The Irrevocable Series Boxed Set

by Samantha Jacobey

  “Don’t mention it,” Peter’s smile came through loud and clear. “Looking forward to you two making it home. Say goodbye, boys,” he instructed, and the twins began calling their farewells loudly.

  “See you soon, boys,” Bailey said hers as well, ending the connection with a small sigh. “You asked him to call me, didn’t you,” she accused in a soft voice.

  “I suggested it,” he admitted quietly. “I thought it might make you feel better.”

  Giving him a long stare, she could feel a knot in the pit of her stomach. “I really appreciate that, Caleb.” She drew in a deep breath, aware that she had been drawn in, “Please don’t hurt me again. I really hope that I can trust you; and that you’re right about this whole… thing… with Amanda.”

  “I’m right,” he professed without hesitation. “There’s no way that I’m wrong.”

  Nodding, she turned away, returning to their meal, determined to enjoy the rest of their day the very best that she could. She opened the oven to pull out the ham while thinking, I almost wish we had made the trip to The Ranch.

  Ice Age

  Caleb returned to work the day after Christmas, and Bailey went in to the shop feeling a little happier than she had since their arrival in Midland. She still felt the need to train, but the idea that her brothers would never want to leave their new family and friends had taken her thoughts and ideas in a new direction.

  When Caleb came into the store, she went on her break and picked up her dinner, taking the seat across from him, and demanding quickly, “Do you think that the ones at The Ranch who didn’t want me there would ever change their minds?”

  His jaw dropped slightly, he considered his words carefully, “Well, little bit, it’s really hard t’ say. For one, I’m not even sure who exactly didn’ want you there. An’ for the other,” he frowned, “Why would you ask?”

  “I don’t know,” she lied flatly, taking a bite out of a chicken strip, then dipping it in the gravy with a thoughtful expression, “I think that the boys may not want to leave The Ranch,” she finally fessed up. “They seem really happy there. And not just on the phone yesterday. On Facebook, they are always smiling in their pictures – ”

  “Now, wait,” Caleb held up a hand, “I don’t wanna burst your bubble, but you need t’ have a clear understanding o’ the situation. You know your uncle posts that stuff, so yeah, he’s not gonna post anything that don’t fit with his agenda.”

  Stopping in mid chew, she gaped at him, “His agenda? What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Well, you’ve known since we got here that they wanted you t’ go back there. Why, we can’t be as sure about, but they have no reason t’ show you th’ bad side of anything. So keep that in mind when you think about what you see on Facebook. It’s purely there t’ draw you in, tha’s all I’m sayin’.”

  Continuing to eat, she gave him a long stare, “Ok, I see your point. But on the phone, they clearly sounded happy.”

  “Again, they jus’ got a new pony, an’ what kid wouldn’ be happy about that?”

  “Caleb, if you think something is wrong with the way they are being treated, you damn well better say so!” she bit at him, becoming angry.

  Instantly sorry he had upset her, the tall blond ran his right hand roughly over his face before he tried to sidestep the issue, “I don’t think that they are. I’m just sayin’, if they were, it’d be impossible t’ tell from here. We only see what they want us t’ see, that’s it.” Staring up at the screen, he frowned at the map being presented above her head.

  Seeing his expression, she produced a large scowl, “I thought you were going to be honest with me. How can you say one thing, but your face totally says something else, and not call it lying?”

  His eyes darting to hers, then back up at the flickering display, he licked his lip anxiously, “Little bit, you need to take a deep breath,” he paused, aware that she had many friends and family still in the place she had once called home, “Then scoot over here by me.”

  Her expression growing angry, she felt certain that he toyed with her somehow. Tossing her fry back into the pile, she grabbed one of the brown paper napkins and calmly wiped at her face and fingers. Then, sliding out of the booth, she stood and turned around to face the screen, which read storm of the century in bold red letters. “Oh my God!”

  “Bailey, sit down,” he reached to catch her hand and pull her towards the bench next to him.

  “Oh my God,” she breathed more quietly, her voice trembling. “Why is this happening?”

