by E A Chance
“Civilization? Does that still exist?”
Coop spread the map on top of the well pump. “Such as it is. We can’t be too far from people. Someone built this well.” He stroked his beard as he studied the map. “If that’s the New River you almost plunged into, we’re off course. My guess is we’re headed toward Peterson, West Virginia.”
Riley crossed her arms and slumped against the wall. “How far off course?”
“About twenty miles. Less than a day’s ride. The bad news is we’re nowhere near a town. We need to turn due west to get back on track toward Charleston.”
“I don’t care which way we go as long as it’s dry and we’re headed toward Colorado.”
Coop folded the map and held it out to her. “Our first job is figuring out a way to cross that river. I’m not a fan of your method.”
“Me either,” Riley said under her breath and shivered as she threw her pack on her shoulder, then followed him out of the shed.
The clear weather didn’t hold, and another storm overtook them within two hours. Riley concentrated on staying clearheaded and focusing on the path in front of her. They came on a raised clearing with good drainage at sunset. The rain had become too heavy for them to continue, so they made camp. While they set up the tent in the middle of a downpour, Riley wondered if they should have stayed in the shed. Once they were settled in the tent and changed into their driest clothes, Riley downed a protein bar and slid into the sleeping bag.
Coop pulled her close and after giving her a halfhearted kiss, said, “Even I’m too exhausted to care that we haven’t officially consummated this marriage.”
“Same. That will have to wait until this rain stops. I promise to make it worth the wait.”
“Can’t wait,” Coop mumbled and was asleep in seconds.
Riley woke eight hours later from her first full night’s sleep since leaving the ranch. She had a fading memory of dreaming she was back in her OR in Colorado Springs, operating on a teenage boy who’d broken his leg snowboarding. Instead of her usual surgical team, Coop was assisting her, which was odd since he was a thoracic surgeon and not an orthopedist, but it felt right to work with him at her side.
The dream stirred up a darker memory of the two of them operating on Julia in the woods after she’d been shot by the thugs who took them hostage. Coop had assisted her again when they operated on Julia in the camp where they were being held. It was a miracle her daughter had survived and been able to walk after a prolonged recovery. The visions made her miss Julia even more. She wondered what she was doing at that moment.
She shook the dark thoughts from her mind and focused on the sunlight streaming in under the tent flap. Coop was snoring away beside her with his hair sticking up as usual. She had to fight the urge to lick her fingers and smooth it down. She gave him a soft peck on the cheek instead, then climbed out of the sleeping bag, careful not to wake him.
She’d slept in her jeans and flannel shirt, so after pulling on her boots, she unzipped the tent and went out to soak up sunlight before it disappeared. Thirty minutes later, she’d constructed a decent firepit and had a smoky but serviceable fire going with the driest kindling she could find.
While collecting the wood, she’d found a stream twenty yards from the tent. She had filled their water containers, then hung a pot on a branch she rigged above the fire. She fed the horses while she waited for the water to boil. They seemed as happy about the clear skies and sunlight as she was.
After fixing herself a comforting mug of chamomile tea, she sat on a log by the fire to enjoy it. If not for the upheaval and trauma she’d endured for the past three months, she could almost convince herself she was on a relaxing camping getaway. But there was no ignoring the trauma they’d experienced. In their new unpredictable world, any situation could become life threatening in an instant.
She finished her tea and ate another power bar before deciding it was time to wake her groom and make their marriage official. After tossing another log on the fire, she went into the tent and removed her jeans and shirt before sliding into the sleeping bag.
She moved her lips close to Coop’s ear and whispered, “Time to wake up, babe. I’m ready for some quality alone time.”
Without opening his eyes, he said, “Fine, but we better hurry before my grouchy wife gets back.”
Riley gave him a playful slap, then hungrily pressed her lips to his. He responded with an urgency to match hers. The days of frustration and irritation gave way to intense release. Their lovemaking was over as quickly as it started, and they lay panting in contentment in each other’s arms.
