Quinn nodded his agreement. “Trust me, I know. We just drove in from Calgary where we were scavenging some things our town needs and we were hoping you guys wouldn’t mind letting us take a break in here to warm up for about an hour before we make the final leg home.”
Mike looked at Quinn like he was crazy. “Calgary? Do you guys ever stay home? Why on earth would you make such a dangerous trip?”
Quinn hedged on his answer, not sure if he should tell Mike about the plague that had struck Prairie Springs. He finally just went with a partial truth.
“Our doctor needed some medicine to help out a few people in town that would have died without it so when the chinook hit, we just went for it. Is it okay if we stay and warm up? We’ve been traveling on snowmobiles so we’re half frozen.”
Make started nodding his head right away. “Of course, of course. Come on in and find a seat close to one of the fireplaces and get warmed up. You can tell me all about your trip when you’re comfortable.”
Quinn sighed in relief and the girls had similar expressions. He explained about Josh, Alex, and the kids waiting out in the Ranger, which caused Mike to be even more baffled.
“Of course, go and get your friends and bring them in. I’ll look into getting you guys something hot to drink while you do that.” He turned away, shaking his head and saying under his breath, “Calgary?” in disbelief.
Quinn sent Emily and Dara towards one of the fireplaces the town had set up in every corner of the room while he went out to get the rest of the group. When they came back in the kids stood in the doorway wide-eyed, looking at all the people in the room. Quinn realized that other than Leslie and Albert, these kids probably hadn’t seen any other people for a very long time.
They guided them into the room towards where Dara and Emily were sitting, leaning into the fireplace’s heat trying to warm up, and got them settled on the rug that was spread in front of it. Just as everyone found a seat, Mike and two ladies came bustling out of the same door Mike had used earlier, carrying trays with mugs on them, and headed their way.
They passed the mugs out to the teens and children, cautioning them that they were hot and to be careful not to burn themselves. The women fussed over the children before one of them turned and jogged back to the door they had come out of.
Mike looked at the mug in Quinn’s hand with a frown on his face. “It’s just weak tea. I’m sorry we can’t offer you anything better but things are starting to run out now.”
Quinn waved that away while blowing on the hot liquid so he could take his first stip. “Don’t worry about that at all. We just appreciate you allowing us to come in and warm up. We don’t want to put you out or eat into any of your supplies. We all know how tight things are getting for anything that we can’t grow ourselves. Really Mike, thank you.”
With a nod, Mike turned away to grab a chair and dragged it over, presumably waiting to hear their story. The lady who had left came back with a plate covered in homemade cookies and passed it to Anna to hand out to the children. Quinn tried to tell the lady she didn’t have to give them any of their food but she just shut him down.
“Don’t you worry about that. We might not have a lot of tea or coffee left but we have plenty of flour and oats from the harvest. We’re not going to be running out of cookies anytime soon. Sugar, maybe, but we have honey from our hives to sweeten them.”
Quinn gave her a grateful smile and watched as the children hesitantly took a cookie each from Anna. This was probably the first baked goods they’d had since lights out. He and Josh took turns telling Mike and the ladies a glossed over version of what they’d been up to for the last three days. They told them about what they had seen in Red Deer with the military, and the condition of Calgary, leaving out some of the more dangerous things that had occurred.
Mike listened in avid interest but the first question he fired off was about Red Deer.
“So the military has the town locked down and they’re not taking anyone in until spring? Do you think you’re going to start strong-arming people when they start expanding their planting?”
Quinn shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know. One of our friends, who had enlisted with them, gave us as much information as possible but he never said anything about them coming after the farmers in the area. I know my community wouldn’t put up with that kind of bullying tactic. I think we’re all open to getting some trade going to benefit everyone but being commandeered by the military is something most people, especially country people would fight against.”
They chatted for another half an hour about things they had seen and answered questions from the ladies about the community at the zoo and the hospital. They were completely dismayed to learn about the children’s situation and what they had been through. One of the ladies went so far as to offer homes for some of the kids in their town.
Alex smiled at her but shook her head. “That’s very generous of you but we promised Leslie that we would keep the kids with us. We’re hopeful that she and some of our other friends that we left in the city will travel home to Prairie Springs when the thaw happens.”
With the cookies eaten and the tea gone, Quinn glanced down at his watch. Everyone had used the restrooms over the last hour and he was getting anxious to head home. It was bad enough traveling in the cold but he definitely didn’t want to be driving much after dark. It was too hard to see obstacles in the road as well as wildlife that tended to wander anywhere they wanted. He sent a look Josh’s way and got a nod of agreement.
They pushed to their feet and thanked Mike and the two ladies for their generosity and promised they would talk to the Town Council about setting up some sort of a market day so their two communities could come together for trade and socializing. Matthew had been right when he had said that the only way they were going to begin to rebuild was to reach out to others.
