Anna gripped the slender trunk of a young maple tree as she surveyed the property. They'd been debating for several minutes the best way to get Dan across with his injured ankle while avoiding detection by Old Man Thornton.

"Going to Viktor's will add on too much distance. We've got to get him to Dr Nesbitt quick." She nodded at the Scout Leader who was currently leaning on a tree. A fine sheen of sweat covered his face and there was a decidedly gray cast to his skin.

James had broken his ankle once when he jumped from the drainpipe too early and landed wrong. He'd had to hop and hobble all the way to the rectory on it. By the time he'd gotten there, he was sweating and grimacing just as much as Dan was now.

"Oh crap!" Petra said and slapped her forehead. "Dr Nesbitt isn't here. He went to New York City on vacation."

"That's right!" added James. "I heard Father Lee say he'd be back this week."

Viktor shook his head. "Well, fat chance of that. I bet those Big Apple zombies already chewed him up and spit him out. I pity anyone in the city right now."

One of the boy Scouts began sniffling loudly, well on the way to a full-out wail. Several of the other boys' lips began to tremble.

"Vik! Think before you speak!" Petra scolded. She crossed to the Scout and put an arm around to comfort him.

Abashed, Vik ducked his head. "Sorry."

Anna pointed ahead and said with finality, "Look, we cut straight across the field to the back of the shed, then around the house by our room. It's the window Dad is least likely to look out of. We'll have to go as fast as we can down the driveway. We'll be clear once we pass the bend in it."

"Why can't we just go through the bush down the driveway?" James asked.

"It's pretty thick. It'd take a long time."

Standing up straighter to give the boys more confidence to his words, Dan addressed his group. "Alright, Scouts, you do whatever these good people tell you to do, okay? They're working hard to get us into the town safely."

The five boys nodded solemnly. They'd walked clustered together, fearfully examining every leaf that twitched on every tree through the woods.

From the far side of the shed, the Thornton's dog, Rex, came bounding across the large field. He was an ugly mutt, but highly effective at keeping the animals away from the crops, which meant the family had a steady supply of food. That and the fact that he managed to catch enough squirrels and other small animals to feed himself were the reasons Old Man Thornton tolerated the "damn barking flea bag", as he called him.

"Hey, Rexy," the children called quietly.

The dog's tongue lolled from the side of his mouth and his eyes closed in bliss as the children gathered around to give him a good scratch. Rexy loped over to sniff at the Scouts and one of the boys erupted into giggles when the dog leapt up on him and licked his face.

The trio and Thornton's whipped their heads to the house, checking for movement in the windows.

"Let's keep moving, everyone," James whispered.

They crept down the rows of carrots and cabbage.

"Hey, Robbie," Viktor called, his voice low. "When'd you get the last side of deer fence for the potato patch?"

The gangly boy regarded the tall fencing. In his slow, steady voice he said, "We nicked a bunch in the night from the new install over at the Murchinson place a few weeks ago."

James saw Dan's eyebrows go up at that, but the Scout Leader didn't comment.

As they reached the backside of the shed where the still, vegetable crop and gardening supplies were stored, Anna turned back from the front of the pack and laid a finger over her mouth to indicate the need for silence. "Okay, everyone, be as quiet as a mouse!"

Carefully lifting their feet over the dry, crinkly grass they edged around the shed and the fly-riddled compost pile to the side of the house. Rex bounding along beside them.

James peeked in the only window on this side as he passed. Besides the bare walls, the room contained a few neatly folded blankets that were flanked by six small piles of clothes. His heart sank. He had it bad with his dad, but these kids had it way worse.

At the leading corner of the house, Anna waved her hand frantically in the air and began to run towards the tree line of the driveway.

"Anna Marie Thornton!" a voice bellowed. Anna froze mid-stride. She turned to the house and James saw her gulp. "I know you're out here."

Before they had the chance to shoo the Scouts back, Old Man Thornton strode around from the front of the house. He brows lowered menacingly when he spied Scout Leader Dan and he started towards them. "Who're you? And why are you skulking around out here with my daughter?"

Dan held up his hands, palms out. "They saved me from a zombie in the woods. They're just showing me and my Scouts the way into town."

Old Man Thornton swung his eyes to the five Scouts who crowded up behind their leader like a tail. "Hmph," he said. "Chief was here earlier babbling about something going on in town."

He searched out Anna and ordered, "You better get to the shed and tend my still, girl! And you boys need to get over there and weed those potatoes like I told you this morning!"

"Dad, there really are zombies," Anna implored, brushing back the long brown hair that was the same colour and texture as the sparse amount still covering her father's head.

Spittle flew as Thornton shrieked, "Don't you speak back to me! You get over there and tend my still!"

Anna curled in on herself, losing inches in her effort to disappear as she hunched.

James' hands curled into fists. A lifetime of suppressed rage at his own father boiled up inside of him. He stepped forward, surprising Anna into halting her own step. Through clenched teeth he said, "Your still?"

Surprise flicked through Old Man Thornton's eyes to be quickly replaced by disdain when he saw who was addressing him. "Shut your pie-hole, James Brown. Your daddy is into me for several bottles of 'shine, so unless you're here to settle the bill, you just shut up!"