When Riley caught her breath, she said, “I told you it would be worth the wait.”
Coop kissed the end of her nose. “With some to spare.”
She propped up on her elbow and gazed down at him. “Can we stay here for a few days? The ground has good drainage in case the rains return. I’ve already built a firepit and there’s a stream nearby. I’m in a hurry to get to Colorado, but I don’t think I can face climbing into that saddle today.”
“It wouldn’t hurt to get our strength back before the next disaster smacks us in the face. We could do some hunting, and fishing.”
“Fresh meat would be nice after days of jerky and MREs.”
Coop sat up and rubbed his face. “I think my stomach will close up shop out of protest if I eat another protein bar. Hand me my clothes and we’ll get started.”
Riley pushed him back down and wrapped her arm around his waist. “We don’t have to start this second. I’m not finished with you yet.”
Coop reached up and wove his fingers into her hair. “I surrender. Have your way with me.”
After what Coop called their honeymoon frolic and a refreshing nap, they were ready to work on setting up their temporary home. Coop gathered and chopped wood while Riley inventoried their supplies. Their food stores were running lower than she’d expected, which wasn’t surprising since they hadn’t been able to gather supplies or cook because of the rain. Stopping for a few days to replenish wasn’t just convenient, it was crucial.
Once Coop had enough wood to last three days, he took the air rifle and went off in search of small game. Riley took the fishing tackle and headed for the stream. She’d loved the outdoors since she was a child, but never learned to fish until Zach taught her early in their marriage. She was hooked from the start. She loved the periods of peaceful contemplation interspersed with the excitement of reeling in a catch. She couldn’t have known then that one day, her survival would depend on her fishing skills.
She found a flat boulder near an eddy and set her supplies down to get ready. The quick flowing stream was so clear she could see the fish darting in the shadows. She knew little about freshwater species populating Virginia waterways, but she recognized the trout and small-mouthed bass. She took one of the Nightcrawlers she’d dug up on her way to the stream and wove it onto her hook. She knew trout preferred smaller worms but found none in the dark moist soil. Bass usually snapped up Nightcrawlers, so Riley hoped she’d have luck with them.
She cast her hook, and it wasn’t long before she had her first bite. It was a small bass. She re-baited the hook and cast her line again, figuring it would take longer the second time. She leaned against the boulder and was just taking in her surroundings when there was another tug on her line. It was a rainbow trout.
She dropped her line in again and immediately had another trout. A bass followed next, then a rainbow trout. She was looking forward to the fresh fish for dinner, but catching them so fast wasn’t allowing much time for peaceful contemplation. She pulled the stringer out of the tackle bag and hooked the fish to it to keep fresh in the stream.
When all the loops on the stringer were occupied with unhappy fish, she decided it was time to quit. If Coop didn’t know how to preserve what they didn’t eat that night, they’d have to toss out the leftovers and didn’t want to be wasteful. She could fish again in the morning.
Riley put her rod
away and stretched out on a grassy patch in the sun. With all the rain and constant moving, she hadn’t given attention to the environment they’d traveled through. Ignoring the dampness seeping through her clothes, she looked over the idyllic scene and was surprised to find thick greenery surrounding her on all sides and wondered how she could have missed it.
All she’d known of Virginia since the CME was cold, barrenness, and death. Though the world had started to bloom before they left the ranch, what she witnessed that day was an explosion of life. Leaves were so thick on the trees that sunlight couldn’t penetrate the foliage in some areas. The grass was lush and aromatic, and ferns waved in the gentle breeze near the stream. Mother Nature was going on in her normal rhythm as if the CME had never happened.
If Riley hadn’t been on a journey to reunite with her children, she could imagine stopping there with Coop and starting a life with him. She wondered if that was how the first inhabitants had felt when they arrived on that land. She sat up and wrapped her arms around her knees, contemplating the fact that in some ways, they weren’t so different from those early settlers. Modern humans had significant advantages, like medical knowledge and more efficient tools, but in one way they were equal. They didn’t have the benefit of electricity or electronic technology
Despite the challenges they faced, Riley was encouraged to see nature springing to life and hoped it also signaled a renewal for humanity. There had been enough of darkness and death. It was time to stop looking back at what they’d lost and build a new life.
