“That’s good!”
He smirked—Jared’s usual smile. “We wouldn’t want to ruin that pretty face.”
Just then Roper popped his head in. When Jared saw him, his face hardened. He leaned in and deliberately, slowly, kissed me on the mouth! I think Roper saw how surprised I was. He smiled.
“Just checking on the patient. How’re you feeling, young lady?”
I smiled, recognizing his jab. I liked that we had a little joke between us.
“Not great.”
The smile vanished. He nodded. “I’m praying for you.”
“You are? Thank you.”
That beautiful smile. “Of course.” He paused and gave me a funny look. He ignored Jared, who looked almost comically annoyed.
“I saw a great headline once.” He ran a hand through the air, as if reading an imaginary line of print. “Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; 100s Dead.”
It took me a second or two to get that it was a joke, after which I giggled. Jared frowned but I saw his lips almost turning up at the ends.
Roper continued. “Man Struck by Lightning Faces Battery Charge.” I tittered appreciatively. Roper’s eyes sparkled at me and he said, “A dentist and a manicurist fought tooth and nail.”
He kept up a steady stream of one-liners, keeping me giggling in delight.
“What happens if you get scared half to death—twice?”
“I was married by a judge; I should have asked for a jury.”
“Support bacteria. They’re the only culture some people have.”
“Okay, so what’s the speed of dark?”
I was laughing by now, but I winced in pain. “Ow! You’re making me laugh too hard.” But even Jared’s hard-lined face had softened somewhat.
“Laughter is good medicine,” Roper said, gently. “Proverbs 17:22. I’ll come by again later to give you another dose.”
“Please do,” I said, smiling. “Wait, give me one more!”
He gazed at me, thinking, and then stifled a smile. “Do Roman paramedics refer to I.V.s as ‘4s’?” That one took me a few seconds but I snickered when I got it.
“That was a good one.”
A brief smile. “Why do they lock gas station bathrooms? Are they afraid someone will get in and clean them?” Even Jared had to smirk at that one.
“See ya later,” Roper said. “Gotta get back to work. We’re fixing the infirmary tent.” His eyes flicked at Jared for the merest second, and then returned to me. “Feel better.”
When he’d gone, Jared said, “Got work to do, too. See you later.”
“Thanks for coming by.” He nodded. I was relieved he hadn’t kissed me again. Before, I’d been thinking of Jared as a real possibility, romantically speaking.
Roper was making me wonder why I had.
When Lexie stopped in later, I asked if my mother was back. Her face fell when I asked so I knew right away she wasn’t. Later, I realized it meant Rhema wasn’t back either. This must be so hard for Lexie. And she didn’t even say anything about my mom thoughtlessly taking her horse! All she said was, “We have to pray and trust. Have faith.”
I’m trying not to worry about Mom and Washington—but it’s hard. Mrs. Martin stopped in to check on me and I asked her if she had any news about my mom. She didn’t.
But she said, “We don’t know they’re hurt. We don’t know anything for sure. This is what faith is all about; believing in the face of darkness.”
The Martins are a big comfort to me. And I am sooo happy Lexie and I are friends again! Saving her life was a God-given privilege and an opportunity for us to heal. Getting shot was a painful way to heal but heck, I guess I deserved it. I was totally wrong to get anywhere near Blake. I’m ashamed of it now. And a good thing coming out of this is Lexie and I both realize that, no matter our differences, we’re on the same team; we’ve got each other’s back.
But I wish my mother was here. I want her to feel badly for me, to say nice things because I’ve been hurt. I also want to know she’s okay.
I’m not mad at her anymore.
Chapter 54
LEXIE
I’ve got all of Andrea’s chores as well as my own now which keeps my hands busy but my mind buzzes with one thought: My father is unfair! He’s decided I can’t be a lookout! I wasn’t doing a bad job—Even Blake hadn’t seen there was a straggler on the property! Blake says he saw the guy only when he darted out of the trees and grabbed me. It was a scary moment. He forced my rifle out of my hands and then kept me in front of him. He spoke to me in a foreign language. I didn’t need to understand it to know he was angry.
