by Dave Bowman
Jessa smiled. "That would be great. I've got my own camping gear and I prefer to sleep outside, but it'd be nice to have a home base with people nearby."
"That's just fine," Nick said. "Now, I own this lodge along with my brother. If luck is on my side, he will already be there with his wife and kids. They all live in East Texas. Or at least, I hope they're still alive."
Liz gave Nick a sympathetic look. She was afraid that Nick would be disappointed. After all, the virus had taken so many lives. What were the chances that it would spare Nick and his brother and his brother's family?
"More decent folks would be nice," Charlie said. "The world just feels so empty now."
There was a moment of silence as they all mourned those they had lost, and those they could only assume were dead.
"Well, we better move on," Nick said. "I'm going to siphon enough gas for whoever needs it, then let's hit the road."
They all nodded and went to their own vehicles to get themselves ready. Liz's stomach growled, and she thought of the small bit of food she had in her truck. She knew Nick had food at the lodge, but she didn't want to be such a burden and drain his reserves so quickly.
"Charlie, do you think I could get some food from that store, too? Mia and I don't have much to eat."
"Of course," he said. "I'll go with you."
He led her through the back door. Just a little light came in through the windows, making it hard to see in the darkened store. Charlie pulled a flashlight out and helped her to load some paper bags and boxes full of shelf-stable foods.
"Is this your first time to Jemez Springs?" he asked her.
The question struck her as odd, as if he were making pleasant conversation with a tourist passing through his town. The changes had been so quick and drastic – they were all still adjusting to their new circumstances.
"I think I came through once when I was a kid, with my family," she answered. "I'm not really sure."
"It'll get cold up in the mountains at night," he said. "You got some warm clothes?"
She smiled. "Yep, I packed my winter jacket, warm socks, all my sweaters. I should be OK. But it's Mia I worry about. I didn't see her pack many clothes at all. I kind of don't think she had many clothes to begin with."
Charlie looked at her. "Did you just meet her?"
Liz nodded. "Yeah, she was all alone in a little shack behind a gas station outside of Albuquerque. Locked up in there with her parents in the bedroom. Dead." She shuddered.
"Poor thing. I thought she was your little sister or something. Well, Natalie Olsen lived in the house over this store. I could go get some of her clothes. She was about 10 or 11 and bigger than Mia, but it'd be better than nothing."
"That would be great," Liz said. Already she felt protective of the little girl, and she hoped some extra clothes would make her more comfortable.
They went up the stairs to the second floor where the family had lived. It was a big family, and the smell of the dead was powerful.
They looked in three bedrooms before they found Natalie's. Each bedroom had corpses in the bed, and Liz was filled with nausea. It felt so wrong to be in their house, taking their things, but it also didn't make sense to pass up good clothes that would keep Mia warm – and food that would keep them all alive.
Liz shielded her eyes when they entered Natalie's room. She didn't want to see the dead body, and she quickly turned to the closet and bureau. They grabbed several shirts, some pants, sweaters, and jackets, throwing them into a duffel bag they found. Liz looked through the drawers for socks while Charlie located the winter scarves and hats. She remembered Mia's shabby shoes and grabbed some sneakers and warm boots.
They were relieved to leave the dark house and store, and carried their loads over to the truck where Mia waited.
"Look, Mia, we got you some clothes!" Liz chirped, trying to cheer Mia up. "You'll need warm clothes at the lodge. Us city girls aren't used to the mountains."
Liz tried to downplay what was obvious -- that Mia had come from a destitute family and her clothes were insufficient. Liz's efforts at putting the girl at ease seemed to work, and Mia gave a little smile.
"Thank you," she said shyly.
The three of them drank warm sodas and ate tuna straight from the can with plastic forks, and the food made them all feel a little better.
Nick finished the business with the gas. With the sun starting to go down, he led the way, followed by Liz and Mia, Jessa, and Charlie. The four vehicles set out down the bumpy gravel roads, climbing high into the mountains.
