Dawn of the Apocalypse: A Zombie Apocalypse Novel by TW Gallier Page B

Fortunately, I hadn't wandered too far from where we split up earlier.
                I entered an open area.  Three steps in and all hell broke loose in the woods to my left.  I was close to the left side of the mountainside meadow, when a spike buck raced out of the trees and straight at me.  We spotted each other at about the same time.  He cut right as I lifted the 30-30, took aim as I led him with my sight across the meadow, and squeezed the trigger.
                The buck dropped like a rock.  Before I could let out a cry of joy, I heard more rustling in the woods.  Was he leading a herd?  It was usually the does that led the way across open country.  And then I saw them.  Two men.
                I froze.  I didn't see any blood on them, so wasn't sure if they were zombies or other survivors.  Either way, I was in trouble.  Zombies would try to kill me.  Survivors might fight me over the dead deer.  A moment later the first one came out in the open, and I saw the crazy fury in his eyes.
                The zombie looked at the deer, and then at me.  That was the first time I'd seen a zombie hesitate for anything.  I didn't hesitate nearly as long as him.  Taking aim, I squeezed off another shot.  His head was slammed back, and he fell backwards and didn't move.  I cocked that 30-30 faster than Lucas McCain on the Rifleman.  My second shot missed the other zombie.  I think it hit the tree he passed behind.  Chambered another round, and shot him in the head, but he only staggered.
                "Dammit.  Die for Christ's sake!" I shouted, and shot him dead center in the chest.
                That killed him.
                Men shouted above me on the mountain.  My hunting partners were on the way.  There was only one reason to fire that many times in quick succession.
                Moving closer to the fallen buck, I scanned the surrounding trees for more zombies.  Where there was one, there was usually a thousand.  At least that was how it seemed.
                Fred arrived first.  He stayed far away from the dead zombies, but looked concerned as he approached me.
                "Are you okay, Jenny?"
                "I'm fine."
                "Then there is something wrong," he said.  "My wife only says she's fine when there is something wrong that she doesn't want to say."
                "That's because you're supposed to figure it out," I said, grinning.  "I'm okay.  No injuries, just rattled nerves."  I looked past him.  "But I shot a deer."
                I heard Sean and Bill coming before they emerged from the forest above us.  Once again I had to swear that I was okay and not injured.
                "Are y'all worried about my safety, or are you afraid I was bitten and will turn into a zombie?" I asked, only half joking.  All three of them froze, and I saw their minds processing that.  They looked suitably horrified.  "I wasn't touched by either of them, much less bitten.  So don't worry."
                "That's something we should discuss as a group," Sean said, before he turned to the dead buck.  "Did you get him with the first shot?"
                "Of course," I said.  "I'm insulted you'd think otherwise."
                "In my defense, you haven't killed every zombie with the first shot."
                I slanted a wary look at the two dead zombies. 
                "I have an aversion to shooting people.  Even undead or infected people."
                "Yeah," Bill whispered, staring at one of the zombies.  "Understood."
                Fred and I stood guard while Bill and Sean gutted the deer.  None of us was convinced there were just the two zombies.
                Bill had a proper skinning knife that he used to field dress the deer.  Sean acted as his