With zippers on jackets done up and hats and mittens put back on the group said goodbye and thank you again to Mike and his people. They filed back out of the community center and loaded the kids back into the Ranger. It was Quinn’s turn to ride in the Ranger with Alex and the kids but one look at Emily’s drawn face and he sent her to drive it instead. When she tried to protest, he pulled her into a hug.
“You can switch me out in a half an hour. I think Alex needs some time with her best friend before we get home and have to separate again.”
Her expression was still hesitant and he realized that she might not be ready to talk about what was going on inside of her head so he just nudged her towards the Ranger and turned to put his helmet on.
Suited up and motors running, it was time for the final leg of the trip.
Chapter Eighteen
The tension of the long, hard trip started to drain away when they drove past the ‘Welcome to Prairie Springs’ sign. Straight ahead of them on the road leading into town was the roadblock that had been up since they had taken control back from the gang. They pulled to a stop at the unmanned barrier and gathered around the Ranger.
Quinn frowned as he walked past the unlit burn barrel that the guards used to keep warm. It had a dusting of ice on top of the old ashes, telling him that it hadn’t been used in at least a day. With the chinook only ending that morning, there should have been guards manning the roadblock at least until then.
It had already been decided that when they got to town the girls would all head to Alex’s house with the children while Josh and Quinn took the sleds and delivered the medicine to Dr. Mack.
Emily was anxious to get home and put the trip behind her but she also dreaded it, knowing that she would have to face off with her parents, so she had no problems delaying long enough to see Alex, Dara, and the children settled.
Eventually, they would have to get together with all their parents to decide where the children would ultimately end up, but for now, with darkness descending and after a long day, they just wanted to get them under a warm roof. Alex’s family home was the biggest with the most bedrooms and t
he family that was billeting with them had moved out, so she assured them there would be room for all the children until they could make plans to relocate them.
Dara was behind the steering wheel of the Ranger, taking her turn at warming up, and rolled down the window when Quinn, Josh, and Emily approached. They had already told the children in the back seat that Emily was going to get in with them and that they would have to sit on her lap for the short drive to Alex’s house. Emily opened the back door and helped the two little boys out of their seats so she could slide in and then have them climb in on top of her. Josh leaned in to kiss Dara goodbye.
“I’ll be over tomorrow, bright and early to see you guys and I’ll probably bring my parents with me so we can work out a plan on what to do with the kids,” he said, then paused for a few seconds while he just looked at her with love. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to go back to not seeing you all the time, babe. I think we should also talk tomorrow about changing a few things. We’re probably looking at three to four more months of winter before we’re free to move around easily and I’m not willing to go that long without having you in my life.”
Dara glanced over to Alex before meeting his gaze. “I think there’s going to be a big shake-up for all of us after this trip and I agree that I don’t want to go that long without seeing you again. Josh, don’t take any chances in town. Keep your gloves and your helmet with the visor down on and just deliver the medicine and then get out. Even though we have the treatment for the plague now, we can’t be sure it’s going to save everyone and I can’t imagine living my life without you. Please be safe and be careful.”
He gave her another brief kiss and nodded his head. “No worries there. I’d rather take a bullet then fight a germ.”
On the other side of the Ranger, Quinn was saying something similar to Alex as he said his goodbyes. “I know we’re just getting back together but I want to see you as much as possible. I know it’s going to take some time for your wounds to heal but we should talk in the next few days about how we can make that happen.”
Alex smiled at him but shook her head. “Yes to all of that, but first I’m going to have to navigate the explosion waiting for me at home. I have a feeling it’s not going to be pretty and the repercussions could end up with me being under lock and key for quite some time.”
Quinn nodded in understanding. “I hear you, and I’m not saying you should walk away or anything, but keep in mind you’re eighteen now and there’s always that big RV we were going to pull over to my farm for us to live in. If it comes right down to it, I’ll be ready to break you out of jail and abscond with you,” he said with a laugh.
Alex grinned right back. “Abscond? Really? Did you get one of those word of the day calendars or something? Well, all I can say is if you are going to come break me out - make sure you bring the big guns. You’re going to be going up against your biggest opponent yet…my mom!” Her expression turned serious. “Make sure you’re extra careful when you go into town to see Dr. Mack. It would be stupid to go through all we went through on this trip only for you to come home and get sick.”
Quinn shot a look over his shoulder at the empty roadblock. “Yeah, I think things have probably gotten a lot worse since we left. Josh and I will be super careful but depending on what we find we might have to lend a hand in there.”
Alex considered ordering him to just drop the medicine and get out but she knew neither he or Josh would ever do that so she just nodded her head instead.
“Don’t forget that Leslie sent all those masks and gloves from the hospital. If you do end up helping, make sure you stay covered up and protected,” Alex said with a voice full of feeling. “I’m glad you’re back, Quinn. You have no idea how much I missed you. Will you come to my place tomorrow?”
He leaned through the window to place a kiss on her forehead. “Count on it. Wild horses couldn’t keep me away.”
