by Maira Dawn
By morning, Skye was still so tired she needed to wrestle herself out of bed. Her tangled hair a testament to her restless sleep, her nightmares filled with repeated scenes of the previous day. What she had done was so out of character even her dreams couldn't reconcile it.
Now she was awake, her groggy mind pushed the reminders away. Stealing a child and bashing his father in the face in front of him with all her might wouldn't be something she'd find peace with anytime soon.
Skye groaned as she got out of bed. Yesterday's tense muscles now seemed frozen in place, and Frankie's rough treatment had left sore spots. She raised the bottom of her shirt to find purple bruises covering the side of her belly.
She brushed her hand across the area and winced. Skye looked toward the kitchen accidentally catching Dylan's eye. He looked at her stomach, and his jaw clenched. He is angry again, but this time, not at me.
"You okay?" Jesse asked in a sleepy voice as he peeked up at her from under his covers.
"Yes, I'm fine. Just fine."
He hung his head. “Sorry my dad did that."
Skye sat on Jesse's bed beside him. "Me too. But it's not your fault, and it will go away quick enough." She smiled and tossed his hair. "Hungry?"
Skye breathed in the aroma of coffee swirling around her with the frantic relief only a true coffee lover experiences. Anticipation built as she stumbled into the kitchen, pleased to find a steaming cup waiting for her at the table. Jesse sat beside her, his head over his cup, inhaling the steam.
The men were cranky this morning. The early morning beer they had apparently consumed, if the cans on the sink top were any indication, had not perked them up and they were now on to coffee. Wade leaned against the counter as he drank his while Dylan ruffled through the chip table holding his mug.
Wade started it. Given the mood of the room, someone was bound to, and Skye couldn’t say it surprised her it was Wade. Not that Dylan couldn't start trouble, as she'd already seen, but he seemed to need a reason first. Both were scowling.
Wade did what he wanted when he wanted, and right now, he wanted to get someone riled up. "So, what are you going to do now you stole this kid and left his daddy there like that? You gonna go off and be his mommy somewhere? You can't keep this boy safe."
Skye looked up at him wide-eyed. Wade's tone made her question if he was berating or teasing or just wanted to know. Her heart thumped. Regardless of his intentions, these were the same thoughts that had raced through her head over and over last night. The ones she'd reproached herself about.
Now he'd said them out loud, they sounded even worse. To Skye's utter dismay, a tear escaped her eye and cascaded down her cheek, then another one and another.
Not the reaction Wade expected, he took a few of steps away from her and pressed his mouth shut.
Dylan stopped crinkling chip bags and looked up at the silence. He glanced at his brother, taking in his discomfort before his gaze turned to Skye and her tears.
Jesse pulled his gaze from his coffee cup to stare at her. Almost simultaneously, they all looked away and shuffled their feet.
Skye sniffed and almost giggled, wondering if their identical reactions were a man thing or a messed-up childhood thing. But it had succeeded in taking her mind off her own problem. Her bracelets jangled as she scrubbed at her cheeks and apologized.
"It ain't your fault," Dylan said. "Leave her alone, Wade. We left him there."
But Wade ignored his brother. "So, you're sorry you stole him now?"
"No, I'm not sorry," Skye said. "Jesse couldn't stay in that environment any longer. What I'm sorry about is that I hurt his father. I have never physically hurt someone before. And I... I..."
Another tear ran down Skye’s face. Oh boy. I've got to stop.
Her words surprised them. Physical violence had been a constant in their lives, what she'd done hadn't seemed unreasonable to them.
"I'm a doctor. We help people, not hurt them."
Jesse walked over to Skye and with an awkward stance patted her shoulder three times. "It's okay, Skye. Don't worry, he pry didn't even notice it. His dad used to beat him regular, worse'n I got, to hear him tell it."
Skye felt pride in Jesse for trying to comfort her, but distressed over being one more person in a long line of people to beat up on Frankie. It was more than she could take, and an aching sadness rushed over her. She choked out a thank you before she headed out the front door to let her emotion run unchecked.
