Kathleen’s mind felt as if she were drowning. Jade’s words echoed in her brain superimposed over the image of Andrew Lang’s face. She felt as though her heart had stopped. Maybe she was having a heart attack.
“I know you’re hiding something,” Jade finally said after Kathleen left another silence unfilled. “You’re not unscathed. The rest of your family walks on glass around you. They don’t want to set you off. Even if you don’t talk about it, it’s still there, still leaving its marks. You’ve changed and your family is trying to figure out how to handle it.”
A howl built inside of Kathleen’s chest. Jade had voiced the fears she’d been fighting ever since she made it back home. All her attempts to be normal and eliminate outside threats to her family had ended with her being the emotional trauma that was scarring her children and husband. She was what was wrong with the family.
Her breath escaped her in a whoosh. Jade suddenly seemed like a safe, neutral party who wouldn’t judge her. Jade only knew this Kathleen—she’d never met the Kathleen of before. The Kathleen who had never…
Had never…
Murdered. The Kathleen who had never murdered someone.
“I killed someone,” she whispered and her voice cracked. “Shot him in the neck. Watched him bleed out. For Allison. They wanted to…keep her. Use her. And I couldn’t. Jade, I couldn’t.”
The story poured out of her like a lanced wound. She explained everything in a rush and watched as Jade’s face softened with empathy before hardening with a new kind of respect. After Kathleen had finished telling her everything—even about how she’d watched Andrew bleed out on the concrete—Jade tightened her ponytail and said, “Sometimes death can be preferable to what could happen on the road. You had to defend yourself and your child. You wouldn’t let Allison be taken by anyone like that, would you? Would you kill him again if you could have a re-do on life?”
“I’d do it again,” Kathleen said, feeling cold inside at the realization.
“You were being threatened. Mine was only a perceived threat. If either of us had a right to defend ourselves, it was you.”
The validation eased something inside of Kathleen. Jade had nothing to gain from Kathleen’s story. She had an outsider’s perspective. She could tell Kathleen that Kathleen hadn’t scarred her daughter for life. She could tell Kathleen that Kathleen hadn’t ruined her marriage. Jade might not be a friend, but she was a woman who knew what it was like to hold a weapon in the face of a terrible situation and pull the trigger. Kathleen realized that made her kind of an ally.
“Thank you,” she whispered again.
Jade gave her the ghost of a smile. “Do you think…” The smile widened as if she was feeling foolish, but she pressed on. “Do you think Matthew and David will ever forgive me? Do you think one day you might accept me?”
Kathleen paused. Even if she still felt wary of Jade, there was a kind of mutual respect being molded inside her. At the same time, she wasn’t sure she had the right to give Jade any kind of forgiveness, especially when she couldn’t even forgive herself. For a moment, her motherly instincts told her to give Jade a soft answer, but Kathleen knew the young woman deserved better than a placating brush-off. For Kathleen, everything came down to family. So that’s where it would stay.
“If you keep putting family first, we’ll all get there,” she said.
Jade nodded as if in agreement and stuck her hands in her jean pockets. “Good enough for me,” she said and then looked past Kathleen. “Hi,” she said. “Find anything?”
Kathleen turned and saw Matthew approaching them carefully with a guarded look on his face. “Didn’t see anything,” he said sharply. “Maybe we should all call it a day. Get some rest and relaxation. It’s been stressful. I could use some time off.”
“That would be nice, actually,” Kathleen said, thinking of lying down in bed and perhaps actually getting some sleep for once. Matthew climbed the porch steps and stood close to Kathleen. His body seemed strung with anxiety. Kathleen patted his shoulder and he started to go inside the hotel. Kathleen followed, but turned when she noticed Jade wasn’t joining them. She put her hand on the doorframe and asked, “Are you coming?”
Jade looked over her shoulder and the sunlight illuminated her profile in stark relief. “I’ll be in soon. I need some air.”
“Okay,” Kathleen said softly. She knew the feeling. Sometimes, there was nothing you could do for your memories but to let them play out somewhere safe. Somewhere where you could be alone.
She closed the door gently, hoping that Jade knew it would be open for her.
17
Some might say that David Riley was an impatient man. Mainly, his wife.
Some might say that David Riley was a suspicious man. A cautious man. Mainly, his son.
Others might say that David Riley was one stubborn son-of-a-gun. Mainly, that was everyone who knew him, including David himself.
Self-reflection consumed David as he finished out the day and furiously crafted a plan. So far, he’d managed to get his family to see his side in most things—his greatest victory had been bringing Jade into the Riley fold—but he’d have to take drastic steps if he was going to prove to Matthew that they needed to meet with the mysterious people at Carpenter Country.
He and Matthew had always struggled in the way of fathers and sons, but now that the world had completely changed, David realized that the two of them had been fighting so much because they were likely subconsciously attempting to settle who the real man-of-the-house was. David knew his son was desperate to keep his family safe, and he was proud that he’d raised a son with those deep-seated values. At the same time, he’d seen that same desperation slip other men too far into paranoia. Now, he saw that Matthew was certainly perceiving the world as his enemy and not as a place that needed to be treated with care and caution. And Matthew’s willful blindness to the necessity of making partnerships had raised red flags for David.
