He yawned, opening his eyes to … "Snow?"
"Yep, it's snowing," she smiled as she turned the radio down. "Our friends are broadcasting weather reports. They're warning everyone of snow and to be careful."
"Where are we?"
"We just crossed into North Dakota before you woke up. Last pit stop we made, I grabbed some chains and antifreeze in case we needed it."
"Good thinking. If you find a place, pull over and we'll trade."
"Why?"
"Can a farm girl drive in snow?"
She chuckled softly and hung her head. "All right, I will trade with you." She looked down. "The pumps didn't work at the last station and we're going to need gas soon."
"Just let me know when," he yawned as he dozed off.
He heard the blinker turn on as he woke up. Judith was asleep in the back as he watched Beth maneuver the car in. Opening the door, he climbed out and went to the pumps. He felt around and flipped the switch. Reaching out, he popped the gas cap off and inserted the nozzle. The gas began flowing from the old-timey pumps. He looked over at the store front.
Have left the pumps on … be kind and be safe. He smiled at the message as he stood there, gazing around his location. The wind kicked up around him as he heard a truck rumbling down the road. He looked up to see a large tractor trailer come rolling in on the other side of him. It pulled passed and down to the diesel.
Beth climbed out and watched as an older man and woman climbed out. The man came around and opened the gas tank as she inserted it. Reaching over, she flipped the pump on then saw them standing there.
"Hi," she spoke up.
"Hi," Beth smiled as the wind whipped through her hair. Leaning in, she pulled her coat out and pulled it on. She and the woman started walking towards one another. "I'm Beth."
"And a Georgia Peach," the woman chuckled. "I'm Matty and that is Dave."
"That's my husband Rick and our daughter Judith in the back."
"Daughter?" Dave asked, walking over. "How old is she?"
"Almost a year, come on over."
They followed her over to the car as Dave held his hand out to Rick. "Dave."
"Rick."
"She is adorable," Matty grinned as she lifted Judith out of her car seat. "Oh she is so adorable."
"Thanks," Rick smiled.
"How long you been on the road?"
"Almost three days. We're from Georgia."
"We heard Georgia was lost to the walkers."
"We were part of a group but their plans and ours didn't work out in the end."
"We completely understand," Matty grinned as she held Judith. "Are you poor dears hungry? We have food in the truck."
"We have some too," Beth smiled and ran her hand over her daughter's hair.
"You got chains for this?"
"Yea, they're inside," Rick spoke as he leaned in.
"You might want to go ahead and put them on. We're getting ready to cross into Canada, the snow drifts are going to be pretty bad."
"Are you heading to Anchorage?" Beth asked, taking Judith back.
"No, Saskatchewan. We're medical runners for a hospital there."
"What about the walkers?"
"Only when it's not snowing. We know about Anchorage, that's your best bet. Don't listen to anyone saying you need to go to Juneau. It thaws in spring and the walkers start showing up. Anchorage is better."
"Thanks," Rick spoke as the pump clicked off. Pulling the pump free, he hung it up as snow began to whip around them. "Would you mind help me with the chains? I haven't tried to put them on this one yet."
"Matty, why don't you two go inside and get warm?"
"Shall we darling?"
"No thanks," Beth spoke and placed Judith back in the car. She closed the door and shoved her hands in her pockets.
"How long you two been together?" Dave asked as he helped Rick with the chains.
"Almost two years, ever since this began. Why?"
"She's very protective; she'd rather freeze than stay warm."
Lifting up, Rick winked at her and smiled. "That's my wife."
"You both from Georgia?"
"Yea, I was a Sheriff in King's County and she lived over in Senoia; we met at a nightclub, which sounds strange but it worked. When all this happened, I left and started looking for her. I found her on the farm, and we've been together ever since."
"When did you graduate?" Matty asked.
"Years ago," Beth admitted. "I'm 23."
"You look so much younger."
"I know, just my baby face," Beth chuckled softly.
Rick cocked his head to look at her. Had she really just lied about her age? "Honey, can you get me the tool kit out for these. You bought them, not me."
Shaking her head, she walked around the car and leaned into the backseat. She placed Judith's doll back in her lap as she pulled the tools out. "Here lover."
"I like that," Dave grinned. "It's nice to hear people still say stuff like with the world going to hell."
"What skills do you have?" Matty asked.
"I was about to start college for my Medical training when this started."
"What field?"
"ER tech."
"Good girl."
After a few minutes, Rick dusted his hands off and shook Dave's. "Thanks for the assist. Mind if we follow you guys for a little while?"
"Not a problem. When I throw my blinker on, we're turning and you need to keep straight."
"Thanks again for your help."
"No problem." They climbed in the car as they watched the couple head to the truck and climb in. "You all right?"
