The Life After War Collection

by Angela White

  Wiping it from her face, she greeted the waiting crowd of new arrivals. “I’m Angela. I’m the leader of this refugee camp and many of you are welcome here. However...” Her voice turned cold. “Some of you will find our doors closed. Wives and girlfriends, whores, of the Major’s men, are not welcome. Step out of line and wait for me by the trucks you came in.”

  No one moved at first and then Angela began to single them out, horrified that she would have to send away so many with children.

  “The rest of you need to fill out a paper and then you’ll be put in a quarantine tent until the doctors can look you over.”

  There were murmurs of relief and worry. It was a shock to find a woman in charge of so large a camp.

  Angela’s protection stayed close as she left the chair and approached the line of twenty pathetic refugees. One more woman had to exit the line.

  Angela stopped in front of a haggard white woman hiding two dark skinned girls behind her filthy skirts.

  “Please don’t make us go.”

  Angela nearly crumbled under the guilt. “You traded your kids for theirs. I don’t have a choice by our laws.”

  “They would have killed them,” the woman protested, crying. “I had to lure the other kids out for Major Garret!”

  Angela observed those in line, listening to them like Adrian had instructed her to do in this situation. The lack of sympathy made the choice. These innocent refugees would never forgive the woman or her girls, because she couldn’t replace the children that had been murdered. There could be no life here for them.

  “In this camp, once you’re punished, you’re forgiven, but for crimes against children, you’re banished. Willing accomplice or not, we have no room for you. Seeing your children every day, while the others long for theirs, will disrupt my camp and I won’t allow that. I suggest you stay together, find a library, and learn how to care for yourselves. You can leave the kids with us, if you want. I’ll see that loving parents adopt them.”

  The woman’s sobs were awful, and fear was thick among the dozen females now waiting by the trucks.

  There was vindication on the faces of the innocent, and it triggered a justified rage that none of the Eagles were expecting. One of the women in the rear of the line tossed a thick stone at the sobbing parent with a perfect aim. It struck the mother in the cheek and drew blood.

  More refugees began grabbing stones.

  “No!” Angela stepped between them.

  Too late, rocks flew through the fog.

  “Move in!”

  Seth’s call sent a rush of Eagles in to grab the stone throwers and protect their leader.

  Angela didn’t rub her stinging shoulder, instead waving at the Eagles to let the first thrower go. She went to stand toe-to-toe with the woman, able to feel her pain, the gaping hole that matched her own.

  “If you had been given that choice, to save your kids?”

  The woman’s answer was fast. “I would have killed us first!”

  Angela agreed. “As would I, but what if you couldn’t? What if his hands had already been on them? Would you have broken?”

  The woman, Shellie, held Angela’s gaze a bit longer, then dropped her eyes. “Maybe.”

  Angela returned to the desk, to Doug, and felt the relief of her protection. “Get them set up with a few days’ supplies. I want them gone in five.”

  The Eagles closed ranks at that moment, cutting off the view of even the desk from the banished women.

  “The rest of you, welcome to Safe Haven. May it become your home.”

  As Angela went by Doug, she noticed rock thrower staring at the main camp. Angela turned to find Samantha moving tiredly by the caution tape and frowned as the witch started to whisper.

  Angela motioned Doug toward the angry woman. “That’s either a future Eagle or a future problem. Keep tabs on her.”

  “You know it,” Doug responded gravely.

  2

  At 6am, the rain was falling in heavy drafts. Not violent or windy, but soaking and icy. The camp, now in sloppy conditions, wasn’t recovered enough from the party yet to start wondering why Adrian wasn’t in charge if his injury was so minor.

  Chris didn’t buy a word of it.

  “All lies,” the vet muttered lowly, slipping from tree to tree in the fog caused by the large temperature difference.

  “Doesn’t matter. I need to take action anyway,” the vet told himself, being careful not to leave tracks or make noise as he stalked through the perimeter of the camp. Angela already had a routine and the vet had created one to match hers. He loved to watch her work.

