by Maira Dawn
They didn’t get an opportunity to talk alone as often anymore so Wade reckoned he better say what he needed to say while he could.
Dylan returned to the table. Wade poured himself a cup of coffee and offered to refill Dylan’s, then joined him.
Wade cleared his throat. He didn’t want to mess this up. “So I wanted to talk about Skye— "
Dylan gave him a sharp glance and cut him off. "No need. I see where it's headin."
"Yeah? That’s good, real good. I think it's coming along, bro. Can't wait to see what the next step brings." Wade nudged Dylan and gave a low chuckle.
A look of pain flashed across his brother's face.
"D?"
"I'm real happy for ya."
Wade reared back in his seat. “Real happy for—” His entire body rocked with amusement.
Dylan frowned as his indignation flamed. “Stop. It’s one thing to sit here with you bragging about it, but another for you to make fun.”
Wade held up his hands as he struggled to swallow his chuckles. “Real happy for you, bro. For you!" Wade poked a finger into Dylan’s shoulder. “You idiot, all that trackin, and you can’t read what right in front of ya.”
Surprise darted across Dylan’s face, and Wade slapped his forearm a couple of times. "She's a real nice lady. Bit uptight for me. She keeps eyein you up though."
When Dylan turned to stare out the window at Skye running around the yard with Jesse, something lit in his brother he hadn't seen in a long time. A small flare of hope burned in his eyes.
17
Not Easy
The day was wearing on much faster than Skye like with no word from Tom. She pulled her phone out of her back pocket. Two bars of service—that was a lot nowadays. She couldn’t pass up the opportunity to get in touch with her family.
Her hands shook as she tapped her parent’s numbers on her phone. What kind of news would there be? She hoped for the best, but still worried about her mother’s raspy cough.
The phone clicked. “Dad?”
Her father sounded tired but happy to hear from her. “Hi, baby girl. You doin okay?”
Warm relief washed over Skye when she heard his voice then rushed to tell him her news. “Yes, I'm fine, Dad. Really good. We have everything we need.”
"You still with those boys?"
"Yes. I am, all safe and sound. How about you?"
“Doing okay. We’ve been going into the neighbor’s for food, the empty houses, plenty of those now. I can’t imagine us hungry anytime soon. We are just trying to pass the time. There’s not a whole lot to do with no TV or newspapers, but someone is running the radio station here.”
Skye imagined that her father, with his limited mobility, wouldn’t have much to keep him occupied in the suburbs.
“We’ve been busy here, Dad. The Cole’s are teaching Jesse and me more about fishing, some of the edible plants around here and self-defense. That takes a good part of the day.”
"Smart," her dad said, "those boys are smart. You keep that up, girl. It'll keep you alive."
"That's what I was thinking. We also scavenge some and check on the neighbors."
"You don't get close, do you?" Her dad’s voice sounded nervous.
“No, we yell at them across the yard. Some places up here are empty. People got sick or moved away, but some families are making it through this thing. How about our neighborhood in Ohio?”
“The street is getting empty between those getting sick and others leaving to be with family, but some stayed put and are doin okay.”
“How's everyone in the family, Dad?” When her dad hesitated, Skye asked. “Can I talk to Mom?”
Skye sensed something was wrong the minute she asked. Typically, one to hand the phone straight over to her mother, it was out of character for her dad not to even offer it to her.
The longer the silence stretched the more nervous Skye became. When her father did speak, he didn’t say what she hoped. "Skye, I didn't want to tell you this over the phone, but there isn’t any other way. We've had some losses."
Skye’s heart seized, and she bent forward. She had tried to prepare herself, but it hadn’t worked. She’d told herself that everyone lost someone to this thing, and she was no different. The pain sliced through her just the same. Tears spilled down her face, she knew what was coming.
Dad gasped out the words. “Your mom... she's gone. She didn't suffer like some. It was quick.”
