The sentence stopped abruptly. I hurriedly flipped to the next page.
Sorry. I still have a hard time talking about that. And honestly, listen to me, I’m only talking about myself! So how are you? I’d really love to know and would be ecstatic if you wrote me back. What have you been doing? How has life been for you? How is your family? Did they survive? It’s been so long since I’ve spoken to someone from South Dakota. My life there was so much happier. I wish we’d never left, and that you and I
Seriously, here I go again! I keep embarrassing myself! ;)
I would have contacted you sooner if I’d known you were alive. But with the First Wave happening only weeks after my parents moved us from Rapid City, so much has happened. It’s only now, as our country slowly rebuilds itself that I’ve begun to hope at a future, that I–
I put the papers down. I didn’t want to read anymore. This girl, or rather woman’s, letter to Davin was over four pages long. It was obvious she still cared for him. And for all I knew, he still cared for her too.
Shuffling through the papers, my eyes widened when I realized it was more than one letter. There were multiple letters with various dates. My gaze scanned each one, my memory like a camera, taking snapshots of each.
I scanned the second letter.
My dearest Davin,
I was so happy to receive a reply from you! I wasn’t sure you’d get my letter. Since I addressed it to Reservation 1, I figured it could end up anywhere, but it didn’t. You actually received it! And since you don’t have email, I guess letters is how we’ll communicate.
I can’t tell you how happy it makes me to hear about your life now, to know that you’ve started a job on the reservation and that
Tears stung my eyes as I pushed the papers down. I had to stop my fingers from curling around the edges and tearing them apart.
With shaking hands, I stuffed the letters back under the bed. I had no idea what order they’d been in. I didn’t care. All I knew was that I couldn’t read anymore, and I wanted them as far away from me as possible.
Davin replied. This woman could only be the mystery woman Sharon had spoken about all of those months ago – Davin’s long, lost love. Sharon’s words from our walk last year came back to haunt me. There was only one girl he really seemed to love, but she moved away before The First Wave.
I squeezed my eyes shut and told myself to stop. Just because he’d exchanged letters with her didn’t mean anything. It didn’t mean he still had feelings for her. It didn’t mean they’d broached the subject of their teenage relationship all of those years ago. A relationship that had been cut short from circumstance. It didn’t matter that she was his first love. Even though first loves were said to stick with a person forever…
No!
I’d go crazy if I kept thinking that way, but despite the logical thoughts countering the worried ones, it didn’t stop the stinging sense of betrayal. Davin had willingly spoken with a woman who obviously had interest in him. And it wasn’t just anyone. It was his first love. A woman who had tracked him down and seemed to want him in her life again.
A life he wouldn’t let me be in.
Standing, I tried to bury those thoughts as pain welled up inside me. Pulling my clothes on, I opened the door, in a daze as I walked to the kitchen. It was only when I passed the couch that I realized Davin was awake.
“Good morning.”
His deep voice rolled over me like a soft caress, but I couldn’t meet his gaze.
In a blur, he stood beside me, the rustling air lifting tendrils of hair from my face. He tilted my chin toward him.
Bright blue eyes, filled with worry gazed down at me. “What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I hastily pulled back. “Nothing. Sorry. Just a text from work. I was thinking about it. We still have a lot to do on a project…” The lie rolled awkwardly off my tongue.
From Davin’s narrowing gaze, I assumed he knew it was a lie.
With flustered movements, I bolted into the kitchen. “I’m going to make coffee. Do you want some?”
He grunted a reply but didn’t follow me. Instead, I heard the bathroom door close in the hallway. Sagging against the counter, it took everything in me to stop the tears from flowing.
THE NEXT FEW days passed in a blur. They were agony and rapture entwined into one. Every day I was with Davin. His nearness and physical presence calmed my soul while igniting my heart. My best friend was back at my side, yet at the same time, he wasn’t.
