by Dawn, Maira
"Then we need to go."
"He made me promise I wouldn't."
"I don't care, Mom, he doesn't get a say. Look at him! Are we just going to sit here and watch him die? ‘Cause I ain't doin' that. I ain't."
"I can't either. We are running out of time. It's been twelve hours since Doc started this treatment, and nothing is better. I don’t want to wait any longer.”
Skye ran a cold cloth over Dylan's face and forehead. He groaned in appreciation but didn't open his eyes. "When Doc gets here, we will talk to him. I want to make sure someone is here with Dylan at all times."
"Okay." Jesse impatiently tapped his finger against his jean-covered knee.
When they heard Paul come into the house, they met him in the hallway.
"I'm concerned," Paul agreed. "He isn't responding as I had hoped."
"We gotta go, Mom. We gotta get him the meds.”
"No! You ain't going anywhere," Dylan said loud enough they could hear. "I didn't spend all this time keeping you alive for you to go off and get yourselves killed. You promised me, Skye. Ya promised."
Skye walked to him and took his hand. "I know, love, but I can't—I just can't—Please don't ask me to sit here and do nothing as you waste away. I—I—" She crumpled beside the bed, her head laying on his arm as she wept.
Dylan winced and closed his eyes. When he opened them, he gave Paul a sharp look. "What are my chances, then?"
Paul shook his head. “I wish I could say good. But you aren’t responding to this treatment. We need to get this infection stopped as soon as possible.”
Dylan closed his eyes for a moment, then waved Jesse over.
"It ain't fair, Dad. You gotta let us go,” Jesse protested.
"I want you safe."
"We want you alive." Jesse tipped his head at Skye. "She won't be the same if we lose ya."
"She'll get over me. I ain't all that much."
Jesse scoffed and stared at him, "She'll live. She'll live for me. But don't ever think Skye will get over ya ‘cause she won't. And you know it."
Dylan brushed a light hand over Skye’s back. “I can't leave this earth knowing you two are out there putting yourselves in danger."
Jesse sighed. "Dad, I'm not givin' you a choice. I'm going. She's going if I have to drag her because of this stupid promise you made her give ya. We can do this. We saved ourselves on the road against those three, and again beside the store, she saved me. We've gone on countless other scavenging trips. You've trained us well, let us do our job."
Dylan groaned with indecision. "When did you get to be such a man?"
"You taught me."
Dylan looked at Paul. “Who's left to send with them?"
Skye’s head popped up, and she said, “Reed and Spencer said they’d go. And Wade can come after us as soon as he gets here.”
Dylan put his hand to Skye's face. “I’m too weak to put up with all this arguing, darlin’. I don’t want you to go, but I don’t want you to deal with me dying either.” He sighed. “I don’t want to deal with me dying.”
He pulled her closer and gently kissed her forehead. "Go. You can go, but I'll have a lot of instructions for you.”
Skye sagged with relief. “I have no doubt that there will be reams of them.”
Paul excused himself to inform Reed and Spencer of the trip.
Dylan sent Jesse to the other side of the room for a pen and paper, then pulling at Skye, he gruffly said, "Come here."
Skye laid down beside him, and they wrapped themselves around each other.
She laid her face against his shirt, inhaling his scent, then tipped her face up to his. "Don't think it escaped my notice that I sat here and begged you for twelve stinking hours to let me go for medicine, which you vehemently denied. Then your boy shows up, and with a few words, totally changes your mind."
The corner of his lip curled. "I'm in a weakened condition, woman. What can I say? I haven't the power to argue anymore."
"Well, I will remember this and use Jesse to my advantage whenever necessary. I thought I was stubborn, but the two of you give it a whole new meaning."
"Darlin', you are stubborn enough. You had me worn down to a little nub. The boy just finished the job. Now stop talking and let me enjoy these last few minutes with ya."
"Pfft. You're enjoying them just fine. My smart mouth is half the reason you love me."