"I just didn't trust them enough to leave you alone with him," she spoke as she slid her seatbelt around her.
"23 huh? I don't feel so bad now," he chuckled.
"I felt like I sold my soul just then."
"I know, but it's what it takes to make it now."
Cranking the engine, he pulled off and began following the truck. Reaching over, he turned the heat on then flipped on the radio.
At last report, snow has started in North Dakota so be careful coming up from the south. Once you get out of Saskatchewan, make sure the chains are on if not sooner. As you cross over into Canada, flip the band on the car radio to 1292 to keep up with our broadcast. There are no walkers here, we are clean and clear. We are accepting all survivors, no matter where you have been. It's cold here, but we're warmhearted and welcoming.
Beth smiled as they continued driving.
Two hours into their trip, the truck turned on its blinker. Rick flashed his lights and kept going straight. The scuffing of the chains was replaced by the slushing sound of the snow. Reclining, he looked over at Beth and smiled; he reached out with his free hand and wiped a strand of hair from her eyes. Looking in the rearview mirror, he saw Judith leaned over with her eyes closed. He smiled as he turned the music on.
Flicking the blinker on, he pulled over into a gas station and pulled up to the pump. Climbing out, he popped the hood as he turned the pump on.
"Where you headed friend?" a voice called out.
Startled, Rick turned to see a man in a uniform heading over to him. "Anchorage."
"You got a ways to go. Is she overheating?"
"Yea and needs an oil change five thousand miles before the first five thousand."
"Fill 'er up and pull her in the shop. I'll take care of it. Got heat and got coffee."
"Do you have a restroom?" Beth asked as she pulled Judith out. "I need to change her."
"Grab yer bag and follow me."
Reaching in, Beth followed the man inside as the warmth hit her. She smiled as he opened the door for her. She smiled graciously and walked inside. She heard Rick moving the car inside the shop. The garage door fell as he came inside. Finishing up, she wrapped Judith back up and exited the tiny bathroom. "All done."
"Coffee is there, got some hot stew on the stove … not much except for some venison and vegetables."
"Would you like some more food? We will trade it for the car work," Beth asked.
"No thank you darling, got plenty. I go ice fishing and hunt the caribou as they cross by. Would you folks like some caribou? It's frozen and fresh."
"We don't have a cooler to store it in," Rick smiled as he poured himself a cup of coffee. "Seen many of the undead up here?"
"Every so often, but they don't bother me … they're frozen in place. Seems the cold and their bodies don't mix very well. "
"That's so different than we're used to," Rick smiled and took a long drink. "Chicory this far north?"
"Special ordered it till the shit hit the fan," he grinned. "Name's Jonas."
"I'm Rick, my wife Beth and our daughter Judith. We're heading to Anchorage."
"I've had a lot of people stop for gas that are heading there. Every day or so another new car or truck with weird plates stops in." He tilted his head to the shop. "Almost done draining, then I'll get started."
"Thanks for your hospitality," Rick smiled.
"Where you folks from anyway? Not from up around here."
"No, Georgia actually," Rick smiled.
"Damn, they say Georgia is a lost cause along with the rest of the south."
"I'm glad we left when we did," Beth spoke softly.
"We left some family and friends down there," Rick spoke up.
"Well, eat you some stew and stay warm," Jonas smiled as he headed into the shop.
"It smells good, maybe we should try it."
"Rick don't please just don't."
"He was nice enough to offer," Rick spoke as Jonas appeared.
"Okay folks, the car is fine now. Good thing you changed the oil when you did, you were getting icing on the lines. I filled it with heated oil to keep the lines from freezing. I added some water and antifreeze."
"Thank you Jonas," Rick smiled and shook his hand.
The door slid up as Jonas backed the car out. Beth hurriedly got Judith back in the car as the temperature dropped. She walked around and hugged Rick to keep warm.
"Trip your meter when you pull out. In a hundred miles, make a left hand turn and retrip the meter; in another hundred miles, make a right turn; reset it a third time and in 400 miles you'll be in Anchorage." Reaching into his pocket, Jonas pulled out a pen and pad. He scribbled the directions down and ripped it, handing it to Rick. "Don't get off this road if you can help it or you'll get lost. This place is not for people out of town, even in good conditions."
"Thanks," Rick spoke. "What can we offer you for the car and hospitality?"
"How about a rifle and some ammo?" he asked.
Walking around back, Rick popped the trunk and leaned in. Running his hand over the sniper rifle, he pulled it free along with the ammo. Closing the trunk, he walked over and handed both to Jonas. "That enough?"
Pocketing the ammo, Jonas ran his hands over the rifle and smiled. "I would have settled for a regular one, but this one will be better with the occasional looters. I can nail them from my deer stand if they get too close. I also like to hide out up there at night and look at the stars too. Thank you folks, you might want to get on the road."
