Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 106092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 106092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 530(@200wpm)___ 424(@250wpm)___ 354(@300wpm)
Harper beams. “I love him already. When do I get to see him?”
“In a week,” I assure her. “Along with the rest of our people.”
Knox tenses slightly. I can tell his encounters with people have been just as harrowing as ours were. It’s hard trusting new people in this broken world.
“Tell us about them,” Aunt Beth says as she refills my glass with her spectacular lemonade.
I gulp it down, hiding a smile. Crystal Lite is still her secret.
“Dan’s a dentist.” I set my glass down and look at Harper. “Have you been brushing and flossing?”
She makes a sour face at me that makes us all laugh. Cute kid.
“Dan’s daughter, Hailey, is around fifteen, I think. You’d like her, Harper.”
Tyler goes on to fill in information about his brothers. “Aaron’s my older brother. He used to captain a deep-sea fishing boat. Our parents were moonies.” He pauses when Ava flinches and then quickly continues. “Anyway, after they died, my brother got custody of me and my younger brother Jesse. Been taking care of us ever since.”
“How old is Jesse?” Harper inquires.
“Sixteen,” Tyler says.
“Then there’s Hope,” I add. “She worked with me at my company but then fell in love with Aaron.”
“They all sound normal,” Knox finally concedes, relaxing his shoulders. “It’s a good thing because we could really use the extra hands.”
Me and Tyler sit up, eager to hear what Knox has to say.
“Harper,” Ava says, interrupting Knox. “Why don’t we go check on the animals and leave the boys to talk?”
“If it gets me out of cleaning up the kitchen,” Aunt Beth says with a grin, “count me in.”
The three of them leave us. After a beat, Knox delivers the news.
“Things are getting worse, not better.”
Both me and Tyler nod in agreement.
“FEMA is nonexistent. The government seems to be gone.” I scrub a palm over my face. “We’ve come across two good towns the entire journey from the West Coast and one of those towns was delusional. It’ll only be a matter of time before they’re taken over by assholes or their own naivety. Good people are few and far between.”
Knox frowns. “Which is why we need to be prepared.”
“Prepared for what?” Tyler asks. “Tornadoes? Earthquakes? Lightning storms?”
“All that, yeah, of course. But we need to be prepared for desperate, starving, and crazed people. Time will only intensify these things. It certainly won’t get better.”
“Goodland will help us,” I assure my brother. “Whatever we need, I’m sure we can trade goods or services to get assistance. They’ll be a good alliance.”
Our discussion eventually circles to Dad. Tyler excuses himself to clean up the kitchen, giving us our privacy. I’d left Knox with Dad after Mom died, but he survived just fine despite having to deal with that man all on his own. In fact, Knox turned out to be a strong, hardworking man and I’m proud of him.
Before long, the girls return, and we spend the rest of the afternoon meeting their animals, walking the property, and making big plans for our uncertain future.
We’re home.
Finally home.
I’m not sure if it’ll ever fully sink in.
One week later…
“Turn right at the next dirt road,” I instruct Aaron via the radio Tyler had stowed away in the car. “Right. Over.”
“I don’t see it. Over.”
Then I say, “Your other right. Over.”
Static crackles and then a vehicle comes into view.
“Yeah, yeah,” Aaron grumbles. “We’re here now. Over.”
Everyone is on pins and needles as the SUV drives down the dirt road, kicking up dust behind it. Eventually, it makes its way to the farmhouse and parks next to Mary’s car.
They all pile out in a chaotic, frenzied rush of arguments, laughter, and the unmistakable sound of a yapping Pretzel.
Tyler tosses the keys to Mary’s car at one of the Goodland people—both of whom I don’t know—and Aaron hands off the other set to his friend. The men help everyone unload their supplies and gear before heading back home, taking their vehicles with them.
Once they’re gone, I introduce our group to my family, Ava, and Harper. Aunt Beth, having heard of Dan and Hailey’s loss, jumps into mother hen mode, urging Dan to come inside for a bite to eat.
Harper, who already stole Pretzel for herself, quickly drags Hailey away. Jesse follows his girlfriend, walking much better than the last time I saw him. Aaron and Hope stay close by us, watching the kids as they head for the barn.
“Fisherman, eh?” Knox says to Aaron.
Aaron turns back to him and nods. “There’s not a body of water I can’t coax a fish out of.”
Knox grins. “We better get this man some gear then.”
“Finally,” Hope says to Ava, “another woman. The testosterone on this journey has been strong. It’s been difficult for me and Hailey. Our soft, feminine hearts can hardly take it.” She smirks at Ava, the two of them sharing a knowing look. “Wanna show me around?”