Dylan looked at her full rosy lips curved in a teasing smile. "Well, ya got that right, darlin'. You sure got that right."
Jesse tiptoed from the room. Instructions could wait a few more moments.
41
Tough
As soon as Dylan gave all the instructions and warnings that he could think of, he dropped off into a deep sleep. She stared down at him, praying he would live through this, praying he would again roam the woods and come home to her with the sharp scent of pine clinging to him.
Would she ever again wake to the snap of bacon and eggs and him teasing her that she’d slept too long? Would he stand sure and strong beside her as they faced the challenges of this leftover world?
A sob escaped her. Would this be the last time she would see him?
Her hands flew to her mouth. She had to stop this—get her mind in gear so that Dylan had a chance at life.
She squared her shaking shoulders and dropped her hands, tightening them into fists. She could do this—she would do this. He would be fine.
Skye smoothed his hair back, a gesture that would surely have wakened him if he was well, but now he barely stirred.
Leaning over him, she whispered, "I love you. You are everything to me." Then she gently kissed his lips.
Straightening, she allowed her eyes to linger over him one more time. Then, like a soldier, she turned and walked from the room, determined not to look back.
In the living room, Jesse prepared for the trip, packing a bag with food and water along with a couple of other items that would come in handy if they didn’t make it home tonight.
The boy knew what he was doing, and she could only thank the Cole brothers for that.
"Where's Doc?" Skye asked him.
"Outside," Jesse said. "What weapons do you want to take?"
Skye winced. This was the part she hated. Carrying the knife Dylan gave her was one thing, but more than that made her feel—she wasn't sure how it made her feel, but she didn't like it. Though when logic prevailed, she knew that to stay alive, she needed to be prepared.
"Whatever you think we need is fine." He knew just as much as she did about that sort of thing, maybe more.
Jesse gestured to a small pile of weapons he’d put on the floor beside the couch. Skye crouched, sitting on her heels as she sorted through them. She picked a handgun, which she shoved into her back jeans pocket, and slung a rifle over her shoulder. She loaded ammo into her pockets and a backpack Jesse had prepared for her.
"We'll put the rest in the car," she said.
Jesse nodded and shot a look down the hallway.
"Go say goodbye, if you'd like," Skye said. "I'm going to find the men."
She longingly watched Jesse head to Dylan's room but ignored her heart’s plea for one more glimpse of her fiancé. Instead, she marched out the front door.
Spencer, Reed, and Doc stood in the clearing to the right of the house. Skye didn't know Spencer and Reed well, but Dylan had worked with them in the Watch and said they were solid men that he could trust with his family. She stepped off the porch and walked over to go over details.
"I didn't want to get into this in front of Dylan,” the doctor said. “But something has happened."
Skye's stomach sank.
"There was an odd death,” he continued. “It was the man that lived with Annette across from Mrs. Gilmore. I'm not sure if it was a disease or if it is contagious, but I haven’t taken any chances. I thought you should know.”
"You don't know what it is?" Skye asked.
"No, I haven’t seen anything like it before. Ethan died quickly, v
ery quickly like his throat just closed up."
“And if it wasn’t a disease?” Skye asked.
“Then someone did this to him.”
Skye stepped back. This on top of everything else? “People need to be on the lookout. Just in case.”
Paul seemed surprised. “You think someone here would do this?”
She ran a hand across her forehead. “I hope not. But right now, I don’t know what to think. It’s best to be prepared for anything.”
“You’re right. I’ll make sure to let some key people know.”
“And Paul,” Skye said. “I’m not trying to take over or anything, but it would probably be a good idea to see who could be added to the Watch until the others come back. Anyone is better than no one.”
“Good idea. I’ll put Joe in charge of that. And you be careful too.” Paul threw out his arm. “In case it was someone out there.”
"We will,” Skye said with a sharp nod. She turned to Reed and Spencer. “Are the vehicles ready?"
