by Angela White
“Yes,” Kenn answered. “But it would mean something awful is coming for us, so don’t wish for it!”
Kendle stopped, shocked, as Kenn strode off. She wouldn’t wish it anyway, would she?
Of course, you would, that voice inside replied. But you would hate yourself even more afterward.
Kendle veered toward the garden trucks that were in the process of being replanted, soothed with the response. She had enough self-loathing. If she added to that weight, it would have to be for more than one night.
Kendle let her feet take her to the rear, where the gate was open for teams going in and out. No one else was supposed to leave, but Kendle walked through the gate without reporting to any of the frowning guards. They knew where she was going.
Kendle followed the rocky, weed-dotted path that had clearly been here before the war. It appeared that it had been traveled since then, too. She could tell by the beaten weeds growing around rocks instead of over them and how the garbage on the trail wasn’t molded into the ground yet. People had been here recently.
Kendle didn’t speak as she entered Adrian’s small camp. The five soldiers lounging around a small fire regarded her in surprise as she stepped between them, but no one interfered with her progress. Despite her being on their hit list, they all went back to snoozing when Adrian didn’t order her removed or shot. She’d killed patrols and teams by herself and led dozens more into lethal traps. She was enemy number three to these soldiers and it offended her that Angela was above even Marc in that pecking order. Isn’t there anything that bitch is bad at?
“You can’t do that around me.”
Kendle found Adrian in front of the flap of his battered tent, smoking and drinking from a bottle of Wild Turkey.
“Gonna be one of those days, is it?” she asked, keeping her distance. She didn’t like drunks.
“I mean it, Kendle. Stop hating her for her strengths.”
Kendle sighed, taking a seat on an overturned bucket. “What about her weaknesses? Are those fair game?”
Adrian took a long swig, not answering.
Kendle didn’t follow the remark with another snide comment. Instead, she examined the man she was pinning her hopes on. In the light of dawn, he certainly didn’t look like much.
“Good morning to you, as well,” Adrian retorted.
Kendle flushed as she recognized that moment of being too sober to get drunk, unless you wanted to go straight to the pass out stage.
He’s in the early stages, she thought.
“Maybe,” Adrian agreed mildly. “The least of my worries.”
“Will it become one of mine?” Kendle asked, tone accusing.
Adrian gently sat the bottle on the ground. “Unlikely we’ll be together that long.”
Kendle still didn’t feel any sting, except knowing it would be Angela that he went to. “So what’s the agenda here? People are asking and I’ve been told to get that answer.”
“By the sheep, the wolfdogs, or the boss?”
“The first two. Angela hasn’t even mentioned you.”
Adrian didn’t wince. Of course, she wouldn’t mention him to anyone. She had to put distance between them right now.
“And later?” Kendle asked eagerly. “Later, she’ll call for you?”
Adrian’s gaze swung toward the busy camp that was sending all sorts of noise echoing up the mountain. “Not even if her life depends on it. She’ll never break her vow.”
“Which one is that?” Kendle retorted lowly. “She’s made a lot of them.”
“And delivered,” Adrian pointed out, evading the question. He didn’t want to talk about how strong Angela’s love for Marc would make her. “If you didn’t want her man, what would you think of her?”
Kendle didn’t want to discuss that, and she pointed toward Conner’s tent. “What about him? Where does he fit in while you lurk out here?”
“Lurk?” Adrian questioned coolly. “I’m in plain view.”
Kendle grunted. “Fine. What happens when the winter comes and the snow covers your little area? You guys don’t have a cave to hide in.”
“Don’t need one.”
“Because you’ll be in Safe Haven?” she guessed.
“Conner will,” Adrian replied.
“And where will you be?” she demanded, aware that Conner’s fake snores had stopped.
“Working,” he answered cryptically. “Like you.”
“On what?” she wanted to know, distracted.
“Your former career is about to be used,” Adrian stated, standing up. “Remember your episodes on rappelling and rock climbing?”
Kendle nodded, flashing to scrapes, soreness, and a few heart-stopping moments of adrenaline-laced excitement. “Vividly.”
“Good. Be prepared and you’ll earn points with her.”
“Won’t she know it came from you?”
“Of course. The points come because you were smart enough to follow the advice. She likes anything that helps her goals along. She doesn’t care who they come from.”
Kendle stewed on that as Adrian walked by her, not concerned that he was in his boxers or that he lingered next to her to place a soft kiss on the top of her head.
“Don’t ever call her a bitch around me again. Please.”
Kendle swallowed, nodding nervously. The menace under the request was clear.
Adrian went by her, kicking snoozing soldiers as he passed them. They jerked awake in confusion and annoyance.
“What?”
“We under attack?”
“Where’s the coffee?”
Adrian whistled cheerfully and disappeared down the farthest path.
Kendle ignored the whining men around her who had mistakenly thought sleeping in would be their life now. If she could get ahead of Angela on enough things, Marc would like her, but more importantly, he would respect her. If she could pull off something big that way, she could earn real points and Marc would be forced to acknowledge that publicly. It would settle down some of the more outspoken people who hated her associating with a traitor.
