“What is it?” Zeke snaps.
“One of the boys spotted some people trying to sneak a group of kids off the farm.”
“So?”
“Well, they have a good lead on us, but we can catch them—”
“Leave it.”
“There were women—”
“Leave it.”
“But Zeke—”
“I said leave it,” Zeke growls, like he is ordering a dog to let go of a bone. “We don’t need to deal with a bunch of rug rats right now. They won’t get far. We’ll round them up later.”
He walks back over and stops in front of Kate.
“Besides, we’ve got some women right here,” he says sickly, reaching out to brush the hair out of Kate’s face. She yanks her head back as if she’s been burned. He grasps her chin, not liking that she recoiled from him. He leans down close to her face.
“You and me have some lost time to make up for.”
I start to move, to try and do something even though I know it is futile, but Kate beats me to it, spitting in Zeke’s face. He springs back, rage building as he wipes the globule from his cheek. I know he is going to smack her, and I race to figure out how to adjust my body so I can deflect the blow when it comes. But to my surprise, he holds back. I am grateful for that, but when I see the fury in his eyes, I know that rage will build until it explodes, and it will happen when he is alone with Kate.
Zeke steps back to address all of his captives.
“This farm belongs to me now.”
His men cheer, a few of them shooting their guns into the air once again.
“That means everything on it belongs to me. You all belong to me. You will live by my rules. Trust me when I say you don’t want to find out what happens if you choose to disobey.”
He walks back and forth before us, eyeing each one of us in turn.
“You can thank Buck for this. This place should have been mine from the start. Buck was never strong enough to do what needed to be done.”
He pauses. He stops in front of me, but I refuse to look at him. I won’t give him the satisfaction. I gave in to Jacob, at least in the end. I refuse to give in ever again.
“The old world is dead, and it’s up to us to build a new one. There’s no room for weakness. Weakness degrades the whole, and it must be eliminated.”
He begins to walk the line again.
“Survival requires us to obey the basic laws of nature. Food, water, shelter, procreation. Everyone has to do their part.”
He stops in front of me again, and this time I meet his eyes.
“Those who won’t do their part have no place in my world.”
Like a steel trap, he clamps down on my arm and hauls me up to my feet. Distantly, I hear people gasp and Kate cry out, but I am focused on Zeke. He drags me out to the center of the crowd and throws me back to the ground. He circles me like a wolf preparing to devour its prey. I rise to my knees and follow him with my eyes. He comes to a stop in front of me, and he cocks his shotgun.
“You have no place in my world,” he says, baring his teeth.
I fight the urge to shrink away as I stare down the barrel of his shotgun. If I am going to die, then I am damn well going to do it with a little bit of dignity. For myself, for Kate, and for everyone else. I stare up at him, defiance burning bright. That pisses him off, and his evil smile fades.
“You ready to die?” he asks, trying to bait me. I square my shoulders.
That’s when I notice a series of dark shapes off in the distance behind Zeke, getting closer by the second. I try not to let the hope show on my face.
The cavalry has arrived. But if I don’t buy myself a little time, they will be too late, at least for me.
“You know, Zeke,” I begin slowly, trying to stall, “killing me isn’t going to be as satisfying as you seem to think it will be.”
His gun falls a little.
“Oh yeah?” he says smugly, although I hear the slightest bit of curiosity in his voice. “How’s that?”
I try to keep him going as the quickly moving shadows edge closer.
“There’s a lot better ways to prove your point.”
His gun drops a little further.
“Like what?”
“Well, you can kill me, that’s true. But the whole reason you hate me is I represent the opposite of everything you believe. And killing me won’t fix that.”
“You’re just stalling because you don’t want to die,” he says dismissively, the gun coming back up.
“Of course I don’t want to die,” I say quickly, desperate to regain his interest and that of the rest of his men. “But that’s not the point. See, I’m this big ol’ dirty dyke who won’t accept her proper role, right? And even worse, I make other women reject men. Reject people like you. And that’s just not right, is it, Zeke?”
“It’s disgusting,” he agrees.
“I’m the worm in the apple, and you need to cut it out.”
