by Tate, Harley
Colt walked back to the Humvee with a somber, heavy step. He found Larkin packed and ready. The former soldier leaned against the closed door and stared off into the distance. “Is it done?”
“Yes.”
Larkin pushed off the door and reached for the sled he’d concocted out of the netting and poles. “Good. “Let’s get back to Walter and Dani.”
“Do you want to see it? Say anything?”
“No. Standing over her grave won’t do anything but waste time.”
“I’m sorry, Larkin.”
“Me, too.” He huffed one end of the pole up with a grimace. “Ready?”
Colt grabbed the other pole and exhaled. “As I’ll ever be.”
Together, the two of them dragged the heavy load back to Walter’s camp, over rises and down slopes, around trees and through mud. By the time they reached the river, both men were exhausted. Colt set his side down and stopped to splash water over his face.
As Larkin bent to do the same, a shot rang out. Colt stood up with a start. “Dani.”
Larkin pulled his rifle off his shoulder. “Let’s go.”
They were still a mile away. As they ran, more shots rang out, one after the other in a steady stream until the magazine emptied. Thirty seconds later, the shots began anew.
“We’ll never make it. Whoever is shooting could fire a thousand rounds at Dani and Walter before we reach the camp.”
Colt picked up the pace. “Then we have to hope like hell they’ve got somewhere to hide.” As he ran toward the sound of round after round, Colt threw up a prayer.
If Dani and Walter could stay alive until they got there, Colt would put an end to it. Whoever was trying to kill them wouldn’t make it out of that forest alive.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
DANI
Northern California Forest
12:00 p.m.
Dani didn’t know where to aim. The sound of the shots echoed through the forest and the rounds landing in the dirt weren’t concentrated enough to matter. Walter dove behind a stack of firewood and Dani scrambled after him. She ducked as another round sailed over her head and lodged in the pine five feet away.
“Whoever’s shooting is a terrible shot!” Walter pulled back the bolt action on his hunting rifle and turned toward the direction of the gunfire.
Only one person came to mind. “It’s Doug.”
“What?” Walter glanced at Dani like she’d gone mad. “He’s part of your group.”
“He blames me for Melody’s death.”
“You didn’t do it, did you?”
Dani stomped her irritation down. “Of course not. I liked Melody. She was my friend.”
“Then why is he shooting at you?”
“It’s complicated.”
Walter ducked as another round sailed past them. “I’m not going anywhere.”
Dani twisted in place until she could prop the rifle on a log halfway up the stack. If Doug made an appearance, she would be ready. As she stared down the barrel, she answered Walter. “They were under the radar of the militia until we showed up. If Harvey hadn’t taken me and Colt in and if Melody hadn’t saved Colt’s life, then they would all still be in Eugene.”
“I see.”
Dani cut Walter a glance. “They didn’t have to take us in. They could have left Colt on the street to die.”
“I suppose.”
“Or they could have kicked us out when he recovered. They made the choice to stand by us.”
“And suffer the consequences?”
“Whose side are you on?”
Walter shrugged. “No one’s. But now I’m stuck in the crossfire.”
“Then you need to choose.” Dani concentrated on the forest. She was done talking to Walter. If he wanted to shoot her and wave the white flag of surrender, he could freakin’ go ahead. But she wasn’t taking her eyes off the tree line. Doug was out there somewhere and if Walter wasn’t going to ruin her day, then she was going to take Doug down.
The gunfire paused and Dani took a chance. “What’s the matter, Doug? Can’t figure out how to reload?” She took off for the tent, ignoring Walter’s shouts to stay hidden. As she dove behind the green nylon, another volley of fire rang out. It didn’t matter. Dani wasn’t going down like this. She wasn’t letting a man stricken with grief put a bullet in her chest because he couldn’t accept reality.
She ran in a crouch out from the tent and into the dense foliage of the forest. Branches scraped her face and roots threatened to trip her up, but Dani kept going. She needed to lure Doug away from Walter and out into the open.
