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“I didn’t mean to kill him!”
My Uncle Samuel gripped my shoulders and shook me gently. “Calm down and tell me what happened.”
“I...I...was at Mrs. Higgins’ market when I heard a man asking questions about us. He said that anyone caught hiding us would be detained and brought to Industry Headquarters. I ran and hid up in the hills waiting for him to drive out of town. He was almost to the timber trail leading up the mountain, and I...didn’t know what to do...” I sucked in a breath, my heart still pounding from the two-mile run through the woods to the house. Tears rushed down my cheeks. “I didn’t mean it...but I had to stop him.”
“I know, Lily. Just tell me what you did.” Sam held my face in his hands, his brown eyes studying me. Fear and concern lined his features.
“There was a boulder...I...saw him coming and I...used a tree limb to push the boulder down the hill. I only wanted to stop him—to block the entrance to the trail—but...” I choked the words out, my heart taking another plunge into despair. How could I have done it? I was a healer, not a life-taker. A new flood of tears fell as I finished the story. “The boulder slammed into the vehicle and sent it off the other side of the road into the ravine. It...rolled...so many times...then the fire...” I could still see the crushed roof of the truck and the mangled bleeding body inside, the whole mess engulfed in flames by the time I reached it.
Sam hugged me to his broad chest, the top of my head barely reaching his chin. He stroked my back, saying over and over, “It’s going to be all right.” His words rang hollow in my ears just as they had when I was six and he found me with my little brother, terrified and in shock in the secret room of our old house. He’d patted my back then, and told me everything would be all right, but with my mother long dead and having just witnessed my father’s murder, I knew nothing would ever be the same again. His voice pulled me back to the moment. “You did what you had to do.” He let me go and looked down into my eyes, his expression grim. “Do you hear me? You did the right thing. You protected yourself and your brother.”
“But he’s dead! I couldn’t save him....” I sobbed uncontrollably while Sam half carried me over to a chair at the kitchen table. My hands trembled as I wrapped them around my middle.
Zeph crashed through the screen door at that moment. “Hey, Sam, look what I...” He froze, and the grin fell from his face. “What’s wrong? What happened?”
I burst into tears again. Sam explained the situation briefly, and Zeph lowered himself into the chair across the table from me, his face a calm mask. “Are you sure he’s dead?”
“Of course, I am!” I sniffled and gained control, not wanting my weakness to show in front of my brother. I’d spent most of my life being strong for him—protecting him. Now he reached out a hand. To anyone else, his touch could be deadly, but he couldn’t hurt me—a fortunate side effect of our shared DNA. I had spent countless hours teaching him to control the power that he could summon at will, and trying to convince him not to give into the temptation to use it.
I squeezed his fingers and gazed into his wide black eyes. A sudden rush of peace washed over me. Zeph’s peace—the peace he felt whenever he took a life with his touch. Soothing warmth covered me like melted wax, comforting but suffocating at the same time. It was as if he were drawing the dead man’s energy off of me, trying to relieve me of my burden. I pulled my hand away.
Zeph closed his fingers into a fist. “You had no choice. He was an Industry agent. It was him or us.” His voice sounded calm, sure, eerily complacent—a tone that made me shudder.
“This is not okay.” I glared from my brother to Sam and back again, wishing one of them looked one ounce as sorry as I felt.
Sam and Zeph exchanged a look. Then Sam spoke up. “Did you leave the body there?”
“Like I had a choice,” I snapped. “What could I do? The vehicle was in flames.” My hands felt cold, so I tucked them under my armpits to warm them. It was as hot as a tropical jungle outside, but the house was a chilly sixty degrees, thanks to Sam’s geothermal cooling system that kept the indoor temperature constant year-round with help from a solar generator.
Sam grabbed a sweater off the coat rack by the door and draped it over my shoulders. Aunt Beth had died years before, but I could still sense her energy in the warm cashmere sweater. I pulled it tight around me as my limbs shook.
“Don’t worry, Monkey. It could take months before someone comes looking for the man, and I’m going to make sure they don’t find him.” His voice softened, and his eyes suddenly looked sad and far away. “We knew this day would come. At least we have fair warning. We’ll have to make arrangements to move on, but...it can wait.” He smiled and tried to lighten his tone, but I could see the concern and desperation behind his eyes. “You stay here and get some lunch ready. Zeph and I will take care of this.” An imperceptible nod passed between the two and Zeph jumped to action.
My nerves fired. “You can’t go out now. The sun is nearly at the zenith.” The two men ignored me. I’d had to stop calling Zeph a boy the day he saved me from a mountain lion attack last fall. Heroic and fearless by nature, he was anything but my “little brother,” even if he was still impulsive and sometimes foolish. He’d grown a head taller than me over the winter and a dark fuzz of hair lined his upper lip and cheeks. At thirteen he’d been forced to become a man in many ways, and the three years between us that had given me the upper hand was losing its advantage.
The two of them suited up in the mud room, donning protective gear to deflect the powerful solar radiation. Limited exposure wouldn’t kill them, but over time, the effects took their toll. Sam slung the Remington over his shoulder and tucked a handful of homemade shells into his pocket.
“What are you going to do?” I asked, my heart racing. I followed them to the door with the intention of stopping them, but knew arguing would be useless. The two of them were stubborn as mules on their own, but together there was no turning them when they’d made up their minds.
Sam moved with purpose, the reflective cloak draped around him like a superhero’s cape from one of his old Marvel comic books. His brown hair, a few shades darker than mine, hung to his collar and gray strands reminded me that he was getting older. He was now in his forties and not likely to live past fifty. People outside the cities were lucky to live to see sixty with the radiation poisoning and the rampant cancers that claimed half the remaining population since the polar shift. Unless you lived under the protective solar barriers that covered the major cities, time was your enemy. All those who lived outside the barriers knew that an early and ugly death was inevitable.
Sam’s eyes met mine and he gave me a reassuring nod. “Zeph and I will be fine. Midday is the best time to get close to town unnoticed. We need to get rid of whatever remains of the man and his vehicle. It’s better if no one finds him anywhere near here. We’ll be back as soon as we can.” He donned his eye-shields, slipped on his gloves, and headed out the door.
Zeph looked back. “No worries, sis. We got it under control. Those government dudes are no match for us Carmichaels.” His confidence made me proud and frightened at the same time. “What did it feel like?” He asked, turning back. His dark eyes sparked with excitement.
“What?”
“Killing that man—did you feel...?” His eyes lost their glint and he looked guiltily at his feet. “I guess it doesn’t matter...” He turned away and walked out into the deadly bright sun.
I shuddered as I closed the door and drew the shade. I leaned against the wood frame, let out a slow breath, and whispered, “No, Zeph. It didn’t feel good.”
Chapter 2
A few hours later, Sam and Zeph returned—their faces a shade darker from exposure. I’d skipped eating, my stomach too nervous from fretting over the morning’s events. I’d never killed anyone before, though I knew that with our secret, the time would likely come. Zeph’s words came back to me. It was him or us. The hollow, sick sensation in my stomach told me that no matter how necessary my actions had been, living with the guilt of taking a life would be a high price to pay for our survival.