Now it was time to take matters into his own hands. He didn’t want to start a fight between himself and Matthew, but time was running out. They didn’t have the luxury of debating and mulling over the situation. They didn’t have time to weigh the options.
After all, everyone would say that David was a stubborn son-of-a-gun. He’d protect his family at all costs, even if that meant defying his only son.
At least the Rileys were finally getting some alone time. As dusk rounded the mountains, David kissed Ruth and told her he was going to get a breath of fresh air. She put down her book about the local flora and gave him that small smile that told him she didn’t believe him for a second. But they’d been together so long that he knew she’d trust him.
He snuck downstairs and was happy to hear loud snores rumbling from Matthew and Kathleen’s room. His son had finally collapsed to get the rest he needed. Poor Matt would need it too, because David already knew the furious fight they’d have when David returned.
But if David could get them what they needed, maybe it wouldn’t be the final falling-out in their relationship.
He’d hated the way they’d left things after Matthew had found the note. More than that, he hated the gruff way Matthew had commanded him to stay silent about the ordeal. David had kept his promise, but, say it once and say it again, he was a stubborn son-of-a-gun taking matters into his own hands. Despite the tightness in his chest. Despite the wary flutter in his heart in response to the adrenaline.
He holstered the pistol around his waist, knowing that Matthew always kept the shotgun close. He avoided the creaking floorboards as much as he could as he walked out the front door. Zipping up his jacket, he paused on the porch steps when he spotted the slender form leaning against the railing, her head cocked up to study the emerging stars. David plastered a smile on his face and tried to relax. No use alarming her. “Lovely night,” he said to Jade as he walked past her and down the steps.
“You can say that again,” Jade said. “Where are you going this time of night?”
Jade raised an eyebrow. “Sure, and I’m just skinning a turkey. I’ve snuck out of enough windows in my time to know when someone is breaking out. You’ve got the look all over you.”
David winced. It was pointless to lie to her. He was never good at it anyway. “Matt and I found a note earlier today wrapped around a rock. From someone at Carpenter Country.”
“So, there was someone out there,” Jade said in a hushed tone.
“Yeah. We didn’t see them, but they asked us to visit them. Matthew and I fought about it—”
Jade snorted. “Figures.”
“—because he didn’t want to alarm anyone about strangers lingering around the property. He doesn’t want us to meet with them, but it’s a mistake not to take the opportunity. We need allies. So I’m doing it myself.”
“All the while keeping your promise to not tell anyone. Except for me ’cause I’m not part of the family, right?” Jade said. “Getting away on a technicality, old man?”
The girl sure knew how to keep him on his toes. “You know it,” he shot back, though his heart ached that she didn’t feel part of the group. Despite everything that had happened, Jade had proven herself to him with her hard work, grit, and determination. Even if she had shot him.
Jade walked down the porch steps to stand in front of him. “Well, where is this place, then?”
“I’m going alone,” David said, even as he pulled out the crumpled piece of dirt-stained paper he’d saved after Matthew had trampled on it. She should know, in case something happened to him and he didn’t return.
“Don’t be stupid. I’ll be your backup. Matt would hit the roof if I knew about this and a) didn’t tell him, or b) let you go off alone. So, see, you’ve kinda recruited me.”
David chuckled. “Fine. You made your point. I’ve tricked you into subterfuge.”
“Pretty much.” She took the note out of his hands and read through it quickly.
“I think it’s south of us,” David said. “I don’t know who might want to meet us, but I’m ready to find out.”
Jade nodded in agreement. “You got a gun?” she asked.
David showed her the holster on his waist.
“Great, let me get armed.” She slipped in and back out of the hotel in no time. “Let’s go,” she said.
Together, they walked out to the property line and past the fence, taking the road that led down the mountain. The night was chilly, but David found it pleasant. He eyed the stars and marveled at how much he could actually see once he’d let his night vision adjust.
Soon, a gravel road split off from the main road. Jade stopped and pointed at the road sign bearing the name Carpenter Road.
“Worth a shot,” David said under his breath. He hoped that the road had been named after Carpenter Country or vice versa. Jade didn’t say anything, but followed David closely as they turned to walk along the road. Not too far down, they came across a sign hanging from a set of poles that read Carpenter Country: Gun Club in white lettering.
Jade came to a stop next to him. David’s shoes crunched the gravel as he glanced back at her. Not only was his night vision better, he felt as though his hearing had improved as well. Crickets chirped, and an owl hooted in the distance. He heard the flutter of wings and the breeze rustling through the pines.
Jade wore a concerned look on her face as she studied the sign. “Are you sure about this?” she whispered to David. “Like, absolutely positively we-shouldn’t-rethink-this sure?”
David tried to soothe the apprehension he felt that was reflected on her face. “Absolutely,” he said. “They reached out to us first. These are exactly the kind of people we need to be allying with.”
“Gun-toting, backwoods people?” Jade flashed a grin.
“People who know how to use weaponry effectively and are probably more prepared than we are,” David corrected.