  He spotted Brady escorting someone in a black jacket and hurried to get ahead of them. His fear of Marc was huge, but his growing need to be near Angela was irresistible. If Marc caught him, he would face it then.

  It felt thrilling to be off his regular schedule of blending in, and Chris ducked into the training tent with only seconds to spare.

  He slung his dripping raincoat into the corner, released the cat in the cage, and began digging through his bag.

  Chris listened to them as they came inside, felt Marc sweep him in a short, powerful evaluation and kept his mind on the cat.

  “He gave them maps to where we left the last batch of supplies.”

  “Does Adrian have another shipment planned?”

  “I’ll find out. If not?”

  “We have to keep leaving supplies.”

  “Why?”

  “There are starving people following us, but there will also be a great need for it in the future.”

  He didn’t argue further. “I’ll handle it. Cute cat.”

  “Oh, hey, Chris!”

  Angela’s cheerful greeting suggested sexual satisfaction. Chris didn’t turn around. “Yeah.”

  “Do you need the tent?”

  “No. Letting fat-ass get some exercise where she can’t be hit or tripped over.”

  Angela’s laugh sent tingles through the vet’s skin.

  “Good idea. We’ll try not to do that to her.”

  “She’ll stay out of your way,” Chris stated. He’d fed the cat enough nip to keep her rolling and purring for an hour.

  “Any signs of problems with them?” Marc asked.

  “No. Cats are one of the few animals that haven’t turned on us yet.”

  “She is cute,” Angela commented, kneeling down. “Look at her roll.”

  Marc and Angela were distracted by the yellow mix playing with her own tail, and the vet was able to stare unobserved.

  He picked up the body language of the couple, the comfortable stances and tones, but it was the light blue glow that he studied. There was no chance of breaking them up or removing Marc. The vet would never have a chance with her personally, but he could perform chores for her that no one else would be able to get away with. When she finally learned how useful he was…

  Chris stopped the images and got to work with the cat. No one had ever tried to get through his mental walls, but he would be careful around Angela. He had to earn her trust before she discovered his purpose in her Safe Haven. It wouldn’t have been possible with Adrian. Chris was still hoping that man would die.

  3

  “I hadn’t thought about that, but Neil’s right. They’ll take every Eagle out of this camp. Then they’ll search through the camp for…”

  The rest of the words blurred by Matt. His mind centered on only one sentence.

  That’s how I get rid of him, he thought, gazing guiltily across the mess to the deserted center table.

  Time slowed, and Matt’s mind was able to keep up for once. None of this would be possible with the government in control. The old rules would apply. The camp would be split up, forced to run. He could go with Cynthia and console her on losing Kevin and the other Eagles.

  Matt shoved a spoonful of chow mein into his mouth and chewed vigorously to cover himself. It was only a fantasy, but he enjoyed the images of Kevin being dragged off and Cynthia needing to be held while she cr
ied.

  “Stop it!”

  Charlie’s low hiss went mostly unnoticed by those around them, but Matt jumped.

  “Stay outta my mind!”

  Charlie slid onto the seat across from Matt, thinking his face was almost clear of acne now. “Don’t be stupid. Pick someone you have a chance with.”

  Despite himself, Matt was intrigued. “Like who?”

  Charlie directed his attention to the corner of the expanded mess. “Any of those five.”

  Matt gave each teenage girl a once-over, but none of their bodies were mature enough for him. He wanted a woman–Cynthia–and he would have her.

  Charlie snorted. “Good luck.”

  Matt stood up, lips clamped together, and left.

  As he walked away, one thought beat against his brain.

  I don’t need luck if I have a great plan.

  Charlie watched his friend vanish into the tent that he and Cynthia shared. Matt was growing more restless instead of settling into the new lives they’d been given under his mom’s command. Charlie wasn’t sure what to do about it, but he made a note in his new book to mention it to Kyle or Marc.