None of them knew what to expect at the lodge, but they all hoped for a peaceful refuge from the cities they had escaped.
13
Nick led them through the pitch black gravel road, climbing up into the mountains. The dark forest surrounded them, and he could only see a few feet in front of him -- just what his headlights could illuminate.
He had set out alone, and was now leading a convoy of four vehicles. He hadn't anticipated inviting three more adults and one child to stay at the lodge. He partially felt he had been a little careless inviting them to his home. But he couldn't leave the women to fend for themselves, especially not Liz who had a child with her.
And besides, the loneliness had gotten to him. He still had hope that his brother Tim would be waiting for him at the lodge, but he had to be prepared for the possibility that he'd never see Tim or his family again.
If Tim didn't show up, things would be hard all by himself. Nick was used to sharing a house with his family. The past few days of silence had worn him down. It wasn't that he couldn't be alone. In fact, he often enjoyed solitude and quiet moments. But the dead calm of his neighborhood in El Paso had been too much. He feared he would lose his mind living alone in such an empty, quiet world.
Now there would be more mouths to feed. Though their supplies were designed to last a few months feeding several adults and children, they wouldn't last forever. But the plan all along had been to plant some crops and hunt and fish as much as possible. With three or four more pairs of hands, the work would be easier.
Nick considered the newcomers to have pretty good heads on their shoulders. Liz was a city girl, but smart and resourceful. She had rescued a little girl, and he respected her for her kindness. Charlie was good-natured and knew the area.
Jessa seemed capable and tough as nails, but also reserved and slow to trust. But Nick didn't hold that against her. After all, he assumed it would have been hard dealing with the collapse of civilization as a woman on her own. There were too many people looking to take advantage of anyone vulnerable. And though Jessa was strong, she was also a target for the cruel men he had seen on the road.
All in all, the new folks seemed like a decent sort to spend the end of the world with. Maybe it hadn't been such a bad idea to invite them after all.
Finally, he saw the three tall pines next to the boulder, the sign that they had arrived. He turned off into a small clearing just past the boulder. He led the vehicles down a trail through the woods just wide enough for his truck, and he went slowly, hoping Charlie's little car wouldn't get stuck. The trail led to another small clearing, hidden from the road behind the forest.
Nick's heart sank when he saw they were the first there. No other vehicles: no Tim. The realization that he had probably lost his brother stung, but he had to carry on.
He parked the truck, killing the engine, and the rest followed his example. He got out and grabbed his flashlight.
"We still have to walk in about a half mile. So carry in what you'll need tonight, and we'll come back for the rest in the morning."
They grabbed what they needed and the four of them followed Nick through the woods. The path was narrow, and they had to dodge tree branches, using only flashlights to light their way. They moved slowly.
Finally, the forest opened into a small meadow, and the lodge was before them. It was a humble, but fairly large, wooden house, and they were all relieved to see it.
"Welcome to Redmond Ranch," Ni
ck said, smiling. He unlocked the door and let them all in, moving to light a few oil lamps.
The living room was spacious and comfortable, with enough chairs and couches for them all. Everyone plopped down to rest except Nick, who went from room to room, checking to make sure everything was just as he had left it the last time he was there.
"I thought I was going to have to camp tonight," Liz said. "This is so much more comfortable."
Charlie nodded. "Yeah, we sure are lucky to be here."
Jessa nodded. "Definitely safer to be together in times like this. Santa Fe got pretty ugly."
Nick returned to the living room.
"Everything checks out OK. The house is just as I left it when I was here last year," he said. "I turned the propane tank on. Who wants a hot meal?"
The idea of food animated them, and they all jumped to their feet to help put together a meal out of their canned food and what little fresh food they had left between them.
