The Zombies of Zander Ranch, Part Ii

II. They were locked inside, surrounded by moans, the pained cries of Hell enveloped the home, the rancher too broken to even speak, while Rose went and got Sol something to eat. Sol went to work, and found a heavy chest, pushed it to the door to block the entrance, did the same at the back with the table, checked their weapons, made sure they were full. The walls of the house were adobe, and thick, with small gun-loupe windows that would do the trick, no zombie would be able to squeeze in, but he could shoot out at the creatures of sin. He kept firing at all who passed by, shooting down zombies with a sharp eye, until finally the hordes did fall back, only then did Sol’s Winchester go slack. Rose then brought him some bread to much upon, outside the zombies hadn’t really gone, Sol said,”Whoever raised them is thinking how to get inside to do more killing. “But they’ll probably fall back before daylight, the powers of Hell like to work in the night. Nothing to do now but sit here and wait… girl, do you know why you suffered this fate?” Rose just shrugged since she had no idea why the dead would choose their ranch to arise, Her father was too distraught to be help, then Rose jumped up, gave a small yelp. “There was a man wearing a red, bowler hat! I met him in town, was taken aback, something about him just seemed to be off… he tried to court me, but I loudly scoffed. “Do you think that man has caused all this hurt? Just because I thought he was of no worth?” Sol shook his head,”There’s no way to know, I’ll keep an eye out for such a man though.” That night not much more would happen to them, come morn there was no sight of the dead men, but Sol knew deep down the scourge wasn’t done, and said to Rose,”You two might want to run.” Rose shook her head, said,”We built this ranch.” Her father was too sad to contest her stance, said Sol,”We'll win, but it will take toil, I’ll need all your hay, pitch, and lamp oil.” Then they prepared for the forces obscene, soaked hay in oil until the grass gleamed, spread it in a circle around the house, mixed with some pine pitch, they were ready now. They climbed up high, right up on the roof, the father, still stunned, climbed the ladder aloof, he just sat up there, staring into space, so broken he could not fight for his place. Sol just frowned at this, grabbed shards of wood, then waited until the light wasn’t good, then from the canyons, and beyond the hills, zombies lurched out, the homestead was filled…