  4

  “They’re back.”

  “Copy.”

  Angela didn’t leave the target range, where Peggy and Anne were currently helping with a lesson. One of them would come to her for an update, but it wasn’t needed. If they hadn’t found a body that would suffice, they wouldn’t have returned yet.

  A few minutes later, Kevin came to her side, chuckling lowly. “Mission accomplished.”

  Kevin kept chuckling softly and Angela raised a brow. “Something good, I hope.”

  Kevin started laughing and had to get himself under control before he could answer. “I thought so. Marc thought so. Kenn, not so much.”

  Angela settled against the tree to hear the story, sure the prankster had struck again. The camp was already placing bets on who it might be.

  “Kenn’s tent collapsed...with him in it.”

  “Sounds amusing,” Angela remarked, not sure why that was so funny.

  “Tonya didn’t think so. She was…tucking him in.”

  Angela swallowed a snicker, trying to act like a leader. “Anyone hurt?”

  Kevin chuckled again. “Just the tent. When it fell, the sides ripped out and the couple was...uh, exposed.”

  Angela could almost see it. “Lot of people around?”

  Kevin was trying to keep from laughing again. “Oh, yeah. Wish I’d had a camera like Samantha did.”

  Angela smirked. “Get it from her before she makes copies.”

  “Kenn tried to, but Neil and Jeremy stopped him.”

  “How?”

  Kevin broke out laughing again. “They pulled the tent flap away that he had wrapped around his waist.”

  Angela’s laughter floated over the camp and brought the shield to life for the first time since they’d returned from Little Rock.

  The ripples of calm blue and gold sent waves of contentment through the people and eased the weary Eagles. It was almost as if everything could get back to normal with that bubble of protection over camp.

  5

  Zack stayed in the shadows as the kids’ daily lesson broke up. Angela had them working on communication for the next three sets and the airwaves had been a cluttered mess. Zack had little doubt that tomorrow would be the same. The only ones paying attention in the class were Matt and Charlie, but even their interest had waned as Ray explained about the radio codes. He wasn’t eligible for duty yet due to his injuries healing slowly, but taking a trim for Marc had put him in good standings with nearly everyone once Kenn had let it slip.

  Hating his chore, Zack waited until the teenagers were in hearing distance and then turned his back to them and began to talk to Jax.

  “They got the body, right?”

  Jax scowled. “Shhh…”

  Zack pretended that he didn’t know the kids were so close. “No one here would call the government and tell them it’s a decoy. Relax.”

  Angry, Jax went to a different vantage point, and Zack subtly took stock of his audience.

  The girls had already left, but Matt was staring at him.

  Zack gave him a polite nod and went to a different spot as well.

  Charlie and Matt turned toward the tents, but the conversation was gone. Each of them was thinking about what they’d heard.

  Matt was wondering what channel the government would be on. Charlie was asking his demon if there was any way he could do something big and score points with everyone. Both were dangerous thoughts.

  Zack stopped in the shadows of the medical tent, waiting for the right slender form to walk by. When she came, he said two words.

  “It’s done.”

  Angela sighed heavily. “Thank you.”

  Zack assumed it was part of the plan to save them all, but he didn’t ask. “Get some rest soon. You look like hell.”

  Angela barked a low laugh and went to the medical tent. She’d rest when Adrian was back in charge.

  6

  Samantha woke up grouchy and achy, cursing the rare sunlight that brought her to alertness.

  Not bothering to change from yesterday’s clothes, she went to the mess for food, and settled at the center table without responding to many of the greetings or questions. If not for the shifts she had to work, she might have stayed in bed.

  “Can I join you?”

  Sam grunted, head aching. “At your own risk.”

  Neil understood that might not be directed at him personally, and took the place across from her. She looked rough even though she’d slept until noon.

  “I’ve got a shift. Can you give her my updates?”

  “Sure. Okay to read them?”

  “Yes.”