  “I don’ know. Le’s jus’ watch the report, an’ we’ll know more about it,” he tried to comfort her.

  “I can’t, I have to go back to work,” she whined slightly.

  “Then go, an’ don’ worry. We can’t do anything at this exact moment anyways, so I’ll watch an’ see what all I can find out; an’ I’ll fill you in on th’ walk home.”

  Glancing over at him, she slid her arms around him for a quick squeeze. “Ok, I can do that. Something else I’m trusting you to know for me until I’m ready for it.” She smiled timidly at the idea.

  “Yeah,” he agreed. “Go on, an’ I’ll see you in a bit.”

  Rising, Bailey returned to her post for the last two hours of her shift, her eyes on the screen whenever she had a moment, but unable to make heads or tails of the maps and models that flashed across the news cast. Once the store closed, she quickly took care of her register and restocking the front, asking Mark to let her out when she had finished.

  Outside, Caleb waited for her, and she demanded, “Well?” as soon as the door had closed behind her.

  “Le’s walk,” he suggested quietly, guiding her towards the light. Once they were away from the building, and on their way home, he began to explain, “It hasn’t happened yet, but they’re sayin’ it’s only about twelve hours away.”

  “What is?” she interrupted, her anxiety getting the better of her patience. “What the hell is the storm of the century?”

  “A giant ice storm has been sitting over Canada for a week. It’s pushing down, crossing the Great Lakes, an’ expected t’ engulf most, if not all o’ Michigan, Wisconsin… an’ Illinois. An’ maybe even some o’ Indiana an’ Ohio,” he shrugged, knowing the latter would not be the part she cared about.

  “And what are they going to do about it?” her mind recalled the conversation they had months ago, when he confessed to thinking an ice age would destroy the earth. Or was it that it would kill a lot of people? She couldn’t remember. “Isn’t this what you were telling me about, an Ice Age that would kill everyone?”

  Caleb laughed loudly, climbing the stairs next to her, “This isn’t an ice age, little bit. It’s a storm. An’ as a matter o’ fact, not so unusual up north. The natural gas lines are packed, an’ they can last for weeks, even if we don’ send ‘em any more fuel.”

  “That’s not the point,” she countered angrily, “This is not normal! Yeah, it gets cold, but an actual storm? And if it’s going to be bad enough they’re reporting on it…” her voice trailed away.

  “They’re reporting on it because people need to take precautions. They need to stock up on food an’ supplies; be prepared in case it lasts more than a few days. Come on little bit; you know th’ news feeds the hype an’ runs on ratings.”

  “Well, yes, I know that very well,” she stared at him, her eyes growing wide, “But do you think my grandparents are ok?”

  “Why wouldn’t they be?” he shrugged. “They’re in a community, aren’t they? In Peoria?”

  “Yes, it’s a retirement village. They have a little two bedroom condo, but I don’t think the owners really do anything; it’s like a group of old people, all clumped together.”

  Studying her features, he could tell she was overcome with the idea they could really be hurt. “Here,” he nudged her, “Le’s get inside and you can call them.”

  “Oh my God,” she breathed, “The last time I called them this late, I woke her and scared the hell ou
t of her,” Bailey recalled her desperate attempt last spring.

  “Well, we can do it now, or in the morning,” he smoothed her hair for her, “But I don’ want you losing sleep over this. I’m sure it’s fine.”

  After a few minutes of discussion, he persuaded the girl to get some rest, and they would make the call in the morning. “I’ll have to get their number from Uncle Peter,” she realized at the end. “I don’t have it in my new phone, and Nanna never responded to my message to give it to me.”

  “Ok, you go get some rest, an’ we’ll take care o’ all that in the mornin’.” After watching her disappear into her room and close the door, he went into his own to make a call.

  A few minutes later, he had spoken to her uncle and had the number jotted on a notepad. Ready to end the connection, he decided to put a bug in the other man’s ear, and suggested in a playful tone, “Hey, wouldn’ it be neat if Bailey decided she wanted t’ live on Th’ Ranch?”

