A Sampler Pack

by Jill Cooper

  Chapter One

  Nuefeld Family Wheat Farm

  Rural Saskatchewan Territory of the Canadian State

  Winter was approaching.

  Jake spooned the last bit of roast turkey and gravy into his mouth. Then he picked up his napkin. "Thank you again, Ms. Nuefeld, for the great supper."

  It was a cramped farmhouse kitchen with plaques and wooden spoons lining the walls. The small round table was covered in food worthy of a feast. Sage hung in the air while the oven brought over wafts of cinnamon and nutmeg. There was a time when Jake had eaten with the Nuefelds every night, but now it was a rare treat. They were nice people and Jake liked them, even if he should keep his distance. Nice people often ended up hurt when they befriended him, but he was more careful now.

  Jackie Nuefeld gathered up some plates to bring to the counter. "We should be thanking you. You drive a combine like it's second nature. With George suddenly missing, there was no one around to help. Thank you for stepping in, Nick."

  Jake hid a scowl behind his napkin. He'd never get used to being someone else, even if it was for the best. From behind the napkin he could see Liz’s eyes on him. She was close to his age and unassuming with a splattering of freckles across her nose. Her hair was a soft auburn that sometimes Jake thought about touching. He could imagine how soft her locks would be through his fingers.

  Her face often danced with a gentle smile when their eyes locked, but he had to pretend not to notice. All through dinner she looked at him, but rarely said a word. It was a good thing, because sometimes when she did speak, her voice made his heart skip a beat.

  Mark, a middle aged man who appeared more weathered than his age, ran his tongue over his teeth and huffed. “Missing? You make it sound like the NH had nothing to do with it.”

  A shiver ran down Jake’s spine. Up here he was just another farmer trying to make his way and avoiding the mandatory army enlistment. Farmers were pardoned because of how desperate the US was for food.

  But that didn’t mean they were free. Far from it.

  “We have no proof.” Jackie said but she was monotone. Listless. She balanced a few dishes in her hand.

  “Proof is something you don’t bring to the NH even if you have it. We’ll make due. Like we always do. And pay our taxes. God willing, let’s hope we’ll make it through another winter.”

  His face was lined with worry and Jake felt for him. He was a glistening. Maybe he hadn’t been there when the glistening swarms ascended on the country and ravaged it like a plague of locusts. But he was a glistening. It was his blood, his legacy. And something he hadn’t been taught in New Haven 56. Now that he knew…

  “We have food, Papa.” Liz said.

  Mark crumbled up his napkin. “For now. If the frost comes early…” The worry lines on his face increased and so did Jake’s guilt.

  “You’ll make it through just fine.” Jake nodded his head at the family. “And if you come up short, give me a call. I’ll make sure we all get through.”

  Jackie glanced at her daughter who was close to Jake's age. "No sense worrying on the future. Help with the dishes, won't you, Liz?" The girl snapped her head toward her mother.

  “Sure…Mom.” Her smile was distracted and a slow blush spread across her cheeks.

  Mark clasped his shoulder. "Since we've met Nick he's always been good to us, eh?"

  "He's good people." Jackie agreed with a twinkle in her eye. "Stay for some apple pie? I would hate to see it go to waste."

  Mark chortled. "Hon, it won't be going to waste under my watch!"

  Jake nodded his thanks. "I would love to, but maybe some other time. I really need to get back to the farm. It'll be dark soon and I need to check on a few things. Next time I promise to help with the dishes, Mrs. Nuefeld."

  “Come now,” Liz said as she gathered up his dishes, “you know Ma never takes no for an answer.”

  The older woman laughed. "Oh heavens! What we ever did to get blessed with such a fine friend I’ll never know.”

  Jake smiled his thanks as pie was placed on the table. He didn’t want to overstay his welcome, but he didn’t want to be rude either. Picking up his fork, he watched Mark cut his slice in half.

  “These could be our last fresh pies of the season.” Mark said. “With winter coming, who knows how much fresh fruit we can keep for ourselves from the food storage.”

  Jackie huffed as she finished clearing the table. Liz put a few mugs down along with the creamer. “Well,” Jackie said, “If the US government has their way, we’ll starve while their states live off our surpluses.”

  “But they’re good to us, aren’t they?” Liz asked. “I mean they pay us.”

  Mark snorted with a mouth full of pie. “Well, not enough. And the taxes…the taxes we are forced to pay on our own crops so they can take it and sell it back to us? It’s outrageous. Outrageous! Every year the NH squeezes us for more food, more money.”

  “But,” Liz’s face was twisted with confusion, “they are the ones that keep us from the glistenings. Someone has to help pay to keep them in those bubbles.”

  Jake swallowed and pretended he wasn’t uncomfortable, like a hairy bug climbing up his leg.

  “And we get what for paying all our taxes?” Mark asked. “We don’t even get a police force. Hell, if it wasn’t for volunteers we’d have no private services at all.”

  Jackie smirked as she stirred cream into her coffee. “Yes, with all that crime we have.”

  “That ain’t the point, Jackie, and you know it.” Mark sighed. “Maybe I’m just a grumpy old man. What do you think, Nick?”

  His eyes widened and he coughed into his fist. “Well, maybe, Mr. Nuefeld, but it’s not wrong to want more than what we’re getting.” Truer words had never been spoken.

  Mark nodded in agreement. “And those new guys they have working at the grain elevators? Slimy. I don’t trust them. But since when can we trust the NH? They do what they want and oversee everything.” He shook his head. “With everything to worry about, I’m lucky to get a wink of sleep a night.”

