by Maira Dawn
“I’m sure she’s fine. As soon as she’s heard, she will come here.” Kelsey patted Skye’s hand, then looked up and caught Jesse’s eye. She mouthed, “Sue Ellen?” to him.
He tipped his head toward the side of the room, indicating she should meet him there.
“When did you see her?” Jesse asked Kelsey.
“It was early.”
Jesse shrugged and frowned. His sister had been acting up from the time Dylan and Skye had left this morning. He’d been glad she’d gone her own way today, it meant he and Wade could have a nice, quiet fishing trip. “She’s always just skating on this side of trouble. I don’t know why she can’t settle in. This place is the best she’s gonna get.”
Kelsey agreed. “I’ve tried to be friendly to her. Some days it works and some days…”
“I worried about her all ’til she got here. Now she’s safe, there’s more important things to think about than where my sister is every minute of the day—especially now.”
“I’m sorry, Jess.”
“It ain’t your fault.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I wish I had a relative left to worry about.”
“Kels, you got us.” Jesse laughed. “And believe me, you’ll have your hands full.”
Wade walked over. “I’ll go look for her.” He sighed. “I’m the one that let her go off on her own today.”
“No, Wade.” Skye put a hand on his arm to stop him. “You need to be here.”
“Me and Curt will go,” Aaron offered. “She can’t be all that far. Pry just holed up at a friend’s chatting.”
As Curt and Aaron rose to leave, the door burst open. Sue Ellen rushed into the room, her blue eyes wide with worry and blond curls askew. “Jesse? Skye? Tell me he’s okay!”
Skye quickly went to Sue Ellen’s side. “He’s fine, honey. Doc just did surgery, and he said everything went well.”
Sue Ellen fell into Skye’s arms wiping away her tears. “Oh, I was so—I’m just so glad! I heard, and I couldn’t believe it. Not Dylan. I’m just so glad everything’s okay.”
The girl rushed to her brother and hugged him. “Oh Jesse, this must’ve been so hard for you.”
Jesse put his arms around his sister and gave a half-hearted hug to her stranglehold.
When she wouldn’t let go, he pulled her arms down and mumbled a “Thanks.” Sue Ellen looked at the floor as she turned away.
Skye sat back down with Kelsey beside her. Sue Ellen walked over to stand in front of Kelsey. “Do you mind if I sit by Skye? Family and all that, ya know.”
Surprise and understanding flashed across Kelsey’s face then sadness. “Of course. Yes, please sit.”
Jesse stirred in his seat as he frowned at Sue Ellen. “Come sit by me, Kels. We’re all family here.”
Sue Ellen ignored her brother as she settled in the seat by Skye and laid her head on the woman’s shoulder.
While Skye wished Sue Ellen hadn’t said that to Kelsey of all people, she was happily surprised by the rest of Sue Ellen’s behavior. For some people, it took a tragedy to make them realize what others meant to them. Maybe Sue Ellen was one of those people. Skye wrapped her arm around the girl and picked a couple of small leaves out of her hair.
Sue Ellen gave an embarrassed little laugh. “I rushed over here so fast, I didn’t pay attention to where I was goin’.”
“It’s fine. I appreciate it. I think I got them all now.”
“Thanks.” Sue Ellen put her arm through Skye’s.
A short time later, Doctor Kinder came into the living room. “Bre and I have got him all settled in. He’s still a bit drowsy but awake. Dylan made me promise not to overdo the anesthesia. He wanted to see all of you as soon as possible.”
Skye's breathing quickened as she rose to hug Paul. “Thank you so much! We are so fortunate to have you with us.”
“I’m glad I can help. Now don’t stay too long, a few minutes, okay?”
Skye turned and headed down the hall, nodding. She would have agreed to anything.
She rushed down the hallway leading to an office, surgery, exam room, and recovery room. Those and a massive loft consisting of bedrooms for the family made this the largest house on the mountain. It had been unanimously decided Paul should live and work here. Skye turned into the last of the right, the recovery room.
