The Life After War Collection

by Angela White

  “Lots of descendants do. Your group didn’t have a witch?” Greg asked. Like Angela, he was confident there was more to this story than what they were being told.

  “Not like Missy,” Tara confided lowly. “She predicts endings, based on shifting choices and changes.”

  Tara heard the silence and didn’t think they understood. “She detects your exact death, based on each choice you make.”

  Angela gave Jennifer a pointed glance.

  Jennifer sighed. “Yes. As soon as we’re set up? Marc won’t like us roaming yet.”

  “Now, would be better,” Angela repeated.

  Jennifer obediently left the vehicle that was already surrounded by the Eagles on Angela’s protection detail. Kyle’s team appeared tense and Jennifer approved. They were only safe as long as they remembered there was danger everywhere.

  The Eagles on duty around the waiting convoy understood Jennifer was on orders from the boss, and didn’t comment. They were all Angela’s rules now, and if she was breaking them, there was a good reason. It did make them nervous, though.

  Jennifer smiled at Kyle as she passed by him and got a leer in return. She blushed and continued, aware of the snickering and approving murmurs. The camp had flipped completely since Angela’s rescue. Jennifer suspected her request for another son had traveled throughout the herd, but mostly, it was Kyle and Autumn who were changing minds. Watching him care for a newborn was enough to soften anyone.

  Jennifer tapped on the door before entering the noisy living area for the youngest kids. She spent a moment with the happy children, but didn’t linger to help Peggy get the gum out of the hair of two of them. Both of those kids were sporting vivid red orbs as they sat with their coloring books, and Jennifer wondered if Angela had this issue covered yet. Descendant kids were powerful.

  Stepping over toys and pieces of food that the kids had scattered, Jennifer made her way to the rear of the camper, where Cynthia was on duty.

  “Hey.”

  The reporter’s shirt was stained, short, dark hair wild, and posture defeated. She didn’t respond.

  Jennifer slid into the sticky booth across from Cynthia, wiping her hand down her jeans. “You okay?”

  Cynthia’s attention was on Hilda, who was trying to change a diaper on a squirming mass of hands and hair. “Earlier, we hit a bump while she was doing that and a pile of shit actually floated through the air.” Cynthia glanced down. “I caught it with my hands. Ever had a shit shower? It’s lovely.”

  That explains the smell, Jennifer thought, frowning. “You don’t sound okay.”

  “I’m not.” Cynthia’s tone sharpened. “What does the boss want this time?”

  “Babysitting,” Jennifer answered, noting the tone that said Cynthia had been pushed over the line and then a bit further.

  “I’m doing that,” Cynthia replied tonelessly. “Did you know that kids this age never shut up? I swear, the one in the red sweater doesn’t even breathe between babbles.”

  Jennifer didn’t snicker. She had great sympathy for Cynthia, and didn’t want to make things worse, even accidentally.

  “Who is it?” Cynthia asked suddenly. She had hoped to work on the outline for the first edition of her newspaper, but that idea had been given up hours ago. “And why me?”

  “New people we picked up on the way. Mother and daughter,” Jennifer informed her. “You have duty over the daughter.”

  “Great,” Cynthia cracked sarcastically. “Who has the mother?”

  Jennifer’s voice lowered. “Kendle.”

  “Must be trouble.” Cynthia’s face darkened as she swept the kids. “Thank God. Let’s go.”

  “I was summoned?”

  Kendle was near the door as Cynthia and Jennifer came from the noisy camper.

  “Boss wants you on the new arrival,” Jennifer stated, refusing to stare at Kendle’s scars. She now knew the source of them and thought Kendle was incredibly strong to have survived. It didn’t make her like the island woman, however. It would take more than pity to accomplish that.

  “They must be special,” Kendle tried to confirm subtly. She couldn’t find many other reasons for Angela assigning her to monitor someone. She was dangerous. So must her ward be.

  “Her and the daughter are descendants,” Jennifer revealed. “Cyn here, has the kid.”

