by S A Ison
“We have her now Lydia, we’ll get her fattened up and we’ll take good care of her.” He said softly. She tried to smile but her lips trembled too much, so she nodded. Dipping the rag into the hot water, she used the soap and made a little lather. They had to conserve the soap and the water. There was still six gallons in the jeep, but they were very careful with its use. She moved the warm cloth across Demi, cleaning her. She took off the diaper and saw that she had a bad rash. She wished she had powder.
“Once I get her clean, I’ll let her air out. She is really bad.” Lydia said, gently cleaning the child’s bottom. Demi never woke, her mouth slack with repletion and exhaustion from screaming earlier. Lydia looked out the opening of the barn and saw the lavender ribbons stretching across the sky. There were gray storm clouds in the far distance and she knew the storm clouds would head their way, sometime in the night. When she was finished cleaning Demi, Phoenix handed her a small shirt from the pile of clothes.
“I’ll lay her on the dirt, I don’t think it will hurt her. If she pees, it will just puddle into the ground. Hand me a couple of rags and I’ll lay it over her head, to keep her heat in and over her lower half. She should get enough air to dry her bottom.” Lydia said. Yuma picked up a bag and pulled out jerky. He passed it around to the others. Lydia watched Demi as she slept. She could feel the heat of the fire and enjoyed the pop and crackle. It was a primitive feeling of safety.
“That poor child, I can’t imagine what her parents have been going through.” Phoenix said, his eyes fixed on the flames.
“She is very lucky that we came along. That man would have left her to die.” Yuma said darkly, reaching a hand over and petting the head.
“This world has just turned into a toilet. I’ll swear, I just can’t believe it.” Lydia said, taking the pot and pouring fresh water into it. She’d been careful not to let soap get into it. She put a piece of jerky into it and at Phoenix’s questioning look, she smiled.
“Demi can’t eat the jerky, but I can make her a broth. I’ll pour it into one of the water bottles, I think it will do her good.” Lydia said, setting the pot back on the grate. The fire had died down a bit and she reached over and picked up a length of wood and shoved it under the grate. The fire raced along the edges and the wood caught fire. She moved Demi back from the fire, afraid a cinder might land on her.
“We should be getting close tomorrow, maybe the day after. There are so many obstacles. Going around those lakes put us two days behind. If we head northwest, we can avoid Spokane and hit Highway 2. If we’re lucky, we’ll hit Seattle by tomorrow afternoon. If we don’t have to reroute or dodge groups.”
“How close will we get, before we look for the invaders?” Yuma asked, leaning back on his elbows. Lydia hid a smile, his cowboy hat was shoved back, he had a piece of dried grass hanging off his lip.
Phoenix pulled out the map and laid it in his lap. He shuffled the torn pages and held a small LED flashlight over the pages. The sky was now a deep cobalt blue and she could see the pinpricks of stars beginning to wink. The darker clouds would blot them out.
“I think once we get to Waterville, we turn south on Highway 97 alt. I’m hoping we won’t have trouble crossing the Columbia River. Otherwise, it may be a hell of a lot longer to get to Seattle. We’re so damned close. Once we get past the Columbia, I think we should proceed with even more caution.” Phoenix said, folding the map back up and putting it in the backpack beside him. He clicked off the flashlight and the barn was plunged into darkness, the low fire giving off a soft glow.
“We better get some rest; I think tomorrow will be just as stressful as today.” Lydia yawned, checking Demi. The child was still asleep. She retrieved a rag and folded it, then gently diapered Demi. She was glad the child hadn’t woken. Shifting, she laid down beside the baby and curled herself around her. She watched as Phoenix got up and walked to the jeep. He came back with the blankets and laid one over her.
“Thanks.” She said softly and he smiled. He handed Yuma one and then he laid down, moving the AR close to him.
