Off the Grid

by Shyla Colt

  “Believe me, it’s nothing that covert. The piece is about living off the grid.”

  Cece let out a breath and her body relaxed. “Oh. Well, in that case it makes sense you’d have to stock up. What are you going to do, camp out in the woods for an extended amount of time?” she asked as they grabbed a lantern from the outdoors section.

  “Not exactly.”

  “Lilac.” Her tone brokered no argument.

  “I’ll be staying with Thorn Finch for a month.”

  “I’m sorry, I thought you just said something incredibly stupid. Can you repeat that for your bestie?”

  Lilac sighed heavily. “You heard me right.”

  “Are you insane?” Her eyes widened to the size of quarters. “He’ll hack you to bits and bury your body where no one can find it.” She feigned holding an ax and made chops to the air.

  “It’s not a horror movie, Celia,” she said, pulling out the big guns with her full name. “He’s not Ash, and this is not the Evil Dead. I think I’m going to be okay seeing as how he does tours all the time and never had a problem.”

  “That we know of is the phrase you’re searching for. People are crazy these days, and he doesn’t go out of his way to hide the offness,” Cece mumbled.

  “First of all, offness not a real word. Secondly, that is exactly why he’s more than likely okay. It’s the too perfect pretty people who end up with hacked up bodies stored in their freezer.”

  “Humph. There are all kinds of psychos. They don’t use one handbook that tells them how to behave.” Cece snorted.

  “Come on. This could be my big break. If I nail this story, I’ve got the raise, the office, and the spot as a lead reporter. Do you know how happy I would be getting some of the meat and potatoes when I’ve spent years living off of salads?”

  Cece huffed. “I get that. I still don’t like it, and can you lay off the food analogies? You’re making me hungry.”

  Lilac snickered. “Fair enough. I’ll be honest … I’m nervous, too. Thorn isn’t as bad as people make him out to be. They act like the man murdered someone. He hasn’t had so much as an disorderly conduct charge against him since he returned. We have no clue what he went through. Maybe after we came home from that, we’d be anti-people for a while,too?”

  Cece sighed. “I happen to think it’s very possible he’s a severely unhinged individual. Not because he was in the Marines for ten years. I’m not that shallow or uneducated. I say this simply because it’s obvious to everyone he had issues when he got out and from what we’ve all seen, he never dealt with them. That is what gives him the potential to be dangerous in my eyes. I think he very well may suffer from depression and PTSD. That is not a good combination.”

  “We know nothing about his situation. We can’t just toss around terminology like that. Even you used words like possible. You’re not sure. None of us are,” Lilac protested, clicking her tongue. Guilt ate at her conscience. The man is expecting the love of his life, and all he’s going to get is an acquaintance.

  “Whatever. You can split hairs if you want. The fact is, he’s weird. He retreated to the woods, avoids the town like the plague, and in no way resembles the boy we went to school with. Have you seen him recently? He’s all beard and long hair, and not in a sexy way. In a messy ZZ top way.”

  “Beards are in now,” Lilac returned.

  Cece scowled. “Don’t use your spin techniques on me, reporter. I’m not biting.”

  “Come on, Cece. I need you with me on this one. You know my family is going to hit the roof.”

  “Damn straight they will. Daddy Fehr is not going to be having his little flower out there playing Survivor in the woods with some ex-Marine.”

  “You’re really a helpful ray of sunshine and joy today, aren’t you?” Lilac snatched the list from Cece’s hand and began to toss more items into the cart.

  “No, I’m real which is why you love me so much, remember?”

  “I’m having a hard time with my long-term memory at the moment,” Lilac said dryly. “I’m freaking out enough for the two of us, believe me. He’s expecting Alexa to show up. A leggy, ice blue-eyed busty blonde with pink lips and killer lashes I am not.”

  “No, you’re better. Oh, shit.” Cece covered her mouth. “Is that what this is about?” She dropped her hands and her face twisted with disgust. “That utter bastard Peter is worried he’ll lose his piece of ass to the wild man, isn’t he?”