Wade watched Skye rush out of the house. He hung his head sending his brother an apologetic glance. Dylan shook his head at him, scooped something up off the floor, and moved to the front window to see where Skye was going.
“Picking at her ain’t gonna solve anything,” Dylan said about the disagreement that had started between them earlier this morning.
Before Skye and Jesse had woke, Wade had waved Dylan outside to talk. He knew where Dylan’s head was, all one had to do was look at him.
Wade had watched for weeks as Dylan sought Skye out whenever they were in town. He’d told his brother over and over nothing was ever going to work out between him and that girl. Now they had come across her on the road needing help and Dylan was only too eager to do the helping.
Wade shook his head again, but not at himself, instead over this crazy situation. There was no way a girl like that was going to go for one of their kind. His brother was only going to get himself hurt. And even though he’d told Dylan that flat out, his brother didn’t care. If help was what she needed, then help was what Dylan was going to give her. And when he told Wade he was going to ask her to stay, Wade’s brain had felt like something exploded.
Girl fever. Wade had developed a couple of full-blown cases of that himself in the past. It wasn’t an easy thing to get through. At least, that is what he tried to tell Dylan this morning.
“Look, I’ve been there, Bro. I really have,” Wade had said. “It runs red-hot at first, but after a while, ya won’t really care anymore. Then where will we be? We’ll be stuck with her.”
“I ain’t gonna get tired of her.”
“Yeah, ya will. We all do.”
Dylan turned toward him, determined as Wade had ever seen him be. “It ain’t like that. It’s different. I can’t explain it, but it’s something more.”
Wade’s eyes grew. “Are you sayin… are you sayin…”
“I ain’t sayin nothin,” Dylan turned away. “Just forget about it.”
Wade followed Dylan. “Brother, you know she’s too soft. If the world turns to what we think it will, she ain’t gonna survive.” When Dylan whipped around, Wade backed up but said, “It won’t be her fault. She just ain’t up to it.”
“We can help her make it.”
“For how long? We can’t be with her all the time, ‘sides we got people on this mountain looking to us now.” Wade gave Dylan a hard look. “The girl ain’t gonna make it. And I don’t want to watch you gettin all snuggly with her, and then… You’re just gonna get yourself hurt.” Wade pushed a hand through his hair. “We been hurt enough in our lives is all. That’s all I gotta say.”
“Good. Cause that’s all I’m gonna listen to.”
Dylan had stormed into the house. Wade waited a few minutes telling himself there was nothing he could do about any of it, then he followed Dylan in. His coffee was waiting
Skye sat under a large tree in the front yard until her sobs subsided. It had taken a while, the stress of the last few weeks had been building up. Frankie had just been the last straw.
Red-eyed and reluctant to return to the kitchen, she took a little walk around the house curious to see the outside in the daylight. Before she got too far, she heard the front door open and close. She looked up to see Dylan walking toward her. "Feelin' better?" he asked.
"Yes. I'm sorry, that isn't like me. I'm not usually a crier, more of a shaker." Skye uttered a small, half-hearted laugh and held up her hands making them tremble.
"Yeah, these fell when you ran out." Dylan exte
nded his hand, Skye’s bottle of anxiety medication was lying in it.
She took it from him. "Anxiety."
Dylan raised an eyebrow. "How's that going with, ya know, everything?"
Skye gave a sharp laugh. "I gotta tell you, it's not a real great combo."
Dylan chuckled. "I wouldn't imagine so."
Skye shook the container. "I'm going through them like candy. I better get my prescription filled before there's no—no anything." Her voice broke on the words."Oh man. Just the emotion building up over everything that's been happening and then everything yesterday, I guess." She scanned the forest as she talked to avoid looking at Dylan.
"Hey, whatever you need to do." He scraped the ground with the heel of his shoe.
He's nervous I will tear up again. "This is hard for me, but it's like I told Jesse in the truck. Frankie needs to become a better person to have him. You can't treat your children that way. Ever. He needs to change." Skye had always been firm on that conviction.
Dylan scoffed. ”Well, that ain't gonna to happen. He is who he is."
Earnest in her belief, Skye said, "He can change. If he wants to bad enough."