Riley got to her feet and gathered the gear and fish to walk back to camp. For the first time since the world turned upside down, she had hoped that with time, they would not only survive but thrive.
Chapter Two
Riley frowned at the plant hanging from her fork on their third evening in the camp. “This is disgusting. I don’t know how you thought I’d like eating grass.”
Coop had proudly prepared a meal of fish, dove breast and salad of fiddlehead ferns, dandelion leaves, and green onions. She didn’t mind the onions or dandelion, but the ferns tasted like freshly mown grass.
Coop jabbed a stick at the fire. “It’s not grass. Fiddlehead ferns are a delicacy in some places. They even sell it at farmer’s markets.”
“That may be, and I appreciate all the work you went to, but I just can’t seem to get it down my throat. Maybe the horses will like it.” When he frowned and folded his arms, she said, “Please, don’t pout. We don’t have to love all the same things. The fish and dove were delicious.”
He gave her a half grin. “Fair enough, but get used to eating what we can gather along the way. If we keep our distance from populated areas, we’ll have to live off the land.”
“I’ll do my best. It might be easier when I’m hungrier.”
Coop tossed his stick into the fire and swallowed his last bite of fish. “Speaking of the journey ahead, we should get back on the road in the morning. We need to reach Colorado before the worst of the summer weather hits.”
Riley’s gaze swept over their temporary little haven. “I know you’re right, but as anxious as I am to get to my family, it’ll be hard to leave. I haven’t been this relaxed in months, maybe even since last year.” She glanced at her trusty digital watch, the only technology to survive the CME. “It’s hard to grasp that today is April nineth.” She grew quiet and kicked at the dirt with the toe of her boot. “Tomorrow is Emily’s birthday.” Her voice cracked as she said, “She’ll be ten. I should be there.”
“Come here,” Coop said and held out his arms. Riley climbed onto his lap and rested her head on his shoulder. “You’ll just have to celebrate with her two months late. From what you told me of your mom, she’ll move heaven and earth to make the day special for Emily.”
Riley sat forward and wiped her cheeks. “You’re right. Enough of this blubbering. Remembering Emily’s birthday is the motivation I need to get it in gear. I don’t want to miss Jared’s birthday too. The sooner we’re on the road, the sooner we’re home.” She stood and extended her hand. “Let’s get packed.”
The rain started during the night, and Riley woke at dawn with a groan. They’d have to decide between waiting it out or trudging on in the nasty weather.
“I heard that,” Coop said without opening his eyes. “What should we do?”
“This could be one of those thirty-minute storms or a three-day deluge. What I wouldn’t give for a weather forecast. It’s amazing how we took those things for granted before the apocalypse. Most of me wants to stay, snuggled up in this bag, but a small part wants to go. We’re packed except for the sleeping bags and tent. I don’t relish the thought of unpacking and then having to redo it.”
“It’s early. We can afford to wait an hour and see what happens. That will give us time to eat and tend to the horses.”
Riley scooted lower into her bag. “Just give me fifteen more minutes.”
Coop kissed her cheek, then climbed out of the bag and started dressing. “I’m going to see how bad it is.”
Riley stuck her arm out and gave a halfhearted wave. She’d hoped to doze for a few minutes, but she couldn’t tune out thoughts of Emily or the sound of the rain splashing on the tent. She gave up after ten minutes and got up to dress. By the time she’d used the makeshift toilet and eaten a power bar and smoked fish, the rain had slowed to a tolerable drizzle.
“Let’s saddle the horses,” she told Coop when he came in from policing the area and making sure they hadn’t left anything. “We can’t afford to stop every time there’s a storm, which seems to be most of the time around here. Screw the rain. Let’s go.”
