Roamers (Book 2): Fear. Loss. Survival. Hope.

by Viper, Velveteen

Some of the men nodded, while the others mounted their motorcycles

  The bikes rolled to a halt on the driveway of what was once a bed and breakfast. Riley stopped the car on the grass to the side of the drive and Scarlett had climbed out before he’d put the handbrake on.

  She took everything in; the unguarded, unprotected gravel driveway, leading up to a pale stone house, decorated with dark wood and hanging baskets. To her right was a large, wooden gate, again, unprotected. She could just make out the top of a marquee over the fence.

  Piper dismounted her motorcycle and turned to Scarlett, who had been joined by Riley and Quinlan.

  “Welcome to Homeside,” she said proudly.

  Piper unlocked the gate and pushed one side wide open, motioning an, “after you,” with her hands. Scarlett wasted no time. She led the others inside, marvelling at what she saw.

  Opposite the main building were three marquees, each with a different purpose. Inside the first, a large round table held four bulky containers for washing clothes. Behind the table, two women were chatting while hanging wet garments on a makeshift washing line.

  Under the next shelter were facilities for purifying water. Their techniques were clearly far more evolved than Scarlett’s, and they had learned to do it on a larger scale.

  In the final gazebo, Scarlett observed three residents preparing food. Two of the bikers hurried over to queue up, each helping himself to a paper plate.

  Next to the food tent, an area roughly twice the size had been fenced off. Piper noticed Scarlett trying to see what was in there and, walking alongside her, directed her closer.

  “We grow crops in there,” she announced. “And it’s also where our chickens live. All through the summer we eat fresh fruit and eggs for breakfast. And when the chickens get too old to produce, everyone gets to enjoy a beautifully cooked chicken dinner. Just beyond the pen, there are three porta-potties. They haven’t worked properly for a while, but Bill, our resident farmer and chef, uses that to his advantage to fertilize the plants. It sounds gross, I know, but Bill knows his stuff.” Spinning to the left, Piper continued, “Over there are the tents. Most of our men sleep there, although we do have some recently vacated tents. We start a fire in the middle every night and eat and socialise together. Beyond that, you can just about see the log cabins. There’s three of them. One’s mine, one’s Bill’s and the other is empty right now. Oh, and don’t mind that bodged patch of fence over there. We had a little trouble with some space junk.”

  “This place is amazing,” Scarlett crooned, too impressed to question the space junk. “I thought we were living in luxury at the cottage, but this…You’ve got fucking chickens!” she proclaimed disbelievingly.

  “That’s not even the best part,” Piper grinned.

  Moving aside, a brick wall of a man, who introduced himself as Bill, handed Scarlett a polystyrene cup. In contained a warm, dark liquid and, as the aroma reached Scarlett’s nose, she began to tear up.

  “You have coffee?” she wept. She took a satisfactory gulp, wrapping both hands around the receptacle, as though she were trying to embrace it. She closed her eyes and held the coffee in her mouth, enjoying its bitter flavour. Once she’d swallowed it, she attempted to hand the rest to Riley. Piper stopped her.

  “It’s okay, Scarlett. There’s plenty for all of you,” she beamed. Scarlett quickly downed the rest and Piper gestured toward the house, “Shall I show you to your rooms?”

  “Rooms?” Riley questioned.

  “I can’t have you sleeping in tents, not with the baby.”

  “Couldn’t we share?” Scarlett asked. “I’m so used to having these guys close.”

  Piper looked to Riley and Quinlan. They nodded and Riley’s eyes brightened.

  “Scarlett,” Piper began, “you’re perfectly safe here, I promise. But it’s fine by me if you share. Follow me.”

  After showing them to their room in the main building, Piper left them to settle in, letting them know that their hunter should be returning soon. Riley shadowed her to the bottom of the stairs.

  “Hey, I just wanted to say thank you for taking us in. It’s been a long few months for us all, especially Scarlett.”

  “You’re welcome, Riley. It was such a shock to see a baby and a new mother out there like that. I couldn’t leave you all behind.”

  “So, you’ve got a hunter?”

