Friends of the Family (The Colter Saga Book 1) Read online

  “The coat’s great,” Jesse said. “It’s like wearing your own tent.”

  “Exactly,” Sarah said. “It should keep you warm and dry. I copied the pattern out of an old catalog. The split up the back is called a saddle break. It’s for riding a horse, I think. Did you see all the pockets on the inside?”

  Both boys tried their coats on. They were too large, but Sarah said they’d grow into them. Mark took the first watch and woke Cole a little after midnight. It was definitely cold and Cole could see his breath as he took up his rifle. About three hours later Cole leaned over by the driver’s side window and gently knocked on the window. Jesse came awake with a jolt, and climbed up to the roof of the truck.

  “Did you see anything?” Jesse asked, rubbing his eyes to wake up.

  “No,” Cole said. I thought I saw some tree limbs move, but I’m not sure.”

  Cole went and laid down covering himself with a tarp. Jesse sat and looked long and hard, but decided it was too dark to really see anything. Once it became light, Jesse could hear stirrings in the cab below. Pretty soon Sarah and Lily came out, heading towards the woods.

  “Don’t go too far,” Jesse cautioned.

  They came back in a few minutes at a dead run. Jesse jumped to his feet and scanned the woods behind them. Sarah and Lily came to a breathless stop by the truck right beneath where Jesse stood.

  “What’s wrong?” Jesse asked.

  “I don’t know for sure,” Sarah said obviously shaken. “All I know is that there’s something big and black out there. I saw a shadow moving. We just ran and never looked back. Let’s get out of here. I do not like it.”

  Everyone piled in and Jesse fired up the truck. They headed south and after five or six more miles of unbroken wilderness, Jesse pulled slowly to a stop. About a hundred yards ahead, off to the right, was a white concrete driveway leading into the woods.

  Jesse climbed out of the truck and Sarah came up to the driver’s seat. Jesse told her to keep the engine going while they checked out the driveway. He and Mark came around the truck and waved for Cole to join them.

  “We need to check this out,” Jesse said. “It’s the first sign of life since we got on this road. I’ll go first. Mark you follow me by about twenty feet. Cole you take the rear about twenty feet behind Mark. Maintain your spacing. If something comes down, don’t shoot each other or me. Keep to the sides.”

  Both boys nodded. The three figures in long brown coats headed into the driveway and disappeared into the woods.

  Jesse constantly checked the woods beside them. The sunlight filtered through the branches of the trees on either side. It got muggy in the deep trees, and he undid more of the buttons on his coat. They rounded a slight curve, and saw a metal gate chained and padlocked blocking the driveway. Jesse stopped. The fence extended in both directions as far as he could see. Both the gate and fence were topped with razor wire.

  A small sign was posted on the right post of the gate. It read, ‘Property of the US Government. STAY OUT Trespassers will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.’ The sign was ominous.

  Jesse bent over and examined two small yellow signs attached to the gates. The international symbol for biohazards was clearly marked. Jesse started backing up still facing the gates, staring at the signs. He almost bumped into Mark.

  “What’s wrong, Dad?” Mark asked.

  “Those signs say we could be in deep shit,” Jesse said. “Cole, lead us back to the truck. Walk and maintain your spacing like we did coming in to this place.”

  They reversed their course and Cole led them to the truck. Cole climbed back up top, Mark climbed in the back, and Jesse took the passenger seat in the cab.

  “Get us out of here,” Jesse said.

  “What was it?” Sarah asked.

  “It was just some of your Government dollars at work, Jesse said. “It turns out this road does lead somewhere. That place was a Biohazard Center. It looked deserted to me.”

  Sarah shook her head.

  “With all the problems we were having,” Sarah said. “Those idiots were building biological weapons. That’s probably why those local yokels wanted nothing to do with following us or this road.”

  Five miles and twenty minutes later, another driveway appeared on the right side of the road. Just like before, Jesse, Mark and Cole disappeared up the driveway.

  Jesse stopped in front of a padlocked gate with the same razor wire on top. The fence again extended off in both directions. The same ‘STAY OUT’ sign was on the post. This time the yellow signs on the gates were the international symbol for radioactive material. Jesse directed their strategic withdrawal, and again climbed back in the truck.

