by Hunt, Jack
He nodded.
She shook her head. “I… No. Um.” She stumbled over her words not thinking that her inability to be forthright was an admission by default.
“I get it.”
“You do?” she asked, puzzled by his reply.
He nodded. “You were here alone. Well, you had Max but… it’s normal to want to feel a sense of security. He probably offered that. I have to ask though… did you sleep with him?”
“No. God no.”
“Would you rather he be here than me?”
“No. I think…” She started but in that moment her heart was contemplating the question. “You’re Max’s father and… more than that… you’re my husband.”
Landon took a sip of his drink. “I’ve changed, Sara.”
“What do you mean?”
“Being away. Nearly dying multiple times, losing Ellie, living with very little and wondering if the next time I fell asleep someone would kill me — it changes a person.” He set his drink down. “It’s made me think about my decisions. My life. What matters. I don’t want to live a lie.”
“You’re losing me here, Landon. What are you trying to say?”
“Us. You and I. Let’s face it, before this we were one step away from getting divorced. I didn’t want to admit it back then as I didn’t know who I was without you but in those months away, I realized it’s insane to pursue a life with someone unless you are 100 percent wanting to be with them. Now I know love isn’t easy. It’s hard work and I expected that getting married but I just felt that I was holding you back. Back from doing what you wanted to do, going where you wanted to go, and being with who you wanted to be with.”
“That’s not true.”
He raised a hand. “Just bear with me.” Landon leaned forward clasping his hands together. “Tell me that you didn’t feel it too. A sense of feeling trapped in a relationship that had lost its spark.”
“Every relationship loses its spark, Landon. It’s called getting married.”
“Does it? Nah, I understand that the dynamics change. The honeymoon period ends and the mundane can take over but…”
“Landon, what are you trying to say?”
He had this way of stumbling over his words, usually when he was having to come up with another reason to leave for his job, but this wasn’t about his job, it was about them, and in all the years they’d been married she’d never managed to get more out of him than a grunt or a nod when it came to talking about them. Avoiding issues was what he was good at.
“I guess what I’m trying to say is—”
The door burst open and Sam entered, rifle in hand. “You all need to get your things now and come with me.”
“What? Why?”
“I’ll explain on the way but we don’t have time. I need to get Carl and…”
Sara hurried over to him and grabbed him. “Sam. What is going on?”
“It’s Bennington. He’s back and he’s not alone.”
13
Sam was frantic and putting everyone’s nerves on edge. While Landon assisted him with Carl and tried to make sense of the situation, he had Sara go and alert Dakota and Beth. Fortunately with the ruckus he made, she didn’t have to go far. They were already out on the landing wanting to know what was happening.
“Grab a bag, a gun and meet us downstairs. Sara, how many horses you got?”
“Enough. But what about Jake? Where is he?” she asked. Landon shot her a look but she continued. “I just want to make sure he’s safe.”
Sam replied as he shouldered the door on Carl’s bedroom. “He’s alerting others in town and holding them at bay.”
“What?” Sara asked. “Well we should go and help.”
“No!” Sam yelled. “With the way the meeting went tonight, this town is too divided. Right now they will welcome Bennington back. Believe me.”
“I don’t get it. What are you afraid of?” Landon asked him.
“I’ll explain later but right now it’s important that I get Carl to safety. You want to stay, be my guest but with the militia gone it won’t be long before they head this way.”
Sara scooped up a Winchester rifle and began bellowing orders. It was the first time he’d seen his wife take charge of a situation. While she wasn’t timid, she’d never been fond of guns.
Landon followed Sam into the room. Carl was already upright in the bed. “No need to explain. I got the cliff notes version,” he said.
“Come on, buddy,” Sam said scooping an arm underneath him while Landon tried to help. At that moment the doc came into the room.
“What on earth are you doing? He’s in no state to be moved.”
