The Fighter Series (Book 1): Not Alone (The Beginning)

by Kolleen Bookey

  THIRTY

  Riley questioned why she’d encountered Lucas and Spade. She’d even convinced herself that it had all been a dream. With millions of people obliterated, the idea of distraught spirits wasn’t so farfetched. A part of her wanted to know more about Lucas, so she asked.

  “You’re the first one to witness that.” Rose said. “There’s a reason why.”

  “Lucas and Jason Evans were good people. Brothers born in Texas. Their father willed them the ranch.” Hank said biting into a cookie. “Wish I had some cold milk to dip this in.”

  “Lucas handled the ranch while working for the local Sheriff and by the time he was twenty-two, he was the sheriff.” Rose continued. “They say he was a handsome man.”

  “Who was Spade?” Riley asked sure to watch Utah’s expression. Utah set her cookie down on her plate.

  “Lucas went back to Texas to pick up their mother. Legend goes that a motley crew out of Mexico killed his brother and stole all of their cattle.” Rose answered.

  “Spade.” Riley said.

  “Spade had no clue who’d he’d just fucked with.” Hank said.

  “Hank Jenson. There are young ladies at the table.” Rose exclaimed.

  “Sorry girls.” He mumbled grabbing another cookie. “Lucas searched for months vowing to kill the men who murdered his brother. He searched for well over a year, killing one bandit at a time, riding hundreds of miles to track them down until there was but one left, Spade.”

  “Lucas’s mother passed away and a year later he met Ellie. Elli was the daughter of a wealthy banker in California. Beautiful, compassionate, and smart girl though they say Lucas wasn’t looking. He was out for revenge not a woman. She changed his heart so dramatically; he changed his entire life for her.” Rose said setting down a fresh pot of coffee.

  “Bittersweet.” Riley said wishing she had found a hero like Lucas, instead she’d found Mark.

  “They married and Lucas rebuilt the ranch even bigger, and more elaborate than the first one. He came back with a vengeance.”

  “But he found Spade?” Riley asked.

  “Lucas had never seen Spade, he only knew he was out to kill him. A few years later Spade brazenly wormed his way back into Bakersfield. Scarred and unrecognizable. Changed his name, bought the local saloon and filled it with young girls barely old enough to…well you know.” Hank flushed slightly. “Spade saw Ellie and he had to have her.”

  “Lucas was out tending to a cow having troubles birthing when Spade kidnapped Ellie.” Rose added.

  “Lucas didn’t know he’d be confronting the very man he’d been looking for all those years.” Hank tapped his hearing aid, which prompted a high pitch squeal. Utah plugged her ears. “It was a violent battle. Both men were fighting dead before the final shots ended their lives.”

  “But Lucas was able to shove Ellie out onto the boardwalk.” Riley said softly.

  “Lucas not only saved her life, but the life of their unborn child as well.” Rose said looking at Riley. Their gazes met. “Elli buried her husband on the hill overlooking their ranch. She rebuilt the house after giving birth eight months later to a son, Lucas Jr. The legend says the town was never the same. Ellie was never the same. She mourned her husband’s death and vowed to have her own revenge on Spade in the afterlife.”

  “What became of the child?”

  “Lucas Jr. grew up to be a strong handsome man assuming his father’s role by later becoming the town sheriff, and then the town’s mayor.”

  “What does this have to do with me?” Riley looked at Hank, then Rose.

  “I have a feeling you’ll someday find out.” Rose said.

  “I can’t wait.” Riley said with some reservation, but Utah’s look made her rethink her doubt. Lucas and Spade was something else for Riley to ponder in the quiet moments of their travels. Unbeknownst to her, the answers to her questions lay ahead.

  Daydream over; Riley looked over at the girls and Max sleeping peacefully beside her. The hum of the tires brought her back to present day. They were closing in on the Arizona state line now getting closer to Eric. They’d traveled from the coastline to the arid land of central California and finally to this mysterious place of rock formed peaks and endless sand. The beauty of the desert was captivating but road signs riddled with bullets reminded her that this new world was often violent and ugly. While Kenny Chesney sang about sunny sandy beaches and margaritas, the sky overhead was growing increasingly dark.

