by Payne, T. L.
A round whizzed by Will and struck the door to the building. While Jason began firing in the direction from which it had come, the door flew open, and Savanah screamed.
Twenty-Nine
Savanah
Landry’s Automotive Repair, Vernon Parish, Louisiana
“Will!” Savanah called out.
“Was that Will?” Isabella asked as the two women rushed toward the back door and the sound of the male voice calling their names.
As they reached the back, bullets tore through the window, sending glass flying into the room. Savanah dove, slamming her knee on the concrete floor and sliding across the small room. Isabella screamed, and rounds continued to strike the building.
“Will!” Savanah yelled. They were shooting at her brother. She had to get to him. She crawled over to the door, grabbed the doorknob, and pulled herself up. When she yanked open the door, the first thing she saw was Jason, covered in blood with an enemy soldier standing behind him with his arm wrapped around Jason’s neck.
“Jason!”
A shot rang out, and the soldier released his grip on Jason. As he slumped to the ground, Savanah took off running toward them. “Jason! Are you hurt?”
“Savanah, get down!” Jason yelled. He ran toward her with one arm outstretched. Just before he reached her, a bullet struck him. He stopped, pivoted, and brought the rifle up. Savanah was knocked to the ground. Will was on top of her.
“Stay down, Savanah. Stay down.”
“Jason!” Savanah continued to call his name. Instead of responding to her, he dropped to one knee, his left arm dangling at his side. He lifted the rifle with his right arm and began firing. With Will shielding her body, Savanah couldn’t see where the shooter was but did know they were out in the open and exposed. They needed to get back inside the building.
“Help him, Will,” Savanah cried.
“I have to get you back inside,” Will said, yanking her to her feet by her arm.
“No, we have to get Jason.”
Will pulled her backward as Jason continued shooting.
“Jason!”
“Get inside, Savanah!” Jason yelled.
Isabella grabbed Savanah’s other arm and tugged on her. “I got her, Will. Help Jason,” she said.
“We have to go, Savanah. We’re unarmed. This place is swarming with fighters.”
Savanah looked back as Isabella pulled her toward the building. Soldiers were advancing toward Will and Jason. She couldn’t tell whether they were Chinese or American. “Will, behind you.”
He turned. “Don’t point that thing in this direction,” a soldier called in English.
Relief washed over Savanah. They were friendlies. They’d come to save them. Will and Jason would survive, and she would see her children again. The joy of the moment was overwhelming.
“Isabella, the Army is here.” Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Isabella stopped and turned to see them for herself. She let go of Savanah’s arm and placed her hand over her mouth. Both women were crying as the army raced past Will and Jason to engage the enemy. Will rushed to Jason and helped him to his feet, and they ran back toward the building. Savanah grabbed Jason and wrapped both arms around his neck. “Please tell me you’re okay.”
“I’m fine. It’s just a small wound,” Jason said.
“Let’s get pressure on it and stop the bleeding,” Will said, placing a hand on the small of Isabella’s back and leading her inside.
Will found a first aid kit in the office of the garage, wrapped Jason’s arm tight, and made a sling out of old shop towels. The gunfire outside had stopped by the time he’d finished, and a US Soldier appeared at the back door. “Nice shooting, Blanchard. How’s the arm?”
“I’ll live. Did you see Pete?”
The soldier nodded. He’s with the medics. I think he’ll make it.”
“Thanks, Hadley,” Jason said, wrapping his good arm around Savanah’s shoulders. Thanks for getting there when you did.”
“I told you to wait in the truck. Now I’ll have to spend half a day writing a report on why civilians were running around with Chinese rifles,” Hadley said. “Not to mention how you stole that old deuce and a half.”
“Speaking of that,” Jason said. “We could really use that to get to Texarkana.”
“I can’t let you do that.”
“Man, we need to get to our kids,” Jason said.
“I can’t give you an army vehicle.” Hadley looked to the soldier beside him. “But I might get you a ride with the next unit going that way.”
Jason smiled. “We would greatly appreciate it.”
Hadley nodded.
“You okay, guys?” Walker’s face appeared in the space that had once been a window.
“We’re fine,” Will said.
“It’s damn good to see you guys,” Walker said.
“You should let the medic take a look at that arm before you head to Texarkana.” Hadley and the other soldier turned to step outside.
“I’ll do that,” Jason said. “And thanks again, Hadley.”
While they waited for a vehicle to transport them to Texarkana, Will, Jason, and a recovering Pete, filled them in on their success repelling the Chinese convoy that had been heading for Shreveport. Savanah was deep in thought about the news of a possible Doomsday plane landing in there with the president and maybe even members of his cabinet. The implications being that there was hope that life could return to something akin to normal someday soon. Why else would he be in the area when there were enemy combatants so close?
