The Living Dead Boy (The Living Dead Boy #1)(33)

“If you don’t like the weather in Texas, wait ten minutes,” he muttered.

“Huh?” Corina said beside him.

“Something my PawPaw said.” Josh shoved his sandy brown hair from his sweaty forehead. The humidity made the air feel thick.

Sweeping her gaze back and forth between the serene part of the sky and the stormy part, she smiled. “Yeah. I see what he means. Maybe it won’t hit this area.”

Tall grass waved and bobbed in the wind on both sides of the ditch. The area was covered with rolling hills which made it hard to see for long distances. A few trees and grazing cows were the only break in the monotony of the scene. The ditch curved downward at a gradual slant as they walked down the hill.

“The good thing is no zombies,” Troy said from across the ditch.

“Maybe they all burned up back there,” Danny suggested.

“Not all the zombies in the world,” Sam said in a grumpy voice. “We still have more to fight.”

Sam was lagging behind as he practiced swinging his makeshift staff. His brow was furrowed with concentration as he whacked at each fence post as they passed.

“It’s not like you’re going to fight them, lard butt,” Chad said with a chuckle. His shirt flapped around his skinny frame as he walked. He’d finally followed the example of the other kids and found a branch to use as a weapon. His attempts to swing it around like a bo staff were humorous, especially when he hit himself.

“Yes I am!” Sam smacked the next post extra hard. One of the prongs on the end of his staff cracked and flew off into the field.

As Chad howled with laughter, Sam stared at the ruined end. With a cry of raw anger, he rushed Chad, waving his staff. His face was redder than Josh had ever seen it and he had what his dad would call blood in his eye.

“No, Sam!” Corina cried out.

Delighted at Sam’s awkward charge, Chad skipped just out of range of his swing. “Come on, Fatty. Show me what ya got!”

“Stop it, Chad! Sam, calm down!” Corina scampered along the side of the ditch, favoring her wounded leg. “Don’t fight!”

Josh hung back with Troy, unsure if they should stop Sam. Chad had been pushing at him all morning. Maybe he deserved a few whacks.

“Do you think he can knock him on his butt?” Troy asked.

“I don’t know. He’s trying.” Josh was impressed with Sam’s determination.

“You like him, right?”

“Sam?”

“Yeah. Arturo was wrong about Sam. He’s kinda got no filter, but he’s not a bad guy.”

The thought of his dead best friend wiped the smile off Josh’s lips. “Yeah. And he saved Yessica.”

Ahead of them Sam was still swinging at Chad, grunting with anger. Despite his attempts, he had yet to land a single blow. Corina kept trying to grab the stick from him.

Meanwhile, Danny and Dulce laughed while speaking in Spanish to each other.

“Chad’s a jerk,” Josh said in a grim tone. “And he’s dumb enough to get himself killed, and us, too, if we’re not careful. I just don’t know how to dump him.”

“He won’t go. He likes flirting with Corina and trying to be the leader.” Troy shook his head. He was still wearing the Dallas Cowboy cap from the truck stop. There was one tag stuck to the top of it and it waggled when he moved his head.

“He sucks at both,” Josh pointed out. He was glad Corina was not impressed by Chad’s attempts to flirt with her.

“Totally.”

Corina finally managed to grab the end of the makeshift staff and yanked it out of Sam’s hands. “Stop it! He’s trying to make you mad.”

“I am mad! He won’t leave me alone! I don’t do nothing to him and... and...” Sam burst into tears. “If my dad was here he’d arrest him!”

Looping her arm across Sam’s shoulders, Corina guided Sam back to the others. Chad’s howling laughter floated on the wind. Nearby some cows watched the kids with interest. Josh wondered how long they’d survive without a rancher taking care of them. So far the zombies didn’t seem interested in animals. Just humans.

“Hey!” Chad shouted. “Come here!”

“Yelling is such a bad idea.” Troy wearily shook his head.

“At least there doesn’t seem to be zombies nearby,” Josh replied.

“Doesn’t seem to be. Doesn’t mean they’re not out there.”

“True.”

Ahead Chad stared down the slope of the hill. “Hey! Check this out!”

No one in the group hurried to join him. It was probably wise after the stunt he’d pulled at the truck stop. They maintained their regular pace, which clearly annoyed Chad. He folded his arms and glared at them.

When they finally reached the spot where Chad was standing, a wave of relief washed over Josh. Below was a country road paved in gravel. Surrounded by a hurricane fence were a small wood farmhouse and a much larger garage made out of wood and corrugated metal siding. A bunch of old model cars in various states of disrepair decorated the back yard.

“This is good, right?” Sam asked.

“Yeah. We might be able to get some help,” Josh replied.

“And food and water,” Corina added.

“And shelter. That storm is coming our way.” Danny pointed to the cows in the field moving under the copse of trees.