"Yes, ma'am," Spencer said. "I picked a couple from the carpool that had just been serviced and fueled them up. Unless you wanted to take your own?"
"I'm sure what you picked out was fine," Skye said. Taking the unowned cars brought up from town would save wear and tear on her own vehicle.
"Jesse is saying goodbye to Dylan. He's got some things that need to go in the car, then we will be ready to go."
"I was thinking," Paul said. "If you're okay with it, Kelsey should go. I've been teaching her about medication. There are so many names for the antibiotics, she could be helpful, and she could pick up some other much-needed items. She can take care of herself, and probably a few of you all too."
Skye agreed. After discussing what the girl had been through before the doctor had found her, Skye was fully aware of just how tough Kelsey was. "That's a good idea, Doc."
He chuckled. “Good, because I told her to get her stuff together.”
Jesse came out of Dylan's room, rubbing his shirtsleeve across his weepy eyes and collided with Kelsey.
"Sorry," he mumbled.
"No problem, Jesse, it's fine."
Jesse scanned the girl and the pack she carried. "Are you goin’ with us?"
"Yeah. Paul thought I could be helpful finding the meds. I hope that is okay."
She eyed Jesse. He had a crush on her—anyone could see it. But they’d been friends since she’d made it here and she didn’t want to lose that.
Jesse's face flared red as he hurried to the door. "Come on, then. Don’t be so slow,” he said gruffly.
Kelsey smiled to herself. He didn’t sound as mean as he thought he did.
She waved goodbye to Paul as she followed Jesse to the cars.
Spencer and Reed sat in one vehicle. Jesse piled into Skye’s truck, and Kelsey hiked into its back seat.
Through the rearview mirror, Kelsey looked at Skye. The woman had been a mess an hour ago. But now, after a quick, sad glance at Doc’s cabin, she firmed her jaw and kept her eyes on the road as she started the car.
Jesse’s mom was strong. Kelsey admired that. She hoped one day to be as tough as she was.
42
Memories
Since Dylan had scavenged most of the closest stores for medical supplies, the only place left was the Super Walmart. As Skye drove, her stomach tensed tighter and tighter at the thought of going near the place even though she knew Gregory and his people were no longer there.
What if someone else was?
She tried to push the bad memories away, hoping the stone weight in her middle would disappear. She was safe. Jesse was safe.
Shuddering, she imagined the monster the boy might have become if Calvin had taken him. It was unbearable to think of Jesse like that.
The boy looked at her, seeming to pick up on her emotion. “It'll be okay, Mom."
"Yep." She sent him a weak smile.
"No one should be there. Gregory and his men were all taken to the detainment center."
"It's been a while since anyone's been to this store. We need to be careful, keep our eyes open."
Jesse chuckled. "You sound like Dad."
"That list he gave us!" Skye laughed. "But he's right. We need to watch for all that. The thing is it will take all five of us to do his job."
“Yeah. I’ve been learning everything I can, but there are a lot of things he does he isn’t even aware of. I’m trying to pick up on those things too.”
“You’re doing a great job. You’re more like him every day.”
Jesse settled back in his seat, a smile on his face.
"This seems like the best place," Skye said. “Between the superstore and the medical place beside it, they should have everything we need. I just hate going in there."
"I know. Worrying about Dad is bad enough. But it’ll be okay.”
Skye bit the inside of her cheek. It was time to push away emotion and focus on the job.
This was how she managed her anxiety now, other than the occasional pill. Definitely, not a strategy she would’ve recommended before. But now, it was about survival now, not emotional comfort, and she did what she had to do.
Her hands tightened on the wheel until her knuckles whitened. She took several deep breaths as she straightened in her seat as they rounded the last bend to the store. Now it was time to save Dylan.
The five of them stood at the same overlook she, Dylan, Wade, and Jesse had months earlier. The store looked quiet, just as silent as it seemed the last time.