A brave little bark sounded at her feet and Dani glanced down. Lottie’s brown and gray fur streaked past her toward the direction of the rounds. “Lottie! No!”
Dani chased after the little dog. Lottie’s speed increased the distance between them, but Dani followed the almost constant barking. As the sound grew louder, she slowed. Doug wouldn’t shoot Melody’s dog, would he?
Ducking behind a tree, Dani took stock. The land around her rose in a gentle incline and up to what appeared to be the crest of a hill. The river tracked down behind her, too far to hear. All she could see were trees and brambles and leaves everywhere. Ferns covered the ground and obscured all but the largest tree roots. Lottie would be lost a foot beneath the ground cover.
A bark sounded from up the hill. A shush followed right behind. Doug. If she could hear him, he couldn’t be that far away.
Dani eased down, slipping beneath fronds of the nearest fern and a branch of wild berry vine to hide. She rested her elbows on the ground and brought her rifle up tight to her shoulder. Uncomfortable as heck, but she could bear it.
Another bark. Dani swung the rifle.
“Shh, Lottie. Please.”
Bingo. This time Dani spotted him. Doug kneeled on the forest floor, clutching Lottie to his chest. He stroked the little dog’s fur as she licked him all over the face and yipped. Dani couldn’t take the shot without risking Lottie’s life.
She didn’t know what to do. Killing that little dog wasn’t fair. Dani loved her. Melody loved her. She couldn’t do that to Lottie. But she couldn’t let Doug live, either. He’d tried to kill her. He’d blamed her for his sister’s death.
“Set the dog down, Doug!”
Dani swiveled in alarm. She would recognize Colt’s voice anywhere. Where was he? She scanned the trees to her right, searching for any sign of the man. Nothing.
He was concealed well. She turned back to Doug. He was doing the same, searching the woods for the source of Colt’s voice. Clutching Lottie to his chest with one hand, he stood up with a handgun in the other. “This is all your fault!”
“No, it’s not. Everyone had a choice. You made yours.”
“Melody didn’t deserve to die!”
“No, she didn’t. But it was an accident.”
“I wish you’d never stepped foot in Eugene!” Doug’s voice grew more desperate with every word. It shook and trembled and his grip on Lottie tightened so much the dog yelped.
“Put her down!”
“No!” Doug jerked his head down to look at the dog, then back up to the forest. He brought his right hand with the gun up to Lottie and shoved the barrel into her chest. “I’ll shoot her. I swear to God I will!”
“Just put her down and no one will get hurt.”
Dani wished she were a better shot. If only she could take him out. But no way would she be able to hit Doug and not hurt Lottie. She didn’t know what to do. All she could hope for was that Colt and Larkin had a plan.
Doug jerked the dog around and she whimpered.
“Last chance, Doug. Put her down.”
“No!” Doug pulled back the hammer on the handgun.
Dani braced herself. Could Colt really do it? Could he really shoot Doug and miss Lottie?
“We’ll let you keep the guns. Let the dog go and you can walk out of this forest with all the weapons and ammo a free man.”
Doug turned around in a franti
c circle, shaking his head as he held the gun on Lottie. He opened his mouth to speak, but Dani couldn’t make out the words. She rose up out of the ferns and rushed forward.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Mel. I have to do it. I’m so sorry.”
His frantic mumbling sent Dani into a panic. She rose up to her full height and exposed herself. “No! Doug if you’re going to shoot anyone, shoot me!” She held her arms out wide as Doug lifted his head.
He moved his gun hand away from Lottie and Dani screamed.
Chapter Thirty
DANI
Northern California Forest
12:00 p.m.
A shot pierced the stillness.
Dani staggered back.
Doug crumpled to the forest floor.
No! She rushed forward, tearing through the brush to get to Lottie. The little dog lay on the ground, still and not moving. Dani dove for her, heedless of Doug’s body a few feet away. She scooped Lottie up into her arms.
