Gerald said, grabbing his AR off the ground.
“We have a car coming down the road; it’s almost at the bridge,” Nancy called out over the radio.
“Can you tell what it is?” Gerald called back.
“Black sedan with government plates.”
“Call Hank, and tell him in case they head for his farm,” Gerald said, looking at the backhoe.
“Dude, I know you aren’t thinking of leaving Bernard’s John Deere backhoe out here all alone,” Nelson said, shaking his head. “I don’t want to get thrown in that damn wood chipper.”
“Let’s just move to the road; a sedan can’t get past the overturned truck and trailer,” Gerald said.
“Michelle,” Nelson called on his radio as he followed Gerald.
“I’m here,” Michelle called back.
“Get a sniper rifle, and set up so you can cover us at our makeshift roadblock. Get Bernard and Ashley to do the same.”
“Moving toward you,” Michelle called back.
“The car just took the Y to Hank’s farm. I already let him know,” Nancy called out, and Gerald stopped.
“Okay, we have some time. How do you two think we should handle this?” Gerald asked, looking at them.
“Get the backhoe, and move it up to the turned over truck like we are working on it, and see if they come this way,” Nelson said.
“Why not just shoot their asses?” Matt asked.
“I would really like to know why in the hell they are here in the middle of nowhere,” Nelson said. “You two head to the roadblock; I’ll get the backhoe.”
Matt and Gerald ran out to the road and jogged over to the turned over truck and trailer. “Think we should hide our weapons?” Matt asked, looking at his gear.
“Fuck that,” Gerald said, press checking his AR. Seeing brass, he let the bolt snap home. “I fought for this country in shit holes all over the world for over two decades. Be damned if I’m going to bend over now.”
“Fair enough,” Matt said as Nelson pulled out of the tree line on the backhoe and drove it behind the truck and trailer.
Nelson got out and laid his AR on the side of the overturned truck as well as his vest. Taking out his 1911, Nelson put it in his clip-on holster. “We are set up, Nelson,” Michelle called over the radio.
Nelson walked over to Matt and Gerald. “I’m glad we are using real radios now that are encrypted,” he grinned. The three spread out in front of the truck and waited.
Ten minutes later, Nancy came over the radio. “They just tried calling out on the radio.”
“They get anyone?” Nelson asked.
“No,” Nancy snapped. “I’m jamming them; wait, one just tried to use a cellphone.”
Nelson laughed, looking over at Gerald. “Guess they don’t realize there is no cell coverage here.”
Gerald shook his head. “No, I’m sure they have a signal booster in the car like we have at the farm.”
“Shit,” Nelson spat as he kicked the dirt.
“Don’t fret; Nancy has that jammed as well. The only way they will communicate with anyone around here is if they send smoke signals.” Gerald grinned. “Remember, Nancy worked for the assholes.”
“I’m starting to think Nancy was more than just a computer programmer for the government,” Nelson said. “She’s acting like the head of the rebel alliance.”
“On that, you would be right,” Gerald said as Nancy came over the radio.
“They are coming to you now. Four occupants, and they just passed the Y.”
“You two stay out of sight until they stop,” Nelson said as he keyed his radio. “Baby, if they don’t play nice, just waste them, but I really want to talk to them.”
“You don’t talk to me that much, but you want to talk to government dickheads?” Michelle snapped over the radio as Matt and Gerald moved behind the roadblock.
“Be nice. I talk to you, but you rarely like the topics,” Nelson said, looking up as he heard the car approaching.
The car stopped, and all four doors opened. A man wearing a deputy’s uniform got out of the driver’s seat. Two of
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