  “Whadda ya mean?” Peter asked warily.

  “Well, after she got used t’ bein’ there, things here seem t’ freak her out a little more. This whole Ice Storm up north really has her on edge, especially with flu outbreaks an’ earthquakes before that. I think she may be considerin’ skippin’ college an’ returnin’ t’ Th’ Ranch, if you guys would have her.”

  Instantly, the man’s voice filled with anger, “You make sure she don’t choose that! She needs to finish her education, an’ college comes next. If she comes back here, she may never get to it.”

  Taken aback by his sharp tone, Caleb rolled his tongue for a moment, then pushed the issue, “It wouldn’t be ‘cause they would hurt her, would it?”

  “Naw, I don’ think they would; not if she’s here t’ stay. She made some friends here over th’ summer. But that’s not the point! She has a chance at a better education than most people, since her grandmother put her inheritance into that fund for her,” he revealed.

  “What fund?” Caleb quipped, unaware of any such arrangement.

  “Louise called me before Thanksgiving. Said the estate had been settled. They divided everything into fourths, putting a share into a trust for each o’ the kids to go to college on, an’ they get the balance when they graduate. An’ a fourth for me to help pay for raising them,” he sighed, “Not that I need it. Jus’ give her the number, Caleb. Let her make her call an’ see that they’re alright. But don’ let her get hung up on the idea o’ comin’ back here. I got the boys taken care of; she needs to worry about her own life.”

  Caleb ended the call, frowning at the older man’s seeming oscillation about the girl’s future; one minute, he’s drawing her in, the next he’s pushing her away. His mind torn between loyalty to his friends and family back home, and what he felt for the one who shared his space, he prepared for the night.

  Stripping down, he slipped into the oversized bed, still considering the girl who slept in the next room. Blinking into the darkness, the thought occurred to him that his life would be quite lonely if she chose to go off to college, leaving him to return to The Ranch without her.

  Mob Mentality

  The following morning, Bailey leapt out of bed as soon as the alarm went off. Throwing on her shorts and tank, she pulled on a pair of sweatpants over the bottoms for warmth during the trip across the compound. Out in the hall, she could hear her roommate moving around, so she opened the door and called, “You think I should call Uncle Pete this morning, or do it after we get back from the gym?”

  “I already talked t’ him,” he waved the slip of paper at her, the number scrawled across it. Appearing in the opening, he tried to smile, “You can call her when we get back.”

  “What’s wrong?” she probed, seeing the despondent look on his face, “Has something else happened?”

  Beckoning with a slow wave of his hand, he mumbled, “I’ll tell you on the way over.”

  Following, Bailey pulled on her jacket, and they arrived in the small room a few minutes later. Sliding out of the coat and sweats, she flopped down on the mat and began to stretch and warm up, demanding, “Ok, tell.”

  “Your Uncle expects you t’ go t’ college when you finish this year,” he informed her bluntly. “They have the money set aside for you, an’ it’s pretty much a done deal.”

  “What?” she frowned at the seemingly unrelated revelation, “What has that got to do with my grandparents freezing to death?”

  “Nothin’,” he shrugged, “He just tol’ me that last night when I talked t’ him. They split up your parents’ estate, an’ made a fund for you t’ go t’ college. An’ you’re goin’.”

  He didn’t look at her when he spoke, and the girl had an odd feeling in her chest, as if she couldn’t breathe, while watching his hunched frame bend and move. “And what if I don’t want to go?”

  “I don’t think he’s gonna give you a choice,” his blue eyes darted to meet hers.

  The girl exhaled loudly, feeling the anger wash over her. Getting to his feet, he pulled her up and they began to spar. Using the rush of adrenaline, she worked her way through the moves she had been practicing for the last few weeks.

  “You know, you’ve gotten really good at this,” he praised when they were done.

  “I bet,” she clipped, still upset, men; always assuming that they’re in charge of me.

  “Seriously,” he grinned, “You’re pretty good at breakin’ holds an’ defense, plus you’re even pickin’ up on some o’ the attacks quite nicely.”

