Life lessons had taught her to think it through and depend on the help and advice of others. Wyatt would be back soon and she was counting on him to get the team motivated to send out the first search party. He and Chase were out there formulating a plan right now. She had to be patient.
“Well I'll tell you the first thing we need to take care of,” Albert grumbled. “That darn roof leaks. The past two nights I woke up to water dripping on my head.”
“It hasn't rained, Albert,” Brenda pointed out. “The very small amount of condensation dripping off the roof isn't going to drown you.”
That gave Megan an idea. “We could set up containers to catch water coming off the roof at the corners of the cabin. The heat of the day and the cold at night will create condensation, it will slide down the roof and we can harvest the water.”
She knew it wouldn't be a lot of water and they did have the stream, but with so many people holing up at the cabin, every drop of water counted.
“We can make some of that same cement stuff we made to build the cob bricks to patch the roof. Maybe one of those nimble boys can crawl up there and see what we're dealing with. I don't see any obvious holes,” Willow said, her head back and looking at the bare wood ceiling.
“Um, what about bathroom facilities?” Megan asked, realizing nature was calling, loudly.
Albert shrugged. “Well, we don't have a nice little house to take care of business. It's all natural out here.”
“I think we should maybe do something about that as well,” Bryan said, coming in the door. “We don't know if or when those guys may decide to scout out the area. We can't venture out, alone, to find the perfect bit of privacy away from the camp. I saw a shovel out here. I'll dig a latrine. It won't be fancy and we won't have a seat, but it will keep things relatively clean and sanitary.”
“Why bother digging anything if we don't have a seat?” Willow asked. “I mean, it's still peeing in the woods.”
Bryan laughed. “Yes, but I’m going to dig a long shallow trench. I'll use sticks, branches and whatever else I can find to create a wall around the trench for some privacy. A person goes in, finds the next available place in the line, closest to one end, does their business and buries it. On down the line it goes. When the trench is used up, we'll dig a new one.”
Megan wrinkled her nose.
“It's what they did back in the old days of war, probably still do when they're in the field, right Brenda?” Albert asked.
She blushed, nodded, but didn't say anything.
“Okay, I got it. So, Bryan, you’re on poop duty. The twins will be taking care of the roof. Willow, you're okay in here making it a little homier?” Megan asked.
Willow smiled. “Yep. I’m a little excited to do it. How sad is that?”
“Albert, do we have any tarps or anything up here that we can use to make lean-tos? The cabin is very cramped. It would be nice to eat outside or at the very least have a place to prepare meals,” she commented, looking around and not seeing anything obvious. She realized meals might not even be possible if the traps hadn't worked.
“Afraid not. We’re on very limited supplies. We have a few basic tools, but other than that, we’re on our own out here. We can build something similar to what Bryan is planning for the latrine,” he answered.
Megan nodded. They’d built shelters on the way to Ravena. They would do the same thing here, but on a larger scale and a little better built. There were plenty of downed trees around the area. The boys could help drag in the smaller trees. They could break them down by propping one end up on a rock and jumping in the middle. It wasn't going to be exact, but without an ax or saw, it was all they had.
“I'll go out and gather some edibles. Hopefully, Wyatt and Chase will be back soon with a bunch of small game. I’m really hungry!” she declared, feeling her stomach grumble from the lack of food.
Muffled voices in the trees made them all freeze. Willow glanced around, her eyes landing on Ryland holding JJ and she visibly relaxed. Megan was a little angry she didn't get that same feeling of comfort knowing her child was in view and safe.
Chase and Wyatt broke through the trees, each carrying several squirrels. It wasn't a lot of meat, but it was something. Willow grimaced, but didn't completely freak out over the idea of processing the animals to get the meat.
“I'll take care of it,” Brenda volunteered.
Megan and Willow both sighed in relief. Brenda had the ability to disconnect. Maybe it was her training or maybe it was her personality, Megan didn't know, but she was certainly grateful for it. Between her and Willow, they collected enough wood to start a fire to cook their breakfast. It was going to be very slim pickings with the number of people they needed to feed.
The twins each carried in a load of logs in varying sizes and dropped them a few feet from the fire pit they’d created.
“Thank you,” Willow said. “Can I send Frankie and Ryland with you to collect more?” she asked. They would need the fire to purify water and hopefully cook a more substantial meal for dinner.
“Yep, we'll go grab them now and then Albert wants us to get started on that roof,” Aiden replied.
“Thanks, guys,” Megan said as they walked towards the cabin. When they were out of earshot, she looked at Willow. “Do we trust them?”
Willow shrugged. “Those boys don't seem to have a mean or devious bone in their bodies. They're too young to be jaded. I trust them.”
Megan watched them walk into the cabin. “I hope so. I’m about tired of finding every bad guy left in this world.”
Willow chuckled. “We've had an uncanny knack for that, haven't we?”
It wasn't funny, but even Megan could see the humor in it. Sometimes, you had to wonder what fate was thinking. Why allow them to live this long if people were going to be out, constantly trying to kill them? It was getting old.