The sky rumbled loudly and Kendle slowly went back to camp, deep into planning lessons that would give her successes that would be noticed. Safe Haven had a number of problems. How many of them could she fix?
Adrian knelt by the small creek and fished out the now cool Cokes he’d dropped in last night. It wasn’t the same as ice from the mess, but it would do.
He wiped off a stump and flopped down, now feeling the small amount of alcohol that he’d consumed. An empty stomach and drinking were not a good mix.
He lit a cigar, wincing a bit at the thought of how the doctor would react to him smoking and drinking so soon after a heart attack. That lecture would be long and graphic.
Adrian only spared a brief moment thinking about the way he’d evaded and manipulated Kendle. She was a babe in the woods, even compared to how Angela had been when she’d come to Safe Haven. Kendle needed a daddy, not a lover, and Adrian still wasn’t happy to have to be both. Marc had known it would take a lot of time, energy, and focus to help Kendle and he’d also known that if Adrian failed, Angela would be disappointed. She wanted Kendle to settle in and be happy, but Adrian already knew that wasn’t possible with him. Kendle needed a mate who would only love her. Adrian was confident there were men who could do it, but not until she recovered from her illness. Few Eagles would know what to do with her violence. It was a wonder that Marc had, considering the way he’d coddled Angela.
Adrian listened to the camp, to the voices and the sounds of an existence that he was no longer a part of. He’d given them up, like he was supposed to, but this living afterwards hadn’t been in his plans. He had no idea what to do with himself now, but he’d also predicted this issue back when he was busy scribbling in notebooks daily. Angela would read those notes and if she cared about him it all, she would cover it.
And if not?
“Then it’s over.” Adrian sighed deeply and tilted the bottle up. There was n
othing more he could do to influence her. She was the boss and he was a traitor. His life was hers to use, give, or leave behind.
3
“Save us a table,” Tonya instructed the rookie females she’d chosen from the list in the mess. The contest board was going to be handy for keeping track of people and locations. “I’d like hot tea with whatever sweetener we’re being offered.”
The rookie females, all happy to have been picked for something so fast, rushed off, each planning a way to curry favor. Tonya was on the boss’s team, had fought in the war, and she had their respect.
Tonya knew they’d eventually discover that she wasn’t on the team anymore, but wasn’t worried about their reactions. Angela would help her keep the place she’d earned.
Tonya spotted Kenn near the entrance to the cave and hurried to catch up. “She has me working on the pharmacy today. Where do you want it?”
“If she sent you to me now, it goes in the main row. Give me an hour and I’ll have the spot marked.”
“Great.” Tonya lingered, staying with him as he measured and taped off a large square of rocky, weedy ground. Angela wasn’t wasting fuel or energy on mowing, insisting that the weight of their tents and vehicles, and traversing the areas every day would keep most of it down.
They both looked over as a silence fell among the laboring people around them. They found Samantha, Jennifer, and Cynthia headed for the training tent, with Kendle a few grudging paces behind. The front females were joking and chatting, while Kendle’s sullen expression screamed worlds.
To backdrop this image, Allan’s voice droned through the radios, “Rookie signups are now halfway full. Get in line soon. Everyone wants to be one of us.”
Kenn and Tonya exchanged glances of misery and annoyance. Kenn knew she was resigning and approved of it, even sympathized with her, but Allan’s boring dialogue was a concern to them both and it overrode her misery. Getting new people into the Eagles was still one of Safe Haven’s top goals and that lifeless call wouldn’t be responded to.
“I’m on it as soon as the pharmacy is up.”
“Good.” Kenn stood up to view his work, aware of her edge of unhappiness. Now that it was done, the sense of loss was hitting her. “Why don’t you go eat first? Then, you can help me until I get to the pharmacy.”
Tonya smiled gratefully and went to the mess. She wasn’t looking forward to what she would have to do now, but it wasn’t the worst thing she’d done here by far.
“You’ve got nothing to be ashamed of,” Kenn called. “You pulled your weight and then some.”
Tonya stumbled at the praise and Kenn laughed.
“Easy there, little momma.”
Tonya loved the playful banter and continued to the mess in a much better mood. Kenn was right. She hadn’t reverted. She’d done well.
Kenn watched her vanish into the crowd that was about to enjoy their first post-apocalypse breakfast of steak and eggs, then got to his duties. Kenn wanted to be on the pharmacy by the time he’d told her. At four, Brady would take over Point and Kenn would be free to shower, eat, and sleep. Angela had them all on a rough twelve-hour schedule starting today, but the results would be worth it. To combat the fatigue, the shifts began and ended at odd hours and Kenn approved. Keeping people awake between four and seven was hard.
Kenn noticed Theo’s group approaching the cave entrance and didn’t make eye contact. He did not intend to waste Angela’s time by passing Theo’s message. He wouldn’t have for Adrian,. The boss was busy, and he or she didn’t need the naysayers taking up their precious hours.
Kenn glanced upward, toward the cliff that Adrian had chosen for his banishment. He would stay there, where he could observe them all and mourn the life he could have had among them.