  “Yeah, and he’s a fuckin’ godsend. Up until recently, we were mostly living as vegetarians, not by choice, I might add. But a few weeks ago, we had a guy brought in injured, says he’s a hunter. He was in a real state, and it looked like some sort of miracle that he was still alive. If some of our men hadn’t found him, he’d have been a goner. We took him in, fixed his broken leg, fed and watered him, gave him somewhere to rest his head. Soon as he was done with the crutches, he left super early. He came back just after sundown… with a deer. You know, we’d love you all to stick around for at least a little while. We’ve got a doctor if Scarlett and the baby need checking out.”

  “Maybe,” Riley nodded, “that all depends on whether I can convince Scarlett.”

  “Do you think she should give up looking for her daughter?”

  “Honestly? I think it’s been eight months now, and we haven’t had any leads for a while. If I’m completely truthful, they’re either long gone or dead. James is only a few days old and he’s vulnerable. Scarlett too; she’s still weak from labour and tired because the baby keeps her awake.” Riley leant on the bannister and looked at the pristine carpet and fresh walls, “Seeing this place today was a strong reminder that we could be having a life together.” Piper tilted her head. “All of us I mean, Quinlan too.”

  “I think you’re saying all this to the wrong person. Talk to Scarlett and be frank with her.” Piper placed a hand on Riley’s arm encouragingly, “I’ll see you soon.”

  When Piper left, Riley turned to go back up the stairs. Scarlett was standing at the top, watching him. Reaching the landing, Riley stopped in front of her.

  “So, you heard all that, huh?”

  “Yup.”

  “Scar, I’m sorry. But surely--”

  “You spent all these months telling me to carry on; convincing me they were just one step ahead. I wish you’d been honest with me. You might be right, Riley. But what sort of a mother would I be if I just give up on them?”

  Riley sighed dejectedly and returned to the bedroom to see Quinlan curled up on the sofa bed. Scarlett swaddled a sleeping James in the sling. Riley retrieved his jacket from the back of the dressing table chair and held out his arms.

  “Here, I’ll take him,” he offered.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Of course. Give your back a rest.”

  Scarlett helped him negotiate the never-ending fabric, zipping up Riley’s jacket for him to keep the baby warm.

  The two of them sat by the fire and Riley tentatively laid his arm around Scarlett’s shoulders.

  “It’s okay, Scar. We can leave in the morning, I’m not going to force you to stay,” he assured her. “James is fine with me, and it’ll be another hour or so before he wakes up, so try to chill out for a while.”

  Scarlett didn’t say anything. For now, she lacked the mental capacity to respond after trying to take in what Riley had said to Piper. Instead, she put an arm across his stomach and cuddled in closer. Riley smiled and contentedly kissed the top of Scarlett’s head.

  Their relaxation was soon disturbed by excited whispers emanating from the back gate.

  The rabble was heading their way and Riley felt Scarlett’s body move with the force of a heavy sigh.

  “So much for chilling out,” he whispered.

  “I think I’ll go to bed,” Scarlett said, getting to her feet. “I’m not in the mood for meeting more new people. Wake me up when James is ready for his feed.”

  The mere thought of eating turned her stomach, so she brushed her jeans off and began walking toward the house.

  Behind her, she heard the hu
nter’s catch fall to the ground with a loud thump, silencing the small crowd behind him.

  “Scarlett?” he breathed.

  She stopped. Too afraid to turn around in case she’d imagined that unmistakable voice.

  “Scarlett, is that you?”

  It had to be real. She was sure that her own mind could never be that cruel. Scarlett slowly turned around. Staring back at her, along with the Homeside residents, was the man she’d spent the best part of a year searching for.

  “Travis,” she mouthed; her ability to produce sounds suddenly gone.

  She felt her legs begin to shake and her face contorted into a mixture of grief and relief as tears started trailing down her cheeks. Her hands covered her mouth while she sobbed. Travis dropped his bag and his crossbow and ran to her.

