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reposting due to mislabeling the numbers, this is PART 16
Cow battles Part
Cow battles Part
Part 16-
Gradually everything got back to "normal" amongst the group. The folks that had witnessed Todd's betrayal got up in front of everyone and described in detail what had happened. In addition, security camera video footage was shown to the group that showed Todd handing something off to Donnie right before Donnie made the break for it. Considering that Todd's key was found on Donnie's body, it was a safe bet that that was what was passed off. The evidence was damning.
News of the Group taking out the "cattle rustlers" got around the area. News had a way of doing that. At this point in time the group was too large to just "hide." Just the infrastructure necessary to support that many people was next to impossible to hide. The next best thing was to be considered "bristly." Jim explained that- "do you want to pet a porcupine? No. And few animals prey on them. Why? Cause you MIGHT get a meal out of it, but you just KNOW that your gonna get torn up doing it!"
The defense upgrades were going good. With all the sandbags, the place was starting to look more like a firebase than a cluster of houses. More razor wire was strung and perimeter pushed out yet again.
Jim spent four days working with some of the dependents on basic skills. Basic rifle marksmanship, close quarters drills, patrolling, guard duty SOP's, and more. Bill and Murphy gave classes on first aid to all dependents. Jim reasoned that this would help keep others in the fight if the need arose. Scotty gave a class on basic comm use, com security, etc for all the dependents as well.
The Hansen Op was manned continuously. The last week or two their was occasional reports of refugees walking the hard road out in front of the cow pasture. Mr. Hansen had reported two families coming up to his gate asking for food or work.
"What do you do with people like that?" Mr. Hansen had asked Jim.
"We are a little more off the beaten path than you are, so we haven't had to deal with this yet." Jim replied.
On one occasion, a group of refugees turned down the county road heading towards the retreat. It was a group of two men, two women, a teenage girl and a young boy. One of the men pushed a shopping cart containing a bunch of supplies, the other man carried a shotgun. The shopping cart got stuck immediately once they decided to turn down the dirt road.
Deciding that this wasn't something the retreat needed on it's front door, a single round was placed carefully in front of the group of refugees from a distance of 300 yards.
Immediately the group hit the ground, the shopping cart toppling over and spilling it's contents. The men were observed herding the women and kids into a ditch on the side of the road. After about 3 minutes, the refugees got out, quickly repacked the shopping cart and went back to the hard road. A few minutes of brisk walking put the group outside of the observation area of the Op. Evidently they got the message.
"I hate doing stuff like that, but we can't feed them." Rick said.
"I know, I feel sorry for people like that but they could have prepared just like we did." Lyle said.
"Yep, you can bet wherever their homes are, if they are still standing, that their is a Cadillac Escalade or other $40,000. SUV there, plus jetskis, pools, etc. They could have spent their money like we did and not be worrying about basic necessities right now or had they lost their jobs or something." Rick said.
"Should we reposition the shooter?" Lyle said.
"Yes, it's probably a good idea, it was just one shot and I'm pretty confident those folks won't be back, but.." Rick said.
"Exactly." Lyle replied.
________________________________________________
Debbie brought news of a Mexican gang operating in the area.
"Jimmy, their is a gang of Mexicans that's been stealing stuff and attacking people in their houses that's around here now." Debbie said.
"What all do you know about them?" Jim asked.
"They attacked Mr. Vickers place a few days ago, killed his wife and son before he run them off. Burned one of his barn's down also." Debbie said.
"Are these guys mobile or walking?" Jim asked.
"I hear they got a bunch of four wheelers and use them when they attack people." Debbie said.
"Any idea where they are operating from?"
"About 10 miles south of here is what I hear. Mr. Vickers place is about 8 miles south, do you know him?" Debbie asked.
"No I don't."
"He's some distant kin of Johnny's. We are going to see if he wants to move in with us. He ain't got nobody down there with him now." Debbie said.
"If he does, please let me know, I'd like to discuss this more with him. At your place." Jim said.
"Alright." Debbie replied.
"If their is anything more you can find out, I'd appreciate it. Aren't you out of those things yet?" Jim asked referring to the cigarette Debbie was smoking.
"Actually, this is my last pack. Guess I'm quitting after this." Debbie laughed.
"Thanks again Debbie." Jim said as they departed.