The letters plagued my mind, keeping me at bay. He seemed to notice my distance and stiffness but never asked. As always, our entire relationship was built on unspoken questions.
Regardless, he was playful and attentive, like he had been at the Compound, months before talk of the reservation had started. But just when I thought we’d maybe have a chance at the future, and that my worry over the woman’s letters was for nothing, he’d carefully put distance between us again. Just like he always did. As if realizing how close we were becoming. As if realizing without his freedom, the possibility of us being together would never be a reality.
Outside the reservation’s gates, the protests continued. The one time I’d ventured to the perimeter to meet Cash and return his USB, my eyes had widened at the number of gatherers. They’d grown significantly. Cold and snow be damned.
Now that the gates were open, people were coming from miles. In a way, Dr. Roberts’ abuse had worked in our favor. Unwittingly, he’d brought more attention to the plight of the Kazzies than Cate and I had done in six months.
With each hour that passed, I knew I was pressing my luck by staying on the rez, essentially doing nothing. Since I was technically still on leave from the Compound, that meant I was supposed to be working with Cate. So when the call came from Cate, asking me to report for rallies in the south, I wasn’t surprised.
“How long will I be there?” I leaned against the kitchen counter, my new cell phone at my ear. Davin watched me from the kitchen table.
“This week and maybe next,” she replied.
I twirled a strand of hair around my finger. “So at least one but maybe two weeks in the southern states?”
“Yes, but it could be shorter if the president agrees to a vote. I’m 99% sure she’s going to. We have a meeting this afternoon. With any luck, I’ll be able to sway her to grant a vote next week.”
Next week? My heart jumped into my throat. “Okay, I’ll start packing. When am I leaving?”
“This afternoon. The jet’s on its way.”
When we hung up, silence filled the air. Sage had gone out. The Sergeant Major in charge had lifted the restrictions on keeping the Kazzies contained. Thankfully.
“You’re leaving?” Davin’s gaze followed my nervous movements as I paced a few times in the kitchen.
“Yeah. In a few hours. I have to help with the rallies down south.”
He tapped a finger on the kitchen table but then stopped, as if noticing what he was doing. “And you’ll be gone for at least a week, maybe two?”
“Or longer. She doesn’t know yet.”
He nodded, the movement stiff. “I see.”
I stopped pacing to face him. Neither of us said anything as we stared at one another. With a start, I blurted out the words that almost scared me to say since I wanted so badly for them to be true. “There may be a vote next week, to free you all. Cate has a meeting this afternoon with the president.”
Davin’s eyebrows rose. “A vote?” His tone sounded more skeptical than surprised.
I wrung my hands together and nodded vigorously. “Maybe this time it will be in your favor.”
His gaze darkened as he tightly clenched his jaw. “We’ll see. So far, nothing’s worked in our favor.”
TWO HOURS LATER, Davin walked me to my car. We’d moved it the other day to be inside the reservation. It currently sat on the street outside of Davin and Sage’s house.
I’d already said goodbye to Sara, Sophie, and everyone
else I could find in the short time I had. Sara had hugged me tightly. Her whispered, “Good luck,” had been fitting parting words.
It always seemed I needed luck on my side.
“So what will you be doing down there?” Davin asked as he brushed the snow off the front of my windshield. In a t-shirt and jeans, the hard muscles underneath his clothes were visible. Since he ran on the hot side, thanks to his high metabolism, it wasn’t the first time he’d left his coat inside.
I brushed the snow off the driver’s window. “I’m not sure to be honest. Cate said they’ve been getting the most resistance down south. She feels that my being there may swing more votes.”
His movements stilled. “Will it be dangerous?”
“I honestly don’t know. I’m not entirely sure what I’m walking into.”
Davin’s jaw tightened. His cobalt-blue eyes watched me intently. “Promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I always am.”
He opened my door for me, and an awkward moment passed where I stood beside it. Both of us watched one another, as the sun shone down and cold wind whipped around, as if waiting for the other to do something.