  Lilac shrugged, unable to deny what she too believed to be the truth.

  “Jesus. What do you think Thorn is going to do when he finds out about the swap?”

  “My God, I have no clue. I’ve thought of a dozen different scenarios from worst case to best, and all of them end up with me embarrassed and feeling stupid as hell. I’ve been praying up a storm and sweating it like a sinner at church in the front row with the preacher giving me the side eye. The only thing allowing me to keep up this farce is what’s at stake and the fact that God is bigger than my problems. I doubt the man upstairs will let him slaughter me, so there’s some reassurance. Right? I sound like a selfish prick, don’t I? I’m a horrible person.”

  Cece placed a hand on her shoulder. “No, babe. You’re finally going for what you want. It sucks that he’s caught in the middle, but you didn’t do it maliciously. This is all on Peter. From what I remember of Thorn, he was a pretty understanding person. He had that rare combination of being incredibly athletic and also well-mannered. Ignore everything I said earlier. You were right. I don’t know him or what he went through. Be cautious, but not paranoid.”

  “He was all dimples, kindness, and bulging muscles,” Lilac said as her mind recalled his peridot gaze and infectious grin. “He was in my Chemistry class, and we were lab partners the last semester of senior year.”

  “It’ll be fine.” Cece gave a forced smile.

  “Liar.” Lilac slumps over the cart as her spirits plummet. “Maybe this is asking for trouble. We know he’s not going to be pleased. But he’d never been a hot head,” she argued with herself.

  “You’re right. He’ll be upset, and then you two will move forward. I know you can take it. You survived three rowdy older brothers,” Cece agreed.

  “You sure about that?” Lilac asked as she straightened and continued to push the cart.

  “Positive,” Cece reassured her.

  “Thank you for that. I mean, how bad can it be? He’s been paid for a month. I doubt he’s going to turn down good money,” Lilac stated, slowly starting to feel better.

  “That’s the spirit. You know I’ve got your back whatever happens.”

  “I’m sensing a but here.”

  Cece reached out and touched her shoulder. “You want me to lie or be real?”

  “Real.”

  “Money motivates a lot of people, but when it comes to Thorn, I’m not so sure. You need to be prepared for his refusal if it comes.”

  Lilac grimaced. “Ouch, can you think positively for me, please?”

  “Oh, I am. But you have to consider the worst case. You also need to be able to call someone if you need help.”

  “That kind of goes against the whole going off the grid concept,” Lilac said.

  “I don’t give a shit,”CeCe snapped.

  “I’ll keep my phone in the car.”

  “That’s not going to help you if for some reason he does wig out.”

  “I’ll have my knife on me and bear spray. I’ll be fine,” Lilac insisted.

  “It’s a start.”

  “He’s not a mutant. Those two things will at the very least ward him off long enough for me to get away.”

  “I know you think I’m being over the top, but they call the Marines ‘the few, the proud’ for a good reason. The man’s been trained to survive. Hell, he teaches others how to overcome insane circumstances. He’s not someone to be underestimated.”

  “You should write fiction because your imagination is through the roof,” Lilac teased.

  Cece scoffed. “Fi
ne, go ahead and mock me because I care.”

  She hugged Cece. “Now don’t be sore at me. I’m not poking fun. I just know a month is a long time for someone to be mad at the only person they have to keep them company. It’ll all work out.” Lilac forced herself to sound more optimistic than she truly felt.

  “What do you think he’ll have you doing?” Cece asked changing the topic.

  “Identifying edible bugs and flowers. Making sure I know how to start a fire and find water. Things of that nature I’d imagine.”

  “So Girl Scouts on crack delivered in a crash course fashion?”

  Lilac laughed. “I guess? He has a place out there, so I’ll see how it operates, and how he sustains himself. I imagine he has to have some livestock, or a bartering system set up with someone who does. You can hunt year round, but the big game gets scarce. So, you’d need a way to stockpile food for the late winter, and the variety and nutrition that would come from poultry or even dairy would be of great benefit. I wonder if he has a garden, too.”

