by Angela White
Approving of Angela providing new meat for the Eagles, Marc settled onto the bed of the rear truck in the convoy, happy with the responses he’d received from these guards. None of them had forgiven their traitor.
Behind the convoy was a thinning trail of dust that Marc concentrated on. He sent his mental grid out and found his target within a mile. Adrian and his new, tiny faction of soldiers were settling in on a nearby ridge that had a clear view of Safe Haven. He would be able to use his binoculars to spy on them, on Angela.
Marc had other plans. He’d been busy diving through the muck for the old scrolls and he’d discovered several things he didn’t care for. One of them was that he’d been lied to–again–about the bond Angie and Adrian now shared. He’d also learned how to access a new hall of doors, but hadn’t had time to explore them yet. With Safe Haven camping for a while, that would change.
Marc made a quick note in his book and went back to studying. The road going through Safe Haven had two branch-offs, one of which Adrian had taken to get to his site.
Marc made another note.
The sky was gritty. Samantha had already warned them of a coming storm. They would have to check out the cliffs for a flood path.
Marc stayed in his position, making observations until he felt Adrian glaring at him. That sensation of hatred was unmistakable now, equaling his own loathing and bitterness.
While Adrian glowered, Marc gestured to a nearby guard, using Adrian’s Eagle code.
I want a shooting area set up here. Have them aim where he’s standing. Marc pointed at Adrian.
Whitney chuckled and wrote it down. People would line up all day to take turns, especially his own guys. With Kevin gone, no one knew if they even had a team anymore and the consensus was that Adrian was to blame.
On the cliff, Adrian also copied the order, as he was meant to, and resignedly stormed to his vehicle to pick a new location. Staying close wasn’t going to be easy.
Marc waited for the trail of dust that said Adrian was moving his site, gloating a bit as the man pulled out with annoyed gestures.
Satisfied, Marc lit a stale smoke and made his way back to the front of the long convoy to resume his setup lesson.
Chapter Two
Settlement
1
The ugliness has seeped into my soul.
For a small while, I thought I would be able to tolerate this level of guilt and regret, but I will carry it forever and that’s a long time. Only death may provide a relief, and even that isn’t certain. The only thing I do know is that I have to find a way to shore up my soul. I have to find the light again. If I don’t, I can’t lead.
Angela didn’t reread her notes as she used to do with her entries in Adrian’s notebooks, closing the cover instead. She had wondered about his state of mind in some places as she had gone through them after taking over leadership. Now, she understood completely how Adrian’s pain could feel so real from mere words. He bled onto the paper, so that his people wouldn’t discern his weaknesses. She was now doing the same emotional control, and she dreaded the day she would hand these books to a successor. Knowing someone else would read her entries and be horrified was ugly, but it had to happen. Without those important notes, the newcomer would have no idea how hard and serious this job was. They had to respect it, to be able to do it.
Angela left her tent and stayed there for a moment, chin tilted in concentration.
Those around to witness it assumed she was communicating with someone, but Angela was scouring the land around them for trouble. She didn’t send her witch very far; confident the problems were waiting, as they had been all along. She just needed to be positive that none of those coming battles had advanced further than anticipated during the night.
“Things okay?”
Angela ignored Tonya.
The redhead waited without resentment, still missing being able to twirl her curls while she was idling. She was still working on body language and figuring out timing. It was a struggle for her some days, and part of why she’d been lurking in the dawn fog to have a moment alone with the boss.
Angela slowly tugged the witch in, aware that her demon needed to sleep longer. The witch had expended an enormous amount of energy over the last ten days. You’ve earned it. Rest.
The witch settled obediently into her place and fell into a thin slumber.
Angela regarded Tonya. “Are you sure? You can’t go back on this.”
“Yes.” Dreading the disappointment, Tonya made eye contact, positive that it was required. “Please take me off your team.”