“Yes.”
“Or you could make the worm work for you.”
His eyebrows furrow. I risk a quick glance past him. They are almost here. Just a little longer.
“Work how?”
“All any woman needs is a good man, and she’ll know her place, isn’t that right? Well, maybe you just need to prove it. Make me the example of how it all should work.”
He finally gets where I’m going. He sneers. “I wouldn’t touch you if you were the last woman on earth, you filthy whore.”
I smile wickedly. “Good. Because I’d rather die than let you touch me, you fucking pig.”
His momentary shock at my response is replaced by a vicious anger. “Say good-bye, bitch.”
“Good-bye, bitch,” I snarl.
“Hold it right there, Zeke,” Buck shouts, startling Zeke and his men. They spin around to come face to face with Buck and about twenty of the farm’s residents with guns cocked and ready. Nate is with them. Dunk is there, too, his eyes blazing against the darkness. Zeke’s men bring their guns up. It is a standoff.
I let myself breathe for the first time, being careful to stay as still and quiet as possible as I continue to kneel on the ground, seemingly forgotten. Buck’s plan had been to stay hidden with his men until Zeke and his boys had made it down to the dorm to find everyone gone. The rest of the farm’s residents were to escape, some unseen, but with some acting as decoys. We had figured that Zeke would not know just how many people were living on the farm now, and therefore he would see people running but wouldn’t realize Buck and his men were missing, lying in wait. Buck had thought they’d be able to sneak up on Zeke in the confusion and overpower him, before he had hostages. Unfortunately, Zeke’s men had been quicker than Buck had anticipated. But Buck and his men had been out there watching, waiting for the right moment to strike.
“Don’t do this, Zeke,” Buck pleads. “Just take your men and go.”
“I’m not going anywhere, old man,” Zeke says almost gleefully. “This farm belongs to me.”
“It never belonged to you, Zeke. That’s always been your problem. You think you can bully your way through life taking whatever you want. But that’s no way to live, son.”
“I’m not your son!” Zeke explodes.
“But that’s how I always treated you. Like family. You were always welcome here.”
“You cast me out.”
“Because you wouldn’t live by the rules—”
“Your rules, not mine.”
“Zeke,” Buck says sadly, shaking his head. “No good can come of this. Why don’t you just take your men and leave. We’ll forget this ever happened. If it’s food you need, we’ll give it to you. Just let us live in peace, and we’ll do the same for you.”
Zeke spins, and I have no time to brace myself. He grabs me with one hand and drags me up to my feet, pressing the end of his shotgun into my temple. Buck’s eyes widen in horror.
I can hear commotion behind me, and out of the corner of my eye I see Tony trying to hold Kat
e back. Tony clamps his hand over Kate’s mouth as he drags her off to the side. They move unnoticed by Zeke and his men, as they are too focused on the continuing standoff. I am just grateful Kate and the others are now out of harm’s way.
“Please don’t do this, Zeke,” Buck says, begging for my life.
The cold metal of the gun presses deeper into my temple. Zeke is growing more agitated.
“You threw me out!”
“Don’t do it,” Buck says even as he raises his gun at Zeke. His eyes dart over to me, and I silently plead with him to end this.
Take the shot, Buck. It doesn’t matter. Just take the shot.
I don’t want to die. Not now, not after everything I’ve done and fought through to get here. I crane my head, finding Kate’s eyes in the darkness. If my death will buy her life, it is a price I am willing to pay. I know it’s not fair, and I know it’s not what she would want, but I am too selfish to think any differently. I cannot bear to live without her.
Zeke’s men tighten their grips and Buck’s men do the same. Faces strain tight with tension, cutting across the quiet that descends. No one seems to dare to move, or even breathe. Eyes shift nervously between Buck and Zeke, who are locked on each other. Finally, someone moves. I don’t see it, but I hear the snap of a twig, followed by a shot ringing out across the silence.