Red filled James' vision and adrenaline pumped through him, tensing his muscles and making him feel ten feet tall. "Well, he's dead, so good luck collecting!"

"What?" Thornton came up short with surprise.

Angry, bitter tears gathered in James' eyes. "He turned into a zombie last night, and the Chief put him down."

James stepped forward and stabbed a finger at Anna and her siblings who'd gathered around her. "If it weren't for your children, you wouldn't have a still. They run it. Bottle the moonshine. Grow the goddamn potatoes to make the moonshine in the first place!"

"Not to mention grow the other food that you eat!" Viktor chimed in, coming to stand beside James.

"Well, look who's joined the fight. When your mama comes around again, you send her over here. She knows how to pay for her 'shine real well." Thornton sneered and adjusted his trousers.

James caught Viktor's arm and held him back from launching himself at the man in a fury of fists. "Stop, Vik! He's just trying to get you going."

Anna came to his other side and took Viktor's hand in hers. "Breathe, Vikky."

Viktor's nostrils pinched in slightly as he dragged in a breath, then he blew it out his mouth. "The only thing you do is take the money and the credit for the work your children do."

Old Man Thornton zeroed in on their joined hands. "You been sneaking around with this piece of trash boy, Anna? I'll skin you alive, girl."

"Who are you calling a piece of trash, old man?" Viktor threw back.

Thornton narrowed his eyes dangerously at him.

"We're just friends, Dad," Anna said, letting go of Viktor's hand.

Viktor tilted his chin up. "If you touch one hair on her head, I swear you will pay for it."

"Sir, I don't want to interfere in your family affairs-" Scout Leader Dan began.

"Then don't!" snapped Thornton and Dan jerked back slightly in shock. "Just keep your gob shut. Now you go to the shed and tend my still, girl!"

The old man glared at Dan who glared right back.

Anna looked at Viktor, shameful tears and longing welling up in her eyes. Her body leaned forward, following years of conditioning of following her father's command.

Viktor touched her hand, and she paused. "Come to town, Anna. All of you. You can stay with us. With me," he whispered the last so fervently her mouth parted slightly in surprise.

Old Man Thornton growled at Viktor who continued, "It's not safe here. You know that."

Anna flicked her eyes at her glowering father, back to Viktor, then down to the dirt path again. It was clear to everyone that Viktor meant more than danger from zombie attack.

Timmy strode forward and grasped his big sister's hand. He declared with the bravado of the very young, "I'm coming with you, Vik. And my sisters and brothers are gonna come, too!"

The other siblings nodded and grouped themselves more tightly around Anna.

"You ungrateful little whelps!" Faced with a mutiny he couldn't stop, Thornton pointed down the road and shouted. "Fine! You want to be gone? Then get gone! Go! Get off my land!"

Anna, head hanging down, slowly shook it back and forth. Her quiet words rang out, "It's not your land."

"Are you backtalking me, girl?" Thornton drew his lips back, baring his teeth.

She drew in a deep, deep breath and squared her shoulders, brought her face up to meet her father. "Mom owns the farm. I saw the papers where Grandpa left the property to Mom. And I know she left the farm to us kids in her will." All the kids stood a little straighter. "So, who needs who more?"

The old man narrowed his eyes at the house and muttered something inaudible.

"Don't bother trying to find the papers. I've put them somewhere you won't find them."

Thornton spluttered. "Get out of here, then!"

"We will, and we're taking Mom into town with us," Anna said.

Mr Thornton's face turned a dark shade of puce. "She stays right here with me."

"Why? So you can take out your frustrations on her?" Anna lifted a foot, hesitated, then moved forward a step towards him. "I don't think so. Mom comes with us, and we'll come and help you with the still. We know exactly what has to be done and when. We take our share when we go back to town. You leave us alone, we leave you alone."

"Your share? Your share? What the hell do you need a share for?" Old Man Thornton glared at Anna. "Forget it! I'll run the damn thing myself!"

"You'll probably blow yourself up," Mark said and snickered.

"You shut your mouth! I won't take no disrespect!" Old Man Thornton screamed, pointing a finger at his second youngest son who flinched.

Marty edged toward the house, "I'll go get Mom."

Thornton flung out an arm pointing at his third-oldest child. He bawled, "You're mother isn't going anywhere!"

Anna continued in her quiet, level tone. "You know you can't run it anymore. You need us."

All eyes swung to the dog Rex when he gave out a deep, low growl. The hackles all along his back raised. His front paws lowered, taking his upper body down towards the dirt, ready to spring forward in attack.

The dog was facing Old Man Thornton but growling at something they couldn't see yet.

"Last time he did that there was a wolf!" Marty said.

A zombie stepped out from the corner.

"Sheee-it!" said little Timmy excitedly. "It's another one!"

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Are you a successful gardener? What kind of plants do you like to grow?

Thank you for reading! See you in the next chapter.

WORD COUNT: 2036

NANO WORD COUNT: 22, 772

TOTAL WORD COUNT: 24, 597