Clearing my throat, I said, “I guess this is goodbye.”
He growled quietly and reached for my hand. “Come here.”
He pulled me to him in a move so fast, my head spun. Steel arms and intoxicating warmth wrapped around me. I closed my eyes and lay my head against his chest.
His scent flooded me – aftershave, soap, and that subtle scent that was all him. I inhaled deeply. Everything about this moment made me want to stop time. To stay like this. To be like this forever.
Resting his chin on the top of my head, his free hand ran up and down my back. Even through the bulkiness of my coat, it sent shivers down my spine.
“Promise me one more thing?” His quiet words jerked me back to the present.
I pulled back just enough to see him. “Sure. What?”
“Call me and let me know how it’s going. Let me know that you’re okay.”
With a nod, I reluctantly stepped back. “I will.”
THE MRI JET was waiting at Mobridge’s landing strip. Its sleek, shiny exterior was like a beckoning star amidst the snowy runway.
The pilot greeted me when I walked to the plane. The stairs were already down. It was obvious he’d been waiting for me. “Welcome aboard.”
“Thanks, sorry to keep you.”
The pilot smiled. “No problem at all. I grabbed a cup of coffee while I waited.”
An image of Davin in my rearview mirror flashed through my mind. He’d stood with his hands stuffed in his pockets, watching me drive down the snowy reservation road until I’d disappeared from view.
I might have driven slower than I needed to.
We were airborne fifteen minutes later. I tried to not feel sentimental that once again, everything I wanted in life was disappearing behind me. I stared out the window, biting my lip. With each minute that passed, I feared it would be longer and longer until I saw Davin again.
Five hours later, we touched down in Montgomery, Alabama. My mouth dropped at the sunny display. I’d never been down south before.
I knew my dad had. He’d worked at Compounds in the southern states. A twinge of guilt followed that thought. I still hadn’t called my mother to tell her I’d be home for Christmas.
Nobody greeted me at the airport, and I was relieved that protesters didn’t line the runway. Cate had told me a car would be waiting. However, unlike my other ventures, this car wouldn’t have a driver. I’d be driving myself in a rental.
I called Cate after I finally found it. She answered on the second ring. “Are you in Montgomery?”
“Yeah, I just landed.”
“Good. I’m assuming you found the car? Please head to the hotel. Ian’s waiting there for you.”
Ian? My heart jolted. I had no idea he would be here. The thought of seeing him again brought a smile to my face. “So what’s the plan?”
“We’ve arranged for a rally tomorrow. You’re the main speaker. Can you use the material that highlights how all MRI employees have never been seriously harmed despite being exposed to Makanza repeatedly? I also need you to discuss how effective the vaccine is in immunocompromised people, the elderly, and children.”
I swallowed thickly. “Okay, I can do that.” The thought of speaking in front of thousands of people made my heart flutter despite doing this hundreds of times.
Cate and I said goodbye. With stiff movements, I shifted the car into drive.
The city of Montgomery was similar to all cities in the US. Large portions of it were rundown and overgrown with weeds. Occasionally, animals would appear that would normally only be found in forests. Like all cities, nature had reclaimed what was hers.
I pulled into the parking garage of the hotel fifteen minutes later. With my heart hammering, I walked to the lobby. Sure enough, Ian waited.
He grinned when he saw me, his dimple appearing through his reddish-blond beard.
A rush of happiness surged through me. “It’s so good to see you again. I’ve been wondering how you’re doing.” Impulsively, I hugged him.
He chuckled and held me close. “You’ve been wondering how I’m doing? I’ve been wondering how you’re doing. The last time I saw you, you were being hauled off by soldiers on the reservation. You have no idea how hard it was for me to leave you.”
I pulled back as a flush crept up my cheeks. My impulsive urge to hug him made my anxiety tingle, but I pushed it down. “You did the right thing. Cate had the power to drop my charges, but I’m not sure she could have released you too. I’m so happy you escaped. I worried that entire night that you’d freeze to death on the prairie.”