  “Well?” Sarah asked.

  “This road’s a real witch’s brew,” Jesse said. This one was posted as radioactive. We definitely know why the Government built this road. I can hardly wait to see what’s next.”

  Just as Jesse predicted, twenty minutes later Sarah pulled to a stop even with a third driveway. Again Jesse, Mark, and Cole disappeared into the entrance. But this time, when Jesse rounded a slight curve, he was surprised when the road continued further into the woods.

  After another slight curve in the road, Jesse came to stop in front of a gate that was different than the others. It was massive. Both the gate and the fences were twice as high and again topped with razor wire. The fence and gates appeared much more heavily constructed as well. Mark walked up by his dad and stopped. They both gazed up at the massive entrance.

  “Gees, it looks like the wall in that movie,” Mark said.

  “What movie was that?” Jesse asked.

  “King Kong,” Mark said.

  Jesse noted that the same government property sign was posted on the right pole holding the enormous fence. He stared hard at the signs on the gate:

  ‘Beware of Dog’.

  Jesse knew Sarah would probably be worried because they’d been gone much longer this time. They came walking in the center of the driveway and up to the truck. Jesse climbed into the cab and started chuckling to himself. Sarah looked at Jesse like he’d lost his mind.

  “What’s so funny?” Sarah asked.

  “When we first got married you had that ratty little dog,” Jesse said.

  “Her name was Lulu,” Sarah said. “It wasn’t a ratty little dog, it was a toy poodle.”

  “Whatever,” Jesse said. “Do you remember the sign I bought you as a joke?”

  Sarah smiled.

  “Yes,” Sarah said. “It was a ‘Beware of Dog’ sign. We put it up on the backyard fence. I think I remember you chasing me up the stairs after that…”

  “Guess what sign was on that gate?” Jesse asked.

  “You’re kidding!” Sarah said.

  “Not one like it, mind you,” Jesse said. “That exact same sign.”

  “What do you think it means?” Sarah asked.

  “I have no idea,” Jesse said. “But I can’t wait to find out what’s next.”

  They drove another fifteen miles without encountering anymore driveways.

  Finally they stopped by an isolated lake with trees growing all the way to the edge. It was a small lake, but appeared dark blue and deceptively deep. It had warmed considerably during the day, and everyone was tired and hungry. They decided to stay where they were for the night.

  Sarah and Jesse no longer felt they were being watched. They were also encouraged by the absence of driveways, and felt the worst was behind them. They relaxed and sat studying the map after everyone finished eating. Lily played with her plastic horse she’d named Tony. Sarah sent the three boys down to wash up in the lake. Cole took his rifle just in case.

  “What do you think?” Jesse asked, looking up from the map.

  “If I’m reading this right,” Sarah said. “I’d say this road continues for another thirty miles. Let’s see. That would dump us out at Pine Knot, Kentucky. That can’t be more than ten miles from the Tennessee border.”

  “This road may have be
en creepy,” Jesse said. “But it took two weeks off this trip. You did good, sweetheart, finding it.”

  All three boys came laughing and hollering as they returned from washing up. Sarah and Jesse thought they were beginning to see a real change in Cole. It had been some time since either of them had seen Cole smile, let alone laugh.

  It was getting toward dusk, and Jesse started a fire. The boys began nodding off, and Sarah sent them to bed. They were asleep before their heads hit the pillows. Lily was dressed in her nightgown. Jesse and Sarah sat with her for a while in front of the fire.

  “Mommy, how far are we from Heaven?” Lily asked, as she clutched Tony to her chest.

  “We’re going to Haven, not Heaven,” Sarah said with a smile.

  “Oh” Lily said, looking disappointed. “I thought Grandma and Grandpa would be there.”

  “No,” Sarah said. “We’ll all have to wait a while before we get to see them. Okay?”

  Lily nodded her head.

  “Lily, do you want to go to bed or stay up?” Sarah asked. “Daddy and I are going to go down by the lake.”

  “Me and Tony will just sit here and watch the fire,” Lily said.

  Sarah went and got some towels and the bar of soap. She and Jesse walked slowly toward the lake arm in arm.

