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Our first contact with the Barrio Aztec gang was the next day. Danny wanted to make one more sweep south, into Artesia. When we pulled into town, we saw the smoke. We were driving the armored SUV, and, as was Danny’s mandate, had a pair of AR-15s behind the seat
Danny said, “Get in the back seat. Be ready to shoot.”
He stopped, and I jumped in back. Danny chambered a round in the Beretta 9mm that he always wore when we were out, and said, “Lower your window and stay down until I say to, then come up ready to shoot.”
We drove for a few minutes, and then we stopped. At the remains of a strip mall, two pickups were parked in front of what had been a convenience store. It was burning. A group of men stood behind one truck The man in front, was raping a woman.
I heard one of them shout, “Hey gringo, we’ll trade her when we’re done for your shiny new car. And then we’ll kill you both.”
“Now!” Danny said as he fired before the guy could bring up his gun.
I guess the practice had done me good, because I put several shots into the group and didn’t hit the girl.
Danny was out of the car changing magazines. He then shot each man again. I climbed out and ran to the girl who was covered in blood. I thought she had been hit, but it was from her attacker. She was hysterical and her clothes were in rags.
Danny grabbed a blanket, wrapped it around her, and said, "Everything will be all right."
“Going to be all right!” She exploded, "They killed my Dad, and probably knocked me up. Then they burned what little food I had left. The world’s come to an end. So pardon me if I don’t believe you can waltz up and tell me everything will be all right!”
Danny backed off, and I took over taking care of her. During the long ride I sat in the back with Tracy Sumner and tried to get to know her.
She was 19, and her dad was taking her back to their home in Clovis after her freshman year in college. They took refuge in the abandoned store after their car quit running. She had no other family except an older brother in the Navy at San Diego. Her mom was killed in an auto accident when Tracy was seven. I spent the last hour of the drive holding the sleeping young woman.
She was only a year older than me. But, I felt like the adult, and she seemed childlike. Danny kept his mouth shut for the whole drive. I realized that I was feeling numb after killing at least two men. I told myself that they deserved it, but I felt like I had crossed a bridge that had no return.
The roll-up door was open and Danny pulled up to the front stairwell.
“Get Doc Hanson up to my room,” he shouted to the gathering crowd.
We hustled Tracy up to our room and Danny left Tracy to the Doc and me. After a quick exam, a shot of brandy, and a Morning After pill, Doc Hanson told me to get Tracy cleaned up, and in bed for a good long sleep.
I walked her into the bathroom, adjusted the shower, and stripped us both down. I then walked her into the shower and started washing the blood and grime off her body. It appeared to revive her, and she asked me to help wash her hair.
She stood like a statue, while I washed and then rinsed first the shampoo, and then, after a delay, the conditioner. I noticed her watching me as we waited, saying nothing. When I finished rinsing, she put her arms around me and kissed me on the lips.
I had been aroused by her close, naked proximity, but had ignored the feelings. In spite of myself I returned the kiss.
When we came up for air, Tracy smiled and said, “I could tell you were excited by your nipples.”
I stammered, “I, I’ve done nothing like this in the past. I heard 90 percent of women are bisexual, but didn’t believe it.”
Tracy asked, “What are the rest?”.
“Those are the lesbians,” I answered.
I turned off the shower and helped her into the bed, where I joined her, thinking how complicated my life was getting.
We spent most of the night making love and talking.
The next morning, Danny knocked, and came in carrying a tray, with cups and a Thermos of coffee. We were still in bed, naked. When we sat up, letting the covers fall away, Danny sputtered, quickly set the tray down, and started to beat a hasty retreat.
“We have some things we need to discuss,” I said.
Danny continued toward the door, and said, “I’ll be back as soon as you both are dressed.”
“Stop!” I commanded. “We want to be friends with benefits. Tracy has a brother in California and wants to join us on our trek.”
Danny turned, and said, “I don’t understand.”
I answered, “ Tracy, and I spent the night making love. Among other things I told her you were a caring, compassionate lover, and how our benefits worked. I now have the same relationship with her, and she wants the same with you. Now come to bed, I can see you’re all hot and bothered.”
I flipped the covers all the way off and saw Danny’s face turn crimson. Then he smiled, and said, “You’re two shameless hussies, but I guess I must let you have your way with me.”
Shedding clothes across the room, he joined us, and we had our way with him.
Later that afternoon, dressed, and proper, we discussed our new arrangement, and how it would impact the community in building 227. We had a surplus of women although Doc Hanson had established an open relationship with one woman her age. Several unattached were paring off, and only one man had made negative comments.
Reverend Bob Barker was a fat, self-important man who did not appreciate that the community had not accepted him as the leader of their flock. Danny had rescued him from his wrecked motor home, where he had almost starved to death.
Danny listened to Tracy and my ideas, and finally said, “Times have changed, we need to welcome anything that bonds people into stable relationships. I don’t have much patience with anyone who tries to impose his or her views on others. If Barker doesn’t like it, he can leave, or shut up. I think we need to tell everyone about our plan to leave in the spring, and about our relationship.”
We both agreed with him, and after the children were fed and put to bed, we had a community meeting.
Danny took the floor and said, “I have some information for you to consider. As the only representative of DHS, I have been operating as a benevolent dictator. I will continue to do so until the weather clears in the spring when both Ann and Tracy will leave with me for California. Because we have family there, who may need our help, our decision to leave is final. Another thing to understand is, we have a relationship, you could call friends with benefits.
“We won't consider having children or making a long-term commitment, because we don’t know what the future holds. Our personal relationships are not up for any discussion. Nether are any others.
“You must consider, the future of this community. I hope you will elect a wise and strong leader. I recommend you consider Hector Garza for that position. He has already proven his leadership and value to this community. No matter whom you pick, I will turn over my authority when we depart.
“This building, and the supplies and equipment within it, will provide you and your families, a secure refuge for this winter, and the next.
“However, you must never forget, that these resources are finite. The fuel, food, ammunition, and tools cannot last indefinitely. At best, with good planning and hard work, they can help you establish a sustainable community, where you and your children can survive and prosper.
“Your children are your most precious resource. Cherish them, make more of them, and teach them what they need to survive and prosper. We have all lost too much. You must depend on each other, for defense, for skills you may not have, and for those necessary jobs you can’t do alone.
“You should be cautious of newcomers, but welcome those without threat, to join and contribute to this community. Today, it is not possible to rehabilitate criminals. They will show no mercy to you and your family, and I suggest you make justice swift and final.”
Danny sat down to a stunned silence, followed by a round of applause. I was not surprised by the positive reaction. Danny was a natural leader, and everyone respected him.
The next day a blizzard blew in, and left a foot of dirty snow. It which lasted all winter, ultimately reaching a depth of over four feet.