  He threw his arms around her, catching her just as her knees betrayed her, and Scarlett wriggled her own arms free to wrap them around him, stroking the back of his head. Travis buried his head in Scarlett’s neck and the people surrounding them could hear their ecstatic whimpers. Travis couldn’t seem to stop his feet from moving. He picked Scarlett up and put her down again several times, breathing heavily with each audible, thankful sob.

  He pulled away briefly and looked from her face all the way down to her feet and back, just to be sure that she was real, and whole, before holding her again.

  Riley looked on. He was elated for Scarlett, praying that this meant Hope was still alive, but he felt guilty for being disappointed at the same time. He knew what this meant for himself.

  Travis pulled his head back and studied her again. Scarlett’s face was wet with tears and pale, but to him, she was as beautiful as she always had been.

  “I thought you were dead,” he panted. “All this time, I thought you’d died.”

  Scarlett still couldn’t speak, and she felt her skin prickle when Travis thrust his lips onto hers, kissing her violently, possessively. It was sloppy, it was desperate. It was him. It wasn’t like before; he didn’t care that there were spectators.

  When he pulled away, Travis took her hand.

  Dreading what his answer could be, but desperately needing to know, Scarlett finally croaked out the words, “Where’s Hope?”

  “Come with me.” Travis’ voice made her shiver, and she followed him without hesitation.

  He led her into the main building and up the stairs. Once they reached the first bedroom door, Travis stopped.

  “Hope’s in there, but she’ll be sleepin’.”

  “Travis, I need to tell you--”

  “I don’t know how she’ll react to seein’ you, so be gentle.”

  With that, and before Scarlett could say another word, he opened the door and Scarlett broke down again at the sight of her sleeping daughter. Slowly, she crept into the room and knelt beside the bed. She stroked Hope’s hair and softly kissed her forehead, amazed that she’d been sleeping in the room next door the whole time. She’d grown so much in the past eight or so months, but she still possessed the same features.

  Scarlett knew that she couldn’t leave it any longer. Travis had thought, for all that time, that she had lost the baby when she was shot. Careful not to wake Hope, she stood and returned to Travis, closing the door behind her.

  Before she could speak, Scarlett heard the front door close and, leaning over the bannister, observed Riley entering. He began climbing the stairs, his feet heavy with angst.

  “Travis, there’s something you should know,” Scarlett began as Riley reached the top. “Back at the warehouse... I didn’t--”

  She had no idea how to tell him. It wasn’t something she’d put much thought into. She thought the words would just come to her when she saw him. Little did Travis know that his infant son was asleep under Riley’s jacket.

  “What is it?” Travis asked, concerned.

  She turned to face Riley, unzipping his coat enough that she could lift James free of the sling. He stirred with the movement but didn’t fully wake.

  Travis heard the distinctive sound of a baby grunting in its sleep, and Scarlett turned around with him cradled in her arms. She looked at his face – that expression. The same as when she first told him she was expecting again: shock, fear, delight, and love. Pure, fierce, unconditional love.

  “Is that...?” he stuttered.

  “Yeah.”

  “But... I thought--”

  “So did I,” Scarlett admitted. “I had no idea until I started getting bigger and I felt him move for the first time.”

  “Him?” Travis asked, smiling through tears.

  “James,” she nodded. “After Jimmy.”

  Scarlett approached him and handed over their son. He looked down at James and immediately noticed a striking resemblance to Hope.

  “Hi, James,” he said tenderly. James continued to sleep in his arms and Riley felt a jolt of sadness run through his chest. He took one last look at James before making his way down the stairs, trying to accept that the life he thought possible was no longer a reality.

  Travis kept his eyes fixed on his son, “He’s so tiny. How old is he?”

  “He’s three days old.” Travis suddenly looked at her with raised eyebrows. “He was premature. Well, I think he was.”

  “What happened when he was born?”

  “Nothing particularly traumatic... by today’s standards, I mean. He was born in a bathroom. Riley helped deliver him. We were with...” she trailed off. She didn’t even want to say his name.

  “Who?”

  “Just some guy we ended up staying with for a while. We left the night James was born, and I’d rather we never saw him again. I’d really like to talk properly. Is there somewhere private we can go?”

