Brown felt like his heart had been hit by a rock. Where are they? He didn’t dare yell for them because it could attract more of those flesh eating things. Scanning the area behind the burning convenience store, Brown saw that one direction headed deeper into a junk yard of rusted vehicles. Their black silhouettes cast thick shadows and he figured that was about the last place he’d want to go and the others would have probably thought the same.

The other direction proved to be the more dangerous of the two for he came to the road right away. For a moment he almost panicked, especially since he couldn’t see any of the others. Five of the walking dead crossed in the road. It didn’t take long for one of them to spot him and take up their horrible moans.

The fire must draw the things for some reason.

The polished bat still filled his hands and with a yell, he made a roundhouse swing on the nearest one. For once, the blow was enough to take it down without any argument. The second went down and he was going for his third when he heard the moaning increase. Looking around he saw that another dozen of the wailing things had exited the restaurant across the street.

“Must be thinking they’re about to get barbecue,” he grumbled as he pushed one zombie into another, which sent them both tumbling to the ground.

The fire roared behind him and plumes of toxic smoke bellowed ever closer. Damn, I can’t go back the way I came and before me isn’t looking too much better. This might be it, Brown-man.

Bright headlights blinded several of the zombies. They, along with Brown, turned to look into the lights of an approaching vehicle. Brown couldn’t be sure what it was at first, but it seemed damn big.

With a loud hoot, the driver ran down four of the approaching zombies. Not willing to stop there, he threw the rig, which Brown could not see was a monster-sized tow truck, into a one-eighty and then run down another three.

By then, Brown could tell that Trevor drove and a smile crept over his face. He watched as the rig neared and it almost cost him his life.

Pain tore through his arm as violent fingers dug into him. A mouth wasn’t far behind and would have gotten him if his bat didn’t fence and smash the thing in the center of its face. It stumbled back and then Brown smashed his bat down on its fingers. It took two tries, but it lost its grip.

Changing to a two handed grip, Brown took the swing of his life and the neck snapped loud enough to be heard over the tow truck’s engine. Another one drew in close and received the same treatment.

“Are we going to get out of here,” Trevor called down to him, “or do you have to kill all of these sick things before we do?”

“No, I think we’ve done our share for now,” He said as he leapt up onto one of the running boards. “We can let the soldiers clean up the rest.”

Laura wore a smile for the first time since they met. She hugged her daughter tighter to her chest as Brown climbed into the tow truck.

“Where too?” Trevor asked.

“We need to get these two somewhere safe,” Brown said. “Head into Tucson. I’m sure they have the resources to keep whatever’s happening under control there.”

Turning back toward I-10 the small group left the growing flames of the convenience store behind them.

The growing mob of zombies watched them depart until another vehicle exited the highway. As one, the zombies moaned as the vehicle slowed for the stop sign.

Thank You for reading Cowboys Versus Zombies

A new story will begin next Saturday!

You can find out more about Brown and the Eternal Aftermath here!