“The medic said they had docs and medical equipment at Texarkana. They’ve set up a field hospital there for wounded soldiers. They even have electricity, if you can believe that,” Pete said, a smile spreading across his face.
“Electricity?” Isabella asked. “Is that even possible?”
It had only been three months since the lights went out, but it seemed like years since Savanah had been able to flick a switch and the lights come on. The mere thought of taking a hot shower sent her into giddy laughter.
“I’m looking forward to drinking a real cup of coffee,” Pete said.
“You think they have coffee?” Isabella asked.
“The medic said they did. Bacon and powdered eggs too.”
It was all too good to be true. Savanah knew that Will was reluctant to remain at the shelter and had plans to leave there as soon as they could find a suitable new home, but Savanah was still hopeful that the army would push the Chinese out of Louisiana, so she could return to her farm. As excited as she was about electricity and bacon, she already missed her home. Winter would be coming soon, and Arkansas was a lot colder than southern Louisiana. It would be months before they could plant anything there and even longer before they could harvest food to put on the table. Going home was all she really wanted. She needed to hold on to that hope. In the meantime, she sure was looking forward to bacon.
Thirty
Will
Texarkana FEMA Shelter
Event + Three Months
* * *
Will held Isabella’s hand as they waited in the long line at the military checkpoint. Razor wire prevented anyone from bypassing it, although, it didn’t look like they were turning anyone away. Children cried, and some weary travelers took seats on the road. Every muscle in Will’s body hurt. He was looking forward to a warm meal and a cot to rest on.
“They’re making people register for the draft,” a middle-aged man in front of Will whispered.
Will didn’t doubt it. He’d seen the fighting firsthand. They needed more soldiers to make sure that the Chinese never got a foothold on American soil again and he knew that he would likely be one of those drafted. He’d like to get his family settled somewhere, and then he’d consider volunteering. Isabella and Savanah would be furious, but he had a duty to his country. If people like him didn’t step up to defend it and rebuild her. Who would? It was his duty.
The line inched forward, and e
ventually, he stood before the registration desk himself.
“Do you have any identification?” the soldier asked.
Will instinctually touched his right back pocket where he normally kept a wallet. It wasn’t there. At this point, he couldn’t even recall what had happened to it. It could have been inside the Jeep when they were carjacked.
“No.”
“What’s your name?”
He gave the soldier all his information, including the names of the relatives with him. He listed Isabella as his wife, just in case they were keeping families together. He didn’t want to be separated from her.
“My son is thirteen. We will be able to stay together, right?”
The soldier didn’t answer him. A knot formed in Will’s stomach. They’d been through so much already. They needed to remain together.
“Hold out your hand,” the soldier said.
Will extended his arm toward him. The soldier placed a white plastic band around Will's wrist and pointed to the next table. “You’ll get your unit assignment there.”
Will’s heart sank. “What?” Was he drafted right there? Would they force him to leave his family and whisk him off to the front lines?
“Move along,” the soldier said sternly.
When Will didn’t comply, the soldier gestured to the military police standing nearby. The two MPs marched over and took Will by the arm. “He said to move on to the next station.”
“I need to register my son and my wife,” Will said, pointing over his shoulder at them.
“You can do so at the next station. You’ll receive your living assignments there.”
“What was it I just registered for then?”
“The Selective Service System.”
“The draft?” Will asked.
“Yes. Now, move along. We have a lot of people behind you.”
Will moved forward and held out his hand to Isabella.
“Ma’am. You’ll need to register as well.”
“What?” Will asked, his voice pitching high.
“Everyone over the age of eighteen must register,” the soldier seated behind the table said.
Will and Isabella looked at one another. She shrugged and stepped up to the table.
“Isabella Fontenot. I’m thirty-two years old and married to him.” She pointed to Will and smiled.
Will smiled back. There weren’t married yet, but there was no way from FEMA to know that. After all they’d been through, he was determined to make it official though—as soon as possible. He felt like the luckiest man alive. He was so blessed to have found someone as kind and loving as Isabella. He fought back the fear that crept up his spine that they’d both be called up and sent to separate places.
After receiving the living assignments, they were led to a gathering of tents near the back of the sprawling compound and given bedrolls and toiletries. Will stared at the bar of soap. “Does this mean you have running water?”
“We have assigned shower days. With this many people, we have to keep to a schedule.”
Isabella’s eyes lit up. “Shower! Oh my God!”
Savanah, Jason, and the kids were housed across from them and two tents down with other families with small children. There was a door that locked to protect the little ones. Will had no idea how they could possibly screen the refugees. How many criminals could be among them, and they’d have no way of knowing but Will was sure that Savanah and Jason would keep their children close. He intended to keep a watchful eye on Cayden.
Texarkana Refugee Center
One Week Later
* * *
It had been a week or more since he’d last seen Pete and his family. They’d been housed in another part of the camp. Will had spotted him in a crowd of people who’d gathered around a radio and politely pushed his way over to him, stopping still when he heard the radio announcer mention the president.