Soon, they were all seated at the kitchen table with a hodgepodge of food laid out before them. Hot soup from cans was the centerpiece, but they also had some summer sausage, cheese, and crackers from the Olsens' store that Charlie had found. There was a well on the property, but Nick said he wanted to check it out before they drank it. So for now, they drank water from bottles.
“Oh, I almost forgot!” Liz said, reaching into her bag and laying out some pastries on a plate. “I have dessert. They're a bit past 'day old,' but they're still good.”
Charlie made a face. “No thanks. I'm gluten free.”
Everyone stared at him, then he broke into a grin.
“Just kidding,” he said as he grabbed a donut while they all laughed.
It was the first meal they had shared with other people in days, and the mood was jovial. They each had their own losses to mourn, but for now they could enjoy the food and company.
"Here's to surviving," Nick said, raising his water bottle in a toast. "We're all lucky to be alive."
"To surviving," they said, raising their bottles.
Once their bellies were full and the kitchen tidied, they all lounged in the living room by the light of the oil lamps.
"Nick, how long has this lodge been in your family?" Jessa asked.
"My grandfather built it, a long time ago," Nick said. "My brother and I were the last to inherit it. We were the only ones who wanted it. We've come here to hunt and fish all our lives, and it's always felt like a second home."
"I'm sure grateful to you for opening up your home like this to a few strangers," Charlie said.
"Yeah, it's very generous of you, Nick," Jessa said.
"Totally. Thank you so much," Liz gushed. "I know Mia is happy to be here, too." She put her arm around Mia and gave her a little squeeze. Mia nodded, but didn't say anything. She hadn't really said a word since they had arrived.
"It's my pleasure to share what I have and help good people," Nick said.
"I'm sorry your brother's not here," Jessa said.
The others agreed. They had all been thinking about it, but didn't want to broach the subject.
Nick looked into the lamp and was quiet for a while. "I guess it was wishful thinking that Tim and Rachel and the kids could make it."
They all fell silent, lost in their own thoughts.
"Well, I guess we've all been through a lot the past week. And it's been a long day. I'll show you all to the rooms. There are four bedrooms."
"Mia, do you want to share a room with me?" Liz asked.
The child nodded.
"So I'll give you two the room with the twin beds. Jessa, are you sure you want to camp tonight?" Nick asked.
Jessa smiled sheepishly. "To be honest, not really."
"There's a bedroom next to Liz and Mia's if you want it."
"Thanks, Nick. A bed sounds much better than a tent right now, so I'll take you up on it."
Nick showed them to their rooms. Everyone fell asleep almost immediately, exhausted from the difficult days they had gone through. All the uncertainty, panic, fear, and loss had worn them down. It was a relief to feel safe, but they all knew not to let their guard down. They feared what may lay around the corner.
14
September 5
Nick woke at sunrise and reached out for Kaitlyn, grasping futilely at the sheets until he remembered. The same old grief washed over him. He wondered if it would hurt this bad forever.
But he didn't linger in bed for long. There was work to be done.
After getting dressed, he trudged outside to look over the well and inspect the water. He and Tim had installed a solar-powered well pump system two years ago, and it was still running fine. He had a home test kit to check for contaminates. Thankfully, the water was safe to drink, and he enjoyed a cool glass of the mineral-rich, non-chlorinated water.
Soon everyone was up, and they had granola and the last of Liz's pastries for breakfast.
After they had cleaned up, they went out to the front porch. Mia gasped when she saw the view.
The lodge was at the top of a hill with a meadow before it. Surrounding the meadow were majestic pines. They could see the forested, blue-green peaks to the right, and red rocky boulders to the left. The sky was crystal blue, and the air smelled of cedar and pine. It was stunning.
"It's gorgeous here," Liz breathed.
"This is one of the prettiest parts of the Jemez," Charlie said. "Your grandpa sure picked a nice spot."
Even Jessa, who had seen so many gorgeous areas of northern New Mexico, agreed that the location was excellent.
