by Hayden James
Addy chimed in, “This is Vince and Gary,” she said as they leaned in to shake hands.
Dr. Tate looked awkward as she stood at the base of the driveway. Rachel yelled over to her, “Linda, I’d like you to meet my son, Liam.” She came over to where Liam and the rest of the family members stood in a circle.
“Hi Liam, my name is Linda. I didn’t want to intrude on the reunion,” she explained.
“Nice to meet you,” replied Liam as she shook his hand.
Rachel whispered to William, “Liam seems to be leaving to help some girl find her parents. I need you to put a stop to it.”
William nodded and then said, “Looks like your packing up with all the gear. Where are you headed?”
“We are heading to Spartanburg, South Carolina. That’s where Prue’s parents live. She’s in the house getting our food supplies together,” explained Liam.
“How did you meet this girl?” William asked.
“We ran into each other when the power went out at the club I scored a gig at. We were waiting for our rehearsal time. Shortly after that, the fires broke out, and we had to get out sooner than I planned,” recalled Liam.
“We know about the fires,” informed William. “Your old place is nothing but ash.”
“Gosh, I had a feeling that would happen. I hope Kenny got out in time,” lamented Liam.
“He did,” chimed in Madison.
“How do you know?” Liam asked.
William chuckled before answering, “We ran into him at the shelter in La Vergne. We gave him a ride.”
“Oh good. Did you drop him off at one of his family members’ place?” Liam asked.
“We tried. All he wanted was a ride to the liquor store, only a few blocks away form the shelter,” explained Rachel.
“Good to see that this disaster hasn’t changed him much,” mused Liam.
William then asked, “So when do you leave for Spartanburg?”
“Later today,” answered Liam. “Let’s all go inside and I’ll introduce you to Prue.”
The group moved from the driveway to the inside of the house, but Rachel stopped William. “What was that about?” Rachel asked.
“What was what about?” William retorted.
“Liam is leaving later today, and you didn’t stop it.”
“Rach, he’s an adult. He’s been on his own for almost two years. He can make his own decisions. Let’s go inside,” suggested William as he grabbed for Rachel’s hand to hold it as they went inside. Rachel moved her hand away, as she was furious at William for allowing him to go.
Rachel walked past the gathering in the living room, where the twins were awe-struck by meeting an up-and-coming country singer and headed straight to the kitchen where she found Dwight.
“Dwight!” Rachel shouted. “Did you know that Liam is planning on leaving today?”
Rachel interrupted Dwight mixing more dough for more cinnamon rolls in the morning when he learned that William had arrived with his family. “Hey Rach, how are you? Good to see you again,” Dwight said as he pecked his daughter-in-law on the cheek.
“Sorry, I came in here guns blazing, but became incensed when I learned that Liam is leaving.”
“He’ll be back,” assured Dwight. “He’s going to help that little girl find her parents and then he’s going to bring them all back here. I offered for her parents to stay here.”
“I don’t want him to leave. It’s dangerous out there, and he could get hurt,” argued Rachel.
“I realize. But out of all of us, he has the best survival skills. He’s a good man and an even better survivalist. He’s resourceful and smart. You should be proud that you raised such. Scalable young man,” reasoned Dwight.
Rachel had calmed down and argued, “Dwight, with all do respect, he’s still my little boy. I will forbid this all the way to Heaven before Liam leaves this house.”
“Hey, knock, knock,” Liam said as he knocked on the door jamb of the kitchen. “I can hear you guys in the other room. It was getting a little awkward.”
Dwight said, “Liam! Come in. We are having a bit of a discussion about you and your eminent departure. Come have a seat at the table with your mom and for this out.”
Liam did as Dwight directed and sat down at the kitchen table. Rachel joined him. She started, “You can’t leave.”
“Mom, I’m leaving,” protested Liam. “I have to help Prue find her parents. She is worried sick about them. The same I was about you guys, but I knew you would make it here, eventually. Prue’s family didn’t have a plan.”
“But, I just found you,” pleaded Rachel.
“Let me discuss it with Prue, and see if I can delay our departure by a day or two,” reasoned Liam. Liam got up from the kitchen table and went back to the living room where everyone else was still conversing.
Dwight asked, “Can I get you anything? Water, coffee, tea?”
Rachel, distraught, replied, “No, but thanks Dwight.”
A few moments later, Liam came back and joined his mom at the kitchen table. “Prue agreed, we can leave tomorrow.”
“I’d prefer that you did not leave at all,” retorted Rachel. “You can catch up with your sisters and teach them how to shoot.”
“Mom, I will be back. Stop being so dramatic.”
“And what if you don’t come back?” Rachel asked.
“Not an option,” answered Liam.
William came into the kitchen. Rachel’s anger toward him subsided slightly. “He, son. You and Prue can use the VW van. It’s really nice and has beds in the back.”
“Thanks dad, I appreciate the offer. But, Prue and I decided that the motorcycles, as rough as they are will be easier to maneuver between the stalled cars. Plus, we were able to pick up this tent and sleeping bags. We will be fine, but I do appreciate it,” replied Liam.