"Maybe," Dylan said though his tone was doubtful. "But I ain't seen people changing all that much, even when they need to, and now, in all this?" Dylan's arm made a broad sweep.
Skye sighed. "I hope people can, or we're all doomed. I'm doomed. Someone like me needs to do a lot of changing." She wondered if there was more to his question than he was letting on. "People can change, Dylan. People change every day. For the good or the bad, it is up to them."
Dylan shrugged his shoulder as if he didn't know, but acknowledged her words with a small nod of his head. He pressed his lips together a few times. "I dunno. Maybe." His gaze scraped over Skye. "You can. You will."
Skye giggled. "Don't let Tom hear you say that. I'm sure he thinks the exact opposite."
"He's wrong."
She smiled her appreciation at him.
Skye looked toward the woods. The trees stood so tall that their green tops seemed to brush the bright blue of the sky. A gentle wind moved through them, rustling the leaves. The full leaves on the trees subdued the forest's light except for the occasional golden sunbeam that broke through, making its way to the woodland floor. A chipmunk's tail flickered as it raced from one tree to another. It chattered to a neighbor talking about whatever it was that chipmunks talked about. A small flock of birds passed overhead, causing speckled shadows that disappeared somewhere in the canopy.
Her gaze tracking the birds, Skye said, "I've always loved the forest, even though I haven't spent much time there."
"I'll teach you."
Skye quickly glanced at Dylan than away again. “That would be nice, but I'm leaving today, as soon as we get my car."
Dylan gave her a hard stare before looking off into the distance. She could feel it.
Skye looked back at Dylan. "Do you think I should be? Sorry about Frankie? I feel like I should be. I'm not sure I am, but--"
Dylan snorted, "No! You saved that boy. It is what I dreamed of every day when I was a kid."
Skye nodded and wrapped her arms around herself.
"Get over it. The guy don't deserve any kid, let alone a great kid like that." Dylan kicked at the grass again. "And don't let Wade get to you. He can be a jackass."
Skye had to admit that both statements were true. She shot a look at Dylan from the corner of her eye and smiled.
Dylan gave Skye another minute before saying, "You’re good. Let's go back in. The boy's worried."
Skye looked back at the cabin. Jesse's small face pressed against the glass at the corner of the window.
27
People
Skye entered the house to the sizzle and aroma of bacon and eggs. At the stove, Wade took the time to throw her a hearty smile even as he flipped and turned. "Hey, sorry. I get a little snarly in the morning, but I've had my coffee now, so it's all safe." He held up his large mug as he glanced over at Dylan. Wade sipped his coffee and asked Skye, "Ya hungry?"
"Starving," Skye said, grateful for Wade's apology and the not so subtle warning that there could be a repeat of this behavior.
Jesse came over and stood by her. "I'm helpin make breakfast. Wade said I broke all the eggs perfect."
Happy that Wade could at least be nice to a child, she smiled at Jesse, "That's great. I'll enjoy them even more than."
The four of them sat for breakfast with any conversation at a minimum, and the guys shoveled the food in like it was the last they would receive.
Skye took her time enjoying her food, the clanking and slight scraps of forks against plates were morning music reminiscent her of breakfasts growing up. A big day lay ahead of her, and this bit of peace was just what she needed, reminding her of why she was taking the risk to get to them to Ohio. As everyone slowed and sat back in their seats, Skye pieced out her day.
"I wondered when you planned on taking me back to my car," she asked Dylan.
Dylan's gaze went from her to the table. "Whenever you'd like."
"I was thinking about giving Tom and my parents a call before leaving if I can get a signal."
Dylan nodded. "Good idea."
"Where are we going?" Jesse asked, reminding her that the boy had been asleep during any discussion of the trip.
"Oh, Jesse! I'm sorry. I thought it would be best to go to my parents in Ohio, at least for a while."
Jesse crinkled his nose. "Ohio?"
"It's nice there, and my parents are crazy nice too. They love kids hanging around, and I have a niece just a little younger than you. We should leave this area for a while. Would that be okay?"