“What did you do with the body?” I set bowls of venison stew in front of Sam and Zeph.
Sam released a long, slow breath, the exertion and stress of the day showing on his face. The whirring of the generator filled the silence, reminding me of all that Sam had accomplished. He’d added solar panels to the house and barn, created several small vertical wind turbines that fed us electricity when we needed it, and built a huge greenhouse with environmental controls that provided us with a year- round food supply. To protect it all, he’d devised a holographic image around the property that made it appear to be a continuation of the surrounding woods. I plunked the warm pot onto the table and waited for his answer.
“We buried him at the bottom of the ravine. No one will find him; don’t worry.”
I poured them both some iced tea and shifted my gaze between the two people I loved and trusted most in the world. Worry was all I’d done since I’d seen that man in the market, his eyes cold and determined, his tone threatening. “What about the vehicle?” I asked.
A grin spread across Zeph’s face. “We camouflaged it so we can go back later and strip what’s left of it for parts.” Sam nodded in acknowledgement and dug into the stew.
I trusted their ability to make just about anything blend into the surrounding landscape, but my nerves remained on edge. Sam’s engineering and mechanical expertise had allowed us to survive in the hills in relative comfort for a long time. He’d even managed to keep an old Land Rover running in case of emergencies, a tank of biofuel at the ready. We had an escape plan in place if we ever had to make a fast getaway, but the thought of being driven from our home made my knees feel weak and my chest ache. Life outside of Stanton would be vastly different, and likely dangerous. I set butter and a half a loaf of bread on the table.
I sank into a hard, wooden chair as Sam dipped a thick slice of bread into his gravy. We still had plenty of potatoes, carrots, and onions, but we were running low on meat unless there was some animal caught in one of Zeph’s traps. I glanced at the door. The crack of sunlight peeking through the blind let me know that my window of opportunity to be outside was fading fast with the sun.
“Don’t look so worried, Lily. We have it under control. Nobody is going to know what happened and it’ll be a while before the Industry people come this way again.”
“What do we do then?” I searched Sam’s face and then turned to Zeph who was slurping gravy from his bowl like it was any other day. “What happens when they send someone else?” I demanded.
Sam set down his fork and rested his elbows on the table. “I’ve got a plan; trust me. But for today, you and your brother are safe. We can’t go worrying about what-ifs. Your mom used to say, ‘Let’s not borrow trouble’.” He picked up his fork and stabbed another piece of meat.
I sighed. At least we all had the same philosophy about not looking too far forward into the future. If I was charged with murder, falling into the hands of the Industry would only be the beginning. I rested my chin on my hands, exhausted from the tension that had my shoulders strung tight.
Sam had Mom’s warm brown eyes, and it was clear he had loved his younger sister. He’d taken us in and treated us as if we were his own. Having him smile the same way she did helped fill that deep well of sorrow I still felt when I thought of my parents. I had only foggy memories and mother’s medical journals to keep me connected to them.
“We have to keep the faith, Lily.” Sam’s voice drew me back from my gloomy reminiscing. He cleaned the bottom of his bowl with the last of his bread and looked at me hard. “You can’t let fear get the better of you. I’ve taught you everything you need to know about surviving in this world.” He looked from one to the other of us and sat back in his chair. “What you did today was save your brother and probably me, too. I owe you thanks for being brave and doing what had to be done.”
I pushed away from the table, stacked the bowls, and carried them to the sink as I blinked back tears and swallowed hard. Even with all of Sam’s training, I’d hoped I would never have to use it. “I don’t want or deserve your thanks,” I said softly. “I killed a man today, and I can’t ever take that back. I ran hot water in the sink and stared into the rising bubbles, wishing I could wash the guilt away as easy as I could clean the dishes, and wondering what my parents would think of me now.
The next thing I knew, Sam was behind me, his large warm hand resting on my shoulder. “You have a gift for healing, but you are as human as anyone, and survival comes first. That’s the way of nature, so let it go and accept that killing is as much a part of this life as surviving. Adapt, improvise, and overcome—remember?” Before I could respond, the chiming sound of an incoming telecom drew Sam’s attention to the other room. “I’ve got to take this call.”
He patted my shoulder and disappeared into the living room. I heard the swoosh from the secret panel sliding open to allow entrance to the lower level. The chime sounded louder and then faded again as the wall slid back into place.
Zeph grabbed his gear and headed for the door. “I guess I’ll go out and check the traps.”
“If you want to do the ones on the south and east end, I’ll check the others on my way back from the McKinley sisters’ cottage later.”
Zeph turned in the doorway. “Don’t sweat what happened earlier, sis.”
I nodded and watched him leave, but I knew in my gut that there would be consequences for what I’d done. Voices rose up from down below and I wondered who Sam was talking to. He kept his dealings with the Network as quiet as possible, reassuring me that the less I knew the better. I started the sanitizer for the dishes and snuck up to my room, determined to listen in on Sam’s conversation. I lifted the hatch to the laundry chute and activated the remote camera I’d set up for just that purpose. Sam wasn’t the only one in the house with skills. I let a small smile curve my lips as I turned on my handheld viewer.
Sam sat in a straight-backed chair, his gaze intent on the screen in front of him, his face aglow with light. He referenced the giant maps on the wall behind him and pointed out the regions and cities that had yet to be taken over by the new government.
“We have to stop them, no matter the cost,” he said to the voice on the screen. “Overthrowing the President and her Assembly won’t be easy, but it’s the only way any of us will survive.” His determined tone chilled me to the core.
I couldn’t see a face, but the distorted male voice behind the comp screen responded. “Speaking of surviving, how are you feeling?”
Sam’s shoulders straightened. “I’m hanging in.” He wouldn’t burden any of his colleagues with how sick he really was. Instead his righteous anger bubbled to the surface. “We wouldn’t have to worry so much about surviving if they hadn’t scrapped the space program. If they’re going to keep us on this floating death trap of a planet, the least they could do is give us access to the solar barrier technology that keeps all of them from frying.”
“But then they wouldn’t be able to recruit anybody to live in the cities. Let’s face it, unless they have a hold on people, no one would choose to live like slaves.” The man on the other end let out a tired sigh.
“Those slaves, as you call them, have access to free food, clothes, health care, and housing. I wouldn’t complain either if I had everything handed to me.” Sam tossed the pointer down onto the desk.
“Are you thinking of joining them?” The man asked, his voice taking on a sharp edge.
“Take it easy. I’m no traitor,” Sam said. “And I won’t be giving up my freedom anytime soon. The government can spout all their propaganda about Better living through genetic evolution, but nobody’s going to turn me into a blind follower or a guinea pig no matter what amenities they offer. Besides, Kyle Perkins told me how they ration everything so people barely have enough food to survive. It’s not all as rosy as they would have us believe.”
Although I’d never been anywhere that was under the complete control of the new government, I’d seen plenty of city dwellers at the trading post in Albany, all dressed in their brightly colored uniforms. They all seemed to have the same pale, gaunt appearance, as if barely nourished and hollowed out inside, their expressions hopeless.
