chapter 22

They finally reached an end of the woodlands toward an opening and followed a dirt road.

Walking along a barb wired up the fence for roughly another ten minutes before Leonard could see a farmstead with a sign in front of the property that said St.John Dairy with a cow-head imprinted on it along with phone numbers.

"Here it is. St. John's family dairy." Andy announced.

"Y'all can see how we've kept this place so safe," Andy told as Lee and a few other looked closely at the barbwire fence, where they could see a red wire entangled along the line of metal.

"The fence keeps them out?" Mark asked Andy.

"You betcha. They fry like bugs in a zapper, we're pushing 4,000 volts through that thing, with generators and amps." Andy claimed.

"I'm going to assume that's a lot…" Carley chimed in.

"Oh yeah...with that much electrical current running through those wire, it's more than enough to fry them, you know it's possible to melt metal at 5,000 volts," Leonard told her.

"You sure know a lot huh boi?" Andy asked.

"I just read a lot of useless stuff before all shit going down," Leonard replied.

"Well it's not useless anymore nowadays," Andy added.

"Ever had any accident?" Lee asked.

"Nah." Andy brother replied.

"It's safer here than out there," Andy added in.

"This place looks untouched! You'd never know the rest of the world is in ruins." Carley told.

"It's worth protecting, hence all the juice," Andy told- then a woman walked out from the main house.

"I thought I saw Y'all with company coming down the drive!" she said.

"Guys, this is our mama," Andy told.

"I'm Brenda St. John and welcome to the St. John Dairy!" she welcomed them.

"This here's Lee. He's from Macon." Andy introduced.

"A couple of our old farm hands were from Macon. They grow 'em good there." Brenda said.

She probably implied on another meaning for those words.

"They've got a few more friends staying at the old motel." Andy brother told.

Brenda was surprised.

"Oh my goodness, that place is pretty vulnerable. Have you got someone with survival experience to lead your group?" she asked.

"A few peoples got things under control over there," Lee told them.

"Well, I hope you know what you're doing. That place isn't as safe as it is here." Brenda told him.

"A democracy." Leonard chimed in.

"well, it doesn't matter. You're here now. We'll make sure you're safe and comfortable." Brenda said.

"Well we brought some gasoline," Lee said.

"Oh that's nice, these are for Y'all. Baked fresh this morning." she holds up a basket filled with bread.

They all look at the fluffy buns of bread within the basket.

"Amazing!" Carley commented.

"Can't get stuff like that anymore, not without a cow for milk and butter, that's for sure." Andy brother, Danny added in.

"That's right. Hopefully, Maybelle will make it through this bout of whatever she's got and be with us for a good long while." Brenda continued.

"Your cow is sick-" Lee was about to finish that sentence however Mark cut him off.

"We have a vet! We could bring her here! We can help you, folks, out." he suggested.

At that moment Leonard felt like beating the living shit out of the former soldier, he doesn't know anything about these people- other than what they've shown him superficially on the outside and he already told them a very important piece of information about their group.

Is that they have a person with medicinal knowledge- be it's a vet or a doctor for humans.

"A vet! Oh, my! Our prayers have been answered!" Brenda said excitedly.

"Maybe our whole GROUP could come...for the day…" Mark continued.

Lee who was on the side was quite skeptical about it since he heard Leonard warning on their way to the dairy farm.

"Well how about this, Y'all go get your veterinary friend, and I prepare some dinner. A big feast for all you hungry souls." Brenda suggested.

"It'll be nice to have some folks to help out around here again. Danny, why don't you come help me out in the kitchen." she then asks for Danny to follow her back inside their house.

"Why don't I head back with the food and round up everyone for the trip over here?" Carley asked.

"You might wanna take someone with you. Remember, those roads can be dangerous." Andy reminded her.

"Don't worry I'm coming along with her, I can help keep an eye out," Leonard suggested.

Carley then looked at him and then nodded.

"Take this." Mark handed Leonard his rifle.

"Take care of yourself, Lee. See ya in a while," she told him and then headed off with Leonard

"Mark, Lee, why don't ya take a look around. Once ya get settled in, I could use some help securing' the perimeter." Andy asked Mark and Lee while leaving Ben staying to have a look around the farmstead.