Hunting Daybreak: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Romance (Shattered Sunlight Book 2)

by E A Chance

  “We should be careful, just in case. I have a feeling Kearns won’t give up that easily.”

  Dashay shrugged. “You may be right, but what does that have to do with me? They’re searching for Adrian.”

  “I’m probably overreacting, and it was just a fluke. Be careful just in case.” Riley looked around the crowded ER at the throng of sick and injured. “I’ll be glad to put this town behind us.”

  Dashay gave a quick nod before heading to her next patient. Riley watched her for a moment, unable to shake the feeling of warning. Until that moment, she’d only worried about Adrian being recognized, but the three of them had been traveling with him for weeks. Someone was bound to have their description. She shook off her thoughts as she went back to work. No sense asking for trouble. They had enough to deal with as it was.

  Riley had been too busy in the ER to have lunch with Coop and wasn’t able to slip away until dinnertime. She’d been careful to take breaks and to snack throughout the day, but she’d reached her limit and needed to get off her feet. She hurried to his room before someone stopped her and climbed up next to him on the bed.

  He put his arm around her and kissed the top of her head. “You look worse than I do. Stop working yourself so hard for these people. It’s not worth putting yourself at risk.”

  She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I’m not doing it for Craig. These poor souls need my help.” She sat up and put her lips to his ear. “We’re not safe here. I want to get out as soon as I finish the replacement on Friday under the guise of me discharging you. That gives us two days. You’ll have to travel in the cart until you’re stronger, but we’re leaving.”

  “No argument from me. Just tell me what you need.”

  She kissed him, then rested her head on his chest. “I want to go home.”

  “Then I’ll take you there.” He reached for a paper sack sitting on his tray table. “Craig’s mother had this delivered for you.”

  Riley’s stomach growled when she opened the bag, and the smell of roasted chicken filled the room. After removing a whole chicken, Riley pulled out mashed potatoes, seasoned carrots, and sliced tomatoes. At the bottom was a plastic bowl containing berry cobbler. She and Coop feasted on the delectable meal until she thought she’d burst.

  Rubbing her hands over her belly, she said, “That was selfish. I should have shared this with Dashay and those people starving in the ER.”

  Coop took the empty cobbler container and set it on the tray. “There’s enough left over for Dashay, and Craig will provide for the rest. This was a gift meant for you, and the baby needs the nutrients. Cut yourself some slack.”

  “If you insist,” she said, as she relaxed against him. “The was the best meal I’ve had since leaving the ranch.” She sat up and glanced at her watch. “Speaking of the ranch, it’s my time on the ham radio.” She climbed off the bed and gave Coop a quick kiss. “I’ll be back in an hour. If that new nurse comes in, have her take the food to Dashay.”

  She made it onto the street just as the sun set. She’d miss part of her scheduled hour but still had time to reach Uncle Mitch.

  When she was a block from the library, Jace called out to her in a loud whisper from an alley between two brick buildings. When she turned toward him, he waved her over. She hesitated, not wanting to lose more of her time on the radio, but he looked frantic.

  She looked up and down the deserted street before rushing over to him. “Hurry, I’m scheduled on the ham radio.”

  He took hold of her hand and pulled her in the opposite direction down the alley. “No time. Come with me now.”

  She tried to stop and free her hand, but Jace was too strong, so she had no choice but to go with him. He led her toward a nearby house she’d never seen before. After stopping to check the street, he motioned for her to go with him into the house. She trusted Jace, and he’d never behaved that way before, so she nodded and followed him.

  The house was only a small, one-bedroom duplex. It was a mess and clearly a bachelor pad. Kip sat on the mattress of an open sofa bed, staring at her, wide-eyed. Jace closed the blinds and locked the door. Riley was about to demand that he tell what was going on when he lifted a finger to his lips to silence her.

  Jace reached into his pocket and pulled out some crumpled, folded papers. He handed them to her and waited while she unfolded and read the papers. The top one was Adrian’s wanted poster. The other three were uncannily accurate sketches of Dashay, Coop, and her. She let the papers fall from her trembling hands and sank onto a wooden chair. The posters explained the man who had recognized Dashay. If he did, others would.