Sam’s Network associate added, “As long as the Assembly doesn’t catch on to our hacking into their satellites, we should be okay.”
Sam’s next words sent a shiver through me. “Unless they burn this place to the ground, they won’t ever find my tunnel system or discover what we’re up to.” A quick glance in the direction of my camera and Sam stopped speaking. I had disguised the mini-cam as part of the bin that caught my dirty clothes figuring he’d steer clear of anything to do with girl’s underwear. I shut the cam down as Sam’s large hand covered the lens and I heard him yell, “Lily!”
Chapter 3
The sun sat just above the tree line as I made my way to the McKinley sisters’ cottage. Sam had let me off the hook for spying once he was forced to acknowledge that I was not only old enough to be clued in on some of the Network plans, but I deserved some credit for being resourceful. With their codenames and voice synthesizers, it wasn’t like I could ever identify anyone anyway.
Once Zeph was safely back home and busy skinning a couple of rabbits, I took off to see the sisters. I couldn’t stay cooped up in the house with Zeph and Sam for one minute longer, the two of them arguing over their uses for the dead man’s vehicle. They would cannibalize the truck a little at a time and make good use of the parts, but the whole situation made me sick.
I trudged through the trees, up the hill, and down the other side until I came out on the dirt trail that led me to Maggie and Nora’s little house in the woods. They lived even further off the beaten path than we did, the only road to their place not even wide enough for a two-wheeled cart. They lived about a mile further into the old state forest, their homestead covered in dense trees until you came right up on it. Even then, no one could see it since Sam had added security—the same solar powered holographic image around the property he’d devised for us—which made their cottage, yard, and greenhouse appear to be a patch of boulders and shrubs. The sound buffering system kept their presence completely obscured should anyone come looking to cause the ladies any trouble. Their cannabis crop alone could draw some serious unwanted company, but even locals easily got turned around in the dense woods, unable to find the sisters’ hideaway. As long as they had solar power, they had electricity to run the farm in quiet comfort and privacy. Sam had made sure of it. The only obvious sign of life in the area was that the trail ended abruptly.
The sound of howling wolves split the air, making me jump. I’d never get used to the security system’s auditory alarm. I ignored the growling and barking and continued on. I got that weird otherworldly sensation as I stepped into the rock and the house came into view. Hardy potted plants surrounded the porch, and tulips and daffodils bloomed bright yellow and orange along the stone walkway. I knocked on the lower half of the screen door, the metal making a harsh noise against the bird song and the quiet of the day.
Maggie came to the door, a wide smile stretched across her round face. “Lily, come in.” The smile disappeared when she saw my expression. Sam had warned me about wearing my woes for the world to see. “What’s wrong?” She asked as she dragged me into the kitchen and closed the door behind me.
“Nothing,” I lied, unable to convince even myself. “I just came by to see if you had your list ready for the trip to Albany.” A group of locals from Stanton made the trip to Albany and back several times per year, trading and buying goods for neighbors who couldn’t make the difficult journey on their own for various reasons.
The sisters rarely left their cottage or ventured beyond an occasional trek into town by mule. As if on cue, Max, an obstinate but friendly critter, gave a loud bray from the back yard. The door at the rear of the house was wide open and I could hear Nora coaxing a goat into its pen.
“Sit down, Lily. I’ll make you some tea. You look like you’ve been chased by a ghost.” Maggie prodded me to sit and put hot water on to boil. She slid onto the chair across the worn oak table. “Now, tell me what’s happened.”
She had no idea of how right on she was. I knew of all people, I could trust Maggie and Nora. They’d taken me under their wing early on, and had been training me in the way of herbs and medicinal plants since I was small. Maggie had a green thumb that could make plants bloom under the worst of conditions, and Nora’s background as a pharmacist enabled them to put the plants to good use. They accepted, understood, and even nurtured my gift, reminding me often how proud my mother would have been of my growing abilities.
I hesitated. I didn’t want to disappoint the sisters or endanger them by revealing information that might put them in harm’s way, but I couldn’t hide my torment. I filled Maggie in on my drama.
“Oh, shit!” she blurted, surprising even me. She added with an apologetic glance, “I’m not upset with you, Lily. You didn’t intend the man harm, but you have to know, his disappearance is going to bring a lot of attention to Stanton. I was hoping we had a few more years before government agents found some reason to swarm our hills.” Seeing the blood drain further from my face, she said, “Don’t worry. We have a bug-out plan in place. I hear Pennsylvania is nice.” Her usual good natured grin took over her face. “Let’s talk about something else. Have you met any nice boys?”
Maggie loved gossip, and since there wasn’t much happening in the tiny town of Stanton, apparently my love life was up for discussion. I shook my head, glad for the change of topic but wishing it was anything but boys.
My cheeks warmed and reddened as I let my bangs fall over my eyes. “Considering there aren’t many boys around here to choose from, the only way I’ll find a boy I like is if one suddenly falls out of the sky.” I shrugged and smiled, unwilling to ponder the thought too hard. The last thing I needed was a boyfriend.
“Well, that’s a terrible shame. You’re a lovely young lady and deserve to have some fun at your age. When I was sixteen...” The whistle of the tea kettle interrupted her reflection. Pouring the water into a pot of aromatic herbs, she eyed me and then sat to let it steep. “Is Josh Johnson still giving you trouble?”
My face went hotter. Josh Johnson, one of three of the local constable’s sons, had been pretty much stalking me since the eighth grade. I’d sensed something was off about him, and knew we shared some strange connection that he was eager to explore. After class one day, he had followed me into the girls’ bathroom and cornered me. Him being considerably larger than me even then, he had pinned me hard against the wall, his eyes boring into me like he was trying to crush my brain or attach his soul to mine. He’d scared me enough to make me scream for help.
Only intervention from a teacher stopped the assault. After that, Josh’s following and watching creeped me out so badly, I’d finally quit going to the county school. Home schooling seemed like a better fit for me and Zeph anyway, considering the public school had little to offer that Sam couldn’t teach us.
Sam put a stop to the worst of Josh’s threats by confronting Mr. Johnson with a startling piece of information we’d found in mother’s medical journals, and that seemed to be keeping Josh at bay. Finding out that his mother had also been a part of the genetic experiments made me wonder just what the dark-skinned boy was capable of.
“Josh and his brother Luke are both nothing but bullies,” I said finally. “Tyler is the only one who seems to have any manners.” The youngest of the brothers, Tyler, was shy and a little strange, but he seemed harmless and was about Zeph’s age—the only real friend my little brother had. For that reason alone, I cut Josh some slack.
Maggie nodded. “Josh and Luke came by a few weeks ago, hunting with their bows.” Her face split into a grin. “Nora took care of them. She sent Bo and Pappy after them. Chased the poaching little bastards right back down off the mountain.”
Maggie’s foul mouth aside, I had to laugh at the image. Bo and Pappy, a pair of huge grey wolves the sisters had raised from pups, roamed free, but they knew where to get some love, attention, and an easy meal. The two were as tame as dogs, but their size and ferocity were quite intimidating. Pappy was smart and Bo was sneaky. I could only imagine them stalking and chasing Josh and Luke down before either of them could get off an arrow.
