Forsaken World:Coming of Age (24 page)

“I can still see,” Lilly said and tucked the fabric up, blocking her vision. Lance looked at Jennifer, who had a smile on her face. Lance nodded as he sat down with a grin.

Grabbing his radio, Lance pressed the button. “Enterprise, away team returning with one extra. No alarm.”

“Copy,” Ian replied shortly.

“I hope we are going to Picard’s Enterprise because the others sucked,” Lilly said as Lance turned the buggy around. “Don’t get me wrong; I liked Kirk but really want to beat his ass for not listening to Spock.”

“Shit, you’ve got my vote already,” Lance said, easing into the trees.

Chapter Eighteen

“All that and she knows Star Trek? I think we should give her a chance,” Ian said, looking around the table at everyone.

Lance had taken a roundabout route home then pulled up to the rear of the cabin. They took off Lilly’s blindfold and asked her to wait. She stared around at the cabin, goats, pig pen, chicken coop, and buildings in wonder.

Getting out of his chair, Lance walked over to the living area and pointed at the screen showing the backyard and Lilly sitting in the buggy. The others looked at Lilly wearing an old army jacket, baggy pants, and tennis shoes. “Dino is outside sitting with her. I know he’s an animal, but he’s saved our asses too many times not to get a vote, and you can see where his vote is,” Lance said, walking back.

“She’s tough,” Jennifer said. “She ran after us and tracked us down.”

“She’s an animal doctor,” Carrie grinned.

“She has dogs, a boy and a girl, so they can have puppies,” Allie cheered.

“And she said she grew up on a ranch,” Ian said, nodding. “I propose we let her stay and see if she will work out. It’s not like we don’t need some help around here. All of us are getting worked to the bone.”

“All those in favor,” Lance said, holding up his hand, and everyone raised theirs. “Okay, but I think we should tell her she can’t go into the basement and see the bunker or the hidden area behind the shop until we’re a little more certain that she’s on the level.”

Everyone looked around, nodding. “And when she comes in, she is taking a shower,” Lance said.

“Lance, she’s been living on the run,” Jennifer said, throwing her hands up.

“Yes, she has, and that alone proves how tough she is, but she’s not anymore. So she hits the showers.”

“I’m sure she would love one,” Jennifer laughed.

“Will you go and get her?” Lance asked, and Jennifer nodded, almost running for the door.

When Lilly came in behind Jennifer, she stopped, looking at the kids at the table. “Where are your parents?”

“They’re on the way here,” Lance said then introduced everyone. He looked over at Jennifer, who was looking at Lilly’s AR in her hands. Stepping over, Lance grabbed it. “You used this!” he cried out, looking at the filthy weapon.

“Yeah, I cleaned it the best I could, but my dad never had a rifle like that,” Lilly said remorsefully. “I can take that Ruger you have in the buggy apart and clean it, but that was the only rifle I could get my hands on, and I took it off an infected soldier. I never found a manual for it and had to figure out how to work it. I was scared to take it apart.”

“It worked?” Ian asked, stepping over and taking the rifle from Lance.

“Well, I could only shoot once or twice before it jammed, and I had to clear it.”

Ian looked up at Lance. “Dude, this thing is going to have to sit in the sonic bath for a week before we can even touch it.”

Lance looked up at Lilly. “We’re going to give you a new one, but you’ll learn how to use it and clean it.”

“Thank you.” Lilly smiled. “I will take care of it if I only know how to take the thing apart.”

He didn’t want to sound rude, but the body odor was somewhat strong, making his nose twitch. Lance pointed to the girl’s bathroom. “Lilly, go take a shower while we get supper ready.”

“Shower?” Lilly mumbled in holy reverence.

“Yeah, and don’t take this the wrong way, but we’re burning your clothes,” Jennifer said, pulling her to the bathroom. “I’ll get you some new ones.”

When Jennifer pushed Lilly in the bathroom, she shut the door and ran down to the basement. Allie looked up at Lance. “Whew, she was smelly.”

“Said the same thing, Allie baby,” Lance said with a grin. They started on supper as Jennifer ran back up carrying an armload of clothes and boots. A few seconds later, Jennifer came out carrying a bra.

“Boy, got that wrong,” Jennifer mumbled as she headed back downstairs.

Ian moved over to Lance. “My God, did you see the size of those things? I bet you could put cantaloupes in them.”