"I guess," he said doubt coloring his voice. "I thought we'd live at your house. Or we'd live here."
"Well," Skye cleared her throat and ignored the second part of his statement. "Infected came to town and chased me out of my house."
Dylan's sharp eyes zeroed in on her, but he said nothing.
"That sucks," Jesse said.
"Yeah." Skye's response may have been short, but it was heartfelt. She missed her home already.
"Ohio," Jesse said with a downward twist of his mouth. He shrugged. "Okay then."
"Okay then."
Skye offered to clean up the kitchen, and the men took off outdoors to hunt, or trap, or something. She wasn't sure what since they had mumbled their plans but imagined that was what mountain men did.
After finishing her work, Skye stepped outside again, this time to call Tricia and Tom. Without a doubt, they were probably crazy with worry after the message she had left them. And it had been a few days since Skye had talked to her parents. She wanted to see how they were doing and tell them she was on her way.
As Skye stepped off the small cabin porch, the sunlight hit her eyes. She squinted and turned her head to the side then sought shade and rounded the house to find it. Here she could see the screen to dial on her cell phone.
Skye checked for a signal, relieved to see she had a few bars, but her satisfaction didn't last long. Her stomach churned as she imagined all the bad news they could tell her. Were her parents still safe? Not only from the AgFlu but also from any chaos going on around them?
And what about Tom and Tricia? Had they hid from the horde that had made its way through Colton? Her fingers paused mid-dial, and she drew in a deep breath before continuing. Tom would be first, it would be the easiest call. She hoped. Skye pressed her lips together, her nerves stretching further with each chime of the phone. On the third ring, her cousin-in-law picked up.
"Skye?" Tricia asked her voice almost a squeak.
"Yeah, it's me." Skye stammered over the words.
"Oh my lord, I'm so glad to hear from you! I been so worried!" Tricia said relief pouring through every word.
It was a bad connection, and no matter how high Skye set the volume, she had a hard time hearing Tricia. She hit the speaker button in the hopes it would be of help. "I’m worried the call will drop, Tricia, s
o I'll hurry through my news. Jesse is with me. I had a bit of car trouble on my way, but I ran into Wade and Dylan Cole. Do you know them? They helped me get Jesse, and I'm with them now. We're safe at their cabin."
The phone changed hands, and Tom came on the line. "You're with Wade and Dylan? I'm not sure... Those boys are... There's been a few run-ins." He paused a moment.
Skye's hand tightened on her cell. Please don't tell me they're bad people.
"Well," Tom said, "Those run-ins might just show they have the grit to deal with what's going on. They might be what you need right now. Neither of them conforms too well, but conforming isn't what's needed right now. They know the land, can hunt and can do what needs doing if something comes up."
"Okay, but--"
"Are they bein respectful?"
Skye sputtered an embarrassed little laugh but rushed to assure him. "Yes, they are. Wade likes to start arguments, but other than that, I have no complaints."
"Well, I'm surprised I'm saying this, but you're in good hands there. Just stay with them 'til things settle a bit. You'll be fine."
"Tom, I'm not staying here. I'm going to Dad's."
Tom let out a long sigh. "Skye, you aren't aware of how hard that will be."
Skye's heart sank. "How hard?"
"Last I heard roads are clogged with traffic. Give me a couple of days to find out something."
"A couple of days? That long?”
"If I find out anything sooner, I'll let you know."
Skye put a finger to her lip as she weighed her options. It was better to know of what was happening along the roads than to just start out with no idea. "Okay, two days then. If Dylan and Wade will have us. Unless you think I should come back there?"
“I don’t even want you driving the hour back here alone.”
“Alright then. Here is where I’ll stay,” She changed the topic. "How are things there?"
“Doing okay. Tricia and I haven't been sick. Tricia's been sticking around the house. I got exhausted from the never-ending work, I couldn't even stand, so now I do 12 hours. Then no matter what, I head home. I can’t help anyone if I don’t get rest." Sorrow filled Tom's voice. "It's crazy, Skye. No one is saving anything out there. Just trying to stem the flood is all and not doing too good a job at that. It will not end, not for a while, I reckon."