Beth reached out and hugged him, placing a kiss on Jonas' cheek as she climbed inside the car. Rick waved as he climbed in. Tripping the meter, he pulled out onto the road and took off.
His sleepy mind heard the blinker as he yawned. He sat up to see the sky beginning to darken. Beth was leaned back in the seat, chin resting on her fingertips as she made the turn. She dropped the transmission to second as she rolled over several rough patches of ice before returning it to drive. She kept drumming her fingers.
"Okay, what was that about Jonas?"
"Glad you didn't eat the stew, it was walker-flavored."
"He's eating them?"
"When he let me in to use the restroom, he had to let me in back. There are walkers or the 'occasional looter' hanging in back with chunks of meat missing."
"I'm beginning to wonder about the coffee then."
"No it was real chicory coffee … he had over a thousand cans of the stuff."
"Want me to drive?" He noticed the look on her face.
"In a little bit," she spoke, stifling a sob.
Pulling the car over to the side, Rick climbed out in the blowing snow and looked straight ahead. City lights covered the horizon as he saw Anchorage. Climbing back in, he turned the heat up a bit more as he touched Beth's face. She was still asleep, which he was grateful. The time with Jonas had rattled her tremendously, and she needed to rest before they got to their new destination. He looked up to see a broad smile on Judith's face. He returned her grin and blew her a kiss as they started rolling.
He drove through the still downtown area, not noticing any signs of life. He rolled the window down to listen; nothing but silence. Shaking his head, he rolled the window back up and stopped, letting the car idle. He was lost in thought as someone tapped on the window. He rolled the window down to see a teenage boy about Carl's age. "Hey mister, you all right?"
"Yea, I think I made a wrong turn. I was looking for the camp."
"Anchorage is the camp. People don't come out at night because heat is limited. Go up to the next street and turn left. Head to the water and you'll find the military people."
"Thanks son, you need a ride? We have room and she won't bite much," he chuckled and inclined his head at Judith in back.
"Charles! What are you doing?" the woman snapped as she ran over to them.
"They were lost mom," the boy replied.
"He was just giving us directions and I was going to offer him a ride to keep warm."
"Can you squeeze us both in?" she asked. "My husband is the military liaison."
"Yea, I don't think Judith will mind some company."
They opened the doors as Beth woke up and yawned. "How is she?"
"Smiling," the woman spoke up. "I'm Elise."
"Beth, this is Rick and that's Judith."
"She is adorable," Elise smiled. "Head up to the next street and I'll navigate."
"Thanks," Rick smiled. "Are you from here?"
"No, Albuquerque. You?"
"Atlanta."
"Welcome to Anchorage."
Chuckling to himself, Rick headed down the street. He made the turn and followed her directions as they rolled into a line of cars heading for a large military base that had been an airport at one time. The guards came walking up as Elise pulled a card out. "I'm here to see my husband."
"These folks with you?"
"Yes."
"Sir, pull out and move through the open gate on your right please."
"Thanks."
Rick did what the guard told him as another waved him through. The one who waved them in motioned them to follow him. He followed the man into a hanger and parked the car. He held the door open for Elise and Beth. Charles climbed out as Beth leaned in and pulled Judith out. Rick climbed out and looked around; they followed Elise over to where a group of men stood.
"Sorry I'm late, the car died and we got a ride."
"You all right?" her husband asked.
"I'm fine, there's some folks all of you need to meet." The people in the military clothing lifted their heads and stared at the newcomers. "This is Rick, his wife Beth and their daughter Judith. They're from Atlanta." Hushed murmurs went across the table as they looked at them. "This is my husband Samuel."
He walked over and gripped Rick's hand as he stared at Beth and Judith. "We don't have many, if any, people from Atlanta here. We have some from Tulsa, Houston, Knoxville and the Carolinas, but hardly any from Alabama, Georgia and Florida. We have plenty of accommodations, do you want a house or apartment?"
"House preferably with her," Beth grinned as Judith clapped her hands.
"There's a vacant one in our neighborhood," Elise smiled. "Think it will work?"
"Sure; we'll need to register you folks, check over and sign you up for food deliveries. We'll give you daycare for her; she's what two, three?"
"Almost one," Beth smiled.
Another group of hushed murmurs came over the table. "Where did you deliver her?" Samuel asked.
"Is there something wrong?" Beth asked.
"A prison our group had moved into," Rick commented. "We had someone with medical know-ledge with us."
"No one has had a successful birth since the outbreak. Judith may well be the youngest living person the planet. You are very lucky," Samuel spoke. "Will you let our medical staff check all of you out?"
"Sure."