“Show me your supplies, I want to make sure you have enough,” suggested Rachel.
“Sure, I’ll get my pack,” Liam said as he got up from his seat and went to his bedroom to get his pack.
A few moments later, Liam returned to show Rachel the supplies he put together for the trip. “The trip should only take us one overnight if we can find Prue’s parents on our first day we reach Spartanburg. If we don’t then I have backup supplies of canned and freeze-dried food. The plan is to cook as much as we can, so we have several cans of black beans, Prue’s favorite, and rice. Grandpa even packed us some cinnamon rolls and instant coffee for breakfast. I have at least two gallons of water. We’ll be taking Chewy, Prue’s dog, so the freeze-dried is for him. He really likes it,” rattled Liam.
“It seems that your grandpa helped you pack your supplies with all that you need,” Rachel replied, astounded by the thoroughness of his preparation.
“He did most of it himself,” Dwight chimed in while he still stirred batter.
Rachel turned to Liam and put her hand on top of his, “Liam, I know that you are going to leave whether I give you permission or not. And that’s the thing, you don’t need my permission to do anything, you are a grown man. And that part hurts. Please be safe and find that sweet girl’s parents.”
Day Twelve
Chapter Eighteen
Rachel Conner
Residence of Dwight Conner
Tucker Hollow, Tennessee
6:48 AM
“Please be safe,” whispered Rachel into her son’s ear while they embraced in front of the motorcycles.
Prue had already kicked her motorcycle on and was waiting for Liam. Even though Liam had chose to go, Rachel noticed he was having a hard time leaving his family behind.
Finally, Liam went over to his motorcycle and kicked, getting it to start. The pair walked back with their bikes with their feet down the driveway before moving down the street at full throttle. This scene was more than Rachel could take as she broke down, crying into her hands. The sounds of the engine lasting minutes before she could no longer hear them.
William came over to her and put his arm
s around her. “He’s not ready for this,” muttered Rachel to Liam.
“He’s already gone through far worse, with Prue along his side. This will be easy for him,” comforted William. Rachel recounted the story he told her the night before how he battled the Bubbas and made his way from Nashville to Tucker Hollow on his own. Despite her logic, she still did not want to see her only son leave.
“I’ll never stop worrying about him,” whispered Rachel.
“And neither will I,” confirmed William.
The pair went back into the house where Rachel found Dwight working in the kitchen. “Rachel, just the person I was hoping to run into,” said Dwight. “Liam just leave?”
“Yes, he just left,” answered Rachel. “What did you want?”
“I’ve been meaning to teach you how to work some homestead. You can help me with the cattle, pigs, chickens, and help me with the vegetables,” explained Dwight.
“Sure, I’ve been wanting to learn how to do some of these things. I’ve only read about how to take care of livestock and crops online, and well, I can’t use that as a resource anymore,” chuckled Rachel.
“Good, lets go out to the garden, and I’ll show you what to do,” suggested Dwight.
Dwight and Rachel walked out to the garden, where Dwight grew tomatoes, green beans, lettuce, squash, zucchini, radishes, and peppers. Dwight explained, “Each day, either you or I will need to pick the ripe vegetables. From there we will prepare the meals for the day for the family. Any of the vegetables we don’t use for that day, we will can and save for the next year or two.”
“You really have a good system going on here,” admitted Rachel.
“You think so?” Dwight asked.
“Oh yes. You have any form of comfort that we could ever imagine. You have done a really great job and preparing for such a disaster,” elaborated Rachel.
“I’m glad that you don’t share the same sentiment as Will,” replied Dwight.
“Dwight, you and I have always gotten along. Shortly after Will and I were married you told me that you and your wife had always wanted a daughter, but never had the chance to have one. You considered me your daughter. From that moment on, I’ve always considered you a second dad,” explained Rachel. She saw tears begin to form in Dwight’s eyes.
“That means a lot. Thanks for saying that,” replied Dwight, wiping his eyes with his shirt sleeve.
“You and Will are a lot alike. You both are extremely stubborn and cut from the same cloth. I don’t know why neither of you see it.”
“All I have ever wanted him to say was thank you. I mean, I would have raised him just like I did, but he never realized the sacrifice that I made for him and now his family that we have all of this. Instead, he blamed me. He blamed me that I couldn’t go to his boy scout’s meetings with him, even though I took him and his scout mates on a camping trip and taught them how to tie several knots. It seemed like whatever I did was never enough. Meanwhile, I had been building this compound in case there ever was a disaster, him and his family would have a safe place to go. Don’t you think I would have rather have taken him to the scout meetings, to the baseball games, and have been more present with him and his mother?”
“I’m sure you would have rather been doing those things than building all of this,” affirmed Rachel. “I don’t think he sees it that way.”
From behind, Rachel heard a voice, “I know all you see is how ungracious I am dad, and all I feel is anger and resentment for all the time I missed spending time with you. I wanted you to ask me how many runs I hit, or what I learned at the Boy Scout meeting. Instead, all you wanted to tell me was how to can vegetables I grew, how to start a fire with nothing but a soda can, and the expiration dates of nonperishable foods. Guess what dad, they’re nonperishable.”