“No choice, doc. You want to tend to him, you better come with us,” Sam said. They dragged Carl out of the room wearing nothing more than underwear. Sam threw a blanket over his shoulder and told Beth who appeared in the doorway to grab a bag of Carl’s things. She glanced at Landon and he gave a nod.
“Landon?” Dakota said.
“Just follow.”
“But what about your son?”
“Shit.” It just dawned on him. “Is he not home yet?”
“Nope,” Beth said. “I looked in his room only a few minutes ago.”
He motioned to Dakota. “Give Sam a hand carrying him out. I’m staying here.”
Sam stopped. “Landon, if you stay I can’t help you.”
“I’m not leaving without my son. I’ve already lost one kid. I won’t lose another.”
Sam looked like he wanted to argue but the clock was ticking and so he continued on with the help of Dakota. Beth hung back. “Go. Go with them.”
“And leave you here?”
“I’ve got no problem with Bennington.”
“No. I didn’t leave you behind on the trail and I damn well won’t leave you here.”
“Beth. Listen to me.” He looked her in the eyes. “I will be okay.”
“The last time you said that, I found you in a pool of your own blood.”
He smiled and put a hand around her neck and gave it a squeeze, placing his forehead against hers. “I’m not going anywhere, okay? You have my word.”
She shook her head a few times until Sam called out. “Beth. You got that bag?”
“I’ll be one minute.”
“We need to go.”
“Beth.”
“Fuck.” She turned and whistled for Grizzly to follow. At the top of the stairs she looked back at him. “What if you don’t find him?”
“Then I will find you.”
Beth turned. “Sam. Where are we heading?”
“Nautilus Island. We already have a boat that’s ready.”
Beth looked back at him.
“Go.”
Reluctantly she went with Sam, leaving Landon alone in the house. He made his way to his son’s room and took a seat on the bed, placing the rifle beside him. It had been a long time since he’d been in there. His eyes glossed over the nightstand, his guitar and posters on the walls. Under his breath he muttered, “Where are you, Max?”
Max’s stomach grumbled. The smell of food was almost too much. “You’d think they’d give us one lousy piece of bread,” Eddie said. “Gluttonous bastards!” he bellowed which only extracted laughter from the group gathered around the fire. One of them tossed a scrap near his feet and laughed harder.
“I swear when I get out, I’m gonna rip your head off,” Eddie said.
Wood popped and crackled, and golden ash floated above the fire mixing with tendrils of smoke. Caine still hadn’t returned from wherever he’d gone that afternoon. Based on Max’s observations, Lindsay appeared to be his second in command while he was away. Every now and again she would look his way. In the darkness the flicker of the fire made shadows dance on her face. She really was quite attractive.
She muttered something to one of them and they tossed her an MRE bag and she got up and strolled over to him. “Hungry?”
“No shit,” Eddie said. “Do you guys just get off
on watching us suffer?”
She glanced at Eddie but didn’t reply.
“I could eat something but I’m afraid I’m a little tied up,” Max replied. She smiled and took a spoon and scooped out some of the food and brought it up to his lips. He opened his mouth and she teased him by putting it close to hips lips then pulling back while making engine sounds before finally letting him have it.
Max chewed. He swallowed and closed his eyes. “Oh man, that’s good. Chili?”
She nodded.
“Well that’s good to know,” Eddie piped up. “Now how about Eddie gets some, huh? Or are you just gonna play airplanes with him all night?”
Without looking at him she answered. “You’ll get some in a minute.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Great. I’ll just wait here then,” he said sarcastically.
A few scoops later, Max was starting to feel a little better. “Where’s your great leader?” he asked.
“Caine?”
“Is there any other?”
She smirked stabbing the contents of the bag a few times and mixing it up. “Had some business to take care of.”
“Right. Expecting him back tonight?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. He’s been known to return the next morning.”
Max nodded. “So are we expected to sleep standing up?”
“Yep,” she said placing another heaped spoonful in his mouth.