Remnants of their battle could be seen. Skye's shot-up blue Jeep, a couple of discarded weapons, even old bloodstains on the pavement. Skye shuddered.
"Looks good," Reed said. "Let's head down."
"No," Skye said. "Let's give it a bit more time."
"It's fine. The wind's whistlin’ through the place like it's a ghost town."
Reed and Spencer turned to head toward their car.
"No! Get back here. We take our time. We do what Dylan said."
Reed and Spencer exchanged a look as Kelsey and Jesse stifled laughter. No question to who was in charge now. After Skye sent them one more hard look, she hunkered down and peered at the store.
When Reed and Spencer returned, she explained, "Last time we thought we were alone too. Then they caught us as we came back outside. I don't want any surprises today."
The men nodded. “I forgot you’d been here before,” Spencer said. “You’re right. No sense in rushing down there.”
Skye wanted to get the medicine, and race back to Doc’s. But if something went wrong, the antibiotics wouldn’t get to Dylan. It was worth the time it would take to make sure the store was empty.
Skye stationed Kelsey where she could use binoculars to look for any sign of movement. Mother and son set off to the right, and Reed and Spencer to the left. When they all met back, the area was declared safe.
“Okay,” Skye said. “We go in slow. Park as close to the doors as possible. We go into the Medical store first since it’s smaller.” She looked at each one of them. "We are here for one thing. Medicine. First, for Dylan. Second, anything on Kelsey's list. We do not deviate from that. The only other thing I will allow is any needed item you see on the aisle as you walk to the pharmacy area. We get in. We get out. Does everyone understand?"
"Yes, Ma'am.”
The group’s agreement gave Skye a sense of satisfaction. Her grandfather had been a leader of men. It was nice to know a few of his qualities had been passed on to her.
He’d seen it in her, even though she had disagreed. Her fingers instinctively touched the diamond bangle bracelet around her wrist as she remembered his words when he gave it to her.
“Skye, little lady. My blood runs through your veins, thick and red. You are fierce, hard as diamonds when you need to be, just like me. You just can't see it yet, but you will one day. The hardships you endure today will strengthen you. Direct them in the right way. Show those hard little troubles how to build a wall to protect yourself then invite e
veryone you love to stand behind it with you."
It hadn’t been the first time he'd given her expensive jewelry, but this would be the gift that became most precious. Her grandfather had smoothed her dark hair as they stared at the shimmering bracelet sitting in the black velvet box.
“You’re as beautiful as they are and as tough, granddaughter. Remember that. You can cry and moan and mourn, but you remember that wall. It is what will keep you upright."
Inside the car, Skye fired the ignition and moved her foot to the gas.
It is time to make Grandpa proud.
43
Every Minute
Skye led the two-car procession into the Super Walmart’s parking lot. The air was tense. They all seemed to be holding their breath. Did Reed and Spencer feel the same way as they followed in their own car?
Tires crunched over small twigs and leaves as they slowly moved forward. She kept her gaze straight ahead, refusing to look to her right, where the shoot-out had taken place.
The store was already falling into disrepair. Gutters hung at bizarre angles from the top of the roof. One of the metal pieces swung on the soft breeze, creating a high-pitched screeching noise. The large windowpanes looked foggy. And in some corners, leaves were piled high, some almost knee-deep. Others swirled across the parking lots like tiny tumbleweeds.
The eerie half-complete statue of a man still towered over them, screaming at the world’s callousness. But a few more chunks of its limbs now lay on the ground.
Kelsey eyed the statue as they passed under it, much as Skye had the first time she had seen it, her eyes wide and her mouth agape.
"It's something, isn't it?" Skye said.
"Yeah, kinda spooky."
Jesse harrumphed. "Kinda weird is what I say. Who has time to do that? They should be spendin’ their time finding food. It's a better use of it."
Skye smiled. "If someone has things so figured out that they have time to spend on art, more power to them."