Quick was something to be grateful for. Skye couldn’t imagine her despair if her mother wondered the streets disoriented and lost.
Her father sobbed and though Skye wanted to comfort him, she couldn’t control her own gasps. They cried together for a while, Skye clutching the phone as if it were her father’s hand.
"Oh, Daddy." Skye ran a hand down her face and wrapped her arm across her aching body.
"I know, Baby, I know," he said with a catch in his voice.
When he got control of himself, her father said, “Your sister-in-law is still here with me. Bobby and Janie were here too. We were doing okay, but Janie ran out the other night. She got upset about... well, about everything. Bobby ran after her. They haven't come back yet. Charlotte is beside herself with worry.”
The door of the cabin opened and shut behind her, but Skye paid no attention as she brought her hand up to wipe her eyes. "What? Dad, no! When? When did this happen?"
"Going on three nights ago now, I guess. It doesn't mean they’re not coming back, though. We're still hoping that they will."
Skye rubbed the growing ache in her chest with her palm. “You need me, Dad,” she said in tears.
There was a brief hesitation before her father said, “I need you safe even more, that means the world to me.”
“I can be there in a few hours,” Skye said. “If I have a full gas tank, I won't even have to stop. I’ll help find Bobby and take care of you.”
“No, baby. You can’t come, it’s too dangerous. We can't know what the roads are like between here and there. Promise you will stay there.”
"Dad." Skye shook her head.
“Promise me,” he demanded, “I hate to say it but there's nothin you can do here. Charlotte and I are either going to get sick or we're not. Bobby and Janie are going to come home or they ain't. You coming here won’t affect any of that.”
“Don’t say that.” She whispered the words. There was no denying the truth of what he said but there was more to it. He was a frailer man than he'd been as she grew up. Now he often sat in his recliner, a cane resting against his leg. He had battled cancer and won, but it had taken a toll. He needs me. My dad needs me.
“Skye, baby, please listen to me. Don’t make me worry I’ll lose you too.”
Skye struggled but gave in, "For now, I’ll stay here. I will check in every day I have a signal, but my cell phone won’t work much longer. It's a miracle it’s worked this long. Maybe Dylan can help me find a landline. Hopefully, that will work, so it may be a different number next time."
Her dad breathed a sigh of relief, "Ok, sounds like a good deal. Now put that boy on."
Surprised, she said, "Jesse?"
"Not the little one. The man. Dylan."
Still confused, she said, "Uh, okay." She turned to start for the front door only to see Dylan leaning against the cabin.
Skye said her goodbyes, and sent her love to Charlotte, then passed the phone to Dylan with a shrug. He took the phone as she tried to quiet her grief.
Dylan’s side of the conversation was short and to the point. There was a "Glad to meet you" and a lot of "Yes, sirs" and few things that didn’t make much sense to her, a goodbye, then he hung up. When Skye sent Dylan a questioning look, and he just shrugged.
“Real sorry about your mom,” he said.
Skye nodded and sobs welled up. Dylan moved closer and reached a hand out to her. She moved to him and let his arms give her the comfort her father's could not.
Skye tossed and turned all that night. She had promised a couple m
ore days, but the feeling she should be with her father continued. They were her family; all she had left. All the reasons she shouldn't go rolled through her head, followed by all the reasons she should, over and over, through those dark hours. Grief for her mother tumbled with fear for her father.
What was the last conversation she’d had with her mom? Probably a normal call about everyday things. If she would have known it would be the last time, she would have said so much more. Mom was aware she loved her. Skye knew her mom loved her in return. It wasn't about that, it was about a conclusion, a finish. For now, anyway, for herself. She believed she would see her mom again someday, that she would be happy and healthy again, but Skye still felt the sharp pain of her loss.
Now it was just Charlotte and her dad in their house in Ohio. How worried Charlotte must be about Bobby and Janie! Her sister-in-law must long for the comfort of her own family.
