Forgotten Forbidden America: Rise of Tyranny (4 page)

Walking to the other side, he climbed in and fired up the Blazer then headed back to work. Pulling back in his parking spot, he reached over and cracked the passenger window several inches then did the same to his. “Stay. Guard,” Nelson said, getting out, and Zeus looked around. “I won’t be long,” he mumbled, walking through the employee entrance.

Several people were surprised Nelson was back but smiled, seeing him grab a shopping cart. Pushing the cart over to the hunting section, Nelson started grabbing thousand-round boxes of 5.56 and loading them into the cart as Daren walked over. “Dude, you starting a war?” he asked, taking a box from Nelson then putting it in the cart.

“Have several new guns to try out and a three-gun competition this weekend. When I got home, I realized I needed more ammo,” Nelson said, filling the shopping cart. Seeing another empty cart nearby, he walked over and grabbed it. “Make sure you place an order to replace this tonight, and we should get it by Monday.”

“Sure, but they’ve been much faster. We should have it tomorrow afternoon,” Daren said, helping load the other cart. When it was half full, Nelson rolled over to the twenty-two ammo, thankful the shortage was over, but he had a feeling it would be here again real soon as he grabbed five-thousand-round cases and put them in the cart. Seeing the cart getting full, Daren asked, “You want another cart?”

“Yeah, one more should be enough,” Nelson said, moving down the aisle to grab cases of twelve and twenty-gauge ammo. Daren called on the radio, and a worker brought over another cart as Nelson started filling the bottom of all three carts with handgun ammo. Then, he moved to the reloading aisle and started loading up until the third cart was full then walked over to the archery section.

Flabbergasted, Daren looked at the three stuffed carts. “Dude, did you get a monster raise? Like a CEO’s salary?” he asked.

Nelson stopped grabbing boxes of arrows. “I bought more than this last year,” he said, laying the boxes on top of the stacked carts.

“Yeah, over one year, not in one day,” Daren said.

“Won’t have to come back.” Nelson shrugged, grabbing crossbow bolts and broad heads. Then, he grabbed parts to fix the compound bows and crossbows. Finished there, Nelson walked over to the gun counter and pointed out several scopes, one pair of binoculars, and a spotting scope. He turned to Daren. “Have you been keeping a running total?” he asked.

He shook his head. “You were around four grand before the expensive glass. I’m guessing six now.”

Nelson closed his eyes, thinking, remembering the limits on his credit card and his employee discount. Then, he looked down at the counter. He walked around the counter and pulled out a thermal scope and a thermal monocular. “This should do it,” he said, walking back to his carts.

“Damn, dude, those are four Gs apiece,” Daren almost shouted.

“How many have we sold?” Nelson asked.

Daren thought for a minute. “I think one,” he answered.

“I’m going to test them out. I only got the night vision gear to test.”

“If I’m not mistaken, you bought like six of the third generation monoculars and two scopes,” Daren said, moving over to help push buggies.

“Yeah, but this competition this weekend, if I show these off, I should get some of the competitors to maybe buy a few,” Nelson said, pushing one cart and pulling another.

Daren stopped. “Damn, dude, that is a great idea.” He smiled and motioned a worker over to push his cart and ran back.

Out of breath, Nelson stopped at a closed register as Daren came over, carrying another scope, a thermal monocular that could be worn or mounted in front of a scope, and a mountable thermal optic. This last one was designed to cover both eyes. “Scott is bringing the last one,” he said, walking behind the register.

“Hey dude,” Nelson said when Daren put down the other stuff. They were much more expensive than what he was buying. “I don’t have that much money, and my discount isn’t much more than yours.”

“I’m going to write it off as a demo, but you have to tell those guys to order from us,” Daren said, walking around with a scanner gun. As Daren started scanning the stuff, Nelson saw some pig ear dog treats and grabbed several. Then, he walked over to the cooler and did something he rarely did and grabbed a Coke.

Taking a drink, he sighed, “Damn, these things are good.”

“Never seen you drink one,” Daren said, looking back. He turned around when a man came over and put down a box. “Thanks, Scott,” he said as the young man walked away.

Walking over, Nelson picked up the box. “When the hell did we start carrying these?” he asked in awe.

Daren looked up, confused. “Last year. You were the one who requested it.”

Putting the box down and staring at it, Nelson muttered, “I don’t remember getting notified thermal binoculars were in our inventory.”

“I’m sure I sent you one,” Daren said, starting on the last cart. When he was finished, Nelson smiled.

“I’m telling the bosses that you need a raise,” he said, looking at the readout of twelve thousand four hundred and sixteen dollars and thirty-three cents. He walked over to the battery rack and brought over an arm full of AA rechargeable batteries then came back with another of regular batteries. Then, he came back with all the 123 and button batteries, almost racking up another grand. He handed over his discount card and watched Daren swipe it, and the price changed to just over eight grand.