7
After their meager breakfast, it was an all-hands-on-deck sort of day. Everyone had a job to do to make the little cabin livable. The twins left to check the big game traps they’d set the day before. They were all praying they would get something big enough to fill the stomachs of their large group.
Megan, along with the rest of the adults, were sitting in the shade of the new lean-to, taking a break from the heat of the day. Megan was waiting for Chase and Wyatt to reveal their plan. She knew they had one. They’d better have one.
“With the guns we have, we can protect ourselves, but I don't see how we can take on an army,” Chase said, broaching the subject that was on everyone's minds. “I don't want to discourage you or say we can't go in there and save Rosie, Caitlin or anyone else who may be in the root cellar, but we need to be practical.”
Megan nodded. “I get it. I do and I’m not looking to go on a suicide mission. My goal is to get my daughter and Rosie and get out. We can hope Tara and Amy are there, if not, we get the two out of harm's way. If they haven't been discovered, it will be a small miracle,” she said with a grim expression. “Then, we can start looking for Tara and Amy. They may have fled the area altogether. I'm not being selfish when I say this, but I think Caitlin and Rosie have to be our priority. They are in a far more dangerous position.”
“I agree,” Wyatt started. “We don't need to start a war. If we can get in and out without being detected, it would be better for all of us.”
Chase agreed. “I say we go late tonight. We know the lay of the land. Between that and the cover of night, we have a good chance of getting to the root cellar without anyone noticing.”
“It's risky,” Albert said, joining the group. “How many of us are going in?”
Megan looked at Chase, who deferred to Wyatt. “I think the more we take, the better. Hopefully, they won't know you guys are back so we’ll have the element of surprise on our hands.”
“We can't take the kids,” Megan specified, not entirely sure, they were planning on them staying behind.
Chase smirked. “I don't think JJ is quite ready to hold a
gun, I'll teach him soon, though.”
She rolled her eyes in response.
“Willow can stay with the three kids. Do we want to have one or both twins stay behind as well?” Wyatt asked.
Chase gave Wyatt a look. “I don't know. It's a double-edged sword. If they aren't who they say they are and we take them to the lodge, they could reveal our presence. If we leave them behind, we put Willow in jeopardy.”
They all sat quiet for several long moments, mulling over what to do. They’d been burned time and again. Megan's gut told her they were safe.
“I vote we take them if they want to go. I’m not forcing a teenager to put his life on the line if he doesn't want to,” Megan stated. “I have a good feeling about them. Of course, I also thought Neil was safe. Maybe we shouldn't listen to my gut.”
Wyatt gave her a reassuring look. “We all got taken in by his act. It wasn't only you,” he said in a low voice.
Chase ignored her comment about Neil and was the first to agree with her about the twins. “I've never gotten any weird vibes from them. I think they're safe. They can shoot, or at least they say they can and I believe them.”
“I'm good with it. Albert?” Wyatt asked.
The old man shrugged. “I suppose. It doesn't really matter. We can take them out if they pull any funny business. I'll keep my eye on them both.”
Bryan hesitated, but finally agreed to have the twins come along if they wanted to.
“What about, Brenda?” Albert asked. “I bet she'll want to stay back here with Willow. She was worried sick about JJ the whole time you guys were gone.”
Megan shrugged. “I think that would be a good idea. If, by some chance those men find this cabin, I want to make sure Willow and the kids are protected. Between Ryland, Frankie, Willow and Brenda, they can defend themselves.”
“Okay, then we're set,” Chase said moving forward so he could stand without bumping the top of the low shelter roof. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, there's a little man I’ve been dying to hang out with.”
Megan smiled as Chase walked away. He’d grown very fond of JJ. It was adorable watching the big guy handle the tiny baby with such gentle hands. He had no problem making a complete fool of himself to entertain the baby. She missed that part of life. The part with new life, hope and optimism for a bright future.
“This is all déjà vu, isn't it?” Wyatt asked no one in particular.
Megan scoffed. “Unfortunately, yes. I’m so sick of all these creeps finding their way up here. Why can't they stick to the cities?”
Wyatt made his way out of the shelter and Megan followed. She took a minute to look at the changes around the small cabin they’d managed in a single day. There was a small table set up, made from rocks and branches placed close together. It would be where they put their meals—no chairs yet, but Rome wasn't built in a day.
They walked in the cabin and Megan had to take a second look. It was completely different. Very homey, warm and inviting. Maybe a little too warm at the moment, but tonight it would be comfortable. Willow had fashioned a broom out of some dried grass and managed to sweep out the wooden cabin, improving the look a great deal.
A stack of rag-tag blankets was in one corner, instead of haphazardly tossed about. She’d made a couple of small tables that held some of their gear, like flashlights, matches and even a tin cup. Megan could see how proud and satisfied Willow was with her accomplishment. It may not be much, but it was a big deal to each of them.
Chase was sitting in a corner, on one of the benches Willow had fashioned, holding JJ. The baby was awake and staring at Chase, who was yammering away at the infant.
“It looks great in here,” Megan told Willow. “I think I can handle staying here a few more days or however long it takes to get our people back together. Thank you. This really helps make it feel like home instead of a hideout.”
“Thank you. I might not be a warrior princess, but I can clean up a cabin like nobody's business,” she joked.
