bruised face of their
friend. 
                “Everything
under control, Rick?”
                Without
looking away from the man he was keeping in a very painful grip Rick replied,
“No problems, Gordy, just about to have a talk with this guy about other
people’s belongings.”
                “That
old man there, he’s a good man; and you pigs came here to hurt him, take what
didn’t belong to you.  Jonathan, it’s your house.  What do you want me to do
with these two?”
                Jonathan
Cambrey sat silent, old eyes far away from this moment in time.  When he looked
at Rick it was plain to see that the old man was tired, world weary.  Jonathan
stood up from his chair, walking towards the long hallway that led to his
bedroom.  Just before he entered the room he had shared with his wife for many
good years, he turned back and said softly, “Let them go, Rick.” 
                Rick
wanted to protest, choosing instead to honor the man’s wish in his own home. 
He released Trippy, letting him stand.  Mike lifted the other man to his feet,
slapping his face to rouse him.  Screamer’s eyes opened slowly, taking a long
moment to remember where he was.
                The
men took both of the intruders outside.  “Listen to me boys; I don’t give one
fuck about either of you.  But I want you to know that if I see you anywhere
near this place ever again I won’t hesitate to put a bullet in you, and I damn
sure won’t say ‘Hi’ before I do.”
                “Get
the hell out of here, and do NOT come back here,” Gordy told them.  They stood
watching the two thieves until the darkness swallowed them.
                “Would
you have really killed them?” Jack asked.
                “For
just a second there I really wanted to bash that guy’s face in.  I wouldn’t have
killed him, though.  They’re trying to survive, I get that, but survival
doesn’t have to mean losing your damn humanity.  Besides, they have to be
pretty stupid to think hording gold is going to make a difference now.  Food
and ammunition are the real currency now.”

 
    Chapter 12
                Mike,
Jimmy and Sam spent the next week on what Mike started calling “Grab-n-Stab”. 
In that time they were able to clear the entire length of Saverton Drive to
Highway E, including the short Sherman trail that branched off at the southern
end of Saverton Drive.
                Each
new door they approached was a possibility that one or all of them could be
seriously injured or killed.  A lot of their time was spent simply going slow
and being cautious.
                Every
building was also a treasure hunt.  They found food and bottled water in nearly
every house.  Ammunition of various calibers was in abundance as well, though
they found few guns, mostly shotguns and hunting rifles.  Once everything was
collected from just this stretch of road they would have a nice storehouse of
goods.
                Several
more chainsaws were found, as well as mowers and lawn tractors.  Some would
start; others Sam thought would run with the right parts and maintenance. 
                One
house they felt must have belonged to a dealer of prescription medications. 
Boxes of empty pill bottles were found under a bed, which led the men to
believe that the house may hold