  “Are you into this whole wilderness woman thing?”CeCe asked.

  “It’s fascinating to me. I mean, think about it. We’ve grown so dependent on electricity, stores, and buying everything we need. What would it be like to let go of that and truly live off the land and our skills?”

  “Insane? Back breaking? Dull as dirt?”

  “Maybe. It’s a lot of hard work for sure, yet I can’t help but think it would also be simpler in so many ways. No emails, cell phones, or television. What would all that time be used for instead? I’m excited to write this article.”

  “Keep that attitude, Polly Anna. You’re going to need it when you tell your big brothers and Daddy dearest what you plan on doing.”

  “You seem to be enjoying this way too much,” Lilac groused.

  Cece grinned. “I’m just enjoying your bad assery. Normally I’m the one in the hot seat.”

  “You’re a cruel, cruel woman.”

  “Tough love.” Cece punched Lilac’s arm lightly, and they giggled as they finished filling the cart and headed toward the checkout aisle. They still had a trip to the Field & Stream on their to-do list.

  Lilac couldn’t help but smile at the sight of everyone gathered around the massive oak table in her new home. Her mom, dad, and her brothers—Levi, Oren, and Gideon. She’d hired professional movers to pack her two bedroom loft and put everything straight into storage. She planned to sort through things and make the decision to sell or keep items at a leisurely pace. With Gran’s house being paid off, she had a lot more money freed up. The monthly payment to the storage facility was worth it. Seeing them, all full from her home cooked meal of brown sugar ham, soda pop biscuits, coleslaw, and green beans had her bursting with pride.

  It’d been too long since they sat down for a traditional meal with the good linens, good china, and real silverware. Currently, they were relaxed and chatty as they sipped on their coffee, allowing the food to settle.

  “I’m really proud of you for taking over the place like this, Lilac,” her father said as he peered at her over his cup.

  “Thank you, Daddy. I invited everyone to dinner because I have some exciting news.”

  “What’s that, little bit?” Levi asked.

  “The paper assigned me to a big story. I’ll be on location gathering research for about a month.”

  “Oh, that is exciting. Where are you going?” her mother asked. The pride shining in the light brown depths of her eyes warmed Lilac from the inside out. She’d always been her silent champion, bending Daddy’s ear, and smoothing ruffled feathers as she grew up.

  “It’s a local piece. So nowhere too far. It’ll be a story on living off the grid, and I need the boys to keep an eye on this place for me while I basically live in the woods.”

  “Wait. You’re going to be camping out on your own?” her father asked. His brow wrinkled, and his thin lips formed a straight line. She swore she could see the vein in his forehead beginning to swell in preparation for the pulsing it did when he was truly angry or displeased. He sat up straight, owning every inch of his six foot three height. Setting his cup down, he placed his long, calloused fingers onto the table. The rich sienna hue stood out against the white lace tablecloth. He was bracing himself for bad news.

  “No, I’ll be following Thorn Finch.”

  “No,” her father said.

  “Daddy. This is a really great opportunity for me.”

  “Did you really think I was going to okay with you traipsing around the woods with that man? We all know he came back a little funny.”

  “Now, Jeb, he wouldn’t have been asked to do it if she wasn’t going to be safe,” her mother said softly.

  “I’m not willing to take that risk.”

  Placing her hands on the table, Lilac bowed her head. This was exactly what she expected. Growing up life had been damn near claustrophobic with the over-protective alpha males in her family dogging her every step.

  “Daddy, with all due respect, I’m not a little girl anymore. Y’all taught me how to take care of myself. Other than not wanting to deal with people in town, Thorn has never done anything to raise suspicion. He’s running a very lucrative business doing exactly what he’ll be doing with me over the next four weeks. This is more than a story to report. It’s a unique chance to get back to our roots, live off the land like Gran did, test my survival skills, and yes, earn my rightful place at the Daily. They’re no other news outlets nearby. If I can’t advance, I’ll have to look into moving.” She laid out the facts and sit back to see the effect. Silence fell over the dinner table. Fehrs did not up and move.