“As long as they don’t come back armed with more than bows,” I said, my concern being for Maggie and Nora as much as for the wolves. Most hunters didn’t own guns since ammunition was scarce and guns were outlawed for private use. Only law enforcement agents and a few rebels like my uncle owned firearms. Unfortunately, that meant Mr. Johnson not only carried openly, but he had legal access to a small arsenal.
Before Maggie could respond, the two wolves trotted in the back door, their paws clicking happily across the wood floor. Bo attacked me with kisses, his massive head just at the right height with me sitting. He’d recovered nicely from a recent encounter with a wild boar, who’d managed to puncture Bo’s lung with its razor-sharp tusk during a tussle.
“Off, boy!” I laughed and turned my face away, avoiding most of the slobbering assault. I patted his big furry head, happy I’d been able to save him. He moved to the side and made room for his brother, who was anxious to have his turn for a scratch. The only characteristic that distinguished them was the ragged scar across Bo’s eye and broad snout. Pappy was only slightly smaller than his brother, but still imposing in his own right.
“You two go on, now!” Nora commanded as she trailed behind them and shut the back door. Maggie explained to Nora what had happened.
“Do you want me to fix you something stronger than tea? You must be terribly shaken up.” Nora patted my shoulder affectionately.
“No, I’ll be all right.” I wasn’t sure how true that was, but there was nothing to do but live with the horrible knowledge of what I’d done.” My queasy stomach gave another roll.
“Did you come for some more valerian? Still having trouble sleeping?” Nora’s dark eyes probed my face, probably assessing my dark circles and pallid skin tone.
Uncomfortable with the scrutiny, I focused on ruffling Pappy’s thick fur as he panted happily. After one last scratch behind the ear for each of them, the wolves sauntered off to the living room and curled up on their bed, nipping at each other playfully. Nora finished fixing the tea her sister had steeping on the stove. The two women always completed each other’s tasks and ended each other’s sentences. It was as if they were two halves of the same person or acted on some kind of weird mind melding system.
“I’m sleeping better, thanks.” Another lie, but why worry them. The trouble with my dreams was figuring out which dreams were prophetic, and which were simply a product of my overactive imagination. Some came true, and some were just dreams, but I hadn’t figured out how to interpret them or control what I remembered of them. I shook off the questions—no room for any more drama in my day. “I just came by to check and see if you had your trade goods ready for the Albany trip and if you had a list of all you needed.”
“Of course.” She set the tea in front of me, her long braid nearly dipping into my cup. Where Maggie had cropped, completely gray hair, her younger sister hadn’t cut hers in all the time I’d known her. She usually piled it in buns all over her head or wore it in long braids on either side. Silver strands wove into the chestnut layers, giving her a look of wisdom to go with the spark in her dark eyes. Nora was a good ten years younger than her sister, about the same age as Sam. She was slimmer than Maggie and still had nearly flawless skin, despite all the time she spent outside. She swore it was the cream she’d devised to block out the sun’s rays, another of her homemade products that was a big seller at the city marketplace.
“If you’ve added your items, sister, we should be all set.” Nora pulled the long list off the refrigerator and handed it to Maggie.
Reviewing the items out loud in mumbled stops and starts, ending with... “wheat flour, rice, lye, coffee beans, cocoa...“Yep, that’s everything.” Maggie glanced over the list once more. She handed it to me and I checked through it to see if there were any unreasonable requests. The last time I’d shopped for her, Nora had wanted me to try to procure her some batwings, which went over really big with the vendors. I’d learned quickly that unusual requests made for getting noticed, so I checked the list over twice.
“The caravan is leaving for the city first of next week. I can pick up your goods on Sunday afternoon if you like.”
“Will you be traveling with the Johnsons?” Maggie asked, her tone turning chilly. “You know I don’t trust those boys to get us a fair deal.”
“And I don’t trust them with our special blend butter.” Nora chimed in.
I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my face. The sisters made cannabis butter that could knock your socks off if you ate too much of it. They could trade a year’s worth of flour, rice, and coffee for a couple of pounds of their special blend. They were one of the few year-round growers in the Northeast sector, and the sisters had the best product available on the trade market in Albany. If last year’s orders didn’t take up a few crate’s worth of space on the truck going to the city, I’d be surprised.
“I’ll keep an eye on your butter. Don’t worry,” I said. A roll of thunder vibrated through the house, followed by the sound of heavy rain pelting the roof. The storm would likely only last a few minutes, but the walk home would be muddy, and I’d have to hit the traps quickly before dark came on. I was counting on the clouds clearing and the moonlight to help guide my way. I took another sip of tea, ignoring the tension that crept into my shoulders.
“Is Zephron going too?” asked Maggie, drawing my attention back to the conversation.
I hesitated. “Not this time. Zeph’s getting older, bigger, and harder to pass off as a harmless little boy.” Nora nodded in understanding. I raised a brow and added, “He’s also developing a temper that seems to spark some difficulty in controlling his mouth. I don’t need that kind of trouble. Besides, I don’t want to leave Sam to fend for himself.” A pang of sadness crept into my heart and I shoved it down.
“Don’t worry about Sam. I’ll look in on him and Zeph while you’re away.” A sad but reassuring smile lit Nora’s eyes. The sisters knew what my brother was capable of, but like me, they had hope that his better nature would prevail.
Maggie countered. “You really shouldn’t travel with those Johnson boys alone. Are you sure you’ll be all right?”
“I can handle them.” A niggle of doubt churned in my stomach.
As if reading my mind, Maggie added, “I know that intuitive sense you have about people will keep you out of trouble, but why don’t you take Bo and Pappy with you?”
“That’s a great idea,” I said, relieved. My intuitive sense as she called it, allowed me to “feel” people’s energies if I tuned into them—another byproduct of my genetic alterations that wasn’t always a plus. Considering how cruel people could be, I kept that ability under wraps most of the time too, or I would find myself drowning in toxic energy.
Having the wolves at my side would give me a much greater sense of security. I’d known them since they were pups and they’d already proven they would protect me with their lives. They’d fought off a polar bear just last winter while I’d been out hunting with Zeph. It had nearly cost Bo his eye. The huge white bears were just one of many natural predators that lurked in the hills seeking a new habitat when the polar shift had sent most of Canada and points north into an overnight ice age. They’d mated with the local black bears and the hybrid was a fierce mix of predator and scavenging nuisance. Thankfully they retreated to higher country when the weather turned warm in the spring.
“I’d love to have them along,” I said. “But do you think it’s wise to leave yourselves unprotected?”
Nora laughed. “Sam’s motion-sensor alarms have worked quite well. We’ll be fine without the wolves for a few days.”
“I just hope they don’t draw too much attention.”
“They know enough to stay out of sight, and I think the risk is worth it. You can’t go alone, and I know Sam...isn’t up to it.” Nora’s eyes grew misty and then she looked away.
“He’s doing better since you came up with the hawthorn berry blend,” I said reassuringly. I wanted to believe that the natural remedies the women concocted for my uncle would be enough to save him and that somehow, between us three, we could heal him. So far, to my everlasting frustration, everything I’d tried was having no effect, but none of us was ready to give up. Nora’s face showed the pain of more affection for Sam than she would admit.