“I’ll stay awake for a while. You guys get some sleep.” He said, settling down, bringing the blanket around his shoulders. Lydia looked over and Yuma unbuttoned the top button of his shirt. Beneath was a blue bandana tied around his neck like the cowboys in the movies and she snorted, and then rubbed her nose. Phoenix looked over at her and she touched her throat and rolled her eyes over at Yuma, who was settling in. Phoenix’s eyes triangle in humor and he coughed, covering his laugh.
“Wake me when you feel ready for your sleep.” Yuma said, yawning. He propped his head on his backpack and pulled the Stetson over his face. Lydia looked over at Phoenix and laughed silently. Phoenix’s shoulders were shaking and his eyes crinkled up in laughter. He shook his head and settled back. Lydia sighed and let her body relax. She was watching the flames lick at the wood, and the embers blink and die. Soon, her eyes grew heavy and her hand rested on Demi. She was gone.
Phoenix watched at the shadows played over Lydia’s face. Her hair was in deep shadow, but some of the tendrils caught the faint light, sparking red fire in her auburn hair. She had been amazing out there and she’d not hesitated to put the dog down. He shook his head in amazement, as the man had moved to the jeep with the child. He thought for sure that Yuma would put him down, but it had been Lydia.
He laughed silently; he had worried about her coming on this trip. Worried that he’d not be able to protect her. Yuma coming had been a blessing, extra eyes were definitely needed. Her face had transformed when she held the child, soft and sweet, there was an internal glow, radiating out. He knew his feelings for her were growing. He thought that was the biggest reason he didn’t want her coming. If anything happened to Lydia, he thought he might die inside.
He’d been romantically involved with several women throughout his adult life, and had come close to getting married, but now, he had to admit, none of those feelings had been anywhere as intense as his feelings were for Lydia. Was it because there were so many distractions in the old life? Was it because here and now, as they lived each day, it was as though it very well could be there last, and there was no room for games? Probably, that and the fact that they spent damned near 24/7 together, working together, eating together and talking. They all seemed to talk more. They had all spent the last six months together and Phoenix wondered what that time equivalency would be in their alternate lives? Years? One year for every month they spent in this new, none electronic world? Something like that, he thought.
Lydia’s hand shifted in her sleep and she pulled the child closer to her. He smiled. She was a natural. He let out a heavy sigh and shifted the blanket around him. He could feel the drop in temperature. It was spring, but the nights were still chilly. He leaned forward and drew Lydia’s quilt over her. She was a remarkable woman, and he’d not let the Chinese, Russians or anyone else hurt her. He felt a tremor run through his body at the thought. God help them all if they were ever captured.
FOURTEEN
Fargo, GA
Blake pulled the boat to the dock and the smell of smoke was heavy in the air. There was no fire at the house and he felt his shoulders relax. He looked at his wife and she was holding Travis to her. Jumping out of the boat, he tied it off and helped the women disembark.
“There must be a fire somewhere close. Let’s get in the truck, and see if we can find it.” Blake said, moving toward the cabin. He checked his weapon and holstered it. Alice and Kena climbed in. He turned to Fiasco, “Stay.” And got into the truck. He pulled away and pulled out, onto the long drive. It twisted around and the smoke was getting thicker.
“My god, I think it’s my house!” Kena cried. Blake pushed the truck harder, and within a minute, they pulled up to Kena’s home. There were flames eating away at one of her sheds. There were several people running down to the river with buckets and running back. They were throwing water onto the structure. Blake jumped out and grabbed a five-gallon storage bucket and ran down to t
he river. The heat was intense and he ran to the house, not the shed and began splashing the water along the side of the house.
The others realized that the house was in danger of burning and divided and began to throw water on the house. Kena ran into the house and brought out two large kettles and handed one to Alice. There were five others who relayed back and forth from the river to the house. Blake felt the heat and it dried his eyes and his mouth. He could feel the sweat evaporating from his body and there were times when he thought he might explode into flames. One man was throwing water on the nearby vegetation.
When he saw anything on the ground begin to smoke, he stamped it out or poured water. For two hours the group ran back and forth and all were coughing and choking. Alice was smeared with black soot. Travis stayed out of the way, Blake had put him in the truck, but the boy had cried. So, Blake stood him out of the way.