Wyatt came to stand behind Megan. “Not too bad, huh?” he whispered close to her ear.
“Nope. I guess I'm ready for the next chapter in our story. We've survived everything else this stupid apocalypse has thrown our way. What's one more crazy asshole?”
He chuckled. “That's one way to look at it. Come on, let's get ready for dinner. We're going to need our strength for tonight.”
Megan took one last look at the scene committing it to memory, just in case. They were going on yet another mission and one never knew if someone wasn't coming back. Every memory counted. These were her people and she wanted to treasure every moment she had to spend with them.
8
Megan was ready. She felt amped as they slowly made their way down the mountain to the lodge. She, Wyatt, Aiden and Albert were taking a wide berth and coming up from the stream. It was heavily treed and the one place the perch in the bird nest couldn't see. They would have to stick to the trees as much as they could.
Chase, Jayden and Bryan were approaching via the orchard. This would give them a good vantage point of the root cellar and the back door area. They had no communication devices, which was risky for them all, but this mission was a necessity, regardless of the risk.
It was difficult to navigate the area without using their flashlights, but they managed. Fortunately, they knew where all the traps were placed and could skirt around them, even in the darkness. Megan and her group were making their way towards the lodge where they’d seen the large generator.
“Wow,” Megan whisper shouted. “Look at that.”
The entire lodge was glowing. The outside and surrounding area was flooded in light. She’d never seen it that way. Her home looked massive as it glowed against the dark sky with shadowy trees on either side. It was beautiful and terrifying at the same time.
Wyatt put a hand on her shoulder. “We have to get up there without being seen. Look,” he pointed to where two guards were standing near the front door.” As they watched, two more guards came around the side of the house.
“They're everywhere! How are we supposed to reach the generator? They'll shoot us before we can get close.”
“I can create a distraction,” Aiden offered.
“No, that’s too dangerous,” Megan shot him down. He was a kid and there was no way she wanted him putting his life at risk like that.
“We stay in the trees, as long as we can,” Wyatt said. “A distraction is a good idea. I'll double back and set off some of the alarms near the stream. While they’re down there checking it out, you get up there and shut off that generator. Chase and his team should be in position and ready to get to the root cellar the second the lights go off.”
“I don't like it,” Megan said, second-guessing everything about their plan. It felt sloppy and not well thought-out.
Wyatt shrugged. “You don't have to like it, but you have to be on board. There isn't another option. I'm not going back without seeing if my mom is alive down there.”
Megan winced, she’d been so focused on Caitlin, Rosie had been all but ignored. Wyatt had a big stake in this as well. She had to remember this wasn't all about Caitlin, even if it felt that way to her.
“Okay,” she agreed.
“Albert and I will head down there,” Wyatt reached out and touched Aiden. “I hope you can shoot, kid. If you see a guard coming towards Megan, you shoot to kill. Got it?”
In the faint light, Megan saw the kid's eyes go wide as he nodded his head. “Yes, sir.”
Wyatt gave Megan a quick kiss and took off towards the stream. It wasn't long before Megan heard the alarms going off. Their makeshift alarms they’d set were nothing compared to the horrible siren she heard. Clearly, the new group had installed their own alarm system and with the help of electricity, it was intense. She hoped Wyatt knew what he was doing.
Guards flew out of the lodge and materialized from the darkness heading towards the noise. Megan was terrified for Wyatt and Albert, but couldn't worry about that now. When
it appeared the last guard had left the area, she burst from her hiding spot, running towards the big gray box that housed the generator. Wyatt had explained to her how to shut the thing off. She located the small panel door and flipped it open before pushing the breaker switch to shut it off. The hum died, leaving the area swathed in an eerie silence. The generator must have been powering the alarm, which had gone silent the second she flipped the switch.
In the distance, she could hear men shouting. It sounded as if the shouts were coming from every direction. She prayed Chase was at the root cellar, rescuing her daughter. She ran back to the trees to meet Aiden. From there, they were going to make a wide circle around the lodge to meet Chase and his team on the other side.
She gasped as light flooded the area. “No!” she shouted. They were caught in the open.
“You, stop right there!” a man shouted. He was running towards her and Aiden, his gun aimed directly at them.
Megan stared in horror, wondering how the lights could be on. It was then she remembered the numerous boxes they’d seen. They had a backup generator. She could hear the familiar hum, confirming her failure to do her one job. She should have known! A loud shot rang out, making her jump. She looked back and saw Aiden lower the rifle back to his side and start running again.
Behind him, she could see the man who’d been chasing them sprawled on the ground. Aiden was an excellent asset, she decided.
“Go!” she heard Wyatt's voice behind her. “This place is crawling with guards. We have to get out of here.”
Megan glanced to her left, where the root cellar was located and then right towards safety.
“We can't get to them, Megan. We have to come back. Go!” Wyatt shouted again. Albert and Aiden were already making their way deep into the trees.
Gunfire erupted all around them. Megan had no idea where the bullets were coming from, but didn't bother looking to find out. They ran to the trees, took cover and did what they could to return fire. It was a waste of ammunition. They were up against trained soldiers with automatic weapons.
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