by E A Chance
Coop had been slowly adding activities to rebuild his lost muscle mass. Riley kept telling him he was going at it too hard, but he ignored her. He wanted to be strong enough to get back on the road as soon as they could. Riley’s growing belly was his biggest motivation. When they’d been at the farm for four weeks, he declared it was time to go. Riley agreed, though it was heartbreaking to leave their peaceful sanctuary behind. It reminded her of leaving their first camp by the river in the early days after they left the ranch. They were only there for a few days but leaving had felt the same
Aaron had gone above and beyond what they’d asked of him. He’d provided them with food and provisions they needed for the journey. He’d even found four bikes to replace the ones they’d had to abandon in Madisonville. He’d trained them to hunt small game with a shotgun, if they ever got their hands on one, and lent them his to use while they were at the cottage.
Another nugget of useful information that Aaron passed on was how to find underground springs and other ways to procure water. There would be bodies of water along most of their route, but they wouldn’t always have time or means to stop and boil it. It was a comfort to know they wouldn’t end up in the condition they were in when Aaron found them.
The most significant gift he’d given them was in helping to build a new cart. Besides being a farmer, he was a skilled carpenter, and the new cart was an improvement on the one they left behind. It was bigger, sturdier, and had compartments for the supplies they’d collected with his help.
They’d done their best to repay his generosity in the small ways they could, but were limited in what they could offer. They’d tended to the land surrounding the cottage and helped him continue to update the cabin for his daughter, whose wedding would be held the week after they left. Adrian had helped him install the new solar inverter and overhaul the generator.
Riley and Dashay spent most of their time cooking, cleaning, and tending to Coop until he was recovered. It was a simple and contented existence. Riley could see the appeal of that life but understood that they weren’t living an actual Amish existence. Being on the farm also helped her understand why her father became a farmer after retiring from his medical practice. She looked forward to working alongside him when they reached home.
Dashay finished sweeping the floor and hung the broom on its hook before turning to face Riley. “Guess it’s time to go. If you didn’t have your children waiting for you, I’d stay here forever.”
“Aaron’s daughter might have something to say about that, and I don’t think either of us would exactly fit in with the Amish lifestyle. Besides, get out there and find Nico.”
“Nico,” Dashay repeated softly. “Sometimes, I forget what he even looks like. You know as well as I do the odds of finding him are remote.”
Riley took her hand and led her toward the door. “He knows where you are headed, and you know where his family is. It may take time, but you’ll find each other. It definitely won’t happen if you stay on a secluded farm in the middle of Kentucky.” They walked out onto the stoop and took a last look around. “When we get to my dad’s farm, we’ll have the best of both worlds; modern conveniences and country life.”
“Let’s get out of here, then.” She bounded down the steps to where Coop was helping Adrian organize their belongings in the cart. “Remember to leave room for Riley.”
“I don’t need to go in the cart,” Riley said. “I’ve been riding my bike around here every day to get the muscle mass back since Aaron brought them.”
“You’re fine to ride today,” Coop said, “but I give it two weeks before that bump of yours is too big for you to keep your balance on the bike.”
Riley ran her hands over her belly, knowing his prediction was probably right, but she wasn’t there yet.
“Is Aaron coming to say goodbye?” Adrian asked. “We’re ready to go, and I’d like to get out of here as early as possible before the sun gets too high.”
“He told me last night before he left that he wanted us to wait for him. Said he has another gift.”
“What else could he possibly have to give us? Looks like he’s already cleaned out the entire county to outfit us,” Dashay said.
Coop shrugged. “No idea, but I guarantee it will be worth waiting for.”
Adrian looked up at the sky. “As long as he gets here soon.”
They’d held a meeting the night before to make their final plans for departing and had decided it would be best to travel from five to noon, then stop and rest until five in the evening and go on until eleven. Temperatures had continued to soar by the day, and Aaron told them it was the hottest summer he could remember. That had led Adrian to give them a detailed class on why he thought the CME had affected the weather, not that any of them had asked or cared. All they knew was that it would be too hot to travel during the middle of the day.
Riley glanced at her watch. It was almost eight, an hour later than they had hoped to leave, but they couldn’t leave without thanking Aaron for all he had done for them.
They stood around fidgeting for a few more minutes until Riley said, “I’m going to use the bathroom one more time since it will be my last chance at an actual toilet in who knows how long.”
She took her time walking back inside since there was no hurry. After using the toilet and flushing it a few times for good measure, she did a third check, making sure they hadn’t left any belongings or forgotten to clean anything. The house was cleaner than when they’d arrived, and she didn’t find any of their things. She shrugged and went to join the others. When she got to the stoop, she was relieved to see a plume of dust coming up the road.
“Here he comes,” she called to the others.
They turned toward the road in unison as Aaron came into view. He pulled his wagon next to the cart and reached behind the seat to retrieve something wrapped in a quilt. He jumped down and smiled as he offered the bundle to Coop. He took it and unwrapped the quilt to find a shotgun and a rifle.
