Murphy's Law (Roads Less Traveled Book 2) Read Free Page B

picking grass, so she caught a ride with Nancy.
    “I think we should wait until we get to that ridge before stopping for lunch,” I suggested.
    The trail appeared to head straight up the hill, weaving around the trees this way and that, all the way to the top, which suited me right down to the ground. I’d feel much safer stopping for lunch and to rest up there than down here. Zack caught up with me and fell in alongside my horse.
    “I can’t explain the heads, but looks like someone used that place as a dumping ground.”
    “Yeah, that’s what I thought too. Most likely the nearest town, which is just on the other side of that ridge behind us.” I glanced back over my shoulder. He considered this, then frowned and studied the trees around us. I let him ride on this way until we were almost to the top before asking him what was on his mind.
    “Instead of avoiding people, I think we should be looking for them.”
     
    * * *
     
    We found a fairly level spot to rest the horses and eat lunch. Everyone dismounted and tied their horses off to whatever was available, fallen logs, tree branches, large rocks, then rummaged through the supplies on the packhorses for something to eat.
    “We don’t have time right now to make nice with the locals. The more time we waste, the farther away they get from us,” I said, pulling a can of beans and a Ziploc bag of dog food from the pack. Everyone else was eavesdropping on the conversation by this time, already finding places to sit and enjoy their assorted canned goods and drinks.
    “I know, I know. They’ve got a big head start and we need to catch up. I get it. But Kase, you’re smart enough to realize that eventually we’re gonna have to make friends. Safety in numbers, right? And the only way to do that is to start heading into the towns instead of completely bypassing them. How many have we dodged already?” Zack followed me over to a large rock jutting out of the ground at the base of a hickory tree. I sat and poured some Kibbles-n-Bits on the ground for Gus.
    “Alright, who’s got the can opener?” After getting comfortable on the cold, hard ground, I realized for the hundredth time that eating from cans was a pain in the ass.
    Mia whizzed it at my head. “Yo, Boss! Head’s up!”
    The fun and games went on for several minutes, me pretending to lose an eye in a horrible can opener accident, and Mia voicing disbelief at her incredibly bad aim. Finally Zack lost his patience and began lecturing me again on the advantages of having “friends.”
    “Listen, sweetie, I’m going to stop you right there. I have every intention of meeting people and looking for survivors, after we finish what we set out to do. If that’s not good enough, then it’s your problem. Deal with it.”
    Everyone was still watching and trying to be coy about it. With this bunch, the only one who succeeded was Gus, and that was only because he had his face shoved into a pile of dog food.
    Zack took a deep breath and stared at me a moment before finally sighing and turning his attention to his own meal. That seemed to signal the others to eat and keep their mouths shut because no one made so much as a peep for the remainder of lunch.
     
    * * *
     
    “ Peter!” Jake shouted.
    He was leaning against the stairway banister listening to the commotion coming from above. He had known as soon as they came through the front door that this had been a mistake. There was blood all over the kitchen floor and a long smear spreading down the hallway to the stairs. Pete had bolted through the house, not paying any attention to his surroundings or showing even an ounce of caution. Jake followed to back the guy up, quickening his pace when he heard the moaning start upstairs.
    “ Goddamnit.” Jake began taking the steps, two at a time.
    Pete fell backwards out of what Jake assumed to be one of the bedrooms and slipped on entrails, throwing him to one side and onto his face. The moans grew louder inside the