  “It’s a little brisk for a dip isn’t it?” Jesse asked.

  “Not if we move quickly,” Sarah said. “Besides, you’re starting to become the other side of ripe, if you know what I mean.”

  It was a cool, but beautiful night with a soft breeze. The trees rustled as a new moon rose and the surface of the lake shivered with the silver reflection.

  Jesse was the first in and out. He shook with the cold as he put on his clothes. Sarah joined him on the shore and they kissed. She toweled off, and they were both ready to return to the warm fire. They strolled slowly enjoying the quiet of the night and the closeness of each other.

  As they approached the edge of the trees, they could see the fire and Lily with her hand outstretched as if reaching for something. Then they could hear Lily speaking to someone. They walked a little farther before they could clearly hear what Lily was saying.

  “Here doggy, doggy… Nice doggy.”

  Chapter 10

  “Stay here…” Sarah whispered, as she shoved Jesse back into the trees.

  Sarah emerged from the trees and walked slowly towards the fire.

  “Lily, Honey?” Sarah asked. “What are you doing?”

  Sarah tried to keep her voice calm as her heart raced with fear.

  “Just talking with my new friend,” Lily said.

  Sarah walked closer to the light of the fire. A wave of terror washed over her. Lily was standing by the front of the truck. Three feet in front of Lily was an enormous dog. Black as coal, with a broad massive head, and deep chest, it was heavily muscled on the neck, shoulders and flank. The dog sat at eye level staring at Lily.

  As Sarah approached, the dog followed her with golden eyes reflecting the light from the fire. She walked around the fire and sat with her back to Lily and the dog.

  The dog stood.

  “Lily,” Sarah said quietly. “Why don’t you come over here and sit down by me?”

  Sarah had a slight nervous quiver in her voice. Her hand was shaking noticeably as she slowly reached to pick up a stick from the fire. It was smoking on one end as Sarah poked the coals. She looked back over her shoulder and smiled at Lily and the dog.

  “Please Lily,” Sarah said. “Come on over here and tell me all about your new friend.”

  “Okay,” Lily said.

  She walked over and sat down next to her mother. Sarah continued to hold onto the stick, wondering what to do next. She at least had Lily away from the dog. Her hand trembled, the stick painting blue-smoky lines in the air. Sarah glanced back towards the massive dog. The dog stared back, and then plodded slowly over by the fire, close to Sarah.

  The dog sat looking directly at Sarah. Very gently, the dog took the stick from Sarah’s hand with its mouth, and dropped it back in the fire. The dog then sunk to the ground next to Sarah, put its massive head on its paws, and closed its eyes. Sarah noticed she hadn’t been breathing.

  “That certainly is a nice doggy, Lily,” Sarah said. “Jesse? Would you like to join us now? Make sure you move real slowly.”

  Jesse walked out of the trees, towards the fire.

  “No problem,” Jesse said. “But do you mind if I bring a couple of friends with me?”

  Jesse approached the fire followed by two more dogs. Both dogs were as large as the first. It seemed to Sarah this was planned, somehow. The dogs seemed to be escorting Jesse. Jesse knelt by the fire across from Sarah and Lily. The two dogs lowered to the ground on either side of Jesse. After a few minutes they put their heads on their front paws and closed their eyes.

  “Well, isn’t this special,” Sarah said.

  “It just keeps getting better and better,” Jesse replied. “More dogs heading this way.”

  Off to the right, two more large black dogs walked out of the darkness and up to the fire. The smaller one went over to Lily and laid its head on Lily’s lap. Lily stroked the dog’s head gently. The dogs by Jesse rose to their feet, stretched, and trotted out of camp. As if on signal, one turned left and the other right. They disappeared into the woods on either side of the road.

  “I’m not certain, but I think this one’s pregnant.” Sarah said, pointing towards the dog with its head in Lily’s lap.

  “They act like they know what each other is thinking,” Jesse said.

  Sarah glanced up and saw Cole peek over the top of the truck. Cole slowly reached out and took hold of his rifle. The big dog next to Sarah picked up his head, and stood. He looked up at where Cole lay. Sarah cleared her throat.