It is impossible to tell who fired, but my heart stops as Buck staggers backward. Guns lower as Buck drops his gun and clutches at his side, trying to stop the dark patch that blossoms across his shirt. Two of his men are at his side in an instant, while the rest of the men from the farm jerk their guns back up angrily. Zeke’s men follow suit, and the standoff resumes. Buck steadies himself, then brushes off the hands that have been trying to help him. Reluctantly the men step back, and Buck straightens, still pressing his hand to his side.
“Enough, Zeke,” Buck says weakly. He is gasping for air. “That’s enough now.”
Zeke says nothing, but his grip on me loosens. The gun moves away slightly, too, though I barely notice. I stare at Buck, who seems to be growing a little stronger. Buck’s men cast worried glances at their leader, while Zeke’s men seem to be growing more nervous by the second.
“I’m okay,” Buck tells his men. “It just nicked me.”
Buck’s words bring some measure of relief, enabling his men to regain their focus. That, plus Buck’s shooting, has a clear effect. Zeke’s men are beginning to waver.
“Come on, Zeke. Let the girl go, and walk away.”
For a moment, I think Zeke might actually listen, and his grip slackens a little further. But then, for reasons passing understanding, Zeke explodes. He pushes me forward, releasing his grip completely. I flail to the ground, turning in mid-fall to see Zeke bring his other hand up to the shotgun and point it squarely at my chest.
There is no time for my life to flash before me. I have a split second to wonder whether I will feel any pain before the end. Then I hear the gunshot.
Chapter Thirty-four
Duncan watched as Zeke’s eyes widened in surprise before his body fell to the ground in a heap. He barely remembered pulling the trigger.
He glanced down at Taylor, who was staring at Zeke’s now-lifeless body. She looked up at him finally, her shock clearly evident. He could only imagine what she was feeling. Zeke had almost killed her, but Duncan had stopped him. If it had not been for the smoke curling off the barrel of his rifle, he might not have even believed he had fired the shot. But as he watched the smoke rise lazily into the night, he knew. And he was glad.
Duncan looked back to the ground and watched absently as blood seeped into the grass from beneath Zeke’s corpse. He idly wondered how long it would take for the earth to erase the bloodstain.
The world froze around him. He looked up and looked straight into Buck’s eyes, but he couldn’t read what he saw there. Something akin to sadness and pride, with a little bit of horror mixed in, Duncan thought. He would have to ponder that later.
Buck stared back at Duncan for a bit longer before turning his attention to Zeke’s men.
“It’s over,” he said quietly. Duncan thought Buck was speaking more to himself than to Zeke’s men. “You men can walk away, no one will stop you. But if you ever come back you will be shot on sight.”
Zeke’s men glanced around at each other and then started to backpedal from their fallen leader.
“Leave your guns on the ground,” Buck ordered.
It took a minute, but one by one they complied. Each man slowly set his gun down where he stood, as if he was afraid that any sudden movement would get him killed. Then the men turned and fled north, back the way they had come onto the farm, leaving Zeke’s body where it had fallen.
Duncan settled his rifle down at his side, keeping his focus on the fleeing men. Eventually, he looked back to Taylor, who was slowly getting up from the ground. Kate rushed past him and was at her side in an instant, helping her up. Duncan watched Kate frantically check Taylor over for injuries. He was glad they had each other. Maybe now he would be able to have someone someday, too.
“Sam, Tony, go follow them and make sure they leave without delay,” Buck said. The men nodded and headed off after Zeke’s men, along with a few other of Buck’s men in tow. Duncan thought about following, too, but for some reason his feet refused to move.
“Now we need to get everyone back,” Buck said, smiling slightly. Duncan watched as a few of the men set off east for the kids, and west for everyone else. Nate led the charge to go bring back the children.
Those who remained behind were suffering a combination of shock and exhilaration. Some stood in stunned silence, while others began chatting nervously. Duncan kept off to the side, his eyes once again drawn down to Zeke’s limp body. For some reason, Duncan half expected to not find it there, like a bogeyman in a horror movie who dies but is not really dead. He did not notice Taylor and Kate approaching him until they blocked his line of sight. He looked up. Kate quickly wrapped her arms around him, hugging him like he was a long-lost relative she had not seen in a dozen years. He thought about hugging her back, but he could not seem to get his limbs to work. He just stood there, letting Kate hug him.