“Yeah,” Lance nodded and started setting the table. When Jennifer came back up, Lance’s jaw fell open, seeing her carrying a bigger bra. “Jennifer, that’s not going to fit her,” Lance hissed.

Jennifer scoffed. “Then you weren’t paying attention to how that baggy jacket fit her.”

Lilly may had been naked in front of his scope, but Lance never noticed her; he only noticed the men around her, laughing as she screamed.

“I could use that thing as a slingshot for soccer balls,” Lance said as Jennifer went in the bathroom, and Ian walked over to him.

“I’m glad you did something to stop them from hurting her no matter if she works out or not,” Ian said, grabbing Lance’s shoulder. “We couldn’t the other time because thirty against two are dead man’s odds.”

“Thank you, but I’m sorry we did without calling back,” Lance said, slowly setting the table. “I couldn’t watch it again, Ian. I know it was stupid, but I just couldn’t watch it again.”

“I know, brother, and no hard feelings here. You saw a chance and took it. I’ll agree to that six days a week and twice on Sunday,” Ian grinned.

Lance hugged him—with a man hug of course—then went back to setting the table. Jennifer came out of the bathroom holding a black garbage bag at arm’s length and walked right outside with it.

When Jennifer came back in, she started helping. “If we are going to wait on Lilly, it’s going to be a while. She’s just standing under the water right now.” They fixed supper but left it on the stove then went and watched a movie. Lance and Ian wouldn’t budge: no snowman.

It was two hours later when Lilly stepped out, and everyone’s eyes got wide. Lilly was very pretty under all that dirt and funky body odor. She was wearing a black t-shirt, tactical pants, and hiking boots. On her face was a smile of content. Her long, black hair was still damp but brushed back. Her hair was so black it made her dark blue eyes seem to glow against her olive complexion.

“Feel better?” Jennifer asked, getting up.

“Oh my God yes.” Lilly grinned. “It took half an hour to shave my legs.” Allie and Carrie jumped over the couch, running toward Lilly as Jennifer led her to the table.

Ian grabbed Lance’s arm. “Where the hell did those hooters come from? She didn’t have them when she came in,” he whispered.

“You see how small her waist was? It should be impossible for her to walk and not fall on her face,” Lance said, shaking his head. “Man, she’s got to have a size M bra at least.”

“Shit, I’m thinking an O,” Ian said, getting up.

They moved to the table, and Lilly just smiled at everyone, barely eating, and they could see her eyes fighting to stay open. Jennifer got up and led Lilly to the bedroom and put her on the bottom bunk. Judy and George came in and saw Lilly was alright then went and lay back down beside Dino.

When Lilly closed her eyes, she didn’t open them again for thirty-six hours.

***

Lilly gasped and sat up, grasping her pelvis. She looked down, expecting to see a knife buried in her, then she realized she had to pee—bad. Glancing around to take in the unfamiliar room in the low light, Lilly pushed back against the wall, patting the bed for her rifle or pistols. “George, Judy,” she said softly as her brain slowly started working. Remembering where she was, Lilly let out a sigh of relief and relaxed. Realizing that was a big mistake, she immediately crossed her legs, tightening any muscle she could to stop the pee.

With great care, Lilly scooted to the edge of the bed and reached up, pulling her body off the bed with her arms as she concentrated hard on not peeing. Moving only her lower legs and keeping her thighs pressed together, she waddled to the door. “Hold it, hold it, hold it,” she chanted in a murmur. She opened the door, and bright light almost blinded her, and she threw up her hands to cover her eyes.

“No,” she whimpered, dropping her hands to her crotch, and waddled out the door.

Jennifer ran to her, grabbing Lilly’s arm, and guided her to the door next to the bedroom. “Here’s the bathroom.”

“Thank you,” Lilly said, breathing in puffs, and noticed Jennifer was dressed like she had been the day before, like she was going to war, but her rifle was different, and the tip of the barrel was orange. “Can’t talk, sorry,” Lilly said, clenching harder and waddling into the bathroom, and Jennifer closed the door.

“Now, that looked like she had to pee—painfully,” Lance said, nodding.

Shaking his head, Ian reached for the remote and paused the DVD. “Call me a punk, but I would’ve just peed on the floor and cleaned it up before holding it in painfully.”