The next morning Debbie found a carton of cigarettes in the front seat of her locked truck.
Gradually everything got back to "normal" amongst the group. The folks that had witnessed Todd's betrayal got up in front of everyone and described in detail what had happened. In addition, security camera video footage was shown to the group that showed Todd handing something off to Donnie right before Donnie made the break for it. Considering that Todd's key was found on Donnie's body, it was a safe bet that that was what was passed off. The evidence was damning.
News of the Group taking out the "cattle rustlers" got around the area. News had a way of doing that. At this point in time the group was too large to just "hide." Just the infrastructure necessary to support that many people was next to impossible to hide. The next best thing was to be considered "bristly." Jim explained that- "do you want to pet a porcupine? No. And few animals prey on them. Why? Cause you MIGHT get a meal out of it, but you just KNOW that your gonna get torn up doing it!"
The defense upgrades were going good. With all the sandbags, the place was starting to look more like a firebase than a cluster of houses. More razor wire was strung and perimeter pushed out yet again.
Jim spent four days working with some of the dependents on basic skills. Basic rifle marksmanship, close quarters drills, patrolling, guard duty SOP's, and more. Bill and Murphy gave classes on first aid to all dependents. Jim reasoned that this would help keep others in the fight if the need arose. Scotty gave a class on basic comm use, com security, etc for all the dependents as well.
The Hansen Op was manned continuously. The last week or two their was occasional reports of refugees walking the hard road out in front of the cow pasture. Mr. Hansen had reported two families coming up to his gate asking for food or work.
"What do you do with people like that?" Mr. Hansen had asked Jim.
"We are a little more off the beaten path than you are, so we haven't had to deal with this yet." Jim replied.
On one occasion, a group of refugees turned down the county road heading towards the retreat. It was a group of two men, two women, a teenage girl and a young boy. One of the men pushed a shopping cart containing a bunch of supplies, the other man carried a shotgun. The shopping cart got stuck immediately once they decided to turn down the dirt road.
Deciding that this wasn't something the retreat needed on it's front door, a single round was placed carefully in front of the group of refugees from a distance of 300 yards.
Immediately the group hit the ground, the shopping cart toppling over and spilling it's contents. The men were observed herding the women and kids into a ditch on the side of the road. After about 3 minutes, the refugees got out, quickly repacked the shopping cart and went back to the hard road. A few minutes of brisk walking put the group outside of the observation area of the Op. Evidently they got the message.
"I hate doing stuff like that, but we can't feed them." Rick said.
"I know, I feel sorry for people like that but they could have prepared just like we did." Lyle said.
"Yep, you can bet wherever their homes are, if they are still standing, that their is a Cadillac Escalade or other $40,000. SUV there, plus jetskis, pools, etc. They could have spent their money like we did and not be worrying about basic necessities right now or had they lost their jobs or something." Rick said.
"Should we reposition the shooter?" Lyle said.
"Yes, it's probably a good idea, it was just one shot and I'm pretty confident those folks won't be back, but.." Rick said.
"Exactly." Lyle replied.
________________________________________________
Debbie brought news of a Mexican gang operating in the area.
"Jimmy, their is a gang of Mexicans that's been stealing stuff and attacking people in their houses that's around here now." Debbie said.
"What all do you know about them?" Jim asked.
"They attacked Mr. Vickers place a few days ago, killed his wife and son before he run them off. Burned one of his barn's down also." Debbie said.
"Are these guys mobile or walking?" Jim asked.
"I hear they got a bunch of four wheelers and use them when they attack people." Debbie said.
"Any idea where they are operating from?"
"About 10 miles south of here is what I hear. Mr. Vickers place is about 8 miles south, do you know him?" Debbie asked.
"No I don't."
"He's some distant kin of Johnny's. We are going to see if he wants to move in with us. He ain't got nobody down there with him now." Debbie said.
"If he does, please let me know, I'd like to discuss this more with him. At your place." Jim said.
"Alright." Debbie replied.
"If their is anything more you can find out, I'd appreciate it. Aren't you out of those things yet?" Jim asked referring to the cigarette Debbie was smoking.
"Actually, this is my last pack. Guess I'm quitting after this." Debbie laughed.
"Thanks again Debbie." Jim said as they departed.
The next morning Debbie found a carton of cigarettes in the front seat of her locked truck.
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