At the sight of Dylan, her breath caught. If this was good, she didn’t want to see bad. With his eyes closed, his ashen face made her fear the worst. She raised a hand to her mouth as she stared at him.
The air stirred, and her scent came to him. A mixture of soap, the outdoors, and something light that was distinctly hers.
Dylan opened his eyes and stared at her, beckoning her with a twitch of his fingers.
Skye rushed to him, pulling a straight chair closer to his bed so she could put her head on his shoulder. Dylan laid his head against hers and inhaled as deeply as he could. For a moment today, he worried he might never hold her again. It had been more than he’d been able to bear. He had broken down.
Doc had comforted him. Dylan had made him swear he would wake up as soon as possible. And now here he was, and here she was. Dylan closed his eyes and smiled.
“Dad?” Jesse stood at the door. He scuffed his foot across the wood floor as he swallowed, looking anywhere but at the man in the bed.
Dylan understood. All this caring stuff could feel strange to someone like them, but it was a good kind of strange.
His chest warmed as he realized what Jesse had called him. It was starting to be a habit.
“I mean,” Jesse said, “if you don’t mind—”
Dylan beamed. “Course I don’t mind. You couldn’t please me more. I reckon that’s what we are now.” Dylan held a hand out to Jesse. “Son.” The boy rushed to him, and he scuffed Jesse’s hair then gave him a quick hug.
Sue Ellen burst into the room with Wade right behind her. She pushed past Jesse to hug Dylan without thought to his injury causing him to wince. Regardless, he hugged her back. The girl needed to feel welcome too. Her mess of curls hit him in the face, and something scratched his cheek. Dylan pulled a small bit of bramble from her hair and frowned.
Wade caught his attention as he moved in. “Hey, little brother! I’m glad to see you doin’ all right. You had me mighty worried.”
“I had myself mighty worried. I’m thankin’ the Lord I’m still moving.”
Wade nodded, slyly wiping a tear from his eye. “Me too, bro.”
Sue Ellen ran over to where Skye sat. “Tell them, Skye! Tell them now. I can’t wait any longer.”
Skye’s eyebrows creased in puzzlement before she glanced at her ring. “This isn’t really…” She looked at Dylan. “Well, everyone is here.”
Dylan shrugged. It didn’t matter to him when the news was announced. Skye gave him a sweet smile and turned the ring around on her finger, showing it off to everyone.
Jesse beamed. “Everything is perfect now!”
Wade smacked his hand on the footboard of the bed since he couldn’t thump his brother’s back. “That’s fine, that’s just real fine, is what that is.”
It wasn’t long after that when Paul came in and reminded them Dylan needed his rest. Everyone said goodbye, but when Skye reluctantly started to leave his side, Dylan’s hand tightened on hers. “You ain’t going anywhere.”
“The doctor is right. You need your rest.”
“I can rest just fine with you here.” Dylan looked at Paul. “If you think you’re kickin’ her out, you better think again.”
Paul threw up his hands in surrender. “Far be it from me to order you around. We all know who’s in charge here.”
“Dylan,” Skye said. “I do want you to get your rest.”
“Darlin’, there’s plenty of room for us both right here.”
Once Paul headed down the hallway, Skye curled up on the bed beside Dylan. She laid her hand on his chest. “It’s comforting to feel your heartbeat so steady.” She yawned and snuggled de
eper into him. “I love you.”
Dylan kissed the top of her head. “I love you too, darlin’.”
“Everything is going to be fine now, love.”
He didn’t know if she was reassuring him or herself. His little glass-half-full woman. Dylan shook his head. Would she ever understand that nothing was ever really fine?
Thirty-Three
Uncle
The next morning Wade stumbled to the door as someone hammered against it. Of course, on the one day for as long as he could remember that he’d slept in, someone needed something.
It had been a long day yesterday, and he hadn’t wanted to leave Dylan’s side. But someone needed to get the kids back to the cabin and all tucked away. But after, he’d just laid there staring at the ceiling, worrying about his brother.
Yeah, it seemed like everything would be okay, but until Dylan was up and walking, Wade wouldn’t be getting much good sleep.