“You stay right here and don’t move.” He’d ordered and the child had complied. It was getting late and the sun was sinking, but the fire was out, though it smoldered. Blake went back and forth with water, knowing the flames could reflash and start burning once more. One man grabbed a shovel and was throwing mud onto the downed structure. It was a total loss. Blake shook his head and wondered how it started.
Kena was sitting on her porch, her body slumped from the exertion of fighting the fire. Alice came out of the home with a tray of glasses. She handed Kena one and passed them around to the people gathered. Blake took a glass and drank the water down quickly. Travis climbed the steps and wrapped his hands around Kena’s arm. He laid his head on her shoulder and his small hand petted her arm. Blake swallowed at the compassion the child showed.
“It’s a loss, but the house and the other sheds are safe.” Kena sighed softly. There were grunts of agreement. Several of the people came to the porch and set their glass down and patted the woman on the shoulder, then turned and went home. Blake and Alice remained, along with an older man, near Blake’s age.
“Jackson Waverly.” The man stuck his hand out and Blake took it.
“Blake Rondeau, thank you for your help. That’s my wife, Alice and that’s Travis.”
“Kena said how you adopted the boy. Former marine, you?”
“Army, how’d you know?” Blake said, surprised.
“Won’t hold that against you.” Jackson grinned. “You got the look, the bearing. You can always tell a military man, just seem to stand a little straighter.” He laughed.
“Wish I knew how this fire started.” Kena said from the porch. Blake walked over and picked up the shovel, he saw smoke starting to spiral up and shoveled wet mud over the spot, then mixed it into the warm ground. The smoke stopped and he added another shovel of mud for good measure.
“Don’t know, it was dry enough, maybe someone was snooping around with a cigarette. Dropped the cigarette but didn’t put it out?” Jackson speculated, looking around the charred remains, using his booted foot to move the dirt around.
“I’ll go check your other sheds and see if there is any damage.” Blake said, walking around the house. He checked the chains that held the doors shut, and didn’t see any tampering. He looked around the back of the house, but didn’t see anything amiss. Coming back around, he shook his head.
“Didn’t see anything. I’m damn glad we got back when we did.” Blake said.
“I’m glad I didn’t take Harriet up on staying the night.” Kena sighed heavily, wiping her face.
“I’ll run back to the boat and get your crate, bring the guinea fowl here, along with the vegetables Harriet gave you.” Blake offered. Kena nodded and Blake turned to go.
“I’ll stay here a while for fire watch, make sure this don’t try to start again.” Jackson said, and Blake nodded. He pulled out and turned the truck back to home. It took only a few minutes to get back and he saw that Fiasco was laying on the porch. He smiled. He walked down to the dock and began to pull the crates and the bags off the boat. He carried the guinea fowl up and set one crate by the house. He would leave them there overnight and tomorrow; he would build an enclosure, until he could build a coop for them. He took the other crate and set it in the back of the truck, along with two bags of squash, zucchini and tomatoes. Harriet had been gracious and had given Alice a bag as well. Alice had protested, but Harriet had given her a gimlet eye and Alice had taken the gift.
Blake went into the house and got a couple of cigars and then went back to Kena’s house. The air was filled with the haze of smoke, and Blake could taste it, coating his mouth. He saw them sitting on the porch, and he got out of the truck and set the crate over near the house. He could hear the chicks peeping and the hen quarrelsome.
“You’ll have to make some kind of enclosure for your birds. At least something temporary, that you can move around. They’ll need some kind of structure to roost and be safe at night. Lots of coons around, as well as possums.” Kena said as he sat down on the porch. He saw that Travis was sound asleep in Alice’s arms, his legs hanging boneless off her lap.
“I’ll get started on it tomorrow, first thing.” Blake promised.
“I’ve got small gage wire in the shed out back. Get you a roll. I’ll put momma and her diddles into my coop tonight, once it’s dark. When everyone wakes tomorrow, they’ll be surprised to have new housemates.” Kena grinned.