Blake radioed my dad and then went after us, keeping further back than Andrea but wanting to be around if she needed backup. My father told him to stay put but he didn’t. Blake is the kind of guy who will do what he’s told but he said he couldn’t this time; he couldn’t just sit up there when I was the hostage. My dad was tempted to take Blake off lookout duty also, but really he can’t. We barely have enough people for border surveillance as it is.
I’m glad Blake didn’t get penalized because of me. I feel badly enough about Andrea. But Dad should let me be a lookout. I’d stay up there next time until our shift ended, I know I would. As for Andrea, thank God we had antibiotics! Mr. Clepps says she was fortunate he did. All medicines are like gold, now. Some people have traded food for aspirin or other medicines, but to get real stuff like antibiotics, you have to have a lot to trade—or have a nurse and a D.O. with precious supplies join your compound, like we did.
So that soldier Andrea shot—he had no personal I.D. None of the casualties did. Save for a dog tag with a number. The trucks we took down are Russian trucks but they’ve been out of commission for two decades—so says Jared. They were probably sold to whoever attacked us. The council met last night and the general consensus was, these guys are mercenaries—but hired by whom? We don’t know.
Dad reported how he’d spent hours on the ham radio to find out whether these attacks are widespread or if anyone knows who is behind them. Some foreign stations were buzzing with word that the U.S. is putting citizens into FEMA camps for safety and sustenance; and that some allies are sending aid. But he also heard a disturbing rumor—we hope it’s just a rumor—that Russia is in talks with the President about a possible deal in which half of the United States would be given to them. HALF OF THE COUNTRY! They would get the western half, from California to the Mississippi. In return, they’d bring food and supplies and even restore electrical power. They would help us survive—in return for merely being Russian citizens! Can you imagine? Even so, we’re east of the Mississippi—and we still got attacked by a foreign outfit.
No one here thinks the agreement will fly with the American people. Despite the fact we have been sheltered, spoiled and lulled into complacency by our affluence and (until now) peace on our shores—we are still America. Some of us at least, still hold freedom to be an inalienable right. My father says if we accept these terms we’ll never be a sovereign nation again. The United States will be like Rome—gone, gone, gone.
Oh, something’s up with Jolene, Jared’s mother. We know she’s got issues—her hoarding and tendency to be sloppy. But at the meeting she grew agitated, fidgeting around in her seat until it became so noticeable my mom went over to her.
“Jolene, are you okay? Do you want to leave the meeting? Because you can. No one has to be here except the leadership.” Jolene looked ready to cry. She shook her head yes, she wanted to leave, and hurried from the room.
I looked at Jared to see how he reacted to this—after all, he’d received high praise for his homemade grenades or “fireworks” as Mr. Buchanan called them. His help during the skirmish was invaluable and everyone was grateful. You’d think Jolene would enjoy seeing her son getting acknowledgment; and that Jared would want her to see it. But his face was blank—as it often is.
I don’t play poker, but if I did, I wouldn’t play against Jared!
Blake sat next to me as usual.
But even though he held my hand, I felt like he was distant, not with me at all. And today I felt as though he was avoiding me! Twice we could have had a few minutes together but he hurried off both times, mumbling something about a task he had to do. Tonight we had no chance to speak alone. I know he cares about me—for him to disobey my dad’s orders by coming down the hill to help me is proof right there. But he’s been different ever since. Does he blame me for Andrea’s injury? Is he having second thoughts about us? I don’t want to believe that. I am gonna find out.
As for Andrea—if she had died, I’d be living with guilt and regret. I thank God we both lived through this. But I am ashamed of myself for not forgiving her sooner.
Chapter 55
SARAH
Tex strode in and stopped. He looked back and forth at us, then plopped to the ground closer to Richard than me. He began rummaging in his satchel. My heart went into my throat. I closed my eyes, praying silently. If he was going to slaughter my brother I didn’t want to see it. But I couldn’t stand the suspense.