  “Sweet,” Kendle smirked. She felt no sympathy for the reporter’s pregnancy problems. “Where are they?”

  “With the boss.” Jennifer led the way. “She doesn’t believe most of their story. Store details, both of you. She’ll ask for them later.”

  It should have felt odd to be taking orders from someone so young, but Jennifer had proven herself deadly and it showed, even in her stride. She was no longer scared of the world or those in it. Only the people she loved could be used against her now and she guarded them fiercely.

  “Got a short note here, folks. Some good news,” Kenn’s voice echoed across the stopped convoy. “The Eagles need new rookies. Everyone who fought in the last month is eligible! The signup sheet is at the com truck. Stop by at any point today, after we’re set up.”

  The van door slid open as the trio of women arrived and the little girl barreled out of Angela’s arms with a wild shout. She leapt straight at Kendle, who was forced to catch the sweaty child or fall.

  Kendle staggered, but kept them upright, and Missy cackled happily at the juggling. “Like you! Fun!”

  Kendle’s heart melted despite her cold exterior. The scars usually drew the opposite reaction from children. It was another part of her life that Ethan had stolen. She couldn’t imagine ever having her own now.

  “You’re gonna watch over me?”

  Kendle smiled at the girl, thinking they had the exact same shade of black hair. “Yeah. I could kill for you, if I had to.”

  Becoming aware of the silence, Kendle shifted the now humming girl to her hip and growled at the gawking members around them. She hadn’t readjusted to the fame yet.

  Jennifer and Cynthia cackled.

  “Guess we’re doing a switch,” Angela stated casually, glad the more observant, experienced members weren’t around. Marc would see through this in about ten seconds. She would have to keep him busier than she’d planned. “Kendle and Cynthia will be Missy’s settling partners for now. Kendle has nights.”

  “What the hell did I do to you?” Cynthia barked in annoyance. She didn’t like Kendle anymore than she did kids.

  “Jennifer will assist Tara until this evening, and then someone else will take over that post,” Angela stated.

  All the females swallowed their protests as Angela left.

  Angela strode to Shane next and he took his notebook out as she joined him. The expression she wore said there was work waiting.

  “Take Jax to the lumber yard we rolled by. Bring everything on this list. We’ll have a dumpsite cleared for it. Keep good records of what you collect.”

  Shane took the paper and peered at the trees around them, then their tops and the jagged cliffs above. “Lumber?”

  “We’re not lumberjacks,” Angela explained. “We’ll use the piles of sorted, precut wood in the stores that are waiting on an industrious person to gather them. It leaves the trees around our base for winter if we need them.”

  “Which means we won’t have to travel as far in the snow,” Shane realized. “Good idea!”

  “It also gives us time to figure out how to harvest these trees without getting hurt or taking too many,” Marc pointed out as he joined them. He pressed a quick kiss to Angela’s warm cheek. “It was a terrific idea.”

  “When should we go?” Shane asked, thinking Angela was tired. The bags under her eyes hadn’t faded from her time with Donner yet and many of the Eagles were watching for signs that she needed a break. Everyone knew her losing the baby would have bad effects on Safe Haven.

  “By dawn,” Angela answered. “Get rolling on it now. You don’t need to wait for Kenn’s clearance call.”

  Shane
was gone an instant later, suddenly excited. A lumberyard would have more than lumber. This was an opportunity for their team to make a big score and add early points.

  Shane spotted Nancy going the way he’d come from and found himself hoping she joined the Eagles soon. If she could be one of them, he would show his interest. Until then, it was expected that the male Eagles would take strong partners who could fight alongside them. Shane agreed. When Nancy joined, he would make his move, but not a minute before that. He refused to carry anyone, including his woman.

  “They’re switching shifts without Dog here to tell them it’s time,” Angela commented once they were alone.

  Marc followed her line of sight to the ants on the perimeter. They were neatly changing positions, and then patiently waiting around for the feeding that now came after mess. The ants were still getting scraps, and a portion of actual supplies as well. Angela had promised them protection and care, and she was honoring her deal.