“Excellent,” said Maggie, clearing her throat and changing the tone of the conversation. “We’ll send some home with you. And Nora made a wonderful cleansing brew that should help detoxify his liver.” Nora’s plant, animal, and mineral extracts worked amazingly well as homeopathic medicines. “I’ll send some more goat cheese and yogurt with you, too,” she said as she bustled around the kitchen filling a small paper bag with items.
“That would be wonderful. Thank you.”
“Well, what are neighbors for?” said Maggie. “Besides, you are doing us a huge favor by taking care of our supply run. Are you sure you don’t mind? It’s a lot of responsibility for a girl your age on her own.”
“Please, don’t worry about me. I can handle this. And after last year’s disaster, it’s best that you two stay out of sight.”
Arguments over price, quality, and paying the imposed taxes had nearly caused a riot in the marketplace, Maggie being the biggest instigator. We’d barely avoided arrest. I’d accompanied them several times. I knew the people involved, how to keep my mouth shut, and how to look innocent but confident.
“All I have to do is get the product into the hands of Joe Aaron and he’ll make sure I get a fair amount of trade coupons. I promise; I’ll be careful. Besides, you really don’t have any other choice.”
The confidence that seeped into my words gave much more power to them than the way I felt, but I needed to do this—if only to prove to everyone else that I could handle being on my own. I didn’t want people worrying about what might happen to me and Zeph if worse came to worse with Sam.
“I suppose you’re right. Well, at least Mr. Sinclair will be there to watch over you,” Nora finished packing a jar of herbs into a small paper bag. Rudy Sinclair was the local butcher and a good friend of Sam’s and mine.
“I wouldn’t be making this trip without him,” I said. The two women eyed me doubtfully for another minute.
We all knew that my traveling to the city was becoming a dangerous occupation with the Industry closing in on us, but the sisters’ survival was contingent on the supplies they could exchange for their drugs. With the free drug trade laws the new government had enacted, citizens had a right to produce whatever product would get them the most in trade. Sam thought it was another way for the government to rid themselves of lowlifes and addicts who dealt in hard drugs, as well as to make a huge profit off the levies.
Maggie’s cannabis butter was a prime product made with high quality organics that were touted to have many medicinal uses. Nora’s other herbal remedies also brought a high value in trade since pharmaceutical access was cut off from those who chose to live outside the cities. Outsiders routinely died of treatable diseases like Diabetes and heart disease, because they had no access to medicine. The term Outsider sat hard in my chest.
Nora handed me back the list after adding a few more items to it. “I hope the Albany Pharmlab has these drugs available. I heard from Isaac Stone that the city hospitals are having great success with curing many kinds of cancer with Syntoxin.” Doctor Stone lived in the next county and I wondered how he knew so much about what the city hospitals were doing. I let that thought go and tucked the list in my pocket.
“So you’re sure you don’t mind investing as much as an entire crate of your canni-butter to get Sam’s medicine?”
Nora let a sad but easy smile curve her lips, “You use whatever you need. Getting those drugs is our first priority. We can do without cocoa and sugar if need be. Your wonderful honey is much better for us anyway.”
I nodded, appreciative of the sisters’ help and their affection for our family. The rain stopped abruptly, and I figured that was my cue to leave. “It’s getting late. I should get home before dark.” I finished my tea, a warm, fruity mix of raspberry and citrus peel.
As I stood preparing to leave, Nora gave me a warm hug. “Tell Sam I said hello, and that if he needs anything, he knows where we are.” A knowing look flashed behind her eyes. “And remind him to come by for his treatment on Sunday.”
“I will.” We both knew that his stubbornness was as much a help as it was a hindrance to his battle with the liver cancer that was slowly taking over his body. There was no changing him, but between the two of us, we did a good job keeping him in line and taking care of him as best we could.
Maggie hugged me in turn. I gave her a tight squeeze and relished her softness and warmth. She pulled back and put her hands on either side of my face. “Try not to think about what happened at the ravine. What’s done is done, and you did what you thought was right. No one can expect any more from themselves these days.” She kissed my cheek and released me. “You are growing into such a beautiful young woman, Lily. You remind me so much of your mother at the same age.” She pushed a light brown curl out of my eyes. “You come by whenever you decide to cut that hair off. You know it’s going to be a scorcher in another few days. It probably won’t let up for months if it’s anything like last summer.”
“I’ll take you up on that, Maggie. Thank you...for everything.”
The heat of summer days wasn’t the only worry in my head. I was about to undertake some very risky business. Besides transporting valuable goods, the importance of finding the meds that could save Sam’s life or at least slow down the progression of his disease felt like an enormous weight on my shoulders. It was a responsibility I took on without hesitation, but the gravity of the situation was not lost on me—especially after what I’d done to that Industry agent. I’d have to find a way to put that incident behind me since I had more immediate problems to deal with.
As the sisters walked me to their door, I kept thinking about riding along with Josh and Luke—a concern that was taking up far too much space in my already overcrowded brain. It wasn’t like we’d be totally alone. There would be at least a half-dozen more local residents riding along, and I’d have the wolves keeping watch, but the way Josh had looked at me the last time I saw him left me wondering if my being smarter than he was would be enough to keep him at arm’s length much longer. I headed out into the damp twilight, a shiver running along my skin that had little to do with the fading sunlight or the rising moon.
Chapter 4
I said goodbye to Maggie and Nora and patted the wolves before taking off down the trail, my mind cluttered with thoughts of the dead man and what exactly his death might mean. How long would it take for the Industry to send someone else? This trip to the city couldn’t have come at a worse time. Sam acted as if nothing was wrong, but I could see the pain and fatigue in his eyes and I could tell the cancer was eating him up inside. He needed me here, and I needed to keep a close eye on Zeph, who seemed to grow increasingly unpredictable with each passing day.
I lifted my long hair off my neck and enjoyed the relief from the sticky moisture that coated my skin. During the day, the dampness from the persistent rains mixed with the rising temps made the verdant woodlands feel like a tropical jungle, but if I didn’t get home soon, the drop-in temperature with the setting of the sun would use that moisture to cause hypothermic conditions in no time.
The clouds rolled across the clearing sky. I looked up through the thick branches and green leaves and took note of how long I had before sunset gave way to the pitch black of a dark forest. In a few days the moon would fill the sky and make the night as bright as day.
I had just enough time to check the traps on the west perimeter. As I passed a large patch of wild strawberries, I took a mental inventory of the cucumbers, peppers, and tomatoes I would have to pick tomorrow before they became too ripe. Planning some easy meals that Sam and Zeph could zap in the infrared would keep me busy for the next few days.
Winding through the familiar woods, a heaviness that I couldn’t shake crowded in on me. Before I had time to examine it too closely, I heard a low moan up ahead. I stopped, my heart pounding a beat faster. I listened to see if I could tell where the sound had come from. Another groan rumbled from somewhere below ground. Remembering that one of the large pit traps Sam and Zeph had dug was close by, I took off at a run. The traps were part of Sam’s security around the perimeter of our property, meant to catch large prey or unwanted intruders.
