Wolf nodded his head, taking over the steering of the boat from Tabitha and heading inland.
The ride to shore was bumpy, threatening a repeat of the first time Regan had gone out on the sailboat. She sat down on the bench seat, sucking in deep breaths through her nose and exhaling through her mouth, trying her hardest to combat the nausea. Tabitha sat beside her, rubbing her back and promising her they were almost to shore. Regan simply kept her head down as Wolf followed RC to a dock that was almost a mile away from where they usually went to shore.
Once both boats were tied up and they’d gotten back onto solid land, they all hugged one another, the adrenaline and fear of the night slowly wearing off and giving way to simple relief. Even Lily doled out hugs as if she actually liked everyone.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Lily said, wrapping her arms tight around her father for the second time since they’d landed. She’d started with him, and then cycled back to embrace him again.
“It’s okay. I’m fine,” he reassured her again, but he was holding on to her just as tightly as she gripped him.
Regan watched the two of them and hoped this was the beginning of a fresh start for them. She knew they had been close not all that long ago and hated that they’d been at odds over the past few weeks. And maybe their island home was gone, but they had each other.
They all had each other, and Regan couldn’t believe how happy that made her.
RC patted Wolf on the shoulder, not saying a word and not needing to as his son and granddaughter embraced.
“Now what?” Fred asked after a few moments more had passed in silent relief. Regan looked at him blankly—she’d wanted a minute or two more of feeling good about surviving the day before they moved on to the next crisis at hand.
Wolf took a deep breath and shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Lily stepped away from him, suspiciously wiping her eyes as she turned her back to the group.
“Let’s get everything we brought from the island and find somewhere to hunker down,” RC suggested.
With the extra hands available, it didn’t take long for them to unload the boats and pull them far enough onto land that the tide wasn’t likely to tear them away.
“You guys did great,” Wolf said, looking over the haul of supplies “I can’t believe you managed to get this much stuff out of there. It was stupid to go into a burning house, by the way, but I’m glad you did,” he finished with a grin.
With their packs strapped on, and everyone carrying a bucket or trash bag, if not more than one, they walked up the trail to the public park that the dock belonged to. There, they all took a seat at a covered picnic table. Regan couldn’t help but stare out at the water. The fire burning the island glowed in the distance as a horrible reminder of everything they had lost, and she wondered what Virginia was doing. Had she swum to another island or sat down and given up? Or was she sleeping her rage off, preparing to swim off the next day?
“Can we go to one of the other islands?” Fred asked.
Geno nodded his head. “That’s a good idea. We can set up a new refuge. You said there were thousands of islands out there. We’ll find another one.”
“As long as it’s far away from Virginia,” Tabitha added.
Wolf frowned, and traded glances with RC. “With hurricane season rolling in, I don’t think it’s a good idea to try and ride out the weather without any kind of protection already in place. We have no way to cut down trees to make a safe area for us. A hurricane will topple trees, and on top of that, many of the smaller islands don’t have such high ground as the one we were on—storm surge could cover them if a big storm came in, and there’s no real way for us to know how far above sea level they are without access to records that… well, I don’t know where we’d find them now. It would be more dangerous than staying on the mainland, I’m afraid,” Wolf pointed out.
Fred took a deep breath. “We can see if there are any empty houses here. We know people have died or moved away. We could take over several houses if we needed to.”
Regan looked at Wolf. It certainly sounded like a good idea to her—or, at least, the best option she could imagine. Still, she waited to see what his response would be. He was the one she trusted to make the best choice.
Wolf shook his head. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea, either, honestly. Heather told me about people being pushed out of the city by the gangs and more places like that cooperative we ran into before. They’re going to be coming here. They maybe already be here.”
“Okay, but then what do we do? Those seem like our only options,” Geno commented, frustration in his voice.
Wolf paused, clearly hesitant about whatever he was about to say. But then, with a glance to Lily and then to Regan, he offered, “We could go back to the swamp.”
Regan stared at him, thinking he had to be joking. “Tell me you’re not serious?”
Tabitha leaned in to catch his eye, clearly on the same page as Regan. “No way, Wolf! We got out of there because there was nothing to support us. We had nothing there and it was miserable.”
“Not quite. We got out of there because we had the island refuge to get back to and because I had to get back to my family,” Wolf said in a firm voice. “We could have had the best set-up in the world there, and I still would have left to return to my family, but as it was, you came with me to the island. With that gone, the swamp isn’t a bad option.”
“The danger of the swamp seems far greater than the dangers we would face here,” Fred said quietly.
For once, Regan agreed with him. “We have no food there. Nowhere to take shelter, which you just said was so important. Nothing. And then there’s the environment. We wouldn’t have clean water or beds,” Regan complained, dreading the idea of going back to the place she had loathed so much.
Wolf shook his head, looking around the group. “You’re thinking of the show itself, and your experience there, and then our trek out. The situation there isn’t as bleak as all that. We had two separate buildings set up to house supplies for the crew. They were out of sight of our main set, but they’re there. There was nothing there that we could have hauled out easily in terms of supplies to use when we left, but there are cots there, along with a large water filtration system that we can have back up and running in no time.”