  “It’s not true, Jace. None of it,” she whispered. “Believe me. Where did you get those?”

  Jace retrieved the papers and tossed them into a large glass bowl before igniting them with a lighter. After watching them burn to a mound of ash, he removed a pile of dirty t-shirts from a chair and set it down only inches from her before sinking into it.

  Keeping his voice low, he said, “I believe you. One refugee showed these to my sister. He told her there are copies posted all over Henderson. He wanted to know if Patrice had seen you so he could find you and claim the reward. She said she hadn’t seen you and asked if she could have them. He said he has your faces memorized and gave her the posters. She came straight to me.”

  Riley clasped her hands to keep them from shaking. “Craig doesn’t know?”

  “Not yet, but it’s only a matter of time. He finds out everything that goes on around here. You’ve all got to get out of here tonight. Patrice, Kip, and I will do what we can to help you. Tell me what you need.”

  Riley jumped to her feet. “I can’t let you put yourself at risk. Just get us the horse and cart, Coop’s meds, and enough supplies, including oats for Biscuit, to last a few days. They stored our rifle, handgun, airgun, and ammo somewhere. See if you can find those items as well.”

  “You’ve done so much for this town. We owe you more than that. Patrice already went to warn Adrian before going home to have dinner with Craig. She’s going to stall him there for as long as she can. There are others we trust to help gather supplies. I’m sorry, Riley, but it’s too dangerous for you to go to the library. You’re going to have to miss your time slot on the ham radio.”

  “I haven’t been able to reach my daughter for days, anyway. I’ll find another way to get in touch. For now, let’s get to the hospital and rescue my husband.”

  Kip got off the bed and stepped in front of Riley. “I’ll draw an escape route out of the region that will keep you clear of the librarian’s supply lines.” He picked up a city map showing parks and local trails and pointed to an area in the forest circled with red ink. “That’s where we’ll meet around midnight.

  She took the map, once more grateful and humbled that strangers had come to their aid at the risk of their own safety. “Thank you, Kip. I’m ready. See if the street’s clear.”

  Kip opened the door a crack and peered out. “No one around.”

  Jace stopped Riley before she stepped onto the porch. “It’s better if we act normal. Get Coop into a wheelchair and tell anyone who asks you’re taking him for a walk in the summer air. After I fill Dashay in, I’ll get Coops’ belongings and meds, then meet up with you. No one will pay attention to me.”

  Riley gave a quick nod. “Good thinking.”

  “I’ll round up some friends I trust to help get supplies,” Kip said. “We’ll load the cart and come to the spot marked on the map.”

  Kip sauntered off in the opposite direction with his hands in his pockets while Riley and Jace walked toward the hospital, chatting like they were in a casual conversation. When they reached the lobby, Jace went to find Dashay. Riley snagged a wheelchair and forced herself to walk with it to Coop’s room.

  He sat up and grinned at her as she came through the doorway. “What’s this? Another trip to the courtyard?”

  “Better. I’m taking you for a walk in the park,” Riley said, hoping Coop ca
ught on to her pretended cheerfulness.

  He studied her for a moment before saying, “That sounds delightful.”

  Riley moved his IV bag from the pole to the hook on the chair, then helped him off the bed. After a quick glance into the hallway, once he was settled, she dropped a few of his belongings and small medical instruments, including the fetal heart monitor, into his lap before covering him with a blanket.

  “Cozy?” she asked as she wheeled him out of the room.

  A nurse spotted them and waved. Riley kept moving but slowed when the nurse headed toward them. “Evening, Leah. Did you just get here for the night shift?”

  “Yes, and I was going to check on my favorite patient first, but I see he’s already in excellent hands. Getting out for some air, Dr. Cooper?”

  Coop gave her an exaggerated grin. “So my doctor tells me.”

  “We’re heading to the park,” Riley said. “Jace tells me it has a nice level path.”

  Leah waved as she walked away. “Perfect night for it. Enjoy your outing. I’ll catch you later, Doctors.”