“I could never be disappointed in you. You’ve come a long way.” Angela smiled softly, shoving out a blast of light that enveloped the former gold-digger. “I couldn’t be prouder.”
“Figures you’d say something like that.” Tonya wiped at her sudden tears in annoyance. “Didn’t you see my makeup?”
Angela chuckled. “Cute.”
Tonya’s shoulders slumped and her hands dropped to her sides. “Yeah, that’s me.”
“Cute and a bit lost?” Angela guessed.
“You could say that,” Tonya lamented. “I know I can’t do what you guys do. I panicked in the final chaos, and I hate the blood and dirt. But I’m an Eagle and I…” Tonya stopped, becoming aware of the whine in her tone. She didn’t want the boss to know that part of her still existed. She was working daily to kill it. “I’m still adjusting.”
Angela pointed to where people were slowly staggering toward the mess that would have coffee and toast going, even though the bell hadn’t rung yet. “Go have some breakfast and then draft a few hands to put the pharmacy tent in the front row that Kenn will be marking off. After that, you’re on call for the pharmacy and radio during the dayshift.”
Tonya knew from Kenn’s words that the front row was reserved for the important tents and felt her stomach flip. “Because we’re going to need it, right?”
Angela stared, impressed at Tonya’s intelligence. She’d honestly expected gushing gratitude, not eerie insight.
Tonya snorted, reading it and then let it go in favor of the answer. “Well?”
“Yes,” Angela answered, not having to force the approval this time. “Stock it heavy out of each supply load that comes in. I’m giving you and the doctor first dibs.”
Angela evaluated the woman again and came up with a better summary than she’d hoped for when she’d suggested Kenn try to reform her. “I have work for you. Quiet work.”
It was a magic moment for Tonya. She had always been on the outs with authority, no matter the location, but now, she was one of them.
“I can give that gushing gratitude now, if you still want it,” Tonya quipped, honored to be on the inside of Angela’s deeper plans. That was part of why she’d hesitated to resign. She liked being in on things and loved being an Eagle.
Not letting Tonya know that she had just shown signs of an advancing gift, Angela chortled. “Thanks, but no.”
“Adrian loved it.”
Angela’s countenance twisted into something Tonya assumed was pain.
“I actually hate it,” Angela confessed. “But it’s what Adrian trained you guys to give and I have to make that type of change slowly. Old habits are hard to break.”
“Don’t I know it,” Tonya muttered. “But it is possible. Kenn and I are living proof of that.”
“Yes, you are, and I love you for it. Walk with me. We’ll go over some things.”
Tonya stayed close as Angela listed the items she wanted available at the pharmacy at all times, not needing to write it down. The issues Angela wanted covered came with an outbreak. Of what, didn’t matter. People needed fluids, vitamins, fever remedies, and stomach calmatives. Along with toilet paper, Tonya added. Her mind switched into list mode and she took her notebook out. The items were going to be too important to take the chance on missing anything.
Angela finally left Tonya in line for a tray, still scribbling. She would indeed be removing Tonya from he
r team, but everyone would know it was only because she’d been asked to. Tonya hadn’t done anything wrong this time. In fact, the choice she had made would ease more suffering than her gun could have reached, and Angela intended to reward her for it.
2
Marc sensed the Indian behind him and didn’t react, though he wasn’t sure of the intent. Most of the natives were gone now, with only one full group still here and another mixed handful who had chosen to stay. Most of the braves had been eager to return to their camps and proclaim victory. Others had been concerned over the ash storms and tremors. Marc was confident all of those people would go south. It was another sign of his connection with Angela and of his gifts working for him, but Marc’s brain took it further than either of them had, and his heart sank.
“Everyone we’ve found is fleeing! Why didn’t I see that?” Marc exclaimed. “The traveling store people said west, then south. The deer herds were moving south. Max and Lenore had come south. If we found them on the road, they were leaving.”
“As are we, my friend,” Natoli said evenly from behind him. “Our stories did not end with the arrival of the Ghost and his final battle.”
