The Forge of Darkness (Darkness After Series Book 3) by Scott B. Williams

found the one I shot and I put him out of his misery, but there’s at least one more, probably two, that were with him. Kenny Jr. was killed by a shotgun loaded with buckshot, but I was also under fire from what I’m pretty sure was a semi-auto .22 rifle.”
    “That may be all they have but you never know. We need to be careful. I don’t want to lose anybody else.”
    “I agree. I think we ought to move in and hit the house tonight before they can get prepared if there are more of them. This nasty weather is on our side and hitting them now won’t give them time to regroup or go for help.”
    “That works for me. We’ll secure the house immediately and have it ready when everyone else gets here tomorrow. If there’s anyone to put up a fight we’ll take them out and be done with it tonight. If they run off, they probably won’t be back once they figure out we’re not just a handful of vagrants. This is a good find, Kenneth. It’s remote enough to give us some security, and the cattle are a nice bonus. Let’s hope there are more goods around the farm as well.”
    “Farm girls would be nice,” one of the other men said.
    “Now you’re dreaming, Chuck. I think the only females you’re likely to find out here are in that herd of cattle.”  
    “Don’t be so sure about that. Besides, a man can dream, can’t he?”
    “How do you want to do this, Drake?” Kenneth asked.
    “Let’s split up into three groups. We need maybe four guys on foot to go on ahead through the woods on both sides of that driveway, in case anybody’s hiding out there or tries to run out of the house. Let’s get them moving now. We also need a couple guys to stay here with the extra horses and keep an eye out in case they come back looking for their dead buddy. The rest of us will hang out here at the road and wait for the signal that all’s clear at the house, or else move in with everything we’ve got if there’s resistance. We’ll ride down to that gate right now and cut the fence for the horses. But once we’re done at the house, we need to fix it quick. We don’t want to lose any of that herd.”
    “That sounds like a plan,” Kenneth said. “But I want to be the first one in that house. I want a shot at that bastard that killed Kenny if he’s home or shows his face. I’ll give you a quick three rounds from my pistol once we’re done to let you know everything’s clear.”
    “You bet, Kenneth. Pick who you want to take with you and get going! The sooner we get this done, the sooner we’ll be carving up steaks and sleeping indoors again, out of the rain!”
    Drake had a good feeling about this place. Most of the land for miles around was uninhabited national forest and houses and farms were few and far between. Anyone living out here before the grid collapsed would have lots of the necessities for self-sufficiency already. Finding a place with cattle still fenced in was a windfall for sure, and Drake was willing to bet there would be other things of use at the house and barn. He wouldn’t be surprised to find running vehicles, or at least a tractor, as well as fuel, tools and firearms and ammunition. It would be nice if the house was a big one, but even if it wasn’t, he was sure that with the barn it would accommodate the rest of his little tribe. He hoped the remoteness of the place would mean they could stay awhile. They were all tired of moving, especially the women and children, and he’d lost too many good men in confrontations along the way. It would be good to regroup, let the wounded heal, and make a new plan for a long-term strategy. Drake considered that setting up here; in a place like this could be their long-term strategy. He knew that Black Creek was nearby, running roughly parallel to the road they were on and winding through the woods somewhere in the back of this farm. It might be the perfect place to call home, but first they had to rid it of any occupying vermin. It would be best if they did