by E A Chance
“We can’t move Nico for two days minimum without risking a relapse, even if he responds well to the drugs,” Riley said. “He wouldn’t survive.”
Coop rubbed his face as he got to his feet. “The two days will give us time to construct a litter that Biscuit can pull. Adrian, draw up a design in the morning. Brooks, give him whatever help he needs. For now, let’s get back to bed. We’re all going to need our sleep.”
Riley gulped down the rest of her tea and went to check on Nico once more before going to her tent. “How is he?” she asked Dashay.
“Between the Caldor and cold saline, his temp has already dropped to 101 degrees.”
Nico opened his eyes and gave Riley a weak smile. It was the first time he’d recognized her for two days.
“What time is it?” he asked in a hoarse croak.
Riley pressed her fingers to his wrist to take his pulse. It was weak but steady. “Three-thirty. How are you feeling?”
“Alive. Barely. What day is it?”
“Early Saturday morning.”
“When was the bear attack?”
“Tuesday, I think. It’s all been a blur.”
Dashay nodded to confirm her guess.
“I’ve been lying here for four days? Seems like hours to me. Give me the truth, doc. What’s my prognosis?”
“Looking better,” she said as she wrapped the blood pressure cup around his arm. “Dashay hasn’t left your side this whole time, and Brooks went on a supply run. He just got back with those delicious fluids pouring into you. If not for that, we might not be having this conversation.”
“If I’m remembering right, it was a group effort,” he said. Riley nodded and gestured for him to remain quiet while she listened to his pressure. When she finished, he said, “How’s Aurora?”
Riley sighed as she removed the cuff. “Didn’t make it. Biscuit’s devastated but having Echo back will help. Coop killed the bear. Nailed him right between the eyes. You would have been proud. Hurry and recover so you can dine on the delectable meat. You need the iron and B12.”
“I’ll do my best.”
He closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.
Riley motioned for Dashay to follow her out of the tent. “I’m sending Coop to sleep in Nico’s tent. You and I can share for the rest of the night. Nico’s improving and he’ll be in expert hands.”
Dashay yawned and said, “I’ll get my sleeping bag.”
Riley was glad she didn’t argue. She went to her tent and told Coop the plan. He grabbed his bag and stumbled outside without a word. Dashay came as he went out and got settled. She was asleep two minutes later.
Riley was sure she’d sleep well now that everyone was back safely, and Nico was improving, but as she nestled into the sleeping bag, her queasiness returned with a vengeance. A sense of dread washed over her as she forced herself to take slow, even breaths. She hoped the nausea was nothing more than her body being unaccustomed to the foods she’d been eating, but instinct told her it was something more. She dozed off, hoping that for once, her instincts were wrong.
Julia rested her elbow on the desk and propped her chin in her hand as she tried to figure out why Uncle Mitch had been on edge since his trip into Wytheville three days earlier. She’d tried to get it out of him twice at breakfast, but he’d brushed her questions aside or changed the subject. Wytheville was such a small, boring town that she couldn’t imagine what could have happened to upset him.
“Julia, are you listening?” her Aunt Kathryn asked.
Julia and her cousins were in the middle of a lesson on the history of Europe, and aside from being distracted about Uncle Mitch, all Julia could think was who cared about the French Revolution with the world going to hell?
She sat up and said, “Sorry, Aunt Kathryn. I’m just worried about Uncle Mitch. He’s been acting weird the past few days. Do you know what’s wrong?”
Aunt Kathryn studied her for a second, then said, “We’ll talk about it at lunch. After class.”
Julia stared down at her textbook and thought, another brushoff. When Aunt Kathryn went on with the lesson, Julia glanced at Holly and rolled her eyes. Holly stifled a giggle and pretended to listen to her mom. Maybe between the two of them they could get some answers at lunch. Julia was tired of the family treating them like babies. They were both almost fourteen and would be in high school that fall if the world hadn’t fallen apart.
“Julia, please read the first paragraph on page seventy-two,” Aunt Kathryn said.
Julia flipped to the page, but when she opened her mouth to read, there was a roar of trucks coming up the driveway. Julia got up and went to the window but couldn’t see the front drive from there.
She was about to ask if she could go see who it was when she heard Aunt Beth say, “Mitch, you’d better get out here, now.”
Julia and her cousins ran for the hallway in unison, despite Aunt Kathryn’s attempt to stop them. Julia got to the front door just behind Uncle Mitch and followed as he bounded down the steps. She stood on the bottom step and stared uneasily at the soldiers in camouflage uniforms climbing out of four green Jeeps.
“Julia, in the house, now,” Uncle Mitch said as he approached the man who looked like he was in charge.
As Julia turned to obey her uncle, she heard him say, “What can I do for you, sir?”
Aunt Beth was waiting in the doorway and herded Julia and Holly into the kitchen as Kathryn ushered the rest of the kids back to the den.
Aunt Beth glared at Julia, and said, “It was reckless to barge outside like that. You don’t know who those men could have been. Haven’t you learned anything after what you went through? You were shot for goodness’ sake!”
Julia knew her aunt was right. It was nothing her mother hadn’t told her a hundred times. She didn’t mean to be reckless, but her curiosity always seemed to take over before her good sense.