He chewed a few times and swallowed. “You and him an item?”
“An item?”
“A couple.”
She snorted. “No. Far from it. You could say I’m not his taste.”
“Really? Too bad for him,” Max said. That garnered a flirtatious smile.
“Oh please! Why don’t you two just get a room? Geesh. Now can I get some food?” Eddie asked. “I’m starving here. I’ve seen the elderly and disabled fed quicker than this.”
Lindsay turned and hollered for a guy named Bryan to feed him.
“Oh great. Just my luck. You get the hot chick and I get the guy who looks like he’s straight out of The Hills Have Eyes.” Eddie sighed shaking his head as the guy with the patch came over and began feeding him.
“So where you sleeping tonight?” Max asked.
She pointed with the spoon to a small treehouse. “Up there.”
“Quite the setup you got going on here. You build that?”
“We have some skilled people among us. It certainly prevents someone slicing your throat in the night. You hear them coming long before they enter. Of course that is if they can get by our scouts.”
“The guys who brought us in.”
“You got it.” She scraped the remains in the bag and after he downed the last spoonful she crumpled the bag and tossed it into the fire.
“By the way, the name’s Max.” She looked at him. “I never gave it earlier.” She cocked her head and glanced at the guy beside her. “How old are you?”
“Twenty. You?” she asked.
“Eighteen.”
She turned to walk back to the fire. “You got a drink? That food made me kind of thirsty.”
“I bet it did,” Eddie muttered. Before he could say any more Bryan shoved more food into his mouth. Max glanced at him and smiled. Lindsay returned with a canister and unscrewed the top. She pushed a strand of her hair back behind her ear as she brought up the canister to his lips. He took two big gulps and then started coughing.
Both of them laughed.
“What the hell is that?”
“I think they call it whiskey,” she said before cracking up laughing.
“Lightweight,” Bryan said, chuckling as he continued feeding Eddie.
Lindsay went to walk away while Max tried to keep her attention. “You never told me who you lost.” He figured if he could make a connection maybe she’d cut him loose. It was worth a shot.
“I told you.”
“I know — everyone. But how did it happen?”
The smile faded and he saw the pain, the same pain that was evident in everyone who had lost a family member. Losing one was hard enough but the thought of not having anyone intrigued him. How did she cope with that?
“Maybe I’ll tell you someday,” she said walking away. He sighed.
“Hey come on now, don’t you go cheap on me. There is still some left in that bag. You didn’t scrape the sides,” Eddie said as Bryan tossed the bag into the fire. “Ah man. At least can I lick the spoon?” he muttered before groaning. He looked over at Max. “The service is in this place is truly horrific.”
Max rolled his eyes.
“Did you honestly think that poor ass attempt to butter her up was going to work?”
“It was worth a shot.”
“I keep telling you. Leave the lady loving to me. Manipulation is a fine art that takes years to master, grasshopper. Watch and learn,” Eddie said scanning the females. “Hey darlin’.” A girl with ginger hair looked over. “Yeah you. Come over here.” The girl looked at Lindsay as if seeking her permission before she got up and ambled over. As she was making her way over Eddie muttered under his breath, “See. See. I told you. It’s all in the eyes, my friend.”
“Yeah?”
“Did anyone tell you…” He paused and she cocked her head.
“Tell me what?”
“Ugh. That um.” He looked at Max, as if hoping for a lifeline.
Instead Max just squeezed his eyes shut, shook his head in disbelief and waited for the inevitable — which was the sound of her boots as she walked away.
“Well at least I didn’t get a slap. That’s an improvement,” Eddie said. “I swear that pickup line was on the tip of my tongue.”
Max nodded, catching the eye of Lindsay.
As the night wore on he watched as one by one the group climbed up into their Ewok style abodes and the fire began to die down to nothing more than hot, glowing cinders. He saw several of the campers fan out in different directions — the scouts, he figured. Eddie had managed by some great feat to fall asleep standing up. His head was down and he was letting out a faint snore. “Seriously?” Max said. “Eddie.”
