by E A Chance
“I understand that this isn’t the type of lodging you are accustomed to, but I will do my best to see to your comfort.”
“Compared to where we’ve been, Mr. Riehl, this is like a heavenly mansion,” Dashay said.
“I’m glad to hear that and please call me Aaron. We are friends now.” He gazed around the room with fondness. “This home has been a part of my life since I was born. My grandparents were very tied to the old ways, so I was updating the cottage for my daughter to live in after her marriage, but God sent the CME. The power inverter connected to the solar panels was destroyed.”
Riley’s head spun as she struggled to make the strings of Aaron’s words make sense. Everything since they met him had been an experience of extremes. He’d delivered them to the cottage in a horse-drawn wagon, but minutes later was discussing solar panel inverters, shattering all her assumptions about the Amish.
“I was wondering how much your community was affected by the CME,” Adrian said, drawing her back to the conversation.
“Not nearly as much as the rest of the world, but we definitely noticed. I haven’t replaced the inverter yet, but the generator works, so you’ll have limited electricity for the lamps and the water pump. I’ll show you how to use it before I go. Cooking and heating the water can be done with the wood-burning stove. There’s chopped wood stacked out back. You may have to chop more, depending on how long you’re here. I’ll return with food and other provisions tonight.”
The three of them stood when he headed for the door.
“You’ve saved our lives,” Riley said. “I don’t know how we can repay you.”
“I don’t expect payment. Helping you is my Christian duty and my honor.” He held out his hand to her. She clasped it in both of hers and gave a slight nod. “Rest now and recover. I’ll be back soon. Adrian, if you’ll come with me.”
As Dashay closed the door behind them, Riley ran to the sink and held her mouth under the faucet, then turned the handle, but not even a drop came out.
Dashay put her hands on her hips and shook her head. “That won’t work until they get the generator running to power the pump, but I saw a hand pump in the yard.”
Riley took a cast-iron pot hanging from a hook above the stove and hurried outside with Dashay right behind her. Dashay pumped the handle while Riley held the pot under the spigot. After a few pumps, the glorious clear liquid poured into the pot. Riley was tempted to bury her face in it, but restrained herself. When the bowl was full, she carried it inside and drank her fill using a mug from the cupboard, then took it into the bedroom for Coop.
He was propped against the headboard with his eyes half-open. The sight of him sparked a pang of anxiety in Riley. She knew he wouldn’t have survived the night if Aaron hadn’t come along. She filled the mug and sat on the bed next to him to help him drink. He took small sips at first, then gulped the water. Within minutes, he sat up straighter and grinned at her with the lifesaving liquid dripping from his chin.
“Our problems are solved, Babe,” he whispered. “We’ve escaped the Librarian and thrown Kearns’ trackers off our tail. We’ll have time to recover our strength in this safe, beautiful place. It’s almost as if someone’s watching out for us.”
Riley chuckled and scooted closer to him. “Have you gotten religious on me?”
He gave her a long, tender kiss. “Maybe it’s this place or the fact that I was hours from death, again.”
“I’m not saying you’re wrong, but whatever it is, I agree, and I’m eternally grateful.” She gave him a kiss before climbing off the bed. “You rest while we get settled. I’ll wake you when the food gets here.”
He laid down and rolled onto his side as she walked out and closed the door. Dashay was standing at the sink, watching a stream of water pouring from the faucet.
Dashay turned to her with tears glistening in her eyes. “Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?”
“Not sure I have,” Riley said, as she set the pot under the faucet to refill it. Dashay sniffled and put her arm around Riley. She leaned against her with a sigh. “We are really and truly saved, Dashay. I expected Coop to die today, but once again, help arrived from a kind stranger just in time. Coincidence? Fate? Divine providence?”
Dashay stepped away and turned to face her. “What’s gotten into you?”
Riley shook her head. “Something Coop said.”
“I say stop questioning it. Accept and be grateful.”
“It’s hard not to question, but I am grateful, and I intend to enjoy each second while it lasts.”
“Glad to hear it. Now, as your self-assigned midwife, I’m ordering you to climb into that bed with your husband and rest. Let me take charge for once.”
Riley hugged her, then trudged to the room and hefted herself onto the bed. Coop was sleeping soundly, and his color was better. She watched him for a moment before closing her eyes, feeling secure for the first time in as long as she could remember.
Yeager walked to the edge of the river and squatted over the hoofprints leading toward the water. He’d followed Daybreak’s tracks for two days from where he and his team had found the wheelchair in the woods, but he feared the trail had gone cold. He’d sent two of his men across the river in a raft, but they found no tracks on the opposite side. The water was too deep for the horse to walk, so they all must have swum far downstream. His team could search for days and not find the spot where they exited the water.
He strode back to the jeep for his map and spread it across the hood. Dr. Walser in Huntington had informed him that Daybreak was traveling west with his party toward Colorado Springs. They’d already been forced south by the floods. They wouldn’t want to get too far off track in their condition. He studied the map for the most likely places for them to go. It was a sparsely populated farming region, so their options were limited.