  “Well, I’m tired of feeling like everyone wants to control me,” her mouth curved into a heavy frown, and she glared at him, lumping him in with the rest for the moment.

  “Not everyone,” he grazed her chin, “An’ even then, we jus’ want what’s best for you.”

  “Ok,” she agreed, “So when do I get to decide what’s best for me?”

  The tall blond only shook his head, observing her muscles flexing when she redressed; yeah, she’s filled out quite nicely, he smirked at her form. “I bet you could give ‘Manda a run for her money, these days,” he chuckled, forgetting that the blonde was currently pregnant.

  Ignoring the presumed jab, Bailey led the way back to their apartment, where she pulled out her phone to make the call. Her grandmother seemed less than pleased to hear from the girl, as she informed her that they were both fine, and well stocked for the impending event. Ending the conversation abruptly, the elderly woman left the girl feeling confused.

  “Well,” she sighed, “I guess they’re ok. She didn’t sound very happy that I called to check on them.”

  “Ok,” he shook his head, “Don’ let it bother you. You can’t do anything for them if they’re not ok, an’ worryin’ about it ain’t gonna do any good.”

  Bailey raised her chin to look at him, “You think something’s wrong, and she doesn’t want to tell me?”

  “Maybe,” he shrugged. “We’ll keep an eye on th’ weather, an’ you can call again later if you want to.”

  “Ok,” she nodded slowly, returning her gaze to the dark screen before setting it aside to make breakfast, “I guess I can.”

  As soon as their meal was finished, the girl took up a spot on the couch, searching their saved channels for one reporting on the storm. It turned out three of them were covering it, so she flicked between them periodically, picking up bits and pieces of the current situation, and the predictions.

  At one point, she caught a broadcast showing a swarm of people that had ransacked a local store in Milwaukee, and then another spot of violence to the south, outside of Chicago. “Why would people go nuts like that?” she thoughtfully stared at the scene.

  “Well, it’s a kind o’ mob mentality,” Caleb explained. “People acting in a group lose their sense o’ identity, an’ go with the flow more easily, even when they’re committing crimes or doin’ things they normally wouldn’. Fear an’ anger feed into that, an’ tha’s how riots happen. Kinda like lynch mobs in the ol’ west.”

  “Wow,” the girl breathed as a ca
mera panned across rows and rows of empty shelving, “So they went in and cleared the place out; didn’t even pay for any of it.”

  “Probably not,” he agreed. “The thing is, there really may not’ve been a shortage, an’ they likely even took things they didn’t need. But if the crowd perceived that there was, or that they were missin’ out on somethin’… losin’ somehow, it adds t’ the commotion.”

  “Reminds me of Christmas shoppers. They get nuts over a stupid toy.”

  “Exactly,” Caleb gave her a small grimace, “Then add t’ that survival instincts an’ the fear factor, an’ you’ve got a real problem.”

  Bailey cut her eyes over, studying the man next to her. “That’s what you were talking about happening here. If there ever was a real crisis, the people would be more dangerous than anything else.”

  “Yeah,” he agreed more quietly, sorry that he had mentioned it. “Don’ be afraid, little bit. I’m sure what’s hapnin’ up north’ll smooth out once th’ storm passes, an’ I don’t see how any o’ that could reach us all the way down here.”

  For the next few days, Bailey anxiously kept her eye on the news, noting that everything across four states seemed to come to a complete halt. Her calls to her grandmother went unanswered, and eventually went straight to voicemail; in the end they remained unreturned, and all was quiet on their end. Going back to school the first full week of January, her lower lids carried deep circles, caused by the numerous sleepless nights, and she considered if it might be time to restock her makeup supply in an attempt to hide her condition.

  Her peers seemed oblivious to the events, only taking note of them as an oddity. A few found mentioning the ice storm would distract teachers away from their intended lessons, under the guise of current-event discussions, and these became frequent, leaving the girl feeling forlorn. Several of the staff were as delusional as the members of The Ranch, and had no qualms informing their students that mankind was doomed to perish, either by fire or by ice.