Wanted: Dead or Undead (Zombie West) by Angela Scott

Author:Angela Scott
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Evolved Publishing LLC
Published: 2012-03-18T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 18 – Family

With everything packed and ready to go, Wen and Trace hitched up the horses and climbed to the seat. They hadn't acquired enough to see them through the winter, but with the wild crowd Trace had found in town, they had a whole lot more than he expected.

"I hope she has dinner on the go," Wen said. "I'm feeling rather peckish."

"Sorry about that." Trace gave the reins a snap and the horses started forward.

The horses weren't used to pulling anything behind them, and balked at it, but after a few yards they gave in and pulled the wagon smoothly.

"I didn't think we'd be gone all day." Trace shook his head. "I don't like the idea of Red and the kids being on their own for so long, but taking them into town with us would have been the wrong thing to do."

Wen settled in the seat beside him. "Yeah, it was better to leave them behind."

"He's still looking for her."

"How do you know for certain?"

Trace pulled out the crumpled poster and handed it to Wen, who smoothed it out.

Wen sat quiet for a minute while studying the drawing. "This ain't good. This ain't good at all."

"Notice he wants her alive. Two thousand dollars to bring her in unharmed." Trace rested his elbows on his knees. "People will be riding all over the country looking for Red. It's a lot of money."

"Well, we ain't gonna let that happen, are we?" Wen folded the poster, handed it back, and placed his hand on Trace's shoulder. "We're family now. And I won't let anyone mess with my family."

Family? The concept excited him and scared him at the same time. Excited him, because he'd never had a family before. He'd always pretty much been on his own. Scared him, because now he stood a great chance of losing them.

It was all so unfamiliar—Red, the kids, even Wen. He'd been so focused on survival that he hadn't considered his companions as much more than that—companions. Except for Red. He wanted to be with her in every sense of the word. He just wished she'd open herself up to him.

At times, he felt them connecting, drawing closer. At other times, she pulled away and left him to wonder at his foolishness in trying.

***

Trace smelled it before they even drew close to the cave. Rot and decay wafted down the mountain and enveloped them. The overpowering odor made bile rise to his throat, but he swallowed the burning taste away.

Before he could pull the wagon to a stop, Wen jumped off and ran full speed up the wild terrain. Obviously, he smelled it, too.

Trace heard Lasso barking, but nothing else. No children. No Red. He yanked on the reins to stop the horses and the wagon, and jumped off to climb up the hillside after Wen.

"Red! Red!" He couldn't feel the rocks he scrambled over, or the trees and brush he pushed through. Everything was out of focus except for one thing—Red and the kids.

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