  “Where are we?” Utah yawned rubbing her eyes.

  “I’m not sure.” Riley said pulling over. “Signs on the ground. If you need to pee now’s a good time.”

  “It’s cold!” Megan said.

  “Hurry up then Megan.” Utah said.

  When the girls were back in the truck, she went towards the sign. It was frigidly cold the wind caught her breath, taking it away. “Needles 23 miles.” She looked towards the sky. Having weathered some bad storms in Oregon, she at the one they’d be heading directly into.

  Riley wanted to get through this last part of the journey and into Arizona without any hic ups. Highway 40 was their friend right now. She wanted a smooth ride to Ash Fork and then onto highway 89 towards Prescott. Easy right? Riley shivered.

  THIRTY-ONE

  Fearing they may be stuck out in the middle of nowhere in a storm, Riley pushed the truck a little harder. Abandoned and wrecked cars filled the desert. Oddly, some appeared strategically placed. While the girls watched movies, Riley listened. As they came up on large pieces of debris scattered on the highway, it began to snow. Riley, forced to slow due to chunks of what was left of a commercial airplane that lay scattered over miles of highway and sand. Bleached seats, large chunks of the cockpit taller than the truck, suitcases, and sifted and separated clothing lay adrift. She made out a few bones but the predators of the desert had disposed of the rest. The scene was creepy, having seen so many other horrors but this one somehow made her feel unlucky.

  Unavoidably, the tires passed over objects best left unknown as they pushed towards Kingman by passing Route 66 best saved for another time. It took three hours to reach Ash Fork and by the time they did, there was six plus inches of fresh snow on the ground and building. Less than an hour away from Prescott, the storm turned into a whiteout. The temperature gage read 30 degrees outside with the wind visually picking up speed. The lucky streak was over. As the snow fell, visibility lessened. The brunt of the storm’s fury pushed forward hitting us head on. There was a thick layer of snow on the ground and a dark grey blue canopy encasing them in. Needing to refuel the truck, Riley stopped in the center of the road. There wasn’t enough clothing to hide from the bitter cold, but she got out and started pulling cans from the back.

  “Can we do snow angels Riley?” Megan begged after rolling down her window.

  “Not this time Megan. I’m sorry.” Riley had a bad feeling.

  Megan reached out and Riley took her hand. “It’s okay Riley.” Riley sounded like Wiley.

  Riley smiled. “Now close that window before you freeze.” However, Megan’s eyes darted behind Riley. “What?”

  “I thought I saw somebody.” She said.

  Riley looked back. Nothing. She heard the window roll up. There was no choice Riley had to refuel. She lifted the gasoline containers to the tank emptying them one by one as fast as she could. A splash of diesel escaped the jug as urgency turned messy. Through the magical hush of snow falling, Riley heard a sound. Enough fuel. She left the jug on the ground and climbed into the running truck. The heat wrapped around her immediately. She flicked the locks and drove on.

  “It’s snowing hard!” Utah leaned against the window. “Riley. Somethings out there.”

  “Probably just an animal.”

  “Is there anything ahead of us?” Riley asked handing Utah the map.

  She pressed her finger to the map tracing the road Riley had highlighted. “Ash Fork.”

  “Okay.”

  Riley felt the truck fighting for t
raction plowing through mounds of fresh snow. Even in four-wheel drive, they were moving at a snail’s pace but they had escaped the long stretch of highway unscathed. Night was closing in and darkness was beginning to turn even darker. A long hour later and exhausted, Riley started searching for both roads and signs that could lead to shelter. They had to stop. It’d taken Riley several years to get here. What were a few more hours?

  “Look for a building.” She said.

  So far, Riley hadn’t had to ask the girls twice for anything. They got on their knees pressing their faces to the windows and searched through the snow. Anxious and desperate Riley waited she struggled to keep the truck on the road.

