Surviving Day by Day (Book 3): Still They Come Read Free Page A

with your passing. A son needs his father and after all maybe that is why things happened the way that they did. Maybe your boy needs his daddy……”
    She stopped talking as she continued on looking for other things that she could find to eat. Just then she walked up onto a whole patch of cactus’ that had yellow flowers on the tops of them and there were quite a few. “Barrel cactus! Oh I think this will be great!! I can make some fruit bowls, salsas or salads out of this and that would make a great side dish.”
    Cutting up as many as she could possibly put in the back of her knapsack along with carrying one by its roots, she was definitely happy with her journey for the day.
    Looking up to the sky she saw the sun was changing positions and that it was getting later in the afternoon. Deciding to make her way back to the house, she walked briskly through the desert. A few clouds were in the sky and there were no birds or sounds. This was nothing new to her, but often on her way back she wondered if there were any other survivors out there that were like them, and not mean, vicious assholes that would cut their throats in the middle of the night just to steal what they had.
    Within no time, she saw the house and the group gathered out at the table. Alden seemed to be relaxing and finishing off some food that he was eating. “Hey Alden!” Tabitha cheerfully shouted. “Look what I brought you!”
    Alden smiled at Tabitha, “Well now cupcake, why don’t you just drop those rabbits right there by Charlie and grab yourself a sandwich. Charlie, you take them and follow me over here by the barn and we’ll get them things dressed out for supper tonight.”
    Grabbing his crutch, he saw the barrel cactus Tabitha was holding. “Ceara, I want you to take that cactus to the kitchen and peel back the outer shell, then start cutting up the fruit inside like you would a watermelon making little chunks. Colt, go to the trailer and find us a couple of cans of peaches.”
    Colt looked up and swallowed a bite of his sandwich. “But we got three cans at least in the cupboard.”
    Alden stopped turned and smiled at him, “No, we don’t.” He turned and followed Charlie to the barn where he had set up a cleaning station.
    Within minutes, Alden and Charlie had the rabbits dressed out. Reaching down and grabbing a bucket that held the entrails he handed it to Charlie. “You know what to do with this...”
    Charlie nodded as he went to get a horse saddled up. “Should I ask Ceara to go with me down to the cliffs?”
    Alden looked to the table and saw her already heading to the house. “No, you just get out there and get back, no screwing around okay? I don’t need her frettin’ over you. Besides she’ll be busy for a while cutting up that cactus.”
    Charlie nodded and climbed up on the horse. Alden handed him the bucket along with an old 30-30 rifle. “Slip that in that holster by the saddle and don’t pull it unless you need to. I’ll keep Colt out with me, so if you run into trouble I can send him.”
    Charlie looked down at him, “I’ll be okay, and I’ll go out and come right back I promise.”
    Alden watched as Charlie turned the horse and rode out. Closing the gate behind him, Alden hobbled back to the table. “Colt, come here son.”
    Colt walked up to him, “What’cha need boss?”
    “I want you to take these rabbits inside, then come back out and meet me by the trailer; I want to have you check something for me.”
    Colt carried the rabbits inside and laid them by the kitchen sink. Ceara was at the counter cutting up the cactus. She turned as Colt was heading outside. “Where’s Charlie?”
    Colt looked at her and thought quickly, “He’s closing up the barn and tending to the horses. I got to get back; Alden wants something from the trailer.” He turned and moved quickly out the door.
    Colt met up with Alden at the corral, “What’s up? What did you need me to check?”
    Alden kept his eyes in the