Mercy

by Tara Ellis

  “Chloe!” Bishop shouted from nearby, jarring her from her thoughts and causing her to focus again on where she was.

  They’d entered the upper field and Chloe saw Bishop was partway down the trail, on his way to the house. He was holding a stack of notebooks and looking rather serious, even for Bishop.

  “I wanted a chance to talk with you before the meeting,” he said once she reached him. Lifting the notebooks, he frowned at them. “These are all the transcripts from my radio transmissions, and I stayed up most of the night writing down all the details about The Farm and vault program.”

  “Okay.” Chloe stared at him quizzically, not sure what it was he wanted her to say.

  “Chloe, I’ve betrayed a lot of people’s trust and I know I’m going to need to prove myself to them.” Bishop hesitated before looking behind them to where James and his team was busy breaking down their camp at the far end of the field. “But I want to make sure we’re okay. I want you to know that no matter what happens with The Farm, or even James, I’m not going to stop trying to find your parents. I consider you a part of my family now, and family never abandons each other.”

  One of the things Chloe appreciated about Bishop was that he was a man whose word meant something. He might not have been forthcoming about who he really was, but anything he’d ever done or said was genuine and Chloe knew she could rely on him. If Bishop said he was going to find her parents, he would. Or, at least find out what happened to them. And he was right; they were family now. Just like Miller Ranch was her home.

  “Of course we’re okay,” she said with a smile. “My only problem now is that I don’t know if I should call you Bishop, Carl, Colonel, or Mr. Campbell.”

  Laughing, he put an arm around her shoulder and they began to walk together toward the farm. “Bishop. I think I’ve always preferred that man.”

  “Me too,” Chloe agreed, thinking back over the past month and all that had happened, including her own personal growth. She was different. In some ways, she’d need time to heal and rediscover some aspects of herself and how to get over being forced to take another life. In other ways, she was a better person. Stronger, and kinder, because of the people she’d come to know, including Bishop.

  Leaning into Bishop’s arm, Chloe had no idea what their future was going to look like, but so long as they were all together, it would be okay. She would be okay.

  Chapter 31

  DANNY

  Miller Ranch, Mercy, Montana

  Danny was conflicted by the contrasting scenery as they rode three abreast on the trail to the lake. Her dad and Sam were talking amiably beside her while she absorbed the early morning sun, birdsong, and aroma of warmed pine needles and wet hay. However, mixed in with the seemingly charming setting was the browning grass and lingering odd cloud formations. The birds pleasantly twittering could take flight into erratic and sometimes suicidal patterns without warning, which always made Danny apprehensive when she heard them.

  To someone who hadn’t experienced the past twenty-five days, the tranquil countryside would have appeared almost normal, but they all knew the truth. It was going to be a long struggle that would likely involve ongoing changes before any sort of standard measure of normalcy could be set.

  “Bishop said James and his unit are getting ready to leave in a couple of hours,” Sam was telling Tane. “Apparently, they’re based out of Southern California, which is being hammered by storms worse than we’re experiencing. They’ve got to get their families before they can come back and settle into any sort of role here.”

  “They’re going to stop here first after getting refueled though, right?” Danny interrupted, concerned. Bishop assured her the night before that he would get a message through to the Malmstrom base about sending some medication with the soldiers delivering the fuel. In addition to the desperately needed antibiotics and insulin, he’d requested the beta blockers for her dad. Danny wasn’t sure the base infirmary would give up the more popular meds, but she was hoping the heart medication wouldn’t be in high demand.

  “They’ll be flying right back over. Mercy is on their way to Idaho,” Sam said with a nod. “I’m sure the senator will stop if they’ve got anything, Danny.”

  Sam knew how concerned she was about her dad, and that he’d gone without his meds now for a couple of days. He was a good friend, and she appreciated how positive he remained, in spite of his own suffering that he never mentioned, let alone complained about.

  Tane cleared his throat and leaned forward enough that he could look over at Danny. “I think I’ll be fine without the medicine for a bit. Turns out all these outdoor activities and eating only fresh food has helped me shed quite a few pounds. It’s a much healthier lifestyle. I’m feeling better than I have in a long time.”

  Danny’s initial response was to remind her father that no amount of lifestyle change could reverse the damage to his heart, but she bit back the words. He knew that already and certainly didn’t need her telling him. Instead, she smiled reassuringly. “You look great, Dad.”

  Grace suddenly lunged past them and leapt off the trail as they neared the lake, barking happily and running in a wide circle around Lilly, who was tied to a tree. Danny knew Tom was close by and turned her horse from the trail to follow the golden retriever. “I’ll meet you up there!” she called to Sam and her father, feeling better than she thought she would as they rode off together. Sam’s positive attitude had a way of rubbing off on people, and Danny knew from experience that it absolutely helped when someone had a chronic health issue. She needed to learn from her friend and take each day as it came, instead of worrying so much about the future.

  Reaching Lilly, she dropped from her horse and tied the mare up while laughing at Grace’s antics. The dog had been to the lake on a number of occasions, yet she still got so excited about the water that she was worse than a small child. Picking up a stick, Danny tossed it out into the body of water to make Grace happy.

