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Bert heard the calls first. He shook the woman in his arms awake. “Veri, wake up, honey. They’re here.”
He’d known people would come for them eventually. It had just been a matter of time. He’d been sitting there hoping they’d have enough supplies and not be exposed to too much debris where they were. He had no doubt the boy had been busy elsewhere in the county. The little crank radio hadn’t been much, but it had been enough to get them updates ever so often.
To hear Clay and Bailey had been missing for a while.
Veri had cried like a baby when they’d heard the younger two had been found.
Bert had been able to do nothing more than rock her and hold her close.
She’d fallen asleep in his arms.
He’d felt important again. To her. Bert’s life was pretty damned fulfilling. He had his kids and Bailey, and his grandson. He had his work with the halfway house—and he’d occasionally help Chief Marshall with information regarding TSP corruption in the past.
He had a purpose-driven life.
But holding Veri in those long hours had made it clear that he had a long time left when he could more to a woman. A woman who mattered.
And he wanted that woman to be her.
“Stay right here.” Under the stairs, where he was sure she’d be the safest, until he figured out what to do next. He went up the steps as far as he could go. Yelled.
It took a moment, but he eventually got an answer back.
Help had arrived.
Two hours later and he was lifting Veri over the last step and into the fire-and-rescue team’s arms. Then it was Bert’s turn.
Clay was waiting topside. Bailey was hugging Veri. She had a tiny orange cat in her hands—no doubt the one Veri had been worried about.
His favorite blond girl was on crutches, and she had a few bruises, but Clay had kept her safe.
He looked at her over Veri’s head. “Jake and the baby?”
“Fine. They are at W4HAV now. Jake and Celia Lake are helping Margo coordinate relocation efforts for South Boethe Street. It took a hard hit, and they’ve asked for volunteers.”
“And the house?”
“Some wind damage. Everything is fine there. The storm hit the northern most part of the county before swerving northwest and taking out a quarter of Finley Creek County,” Clay answered. “Sorry we couldn’t get to you sooner, but we are damned glad we found you.”
“Yeah. It was getting a bit hot down there.”
“Either of you hurt?” Clay asked.
Bert just shook his head. Now that he knew his family was safe and he could breathe in the Texas sunshine again, he was just fine. “We’re fine. You go. Do what you have to do.”
“I will. You take Bailey home.”
Bert nodded. They’d get a ride from one of the responders into town.
She protested, not surprising him in the least. “Clay...”
“Go. Get some sleep. Be back in tonight. We’re running things round the clock, remember. We’ll need to spell Jeremy and Jeff soon.”
“Only if you will.”
“In a few hours, I will. Go.”
Clay turned around and walked off toward the first responders.
With her crutches Bailey couldn’t follow.
No doubt the boy had been counting on it.