“These are for you. I’m sure you would have found your own somewhere along the way, but I wanted to make sure you had a way to get food. We can’t have the little mother going hungry. Along with the fishing poles we made, you should have plenty to eat.”
“We can’t take these,” Coop sputtered, overcome by his generosity. “You need these to feed your own family.”
Aaron dismissed his comment with a quick wave of his hand. “We have more guns than we can use, and it’s easy for me to get more. Take them so I can sleep at night knowing you are fed and safe.”
Riley almost forgot herself and gave him a hug, so she stepped away in time, wiping a tear from her cheek, and shook his hand. “You’re truly a kindhearted man. We don’t deserve all you’ve done for us.”
He removed his straw hat and gave a bow before tapping it back on his head. “Serving you, my friends, has been an honor and has given me great satisfaction. In fact, I’ve decided to start going out looking for other people who need help. My daughter and her husband don’t want to live isolated out here in the cottage and will stay with his parents until they can get a house closer to the community. This house is updated and just waiting for someone in dire need.”
Coop put a hand on his shoulder. “It’s a noble idea, Aaron, but too dangerous. You were just lucky to find people like us who had no wish to hurt you. We’ve seen how people can treat each other out there. It can get ugly.”
“He’s right,” Riley said. “Most will take advantage of you or worse, cause you serious harm. Tend to your family and the others in your community. There is generosity and nobility in that, too.”
“I appreciate your warnings, but I’m not completely naïve to the ways of the world. I’ve prayed and found this is my calling. What if someone in a situation like you were in distress and no one came? I couldn’t live with myself knowing I could have helped.”
“If you insist on doing this, at least don’t go alone,” Dashay said.
“I’ll keep that in mind.
Now, go before it gets too warm.”
They thanked him once more, then got on their bikes and pedaled down the dirt road for the last time. Riley was anxious about leaving their protective bubble, but this place was not her home. Being protected and secure on the farm had been a tremendous relief, but if she wanted to see her children again, she had to venture out into the world. They had a thousand miles and at least eight weeks of travel ahead, but they were rested and ready after their respite. They were better outfitted than they’d been since the start of the trek. She gave a whoop, then pedaled faster, ready to take on the world. It was time to go home.
Chapter Thirteen
Riley’s alarm was set for one in the morning, but she’d been awake since midnight with too much adrenaline coursing through her to think about going back to sleep. The other three were dead to the world, which made sense since they’d pedaled all day in the heat while she rode in the cart. Coop’s prediction had been right about her pregnant belly impeding her ability to pedal the bike. It had taken fourteen days to travel to St. Louis, but she’d only made it five before having to give up the bike.
The journey to St. Louis had been uneventful. They’d avoided populated areas but stayed close enough to sneak into towns for supplies to augment the fish and wild game they caught, and the vegetation Adrian collected. They hadn’t seen copies of their wanted posters but saw occasional signs that Kearns’ forces had passed through and were now ahead of them.
That night, they were in an abandoned house three blocks from where Adrian’s in-laws lived in a western suburb of St. Louis. They’d arrived after dark and agreed to sleep for a few hours before going to Adrian’s in-law’s house on foot. The block was quiet, but several surrounding houses appeared to be occupied. It was an upscale neighborhood, but Riley guessed many of the inhabitants were probably squatters like them.
If they found Adrian’s family, the other three would stay a night or two, then move on without Adrian. Riley sincerely hoped his family was well and waiting for him. She’d grown fond of Adrian and would miss him on the journey, especially his knowledge of plants and his cooking. It would be nice for one of their band to have a happy ending, and it would give her hope of reuniting with her own family.
She heard Coop stir and roll onto his side, facing her. “What are you doing awake?” he whispered.
She slid closer to him so he could hear her. “Who can sleep when we’re about to go on a secret mission?”
“What secret mission? We’re going to walk to Adrian’s house.”
“In the middle of the night to avoid Kearns’ trackers.”
“That’s just a precaution. Adrian says Kearns couldn’t know where his wife’s parents lived, but wants to be prepared, just in case. I don’t see why you insist on going. You should wait here with Dashay, and we’ll come back for you.”
Riley sat up and leaned against the headboard. “As I told you, I refuse to let you abandon me here. Dashay can go with Adrian and you stay.”
He reached for her hand but she folded her arms. “Don’t be melodramatic,” he said. “I’m not abandoning you, and Adrian wants me along in case he runs into trouble, which is why you shouldn’t be there. You don’t exactly have your usual cat-like reflexes these days.”
It was annoying when he was right. She would not only be putting herself in danger, but their child as well. But the thought of him never coming back frightened her more. She refused to go through that for a third time.
“If you’re going, I’m going.”
He was quiet in the dark for several moments before saying, “You know I love your courage and tenacity, but not so much when it spills over into stubbornness. We’ll all go but promise to be uber-vigilant and stay out of the fray.”
She grunted as she leaned down to kiss his forehead. “You have my word. I don’t want anything to happen to me or the baby any more than you do.”
There was a faint tap at the door, and Coop called out, “Come in.”
Dashay pushed the door open and walked in with Adrian. “We woke up and heard you two whispering. And not very quietly,” she said.