“Do me first!” I cried, opening my eyes.
“Huh?” Tex raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Are you—are you going to kill us?” My voice was tight. Before the pulse I’d have been in an absolute panic by now. But Richard was right, I hadn’t panicked in a long time. Yet if there’s anything to feel anxious about, it’s facing the man you know is about to kill you.
Tex didn’t answer me, but frowned. Then leaning towards me, he grasped the ropes on my hands, making me gasp. Even though I’d told him to kill me first, I wasn’t what you’d call ready. I held my breath while he took my tied hands in one of his. He removed a mean-looking sharp-edged, 12-inch knife from his boot.
I gasped again but he looked at me reprovingly—and proceeded to hover the knife over the ropes around my wrists. Was he going to cut me loose?
“You believe in the Bible?” he asked, in his slow, heavy voice. I gaped at him, trying to understand why he’d ask me that. Then with another frowning look, he replaced the knife, tucking it gingerly inside his boot. It didn’t allay my fears. Then he began to untie me, undoing the knots manually!
“No sense in wasting good rope,” he muttered. Stunned, I was silent. He continued until I was completely free and then he sat back and peered at me. Still afraid of what he might do, I could hardly comprehend the question he’d asked.
“So you believe?” he asked again. It seemed like an extraordinary question because Richard and I had just been discussing that very thing!
“I do.” I looked at him, daring him to ridicule me the way Richard had. Was he going to kill me on account of being a believer? Jihadists—radical Muslims, do that. Communists hate Christians, too. Was Tex a Christian-hater also?
“So do I,” he said, finally. He moved the loose rope to the side and turned to Richard. “You’ll have to stay put until I see my wife. But if she’s a believer,” he motioned with his head towards me, “I’m willing to take my chances with her.” He gave me a sideways glance. “Besides, if she tries anything, she’s dead.”
“I won’t!” I assured him.
Richard was looking around and up, at the rafters. “So you have a bug in here? How do you power it?”
Tex almost smiled. “Not a bug. Just this.” He stood up and went to a stack of hay which was no more than a foot from where we sat. After rustling his hands into it for a moment, he pulled out a two-way radio. “I turned it on before I left. Runs on batteries. We still have a few.”
He surveyed the gadget in his hands. “These have a two-mile range in good weather. Angel is supposed to carry one with her if she goes off galavantin’.” He looked at Richard. “That’s another thing I don’t like—if she went off willingly, why didn’t she take this?”
Richard shrugged. “I have no idea. We didn’t know about the walkie-talkies.”
“That’s precisely my point,” said Tex. “Angel knew.”
I wondered why Angel hadn’t told us. They’d be useful anytime we were separated on the property.
Tex motioned for me to sit in front of Richard, and he sat beside me so we both faced my brother.
“I came out just now,” he said, speaking slowly and heavily. “To set you straight about something important.”
Richard waited. I was waiting too. I had no clue what he wanted to set Richard straight about.
“The Bible,” he said, and reached into his satchel. He pulled out a worn, leather Bible. “IS the Word of God. This ain’t no regular book,” he said, as if anyone should know it. I stared at that old Bible as if it were a dove pulled from the hat of a magician. A Bible! It was possibly the last thing I would have ever expected Tex to have in that satchel!
“How do you know?” Richard asked.
Tex looked downright solemn. “There are lots of reasons. But before we get into that, have you ever read it for yourself?”
Richard stared at the tome in Tex’s hands. “I think so.”
“You THINK so?” Tex sounded scandalized. “Oh, you ain’t never read it, man,” he said. “If you read this book you wouldn’t just THINK so. You would KNOW so. You would be different!”
He glanced at me and I nodded vigorously in agreement. “Yeah!”
Richard listened, unconvinced. “Well, maybe I just read parts of it,” he said.
“Like what parts?” asked Tex.
Richard thought about it. “The New Testament, I guess.”