“Nah, I’m made of tougher stuff than that.”
The check-in staff watched us curiously. It was only then I realized they could hear us.
My flush deepened as I took out my wallet. “Meghan Forester, checking in.”
The woman’s eyes widened before she hid her expression. I knew she recognized me.
After checking in and being given my room key, Ian and I headed to the elevators. We were both staying on the sixth floor, and our rooms were directly across from one another.
Ian stopped outside my door. “You want to grab some supper?”
“Sure, I’m starving. I’ll just put my stuff inside and then we can go.”
I called the landline to Davin and Sage’s home to let him know I’d arrived. No one answered. And since none of the Kazzies had cell phones, my only options were to call the Reservation directly and leave a message with a guard, or contact Sara. I concentrated on my connection with the twin. She opened readily.
Hi! Are you there?
Yeah, just checked into the hotel and about to grab some supper. Ian’s here.
Ian? Oh, yeah. He’s that guy you broke into the reservation with, right?
That’s the one. He’ll be helping me with the rallies. Since Ian stood in my hotel room, I turned my back so he couldn’t see my face. Who knew what kind of expressions I was giving off. Will you tell Davin that I arrived? He wanted me to let him know when I landed safely.
Sure. I’ll track him down.
A few minutes later, Ian and I were back in the lobby and heading outside.
“Any idea which restaurants are open?” I surveyed the sidewalk.
Ian’s dimple appeared when he smiled. “I know there’s a diner on the corner. I ate there this morning, and the food was decent. Do you want to give it a try?”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
Our footsteps tapped on the sidewalk as we walked to the corner. Compared to the snowy prairies of South Dakota, it was wonderfully warm in Alabama. And since it was only early evening, the sun was still out. It hung low in the sky, a red orb amidst the wispy clouds.
“How long have you been down here?” I glanced up at Ian.
His reddish blond hair fluttered in the breeze. “I arrived three days ago. Cate has t
hree dozen staff here. We’re all trying to spread the word about the vaccine. As you know, we’ve had the most resistance in the southern states.”
“That’s what she told me.” I skipped over a large crack in the sidewalk. “So who’s running the Compounds in Washington right now?”
“No one.” He chuckled at my wide eyes. “Honestly, it’s fine. They really can run themselves for days at a time, and besides,” he lifted his shirt, showing a pager clipped to his waist, “I’m on-call should anything need my attention.”
We reached the restaurant, and he opened the door. Inside, it smelled like burgers and french fries. My mouth watered.
A hostess showed us to a table. I shrugged out of my coat and picked up the menu as Ian asked, “So, how was your time on the reservation after you were captured?”
I perused the selections as I answered him. “To be honest, my time on the reservation was quite uneventful. The soldiers took me to Dr. Roberts, we had a short conversation, and then they threw me in a room. I wasn’t allowed out until the next day. From there, a helicopter took me to Rapid City. I spent a few hours in jail before Cate got me out. It wasn’t an experience I’d like to repeat.”
Ian raised his eyebrows. “And you call that uneventful?”
I laughed at his expression. It felt so good to work with him again, and thankfully, our awkward encounter at the Bismarck hotel seemed long behind us.
“I hear you’re also responsible for removing Dr. Roberts from his position. Any idea where Dr. Roberts is now?” He set his menu down.
I shook my head. “No. I have no idea where he’s gone.”
The waitress returned and took our orders. Both Ian and I chose burgers and fries. He sipped on his water while I placed my elbows on the table and crossed my arms.
“So tell me about you. How did you reach Cash’s? How did you make it out of the fence without being caught?”
Ian launched into the story about what had happened. I listened fascinated as our food arrived. We munched on burgers and crunchy french fries as he recanted the harrowing few hours he’d spent running from the soldiers while hiding inside the reservation before making his mad dash to escape.
Section 12: Book #3 in The Makanza Series Page 21