If Skye could get to her dad that would allow Charlotte to go to hers. They lived just a half-hour away, and she could easily make it.
The situation was dire. Charlotte was not a strong woman, and a man with a cane wouldn’t fend off the Sick or anyone else trying to do him harm. Even I’m better than that.
Skye stopped tossing and turning and her sobs turned to steady breathing as she made her decision. She had no choice. Her dad needed her. She was all he had left. She had to go.
The now familiar sound of Dylan putting on a pot of coffee came to her. Somehow, she would have to tell him, tell all of them. They would think her foolish, stupid even, and they may be right.
This is not going to be easy.
Dylan poured the water into the back of the coffeepot as Skye’s bare feet padded across the floor. He was aware of what was coming. She didn’t need to say a word, he’d heard her tossing and turning all night.
He turned and watched her come the rest of the way. Her head bowed, arms hugging herself to ward off the chill, dark hair tousled from her troubled night.
Skye yawned, covering her mouth with one hand before lowering it back to her arm. She looked up at him, her green eyes wide and sad.
This ain't gonna be easy.
How he would keep his promise to her father to hold her here, he didn't know. Dylan picked up an afghan off the couch that an old neighbor lady had kindly given them and wrapped it around her cold body.
First things first. Might as well get this over with.
18
All Along
"You can't go!" Wade’s face became redder with each word.
"I have to. This has always been the plan.” Patiently, Skye explained for the third time what her plans were as the four of them sat, ill-tempered, around the table.
This has gone even worse than I imagined. I understand, I feel it too, but I have to go.
"Well, we can't take off just like that," Wade said, offering another excuse. "Dylan has been checkin in on people. We gotta let them know."
Her brow wrinkled. "I didn't mean for you two to take us.”
Dylan’s face flashed bewilderment, and it confirmed what Skye had been suspecting. For Dylan the attraction between them was far more serious than it was for her.
It's best to leave now and make a clean break. Something started in me, and him, on that little trail, but it’s something I‘m not ready for yet.
Skye’s mouth dried as she tried to reason with them. “I didn’t expect your help to get there, I mean. I’m aware you have others relying on you.”
Dylan pushed back on his chair and crossed his arms. He refused to look at her.
Skye reached out to him but stopped. “I never kept this a secret. I’ve always said I was worried about Frankie coming for Jesse."
Skye looked from Dylan to Wade and back again. “But you’ve done so much for us. I can’t thank you enough. What we have been through has drawn us closer together, and that makes it hard to leave, but this is probably best."
Dylan didn't say a word, instead he sat looking out the window as if wishing he were anywhere else as he gnawed on the side of his finger.
Wade was the one that fought for them to stay. "After the beating we gave Frankie, I doubt he would try to come after Jesse. 'Sides he's pry, you know," he said with a side glance at Jesse. He’d lowered his voice ignoring that Jesse was sitting right beside him and understood he meant dead from the AgFlu. "And if he ain't, well, he don't know where we live."
Skye sighed and held a hand to her forehead. “If that were the only problem, I know you two would take care of it. But I can't... not... go. I can't sit here worried my family will get sick and die when I can do something about it." She wiped away a stray tear.
Dylan sat up a little straighter in his seat. He spoke bluntly, staring at Skye’s startled face. "Whatever’s gonna happen, is gonna happen. You dying alongside some road somewhere ain't going make any difference."
Jesse looked from Skye to Dylan. “We can come back, can’t we? Dylan and Wade wouldn’t let anyone take me away from you, I know they wouldn’t.”
Skye gave Jesse a concerned glance. “But if the police ever got involved, they really couldn’t stop—”
Dylan bristled. “Not even the cops. Nobody’s takin the boy.”
Jesse smiled. “See, Skye, they’re like me. We help each other, and you help us. We all need each other. Say we can come back.”
This depth of emotion was a rare thing for Jesse. He was attached to these two men. If he felt this strongly about leaving, it was something she had to consider. Skye gave his arm a little squeeze.