“Glad to see all my instruction didn’t go to waste,” smirked Dwight.
“Will, you heard all of that?” Rachel asked.
“Every word,” answered William.
“My hope was that you wouldn’t need my compound because you would have started your own homestead,” relented Dwight. “But you’re so lazy, that you needed to come down here and to bring your entire family. I thought I raised a man. A man who would provide and protect for his family. Instead, you risked the safety of your family and bring them down here. My one job was to raise a man, and all I’ve been is disappointed,” admonished Dwight.
“And all I wanted was a father who cared about me,” said William, crossing his arms.
“If you don’t think I care about you, you know where the door is,” hissed Dwight.
Rachel knew how hotheaded William could be, and she knew this altercation would not end without William storming off. Before she knew it, she watched him walk back to the main house. “Will, Will, come back,” she shouted while she ran after him.
Rachel couldn’t keep up with William, especially at the fierce pace him moved at. She watched while William lifted the garage door and walked out one of Dwight’s vintage motorcycles. Rachel chased after him, but was too late. He headed down the street, appearing to be in a fit of rage with the aggressive handling of the motorcycle.
“Girls, I need your help,” pleaded Rachel for her twins.
Soon, her two eldest daughters came to the front door. “What is it?” Maddy asked.
“Come on you two, I’ll explain on the way. Get in the van.”
Chapter Nineteen
Liam Conner
Town Forest, North Carolina
3:58 PM
“I think we should stop here,” shouted Liam pointing to the campground some miles outside of Hendersonville, NC. Pure followed on her motorcycle, the loud roar of the engine still pulsating wherever they went.
In the campground, several other campers had the same idea, and many appeared to have been there for a while, their only place to live. The two motorcycles pulled up to an empty campsite. Both cut their motors and got off of their bikes. “Good thing we have this camping gear,” said Liam, grateful that Mama Bess graciously gave them two sleeping bags and a tent.
“It sure is quiet out,” said Prue, looking around at the night sky and the numerous stars. “My parents used to take us to Asheville for the holidays. We sometimes would stop in Hendersonville. I miss those trips,” lamented Prue.
“It is sure pretty out here. I’ve never been across the Smokey Mountain, so this is my first time venturing into the Carolinas,” replied Liam.
“You’ll like it,” affirmed Prue.
“Let’s get dinner prepared,” suggested Liam, changing the subject quickly.
Prue took out Chewy and rice and beans. Dwight also packed for them some leftover rolls and cinnamon rolls they would have in the morning. Liam took out the pots for the rice and beans and set them on the iron grate of the fire pit.
Pouring some water from a water bottle, Prue oversaw the cooking of the meal. “It is quiet out here,” she said, turning to Liam while she poured in a portion of the rice and heated the canned black beans.
“It’s nice,” confirmed Liam. “Where did you grow up?”
“In Spartanburg, its south of here in South Carolina. I grew up in a small house where my parents still live.”
“Can they grow food? Or defend it if they are attacked?” Liam asked.
“No, there’s not much land and it's a tiny house. That’s why I was so eager to leave Spartanburg and head to Nashville as soon as I could. There was nothing for me there,” explained Prue.
“I really think we should bring back your parents back to my grandpa’s compound after we find them. Do you think they will want to come?” Liam asked.
“I will try my best to talk them into it. I don’t know what they have planned. All I know is that I have to find them and make sure that they are all right,” responded Prue. Prue appeared to be flustered, as Liam was asking her things that she could not promise.
“I realize I am putting a lot of pressure on you,” acknowledged Liam. He sat next to her while she se
rved him the rice and beans.
“We should make it into Spartanburg early tomorrow,” explained Prue.
“That’s a relief. Then we can find your parents. Hopefully, they stayed at their house,” said Liam.
“Yes, hopefully.”
The two finished eating, and they sat next to each other outside the tent. A horrible thought came to Liam. He realized that this may have been the last dinner that they share together, provided that they should meet up with Prue’s parents early the following day. He became anxious at the idea.
Despite not wanting to push this issue further, and realizing that Prue was not in a position to make decisions for her parents, he asked again. “Please talk your parents into coming and staying at my grandpa’s,” he said.
Prue relented, “My parents are going to have a hard time living off of someone else’s property and food. They are proud people.” Tears started to form in her eyes, and she continued, “But I don’t want you to have to travel back to Townsend all alone. What if something happens to you?”
Touched by her consideration for his safety, he leaned in and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Noticing that she was receptive to his affection, he moved over to her lips, putting his on hers. Their first kiss was everything Liam had hoped to be, and the connection he felt to Prue was indescribable.
After stopping, and realizing what he did, he noticed that there was a grin on Prue’s face. He knew that she enjoyed their first kiss as much as he did. He whispered in her ear, “Maybe something good came out of this pulse?”
Chapter Twenty