He folded the map and whistled for his men. Once they were congregated around the Jeep, he said, “I was hoping to avoid this, but we need to split up.” He divided them into four groups of two and gave them their assigned grids. “I’ll take this area with Amish settlements. They’re not likely to give refuge to outsiders, but they should know more about the area than anyone else. Return to Madisonville within a week. Remember, Kearns wants Daybreak alive. If you run into trouble, get to the closest base and use the radio. You have the frequency.”
They broke for their separate vehicles while he gave directions to his driver and climbed into the Jeep. He was growing impatient but still had time and preparedness on his side. The chase was far from over, but he was as confident as ever of accomplishing his mission.
Yeager directed his driver to the largest Amish community in the area. It had taken more than a week, threats, and painstaking intel gathering to glean information in the Amish communities he’d searched so far. He’d concluded this was the one most likely to be harboring Daybreak and his associates. The smaller communities he’d visited were closed and viewed all non-Amish with suspicion, but he’d learned enough from them and non-Amish he’d come across, that this sect was more open and interacted with outsiders regularly.
He’d returned to Madisonville before searching the area to get reports from the rest of his team, but they’d failed to hunt down Daybreak just as he had. He gathered his full team and headed back to Amish country to continue his search, timing his arrival to coincide with the conclusion of their Sunday services. Yeager hoped to catch them at their after church meal.
He’d crossed paths with a member of the congregation who willingly shared the home where that week’s service would be held. By the time his driver parked the Jeep next to the line of black buggies, several older men were on the porch watching them. Yeager got out and approached in his usual self-assured matter.
One of the oldest looking men with an impressive beard stepped forward with his hands clasped in front of him. The stoic men behind him followed Yeager with their eyes but remained silent.
“You are trespassing on private p
roperty, sir,” the old man said, keeping his voice calm and even.
Yeager stopped at the bottom step of the porch and gave a warm smile. “I am aware, and I apologize for interrupting your Sunday worship, but I’m pursuing an urgent matter. I’m here on behalf of President Kearns. She has declared marital law, which gives me the right to enter your property.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ID Kearns’ people created for him before he left Philly. “My name is Colonel Orson Yeager. I’m searching for four dangerous fugitives and believe they may be hiding amongst your community.”
Yeager signaled for his driver to get him the wanted posters. When he had them in his hand, he ascended two steps, just close enough for the old man to take them if he reached. The man didn’t move.
“I assure you, no one is hiding on any of our properties. We would know and wouldn’t allow it. Many have tried since God sent the sun flare and have been encouraged to leave.”
“I mean no offense, sir, but these are skilled subversives. They could be hiding nearby and you would never know. All I’m asking for is the chance to search your dwellings.”
Yeager noticed the slightest flare of the man’s nostrils but nothing more. “That is unacceptable, sir, and I won’t permit it.”
“Let me be clear. I’m going to search with your cooperation or not. If you attempt to stop me, your land will be confiscated, and you’ll be forced to leave the area. I don’t want that. You don’t want that. Allow me to conduct my search and I’ll be on my way.”
One man behind him leaned forward and whispered in his ear. A few of the men closest to him nodded.
“We know every inch of this land and can assure you that the people you seek are not here, but we will permit your search with your word that you’ll leave and not bother us again once you’ve finished.”
Yeager extended his hand to the man. “You have my word that we’ll leave and that my men and I will do our best not to interfere in your lives.”
The man stared at Yeager’s hand for a moment, then gave it a firm shake. “We appreciate that. I will have one of our brothers show you the locations of all dwellings in our community. Do you have a map?”
Yeager gave him a broad smile, trying not to laugh at his question. Not only did he possess an extremely detailed map, but he’d obtained a photo with an aerial view of the region taken two years earlier. “Yes, I have a map, sir. That would be helpful.”
The man turned toward the open door of the large house, and said, “Aaron, come here please.”
A man in his forties with an equally impressive beard came out onto the porch a few seconds later. “Yes, Thomas?”
The old man pointed to Yeager. “Colonel Yeager here is searching for four people. Have you seen strangers on any of our properties?”
“I haven’t. What do they look like?”
“He has drawings. I want you to indicate every structure within the boundaries of our community to the Colonel, so he can search.”
Yeager noticed the slight hesitation before Aaron nodded and put it down to the man, not wanting his team nosing around their properties.
Aaron turned to Yeager, “What do you need me to do?”
“Is there a table where we can work?”
Aaron nodded before bounding down the steps and motioning for Yeager to follow him. He took him to a picnic table behind the house. Yeager’s driver followed with a folder containing the map along with other information he’d gathered. Yeager spread the map on the table and handed Aaron a red marker.
“All I need is for you to circle every structure in the area with that pen. Make sure not to overlook any because if I find them, I won’t be pleased.”
“I’ll do my best, sir, but some barns or other buildings may have been constructed that I’m not aware of. They’d be near houses though, so you’ll be able to see them.”
“Do what you can.”
Yeager watched over Aaron’s shoulder as he circled properties for them to search. There were far more than Yeager expected. His team would have to work efficiently to search them all before Daybreak’s party got word of the search.