  Jake’s face crumbled. The Nuefields were good people and he hated to see them so distraught, facing such hardship. “I’m sure one day it’ll get sorted out better. Once there’s more food to go around for everyone. I’m sure everyone appreciates the service Saskatchewan provides.”

  “That’s why I like you. You’re always optimistic and see the best in people.” Liz’s eyes flashed a warm look with kindness and understanding.

  Jake basked in it and realized what he was doing. He stood up. “I really need to be going. Thanks again, for everything.”

  He shook hands with Mark and nodded farewells to Jackie. Liz stood up and rushed after him. "Mind if I walk you out, Nick?"

  Jake never minded and that was part of the problem. "I'd be honored."

  She smiled and bit her lip, looking so sweet and innocent. Jake knew he had to keep his distance, but when he was with her, his heart soared in a way it hadn't since he lost Wendy. He tried not to think about her most days, but when Liz hooked her arm through his on the porch, Jake couldn't help himself.

  The way Wendy smiled at him those first days in school before he even realized what being in love meant. How soft her lips were the first time he kissed her.

  And how much pain she was in the night they fled for their lives. The night their son would come into the world.

  And Wendy would lose hers.

  He never said good-bye. Wendy didn't get to live the life she was meant to. Because of him.

  So much death and destruction, and all because of him. Because he couldn't keep his hands to himself.

  Liz walked him down the porch to his green pickup truck. Jake came by it used and it had seen better days, but it was reliable. It was tough enough to go back and forth on the old gravel roads home to his farm. "The sunset is beautiful, isn't it?"

  Her words rang true. Only half the sun was peeking over the horizon and its orange blaze created streaks almos
t like those left by an orange crayon against the night's purple hued sky. "Gorgeous is more like it." Like the ones he shared with Wendy at the old cabin before they ran, before she became so pregnant all he did was worry about her.

  He was a damn glistening and his son was just like him. But Jake would make sure no one would ever harm the baby. He didn't care what it meant for him, anyone, but Wendy's death wouldn't be in vain. His son wasn't just some damn test tube.

  So maybe he wasn't the one singing it to sleep. Maybe he would never be dad. But if his dad, Jeff Monroe, taught him anything it was that you would move heaven and earth for family. No sacrifice was too great. Jake didn't know much about Jenna Morgan. But he knew she was loyal to Wendy's family and that meant she would die to protect Travis and his secret. Jake didn't care if she was New Haven once. All that mattered was that she loved his boy. And she did. Time after time, Jake saw it in her eyes, even if they never spoke. Even if Jenna never knew he was there.

  "You're awfully quiet tonight. You okay, Nick?" Liz asked and rested her hand on his arm.

  It tingled to be touched by her and that was bad. Bad indeed.

  Jake forced a smile. "Of course I'm fine, Liz. Just tired. Long day. But you're right, the sunset is beautiful." It wasn't the only thing. The way the sunlight caught Liz's gentle wavy hair, it brought out the amber highlights. When she tucked it behind her ears, Jake could make out her strong, sexy jaw. Liz might have worn a lot of long, loose dresses, but she was beautiful. Maybe if he wasn't a glistening he could be happy with her. Maybe he could even keep her safe, but it wasn't right. Wendy had been dead barely a year.

  Jake wasn't ready to let her memory go.

  "Some of us are going to meet in town tomorrow. Catch an old movie. Thought it might be fun. Thought you might want to come?" Liz tugged on her finger and her eyes were filled with hope.

  He suppressed a sigh. To Liz, to everyone, he was nothing but a recently graduated high school kid. So how could he tell them he had way more important things to worry about than hanging out and watching movies? A year ago he would have wanted nothing more, but now...some days Jake wished nothing had changed and he was still inside New Haven 56, where things were safe. But that was just the thing. Nothing in there was safe.

  At least on the outside they had no illusions. Had nothing to hide behind.

  "I'll see. Might have to help my dad." He gave her a killer smile. "But thanks for thinking of me."

  "All right. Well, text me when you know. Bye, Nick." Liz took a step forward and gazed into his eyes. It was a beautiful face, but Jake couldn't give in. He had nothing to offer and she had a world in front of her that he couldn't touch.

  "Thanks for walking me out." He touched the rim of his hat in a parting good-bye.

  Her mouth opened in disappointment and her eyes glinted.

  He pretended not to notice. The gravel crunched and the hairs on the back of Jake’s neck stood up; they weren’t alone.

  Gazing out into the darkness, Jake’s glistening vision allowed him to see one of the farm hands walking by with an old gardening hoe in his hand. His name was Charlie and when he was around, the air turned cooler. With great suspicion, Charlie’s eyes swept through Jake. But he was too far away to actually make eye contact with Jake.

  So why did he always feel the need to protect Liz when he was around?

  Liz followed his gaze, her lips twisting to the side. “What’s the matter?”

  “Nothing,” Jake’s words were flat and he barely believed them himself. “Just thought I heard something. Go inside, okay? Where it’s safe.”

  “I’m pretty sure it’s safe out here. Who would come out this far?”

  Jake gave her a small smile. “You’re probably right. Good evening, Liz.”

  “Bye, Nick.” Her words trailed off and expectations hung between them. Expectations that Jake couldn’t meet.

  When he slid into the car, Liz walked back up the steps, giving the truck enough room to do a one-eighty. Dust kicked up and when he hit the road, pebbles popped up, clinking against the underside of the truck's carriage.

  It would take forty minutes to drive back to his farm. In his glistening form he could fly it in ten. But you couldn't go all dragon when you were wanted dead or alive.

  For now he would have to settle for the truck.

  Speed limitations aside, being a human wasn't half bad. Most of the time.

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