Marc slowly turned around, dreading it. “Tell me.”
“It is the end of days,” Natoli stated gravely. “We must go south, to the jungles, where there is safe hunting and good ground to farm. This earth is splitting, shifting, and only the south is safe.”
Natoli held out a small hide pouch. “Take this, my friend, as our pledge of peace with the white man.”
Marc took the intricately carved pipe, recognizing some of the symbols. “This is powerful.”
“Yes. It calls to those far away.” Natoli extended his arm. “Until we meet again, my friend, my brother.”
Marc clasped arms with him and then the Indian vanished into the trees as if he’d never been there.
I want to go with him, Marc realized, and swallowed that pain.
“You can.”
Marc found Angela nearby. Her tone was even, but her eyes were showing more emotions than Marc had thought one personal capable of feeling.
“What?” he asked, stalling.
“Go with them.”
“No.”
“I know you’d be hap–”
“Stop.”
Angela did. She knew he would go with her to the ends of the earth, but she needed his light and he had to be happy to provide that.
“I am, baby-cakes,” he tried to soothe. “I’ll adjust.”
“You’ll loathe every second you’re away,” she intoned, falling into that mental state he hated listening to. “And you may not return at all.”
That was a blow he wasn’t prepared for and Angela went to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. “If you stay here, you will survive. I’ve seen it.”
“I love you.” Marc held her tightly and allowed his mind to shut that terrifying door. “I’ll never leave you.”
Angela swallowed her tears. They would take the time fate gave them and be grateful for it. “Thank you.”
Marc sealed their lips, and then tugged her toward the mess. “Come on, let’s get you fed so my stomach will settle down.”
3
“What do you feel like doing this evening?”
Tracy scowled at Charlie’s cheerful tone. “Nothing.”
Charlie knew she was having her period and he held out the chocolate bar he’d traded Doug for.
Tracy accepted it with the first smile since before the chaos. He took a seat next to her and waited for the candy to vanish.
Tracy enjoyed the treat and felt some of her emotions come under control. It was amazing how chocolate could do that.
“I’d like to shoot better.”
Tracy looked over at him, still licking the gooey sweet from her fingers. “What?”
Charlie had frozen at the sight of her with a finger in her mouth and she giggled. His innocence was refreshing.
“Huh…Hi’d….” Charlie shut his lids and took a deep breath. “I’d like to be better with my gun. Feel like helping?”
Tracy considered it. Shooting something didn’t sound bad.
“Sweet!” Charlie answered her thought, not giving her time to change her mind. “Hot chocolate and a steak sandwich at the mess on the way?”
“Okay,” Tracy agreed reluctantly. She wanted to hide in her tent and try to find the peace she’d known before, but even she knew that couldn’t be found inside these canvas walls.
“Here.” Charlie handed her the Eagle jacket she hadn’t worn in days. “It’s chilly.”
Tracy slid into the leather with a blast of pain and a wave of determination. “I can do this.”
Charlie gently tossed an arm around her shoulders. “We’ll do it together. When you’ve had enough, I’ll get you back here in less than a minute.”
“You promise?” she demanded, suddenly terrified of being out there around people.
“You know it,” Charlie responded, steering them for the flap. “Let’s live a little and see how it goes, huh?”
Tracy allowed him to lead her from her den, hoping he would always be as considerate as he was being right now. A woman wouldn’t even glance at another guy after this type of attention. It showed a soul that was deep enough to drown in and to Tracy, that was ideal. Shallow men were the ones who hurt people. Deep men built and created. They had respect for their power and didn’t use it against those weaker.
And when the real man inside him emerges? she asked herself.
“This is the real me,” Charlie murmured as they stepped under the mess canopy. “I could have gone that other way, but I wanted you more than I wanted to be wild. You saved me.”
Tracy gasped at the pain of that honor.
“Come on.” Charlie tugged her into his arms. “Let’s get you more chocolate.”
