Victoria moved through the church to the front, near the altar and their sleeping spots. She grabbed Caleb’s AR, checked for a full magazine and stuffed two more thirty-rounders in her back pockets. Then, just because, she grabbed another loaded AR by its sling and carried two additional mags in her hand. She had no doubt whatsoever that a gunfight lay in her future, and when it came to weaponry, more was always better.

She hurried back down the aisle and to the front door. As soon as she stepped out into the clearest air they’d had since the war, she heard Mike Underwood’s El Camino heading her way, with Mike behind the wheel and Luke in the flatbed. The truck was still moving when Victoria opened the door.

“I promise I’ll take good care of it,” she said.

Mike shook his head. “Luke said Caleb’s in trouble.”

“Yes, but you don’t have to—”

“I’m going, Mrs. Emerson. Looks like you even brought a gun for me to use.” Mike shoved a thumb toward the shotgun seat. “Get in.”

Victoria handed Mike a rifle through his window, then scurried around the front of the El Camino to the passenger door. “Luke, you still have your rifle?”

He answered by holding his 10/22 in the air.

Victoria placed her AR15 on the bench seat, then slid in behind it and closed the door. They were off.

Mike hadn’t driven a hundred yards when Ty Rowley darted out in the street, waving his arms with a rifle in his hand. Another AR15. Mike had to stand on the brakes to keep from hitting him. Behind, Victoria heard Luke topple over in the bed.

Ty came to Victoria’s window. “I’m coming with you.”

“You don’t know where we’re going,” Victoria said.

“Doesn’t matter. You’re in trouble. I can see it. Whatever it is, Luke will tell me about it from the bed.”

The vehicle rocked as Ty hoisted himself over the edge and dropped into the flatbed.

Victoria did a quick check through the back window, saw what she wanted. “Go!”

* * *

“I guess she thought she couldn’t wait,” Copley said.

McCrea kicked at the ground. “So she went up there by herself? You let her go into the forest by herself? Jesus, Paul.” He was at the construction site for two new cabins.

“What was I going to do?” Copley said. “Her boy is in mortal danger, and I guess she didn’t want to stick around long enough to hold a meeting.”

“Fine,” McCrea said. “I get it. How big a head start did she get?”

“She’s in the El Camino,” Copley replied, looking down.

“Shit. Did Mike Underwood at least go with her?”

“I don’t know. I was looking for you.”

“You shouldn’t have done that,” McCrea said. “You should have gone with Luke. Gone with her. Where’s your rifle?”