She pulled back, and Taylor stepped up to fill the void, although she did not put her arms around him. He was a little relieved by that, although he was not sure why. Instead she reached up and squeezed his shoulder.
“Thank you,” she whispered, her eyes full of tears. He could not understand why there would be tears, but he nodded anyway.
Shouts filled the air, and they all turned to find Buck lying on the ground. They sprinted toward him, Taylor and Kate pushing their way to his side. Duncan hung back slightly, his brain fuzzy and unable to comprehend what was happening. He could hear the words, but it would be hours before he could fully absorb them.
“Hang on, Buck. We’re going to get help,” Taylor said urgently. She was kneeling at his side, gripping his hand tightly. Kate was pressing someone’s shirt into the wound at Buck’s side. Even in the faint morning light, which Duncan finally noticed creeping across the ground, Buck looked pale.
“It’s okay. I’m ready,” Buck said shakily.
“But we’re not. Please, Buck,” Taylor pleaded.
“Yes, you are. More than you know.”
Taylor’s head dropped to her chest.
“They’re gonna look to you now.”
Duncan watched as Taylor looked back at Buck, her eyebrows knitted together.
“Why me?”
“Take care of them.”
“Come on, Buck. You have to fight,” Taylor begged. Tears streamed down her face.
“Not everyone can be saved,” Buck whispered, smiling softly. “Sometimes…the best you can do is die at peace.”
“Are you?” she asked, her voice breaking. “At peace?”
Duncan waited for Buck to respond, but he never did. His eyes stayed open, staring up at the early morning sky. Taylor reached over and ran her fingers gently acro
ss his eyelids, closing them. Duncan turned, following Buck’s sight line toward the horizon, where he was met with the most stunning sunrise he had ever seen.
Chapter Thirty-five
Five months have passed since Zeke’s attack on the farm, and the earth is beginning to awaken from its hibernation. Leaves are sprouting from barren branches, and the air carries that particular smell that always seems to announce the coming of spring.
We buried Buck behind the farmhouse, next to his wife. She died in the plague, but her last wish had been for Buck to help as many people as he could, which is exactly what he had done. His legacy is Burninghead Farm, which we recently renamed Burninghead, Indiana.
We buried Zeke, too, but the location of his grave isn’t worth remembering.
Just as Buck said, the farm looked to me after his death. I still don’t understand it. There were plenty of people more qualified to take over for Buck than me, and it seemed only right that the leadership role would have fallen to his daughters, Margie and Franny. But they declined, saying there was more to running Burninghead Farm than actually understanding how to run a farm, and that Buck had chosen me. I was responsible for the farm and its residents now, they said. For some reason, that thought didn’t scare me as much as it might have not so long ago.
We took in more folks over the winter, people who either stumbled upon the farm in search of a new life or who had been sent our way. Buck’s rules remain in effect. Anyone is welcome, as long as they don’t mean us any harm. Everyone is entitled to their privacy. Everyone pitches in. It wasn’t long before even tripling up in the dorm wasn’t enough, and we made plans to begin building small cabins as soon as the ground thawed. We began construction in March and things are progressing quickly. Ten homes have been finished. They don’t have plumbing or electricity, but no one seems to mind. Kate and I moved into our home a few weeks ago, the community insisting we take the first one. Rusty moved in with us. He has rarely left my side since Buck died.
I proposed to Kate one winter evening, out beneath the full moon. It was a magical night, the whole farm coming out to find a pristine snowfall blanketing the landscape. We made snow angels in the moonlight with some of the children, while others made snowmen and threw snowballs. I had been planning on proposing for a while, and as we stood beneath the stars, looking out across a field of angels in the snow, the time seemed perfect. Thankfully, she said yes. We made plans to wed later in the spring. It won’t be official of course, since there is no such thing as official anymore, but one of our newer residents is a former notary who is working up a whole system of record keeping that will include marriage licenses. Kate and I will be the first to receive a license. It will be stamped with the seal of Burninghead, Indiana.
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