Whoever it was continued making a racket at the door. Wade yanked it open as he yawned and scratched his butt cheek.
Curt stood at the door, clenching his rifle. His dark eyes darting around the yard as he spoke. "Hey Wade, we got us a problem. Tom's at my place. Tricia was out in the far field at daybreak this morning lookin' for—I don't know—something. Anyway, there's some Sick down there just wanderin' around. That is entirely too close to this settlement for my taste." Curt looked at Wade’s mussed hair and shirtless torso for the first time. "Oh, man, I'm sorry. I forgot that you were up most of the night."
"No. No, it's fine." Curt had five children with a sixth on the way. One of the Sick anywhere near this mountain would be too close for comfort.
Wade crossed his arms. "If there's trouble, you ain’t gonna leave me out. Give me a minute to get dressed, and I'll walk over with you.”
Curt gave one quick nod. "Sure thing." He squinted his eyes as he looked past Wade into the darkened living room. Jesse stood at the railing of the loft. "Hey, Jesse."
"Hey, Curt." Jesse hurried down the steps and followed Wade to his room, standing in the doorway. "I wanna go with you.”
“I’m thinking that's not a good idea, kid. Dylan and Skye would have my hide for takin' you out there without discussing it first."
"We don't need a discussion. I can help. You know I can."
Wade pulled a shirt over his head. "I know that's true. And I know the times comin' where you'll be at our side, but I don't see that being today." When Jesse started to argue, Wade put a hand on his shoulder. "I'm proud, real proud, at how well you've come along. I know I ain't said that, but it's the way I feel. Last night, everything with Dylan—well, I was thinkin', there's things I need to say, and that's one of them. You're a great kid—just great."
Wade scrubbed at his eyes. "See, this is why I don't talk like this. It makes me blubber like a tiny baby."
Jesse laughed and hugged him. "Skye says it's good for us, even if we don't think it is. You're a great uncle. When things were bad, I used to dream up what kind of family I'd want, and you're exactly what I thought of."
Wade's face crumbled. He opened his mouth to speak but couldn't get anything over the lump in his throat. The boy had completely undone him. He turned away and cleared his throat several times before turning back to Jesse. "Okay, enough of that kind of talk."
Jesse nodded and patted Wade on the arm.
"Look, boy, with Dylan down and Skye with him, it leaves Sue Ellen by herself." Wade lowered his voice and whispered in case she could hear, "She ain't no good at fighting or nothin'. You need to keep an eye on her. I ain't saying this 'cause she's a, you know, girl. It's just the truth."
“I know. She just isn’t getting the self-defense classes. If the Sick did make their way up here, I ain’t sure what she’d do.” Jesse made a face. “I’ll stay with her this time, but—”
"Yeah, I know. We'll put it on your ma's infernal discussion list, but don't be surprised if she hits the roof with what you're wantin' to do."
Jesse grunted. “That would be a mild reaction to what I’m expecting. But I can handle more than a weapon or too now. And it’s my responsibility to defend family too. Just like the rest of the men.”
Wade pulled his rifle onto his shoulder and picked up his bow. "What you can do is get your sister tucked up safe in here and make sure the immediate neighbors know the situation. Have one of them tell the next bunch. Then come back here. Okay?"
The boy nodded. Wade was confident he knew the drill. A communication relay had been set up so that anytime something happened, the word could quickly move through the community. So far, it had been used for news about the farmer's market, a lost cow, and a pregnancy. This would be the biggest and most important message yet. "I can do that."
"Good man. I know I'm leavin' everything in good hands." Wade smiled at Jesse, thumped him on the back and headed out the door with Curt.
If Wade couldn't have his brother, he was happy to have this man by his side. Curt was a good man, ready to fight to the death to save his family and friends. He'd already proven that on more than one occasion, most notably at the superstore when they were attacked by Gregory and his men. He'd taken a bullet and carried on defending the rest of them.
As the woods thinned, and they entered the cabin area, Wade looked from the group of men milling around in front of Aaron's cabin to the Doc's house. "Hey Curt, I think I'm gonna see D for a minute."