I came upon the large hole in the ground and looked down into the shadows. An icy chill ran up my arms. The sticks and branches that had covered the trap lay caved in and scattered over the top of a body. Oh no, not two people in one day. My heart lurched as my pulse sped up.
Then a pained groan emanated from the body which was face down and not moving.
“Can you hear me? Are you all right?” I called down.
After another loud moan, a breathy grumble came from below. “Do I look all right?”
I leaned further over to get a better look at the young man who followed his sarcastic comment with a string of curses. Heaving himself up onto his side with one arm tucked protectively across his middle was a kid about my age. He was the same kid I’d seen in town earlier, being tossed like a sack of potatoes between Luke and Josh. He’d taken off just as I had arrived, so I hadn’t gotten a good look at him, but I was certain it was the same boy. His hair hung in his face but the grubby clothes and the strong scent of him said he was probably a drifter. I knew everyone in Stanton and he was clearly a stranger—likely on his own. I looked around to be sure no one else was lurking nearby. The sound of crickets filled the air, signaling we were alone.
“Right...dumb question...sorry. Let me find something to help you climb out.”
“I don’t think I can climb,” he said, his breath labored and his voice filled with pain. “My shoulder is out of joint. I can’t move my arm and can’t feel my fingers.” He was gasping for breath, his voice on the edge of panic.
I let out an unsteady breath of my own. I was still nearly a mile away from the house and there was no way I would make it home and back before the sun disappeared and the frigid air rolled in. I felt the chill of night falling like a cold blanket over the woods. I spotted a vine covered tree nearby. “Wait. I’ll get you out.”
“It’s not like I’m going anywhere,” he mumbled through gritted teeth.
“Just hold on. I’m coming down.” I set the bag down with the cheese, yogurt, and herbals. Then I reached up high on the vine and yanked, pulling it away from the tree. After several hard pulls, it came loose, and I disentangled it from the branches, ending up with a section that was just long enough for my purpose. I went back to the edge of the hole and peered down. “Are you hurt anywhere else besides your shoulder?”
After a moment he said, “I don’t think so,” he added under his breath, “unless you count the cut on my head and a bruised ego.”
I tied off the end of the vine and started over the edge into the hole. It was about twelve feet to the bottom. I quickly shimmied down the makeshift rope and dropped to the ground beside him.
There wasn’t much light left and the shadows deepened inside the pit as I slowly lowered to my knees beside him. As I reached for his arm, he winced and yanked it away. I pulled my hand back and placed my palms face out in a gesture of peace. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
His gaze rose to meet mine and then froze as he stared at me, his jaw dropping open. “Your eyes...”
Used to this response, I flashed a smile. “Genetic anomaly,” I said. Bright green eyes that glowed in the dark were hard to hide. I didn’t even try any more, though I usually avoided being seen after dark. “Don’t worry; it’s not contagious.” He looked unconvinced. “Trust me; I can help,” I said, flashing another smile I hoped would reassure him.
Pain and mistrust covered his face. “Why should I trust you?” he asked through another wince.
I sat back on my heels. “Maybe because I’m your only chance at getting out of here alive. We don’t have time for you to get over your bad attitude.” Even in the dim light, his face looked gray and his pupils were huge and dark. “Look, you either let me set your shoulder now, or we’re going to be stuck here until morning when I can go back home and get some help.” I looked up at the darkening sky and a shiver ran across my skin. “From where I stand, you have no choice but to trust me. Now stop being a baby.”
He looked from my face to the sky far above and then nodded silently. I edged closer beside him and gently ran my hands over his shoulder, his warmth surprising me in the damp, chilly air. I felt for the landmarks of the joint capsule and recognized the dislocation as being posterior. Closing my eyes, I sensed no obvious fractures. “Did you break your fall with this arm?” I asked, already knowing the answer but wanting to distract us both from the silent tension running between us and keep him focused on something other than the excruciating pain he was in. Thanks to my brother’s carelessness and lack of self-control, I knew exactly what a dislocated shoulder felt like. Beads of sweat lined his brow and his jaw twitched from clenching.
“I must have. It happened so fast...and then I hit my head.” He went to touch the gash on his forehead, but I grabbed his hand before he could infect the wound. Streaks of blood smeared the side of his face but the bleeding looked like it had all but stopped.
“Don’t touch it. I’ll take care of that later. Right now, I need to fix this shoulder before you go into shock or the muscles are in too much spasm to let me set it.” I moved closer beside him, aware of the heat of his body leaning into mine. “Brace yourself with your right hand on the ground and lean into me.”
With my right hand at the back of his shoulder and my left gripping his wrist firmly, I said, “Now take a deep breath and picture your joint sliding back into place.” Before he had time to question me, I pulled down hard on his wrist, rotated it inward, and pushed his shoulder forward. He yelped and the joint slid neatly into place, accompanied by a squishy sounding pop.
“Ohhh!” He gasped, and an endorphin-induced grin spread across his face. “That feels better.” He made a fist and wiggled his fingers. “How’d you know how to do that?”
I wasn’t about to have that conversation with this stranger, though I felt a sense of pride surge up from down deep. How could I explain to anyone how I just “knew” these things as if they’d been programmed in, which I guess in a way, they had been. It didn’t hurt that I’d read and memorized every medical book in mother’s collection in search of answers about who I was and what I could do. A photographic memory was definitely an added bonus. My healing abilities were growing, and it felt good to be able to use them instead of hiding them and feeling helpless. There was more I could do for him, but now wasn’t the time.
“You pick up a lot of tricks living out here in the hills,” I said. I left it at that, and helped him stand. I looked up at our vine rope and asked, “Do you think you can climb now?”
His friendly expression disappeared, and he was looking at me with an intensity that made my insides seize. His face was in shadow, revealing nothing of his intent, but I felt the tension roll off of him like a thunder cloud. “I can climb, but I think you and I are going to stay right here.”
Chapter 5
I had the good sense to be afraid for the first time since I had found this stranger lying nearly unconscious in a deep hole. What had I been thinking? As usual, my instinct to help without thought of the consequences was about to cause trouble. I backed toward the vine that led to escape. A cold sweat broke out on my neck. “What do you mean?”
He took a step toward me. I stumbled as my back hit the dirt wall. His hand clamped over my mouth and I froze. He stopped only inches away and his voice dropped low. “I think we’ve got company.” He put a finger to his lips and pointed upward. My pulse jumped when I caught the scent and a low rumble sounded above us. I kept still as I recognized the snuffle of a bear. He released his hand from my mouth and I sucked in a breath. Then he edged his way closer and pressed himself against the dirt wall beside me.
We remained silent, shoulder to shoulder, waiting for the heavy paws to retreat along the pine covered forest floor. After a long minute, I let out a slow breath. “That was close.”
“It was just a black bear. I don’t think he would have hurt us, but why risk it, right?” He moved away from me and the air instantly felt colder.
“We’d better get out of here before something larger or meaner comes this way,” I said, noticing his eyes for the first time. I couldn’t see the color in the deep shadows, but they carried an intensity that left me wondering what secrets lay behind them.