"We're really high up, aren't we?" Liz asked, taking some aspirin she'd dug out of her purse. "I think I've got altitude sickness. Terrible headache."
"Yeah, we're at about 7,200 feet. It's quite a jump from Albuquerque," Nick said. "Just drink lots of water, and you'll adjust."
He leaned against the railing of the porch, the morning rays of sun falling on his brown hair.
"The well water checks out fine, so you're free to drink from it. It's a deep well, but we have to be careful not to waste any water at all. In fact, this might be a good time to talk about some ground rules," Nick said.
"First, don't waste. Anything. Water, food, fuel, firewood, it's all precious. Conserve, and only take what you need."
Everyone nodded.
"Second, everyone pitches in for as long as you're here. We all have something to offer, something we can do, and there won't be a lack of work. Sound reasonable?"
Nods.
"That's about it, really."
"I think we can all agree to do that," Liz said. "But I worry about us being in the way. This is your lodge and your supplies. Are you sure you have enough for us?"
"There's enough for a while," Nick said. "But it's not enough forever. We'll have to find more food somehow, whether it's hunting and growing our own, or scavenging. As long as you stay here, you'll have to contribute to everyone's survival."
"I can definitely do that," Charlie said. "I've been hunting and fishing in this country all my life. And I worked at the Fat Elk restaurant. I can wash dishes like the best of them."
Nick smiled. “That's good. We'll have to keep this place clean to not attract pests. Jessa, is that a Forest Service truck you're driving?”
"Yeah, I'm a ranger out in the Pecos National Forest -- I mean, I was a ranger. So I know my way around the woods, and I'm good with hand tools. Woodcraft, trail work, tree work -- that kind of thing,” Jessa said.
"I'm afraid I don't have many useful skills," Liz sighed. "I worked as a barista. I don't think I'll be making any fancy coffee drinks anymore."
Nick chuckled. "Don't worry, there's no shortage of chores out here. We'll find something for you to do around here."
He bent down to Mia's level and winked. "And for you too. I had a boy around your age and he was learning how to do all kinds of useful things."
Nick stood back up and looked off at the distant mountain ranges.
"I think the best thing would be to
form a kind of community," Liz said. "Maybe we'll come across other survivors, people who need help. We could spread out a little, build other houses nearby. Everybody working together to survive."
"Have you seen many other survivors who weren't shooting each other?" Jessa asked. "From what I saw, everyone else out there is crazy."
"Let's just take it one step at a time," Nick said in his Texas twang. "It might be nice to have other people nearby who are good neighbors, but that's a long-term plan. We need to be careful who we trust. For now, no outsiders coming back here. I took a chance on you all, and it turned out all right. But now that we're here at this house, we can't just let anybody have access here."
"OK, I understand," Liz said, pushing her hair behind her ear. "First things first."
The group returned to the trail where they had turned off from the gravel road, brushing away the tracks and any signs of the vehicles. They dragged fallen limbs to the trail to make it virtually impossible to be seen from the road. They hauled all their gear to the lodge and inventoried all their food.
Mia seemed to enjoy making lists of all the types of food and counting it up. Though she still was barely speaking, her expression was a little more animated. She was wearing the clothes they had brought her, and though they were loose on her, she looked more comfortable.
Jessa was working in the large walk-in pantry, cleaning and organizing the stores of food, when Liz walked by. Jessa motioned for the younger woman to stop.
"Is Mia a relative of yours?" Jessa asked her, whispering.
"No, I found her all alone in Albuquerque. She had spent two days alone after her parents died, just holed up in a little shack."
"So those bruises..."
"I guess those are from her parents," Liz whispered. "She'll hardly talk to me. I asked her if she was hurt, if she needed any medicine or anything, and she said she was fine."
"Poor little girl. Maybe she'll have a better life here, you know? Away from her abusive parents."
"I'm just hoping she'll open up to me sooner or later. I think she will. She just needs time."