  She’d been to the lake herself on more than one occasion, so she felt pretty sure of where she’d find Tom. After a quick hike around the far end, Danny located him at what he claimed was his favorite fishing hole. “Any luck?” she called out when she spotted his pole sticking out of the trees.

  “Nah.” Tom pulled the line from the water and met her partway, holding out a hand to help her over some logs. “I didn’t really expect to catch any, not after that storm last night. It was more to clear my head. This place has a good way of doing that.”

  Danny frowned at him, picking up on the tension in his shoulders and the lines in his forehead. “What’s got you so worried?”

  “The whole reason Patty stepped down and apparently appointed me as mayor was because of her losing the confidence of the city council,” Tom explained, looking out over the placid lake. “One of the first things I did was withhold information from them that nearly got Mercy destroyed. It’s going to take some work to gain their trust back and I’m not sure how to do it.”

  “Tom.” Danny said his name tersely and he looked at her with some surprise. “You need to stop apologizing for yourself all the time. Yeah, you’ve made some mistakes, but we all have. You literally knew about that seed vault for a day, and it wasn’t even your secret to tell. If you feel some great need to ask the council and town leaders for forgiveness over this, then go ahead. Personally, I think you should own up to your choices with self-assurance. That’s what Patty sees in you, and why the people of Mercy want to follow you. You have the ability to make hard choices when the chips are down and what they all need right now is to see that confidence.”

  Tom’s shoulders relaxed and he grinned at Danny, taking her other hand in his. “See? This is why I need you here on the farm with me. Everything else aside, you give amazing advice.”

  Danny moved in closer and looked up at Tom, enjoying his nearness and the strength she always drew from him. “Are you asking me to move in with you, Mr. Miller?”

  Tom blushed and searched her face,
trying to tell if she was serious. “Well, I’ve been hoping you might decide to stay.”

  “Only if you’re willing to share me with Chief Martinez,” she said innocently, batting her eyes at him.

  Frowning, Tom opened his mouth to ask a question and then closed it again, struggling for the right words. Laughing, Danny put a hand on this chest and gave him a reassuring kiss. “Don’t worry, Mayor. I’ll let you court me properly, and I was referring to my taking three shifts a week at the fire station. Chief Martinez has his own farm that’s been suffering for the past month, so I thought I could help out and also work at the clinic on those days.”

  Shaking his head at her, Tom smiled good-naturedly. “I think it’s a great idea. I’ll be riding into town most days to take care of my mayoral duties, as Patty likes to call it, so we can check in with each other.”

  Danny followed Tom out of the cove after he retrieved his pole and they headed back to the horses. Grace found them, still grasping the wet stick in her mouth, so Danny threw it again to the dog’s utter delight. “Be careful what you wish for,” she said with a more casual tone. “You might end up getting tired of being around me so much.”

  Turning to her near Lilly, Tom surprised Danny by reaching out and cupping her face with both of his hands. She noticed how careful he was not to bump the small dressing on her ear, and it made her love him even more.

  “One of the few things in this life I’m still sure of is the fact that I’ll never get tired of being with you,” Tom said with such sincerity that Danny was speechless. He kissed her gently then before letting her go. “Don’t ever forget that.”

  She wouldn’t. Standing there in a place she would have never dreamt of being only a month before, Danny had somehow miraculously found love. She wished it hadn’t taken the end of the world for her to face her demons, but through the inconceivable experiences, she finally knew who she was again. A strong, independent woman with broad shoulders, and an even bigger heart.

  Chapter 32

  ETHAN

  Miller Farm, Mercy, Montana

  By the time Ethan and Chloe reached the lookout, council members were starting to arrive and his dad was already there, leaning on a fence from a safe distance. He knew his dad was probably running over what he was going to say, but Ethan needed a minute with him.

  “Find us a seat?” he said, turning to Chloe.

  Chloe grinned in response, since they’d be standing in an open grassy area. “Go,” she said, shooing him away, understanding the real request.

  Ethan glanced out over the open expanse as he neared his dad. He was always awestruck by the view up there, no matter how many times he saw it. The particular ledge they were perched on was high up on the west side of the valley with a sweeping vista in every other direction, including the town of Mercy. In spite of the unusual colors streaked through the clouds as the sun continued to rise, and the browning foliage that was becoming more apparent every day, it still made Ethan feel safe. It was their valley, their home, and they would continue to protect it. He knew his dad would do whatever was necessary, and that also gave him courage.

  “Hey, Dad,” he called out.

  Tom looked pleased to see him, instead of being annoyed at having his solitude interrupted. “I’m glad you came over,” he said, lifting a hand up toward Ethan. “I’ve been waiting for you. I wanted to give you this.”

  Confused, Ethan stared at the dull-colored rock in the palm of his dad’s hand. It took him a moment. When he finally recognized it as the trilobite Ed Hanson gave him on the second day after the flashpoint, unexpected tears sprang to his eyes. “You’ve had it this whole time? I thought I’d lost it, when…you know.”