“Just what I’d hoped to hear.”
They were on their way fifteen minutes later. The drizzle turned to a fine mist, and the temperature rose to the seventies. They were damp but not miserable, so Riley was glad they’d decided not to postpone their departure.
They’d avoided the major highways to that point in their journey, but Coop told Riley it might be worth the risk to head toward civilization to replenish their provisions. He navigated them to a frontage road that hugged I-64. Riley watched with envy as the occasional car filled with dry people passed, but they’d agreed horses were the better way to travel. It saved them from having to search for gas, dodge debris clogged roads with unsavory characters.
They passed a sign welcoming them to West Virginia at around ten. Their starting point of Wytheville wasn’t far from the state border, but to Riley, crossing into another state felt like progress. It was also comforting to see the increasing signs of civilization, such as they were. She caught sight of the occasional group of people walking alongside the interstate and had to fight the urge to ride over and talk to them. Most looked harmless, but she and Coop had learned from bitter experience that anyone could be dangerous.
The sky gave way to black clouds an hour later, and the deluge returned. They made slow progress, but Riley was determined to push on. She’d convinced herself to stop being a grumpy weakling and be the Wonder Woman Julia told her she was. She sat taller in the saddle and pulled her hood lower to keep the rain off her face. When Coop looked back to check on her, she smiled and gave a thumbs up.
Pretending to be positive lifted her spirits, and she felt like she could take on the world, until they rounded a bend at noon and faced tons of mud and trees covering the road, leaving no way around.
Coop dismounted and walked back to her. “This was bound to happen with the soil so saturated. It’s like what happened at the river gorge.”
Riley stared at the house-tall pile of mud. “Where are the Mines of Moria when you need them? What do you want to do?”
Coop stroked his beard. “Seems our only option is to make a u-turn.” He remounted and brought Echo next to her. “Let’s find cover and check the map. We may not have to detour too far out of the way.”
Riley nodded and pulled on Aurora’s rein. Biscuit naturally resisted turning back, but after a few tugs on his lead, he got into step b
ehind them. Coop navigated Echo onto a side rode and went under a thick stand of trees that offered some protection from the rain. Riley followed and got down to take their laminated map out of a saddlebag.
She studied it for a minute before handing it to Coop. “Not many good options. This road curves in the wrong direction and eventually dead ends.”
Coop moved closer and pointed to a line on the map. “I hate to say it, but our only choice is this route about fifteen miles back the way we came.”
Riley sighed. “That’ll add a few hours in this rain, but I don’t see what else we can do.”
“We might as well eat lunch before we turn around.”
Riley munched on her jerky and their last crumbs of trail mix, trying to not let their latest obstacle ruin her mood. It was a minor setback compared to other challenges they’d faced.
When she’d finished, she gave Coop a warm kiss and got back on Aurora. “I love you, Dr. Cooper. Let’s do this.”
Coop raised his eyebrows, then grinned. “Love you, too, Dr. Cooper. Nice to see you back to your old self.”
“Making us both miserable is a waste of time and energy. I’m trying enthusiasm on for size.”
“Hope it fits,” he said, as he climbed onto Echo. “Onward and upward. Charleston awaits. Snap to, Echo.”
They headed back to the frontage road and only made half a mile when they heard popping trees and low rumbling sounds. Coop reined Echo to a halt, and Riley stopped beside him.
“You hear that?” she asked.
Coop gave a quick nod. “What is it?”
“Could be someone cutting trees or moving earth, but I don’t know why they’d be doing it in this downpour.”
“Could be another mudslide.”
“Hope not. We’d be trapped.”
Coop coaxed Echo forward, but before Aurora took a step, the hillside fifty yards ahead went into motion and poured across the road in front of them. Trees exploded and car-sized boulders rumbled onto the asphalt. Echo reared up and threw Coop, then took off at a run in the opposite direction. Aurora followed, pulling Biscuit behind her. No matter how hard Riley pulled on the reins, she refused to stop until they neared the other landslide.