Tracy snickered through her tears and leaned her head against his. “Thank you.”
Charlie wasn’t certain on the correct reply, so he went with what felt right. He kissed her softly and hugged her. “It’s my honor.”
“Well, isn’t that sweet.”
The center table gaped in surprise at Candy’s bitter sneer.
“Are you okay?” Theo asked. He and Candy had come by to drop off some papers, but Angela wasn’t here yet.
“No,” Candy answered, staring at the couple. “I’m not sure why they can touch and kiss in public. We have age rules here.”
Charlie heard her and glowered over Tracy’s shoulder. “Just because you’ve been thinking about Conner, that doesn’t mean we’re all bad, you know.”
“I have not!” Candy refuted hotly, proving Charlie right.
Theo gaped at her red face, a bit disappointed. He’d thought maybe Candy had a thing for him, but if she was daydreaming about Adrian’s demon seed, then that wasn’t the case.
Theo spun away from the table and vanished into the crowd forming around Li Sing’s grill.
“Why did you do that?” Candy asked angrily. “You know I wasn’t thinking about Conner in a good way!”
Charlie shrugged, aware that Tracy had tensed under his arm, as if she was about to flee. “You should have minded your own business and then I could have done the same.”
“Asshole!” Candy flung at him as she stormed off to track Theo down and explain.
“Maybe I am,” Charlie admitted as the eating people snickered. “But I won, so who cares.”
He steered Tracy straight for that center table and settled her between Becky and Samantha.
Samantha understood Tracy wasn’t out and about of her own free will. “I have some new magazines and a bit of snacks stashed,” she stated, observing the females around the double table. “Who’s up for a pot luck, gab-fest, poker game tonight?”
Conversation stayed on that topic for a while and allowed them all time to observe Tracy and a few of the other rookies who’d had rough missions. Most of them appeared to be doing okay, but Tracy had clearly gotten the worst of it. Her fl
inches came often and everyone approved of Charlie getting her out of her comfort zone. As long as she didn’t hide, they could all help her. It was what Safe Haven had been created for.
4
“There are a few things I need to tell you while we enjoy this wonderful meal. You can go on eating, but keep track of the update I’m giving.”
Alerting those on duty to Angela’s coming words, the radio crackled when Kenn let off his button.
Not far enough away for Marc’s peace of mind, Adrian flipped his radio on, and told David to shut his off. The Safe Haven setup Kenn had given him would deliver Angela’s voice as clear as an angel’s bell.
“You’ve noticed Doug working on the board, I’m sure, maybe picked out your name and wondered what new hell I’m assigning you to. You’ve also probably noticed there are teams getting set to roll out. A lot of us have hard labor waiting. I’ll explain that as soon as Doug is finished and please remember not to touch the board or you’ll smear the liquid chalk.”
Adrian settled on the uncomfortable rock, perfectly content to let their dinner burn while he listened to Angela update his herd.
Conner and David shared a confused, slightly concerned glance, but didn’t comment.
Conner took over roasting the wild turkey that Adrian had stalked right after they arrived. Conner was still a bit disturbed at the memory of his father leaping off the side of a cliff. He hadn’t known there was a ledge below at the time, or that the ledge had been a nesting site.
They had eggs for breakfast now, but Conner didn’t think he could eat those without suggesting they grab a few turkeys to raise for food. It was on his mind now, but the smell of the meat was distracting him. In the morning, when he wasn’t starving, conversations would have to happen.
“That’s better.” Angela’s voice was clearly amused. “Stained another shirt, but hey, barbeque sauce does that right? Supposed to be messy. Where was I…? Oh, okay. Tomorrow, we start getting the caves ready.”
A loud cheer echoed to Adrian twice. Once from the radio and then again, from the sound of the large camp below. There was an empty landing directly to their left and Adrian’s eyes swung to it repeatedly as Angela updated Doug’s work.