  Riley picked up speed in the empty hallway as soon as Leah rounded the corner. They got Coop to the main floor, and headed for the main entrance, where Dashay was waiting for them, holding a backpack.

  “Mind if I join you on your walk?” she asked.

  “We’d love the company,” Coop said. “What’s in the backpack?”

  Dashay got into step beside Riley, and said, “Jace packed a few snacks and things you might need, Coop. He didn’t want us to get stuck empty-handed.”

  “That was thoughtful,” Riley said, as she went through the entrance doors and rolled Coop down the ramp. When the three of them reached the sidewalk, she turned toward the park near the woods.

  When they were out of earshot of passing townspeople, Coop said, “Want to tell me what’s going on now?”

  “Adrian isn’t the only Most Wanted anymore. A man came into Madisonville from Henderson with posters of all four of us.

  Dashay leaned closer to Coop. “And someone else recognized me in the ER earlier. Time to hit the road.”

  “Jace and his family are helping us. Adrian should be waiting for us at the spot marked on this map.” She took it out of her pocket and handed it to Coop. “Kip said for us to wait until he brings Biscuit and the cart around midnight.”

  Coop turned and looked up at her. “Can we trust him?”

  “What choice do we have?” Dashay answered for her. “People were streaming into town from Henderson today. We can’t sit around waiting for someone to turn us in.”

  “We can trust them,” Riley said. “Jace doesn’t like Craig but wouldn’t defy him openly. I’ve been wondering if his sister only stays with Craig to keep him distracted and to be in his inner circle for information.”

  Coop ran his hand through his hair, as he always did when he questioned one of her schemes. “Makes some sense, but this sounds like another of our knee jerk plans that always ends in disaster.”

  “Probably is,” Riley said, “but Dashay is right. What choice do we have?”

  “True, but I’m going to bring up the elephant in the park. Am I recovered enough for this? I can barely walk to the bathroom.”

  “You’ll have to ride in the cart until you can walk,” replied Riley. “You’ll have plenty of room now that the infernal librarian confiscated all our stuff. My bigger worry is your meds. You should be on the antibiotics for at least another week.”

  Dashay reached over to Coop and dropped the backpack in his lap. “Look in there.”

  Coop unzipped the pack and lifted out IV bags and pill bottles. “Where did he get all of this, and so fast? He just found out we were leaving.”

  Dashay chuckled. “I didn’t stick around to ask.”

  Riley gave Coop’s chair a shove to get it over a bump of dirt, then stopped to catch her breath. When she could talk again, she said, “I have a feeling that Jace has his own secret operations going on that he doesn’t let on about.”

  Coop put the meds back in the pack and zipped it. “We would have called it drug dealing in the old days.”

  “First, he didn’t ask for anything in exchange,” Riley said. “Second, we didn’t have rogue presidents and lunatic librarians after us in the old says.”

  “Excellent point,” he said.

  Dashay gently nudged Riley out of the way and took over pushing the wheelchair. “You don’t have to do everything yourself, boss. Coop, point me to the X.”

  Coop guided her across the park to the woods on the opposite side. The park was deserted, but Riley scanned the area before Dashay pushed Coop’s chair off the paved sidewalk onto the rough path. When she saw it was clear, she signaled for Dashay to go, then followed her into the dark forest. It was a cloudy, moonless night, and they couldn’t see more than a few feet ahead.

  “Any flashlights in the pack?” Dashay asked.

  As Coop dug through the backpack, he said, “I guarantee Riley has a penlight in her pocket.”

  “Right,” Riley said, and reached into her pocket. She clicked on the light and shined it down on Coop so he could see into the bag. He pulled out a flashlight and held it up for her to see. “Aren’t you glad I do?”

  He turned his flashlight on and laughed. “As long as you don’t point it at my eyes.”

  “What’s that about?” Dashay asked.

  “Sometimes I forget how little you know about us,” Riley said. Tell you later when we’re not on the run.”

  Coop shook his head. “That’s a story that will never get told. Trade me lights, so I can use yours to read the map if you can part with it.” She gave him a tap on the head with the penlight, then handed it to him and took the flashlight. “We should be close.”

