As the travel continued the young woman was never far behind me no matter where I went, which made bathroom breaks rather interesting. At times when she needed a break she would pull me to a tree and step around it to do her business before returning. If I even made a move to step away, she would cry out in fear. She had somehow latched on to me for some reason.
"She sees you as her savior, you have helped her, offered no restraint to her and most importantly given her freedom of choice. Just help her, as she comes to realize no one is out to hurt her, she will start to gain a sense of independence." Torie said softly.
"No problem not like she is a pain in the ass, at times she points out things the Guards have missed during patrols. She runs as hard and fast as we do, she also knows what is edible and what isn't. She had to have been alone a long time before getting caught by those fools." I replied while the girls head was in my lap and she slept after a hard run.
"When we return we can run a few tests, find out how she has blue eyes and see if it is something like what we have." Torie suggested.
"We will speak to her about it, but in the end it will be her choice." I reminded her and she nodded quickly. During the trip collapsible shower stalls allowed us to shower, water would be heated during the day and used to shower at night then get filtered and pumped back up to the tanks once again to be heated back up during the following day. And yep after her shower we had to replace the filters and refill the tank from the streams flowing just off the Highway.
At what would be the State Line, we found another Stronghold. They had sentries along the walls who were pointing at us. We drove up slowly and parked nearly thirty yards from their gate. I climbed out of the truck with Maria and the young woman. She still hasn't spoken sense calling my eyes pretty and she hasn't responded when asked her name.
"Hello the Gate." I called out. A smaller door opened and three men stepped out and walked towards us.
"Who are you and what do you want?" the front man demanded.
"I am Dakota and we are running a trade route from Reno and out to the West. Stopping at different Strongholds and Forts to get an idea of what we should carry for trade and what you may have to offer as well. We would also be willing to try and aid people by delivering letters to other Forts to see if family members can be reunited." I explained while he listened. After the first Fort we had found two others and both gave a list of things they had they could trade for things they would need.
"And how do I know you aren't just trying to find out what we have so you can steal it?" he asked in reply.
"I have enough ammo and personal to level your walls if that was our objective. It is not, it is as I said it is. I even made up a list of things other Forts needed and are willing to trade. If you like we can look over the list and you can tell me what you find interest in and what you'd be willing to offer if you do not have what they need." I suggested and he nodded slowly. He glanced at me and the young woman several times. I wore my wrap around ski glasses and had shown the young woman how to do the same while we were speaking to the others from the Forts.
"You have many women with you.." he started to say and I held up my hand to stop him.
"I suggest in the interest of maintaining good relations, that you do not finish that line of thought." I said slowly. He narrowed his gaze before nodding slowly.
"Shall we go inside and we can talk while I look over this list?" he suggested. I tilted my head a bit.
"Sir, I seem to recall having stopped by before a while back and you offered trade for my two girls. Then even offered a partial trade just so you and your men could borrow them for a few hours." I said slowly, it was loud enough for the changed to hear clearly and everyone could hear the weapons being locked and loaded.
"If I were to step inside and you tried to use me as a hostage, well, I would never be taken alive. I am a Marine and we're bloody stupid about not giving up. So anything you said to try and use me as barter would only incite them into leveling this place as they would already assume I was dead." I said calmly and smiled at him.
"Now you will call your people and have them step out the gate, no zombies around for miles so we both know it is safe. Any weapons seen will have the person shot. Am I clear so far?" I asked him, he started to say something and I pulled my gun and pointed it at his head.
"You can all live, or you can all die.. your choice." I reminded him and cocked the hammer back.
"Everyone get out of the Fort and leave your weapons behind." he yelled out. Soon men began leaving through the gate.
"Now I want you to look back and insure the Fort is empty. Anyone found inside with a weapon, not only will they die but so will you. So if you think someone might have missed your call, I suggest you give them a shout." I growled at him.
"Johnson get your ass out here now." he yelled quickly. The man came running out carrying a rifle and I shot him in the face.
"Probably should have reminded him no weapons." I muttered sourly as he stared at the mans body.
"I am checking the Fort and you better pray you have not been holding anyone against their will or there will be hell to pay. And I am collecting the Devils Due." I said in warning. I could see him sweating even more.
"Torie man the 50 cal, if they so much as breath funny, cut the fuckers down." I called out. Looking back I used hand signals and two more of my team moved into position.
"You two follow Maria, Sunny and I into the Fort. I want it searched top to bottom." I said and the young woman smiled at the nickname I had given her. As a group we walked into the Fort, I noted the Leader giving a sigh as if in defeat or resignation. The weapons left were mostly empty of shells, they could not average two shots each much less mount a defense.