Lilly didn’t get her pants down in time as she sat down on the toilet. She grabbed onto the bowl, expecting to be propelled up at any minute. “Ahhhhh,” she droned, vibrating on the toilet. When the pain lessened, she let go and sighed with relief, still peeing.

Lifting her wrist, she glanced at the time and grinned then saw the date. “No,” she gasped and tried to push the pee out faster. “They are going to think I’m a lazy piece of shit,” she grunted, wanting the damn stream to end. The thought of going back out alone terrified her to no end. “No, I’ll kill myself before going on alone,” she said then thought of her dogs. “Maybe if I can’t stay, George and Judy can.”

A knock at the door startled her. She turned to see the door crack open and Jennifer poke her head in. “I got something, so don’t freak,” she said, slipping in and shutting the door. Jennifer turned toward Lilly, holding another change of clothes. “I don’t think I’ve ever had to pee that bad, but the worst time I did, I didn’t quite make it.”

Reaching up, Lilly wiped her eyes. “Thank you, and I’m sorry about sleeping for so long. Get me a list of stuff to do, and I’ll start on it,” Lilly said as the stream finally stopped.

“Lilly,” Jennifer said, getting a serious expression. “You need to chill out.” Lilly looked at her, confused. “You were worn out, and we let you sleep because tired makes mistakes without training.”

“Huh?”

“It’s what one of the guys on the DVDs we learn from says constantly,” Jennifer said, grabbing the door handle. “You’ll understand, but right now, shower. You’ll feel better.” Lilly stared with blinking, confused eyes then looked over at the showers.

When Jennifer stepped out of the bathroom, Ian grabbed the remote. “She okay?” he said, pressing play.

“Yeah,” Jennifer said and pulled her airsoft AR across her body.

“Ladybugs, this is your drill,” Ian said, pressing play. Allie and Carrie raised their airsoft rifles and moved toward the door, shooting paper plates taped to the wall and door.

“Out,” Carrie yelled, ejecting her magazine and putting in a new one. “Up,” she yelled, aiming at the plates, and continued firing.

When Lilly came out, Lance and Jennifer were charging the targets. Lilly stopped as Jennifer lowered her rifle and moved around behind Lance to his left then raised her rifle, shooting the paper plates on the wall. The plastic projectiles were hitting the targets on the wall then bouncing off, and Lilly looked down at the floor. It was covered in orange pellets from the airsoft weapons.

Glancing up, she saw Lance and Jennifer backing up, still shooting. When they reached the group, they lowered their weapons, and Jennifer turned to her with a big smile. Lilly thought she looked intimidating with all the gear on and the combat helmet and clear ski goggles. “Feel better?” Jennifer asked, stepping over. “It’s workout time, but you can just watch,” she said, taking off her helmet.

Allie and Carrie ran to the bedroom, and Jennifer followed. Lilly turned to see Ian and Lance head in another door. Not knowing what to do, Lilly went back to the bedroom and found everyone changing. “Sorry,” she said, stepping out.

“Ah, you’re a girl. It’s not like you haven’t seen it before,” Jennifer said, hanging up her vest.

“Don’t go in Ian and Lance’s room when they change, or they scream like girls,” Allie said as she dropped her vest on the floor but did put her rifle on the wall where it belonged.

“I won’t.” Lilly smiled at her as Carrie ran to the dresser, pulling out clothes. “You practice with the play guns every day?”

With a panicked expression, Jennifer whipped her head around. “Shh,” she said, moving over and pushing the door all the way closed. “Don’t call them that where the boys can hear you,” she said, pulling clothes from her dresser. “They freak out and want them treated like real guns at all times.”

Thinking about that, Lilly really liked that idea. “So you do practice with them often then?”

“Every day except Sunday,” Jennifer said, pulling off her shirt, and Lilly watched as Jennifer folded it up and turned around, seeing the refuse of Allie and Carrie’s clothes on the floor. “Guys, I’m not picking that up.”

“We’re going to get it, stupid head,” Carrie said, sticking her tongue out.

In awe, Lilly watched the two little girls gather their discarded clothes, fold them neatly, and put them in the dresser. Glancing over at Jennifer, she saw her area was clean and Jennifer was making her bed wearing shorts, tennis shoes, and a tank top. “You’re very tidy,” Lilly noted.

“Pfft,” Jennifer huffed. “No, the boys are and I will be damned if our room looks like shit.”

“Am I working out?” Lilly asked, looking down at her clothes.