Chapter 53
They rushed out of the cowboy cabin, all holding firearms. Even usually steady Ryan couldn't help but curse.
"Fuck, is it those bastards again?"
Though elderly, Lloyd had bright eyes. He watched the convoy appear in view like a long dragon and furrowed his brows in confusion. "Probably not those bastards."
Colby turned his head, grabbed binoculars, and went to check the surrounding ranches. He returned shortly to report to Lloyd.
"Probably not their people. They're just like us—standing there staring."
Lloyd's heart relaxed. Good, as long as they weren't allied with the enemy.
But then Lloyd's heart rose again. That convoy was clearly heading toward them.
More trouble coming?
Caesar, you really dumped this whole mess on me. Where the hell are you?
While mentally cursing Caesar, Lloyd's expression didn't change. He said to Ryan, "Take your gun and go back inside. Find a concealed window position. Be careful."
Ryan's head moved—he immediately understood what Lloyd was thinking. He nodded seriously, grabbed his weapon, and turned to go back inside.
Ryan retrieved a long rifle with a scope from the house and found a window where he could observe both parties making contact. He set up the gun.
Colby stood firm beside Lloyd, watching the gradually approaching convoy, his expression especially unfriendly.
"Colby, do you really not like Tate?"
Suddenly, Lloyd looked straight ahead and asked.
"What?" Colby didn't quite react. When he confirmed what he'd heard, he gave Lloyd a look that said "you're being presumptuous."
Lloyd chuckled. "We don't know what's about to happen—death or survival."
Colby calmed down, his expression becoming somewhat sorrowful.
"So before dying, I really do want to know the answer to that question." Lloyd glanced at Colby with teasing eyes, seeming to wait for his answer.
Colby closed his mouth, choosing to ignore him.
The convoy stopped before the ranch's iron gate, releasing dull hissing sounds.
"Let's go."
After waiting quite a while, Lloyd stopped teasing. He strode forward, climbed over the iron gate, looked at the tall truck before him, and quietly waited for the goddess of fate to throw her dice.
He didn't know if this roll would be fortune or misfortune.
Colby's muscles tensed throughout his body. His gaze fixed on the truck door, his finger twitching slightly, ready to draw his gun in the next second.
The door opened. Caesar's figure appeared.
"Lloyd, Colby—miss me?"
Caesar spread his arms with a joyful smile and embraced Lloyd and Colby.
Lloyd and Colby clearly hadn't reacted yet. Their bodies stiffened as they hugged Caesar.
Only after seeing Caesar's face clearly again did Lloyd react, patting Caesar with surprise and delight. "You really came back?"
"I really came back."
Caesar turned his head toward Colby. He saw a dark bruise on Colby's face—clearly left from fighting someone.
"Colby, what's this?"
Caesar's gaze turned unfriendly. He recalled the moved wooden fence positions he'd noticed earlier. That meant the ranch's grassland had been compressed—someone had occupied part of it.
Colby took a deep breath. "I'll tell you about it later."
Caesar could only nod. Then he thought of Ryan. Why hadn't he seen Ryan? His expression changed.
"Where's Ryan?"
"Oh, Ryan. He's fine, in the house." Lloyd could tell what Caesar was thinking from his expression.
"We didn't know why such a convoy would appear, so I had Ryan go back inside and set up with his rifle."
Caesar nodded with a wry smile.
Just then, Tate suddenly appeared from behind, rushed forward, and threw herself into Colby's embrace.
Colby instinctively caught Tate, holding her in his arms.
Tate raised her head. Her eyes sparkled beneath her pink hair, her lips curving into a happy arc.
"Colby, let me tell you. This trip out, I did so much. I killed tons of walkers, saved a county sheriff..."
Once Tate started talking, she went on endlessly. Colby listened in a daze.
Watching the two of them, Caesar shook his head with a smile and said to Lloyd.
"Open the gate first. Let's drive the vehicles in."
Only then did Colby react. He released his hands and Tate slid to the ground, continuing to talk to him nonstop.
"He still hasn't realized?"
Lloyd pursed his lips and shook his head.
Then Lloyd opened the iron gate.
Under Lloyd's gaze—his pillar of support had returned—the vehicles drove into the ranch one by one.
The ranch's residential area was immediately filled with vehicles, leaving little space.
Caesar called out to Carol, "Carol, have some people set up tents first."
"Then arrange for some women and children to stay in the cowboy cabin. There are single rooms inside for families to live in."
"Squad leaders and deputy leaders will stay in the other independent cabins. Understand?"
Carol nodded.
Caesar was separating the combat squad leaders from everyone else. Better living conditions were what they deserved.
The ranch had limited living space. At the center was Caesar's stone house, with Rip's small cabin on either side along with some independent small cabins, plus a cowboy cabin.
The cowboy cabin was large enough to accommodate over a dozen people, with single rooms inside.
Even so, there wasn't enough living space. Carol would need people to set up tents.
After Carol received the order, Caesar first helped reposition Jenner's laboratory truck, parking it next to Jenner's independent small cabin.
Then he had Guillermo and his people live near Jenner, ready to protect Jenner's safety at all times.
At the same time, Guillermo could also defend against enemies appearing from that direction.
Caesar had Daryl and Merle's squads defend the other direction. Caesar's own squad lived near Caesar himself, able to guard him.
"Daryl, take some people and scout the situation at those nearby ranches."
After arranging everyone's accommodations, Caesar had someone fetch Daryl and spoke to him.
Daryl nodded and was about to turn and leave without a word.
"Wait." After stopping Daryl, Caesar continued instructing, "If the situation looks wrong, surrender immediately and wait for me to rescue you."
"Remember, your lives are most precious. Don't fight to the death if you can't win."
Daryl's heart warmed. He nodded again, only this time his attitude was much softer.
After Daryl left, Merle also came looking for him.
"Oi, boss. You sent my little brother to scout—what should I do?" Merle's face always wore a casual smile. He swayed his body.
Caesar looked at Merle, a mischievous smile appearing on his face.
"Don't worry. I definitely have work for you!"