The boys moved away from the Ranger with a final wave and climbed back onto the sleds to head into town. Dara put the Ranger in gear and followed them until she came to the turnoff that would take them toward Alex’s home.
The girls were all silent, lost in their own thoughts, as they drove the short distance to Alex’s house. Even the children stayed silent, as though they were picking up on the tension from the three teens. Just as Dara was about to turn into the long driveway to the Andrews’ family farm, Alex sighed deeply.
“Anyone have any last words for me before I face the firing squad?”
When she glanced into the back seat to look at Emily, she caught the scared expressions on the kids faces and realized they had taken her words literally. She was quick to reassure them.
“No, no, no. no! I was just joking. I didn’t have my mom and dad’s permission to come to the city so I might get grounded.” When a few of them gave her tentative smiles she turned back to the front and watched her house get closer and closer.
Dara slowed the Ranger to give them a few more minutes. “I think it’s time you were honest with them. Tell them how you feel. Tell them everything. Ever since we got home you’ve kept most of what happened and how you were feeling about the restrictions they placed on you, to yourself. Maybe it’s time you had a real conversation with them and lay it out so that they can understand. Of course, that’s after they kill you!” She laughed.
Alex didn’t reply. She just sat with Bella snuggling against her chest in thoughtful silence. Maybe Dara was right. Maybe it was time to lay all her cards on the table if that’s what it would take for her parents to understand she wasn’t a little girl anymore.
Dara drove around to the back door where the family mainly entered and exited the house and pulled up as close to the porch as she could. She had just shut the Ranger’s engine off when that back door opened up and Alex’s dad looked out with a worried expression on his face and a shotgun in his arms. Alex realized that her Dad didn’t recognize the Ranger since they had acquired it after they left, so she just took a deep breath and pushed open her door to call out.
“Hi Dad, we’re home.”
Jonathan Andrews eyes grew wide at seeing his daughter. The shotgun sagged in his arms as he turned and shouted over his shoulder.
“Alice, Peter! Alex is home!”
He leaned the shotgun back inside the porch and dashed out towards the Ranger. He reached in to pull his daughter from the vehicle but stopped abruptly when he saw the little girl sitting on her lap, looking back at him with a scared expression. He tried to ease his features into a more pleasant expression as he leaned over and looked into the vehicle. His confusion only deepened as he registered how many children were crammed into the small vehicle and he turned his focus back on his daughter.
“Alex? Wha…”
Alex dropped a kiss on the top of Bella’s head and said to the small girl, “It’s okay honey, this is my dad and he’s going to help get us into the house. You can go with him. I promise I’ll be right behind you.”
Jonathan was helpless to do anything, except pick up the tiny girl when she held out her arms to him. Emily and Dara opened their doors and Dara helped remove the two boys from Emily’s lap and set them down on the ground so Emily could slide out of the back seat. She then went around to the other side and opened the door so she could take Grace from Anna’s lap. Once all the children were out of the Ranger the cold temperature difference hit them and they all started shivering. Alice Andrews, Alex’s mother, and Peter, her brother - flew out the back door just then and slid to a stop when they saw all the children, Emily, and Dara standing beside the Ranger. Emily moved over to Alex’s door to help her friend up and keep her wounded arm steady. For a moment no one moved, as if everyone felt awkward and weren’t sure what to do. They all just stood, staring at each other. It was Alex who broke the standoff.
“I don’t know if you guys have noticed but it’s really cold out here, so can we all go inside now please?”
It was her father who came out of his shock first. “Yes, of
course! Alice, Peter let’s get all these kids inside. We can talk to Alex once we’re out of the cold.”
They all moved into the house and squeezed into the porch, everyone trying to get their boots and jackets off in the tight space and get into the warm kitchen. Alex kept her head down and focused on helping the kids get their gear off so she wouldn’t have to face her parents for a few more minutes.
The children stood in the kitchen, looking around with big curious eyes but also shooting nervous glances towards the three adults that were staring back at them. Alex finally realized that she was going to have to move things along or they’d all be spending the night staring at each other in the kitchen.
“Mom, Dad, Peter, it’s good to see you guys. We found all the medicine the town needs and brought it back. We also found these little guys who are all orphans that need homes. I hope you don’t mind that we brought them here first. I just thought, with us having the biggest house that this would be the place to keep them for tonight while we figure out who’s going to go where.”
Her parents still hadn’t said anything as they kept looking at all the children and then back to Alex. She could see from their expressions that they had things they wanted to say to her but were holding back so as not to upset the children. Peter saw it too and spoke up.
“Why don’t you kids follow me into the living room for a little while where you can move around a bit and stretch? I sure would like to learn all your names while Alex talks to her mom and dad.”
Dara jumped in at that. “What a great idea, Peter. Come on kids, let’s go and leave Alex to talk to her family for a minute.” She was more than happy to babysit if it meant it got her out of the line of fire of the eruption that was about to happen.
STRANDED: Box Set: Books 1-6 Page 109