“Please be alive. Please.” She stroked the little dog’s fur and a tiny grumble rumbled up from her throat. Dani exhaled in relief as Colt thundered up to her side.
“What the hell were you doing?”
“Saving Lottie.” Dani eased the little dog’s fur away from her face and Lottie’s little black eyes blinked. She might be in shock or injured, but Lottie was alive. She looked up at Colt. “Thanks for taking the shot.”
He shook his head. “I didn’t.”
Dani’s eyes went wide. “Then who did?”
Walter stepped out of the weeds and stopped beside Doug. He lowered himself into a crouch and felt for a pulse on Doug’s neck. “I did. I wasn’t sure about the truth of this feud until that moment.” He stood up with a solemn frown. “You just don’t kill a good dog.”
Larkin arrived on the scene from the other direction, half-running, half-skidding down the hill. “I tried to come at him from the back, but I was too slow.”
“It’s all right.” Colt tilted his head in Walter’s direction. “He took care of it.”
Larkin held out his hand and Walter shook it. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Although the three of you owe me a new tent and some gear. Your friend here shot up my entire camp.”
Colt nodded. “We owe you a lot more than that.”
Lottie squirmed in Dani’s grip and she bent to set the little dog on the ground. After a head-to-toe shake, Lottie scampered a few feet away, did her business, and rushed back to Dani’s feet. She scooped her back up and smiled. “I think she’s going to be okay.”
“Thanks to Walter, so are you.” Colt stared at her, his eyes clouded and expression severe.
Dani looked away.
At last, Colt turned to Larkin. “Help me dig another hole, will you?”
Larkin nodded. “I’ll get the shovel.”
Walter held his arm out for Dani. “I can take you back to camp. We can chop up venison for Lottie and clean that wound on your face.”
Dani reached up to feel crusted blood covering her cheek. She swallowed. In the tumult of the shootout, she’d forgotten all about it. “Thanks.”
Walter turned to Colt. “You all right here?”
“We are. Thank you.”
Dani let Walter lead her away from Doug’s body and back to camp.
She sat down next to the fire in the same spot she’d been in before the shooting happened. Lottie settled in on her lap, nuzzling her hand until Dani relented and stroked her fur. It didn’t seem real.
Everyone they met in Eugene except for Larkin was dead. Two entire families wiped out because of what? Dani might have defended herself to Walter, but on the inside, guilt festered. She couldn’t help but wonder if five people wouldn’t be alive and happy if she hadn’t wrecked their lives.
“Don’t blame yourself.” Walter crouched at her side with a wet rag.
She pinned him with a glare. “Why not? It’s all my fault.”
“You didn’t kill Doug.”
“I might as well have. He blamed me for Melody’s death. He lost control because of me.”
Walter dabbed at her bloodied cheek. “He had a choice out in those woods. Accept what happened and move on, or not. He chose not.”
Dani winced as Walter pressed on the cut. “Colt and I should have left them alone. I thought about it so many times. I should have just disappeared even if Colt didn’t come with me.”
Walter stopped cleaning. “Don’t think like that. You and Colt are family and you need to stick together.”
Her brows knitted. “He’s not my family.”
Walter tilted his head. “Really? You might not be blood relatives, but that man looks at you the same way I look at my daughter. Don’t discount his loyalty.”
Dani swallowed. Colt thought of her as a daughter? She wanted to believe Walter, but the events of the past week had her all twisted up in knots. Harvey, Gloria, and Will were a real family and they were dead. Melody and Doug were siblings and they were dead.
Maybe a family wasn’t the best thing to have.
Walter started up on her face again and she closed her eyes. “Do you miss your daughter?”
“Very much. And as soon as I’ve gathered enough food, I’ll be headed straight back to her.”
“Aren’t you afraid something might happen to her while you’re gone?”
He hesitated, the rag pressed against Dani’s cheek as he thought it over. “No. The place is secure. I’m the one at risk.”