  “Are you okay?”

  “I’m good,” she responded too brightly. “You?”

  Marc pinned her with a dark glare. “Liar.”

  “I’m a little tired, a little hungry, and distracted,” she said resignedly. She put a hand on his big arm and let her wall down.

  In her mind was the huge construction project he’d glimpsed in Jennifer’s thoughts. Only this was ten times the size, with shiny gold threads stacking into a starless night. It was a massive undertaking.

  “What is it?” he asked, surveying the rafters and beams of light.

  “The future,” Angela answered gravely. “Ours, theirs, and those not yet born to us.”

  “When will it be finished?” Marc didn’t understand whatever it was she wanted him to.

  “It’s complete when we run out of branches,” Angela told him, aware of his confusion, but also aware that he wouldn’t like the detailed explanation of death and the end of humanity. “When nothing else fits, then we’re done.”

  Marc was afraid to ask how many years that might take.

  Angela didn’t tell him it was more like centuries. These plans would be inherited and added to for generations to come. If we survive, she thought, remembering the last dream of being overrun by victims of a disaster. She assumed it was from Yellowstone, but there had been a clear sense of missing pieces.

  Angela pressed a soft peck to his cheek, mindful of his sore mouth. His chipped tooth would be their student dentist’s first challenge, but not until after they were in the caves and had the medical bay set up. Marc had insisted on waiting, and Angela was positive he just didn’t want to be the student’s first live patient.

  “Can I ask you something, boss lady?”

  Uh-oh, Angela thought. Marc’s tone said he wasn’t happy. “What’s up?”

  “Do you know how old I am?”

  Angela pretended to have to count it. “Uh, let’s see now. You were born before me.”

  “Angela.”

  She rotated slowly to discover him standing with his hands resting on his guns, with the afternoon sun melting over him like a honey topping. Angela blinked. Hungry again, are you?

  Yes, momma.

  Angela gasped at the clear communication, a bit stunned. What am I?

  Marc caught enough of the exchange to be concerned, but Angela’s expression said she wasn’t ready to deal with this newest horror yet. Neither was he.

  “Do you know how long it’s been since I was grounded?” he asked, steering them toward his truck, where he had a bag of snacks.

  Angela forced a snicker, suddenly terrified. “A week or so?”

  “I’d like to know why the chain of command is grounded,” he stated. “What new hell am I preparing us for, that you don’t want me out of camp?”

  Angela hid the wince. “I’m ensuring the future, Marc. Like I’m always doing these days. The people here need to know how strong they are.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  “I’d rather not go into details right now,” Angela answered, spotting too many people who might pick up on the conversation.

  Marc shoved into her thoughts. Tell me.

  Angela fought her first reaction to vomit and let him remain despite the upset stomach and the migraine. In here, they were alone. We have to let the rest of the herd have a chance to be shepherds, but especially the ones who are pregnant or fathering a child now. We need them to step up while they can because in a few months, most of them won’t be able to and it will make them feel helpless. Adrian made an amazing amount of progress with the stronger people here, but the weaker people have just as much to contribute.

  And they won’t?

  Not if they don’t have a taste of the glory that goes with the gore. Let backburner people handle some of these things, so when they’re laid up or on minor duties again, they don’t forget how powerful they are. We can’t survive if the herd backslides into letting us care for them. They have to be able to care for themselves.

  Marc agreed with that, positive there was more to it by the way her answers were so vague. Angela was a detail-oriented leader and she usually had plans already made by the time she shared even a hint of what was coming. Which meant she needed him to be caught off guard by whatever it was. Otherwise, she would tell him.

  “Yes, I would,” she stated happily. “You’re so smart. I love that.”

  Marc grinned. “Right back at ya, baby-cakes.”