RC nodded from across the table. “Geno was talking to me about the generator’s breakdown. I’ve got some ideas about what the EMP did—between the two of us, I think we could get it running again if we scavenged some of the lights that were left behind.”
Regan traded looks with Tabitha as the men kept on going, and even Fred seemed to be warming to the idea as he commented, “There is plenty of fishing to be had. And now that I’ve seen the aquaponics set-up you had in the greenhouse, it would take some time, but I think we could probably get something like that going again after hurricane season passes. We’d need to scavenge solar panels and glass.”
Geno nodded, though a frown rested on his lips. “Wolf and RC did all that by hand and we could do it, too. There’ll be plenty of houses with panels like that abandoned by the time the hurricane season’s over—most people won’t know how to keep systems like that running once something goes wrong, and they’ll give up on good equipment pretty quickly. Happens all the time.”
Wolf looked back to Regan. “We need somewhere relatively safe from other people. The swamp is probably the least inviting place to be, which means no one else will be there,” Wolf explained.
“But what about food? We were struggling to eat the few days we were there,” Geno added.
Regan shook her head. The very last place she wanted to be was the swamp. It had been treacherous and terrifying.
“I really don’t want to go back to the swamp,” Regan said quietly.
“Dad?” Wolf asked.
RC had been quiet as usual, listening to the others protest. “I think it is the lesser of two evils. Food will be a struggle no matter where we go, especial
ly during the storm season, but we’ll get by and then get settled afterward.”
Wolf looked at Lily, who was sitting to his left. “Lily?”
She shrugged. “I’ve only been to the swamplands around here. I’ve never been to where you guys were. Why can’t we stay here? Heather and Travis are here.”
“It isn’t going to be safe here,” Wolf said gently. “What happens if those gangs come here and demand we join them or be killed? I don’t want to scare you, Lily, but this world isn’t like it was before. There are fewer people here to join forces with. We wouldn’t stand a chance. They’ll be heavily armed. We have nothing in terms of weaponry,” Wolf stressed, looking around the group to meet everyone’s eyes in turn.
“He does have a point,” Fred mumbled.
Regan could feel the tide of opinion changing. She was going to be forced to make another horrible decision. Stay with the people she had come to depend on and head into the one place in the world she despised, or take her chances on her own.
“We can build another, sturdier shelter off the set. I’m sure everything is still there. It’s a good, solid foundation and will get us off the ground. The production sheds will be our shelter while we build something a little sturdier. We’ll collect more tools on the way to make it feasible,” Wolf said.
“Dad, the swamp? Come on,” Lily said with disgust. “You said it was too dangerous.”
“It is dangerous, Lily, but I think it is far more dangerous out here. We’re not going to find an option that is truly safe. What Virginia did was out of desperation. She isn’t the only one who’s going to be desperate. People do crazy things when they’re scared and starving.”
Lily scoffed. “She’s crazy, Dad. She’s always been a little weird. It’s why you divorced her, right? So, can’t we stay here? We can find an empty house, or maybe a row of empty houses like Fred said,” she suggested.
“That’s enough,” Wolf said, shaking his head. “I’m willing to hear other suggestions, but right now, we don’t have many options—and yes, I do think we need to stay together. If anyone wants to do something different, I can’t stop you, but you all know what it’s like out there. We’re stronger together. I don’t want to see anyone get hurt. We can work together, protect one another. We’ve all become something of a family,” he added more quietly, “and I think we proved that to one another today. I’d suggest we accept that and keep going as a group.”
Geno and Tabitha exchanged a look, and Regan’s heart lurched at the thought of losing her best friend in the world. She wouldn’t blame Tabitha one bit if she decided to head north in search of her own family, or just to avoid the swamp.
“How far is it to the swamp?” Lily muttered, obviously realizing she didn’t have a choice.
Wolf smiled. “It’s not the distance that’s a problem. It’s the getting there that will be difficult. We can see if that van is still hidden in the trees, but if not, we’re on foot.”
“Van?” Lily asked, surprise on her face.
“We found a running van and used it to get here. We hid it at the end of the coastal road. There’s a chance it’s still there.”
“I’m game,” Fred announced.
RC nodded his head. “I’ll be going along.”
Geno looked at Tabitha again before turning back to look at Wolf. “You’ve kept us alive this long. We’ll stick with you.”
Regan felt all eyes on her. She had made it very clear when they’d been in the swamp just how much she hated it, and that she’d never willingly return.
She was about to eat her own words.
“You’re not getting rid of me that easy,” she said with a small smile.
Wolf reached across the table and grabbed her hand. “Good. I didn’t want to drag you kicking and screaming into the swamp, but there was no way I was letting you go out there all alone.”
Everyone smiled at the admission except Lily, who looked less than thrilled by her dad’s announcement. Regan couldn’t be sure if it was because she’d be tagging along, or because they were about to head into alligator territory once again, but suspected it was the first. Lily still hadn’t warmed up to her, and the so-called apocalypse just kept getting worse, in the tween’s opinion.