  Sam checked them over quickly, aware of Jeremy approaching the table. It didn’t matter what her mood was like. When these two came close, she lit up. Today it felt like she could leap across the table and drain them both dry.

  Samantha emptied her cup instead.

  *Supply drop is ready. Tucker and Anderson are staying behind tomorrow to bury it.

  *Dog will stay in the QZ tent for another week, but he’ll make a round of the camp today. A few people think he died and we’re hiding it from Marc.

  *Parts of the camp that are packed for the move: Reserve trucks, all food and other essentials that won’t be used today, gear, tools, refueling setups.

  *Three panels went up on the wall with Hilda overseeing. Estimate the same for today.

  *People are starting to ask questions about A and C.

  “Is the last one a problem?” Samantha asked, keeping her voice down.

  Neil shrugged. “It could be if there isn’t an answer ready soon.”

  Samantha waved a hand as Jeremy paused near them. “There’s room here.”

  Jeremy took the seat next to Neil, a bit uneasy in the light of day, but determined to make himself adapt to the situation.

  Samantha put the paper in her pocket and took a minute to stretch. She felt like hell.

  Neither man could help the want, but both of them turned their heads to keep from staring at her body.

  Sam realized the affect it was having on them and quickly stopped, shoulders slumping. She sat there, staring at the emotional writing on the table. Maybe she’d switch off and go to her tent.

  “Can I talk to you guys for a minute?”

  The trio glanced up in surprise at Bridget. Everyone knew the center table was invitation only.

  “What’s up?” Samantha asked coldly.

  Bridget leaned closer. “I think I saw something funny this morning.” She peered around at them. “Should I go find someone else? I don’t how this works.”

  Neil stood up and led Bridget to an isolated table to get details.

  “She’s good,” Sam muttered, glaring at the woman.

  “Who, heart…Bridget?”

  Samantha wondered what he’d been about to say. “Got exactly what she wa
nted and it only took ten seconds.”

  Jeremy glanced over his shoulder and understood when he saw how Bridget was leaning into Neil’s personal space and hanging on his every word.

  Jeremy turned, picking out Samantha’s jealousy in the way she glared at him.

  “Why aren’t you doing anything about it?” he questioned carefully. In his experience, Safe Haven females fought for their men.

  Samantha forced a calm expression. “Because I’m not allowed to kill her and that’s all I feel like doing.” She stood up, still appearing perfectly reasonable. “If you’ll excuse me.”

  Jeremy watched her go, lips twitching, but inside, he was almost certain that she meant it.

  Neil joined him a few minutes later and Jeremy resisted the urge to stir the pot. If Sam wanted him to know, she’d tell him.

  “Where’d she go?”

  Jeremy bit his tongue mentally. “Check in with the…boss.”

  Neil didn’t comment on the hiccup. None of them had gotten used to the leadership change yet. Angela was doing great, better than they’d hoped, but she wasn’t Adrian.

  “What did heart ass want?”

  Neil chuckled. “She asked me out.”

  Jeremy had expected that after agreeing with Sam’s evaluation. “Did she know anything?”

  “She saw the vet roaming camp under the cover of the fog. Probably collecting more animals, but I’ll check it out. He’s sitting with Ray and Dale.” Neil chuckled. “I’m sure she knew he’s okay. She wanted an excuse to get me alone.”

  Jeremy stayed quiet, trying hard to play fair.

  Neil finally noticed the silence and looked over. “You okay?”

  Jeremy finished writing down a few notes for later. “I’m good. Samantha, on the other hand, isn’t. I’ve been studying her and I’m worried.”

  Neil made a face. “Yeah, I picked up a couple things in that area. It’s like she’s exhausted when she gets up and twisted too tight when she goes to bed.”

  “I see her pacing through the tent walls some mornings when I start early bird duty,” Jeremy confessed.

  The two men fell into a comparison of the things they’d noticed and the afternoon began to roll around them.

  7