by Bruno Miller
“Okay.” Joel wanted to continue the conversation but didn’t want to push it, so he headed for the house instead.
Even so, he knew there was no way he was leaving Allie behind.
Chapter Twenty
Ben finished unloading the truck and had even started to organize the gear when he noticed it beginning to get dark out. He stopped what he was doing and closed the garage doors, locking everything up as he went.
When he entered the house he could smell the food, and he was quickly reminded how hungry he was. Other than the granola bar this morning and a Clif Bar he’d shared with Joel on the ride home, he hadn’t had a thing all day.
He noticed the kitchen table was all set up with glasses of water for everyone and plastic silverware with paper plates laid out all in their proper places. The setting was complete with a candle in the middle to top it off.
“Who are you, and what have you done with my son?” Ben smirked as he looked at Joel.
“What? I just set the table, and the candle is so we don’t have to use the lights,” Joel reasoned. Just then Allie came up the stairs in new clothes and looking much better than before.
“Smells good, can I help?” she asked.
“Not much to do really, just add water and wait.” Joel finished pouring the boiling water into the bag and closed the top. He brought the bags to the table and set one in front of each plate.
“I see you’ve made a friend.” Ben watched Gunner as he followed Allie to the table.
“Yes, I think so too.” She looked down at Gunner and smiled. “Oh it feels so good to be clean,” she said and sat down to the table.
“So, Joel tells me your dad lives in Pittsburgh?” Ben pulled out a chair and sat down at the end of the table.
“Yeah, I was going to visit at the end of the summer for a couple of weeks.” Allie fidgeted with her plastic utensils.
“Any other family or relatives around here? Anybody you could stay with?” Ben asked.
“No, it was just me and my mom here. I have some other relatives in Pittsburgh also, but I don’t really know them that well.”
“Do you think your dad will try to come and get you here?” Ben leaned back in his chair rubbing the three-day-old stubble now covering his face.
“Well, I wish I could say yes, but the truth is, probably not. He doesn’t even have a car because he works and lives in the city so he really has no use for one. I don’t know how he would even get here.” Allie shrugged. “Um… Joel told me that you guys are going to Maryland to get his brother and sister. Is that true?” She perked up in her seat a little.
“Yeah, that’s the plan. I was hoping to leave by mid-morning tomorrow.” Ben massaged the bag of food, trying to mix it together and speed up the rehydrating process. “I want to go through most of the gear tonight and try to pack the truck a little. Maybe finish up with a few odds and ends in the morning and then get going.”
“Dad, we have that old Thule rocket box under the porch. I could clean it up in the morning and mount it to the roof rack. It would make a lot more room inside the truck.” Joel poked at the bag of food in front of his plate. Joel’s angle with the rooftop cargo box was obvious to Ben, and he gave him a knowing look.
Ben didn’t like the idea of doing anything that might hinder getting to Bradley and Emma, and he certainly didn’t want to get sidetracked God knows where in Pittsburgh. This trip would be complicated enough.
On the other hand he would never be able to look Joel in the eyes again without feeling guilty if they left Allie behind. If they let her stay here at their house, the supplies would eventually run out, and it just wasn’t sustainable long term. Even with what they had, he’d already figured that he and Joel were going to have to supplement their food rations with wild game when and where they could.
Even if running out of food wasn’t a problem, the type of trouble that they had run into today in town would eventually make its way to the outlying communities, including Durango Hills. He knew that Allie’s fate here, if left alone, would be grim at best.
“Is this what you want to do, Allie? It could be pretty tough going out there on the road.” Ben now looking directly at her.
“He’s all I have left.” She spoke softly as her eyes began to water and turn red.
Ben could hear the desperation in her voice as he stared at the young woman in front of him who was only a few years older than his own daughter. He leaned in to the table and reached out his arms putting one hand on Joel’s shoulder and the other on Allie’s.
“We’ll get you to your dad,” Ben stated.
“Thank you so much!” Allie jumped up from her seat and hugged Ben.
“Thanks, Dad. I’ll get the box mounted on the truck first thing in the morning.” Joel leaned in, unable to hide his excitement.
After they finished eating, Joel excused himself and took a shower, giving Ben and Allie a little time to sit and talk. In the short conversation they had, Ben realized what a bright, articulate girl she was. She seemed mature beyond her years and, by the end of the conversation, Ben was confident he had made the right choice to bring her along. Maybe with Allie around, it would push Joel to be more responsible.
Joel came downstairs from his shower and joined the conversation for a few minutes before Ben decided he better get started going through the gear. Finishing the last sip of his coffee he stood up from his chair.
“Well, I’m going to try to make a dent in organizing the truck. Joel, show Allie to the guest room, okay?”
“Yep,” Joel said.
“Oh, and you might want to light a few more candles. I’m going to kill the generator when I go out. Don’t stay up too late, guys. Tomorrow is going to be another big day,” Ben warned.
“I won’t be up much longer that’s for sure.” Allie stretched and yawned, waking Gunner who was curled up next to her on the couch.
“Good night, then.” Ben headed outside, leaving the two teens inside to their conversation.
As he wandered out onto the deck, he paused for a minute and looked up at the stars while he rubbed his neck. What had he gotten himself into? Trekking across the country with two teenagers in a post-apocalyptic world?
He didn’t know what they would find, but it was sure to be the challenge of a lifetime.
* * *
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About the Author
Bruno Miller is the author of the Dark Road series. He’s a military vet who likes to spend his downtime hanging out with his wife and kids, or getting in some range time. He believes in being prepared for any situation.
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