“Well, you’re going to hear it again,” Tex said. “I’m gonna read you stuff from this book until my wife returns or I have to kill ya!”
“That wouldn’t be very Christian,” Richard said.
“How would you know? You haven’t read the book.”
“Everybody knows that.”
Tex gave him a hard stare. “It is my Christian duty to protect my wife. And if she’s already dead, killing you would be a whole lot more Christian than leaving you alive to go kill someone else’s wife.”
“I didn’t do anything!” Richard cried. “To Angel or anyone else!”
Tex sniffed. “You better hope that’s the truth. Now shut up and listen.” He was thumbing through pages in the New Testament, searching for what he wanted to share when we all heard the dogs barking.
I met Richard’s eyes. “I bet it’s Angel!”
“If she’s with ‘em, why are they barkin’?” Tex said, darkly. “They don’t bark at Angel.” He put down the book and got to his feet, motioning for me to go ahead of him.
“Don’t put Sarah in front!” Richard cried.
“I need to keep an eye on her,” he said, “so she don’t let you free.”
He stopped me when we got to the door of the barn though, and gently pushed me behind him. He’d already pulled his gun and was holding it up, ready to shoot. He opened the door a crack and peered out. With one foot, he opened it wider. The dogs continued barking wildly as they approached the barn, which I could tell by the growing noise.
Suddenly, Tex opened the barn door wide, grinning from ear to ear. He tucked his gun into a holster at his waist.
“Hey, darlin’,” he said, welcoming a smiling Angel into his arms. The dogs were jumping like crazy all over him but he enveloped his wife in a great big hug and kiss. Those ferocious dogs whined for his attention like little cry-babies. I couldn’t believe they were the same animals that behaved like vicious wolves to strangers. The two broke apart and Tex turned his attention to the dogs who licked his face and arms and anything they could reach.
Angel meanwhile, turned to me. “I wondered where y’all were at,” she said, giving me a smile.
“We wondered where you were at!” I said, wide-eyed.
“I’ll tell you all about that later.” Then her eyes fell upon Richard all tied up and her smile disappeared.
“What’s going on?” She turned to Tex who was still on one knee petting the dogs.
“I only tied him up,” Tex shrugged, suddenly sounding like a sheepish little boy. The Hu
lk-Hogan demeanor vanished.
“What for? What’d he do?”
“I didn’t do anything!” Richard cried. “He was worried about you and thought I hurt you!”
“Well, my word! Let’s untie him!” Angel cried, and the two of us descended upon Richard at once. Angel was clucking her tongue and apologizing to my brother all at once. “What were you thinking, honey?” she said to Tex.
“I didn’t know what to think, darlin’,” he said. “I got home and found strangers in my house and no sight of you.”
Angel sighed. “I was tracking a deer, I think, only I never found it. I did find our trap,” she added, cheerfully. “But there’s a wounded animal out there and the coyotes are gonna get it if we don’t.” She stopped and looked up at Tex and stroked the side of his face. “But you were worried about me. I’m sorry I followed that rascally animal for so long! I wanted our trap back and I thought I could finish off whatever was dragging it and bring home meat.” She let him swoop her into his arms.
“I understand,” Tex said. He kissed the side of her head. I smiled at Richard. There was only one word that came to my mind to describe this tender couple: cute. Both of them had scared the daylights out of me on separate occasions and now both of them, it turned out, were softies at heart.
“I’m starving,” Angel said, breaking apart from her husband’s embrace. She turned to me. “Did you get that stew going, Sarah?”
“Uh-oh.” From Tex.
“What’d you do? Did you stop her?” She turned to me and I nodded.
“Now what’re we gonna do for dinner?” she asked.
Tex just shook his head.
She looked at me. “Did you take the meat out of the ice house?”
“I didn’t get to that yet. I wanted to have the vegetables ready first.”
“Okay then, Tex will grill up some meat and we can boil the vegetables up quick. It’ll have to do.”
The Pulse Effex Series: Box Set Page 55