  Darkness had fallen and Riley felt a pang of dread. According to the truck, the outside temperature was dropping. If they were stranded, they’d freeze to death for sure. If they found shelter, they’d be taking one hell of risk. The snow was hypnotizing her. The slightest mistake would put them in a ditch. Then out of the corner of her eye and through the white blanket, she caught a flash of green and red. The headlights bounced off something reflective.

  “There.” She said. Bringing the truck to a stop, Riley jumped out and tossed a rock at the sign. “Ash Fork, two miles.” She whispered.

  There was a swishing sound as snowflakes fell to the ground. Then the storm shifted. The truck’s headlights shone dim but she could see and feel the wind shift as she returned to the truck. As her door closed, a gust of violent wind hit the truck shaking it. Visibility went from five feet to barely being able to see past the windshield. Those two miles felt more like ten.

  “Get your bags ready. Grab all the water you can, food, and stuff that into the bags.” Riley said.

  She followed the fence line keeping the truck tracking to the center. With all four wheels locked in, she steered the truck on what felt like a road. Gusts of wind pounded the side of the truck rocking it back and forth.

  “Put on everything you can.”

  “What about Max?” Megan asked.

  “I’ll put him in my bag.” Utah said, “See, plenty of room”.

  Riley had her doubts, not knowing where the road started or where it ended. Thinking of going out there made Riley tremble. As much as she tried to settle the anxiety, her fears rose. Inch by inch, they pushed through.

  “Look”, Utah said pointing. “You see it?”

  “No.” Riley asked her, straining to see.

  “Buildings. We’re in a town!” She said.

  “Okay, you’re my navigator.” Riley said to her.

  “Go more, more…”.She paused and then said, “Stop, turn left”.

  Riley listened depressing the throttle to keep the truck moving in a straight line.

  “Find us a building.” Riley said. Another gust of wind blasted the side of the truck, lifting it.

  “There!” She pointed again. “Go straight…turn right.”

  The edge of a building was barely visible. The wind blasted them from all directions now. Riley maneuvered the truck through the parking lot around white mounds of snow-covered cars. The headlights were her only light source and they were having difficulty shining through the blanket of snow.

  “Do you see a door?”

  Utah turned her face pressed to the window searching just as Riley was. “There!”

  Eyes exhausted, Riley scanned the side of the building until she saw the faint outline of a door. When she shut off the engine the sounds of the storm intensified inside the cab.

  “Holy shit.” Riley whispered, leaning forward. She glanced upward, but there was no sky. There was just a daunting darkness. “We need to get inside quick like. Grab your bags. Put on your beanies and gloves, double up?”

  “It’s too dark.” Megan whispered.

  Riley lifted a flashlight into the air. “Not dark.”

  Riley grabbed pistols and the shotgun, and then layered on clothing. She stuffed the remaining water and food into one bag, clothes, and ammo into another.

  “Ready?” Both the girls looked scared.

  “Max,” Megan cried. “He’ll get cold.”

  “He’ll be okay Megan, I promise.” Utah said, opening the bag. Max looked up at Megan, licked his paw unworried and then burrowed deep into her clothes.

  “Let’s go.” Riley said. The window in this storm was closing quickly. They needed to get inside.

  “Megan, climb over here sweetheart. Hold my hand and don’t let go.” Riley glanced over at Utah who’d gathered her bag as well as Megan’s. She nodded.

  Consumed in darkness, the building was not even thirty feet from them. Riley waited between gusts to open the door. When she did, they scrambled out of the truck. The door slammed shut behind them almost catching Utah’s jacket. She let out a faint cry and scurried forward as another gust of wind swept across the parking lot, sending us several feet backward. Utah was behind Megan clutching both bags trying to keep on her feet. They only had to walk thirty feet. However, the hurricane force winds made it nearly impossible. The air was numbing cold and the snow was past Riley’s knees. Her concerns lay with the girls, tiny with body weight well below normal. They’d get cold fast. Pushing through the snow together, gripping hands, they pushed into the wind.