“I’m sorry, Auntie. I just feel so safe here that sometimes I forget how dangerous the world is.”
Beth gave her a quick hug. “You’re forgiven, but you have to do better or one day your luck will run out.”
“I promise to try,” Julia said.
Holly snickered behind her. “I’ve heard that before.”
Julia ignored her and said, “When is anyone going to tell us what’s going on? We’re old enough to take it.”
Aunt Beth cocked her head toward the pile of breakfast dishes that Julia was supposed to have washed after breakfast. As she reluctantly walked to the sink, Aunt Beth dropped into a chair and began taking green beans from a big bowl to snap off the ends.
“You’re going to find out soon enough, so I might as well tell you. No one heard from President Carlisle after the CME, so he’s presumed dead. Vice President Kearns took over as president and she’s ordering the army to organize communities into zones. We’ve heard they’re confiscating land from our neighbors without authorization. Your uncle and I believe what they’re doing is unconstitutional and we plan to fight it.”
Holly turned and stared at her. “You’re going to fight the army?”
“Not with guns, honey. We’re going to fight through the law, and not against the entire army. Just the troops stationed in Blacksburg.”
Julia finished cleaning a plate and absentmindedly handed it to Holly, who was still shocked by what Aunt Beth had said. Julia was glad the government was trying to put the country back together, but she was afraid of what would happen if they were forced off the ranch. She’d learned enough in school to know landowners had rights.
She picked a plate out of the warm water, and said, “What happens to us if Uncle Mitch loses? Where would we go?”
“That won’t happen, but in the slight chance it does, I think they’d allow us to live here. We just won’t have control of the ranch.”
Julia threw the dishcloth in the sink, then turned and crossed her arms. “That’s not fair. You and Uncle Mitch have worked so hard to make the ranch what it is. They can’t just take it. We shoul
d stop them with guns, like they do in westerns. Uncle Russ is teaching me to shoot. I’ll fight.”
“Even if the world feels like the wild west now, Julia, this isn’t a movie. Uncle Mitch has a plan to handle them. We have to trust him.”
“We do, Grandma,” Holly said. “He’s kept us all alive and safe so far.”
The front door slammed, rattling the walls and windows. Mitch stomped into the kitchen seconds later. He was about to say something to Beth but stopped when he noticed the girls.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I told them. What happened out there?”
Mitch banged his fist on the table. “It’s unbelievable. They say that since Kearns declared martial law, her military forces have the right to confiscate our land, like in times of war. I say that’s bull. They’re giving us a week to arrange for the troops to take over the ranch. The boys and I are driving into Blacksburg tomorrow with some of our neighbors to see what we can do. I’m not giving up this land to our own army. This is a blatant land grab by the government.”
He turned and stalked out of the room, leaving the women staring after him.
“You’re right that this isn’t the wild west, Aunt Beth,” Julia said. “It’s the start of a revolution.”
Riley checked the ties holding Nico in place on the litter that they’d harnessed to Biscuit. Adrian and Brooks had done an excellent job constructing the contraption out of tree branches, cut up blankets, and sections of rope. It wouldn’t be the most comfortable ride for Nico, but it would be easier than trying to ride Echo.
She knelt next to him and grasped his hand. “Comfy?”
He gave her a weak smile. “It’ll have to do. Sorry for being a pain in the ass. I’ve made so much extra work for everyone.”
She straightened and stretched her back. “Enough of that. It was an accident. We’re all just thrilled to see you making excellent progress. It was dicey there for a minute.”
Coop threw a saddlebag over Biscuit, then walked beside Riley. “How’s our most excellent patient?”
“Ready to go,” Nico said. “The sooner we leave, the sooner I get to sleep in an actual bed in Charleston.”
“From your mouth to God’s ear. We’re just about packed and will be out of here in ten. Riley, can you come help me finish with the tent?”
Riley eyed him for a second before nodding. They had packed the tent and loaded it on Echo an hour earlier. She followed him to where their tent had stood, supposing he wanted to tell her something about Nico without him hearing. He walked past their former tent site and headed toward the farthest picnic table.
She dropped onto the bench and folded her arms. “What’s the big secret?”
He propped his foot next to her on the bench, and said, “You tell me. You’ve been moody and quiet for days, which makes no sense. Nico’s recovering, you have your friend Dashay, and we’re finally getting back on the road. You should be doing your victory dance. This isn’t about Julia again, is it?”
She lowered her eyes and played with a thread on her sleeve. “It’s always about Julia, but this is something else. I didn’t plan to say anything until I was sure, but I’m tired of hiding it from you. Here goes. I’m pregnant.”
Coop stepped away and ran his hand through his hair. “You’re sure? You can’t have taken a test.”
“This is my fourth time. I’m familiar with the signs. I don’t need a test, but I’ll take one to confirm when we get to Charleston.”
“How far along?”
“I estimate two months.”
Coop squinted at her while he calculated. “Sure you didn’t miscalculate? Wouldn’t that have been while we were separated after I left the cabin?”
“I’m guessing it happened the night before you left in search of food and didn’t come back.”