“Sorry,” Riley said. “That was my fault.”
“Since we’re all awake, let’s get this over with,” Adrian said. “I can’t stand not knowing any longer.”
Coop and Riley climbed off the bed and followed Dashay and Adrian down the stairs. For all her insistence to go on the mission, Riley’s heart pounded as they left the house and started the walk to Adrian’s in-law’s house. It was a hot and cloudy, but dark night. There was just enough light for them to see the sidewalk. They moved at a speed Riley could handle, which was faster than most five-and-a-half month pregnant women.
They turned a corner and Adrian ducked behind a bank of shrubs. The others squatted next to him as he pointed at a stately two-story house across the street. “That’s it,” he whispered. “It doesn’t look like anyone is there from this vantage point.”
“Only one way to find out,” Coop said. “The rest of you stay here and wait for my signal.”
Coop took a step toward the street, but Dashay grabbed the back of his shirt to stop him. “Stay here with Riley. I’m going. If anything goes sideways, I wouldn’t want your kid to grow up without a dad.”
“Wait,” Adrian said, in a harsh whisper. “This is my family. I should be the one to go. If they’re there, my face should be the first they see.”
“Good point,” Dashay said. “We both go.”
They straightened and stole across the street in a crouch. It was dark enough that Riley couldn’t see them after twenty feet. “We won’t see their signal,” she said.
“We’ll give five them minutes, and if we don’t hear anything, we’ll follow them. That’s long enough for them to know if his family is there.”
Riley straightened and set the timer on her watch. She was too agitated to be still, so she paced back and forth along the sidewalk. The temperature was still in the eighties by her estimate and it was steamy. Between the heat and fear, she was drenched in sweat after two minutes. It was something she was becoming used to after their trip from the farm to St. Louis. After growing up in cool and dry Colorado, she couldn’t understand why anyone would choose to live in humid climates.
She flinched when her alarm sounded. She silenced it and Coop took her hand as they crossed the wide tree-lined street. They made it across in seconds and she let out her breath in relief to be out of the open. They hurried up the steps to the open front door. They tiptoed inside but relaxed when they found Adrian and Dashay at the kitchen table with their flashlights turned on. The looks on their faces told her the news was not good.
Even with only the light of their flashlights, Riley could tell that no one had been in the house for weeks at the least. Dust covered every surface and petrified food sat on plates left unwashed on the table.
Adrian’s head was lowered, and he held several pieces of paper. Before she could ask what he had, he handed them to her, said, “Read this.”
The bigger sheets she recognized without reading them. They were copies of their wanted posters. Resting on top of them was a note scribbled on a page torn from a yellow legal pad. Her hands trembled as she read.
I nearly had a heart attack when I found these stapled to a telephone pole on my way to get our daily rations. I tore them down and ran straight home. What is this about, Adrian? Knowing you as I do, I can’t believe this is true, but who knows anything in this insanity we live in anymore? I’m clinging to the hope that you’re the same Adrian I’ve known and loved all these years.
Mom and Dad were horrified, but I did my best to convince them it was all a lie. We packed up that night and snuck out of town despite the military barricades. Most of the group running our Zone aren’t the brightest bulbs. We’ve gone to Cousin Jack’s since no one would know to look for us there. If what this poster says is lies, come to us as soon as you can. If it’s true, I hope to never see you again. I’ll wait for you until my dying breath.
If you don’t come, I’ll know but will always love you either way.
K.
“This is terrible, Adrian,” Riley said. “I’m so sorry, but at least you know they’re alive. They survived the CME.”
Dashay put her hand on Adrian’s shoulder. “That’s what I was saying when you came in. They’re alive and waiting for you.”
Coop reread the note. “Where is Cousin Jack?”
Adrian pulled a napkin from the holder on the table and dried his face. “I have no idea. I don’t remember K having a cousin named Jack. It must be code so Kearns’ people couldn’t follow them. Hope I can figure it out before you leave St. Louis.”
Riley switched on her penlight and shined it around the kitchen and into the great room beyond. “Could they have left paperwork here that might have clues?”
Adrian walked to a small built-in desk in a corner of the kitchen. Opening the drawer, he said, “I wouldn’t know where to begin. I didn’t exactly go through my in-law’s documents when I came to visit.”
“Doesn’t matter. There’s no time for that,” Coop said. “Your wife gave us two other significant bits of information. This area is within a Residential Zone and the people chasing us have been here. We need to get to the outskirts of the city tonight. We’ll sleep during the day tomorrow, then travel again tomorrow night.”
“If this is in a Zone,” Dashay said, “how did we get into the city so easily? We didn’t see a single checkpoint or fence.”
Adrian scratched his head. “We stayed off the main roads and came in through a little-known route. Things also might have gotten less restrictive since my family left. Imagine the resources it would take to control a city of this size.”
Riley folded the papers and handed them to Adrian. “Let’s hope that holds true as we get farther west. For now, I agree with Coop. Let’s get out of here,” she said, then shivered. “I feel like we’re at Miss Havisham’s manor in Great Expectations.”