A gust of wind whipped across the park, bringing along with it the smell of the fire. Rain began to fall within seconds, and the next storm that RC had warned them about prepared to kick into full gear. Regan prayed this was not the hurricane they had been waiting for.
“Lily,” Wolf said, his voice raised to be heard over the wind and rain that were beginning to kick up. “Do you think Heather and Travis would be willing to give us shelter for the night?” he asked.
Lily looked at her dad, a gleam of excitement in her eye. “It can’t hurt to ask. Come on, let’s get out of here!”
They packed up their gear, which in the grand scheme of things wasn’t much. Everything they had to survive in the world had been divided into a couple of trash bags, buckets, and backpacks. It wasn’t a lot, loaded down as they felt by the supplies now that the elements were against them.
Tabitha and Wolf led the way, walking along the beach before cutting through some trees until they saw a small house tucked back into a copse of trees. Regan hoped the woman who lived there along with her son would be willing to let them crash for the night. She didn’t want to ride out the storm surrounded by tall trees—not after the devastation she’d seen on the island after that last big storm.
25
Wolf and Lily walked up to the front door while the rest of the group hung back. They didn’t want to scare the woman by showing up en masse. Heather didn’t know them all, after all. And besides that, they looked a little worse for wear after being exposed to the fire and ash.
Wolf knocked on the door after glancing backward to them and offering a smile of reassurance. “Heather,” he called out. “Heather, it’s Wolf Henderson, Lily’s father. I’m sorry to bother you, but I have a huge favor to ask of you,” he said loud enough for her to hear through the closed door.
Regan watched and waited, hoping the woman was home and willing to let them in. When the door opened a crack, the glow of a candle illuminated a woman’s face. Regan could see she had long dark hair that looked a lot like Wolf’s. Judging by the high cheekbones, she was also of Native American descent.
“Wolf?” she asked with surprise. “What are you doing here?”
“It’s a long story. A very long one,” he added with a sigh. “I hate to impose, but can my friends and I seek shelter here for the night?”
The woman opened the door wider, stepping into the doorway and holding her candle up as she looked out into the yard at the ragtag group trying to stay out of the rain by standing under the thick trees. She couldn’t possibly see their faces, but they were all holding their breath, wondering what she would say. Regan had no idea what they would do if she told them no.
“Of course! Come in!” she invited him, gesturing all of them forward.
None of them hesitated, and Heather’s eyes widened in shock as they made their way into the flickering candlelight, their bags in hand.
“Heather, this is Regan, Geno, Tabitha, Fred, and you know my dad,” Wolf said, making the introductions.
Heather smiled. “I met Tabitha recently.”
Tabitha smiled and offered a shy wave. “Hi, thank you. I’m so sorry we’re barging in on you like this.”
“Thank you for letting us in,” Wolf said. “I know this is a lot to ask.”
A young man appeared in the living room, carrying a gun and a flashlight in one hand.
“Travis! Put that away. It’s Lily and her family,” she admonished him.
Regan looked at the young man with dark hair and features very much like his mother. He was already taller than his mom. She watched as Travis put the gun down on a small entryway table. He still looked a little leery of the large group of strangers standing in his living room, but his face had brightened upon spotting Lily.
> “Hi, Travis,” Lily said sheepishly.
“Travis, go grab some towels,” Heather ordered him. “You two are completely soaked,” she said, looking at Regan and Wolf. “And the rest of you aren’t much better,” she added, glancing around to the rain-spattered bunch.
Wolf smirked. “We went for a late-night swim.”
Heather smiled. “I can see that. I cannot wait to hear the story. I can already tell it’s going to be an exciting one.”
Travis returned with the towels, handing one each to Regan and Wolf, and then passing around others. “Hello, Mr. Henderson,” he said in a voice that cracked a little.
“Thank you,” Wolf said, his voice sounded so stern that it nearly made Regan burst into laughter.
The protective daddy persona in place. She realized he knew damn well that the ‘just friends’ thing Lily had offered was a load of crap. Travis was a cute kid and Lily was a pretty girl, and they seemed to have a lot in common. And Wolf wasn’t an idiot.
Seeing the two kids smiling at each other, Regan even hoped the two of them could have a relationship—someday.
Heather looked at Regan. “You’re probably about my size. Let me get you some dry clothes. Wolf, you might be able to wear some of Luke’s things.” She looked around at the rest of them, judging everyone’s size and frame in turn. When her eyes took in Geno, she just held up her hands as if to say there wasn’t anything she could do. “After that, we’ll find something or another for the rest of you if you need fresh things. Well, most of you,” she corrected herself, looking again to Geno. “Come with me, you two,” she ordered Regan and Wolf.
Regan and Wolf followed Heather down a short hallway, taking the last right at the end. Heather quickly pulled out a pair of jeans and a t-shirt for Regan before moving to a second dresser in the room.
“I’ve never been able to bring myself to get rid of his things,” Heather whispered, pulling open a drawer.
“I’m sorry, Heather. If this makes you uncomfortable, please don’t. I’ll dry. I don’t need to change,” Wolf assured her.
Surviving the Refuge (Survivalist Reality Show Book 2) Page 25