Kenn still wasn’t sure that Adrian deserved such a punishment, considering the outcomes of his plots and schemes. But the choice had been made and all that was left was to find a way to get him allowed back in. Kenn knew there had to be one. There was no way Angela had left that out.
Kenn wondered what Adrian was doing right now, but then forced his mind to get on his current chore so that he didn’t miss any details or lag behind the others who would be coming soon to erect structures in these slots. There would be time to worry over the future later.
4
“We’re not spending enough time worrying over the future.”
Angela’s opening sentence sent concern through the training tent and the females gathered there settled down to listen as she got their meeting rolling.
“Get your notebooks out and don’t leave this tent until you’re clear on what I expect from you.” Angela dropped into the chair behind the small desk she’d had placed in front of two picnic tables. She would be in here off and on for the next two weeks, updating teams and going over new plans, and she would need the space.
“I’m assigning some quiet work. Not all of you will be involved in all parts of it, so even though you know the basics of what’s going on, keep your mouths shut. Don’t even talk to each other about it if you can help it.”
Angela opened her notebook. “I’m passing around a sheet of items I need you to collect above all others. Pay attention to the notes at the bottom of this list, ladies. It will tell you what we’re doing and please keep in mind that you already have the perfect cover for it. I promised to send descendants out for luxury items.”
The women got the hint, and shared nods at the simple setup.
Angela handed the page to Jennifer, who read the notes at the bottom first and her smile sent relief through the tent.
Jennifer set it between her and Samantha, and both females began to copy it into their notebooks.
“During each of these activities and chores, you will be helping train the rookies. As you do this, do not give special treatment to the females. None of us received it. We earned our place and it has to be the same for them. Someone tell me a reason we can’t do it.”
“The men will rebel,” Tracy stated from the back of the class.
“Yes. Another?”
“It isn’t right or fair,” Becky offered, mind only able to go so deep because of her age.
“Yes. Another?”
“We’re weak when we’re divided. It has to be the same for everyone,” Cynthia said, taking the paper the front row had finished with. She placed it between her and Becky, and started copying.
“Yes. I need you to pull in those with the ability to do the things we’ve done and to train the others to the best of your own ability. Reach out and bring the teams together during meals and events, refuse to tolerate badmouthing other crews. I want us united.”
All the females were busy writing down her instructions or copying her first paper, and Angela handed over a second page.
“If your name wasn’t on the board, I have other work for you. This is a copy of it. Once we get into the caves, all of you will be on this, so copy it word for word and keep each other up to date on anything concerning this one–especially security. A patrol team will meet you there, but you’ll have to be able to work and watch out for each other.”
“Who’s in charge?” Samantha asked. Her name hadn’t been on the board under the gatherers like Angela had said it would be.
“It could still change, so you’ll have to figure that out when you get there. They’ll keep you alive and help with the labor. You ladies do the same, huh?”
“You know it,” came the reply from each of them. As long as they weren’t helping an enemy, it didn’t matter.
“Next is replacing team members.”
The tent instantly became tense.
“I’m getting a lot of questions and I know you are too. I’ll handle that. Until I do, tell people I’m evaluating every member of the Safe Haven population for that one slot.” Angela sighed. “And that brings me to the next topic. We’ve actually lost two members. Tonya resigned this morning. She’s in the mess now, waiting to give me her Eagle jacket.”
Angela kn
ew it wasn’t a surprise to most of her team and made it clear where she stood. “As far as I’m concerned, it didn’t happen. She’s working on other things for now, direct stuff for the boss.”
“So you won’t accept her jacket?” Candy asked, curious as to who Angela might pick for that slot.
“No. Next is last. Here are your personal assignments. If you’re not scheduled for anything when you leave this tent, it’s because you need sleep–whether you want it or not. Go eat and then crash.”
Angela shut her book and beckoned to Greg, who had come to the flap and waited for a break. “We’re finished. Come on in.”
Greg joined her at the table as the women finished copying the papers and passing around their assignment envelopes–white, they were all glad to detect. Those brown envelopes wouldn’t be used by anyone again for a long time unless there was no other choice.
“I’m caught up.”
“Great,” Angela praised. “Ready for the next list?”
Greg obligingly took out his notebook, barely awake.
“Tell Seth to take Allan, Donald, and three rookies from the a.m. shift to the nearest golf course. Use trucks–load up all the batteries, carts, and the rest of the items on this list.”
She handed him the sheet and waited for him to finish writing.
“I want Neil, along with these people, sent to a few local power and lighting stores. Locations are on the list. Find one that’s stocked and clean it out–every bulb, every wire, every tool.”
Greg stored the list with the first one and completed the notes, wondering briefly if Angela had even slept. She certainly didn’t look like it.
I want a complete fence up around the third QZ area, Zone C. It will be finished by morning, no matter what else is on Brady’s list.”
“I’ll make certain they know,” Greg promised, thinking that Zone C was going to become a problem or else Angela wouldn’t have given that order. He would also tell the Eagles on duty near there to stay alert.
“Kyle should take Whitney and five members from the pm board to heating and air conditioning stores. Pick one and strip it. Give this sheet to Kyle. It has possible locations and other details. Everyone leaves after mess tonight.”