Taking the two-yard-long receipt, Daren handed it over. “I’m going to split this commission among the staff on duty,” he said and rang up the stuff he brought down.

“That’s good. Just let them know who bought it and who split the commission up among them,” Nelson said, watching Daren fill out the forms for the thermal equipment, turning them into displays for outside vendors.

Daren laughed as he slid the paper over, and Nelson signed it. “Don’t worry; I will.”

“You make sure you order to replace what I bought,” Nelson said, grabbing two carts.

“I will,” Daren assured him. “Corporate loves you so much I’m sure they would let you have this.”

Nelson shook his head. “I doubt that, but they pay me enough I can at least buy it with my discount card.” Nelson struggled to pull one cart as he pushed the other. Daren motioned a floor worker over, and he grabbed the cart Nelson was pulling, and the worker pushed the other.

Walking outside, Daren stopped, looking inside the Blazer. “Is that a horse or a dog?” he asked, looking at Zeus.

“Pure German Rott,” Nelson said, opening the door. “Zeus, stay,” he said, throwing Zeus a pig ear. Walking to the back, he opened the tailgate and window. Soon, the back of the Blazer was packed and sitting several inches lower. “Thanks, you guys,” Nelson said, shaking their hands. “I’m calling in tomorrow. I’m going to head down to the competition after my son’s ballgame,” he said, looking at Daren.

“Hey, if I was you, I would charge them for showing the new line off and the thermals,” Daren said, grabbing one of the empty carts as the worker grabbed the other two. “We need to go hunting together this fall,” Daren said out of the blue.

Nelson smiled. “That sounds like a plan.” Daren waved as Nelson climbed in the Blazer and found Zeus attacking the pig ear. “Don’t even think about chewing anything else in here,” he warned, starting the Blazer.

When he pulled in the driveway, Nelson was relieved to see the lights on inside the house, but the garage was closed. He parked the Blazer and climbed out as Michelle walked out carrying Devin. She stopped, seeing the Blazer squatting down over the rear wheels then noticed the packed back area.

“What the hell did you buy?” she asked.

It was on the tip of his tongue to remind her she cursed, but Nelson stopped. “As much as I could,” he said, hugging her.

Chapter 3

Feeling something rub against his belly, Nelson opened his eyes to find Michelle curled up beside him. “You really think it’s going to happen?” she asked. The night before, they pulled her SUV out, pulled the Blazer inside, and waited until dark and unloaded it, carrying most of it to the shop out back and putting the electronics in one of the safes.

Pulling her tight, Nelson finally said, “If it was ever going to happen, this is what will do it.”

Lifting her head, she looked at him, forcing a smile. “If it doesn’t, you realize it’s going to take us two years just to pay off the credit cards.”

“I’ll work overtime if I was wrong,” he promised and kissed her. “Did you eat one of Devin’s dirty diapers?” he asked, jerking his head back.

“Me? I think you went out in the back yard and picked up Zeus patties and shoved them in your mouth,” she said, waving her hand in front of her face. “Let’s brush our teeth and do that again,” she offered as she climbed out of the bed.

They brushed their teeth and kissed again. “Much better,” Nelson said, pulling Michelle tight.

Feeling his hands rub down her back, she laughed. “Hey, buddy, you got some last night. Devin will be awake any minute if he isn’t already.”

“Damn, I’m being rationed sex,” Nelson mumbled, dropping his arms.

“Comes with kids,” Michelle said, walking around him.

Nelson turned and followed. “We can sell them and start over?” he offered, grinning.

“Oh hell no. I’m not passing another basketball out of my body,” Michelle informed him as they got dressed in workout clothes.

They stopped and found Devin standing up in his crib, holding the side and babbling. Michelle grabbed him and carried him to the living room. “You really want to go to the competition even with what’s going on?” she asked.

“Yes,” Nelson said, handing her a diaper. “We can find out a lot down there, and I really doubt the government can crash the economy on a Friday. We can come back Saturday night and load up yours and my truck with both the trailers. We have too much stuff here now to carry it out in one trip.”

“Well, you tried to buy out Springfield in one day,” she said, picking up Devin.

Nelson stopped. “What, you didn’t want me to get that stuff?”

“No, I’m just making fun of you.” She smiled, heading outside. “I would’ve maxed all the cards and got a loan against our 401Ks.”

That Michelle wasn’t mad at him or thinking he was insane made him feel much better and somewhat alarmed that she agreed with him. After last night, he really should’ve let it go after being treated like a cheap toy, but he was still worried until he heard that.

When they were finished, they headed back inside and didn’t see the Rotts waiting by the door. They almost ran inside to look for the dogs. They saw Olivia’s door open and found both the dogs in her bed, Olivia asleep between them.