He got no answer. He was gone to the world.
Max wriggled in his restraints, feeling them bite into his skin. They itched and were too tight. He imagined by morning his fingers would be numb from having his circulation cut off. His mind began to wander, circling between his sister, his father and mother and everything that had become of Castine. Lost in thought he heard a branch crack. Instinctively he turned his head but couldn’t see. “Hello?” he said. No answer.
Suddenly he felt cold steel press against his hands then his wrists, a sharp tug as if someone had tightened them, and then they went loose. “What the heck?”
“Don’t say another word. And you try anything and I will raise the alarm.”
He turned to find Lindsay behind the post. “Come this way.”
She stuck a knife out to indicate which way to go, keeping him ahead of her at all times. “What about Eddie?”
“He’ll be fine.”
“Where are we going?”
“Just keep moving and stay quiet.”
She directed him to a tree not far from the perimeter of the clearing. There he was told to climb up. Without hesitation he used the ladder of rope that hung from a branch higher up. When he made it to the top she was already up there. He turned and looked back. “How did you get up here so fast?”
“We have a pulley system. The foot goes in a noose, you untie a section of rope and the bags drop and up you go.” He gave a nod to show he understood before looking around. A small candle in the corner of the wooden hut was providing enough illumination for him to see a bed that was made out of leaves. It was covered with blankets. There were a few pillows, and a small table that had a few items. Across the room was a wooden closet that contained some personal belongings, mostly clothes. “Sit,” she said jabbing the knife at him. He plunked himself down on the bed and squeezed it.
“Surprisingly comforta
ble,” he said lifting his eyes.
She stood at a distance from him. “Soldiers killed them.”
“What?”
“You asked how my family died. Soldiers were responsible.”
“The National Guard?”
She gave a nod. “Of course they won’t see it that way but that’s how they died.”
“What happened?”
“They wanted to confiscate weapons. My father wouldn’t let them. My mother came to his aid when they shot him. She went for the gun and…” She took a deep breath. “The rest is history.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
She gave a nod. “What about your sister?”
“It would probably be easier to stomach if I knew soldiers had done it. At least I could blame someone. But it was a plane crash. I don’t know if it was my father’s fault or mechanical failure or the power outage.”
“Didn’t he tell you?”
“I didn’t stick around to listen.”
She lifted her head back and nodded. “I see.”
“Yeah, anyway. I came over here with Eddie and he thought he could talk it out. Obviously the wrong choice.”
“Where did you get the guns from?”
He paused for a second then answered. “From the dead. It’s a long story but our group… on Castine… was attacked. The militia helped us and we managed to recover what was ours.”
“They still over there?”
“As far as I know.”
“And your parents?”
“There also. At the Manor Inn. My house.”
She nodded and walked over to him and slipped off her jacket revealing a flimsy top that had three buttons that were already unbuttoned. There were two more below that and she began to unbutton them. His eyes dropped to her breasts and then locked on to her gaze. He swallowed hard as she forced him down onto the bed. They rolled a few times, and it would have been a lie to say he wasn’t enjoying it but this was exactly what he’d hoped for — and she’d fallen for it.
Knowing that she had a knife in a sheath around her leg, Max slipped his hand down and for a brief second he nearly had it until she grabbed his wrists and pushed them back behind his head, continuing to mush her lips into his.
He flipped her over and held her wrists above her head. Both of them were breathing hard and she was fully into it and that’s when he knew he had to do it. Max latched on to the knife and pulled it out and brought it to her neck. “Sorry. I would love for this to continue. Believe me I would, but I don’t think Caine will see it the same way you do. I gotta go.” He backed up and she smiled. “Under any other circumstances. I would love to stay but maybe we can take a rain check.” He backed up and looked over his shoulder then back at her until he was by the exit which was a simple rope that went down.