“Did you lose a lot in that shed Kena?” Jackson asked as Blake handed over a cigar to the man. He smiled when Jackson brought the cheroot under his nose and inhaled appreciatively. Blake leaned over with a light and both men puffed away.
“Well, just memories, you know, the kids’ and grandkids’ things. Old papers, reports, special outfits and toys. That kind of thing. Valuable only to me. I’ve not really been in the shed for years.” She shrugged.
“No fire departments now.” Alice said sadly.
“Wouldn’t have mattered, there’s no fireplugs within ten miles of here. They’d be hard pressed to put it out, just stand alongside and watch it burn to the ground.” Kena grunted.
“That’s part of the tradeoff with living so remotely, you have the privacy you crave, without neighbors up your rump, but you don’t have the amenities either.” Jackson said.
“Yep, no one does now. We’re all pretty much on a level playing field, now.” Blake said.
Alice shifted; the heat of Travis was heavy on her. She looked down and smiled at the child. When they’d first smelled the smoke, she’d been terrified that her home was gone. That relief had been short lived, when they’d pulled into Kena’s driveway. She was grateful that it had only been the shed. She felt helpless in this new life. There were no officials to turn to for help. Not like they could, after what Jackson said. But the cabins had been there for years, so she supposed that they should be safe, as long as they were careful.
“I’m just glad your home is safe, Kena.” She looked at Kena as a close confidant and friend, rather than a mother figure. The two had become close and she truly enjoyed the woman’s company and common sense. Kena’s pain was her pain.
“As am I.” Kena grinned.
“I think we should get this little boy home, Blake. Is there anything we can do before we leave?” Alice asked. Kena shook her head, smiling serenely. Kena handed Blake a set of keys and he disappeared around the house.
“Feel free to come by any time Jackson, it was good to meet you.” Alice smiled and he returned her smile, nodding.
“Thank you. Sounds like Blake has a good fishing spot, I’ll bring my pole when I do stop by.”
“Make sure you bring me some fish, I’ll fry it up for you, Jackson.” Kena said. Jackson leaned over and kissed Kena on the cheek and grinned.
The ride home was quick and the shadows were lengthening. There was pink and lavender painting the sky, she could see the stars beginning to twinkle.
“I’ll get Travis cleaned up and fed. I think it will be an early night for all of us.” Alice said, shifting the body out of the car, he still hadn’t woken up, his small mouth open with
soft snores.
“I’ll get started on an encloser, I’ll use Fiasco’s old enclosure, just put a bit of wire overtop, until I can get something built tomorrow.” Blake said, going to one of the sheds.
Going inside, Alice turned on the light and smiled. That small act made her feel better. It banished the coming night and it banished her fears. She knew they lived on the edge, with no communication, no law and no government, but she had her gun, Blake had his and they had wonderful neighbors who cared about them. There wasn’t much more you could ask for, she thought.
Ω
Creston, WA
It had rained steadily all day, but at least it wasn’t hard rain. Louis and Beth had been so kind to her and a soft smile creased her face. Monica looked again at the paper in her hand, she figured she was roughly five miles away from her next stop. She’d been on the road for three days now, and she was exhausted. Monica had been playing hide and seek with several groups. The land had flattened out and vast farmland spread out around her. It was difficult to hide, and she was grateful for the olive-green rain slicker Louis had given her. It kept her relatively dry and when she heard a vehicle from a distance, she had hidden in plain sight.
Since it had been raining since last night, she’d not see a soul and she was glad. The birds around her were subdued with the rain and she heard their plaintiff cries from time to time. Ozone filled the air and, in the distance, she saw a flash of light and she counted in her head until she heard the boom. Good, it was far away. There was no place to hide from lightning strikes and certainly not under a tree. Monica moved around deeper pools of water on the road and looked out over the fields. They were deep green, the temperature was cool, but on sunny days, warm. She could smell green, and laughed. Seattle was that way, it smelled green, she didn’t know how to explain it, but it did.