He nodded, and I turned to climb up the vine, aware that I was turning my back on a stranger. The hairs on the nape of my neck rose as I felt his eyes follow me upward. When I reached the top, I turned to watch his ascent. He grunted as he climbed, his progress slowed by the weakness in his left shoulder. I helped him over the edge, and he crawled to his feet.
“Well, that was fun.” He grimaced and looked back into the hole. “Who the hell would set a trap like that way out here in the woods?” He rubbed his shoulder.
“That would be us,” I said, shrugging innocently. I suspected the endorphin rush was wearing off and that he would be very sore come morning. The sunlight had faded, and the moon was still too low to add any brightness to the deep purple sky. I shivered in my cotton shirt and short pants, not dressed for sundown. He wasn’t dressed any better and he had no apparent supplies. I couldn’t leave him out here over night.
“I live a little less than a mile from here,” I said. Why don’t you come back to my house and stay for the night? I can take care of that cut on your forehead and get you something to eat. We have a place you can sleep. At least you’ll be warm and safe.”
He eyed me carefully. “Why would you do that? You don’t even know me. I could be some psycho killer or something.”
I looked him over. He was rail thin; his shoulders slumped with fatigue and hunger. Like so many others who’d lost everything, he had the telltale signs of a survivor. Since the aftermath of the viral plague that had wiped out three quarters of the population in the last decade, lone wanderers like him were all too common.
I picked up the torn remnants of the bag Maggie had given me and turned toward the path home. “I wouldn’t have invited you if I thought you were dangerous. Now, come on before that bear finishes the cheese and yogurt he stole and comes back with his whole family.” I took a few steps and turned. He was standing still, observing me as if undecided. “Well, are you coming or are you going to stay here and freeze to death?” I didn’t wait for him to answer. I could find the way home even in the dark, but chilled to the bone, I knew better than to press my luck out here in the woods at night.
He fell in behind me, and I smiled, satisfied far more than I should have been. My smile disappeared when I thought about Sam and how he would be less than thrilled about my invitation. Stealthy feet negotiated the trail behind me. “So, you got a name?”
“Lily. How ‘bout you?” I asked as he came up beside me in the dark.
He hesitated and then said, “Name’s Will.”
We walked quietly for a while, both listening for signs of life in the still, cold night. The moon had risen and light glowed over the forest floor through the trees. An owl sounded in the distance. “Where are you from, Will?” I asked, breaking the long silence.
“I’m from the Midwest.”
“You’re a long way from home. What are you doing in Stanton?”
He cleared his throat and paused before answering. “I’m looking for my father.”
I got the distinct impression that he didn’t want to talk about it, and being a private person myself, I understood. Having people know your business was a sure way to give them an advantage over you. I let the topic go.
“Have you been traveling long by yourself?”
“Long enough,” he said.
I couldn’t help but push for one more bit of information. “Where’s the rest of your family?”
He came to a halt and grabbed my arm, spinning me to face him, his eyes bright and blazing in the white moonlight. “What’s with the interrogation?”
“I was just trying to find out who it is that I’m taking home with me. I figured it would be easier for you to tell me than to have to answer to my uncle when we get there.” I glared at his hand on my arm and pulled away. The air between us frosted in puffs of fog from our combined breath.
He looked at me hard and then seemed to come to some decision. “My family is dead, killed in a tornado that destroyed our house and everything in it. I wasn’t home at the time.” He turned away, his last words carrying the heavy weight of guilt.
I stifled my urge to ask more questions. We continued on the trail side by side in silence. “It isn’t much further,” I said. I rubbed my arms and blew a hot breath into my freezing hands.
Within another minute or two I could see dim lights from the house through the trees, a sign that Sam had turned off the security system and was waiting for me. My heart pounded with the effort to keep a brisk pace. Will took long strides, easily matching every two of my shorter steps. He was a good half a foot taller than me, with long legs and a lanky frame that I was sure was due more to malnutrition than genetics. Sam had warned me about wanderers like him who lived a hard life and often stole to survive. He was surprisingly ill-equipped for being out in the world on his own.
We came out of the woods, and before we made it within thirty yards of the house, Sam yanked open the door and stalked toward us. “Where have you been? I’ve been worried...” He stopped short when he saw I wasn’t alone. “Who’s this? What the hell...?”
I cut him off. “This is Will. He fell into that stupid pit trap of yours and almost broke his neck.” I decided taking the offense in this case was the best defense.
He eyed Will warily. “He looks just fine. And what were you doing on our property?”
Will glanced from me to Sam and back again. “I was trying to find something to eat and a place to sleep for the night.”
I shivered and glared at Sam. “He’s on his own and searching for his father.” Sam exchanged a long look with Will and I saw his armor fall. “Can we finish this discussion inside?” I asked, my nose and ears ready to fall off in the frigid air.
Sam’s shoulders sagged. He let out a frosty and frustrated breath. He knew me well enough to know that I would never leave anyone out in the cold. He turned back toward the house and took the lead. “C’mon. Let’s get you inside and warm you two up. You can stay for tonight. I’ve got some clothes that should fit you. Tomorrow, we’ll set you up with a pack and some food enough for a few days, and you can be on your way.”
“Thank you, Sir. That’s more than I could ask for.”
Will followed me into the house. Zeph, who was sitting at the kitchen table etching intricate designs into a wooden box looked up, his eyes growing round when he saw Will. “Who the hell are you?”
“Watch your mouth, young man,” said Sam, frowning at Zeph but obviously ready to ask the same question.
After a brief introduction, Will slumped into a chair and I started some water to boil. “Stop staring, Zeph, and get him a warm blanket.” Although the house was warmer than outside, I noticed Will shivering. Sam came back in the room and handed me Aunt Beth’s old sweater. I slipped it on, the cashmere warm against my cool skin. The men sat facing each other without speaking while I rummaged in my medicine chest for calendula salve, disinfectant, and a clean bandage.
When Zeph returned with a blanket, he and Will continued to stare at one another, each studying something about the other and apparently coming to some unspoken conclusion. Sam finally broke the silence. “Why don’t you head up to bed, Zeph. You can talk with Will over breakfast.” Zeph gave a low grumble, collected his carving tools, and disappeared down the hall.
The cut on Will’s forehead was oozing but crusted over with dried blood. As I cleaned it and applied the salve, Sam questioned Will. “The Midwest, huh? That covers a lot of territory. Do you want to be more specific?”
I glanced down at Will who was squirming in the chair, either to get away from my probing fingers or to avoid Sam’s probing gaze. He finally pushed my hand away. “It’s fine, really. I’m okay.” He looked from me to Sam. “I lived outside of Chicago.”
Sam leaned forward in his chair, his eyes turning steely. “I’d be interested in hearing about what’s happening in the Capitol these days. Has the President shown her face, or is she still hiding behind that no-good Vice President, Malevich, and those bureaucrats she calls her Assembly?” Sam hated the government and all it had turned into. With the terrorist attacks in the twenties that destroyed Washington, DC, and the pandemic and rioting that all but wiped out New York City, Chicago was as stable a place as any to relocate the Capitol. What was left of our country had been through three presidential appointments and two assassinations. President Kathleen Callahan wasn’t taking any chances. She hadn’t been seen publicly in almost two years and some people, my uncle included, wondered if she was even still alive.