Aaron drew one last circle encompassing the entire area and handed Yeager the pen. “I’ve tried to remember all the properties, but if I’ve missed any, they’ll be inside this circle.”
Yeager patted his shoulder. “Good man. Thank you.” He studied the map for a moment, then folded it and slipped it inside the folder.
Aaron stood and gave a slight nod. “You’re welcome. Would you and your men like some lunch? I’m sure there is extra food from our meal.”
“No, but thanks for the offer. We need to get to work.”
Yeager headed back to the Jeep with his goldmine of information. It was more than he’d expected. They’d been prepared to search without cooperation but having the map would simplify his job. He climbed into the Jeep and ordered the driver to take him back to the house two miles away that he was using as his base of operations. Within the hour, he and his men would be one step closer to capturing Daybreak.
Aaron ate his meal, then gave the excuse that he had a sick heifer he needed to attend to and left. It wasn’t a lie, but he’d attended to the cow earlier that morning. He reminded himself that he’d need to check on her again before returning home that evening.
He drove the wagon slowly until he was outside of view of the house, then urged his horse to go as fast as he dared. He bounded off the wagon the instant he pulled in front of the cottage. He raced up the stairs and pounded on the door. He was tempted to barge in, but didn’t want to be rude.
Riley came to the door and gave him a worried look when she opened it. “What’s wrong, Aaron?”
“There’s a man named Colonel Yeager searching for you. He gave me these.”
He held out the posters to her but she didn’t take them. “Yes, we’ve seen those. Do what you want with them.” She moved aside and motioned for him to enter. “There’s no way we can prove it, but the information on those posters is a lie. None of it is true, but we understand if you want to throw us off your land.”
Her look was open and honest compared to that of Yeager. He was certain that man was hiding something. “I have no intention of doing that, but I do need to hide you.”
“We can’t let you do that, Aaron,” Adrian said. “You’ve saved our lives and given us days of rest. We’ll go now.”
Dashay came away from the sink and moved next to Riley. “We’re grateful you believe us, but why do you?”
“It only took me moments to judge that you are decent people. This Yeager is not, in my opinion, and I do not trust the government. You’ve done nothing to make me doubt your story or integrity. I make my choice knowing full well the consequences if I’m caught.”
The others glanced at each other, then Riley said, “I hope nothing makes you regret this, but we accept your offer of help. What do you want us to do?”
“Throw as many of your belongings in the wagon as you can and hide the rest in the chests and wardrobe. I’m taking you to an English warehouse that belonged to my friend. He and his family didn’t survive the CME. The warehouse has been empty since. I’ll come back for you when it’s safe. It may take several days. I’ll bring you food and water as usual.”
Riley nodded and turned to collect her belongings. Aaron helped them pack the wagon and hide the few possessions they wouldn’t need. He threw in all the quilts and blankets and some dishes. They were ready fifteen minutes later. He made them lie down in the wagon and covered them with the quilts and hay before heading to the warehouse.
During the ride to the warehouse, he questioned himself several times about what he thought he was doing. If he were caught helping Riley and the others, he could lose everything, even his family, but he couldn’t get the story of the Good Samaritan out of his head. Doing the right thing was right, even sometimes at substantial risk, and the only person he had to answer to was God.
He pulled the wagon around the back of the warehouse so
it couldn’t be seen from the road, then helped the others out before shooing them inside the building. While he was gathering an armload of their supplies, he heard Dashay gasp. He hurried inside to find the cause. They were all staring toward the southwest corner of the warehouse. Where four partially decayed bodies lay slumped against the wall. Coop walked to them and squatted down to inspect them.
“They must have come here for shelter,” he said. “Looks like they’ve been here for months and must have died of thirst or starvation.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know,” Aaron said. “I’ll get rid of them.”
As he started for the back of the warehouse, Riley put a hand on his arm to stop him. “We’ve seen worse, Aaron, and we’re doctors. We’ll dispose of the bodies tonight after dark.”
Aaron knew he should insist on doing it, but he needed to get back before he was missed. “Fine, but be careful. I have to go now. I’ll bring food tomorrow night. You should have enough to last until then. Stay out of sight.”
He left without another word and went to check his heifer with his gut tied in a knot. He’d done what he could and would leave the rest to God.
Riley finished drying the last of the plates and put them back in the cupboard. She’d washed the dishes to the thunk of Coop’s ax as he chopped wood in the back. She was going to miss watching him swing that ax. It was such a turn on. She’d decided it would be his new chore once they were home.
It had taken him two weeks to recover from Typhoid Fever and regain his strength. The week in that disgusting warehouse when they were hiding from Yeager hadn’t helped. She was grateful every day that they’d escaped him with Aaron’s help, and there’d been no consequences for him.
Riley and the others finally had a name and description to put with the person hunting them, even if that provided little comfort. Yeager was clearly determined to stop at nothing to find them. The escape from Madisonville had been a close call. They all hoped their month of hiding out on Aaron’s farm had thrown him off their trail.