  Then suddenly, the wind stopped. Riley felt a chill on the back of her neck. Loud crashes. Something big and heavy was ripping apart. Megan’s grip tightened. It was coming their way.

  “Run,” Riley yelled stumbling forward catching Megan, but had to let go fearing she’d pull her arm out of her socket or worse. Riley landed face first into the snow, the wind whipping past. Unable to see anything, Riley struggled to stand and began searching for the girls.

  “Megan!” She screamed out, “Utah!”

  “Riley,” Megan cried.

  Megan was barely visible, but Riley reached out and pulled the little girl into her arms shielding her from the wind.

  “Utah!” She appeared beside me and reached out to take my hand.

  “Good”. Riley whispered seeing both her and the bag that held Max behind her.

  An explosion of objects flew through the air. Riley pulled them towards the door. Something large flew past them slamming into the side of the building. The sounds were like near thunder. Riley turned the handle willing the door to open while holding desperately onto Megan. The door was locked.

  “Can you open it Riley?” Utah yelled, hugging the duffle bag as they huddled.

  Without forethought, Riley reached in her pocket and removed a small container. Her fingers, already frozen through her gloves, made for stiff and clumsy lock picking. She dropped the wire twice before she was able to press the wire through the keyhole opening.

  “Cross your fingers.”

  The girls pressed into her searching for warmth. On the third try, Riley opened the door. To the front of them was blackness. Behind them, something was coming in their direction at a high rate of speed.

  “Get inside. Don’t move until I get back, understand?” Riley told them. They nodded.

  Riley waited for the object to land and then pushed her way back to the truck. The cold bit through her clothing, freezing skin and muscles. Mother Nature was pissed off. Frantic, she gathered the rest of the bags, half-carrying, half dragging them towards the door.

  Entering through the darkness, Riley stopped beside the girls. The cold bit into exposed flesh as the heat from her body turned icy. The door trembled as the strength of the storm increased, sending a sharp whistling sound underneath the door. Forced air pressed through pinhole gaps. They’d just stepped into a giant freezer.

  THIRTY-TWO

  Ash Fork Veterinarian Hospital was the biggest and newest building post-shift. Jack only knew this because he’d helped find the men to build it. The facility sat a quarter of a mile off a drainage road that ran parallel to the highway nestled against a huge chunk of land hugging a deep valley. There were three buildings adjacent to the largest one. The main building was the center one, containing examining rooms, surgical rooms, office s
pace, and even a small apartment. Jack knew there were several backup generators in case of power failure.

  “Where are we?” Shay asked peering out the window.

  “A friends.” Jack answered.

  “Wait here.” Jack said parking.

  When he stepped out of the truck, the wind pushed him backward. He unlocked the door and motioned Shay over. Then he moved toward Blake’s truck to help carry Matt inside.

  “Why’s it so dark?” Sherry asked.

  “Probably the storm.” Jack said flicking on a dim flashlight. “The backup generator should be on.” The temperature inside the building was just as cold if not colder than outside. “Take this.” Jack handed Shay the light. They stepped into a long hallway. The small light was lost in the depth of the corridor.

  “I don’t think Dr. Kenny is here,” Blake said.

  “Something’s not right.” Jack said suddenly wishing they’d taken their chances on the road.

  “Hurry,” Sherry said. “He’s too quiet.”

  “There’s an operating room here.” They moved together through two swinging doors into ice-cold blackness. The LED flashlight lit up their path even making them shield their eyes.

  “Don’t touch anything.” Sherry’s voice trembled. “I need it to be sterile in here.” Blake and Jack set Matt down on one a stainless steel table.

  Shay stood quiet. Several large stainless steel sinks lined the counter tops and several cupboards lined the walls. There was an abundance of supplies neatly stacked on shelves.

  “Eerie”. Blake whispered. “Cold.”

  “You’re not squeamish are you?” Jack asked.

  “Nah, just never saw a surgery room before.”