A smile crept up his face. “That was a great night.” He picked her up off the bench and spun her around. “This is incredible! I’m so happy, Riley.”
She pounded on his chest, and said, “Put me down. It’s not incredible. It’s the worst thing that could have happened. It’s bad enough we’re crossing the country under these awful conditions, but now I have to travel in this condition. I don’t do pregnant well, and I’ve never told you, but all three of my kids were delivered by C-Section.”
He put her down but kept his arms around her. “We’ll be in Colorado long before you’re due. I’ll do what it takes to get both of you there in time, then I can deliver our baby.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m going to be a father. I never thought it would happen.”
Riley pulled free of his arms, then bent over and vomited in the grass, just missing his boot. “Sorry, but it’s going to be like that for roughly the next month,” she whispered. She wiped her mouth on her neckerchief and gave him a weak smile. “I’ve been consumed with thinking how this will affect me. I’m scared, but I’m also happy that we’ll share this. I love you. Congratulations, Daddy.”
“You two newlyweds coming?” Dashay called from across the park. “We’re packed and ready to head out.”
Coop reached for Riley’s hand as they walked back to the others. “Are we going to tell them?”
“Let’s wait until I’ve had the test. We need to be sure this isn’t from one of Adrian’s concoctions.”
“It might be hard to keep secret with you tossing your cookies every ten minutes.”
“It’s not quite that bad. Maybe Adrian has a remedy for nausea.” She glanced up at Coop and chuckled. “That ridiculous grin is a dead giveaway, though.”
“Give me five minutes to bask. It’s amazing to have something to grin about.”
“Then, grin away, babe.”
Nico’s litter worked like a charm, which was fortunate since they’d had to detour around three mudslides by late afternoon. None of the detours took them too far off course, so they didn’t lose as much time as Riley thought they would. They’d packed the bulk of the gear onto the horses and were all on foot, which slowed their progress. Riley estimated that it would take five days to reach Charleston at that pace and hoped their provisions would hold out.
What surprised Riley most was how few people they saw on the roads. From what Brooks told them after his scouting trip, Riley expected the route to be packed with lines of vagabonds marching toward Charleston like them. Instead, the roads were empty, and she feared everyone else knew something they didn’t. The few groups they saw kept their distance, which was fine with her.
In late afternoon, Brooks went ahead to scout a place to camp for the night. He returned less than an hour later to tell them he’d found a burned-out house with a big yard and a pond. It wasn’t far off their route and would provide more than enough room for the tents and horses. With news of a good place to stop, they picked up the pace and made it an hour before sundown.
After a relaxing dinner of bear meat and assorted plants Adrian had collected along the way, all except Nico visited until eight when the sun set, then went to their tents.
Once Coop and Riley were zipped into their sleeping bag, he said, “You were a champ today. How are you holding up?”
“Fine, just like I was when you asked me thirty minutes ago. Pregnancies are long, Coop, so you’d better pace yourself. If you ask me how I am every five minutes, I’ll lose my mind. I promise to tell you if I’m not fine.”
He rolled toward her and rested his head on her shoulder. “This is all new and exciting to me, so be patient. I noticed that you hardly touched dinner. Until we can find prenatal vitamins, you need to make sure you get sufficient nutrients from your food.”
“I’m tired of bear meat. The flavor is too strong and gamey. I’d prefer venison or even squirrel.”
“I can try to bag a few squirrels along the way, but don’t have time to stop for a deer hunt.”
“Then squirrels it is.”
He gave her a tender kiss, then said, “We’ll be in Charleston soon and you can have real food.”
“I’m counting the seconds,”
she said, then scurried out of the sleeping bag and made it outside of the tent just in time to be sick on the lawn.
The next day followed like the one before, and the next. By the fifth day, as they neared the city and passed more travelers, Riley relaxed and grew excited at the prospect of seeing actual civilization. Her reaction was the opposite of what she’d expected. They’d spent months on the road avoiding crowds. Now, she couldn’t wait to join with them.
She was also eager to get to Charleston and get her hands on a pregnancy test to confirm her diagnosis. The nausea hadn’t abated and was comparable to when she was pregnant with Jared. The long miles of walking wore her out, but she felt healthy and fit. Pregnancy was the only diagnosis that made sense.
It still hadn’t sunk in that she was going to have another child. Coop thought he’d never be a father, but after Zach’s death, she never dreamed she’d remarry and add another member to the family. If it had happened before the CME, she would have been ecstatic, but bringing a life into their chaotic world filled her with dread. She hoped Coop was right that she was overreacting, but after what they’d already survived, how could she not?
As they crested a hill above Charleston, Brooks said, “Riley,” in a sharp voice. She jumped and turned to face him. “You planning to roll down that slope into the city?”
She stopped and looked around. Without realizing, she’d walked off the road to the edge of the hill. She backed away and turned toward the others.
Dashay grinned at her, and said, “Where’s your head, girl?”
Riley blushed, and said, “Just in a hurry to get to Charleston.”
“Bull,” Brooks said. “What’s been up with you these past few days?”
She glanced at Coop, then cocked her head toward the group. “Might as well tell them.”