"Okay then,” Skye shot a questioning look at Dylan, “what if we do come back? How would that work?”
Wade looked from Dylan to Skye and sucked in his lip. It made a squeaking noise.
Dylan shook his head. “If you made it back, your family would have everything they need. We wouldn’t let them go hungry.”
Skye smiled, she’d never though he would. “You’re right. It would be better here for them here. They’ll run out of food where they are, but here they would be able to farm if this thing keeps up. Could we take one of the empty cabins?” The idea grew on Skye and her enthusiasm showed. “What about that, Jesse?"
She looked at each of the men with her eyebrow raised. “Would it be okay if my family came here?"
Dylan frowned. "If you leave here, you ain't going to make it back. I go ten minutes down the road yesterday, and your whining at me I went too far. And you want to go, what? Hours? And expect us to be all right with that?"
Skye’s wide-eyed gaze lowered to the table. I did say that. He has a point. Why does he always have a point?
She tried to reassure him and her churning stomach. "It'll be okay. I told you, I won't get out of the car and I—.”
"It won't be okay. Why can't you see that?" Dylan threw his hand toward the door. "You don't know what is out there, and it'll kill you."
"What you taught me will keep me alive."
"I ain't taught you nothin. You'll need a lot more'n that." Dylan reinforced Skye’s own concerns. "You don't even know what Colton is like, and it's hardly down the road."
“Maybe it’s better than when I left?” She couldn’t stop herself from sounding hopeful.
"It ain't gonna be better. Things started in motion aways back, and things aren't getting better. Ever. This is the way it is now."
Skye totally missed his point, instead, focusing on one thing. "So you've seen it? Colton?"
"From the hill," Dylan said. "Ain't nothin hardly moving down there."
"So, it is safe to drive through?"
"No, that ain't what I'm sayin." Dylan leaned toward her as he ran a hand through his hair. "Why won't you listen, woman?"
"Why won't you stop yelling, man?"
At that, Dylan leaned back in his chair, crossed his arms and in a mocking tone said, "Tell me Doc, what exactly is the proper reaction when you see someone tryin to kill themselves?"
Skye lowered her head to her hands and groaned. This is getting nowhere.
Dylan calmed himself and leaned forward in his chair. "I made you a promise out there in that yard, and I can't keep it if you go runnin off." He paused for a minute and his voice gentled. "I'll do better. I can try harder... just stay."
She raised her eyes to Dylan's guarded expression. With a catch in her throat, she said, "Oh Dylan, this isn't about you or anyone else not doing well. It is just about getting to Dad."
It was quiet for a minute; they could hear only the tic of some old clock. Skye took in a deep breath and blew it out again with each beat.
She stayed calm but determined. "Wade and Dylan, I need your help to map out the safest route, to make sure the car is in working order and to help my dad when I get back. And I am coming back. But I am going with or without your help. I have to. Don't you see, I have no choice. He will die if I leave him there.”
Skye looked at each one of them in turn. “We're leaving in the morning.”
This time it was Skye who strode out the door.
Shoulda known this was coming, but I thought she’d change her mind. The fire that had been building in Dylan’s belly doused with his take of the situation. I figured something was starting up with us. Apparently, she doesn't.
He hung his head. Why should she?
For all he knew, she went around hugging all kinds of men, looked up at them with those big eyes of hers. Probably not a man like me. A woman like her would have gone for a different kind of man than me.
He pressed his lips a few times as he picked at his fingers. They were dirty from the fire, from being in the woods, from any number of other things he did today. He brushed his hands together trying to get some of the dirt off but was unsuccessful. Every night he scrubbed but there was always some stain left behind.
It's wore into me.
This is who I am, and it ain't likely to change. I need to stop lookin at a woman who isn't lookin at me. I‘d reckoned she'd at least want me around to help keep her and the boy safe. She's always going on about that, but then she just up and takes off like this.