“They weren’t there when we left for our workout,” Michelle said, handing Devin over then walking inside Olivia’s room. “Baby, why are the dogs in your bed?” Michelle asked, sitting on it.

Lifting her head, she said in a sleepy voice, “I was scared, and you weren’t in your bed.”

“I was in the gym, baby,” Michelle told her, hugging Olivia. She had to reach over Zeus to do it but still hugged her tight. “You have a bad dream?”

“Yeah,” she nodded.

“Well, it’s gone now, and you can go back to sleep,” Michelle told her.

Shaking her head, Olivia smiled. “I have to be a cheerleader for bubba today.”

“It’s still several hours till the game.”

“I need to practice,” she said with a big grin.

Giving up, Michelle stood and picked up Olivia as the dogs jumped off the bed. “Good boy; good girl,” she said, looking at the dogs, hoping this sleeping arrangement wasn’t going to become permanent.

They fixed breakfast, and soon, Gavin was stumbling down the hall. Nelson looked up at his son. “Thought you wanted to sleep late?”

“I did,” Gavin said, sitting down.

Nelson looked at his watch. “Oh my, seven thirty. You slept a whole twenty minutes late. I think the sky is going to fall.”

“Dad,” Gavin groaned as Nelson set down a plate of bacon.

Laughing, Nelson headed back and grabbed a plate of eggs and another of biscuits. Walking back to the table, the dogs jumped up, growling at the door, and Nelson heard a diesel engine pull in the driveway. “Zeus, Hera, sit,” he commanded, putting the plates down and heading to the front door.

Looking through the small window on the door, Nelson shook his head. “It’s Bernard and Nellie,” he announced, and Gavin and Olivia jumped up from the table so fast their chairs hit the floor. They bolted for the front door, pushing their dad out of the way and took off outside, yelling, “Nana, Pappy!”

Nelson turned to Michelle. “I wish they were that excited about seeing us,” he said.

Pulling Devin out of his high chair, Michelle headed toward the door. “Oh hush,” she said, walking past Nelson. “I love it, and so do you that they have someone like grandparents.” Nelson followed her out to find Gavin and Olivia latched on Bernard, who was standing beside his massive quad cab dually pickup.

The big old farmer picked both up, hugging them. “Shit, I’m half his age and can’t do that for long.” Nelson grinned and walked over, putting his arm around Michelle’s shoulders. Nellie came trotting around the front of the truck as Bernard put the kids down, and they flew at her, wrapping their arms around, squeezing her tight.

Nelson walked over as Michelle lunged out from under his arm and hugged Bernard tight. Bernard returned the hug and took Devin from Michelle. “How is the little man?” he asked in his deep voice, grinning at Devin. In Bernard’s hands, Devin almost looked like a newborn. Devin giggled and patted Bernard’s face.

Nellie let the kids go and walked over to Bernard. “Let me have him, dear, before you drop him,” she said, taking the baby.

“I’d die before I dropped the baby,” Bernard snapped as Nellie hugged Devin and Michelle hugged her.

Nellie ignored him and hugged Michelle. “You’re looking good, dear,” she said, kissing her cheek.

“Pappy, did you and Nana come to see my game?” Gavin asked, running over.

Smiling, Bernard put his arm on the boy’s shoulder. “We can’t be lettin’ our boy play in the championship and not be here, can we?”

Gavin hugged his side as Nelson walked over and gave Bernard a “man hug.” “You do realize you live over two hundred miles away, and you two have made almost all of his games?” he asked, walking over to Nellie and hugging her.

“We would’ve made them all if the cows hadn’t busted down the fence,” Bernard said in a gruff voice.

Nellie looked up at Nelson. “Bernard wanted to just shoot all the cows that week,” she said, smiling.

“Woman, you ran over one with the tractor!” Bernard snapped.

“The stupid cow got the idea, didn’t she? I quit running over them when they ran back inside the fence,” Nellie snapped back.

“Come on in. We just sat down to breakfast,” Nelson said, pulling Nellie toward the house.

“Oh my, we couldn’t,” she gasped.

“You really think the kids would let you leave?” he asked, grinning, and headed to the house. They all headed to the kitchen and sat down at the table as Nelson told the dogs to head outside.

“Pappy, Mom and Dad are going to let me shoot skeet at the gun competition,” Gavin said, filling his plate.

“They shoot skeet at those things?” Bernard asked, looking at Nelson.

Nelson nodded. “Oh yes, there will be over twenty different competitions,” he said as everyone fixed a plate. Then, they bowed their heads, and Bernard led them in prayer.

As they started eating, Bernard looked over at Nelson. “You still have that fancy Benelli you used duck hunting last year?” he asked.

Michelle chuckled. “Nelson has never gotten rid of a gun unless he gave it away, which is rare.”