  “When Decker and Billy took you,” Tom finished for him, his voice rough.

  Ethan placed his hand over the fossil and looked up at his dad. He was surprised to see he was fighting to control his emotions, something that didn’t happen very often.

  “I found it in the road when I woke up,” Tom continued after clearing his throat. “I made a vow to myself then that I would find you, Ethan. I knew I would because you’re a survivor. I knew you’d never give up and I want this to serve as a reminder to you. No matter what’s happened, the things done to you or what you’ve been forced to do, remember that you’re a survivor in life and in staying true to yourself.”

  Although it was exactly what Ethan needed to hear, he didn’t know if he believed any of it. After his encounter with Russell and what the guy had said to him, he’d been having a hard time shaking off the feeling that maybe he was right. With all the darkness Ethan experienced the past month, maybe it wasn’t possible to come through it without losing a part of himself. “How do I even know who I am anymore?” he gasped, looking away from his dad.

  “Because I’m your father and I know who you are!” Tom said forcefully, taking ahold of Ethan’s shoulders and turning him so he’d have to look at him. “You sacrificed yourself first to save me. Then you risked your life for Danny and Sam, and repeatedly suffered personally in exchange for the safety of Chloe and so many others. That’s what a hero is, Ethan. I’m proud of you and the man you’ve become and I would be honored if you worked with me in the mayor’s office. I’m going to need a lot of help coordinating the farming program with our town, The Farm, and the government. Will you help me?”

  Ethan was stunned. He remembered how he’d clung to the need for his father’s approval like a lifeline when everything first started falling apart. He couldn’t remember when, but at some point, it stopped mattering as much. Now that he had his father’s respect, it meant more than he could have ever imagined.

  Standing up a little straighter, Ethan clasped his fist around the trilobite and reached out toward his father with the other. When his dad gripped his hand, it wasn’t the pacifying motion of an adult trying to please a child, but a firm, powerful handshake between two men. “I’d be honored to work with you, Dad.”

  Clenching his jaw, Ethan gave his father a brisk nod before turning away, not trusting himself to say anything further. Walking back to where Chloe waited for him, he glanced over at Tango and then to his grandmother, who was coming up the path.

  Ethan understood then how he already had everything he needed to define himself, and clutching the trilobite close to his chest, decided he liked what he saw.

  Chapter 33

  TOM

  Miller Ranch, Mercy, Montana

  As Ethan walked away, Tom’s chest swelled with pride. He knew exactly what sort of inner turmoil Ethan was dealing with, because he was struggling with the same emotions. In many ways, his son had gone through more than he had, and held up better under the pressure. Tom meant what he said; he was proud of Ethan and the man he’d become.

  After hearing the story the night before about the confrontation with Russell Rogers, if that was even his real name, Tom was disturbed that he’d failed to recognize the danger lurking among them. It was a threat none of them had expected, or were prepared for. It was the sort of evil he suspected would rise up in the ruins of their society and if they weren’t careful, cause more destruction than the more obvious sources.

  Fear and hate festered like a wound until it spilled over, unless it was treated properly. For Mercy to stay healthy and flourish, Tom knew that full disclosure and working together so that they operated in unity was required. He understood now why Patty was so distressed by the suicide that happened during her watch. That kind of despair was to be expected, of course, but the only way to combat it was by caring enough about each other to notice and intervene.

  The clearing was filling up with the council members, town leaders, and his family and friends. He didn’t ask them there to give a speech or lecture, but to look out together over their town while he explained Mercy’s role in the coming months and years. It was critical that they all agreed to be a part of it. That they wanted to be.

  “Your dad would be proud.”

  Tom smiled at his mom as she approached him, re
flecting on the similarity of her words and the ones he’d just had with Ethan. “I hope so, Mom. I miss him every day.”

  Sandy scooted through the space in the railings and then leaned next to him, bumping him playfully in the shoulder. “I know you do. We all miss him, but he’s never very far away.”

  Gazing out at the valley, she tilted her face to the breeze, strands of her dark hair billowing around her face. “You have to give them hope, Tom.”

  Grace had been gleefully running around to greet everyone, and had finally settled down by Lilly. Laying near the large horse, she rested her head on her paws while gazing up at the other animal. It was such a simple reminder for Tom. How Grace had trusted him during the fire when she was most vulnerable and struggling to breathe. She’d allowed him to drape her across the back of a horse and carry her to safety.

  Tom knew what his mom meant. In the middle of all the chaos and hopelessness, they had to find and hold on to the moments that made them feel. The way saving Grace that one afternoon had broken through his turmoil and made him reconnect with a part of himself he had almost lost. Those emotions were what compelled them to do the right thing. It gave them hope.

  Tom never thought he’d be more than a father and a rancher, and he’d had those roles, as well as several others, challenged over the past month. He wasn’t always proud of how he’d reacted, and in some ways, he’d failed, but Danny was right. It was okay to own up to the failures, and even more important to embrace his success.

  Taking his mother’s hand in his, Tom reminded himself that one of those roles was as a son. “Come on,” he said, giving her a tug. “Let’s go talk to our friends together.”