Will pulled the blanket tighter around his shoulders. “I haven’t been there for a while.”
“How long is a while?” Sam wouldn’t let up. I sympathized with Will, having been on the other end of a few of Sam’s interrogations, a left over from his military days, but I was curious to find out more about Will myself.
“I left when I was fifteen.” His sandy hair fell over his eyes. “My mom and my sister were dead, the house...pretty much the whole town was gone, and I couldn’t reach my dad...” his voice lowered. “That was two years ago. I don’t know if he’s alive or dead, but I’ve been looking for him ever since.” He paused and looked Sam in the eye.
I turned my back, not wanting him to see the sorrow on my face and think it was pity. I could feel the pride that rolled off of him like an ocean. The last thing he wanted was anyone’s pity. “I’ll fix you some soup and then you can wash up before bed if you want. There’s a hot shower upstairs.”
I shot a firm look at Sam, hoping he would get the message that he’d pushed enough for tonight. I also wanted him to allow Will to sleep in my cousin’s room. Though untrusting by nature, Sam wasn’t one to turn away anyone in need. He’d taken in Beth and her infant son Jackson after her husband had died of the virus. They married a year later, and he had adopted Jackson, raising him as his own. He was particular about Jackson’s room, leaving it basically untouched since he’d died of cancer when he was ten—the walls still covered with baseball memorabilia and pictures of air ships and space suits that Sam had given him.
Sam gave me a silent nod, reading me almost as well as I could read him. I stuck a frozen container of cabbage soup with sausage into the infrared and hit start.
Unable to curb his persistent suspicion, Sam asked one more question. “So, Will, what made you come all the way out here looking for your father?”
Will eyed Sam warily. “I was down along the coast and heard he might be in Albany working at the trading post. I was just passing through Stanton on my way to the city. I thought I’d find a short cut through the woods when I fell into your trap.”
I set the soup in front of him and laid out several slices of bread with butter. Without another word, Will stuffed the bread in his mouth, slurped the soup down greedily, and grabbed for the glass of warm milk I put in front of him. He’d chugged half the glass before he came up for air, his face turning red. “Sorry. It’s been a while since I had a good meal.”
I smiled back, “When you’re done, I’ll show you to your room.”
When Will finally sat back and wiped his mouth on his sleeve, his hunger satisfied, Sam cleared his throat and gave him a hard look. “I hope you’ll respect the fact that you are a guest in our home.” He leaned in with the way he had of looking menacing. “Don’t do anything to breach our trust. Got it?”
Will stood and let the blanket fall to the chair. “No, Sir. I won’t.” And then he did something I’d rarely seen anyone do. Sam’s eyes widened when Will extended his hand. People hardly touched one another since the spread of the plagues, even after the virus had been eradicated. The long-forgotten gesture had my uncle at a loss. He reached out and shook Will’s hand. “Did your father teach you that?”
“Yes, Sir. He taught me a lot, but mostly, I learned that a man was only as good as his word.”
They released each other from what looked like a firm grip. “Your father sounds like a good man. I hope you find him.”
Will’s face shadowed with a determined expression. “I won’t stop looking until I do.” Sam gave a curt nod of understanding.
“Follow me,” I said. Will looked ready to drop from exhaustion and once he was asleep, I would use healing energy on him and he’d be in much better shape by morning.
Will turned at the bottom of the stairs. “Thank you for letting me into your home, Sir.”
“You’re welcome, son.” He caught himself a second too late and we all heard the correction in his voice. To gloss over the uncomfortable moment, he asked, “What’s your father’s name, Will? Maybe I’ve heard of him.”
Will hesitated. “Brian Callahan.”
Sam’s jaw dropped. “Not the Brian Callahan related to President Callahan? Didn’t she have a brother who tried to have her removed from office?”
“Yes, Sir. My father is that Brian Callahan. President Callahan is my aunt.”
Chapter 6
After Will’s revelation about his family situation, Sam had a few more pointed questions, but he quickly realized Will was dead on his feet and would be unlikely to give more than one-word answers until he’d had some sleep. Will spent forever in the shower and nearly ran the well dry before he appeared in the doorway of the extra bedroom where I was putting fresh sheets on the bed. I’d already changed into my warmest and least revealing nightgown—a flannel hand-me-down from Aunt Beth—but I still had an awkward flush of heat rise to my face when he looked me over from head to toe, sparkling blue-grey eyes studying me intently.
I’d given him some of Sam’s night clothes and placed a full outfit on a chair for the next morning. My pulse accelerated when his lips curved up to reveal a slight dimple in one cheek. His wet hair, darkened, and brushed neatly back away from his face gave the impression that he was older than I thought. He still had an unshaven scruff of light whiskers on his chin and upper lip, but he was clean and smelling of almond soap from five feet away. Water dripped from the strands of hair that rested on his shoulders and ran down his bare chest. He only had on the cotton night pants I’d given him and an odd twist of my insides had me fidgeting with the ruffles on my nightgown.
“You should be comfortable in here,” I managed. “There are extra blankets in the chest at the end of the bed if you get cold.” Keeping eye contact was growing increasingly difficult as he continued to study me. I pushed my hair behind my ear and chewed the inside of my cheek. “Don’t forget to put more of the calendula salve on that cut before you go to sleep.” I handed him the tin, suddenly realizing I sounded more like a nurse or an innkeeper than I wanted to. Why his opinion mattered, I had no idea, but I wanted him to like me.
We passed each other closely in the doorway as I headed for the hall. He laid a hand on my arm to stop me and caught my eyes. “I guess I didn’t thank you for coming to my rescue.” His gaze fell to his feet. “I’m not very good at...well...you know. I’ve run into a lot of people who haven’t been as nice as you and your uncle.”
“I get it. It’s hard to know who to trust these days.” I pushed my hair out of my eyes and we both looked down at his hand on my arm. He let it drop and turned away. Before I shut off the light, I snuck one last look over my shoulder, and my heart leapt at the sight of a long scar across his back. It was pink and not that old, but it had been a deep wound, as if someone had dragged a hot poker across the skin tearing a path of destruction to drive home the point. I held my question despite the image of someone cruelly marking the flesh that covered his lean, muscled shoulders. I tried to sound reassuring, “Goodnight, Will.”
He yawned loudly as he climbed under the covers, oblivious of my concern. “Goodnight, Lily.”
The way he said my name sent unfamiliar warmth creeping up from down deep in my belly. I felt it rush to my cheeks, and my breath caught in my throat. I shut out the light, afraid he would see, but his breathing had already dropped into a soft rumble. I left the door ajar so a stream of light from the hall would illuminate the dark for him in case he woke disoriented in the night.
While I waited to hear Sam shuffle off to bed in his room below mine, and for the light to disappear from under Zeph’s door, I pulled out my mother’s journal from under my mattress, reading her words over again for the thousandth time.