“Well, I guess I should tell ya we got us a hotel room down there in Texas. We wanted to go and see what this was all about and help watch the young’uns. If you wouldn’t mind, can I borrow that fancy shotgun, and I’ll enter in the skeet shoot. Seems like fun,” Bernard said.

“No problem,” Nelson said, getting up and walking out of the room. He came back carrying several sheets of paper. “Only one condition though,” he said, handing the papers over. “There is a class called grandpa and grandson. If you enter that with Gavin, I’ll supply the gun and everything you need.”

“Will you, Pappy?!” Gavin shouted with a joyful expression.

Bernard looked over at Gavin, grinning. “You bet,” he said. “I just want your word when we win you don’t rub it in too much to those we beat.”

“I won’t,” Gavin promised.

Nelson chuckled and sat back down, and the group made small talk as they ate breakfast. When the meal was done, Bernard went out back to help Nelson with the gear. When he walked in the shop and saw that the ammo stacked on one wall almost reached the ceiling, he froze.

“You expecting a war, son?” he asked. Taking a deep breath, Nelson told him what he had found out. When he was done, Bernard nodded and said, “Yeah, our bank only let me pull out a thousand dollars but said I could use the debit card with no problem.”

“I think this is the start,” Nelson said, grabbing gun cases.

“I was hoping I wouldn’t be around to see it,” Bernard mumbled, helping Nelson stack cases.

Nelson turned, holding out a case to him. “Got this one yesterday; you can have it,” he said with a grin. “It is a demo of the new Benelli line, so don’t even think about saying no.”

Reluctantly, Bernard took the case and opened it, and he sucked in a breath. “My word,” he said, looking at the shotgun. “This thing will do everything except clean the bird.”

Nelson dug out several vests before finally finding one that would fit Bernard’s massive frame. Then, he dug out the other equipment Bernard would need. “I wanted to leave Texas when the competition ended so we could make a run to the farm. As you can see, we have more than we can take in one load,” Nelson said as he pulled out his and Michelle’s gear then grabbed Gavin’s.

“We can put a fair amount in my truck,” Bernard nodded.

Nodding, Nelson stopped gathering equipment and looked at Bernard. “Bernard,” he stammered then cleared his throat. “If something happens to me, will you watch after my family?” he asked.

A tear sprang to Bernard’s eye, and he quickly wiped it away. “I would be honored,” he said in a quiet voice.

“Michelle and I have you and Nellie listed as the next of kin and guardians. If that’s too much, let me know, and we can change it,” Nelson said, looking at the floor.

Bernard strode over and wrapped Nelson in a massive hug, scaring the shit out of Nelson. “We are honored you and Michelle think that highly of us,” he said, letting Nelson go.

Able to breathe again, Nelson smiled. “Thank you,” he said, sucking in a breath. “Michelle and I have always worried about that.”

Spinning around, Bernard wiped his eyes and grabbed an armload of cases. “We love those little ones,” he said, walking out.

“You will tell Nellie, right?” Nelson called, and Bernard just nodded. Grabbing several cases of ammo, Nelson followed him out and loaded up Michelle’s Suburban. Bernard put the stuff Nelson gave him in his truck. When they were done, they headed inside to find Olivia in the living room dressed like a tiny cheerleader, doing cheers. Gavin was in his ball clothes, sitting on the couch next to Nellie, who was still holding Devin.

Michelle was stacking small overnight bags against the wall as Bernard walked around the small cheerleader and stopped in front of Nellie. “Nelson and Michelle have asked us to be legal guardians over their kids. I said we would, but I wanted to make sure it was okay with you,” he said with a tender face.

Nellie pulled Devin in tight for a hug and jumped up to hug Bernard. “You know it is, and if you would’ve said no, I’d broke both your legs,” she said, on the verge of tears, and walked over to hug Nelson and Michelle. “Thank you,” she said, kissing Michelle.

Gavin grinned and stood as he asked, “So they are really our Nana and Pappy now?”

“It’s legal now. We asked, and they said yes,” Nelson said, heading to the bedroom to get dressed. When he came back, he found the living room empty. Even the bags Michelle packed were gone. Hearing the kids outside, he followed the noise. He found Nellie in the passenger seat beside Michelle and his truck backed out and Bernard’s pulled in the garage.

“Bernard, quit mumbling, and move your butt!” Nellie yelled out her window.

Suddenly, Nelson saw himself as Bernard thirty years from now getting an earful from Michelle. Shaking the vision from his head, he walked over to Michelle’s window. “What’s going on?” he asked.

“You, Gavin, and Bernard are going to take your truck, and we are taking mine. They moved their suitcases in your truck,” Michelle said, looking down at her phone. “I changed their hotel to the one we are staying at.”

“I wasn’t gone that long,” Nelson complained.

“In your male world maybe, but in my woman’s world, you were gone for a week,” Michelle stated, looking up.