“President Latham will address the nation this evening. According to his press secretary, he will lay out his plan for the nation’s recovery.”
“Latham?” Will asked.
“Congressmen Latham is now the president,” Pete said.
“How’d that happen? Did they have an election I didn’t hear about?”
“Sort of, I guess. I was told that he was in the line of succession.”
Will took in the information and tried to make sense of it. He hadn’t been a very good student when it came to the American government. Line of succession reminded him of a monarchy. They were a republic. They held elections, and the people voted on their president.
“So that means that the rest of the government is gone then?” Will asked.
Pete gestured toward the radio. “It appears so. Latham is supposed to explain all that tonight.”
“Have you heard anything about the draft? Are they sending people out yet?”
“Some. People who’ve been here a little while. Not the newcomers. I heard that soldiers are being sent to shore up the West Coast as well, and there seems to be some trouble up north in the Chicago area. Some general has gone rogue.”
“So we could be sent anywhere.”
“Just about. After sitting around here for weeks, I’m ready. I don’t want to leave my family, but hanging out here just waiting for it is too much.”
“I want to get my family settled somewhere first. Jason agrees. The showers and modern amenities are nice, but no one wants to stay here forever.”
“They’ll be moving people to Houston, Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio soon, I hear. They are working on getting the electric grid back up, and then the camp will be closed.”
“How soon will that take place?”
The man next to Pete turned around. “They have power in Austin. That’s where the president will set up his office.”
Will’s eyes widened. They’d made significant progress then. It might only be a matter of months and they could be back to some form of a new normal. Except they’d still be at war and be deployed to the front lines. What would happen to Cayden? Surely they wouldn’t send Savanah. She had four kids. Cayden could stay with her if he and Isabella got called up at the same time.
“I need to talk to Jason and Walker. They’ll want to hear the president’s speech.”
Texarkana Refugee Center
Event + Four Months
* * *
A month after hearing President Latham lay out his plan to rebuild the nation’s power grid and provide essential services to the people who had survived the nightmare, Will, Pete, Walker, and Jason found themselves enlisted in the Texas National Guard. Pete said that their basic training was a joke. Will was glad. His tired body couldn’t have survived doing push-ups anymore, and the four a.m. road marches were torture on his knees.
Their first post was to be an airport in Little Rock, Arkansas. It was far from the fighting out on the West Coast and the tedious and boring postings down along the gulf coast not that he’d have minded sitting on Galveston Beach watching the waves now that the Navy had cleared the gulf of enemy ships and submarines. Isabella might still have that pleasure. She had yet to learn of her duty station. Savanah was exempt, and she would remain with the children, including Cayden.
Will still had plans to use his free time to scout for a permanent home for them, someplace away from cities. Everyone else would flock there as the lights came back on. The plan to restore power didn’t extend to the rural areas—not yet. It could be years before electricity flowed in rural Arkansas and Will was actually looking forward to getting back to that simpler way of life—not the hunger, but the self-sufficient lifestyle.
A week before they were to leave for Little Rock, Savanah and Jason were married by the camp chaplain in a Catholic ceremony. A day later, he and Isabella stood before the same chaplain under a willow tree in a nearby park. Cayden was his best man. The smile on his face when he handed Will the ring said it all. He’d given them his blessing when Will had approached him about asking Isabella to marry him, but Will had held on to
doubt until that moment. Cayden adored Isabella, and she loved him like her own. Will thought of Melanie on their wedding day. She would be so proud of her son. Will knew that she wanted them to move on and be happy.
Will had traded his toiletries to a guy running a black market just outside the camp for a simple wedding band. As he slid the band onto Isabella’s finger, he stared into her tear-filled eyes. They were tears of joy. After all they’d been through over the last five months, they deserved this little bit of happiness.
“You may now kiss the bride,” the chaplain said.
Will took Isabella into his arms and kissed her tenderly. He didn’t want this moment to end. It was the most content he’d been in a very long time.
“Get a room!” Pete called out.
Isabella laughed, and Will released her. He took her hand, and they marched back down the aisle between their friends. They’d found a room for their honeymoon. They’d spend the night in a former old Victorian bed and breakfast. The owners were gone, and they’d be bringing their own breakfast, but that was exactly how Will wanted it. He’d had very little time alone with Isabella since they’d met and was ecstatic to have her all to himself, even if it were only for one night.
They tried their best not to talk about what the future looked like. Each knew that there was no way to predict. They had this together, and one thing Will had learned for certain was that he had to cherish every moment. No one was promised a tomorrow.
Thank you for purchasing No Surrender, book four in the Fall of Houston series. The story continues in book five, No Man’s Land. Pre-order the ebook version on Amazon.com today!