  Riley shined the flashlight ahead of them and spotted a pinpoint glow just beyond the beam. “Hope that’s Adrian.”

  Coop switched off his light. “Dashay, head toward that glowy little spot.”

  Riley stepped out in front. “I’ll go first.”

  “Don’t get too far ahead,” Dashay said. “I can’t see more than a foot in front of Coop’s chair.”

  Riley kept her eyes riveted on the dimly lit path as she began walking toward the pinpoint glow. Dashay gave the wheelchair a shove to get it moving and rolled Coop over the bumpy terrain just behind her. The light was much farther away than Riley judged it to be as it played tricks with her perspective in the darkness. At times, she felt it was moving away from her, but it eventually grew brighter.

  When they’d traveled what she guessed to be a hundred yards, Riley could make out a person attached to the light and quickened her pace. If they were heading into a trap, she wanted to be the only one her enemy saw. When she was within ten feet, she recognized Adrian’s glasses and the shape of his head. She stopped and waited for Dashay to get closer, then waved her forward.

  “It’s him,” she called over her shoulder.

  “Riley?” a faint voice cried in the blackness.

  “Yes, Adrian. Come help Dashay push Coop’s chair.”

  Adrian ran at her, nearly knocking her over as he threw his arms around her. “I’m so relieved to see you. I’ve been waiting for over an hour and thought you’d been captured.” It was the most affection Riley had ever seen him express, and it caught her off guard. She lifted her arms to pat his back when he released her to hug Dashay and Coop. “I was afraid I’d have to go on alone. What happens now?”

  Dashay let go of the wheelchair and bent over with her hands on her side to catch her breath. “You’re heavier than you look, Coop,” she gasped. She sank down to the base of a tree and leaned against the trunk. “We wait. Kip will bring Biscuit and the cart loaded with supplies.”

  Adrian’s head swiveled from side to side on his scrawny neck as he scanned the area. He was wasting his time. There was nothing but inky blackness beyond their flashlight beams. “It is safe here? We’re not that far from the park.”

  Dashay rubbed her legs. “Felt like a
long way to me.”

  Riley lowered herself to the ground next to Dashay. The baby began to kick and wiggle enthusiastically. She put her hands on her belly and smiled. “Someone is enjoying our little adventure. Relax, Adrian. Jace and Patrice wouldn’t have sent us here just to put us in danger. You might as well get comfortable. We could be here a while.”

  “Sorry to be a pain,” Coop said, “but my IV bag is dry, and I’m about to burst. I don’t suppose we have a bucket handy.”

  “No, but plenty of trees. Give me a minute to catch my breath,” Riley said.

  Adrian stepped in front of her and stood at attention. She was afraid he was going to salute.

  “Put me to use,” he said. “I don’t know how to change the medicine bag, but I can take Coop to relieve himself.”

  Riley sucked her cheek between her teeth to keep from laughing at Coop’s reaction to Adrian’s offer. He gave Riley a look that cried out for help, but she said, “That’s kind of you, Adrian. Take Coop first, then I’ll change his IV. Lock the wheels before lifting him out of the chair.”

  Riley watched as Adrian painstakingly helped Coop to his feet, treating him like a fragile egg.

  When the men were out of earshot, Dashay said, “You’re going to pay for that later.”

  Riley leaned her head on Dashay’s shoulder. “It was worth it, and honestly, I’m too exhausted to get off the ground.”

  She patted Riley’s hand. “I hear that. What’s come over Adrian? I haven’t seen him act this way the entire time I’ve known him. Only time he ever offered to help with anything was if it involved plants.”

  “Maybe this is what his wife saw in him.”

  “Whatever the reason, I’ll take this Adrian any day.” They were quiet for a moment, then Dashay said, “What do you think our chances are, Riley?”

  “About as good as they ever are, which means, not very. But I’ve survived far worse. It’s a vast country, my friend, and our odds are far greater without satellites and communications. We just need to stay one step ahead of this ghost that’s chasing us until we reach home.”