  Marc continued his rounds of the stopped convoy, not worried about missing the lesson on setups as he sent his mental grid out to search around them. Kenn had it covered and Marc wanted to know something that he wasn’t comfortable asking anyone about, including the Indians who had chosen to stay. He wanted to know if their traitor was following and who was on duty in the rear. He had to make sure those sentries knew how close Adrian could come before they were required to shoot him. Anyone who failed to pull the trigger would wish that they hadn’t hesitated.

  5

  Angela waved at the vet as he came from the livestock truck to complain about the wait, dingy white coat fluttering out behind him. “We’re clearing the pet store in town. Go along?”

  Completely distracted, Chris was elated to be given work and he gazed adoringly. “Yes!”

  “Good,” Angela rewarded. She hadn’t forgotten that he’d tracked her down and helped with the rescue. “Turn the animals over to someone you trust and meet a team by the livestock trailers at dawn.”

  Chris rushed off before he could do or say anything stupid, mind eased. This is the start of her using me! My gifts aren’t being overlooked.

  “You have plans for him?” Greg asked, sticking close as they traveled toward the front gates. One of the Eagles would drive her vehicle when the line finally advanced. Right now, the supply trucks were being guided into place. Angela had given them a new map for Safe Haven and while Kevin’s team had outlined it with red tape, the ease of setups had been lost. Not that it mattered. They were here for a lengthy stay and few of them were concerned over the delay.

  “I have plans for everyone,” she finally answered.

  Angela swept the site, approving of the QZ going up first. The new people hadn’t all been cleared yet, but she didn’t want them out at the same time anyway.

  Angela stopped near the gate, where a small jam was blocking the next rig from coming through. She gestured for Logan, the driver of the stuck truck, to switch with Ray, who was on gate duty.

  Logan flushed but didn’t argue. He hadn’t learned to handle the big rigs yet.

  Speaking to Greg, Angela pointed toward the distant shape of buildings that were a part of the Pigeon Mountain resort. “I need that area reconned and then the pet store stripped. Tell Billy I’m sending him people at dawn, and to pay special attention to pools and aquariums for fish or plants. Jerry Jones appears to be our resident fisherman. Take him along and have him put his knowledge where his mouth is. We’ll have a dumpsite waiting, but tell Billy to keep good records of what they collect.”

  G
reg wrote it down and then signaled for a rookie to come over and carry the order, instead of going himself. She had snipers and men within reach, but Marc wanted someone at her side at all times.

  Quinn saw Angela’s expression as she approached and got his notebook out expectantly. He would much rather be on a run than taking notes, but at least he would be working. He’d been XO on Marc’s team, but now, no one knew what was going on with the tests or the teams. Many of them had lost someone.

  “Take Scott and Josh, and get up on this mountain. You’re searching for a clear or at least flat area to set a snow gathering operation. Gear for it is in trucks four and ten. When you find it, mark it, leave three sniper kits, and then get home for a hot meal and a good night’s rest.”

  Quinn regarded the jagged peaks and winding road that traveled to a nauseating ledge over a hundred feet up. After that, it disappeared from view. Excitement flared. “You got it!”

  Quinn left his post to his partner and went to get the other men.

  “You have too many irons in the fire,” Peggy stated as Angela and Greg entered the gates. “You need to rest.”

  “Tell Hilda I’ll knock out six a day, no matter what, once we’re inside,” Angela retorted.

  Peggy left it alone, recognizing a short temper. “I came because Doug said Adrian knows how to help the cancer patients. I want to go find out if that’s true.”

  “Permission granted,” Angela gave easily. She’d been expecting it. “Report directly to me.”

  Peggy left and two other members hurried forward for instructions and information. As Angela walked, a small group of followers formed, all wanting a minute with the boss that was given as patiently as she could. These people needed this. It reminded them of the beginning, of Adrian leading them. Angela also needed it. These moments were a reminder of a time when she’d almost felt like a whole person. With Adrian gone, so was some of her joy at being here.

  6

  “Rookie Eagle signups are still open, with about a quarter of the slots already filled. Don’t forget to stop by and add your name to the list. We need you,” Kenn’s voice echoed steadily across the settling camp.