She snorted. “Because of us.”
“Not only you. I’ve got food. Supplies. Anyone could come along and try to take what I have.”
Dani opened her eyes. “We could help you. Provide security and hunt.”
Walter smiled. “That’s a nice offer.”
“It’s not a bad one, either.” Colt emerged from the forest, dragging a sled loaded down with all sorts of gear. Larkin followed, burdened by three black duffel bags caked in dirt.
“We’ve got enough guns and ammunition to arm an entire town.” Larkin dumped the bags in the middle of the clearing. “Maybe we could come to an arrangement.”
Walter stood up as Larkin unzipped the bags. He walked over and inspected the contents. “Where did these come from?”
“The Camaro that killed the Wilkins family. The driver was a transporter.”
Walter stepped back. “So they’re stolen.”
Colt tilted his head. “More like recovered.”
“Do you know who they belong to?”
“Not for sure.” Larkin rolled his shoulders to relieve the ache of the bags as he explained. “The men I was running from when you found me came looking for them. But we don’t know if it was an arm’s length transaction or if they already owned the weapons.”
Colt eased the sled to the ground and set to work unhooking the netting and poles. “The two men were Cunningham’s thugs.”
Walter stilled. “You stole from Cunningham?”
“We stole from a dead man in a Camaro. We don’t know if he was part of Cunningham’s crew or not.”
Walter turned back to Dani. He stared at her like she was the decision point in some internal battle she didn’t understand. Who was Cunningham and what did he have to do with any of this? She chewed on her lip as Walter exhaled. Was he going to let them stay? Could they trust him?
“All right. You all can stay. But only until I’ve gathered what I need. Then we go our separate ways.”
Colt stuck out his hand as Walter turned back to face him. “Deal.”
Walter shook it and Colt set to work unpacking the gear from the Humvee.
Larkin grabbed a shovel and headed toward a semi-concealed spot beneath a tree branch. “Can we agree there’s no digging tomorrow? I’m tired of digging.” He stabbed the ground with the shovel and lifted a chunk of dirt and forest debris.
Dani watched Larkin work as Walter came back with a blob of goop on his finger. He smeared it on her cheek. “There might be a shard of that mug still in there. After the
inflammation dies down, I can take a look. Then we can stitch it up.”
She nodded.
Walter patted her knee. “I’ll relight the fire and make some tea. I think you need it.”
Dani swallowed. Every muscle in her body ached. Her cheek throbbed, her knees were bruised from where she fell to the ground when Doug started shooting, and she wanted nothing more than to curl up and forget the past week ever happened.
But she couldn’t. That was another difference between now and before the power grid failed. Back then, if you didn’t like something, you could ignore it. Bury it behind a television screen or a fancy phone. She thought about Will and his refusal to accept the changed world. He tried so desperately to cling to the comforts of before: battery-operated video games and a computer that wouldn’t turn on.
Out in the forest, with nothing to remind them of high-rises and offices and the constant hum of electronics, they were forced to face their fears. Decisions had a way of sticking around now, for good or bad.
Walter crouched in front of the fire and Dani twisted to face him. “If you want us to leave, it’s okay. We can go.”
He glanced up in between nudging the kindling beneath the wood and pulling out a lighter. “I’ve made my choice. You all can stay.”
“We might be bad luck.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
“We could end up getting you killed.”
Walter lit the kindling and blew on it in slow, measured breaths until the wood caught. He leaned back, resting his hands on his thighs. “A branch from the tree over there could crack and take me out in an instant. This fire could spark and spread through the forest in an instant. One of the animals I kill could have a disease that drags me under.”
He stood up. “There’s a million ways I could go every day, Dani. I know the odds.”
The ghosts of the people dead because of her filled her vision. “I don’t want to get you killed.”
Walter’s face eased into a smile. “I’ve survived a hell of a lot worse than sharing a camp with a former SEAL, an army officer, and a teenage girl who’s as brave as any Marine. We’ll be fine.”