Curt nodded and continued on as Wade took the stairs up the Doc's porch. Bre opened the door and waved him in.
Wade turned into the open doorway of Dylan's room. He'd tried to prepare himself for his brother’s condition, but it hadn't worked. He felt sick to his stomach seeing his brother laying there like an invalid. It was a reminder of how quickly life could turn. He didn’t like it.
Wade scuffed his way across the linoleum floor to Dylan's side. He stared at his brother as he rolled his tight shoulders before he looked at Skye. Dark circles colored the delicate skin around her eyes.
"How'd he do?"
She blew out a breath. "He slept but not well. He would only eat a few bites this morning. But the Doc says it's to be expected. So I guess he's doing well."
Wade grimaced. "I'm trying real hard not to be angry at the hunter who was out there for being so irresponsible."
"No one has stepped forward yet?"
"Nope, and the longer it takes, the more bitter I'm gettin'." Wade changed the subject. “Well, before we get to tracking that person down, there’s another mess brewing. Did you hear?”
"Yes, I heard."
"I have the kids hunkered down in the cabin. Just in case. If you end up wanting them here, I'm sure someone will get them. I wasn't sure—" Wade stopped and frowned. He was never sure what the proper way to do something way in a given situation, and Skye always seemed as if she liked proper.
Skye saw his uncertainty. "That's fine, Wade. I always know they're in good hands with you."
Wade shuffled his feet and reddened a little bit. "Well, that's just fine then." He coughed. "I better get goin'. Tell him—tell him I was here."
"I will. You—all of you—be careful. We don't need anything else going wrong.”
Thirty-Four
Children
Wade grabbed the door of the truck as the vehicle lurched in and out of an unusually large pothole. Normally, he would have groused about taxes and the government not doing their job. But as far as he knew, there wasn’t enough of a government to complain about anymore. And if someone had asked him before, he would have said the best government was no government.
Well, there was no government now, and it wasn’t the paradise he’d thought it would be. Still, to his mind, there were several advantages.
He, Curt, and Aaron shared the cab of a large, white box truck. It had become pretty standard for Tom to ask someone to bring it along, and Wade agreed with Tom on this. It was better to haul the Sick off straightaway than to try to stash them somewhere and come back later.
What Wade didn’t l
ike was being in the bouncy vehicle. He and Dylan usually drove their own vehicle. He braced his feet against the floor and stiffened as they headed over yet another bump so he wouldn’t flop against Aaron.
More than his own vehicle, he wanted his brother here.
He and Dylan worked so well together, speaking was almost unnecessary. Working with anyone else, especially going to battle with anyone else, felt like entering the fight with two broken legs. It wasn’t that it couldn’t be done, but it wouldn’t be done well. And Wade was unsure how to go about it.
Sighing loudly, Wade ran a hand down his green flannel jacket, staring at the snowy forests and hills running past the windows. He’d get through it somehow.
When the group arrived at the field, they parked the vehicles and jumped out, feet thumping against the cold, hard ground as they did so.
The air was bitter and sharp on this grey morning, and an eerie tranquility hung over the land. There were no Sick in sight. Just an empty field with thin wire fencing surrounding it. The wind blew at the powdered snow that lay here and there.
Tom gathered the men around him. “The horde must have moved since this morning. Well, our tracker’s down, as you all know. Anyone else able to take a stab at it?”
“I’ll take a crack,” Wade said, “and take anyone willing to help. I know I’m just a greenhorn next to Dylan, but I’ll do my best.” He scanned the area. “Sure do wish there were more than a few patches of snow, though, instead of all this hard ground.”
Wade had a couple of volunteers. Joe, Dylan’s friend, and Hershel Ray, who had moved up from Colton after he had lost all of his family. The three moved across the field, examining the ground and brush for any compressions, scrapes, and if they were fortunate, threads or bits of clothing. The rest of the group walked the road with binoculars.
Joe pointed out a small mark that could be a scuff, but a group of Sick would leave more sign than that. The men decided to circle the field.