  “You feel this strongly about it?” her father asked.

  She ground her teeth and nodded. There were no right responses. She could tell by the twitch of his left eye and the protruding vein on his forehead he was furious. He never approved of her decision to pursue journalism. He wanted her in something safe and dependable. In his mind, her career was a whim he’d always expected her to get over.

  “Lilac, I love you. Truth is, I can’t give my blessing on this one.”

  She slumped down in her chair, feeling the sharp sting of rejection and regret. Lilac had never been what her father imagined a daughter to be—it was evident in the way he constantly pushed good men on her when she repeatedly told him she was focusing on her career. Sure, she wanted to start a family some day with the right man, but she also longed to pursue her dreams. Why those two things couldn’t work hand in hand she could never really figure out.

  “Jeb—”

  “I spoke my peace, Helen,” her father stated, ending her mother’s protest.

  “I think it’s a brave thing you’re doing,” Oren said softly. She jerked her head to the right to look at her older brother. His oval-shaped face was set in an almost grim expression. The eldest openly opposing the father he was a carbon copy of—with his tall, lanky frame, almond-shaped brown eyes so dark they were black, and thin lips—was a big deal.

  She peered up from beneath her fringe of hair. “You do?”

  “I do,” he said a little louder. “I’ll look after the place.”

  Her father’s severe scowl made her cringe. Going against the patriarch was ill advised.

  “You make sure you tell ole Thorn if he steps one toe out of line, he’ll be dealing with your brothers,” Levi chimed in, delivering the second shock of the evening. He gave her a wide grin. His light brown eyes, so like their mother’s, sparkled with mirth. He winked and his full lips split to reveal pearly whites that stood out against his maple-colored skin. His heart-shaped face and high cheekbones were handed down from Grandma Rose. It felt like having her in the room.

  “Maybe we should tell him ourselves,” Gideon remarked. Having the baby of the bunch join in and rally for her melted her heart. Gideon could only be described as a rascal. With his large brown eyes, long lashes, roguish grin, and a round face that made him look more innocent than he was, there was little he couldn’t charm his wa
y out of.

  “No, please don’t. I have to work with him for the next month. That’ll be impossible if I die of embarrassment,” Lilac said drily.

  “You’re going to do this regardless of what I think. I can see it now. You always had a stubborn streak about you. Mark my words, girl, nothing good can come from a man and a woman shacking up in the woods.”

  “Dad, it’s for work, not a romantic getaway,” she protested.

  Her father pushed back his chair. “Thank you for the dinner, it was delicious. I think it’s time your mother and I got back home.”

  Her heart ached as she watched his tall, slender form retreat. Her mother flashed a look over her shoulder that screamed, ‘I’ll talk to him.’

  Before, Lilac would’ve altered her choices to please her daddy, but she learned long ago that was no way to live a life. Her father was a loving, God-fearing man, but he was also stern, and old-fashioned. It led to some significant differences of opinions growing up. Eventually it blew over. He would cool down and they’d find common ground to meet on.

  “Some things never change, huh?” Levi broke the ice as they all snickered.

  Lilac’s brow furrowed. “I’m kind of shocked y’all aren’t backing him on this.”

  “I think Thorn gets a bad rap. Folks in this town live for gossip, and he didn’t feed into it. Just kept doing his thing and building a life for himself,” Oren said.

  “I don’t like the thought of you alone in the woods with any man, but he makes his living doing this.” Levi shrugged.

  “Gid?”

  “We can’t wrap you in bubble wrap and pretend you’re still sixteen forever. We tried, and it pissed you off royally. You made our life hell. We all know what an evil genius you are. We’d rather not land on your bad side,” Gideon said.

  “Thank you for having my back on this.” Lilac was honestly moved by their show of support when she needed it most.

  “We’re wondering if someone came in and body snatched you. The hair, the clothes, and now this. It’s like you saved up all your Fehr wildness until your thirties.”

  Lilac snickered. “Maybe so. Lucky for everyone involved I did. If I was in half as much trouble as you three were growing up, our parents might’ve gone insane.”