  “Sure,” Travis said.

  “I’ll see if Riley can take James again so we can talk.”

  Riley was still at the bottom of the stairs, and he faked a smile when he saw Scarlett.

  “Want me to take him?” he asked.

  “Thank you, Riley.”

  Scarlett carefully handed her son over before she and Travis made their way outside. On his way, Travis laid a hand on Riley’s shoulder.

  “Thanks for keepin’ them safe, Riley. You don’t know how much it means to me.”

  “Oh, I do,” Riley said sadly.

  Travis showed Scarlett into a vacant tent, zipping it up once they were inside. They both sat on the ground, facing one another. Travis took in her features once more.

  “First thing’s first,” he began, sliding Scarlett’s axe out of his belt loop, “I think this belongs to you.”

  Scarlett took it gratefully, but placed it on the groundsheet without taking her eyes off Travis, as though she thought he’d disappear if she did, “Thank you.”

  “I can’t believe I’m starin’ at you right now,” he said. “I can’t stop.”

  “Me neither.”

  “What happened to you?”

  “That night. I really thought I was done for. I curled up on the side of some road. I fell asleep. When I woke up the next morning, I couldn’t believe my luck.” She smiled, but it quickly faded as she continued, “I tried to get back to the warehouse, but when I got there... you and Hope were gone.”

  “I got your note,” Travis said sadly.

  “I guessed you had. I just hoped you’d found it that morning, so that maybe I’d have time to catch up.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be,” Scarlett smiled, shuffling closer. “You’re here now, and you kept our daughter safe.”

  They continued to stare at each other, neither one able to believe that the other was real.

  “Piper was gonna organise one of the log cabins for Hope and me before I left. She says I’m a real asset to Homeside and we deserve our own space,” he scoffed. “Anyway, do you think that maybe you and James could stay with us? I could head out again in the mornin’; see if I can find a crib. Or I can go into the forest and make one like I did for Hope--”

  “Hey,” Scarlett soothed
, taking his hands, “of course we will. And don’t worry about a crib right now. James will be fine in a drawer like in the olden days. I just want to be with you, Hope and James.”

  “I just feel like I’ve missed so much. Like James ain’t gonna bond with me like Hope did.”

  “He’s three days old. All he knows right now is hunger and sleepiness. And poop. So much poop. If you want to bond with him, be with him.”

  Travis smiled at her and nodded once.

  Still in disbelief, and unable to simply throw herself at him, Scarlett settled for leaning forward and kissing Travis’ lips, again and again, with one hand on the back of his head. He reciprocated, still amazed that she was warm, and living, and not lying dead on a road somewhere. Their reunion was interrupted by Piper’s voice from outside the tent.

  “Ding dong,” she chanted. “Bill’s doin’ the rabbits, guys. Come on out and eat with us.”

  “We’ll be right there, Piper,” Travis called.

  “I need to go and relieve Riley of baby duty,” Scarlett sighed. “He’ll be waking up soon.”

  When Scarlett returned outside with James swaddled in her jacket and a blanket in her hand, she followed the orange glow of the campfire and the calm chatter of the people surrounding it.

  Travis and almost all of Homeside’s inhabitants sat around the fire. Three people, including Piper, were perched on a bulky log, and Bill was kneeling closest to the fire. Beside him lay the skinned and gutted bodies of five rabbits, and he was setting up a spit over the flames.

  Scarlett had to stop a stupid smile from creeping across her face on meeting Travis’ eyes and watching them light up when he saw her. She noticed him shift a little on the grass, making room for her to sit down, and Scarlett happily made her way over. Riley followed and got comfortable beside her.

  “Hey,” Travis rumbled as she sat, “you hungry?”

  “You bet I am,” she smirked.

  Scarlett unzipped her jacket and the people around her gawped at the tiny baby. She carefully handed the little bundle to Travis, who wrapped the blanket around his son and held him close.

  “So, Scarlett,” Piper interjected, “you know this little ray of sunshine?”

  “Yeah, we’ve got just a bit of history.”