Jade chuckled. “No need to be defensive. Just joking, old man.” Yet even her attempt at humor had an underlying tone of worry. She double-checked the gun in her waistband. “Time waits for no one. Lead the way.”
David nodded in agreement and took the lead, walking past the sign and toward a log-sided rectangular building in the distance. He heard a sharp grating crunch behind him, like a boot pivoting in gravel. He halted. His heart fluttered in his chest. Jade’s shoes wouldn’t make that kind of sound.
They weren’t alone.
“David—!” Jade cried out and was abruptly cut off.
David whipped around and saw a tall, bulky man wrench Jade’s arms up and behind her back. He was clothed in all black, nearly blending in with the darkness around them. He pushed on her elbow until Jade cried out and was forced to bend over to relieve the pain.
“Let go of her!’ David yelled and lunged forward, desperate to help her.
Jade’s green eyes glittered with tears. “Behind—” Again, she was cut off with a cry of pain.
Suddenly, something hard collided with the back of David’s head, filling him with agony. He collapsed to his knees. The world tilted to the side. He felt blood rush down the nape of his neck. Blinking, he realized he was collapsing to the ground in slow motion. A man loomed over him, clothed in black, with the butt of a rifle aimed toward him. A splotch of blood coated one of the sharper edges.
David gasped. His heart thundered with adrenaline and terror. Just before unconsciousness overtook him, he cursed himself, realizing his terrible mistake.
David fought through the darkness of unconsciousness, the throbbing in his head mimicking the weak beat of his heart. Panic dumped into his bloodstream. As he rose to wakefulness, the moments of before flashed before his eyes, making him relive how he’d been unceremoniously taken out by blunt force trauma. There must have been Carpenter Country scouts defending the area, and when David and Jade had walked onto their land in the middle of the night without an announcement, they must have taken them for hostiles. And acted accordingly.
Idiot, David thought. You should’ve thought of that.
He realized he was lying on a creaky bed. He shifted and let out a groan, grateful that the pain eased as he expressed it verbally.
“I think he’s coming around,” a male voice nearby said.
“David! David, wake up!”
Jade.
He opened his eyes a crack. Jade’s worried face filled his field of vision. His heart gave a pathetic squeeze and he felt a wave of disappointment wash over him. He hated being so weak, hated that he had to keep such a close watch on his ticker at all hours. Jade’s ponytail had come loose and her dark hair framed her face. She grinned and he groaned again in response. “Rise and shine,” she said.
A dark-haired man stood next to her, his own hair cut high and tight. A black goatee framed his mouth. The stranger held out a glass of water to David. “Sorry about my friends knocking you out,” the man said. “They were playing it safe. Are you thirsty?”
David’s vision swam. He eased up on one elbow and was grateful when Jade helped him up into a sit. He took the glass of water and sparingly sipped. The water was tepid, the glass half-full, and David started to put two and two together. “So you’re the mysterious Carpenter Country Gun Club,” he said, eyeing the man.
The man stepped back and crossed his arms. “I’m Wyatt,” he said.
David eyed the cinderblock walls and realized that he was blinking at the harsh glare of an electric light swinging above them. “You have electricity?” he asked.
“Crazy, huh?” Jade said. “I asked the same thing.”
A kind smile broke over Wyatt’s face. “Yup. Couple generators in here will keep us up and running for a while.”
The world stopped sloshing and finally David was able to see straight. A couple of old paintings of wildlife had been hung on the walls. Wyatt wore a button-up shirt and jeans. His sleeves were rolled up, and David caught a glimpse of the tail end of a tattoo
spilling out and down his forearm. Familiar. He took another sip and felt as if his brain was rewiring itself. Finally, he put the image together with some old memories. “Marine?” he asked.
Wyatt glanced at his arm and laughed. “Yeah. Good eye.”
“Army,” David said, patting his own knee.
“What are the odds,” Wyatt said, and pulled his shirt sleeve up further to let David see the full tattoo. “It’s a pleasure to meet another who’s served. Now I feel even worse that my friends knocked you out.”
“Well, we must’ve looked like raiders. I would’ve done the same thing,” David said.
Jade nudged his shoulder. “Wyatt here is eager to meet the hoteliers at the River Rock Hotel,” she said, saying the words as if they were incredibly formal.
“Yes,” Wyatt said, sounding hopeful. “We’re looking to start a negotiation with them about trading supplies. Do you know them?”
“You’re in luck,” David said as he finished the water. “You’re staring at one of them.”
Wyatt grinned. “That’s great to hear. Honestly. We’ve been trying to figure out how to approach people without getting shot or run off.”
“What kind of things are you looking to trade?” David asked.
“Water, mostly.” Wyatt’s eyes flickered to David’s empty glass. “We’re running low. We have a few bottles left, but most of our gallon jugs are almost out.”
David shook his head in disappointment. “I’m sorry to say we’re in a similar state. We have bottles of water, but not enough to share.”
Wyatt looked confused. “I’ve lived in Galena my whole life,” he said slowly, “I played on River Rock land when I was a kid. You guys do know you have a well, right?”
EMP Catastrophe | Book 2 | Erupting Danger Page 13
