Renewal 10 - Blind Force Read Online Free PDF

time I had a ride. Sure, that would be great.”
     
    Chapter 10 – 7
    Thanks to Terry’s clumsy but rapid arrangements with the patrols, Bill was waiting as Terry pulled the truck onto the grass by the front guard houses. In a form of unit discipline, Ned’s people stayed in and on the truck while Ned and Cindy stepped down to the ground. From his position in the cab of the truck, Terry could see members of the guard moving in on the front houses to cover whatever might occur. Once he was convinced that Bill was safe, Terry killed the ignition and joined the group forming around Bill. Seth followed him while Sally and Suze stayed in the truck.
    Ned was saying, “I’ve heard stories about you, Mr. Carter. It seems like Joe spent a lot of time with you when you were a kid.”
    “That’s true. I didn’t know him for long, but he was there for about ten months of hard work. He was sick at first, but eventually he was right in there with the rest of us,” Bill replied, still looking warily at the two newcomers. “Why don’t you get your people out of the truck? They’re pretty packed in there.”
    Ned gave a simple hand signal and his people were on the ground in seconds. Bill noticed that there was nothing particularly military about the way they stood, but he recognized the speed and competence at a glance. It was nothing less than he would expect from a group who had traveled all the way across America.
    “So, Ned. I have to admit. I’m pretty anxious to hear how you ended up in Coffee County, of all places,” Bill said.
    Ned was completely aware of the situation just outside the heavy hedge rows around the guard houses. Cindy, being the fighting side of his command, was even more attuned to the movements of Bill’s people. Ned quickly glanced in the appropriate directions just to let Bill know that he was  tracking the buildup of force. “Well, as I told Terry, we ran into Joe Miller’s people outside Fort Smith, Arkansas. They had the notion this would be a good place to go since Fort Smith was not allowing immigration,” Ned explained. “But, there’s plenty of time for that story. Terry also mentioned something about a tense situation. I can see that you are being very cautious, and I can respect that. Right now, I don’t have an interest either way, but if I’m walking my people into trouble, maybe we should start with your story.”
    “Fair enough, Ned.” Bill turned and gave instructions to one of the guards. “Call down to Aggie and get some food up here. Twenty-five or thirty people. Tell her she’s needed as well. See if you can round up Tommy or Kirk. Then, get some tables out on the back lawn.” The guard ran into the house, and Bill turned back to Ned. “Let’s head around back. It’s cooler there. We’ll have something to eat and talk it over.”
    “Sounds good. We’ve been eating jerky for days,” Ned replied.
    “Been in that situation, myself,” Bill said with a smile. “Terry, you and Seth carry on. Good job with bringing them in.”
    “Ok, Bill. See you later,” Terry replied. He and Seth climbed back into the truck, intent on their original mission. Terry started the big diesel and eased it back out on the road.
    Fifteen minutes later, after Sally had asked ten thousand questions Terry couldn’t answer, Big Bertha was rumbling past Westwood School again. Faces appeared everywhere from houses and gardens in the neighborhood. By the time Terry drove into Jared’s yard, Mrs. Cooper was standing outside, waving to them from the sagging porch. Several other people were milling around the front door. Terry wondered what was happening at the Cooper house as he shut the truck down. He wasn’t expecting a crowd. “Seth, let’s go. Sally, find some quiet cover until we know what’s going on, please.”
    “Got it,” was Sally’s terse reply.
    Terry was wasting worry. As soon as his boots hit the dusty driveway, Mrs. Cooper walked over to greet him. “Hello, Terry...