  “Ah, Cole, let’s not do anything rash.” Sarah said. “In fact, why don’t you wake Mark up and tell him the same thing. Just don’t make any threatening moves, and for God’s sake, don’t pick up a weapon. There’s something odd about these dogs, and there are more of them are out in the dark.”

  Cole did as he was told, and Mark came climbing out of the cab, still half asleep. When he saw the dogs, his jaw dropped open.

  “What the…” Mark said.

  “Mark,” Sarah said as calmly as she could, “We’ve got some company. They seem calm enough. Just walk slowly, and don’t make any threatening moves.”

  “Threaten them?” Mark asked. “I could ride the big one without a saddle! That’s the biggest dog I’ve ever seen,” Mark exclaimed.

  “Well, so far they just seem to want to be close to the fire,” Jesse said.

  “I’m not so sure,” Sarah replied. “I think they want to be close to us.”

  The pregnant female with her head on Lily’s lap began snoring. Lily giggled.

  “She sounds just like Daddy,” Lily said. “I think I’ll name her Daisy.”

  Mark walked over to the door of the truck and stuck his head in.

  “Hey Paul, wake up,” Mark said. “We got some friends out here you should meet.”

  Paul came to the door and climbed out, rubbing his eyes with sleep. He yawned until he saw the dogs.

  “Holy Cow!” Paul said. “Where’d the dogs come from?”

  The big dog by Sarah continued to stare up at Cole. The dog never blinked. She reached out tentatively and patted his head. Still the massive dog didn’t move.

  “Cole, why don’t you come down here?” Jesse asked.

  “You’re sure?” Cole asked.

  “No, I’m not sure,” Sarah said. “But you’re making this big one nervous. They must have walked in here for a reason.”

  “Let’s just hope they don’t want to eat us,” Jesse said. “I don’t think Boss here is going to relax until Cole does.”

  Cole climbed down, and stood over by the truck, his hands clearly empty. The big dog walked back by Sarah, laid down by the fire, and closed its eyes.

  For an uncomfortably long time, the odd gro
up sat like this around the fire. The only sound was Daisy’s occasional snore.

  “If any of you have any ideas,” Sarah said. “The floor’s open for suggestions.”

  Paul, Mark, and Lily all looked at their dad. Jesse looked puzzled.

  “I got nothing,” Jesse said.

  “Then let me recap,” Sarah said. “We have five very large dogs in or around our camp. In fact, this very pregnant female appears especially fond of Lily. Her name’s Daisy. Is that right Lily?”

  Lily nodded her head and Daisy stopped snoring, opening one eye. After a moment the dog closed her eye and started snoring again.

  “Now the one Jesse called Boss,” Sarah continued. “He takes special interest in any movement that appears threatening. Let’s assume he is the boss. We have a young one over by Jesse, and two more out there somewhere doing God knows what. Anything you want to add?”

  “They don’t act like a pack of wild dogs,” Mark said.

  “They look well fed to me,” Cole said.

  “I’ve been thinking,” Jesse said. “These dogs must be from that last stockade we saw. It could have been some sort of a lab. It might mean they were a part of some government research project.”

  “Well, they don’t appear to be in any hurry to leave,” Sarah said. “If they’re part of some research project, I think we should go back to that last compound. Let’s see if we can find anything to tell us what’s going on,” Sarah said.

  “We could just pile in the truck and leave them here…,” Cole suggested hopefully.

  “I don’t think so Cole,” Sarah answered. “This morning Lily and I saw something black moving in the woods. That’s when we ran back to the truck. I think what we saw might have been one of these dogs. I think they’ve been following us all day. If we just drive off, they may show up in our next camp as well. No, they walked in here for a reason. I think the answer is back in the compound. We have to go back.”

  “Well, not tonight,” Jesse said. “We’ll go there in the morning. Let’s try to get some sleep.”

  Lily patted Daisy's head one more time and climbed into the truck. She was followed by Paul and Mark. Cole climbed back on the roof and under his tarp. Jesse and Sarah climbed into the truck cab. Sarah spent much of the night looking out the passenger window at the dogs. She watched the fire as it dwindled to glowing embers. Sometime later, she fell asleep.