by Bobby Akart
But as those fears were set aside on Christmas Eve with the reunification of their family, she’d become focused in a way that was out of the norm. Lucy was the consummate multitasker. All mothers are. She took care of their home, helped run the ranch, and watched over everything related to their preparedness activities.
Major replied as he tried to make sense of it all, “Since you guys returned yesterday, it’s been all about Christmas. Last night’s service in the barn was spiritually moving until, of course, the military jets flew past us.”
“Yeah, that kinda brought us back to the present, didn’t it?” asked Palmer.
Major thought for a moment. “You know, honey, maybe that’s it. Since Black Friday when the EMP hit, we’ve been on edge here at the ranch. God only knows what it was like for you all on the road. Now our family is together again just in time for Christmas. Maybe your mother—”
Before Major could continue, Miss Lucy walked out of the kitchen and into the family room of their ranch house. She was wearing a classic bib apron embroidered with a western design including holly, a horseshoe, a cowboy boot, and a felt hat. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail and tied with a red ribbon.
Major hadn’t seen her dress like this for Christmas dinner since their children were in grade school. He wasn’t sure what to make of it. Lucy had gone all out for this Christmas and refused to let the family be distracted by the outside world while they celebrated.
“Okay, okay, enough shop talk, or whatever y’all are mumbling about,” Lucy announced as she wiped her hands on a towel and shoved it into the front pocket of her apron. “It’s time for Christmas dinner. Would y’all please grab a serving dish from the kitchen? I see that everyone else has arrived.”
Riley, who was the first to respond, had remained closest to Lucy since their return. “You got it, Momma. Are there any samples you’d like me to taste? You know, to make sure it’s really good?”
Lucy retrieved the kitchen towel from her apron, took both ends and began to twist it into a weapon. She snapped it towards Riley’s backside. “One unauthorized nibble, young man, and you’ll get a whoopin’!” she threatened, to the group’s delight.
Major smiled as he admired his family. His adorable wife wasn’t troubled and hadn’t changed. She was just intent on making this Christmas special.
The group made its way to the barn to greet the ranch hands and their families, who’d brought dishes of their own for this potluck-style Christmas feast.
Picnic tables were retrieved from all around the ranch and set up in rows in the main barn. They were covered with white sheets adorned with each family’s unique Christmas décor, candles, and many different types of foods.
The Texas love of barbecue was evident, as roasted chicken, smoked turkeys, and pulled pork were abundant. The Mexican women prepared tamales, menudo, and cinnamon buñuelos, a dish made with deep-fried tortilla wedges covered in a sugary cinnamon mix.
Lucy had discussed the meal planning with Major yesterday afternoon. They both were keenly aware that food supplies in Texas were dwindling and they’d have to rely completely upon their food storage moving forward. However, this was also the most significant Christmas in their lives, and they intended to make it the most memorable, which included a fabulous meal.
Throughout dinner, people talked, laughed, and allowed an occasional muted belch as their compliment to the chef. Miss Lucy was thanked repeatedly for creating this wonderful opportunity to come together as a family, share Christmas joy, and exchange their hope for the future.
Sook was especially appreciative, as she’d never experienced a Christmas dinner. She explained to everyone the risks that she and her family had taken as Christians in North Korea. In a country teeming with fear and mistrust, they’d practiced their faith within the confines of the familial home without revealing their belief in God to anyone.
After the group had finished eating, Major stood from their table located at the center of the barn. The soft chatter stopped, and he was given everyone’s full attention.
“I’m looking around this barn, thinking of the day Christ was born. His birth was a tremendous gift to this world, just like all of you are a gift to me. Better than any presents wrapped up under a tree, when I see all of you holding hands and loving one another, it warms my heart.”
Major dropped his chin to his chest and wiped a tear from his face. He gathered himself, reached for Lucy’s hand to gain strength, and then continued. “Dallas is not here with us today, God rest his soul. Like Jesus died on the cross for our sins, something he believed was his destiny, Dallas died for the country he loved, protecting all of us from the evil beyond our borders.
“At night, I look into the heavens and search for answers as to why he was taken from us. The answer I receive is that God has a plan, and the stars of freedom shine brightly to remind me of how lucky those of us on this planet really are.”
Major then paused and reached to take Sook’s hand, who immediately welled up in tears.
“But then God finds a way to surprise us all. Our oldest son might have suffered the same fate as Dallas if not for this angel, this beautiful young woman from a faraway place. In her country, it’s forbidden to be a Christian, yet here she is. In her country, her family could’ve been sent to prison camps or executed for saving my son’s life, yet there she sits.
“I will thank God every day for you, Sook. Miss Lucy and I lost one child to the ugliness of war, but we gained another loving member of our very large family when you came into our lives.”
Again Major paused and then looked skyward for guidance to find the right words. He furrowed his brow as he continued. Lucy’s warm hand squeezed his, and their eyes met. In that moment, he understood her demeanor of the last twenty-four hours. He nodded, and she returned his look with a smile of encouragement.
“We face troubling times that will be dangerous. The world as we know it has been devastated by death and destruction. The evil in men continues to exist, so I have no illusions of what our future brings.
“As the children of God, our fate rests in His hands. We’re all knockin’ on Heaven’s door as we persevere in this new life. Together, as a family, we will enjoy life’s greatest blessing—our love for one another, and it is our love that will help us endure what comes our way.”
Chapter 2
Christmas Day
The Armstrong Ranch
Borden County, Texas
“Major, that was beautiful,” said Lucy as she stood up from the table. Major gave her a hug and a lingering kiss. A tear came from her eye, and he quickly kissed her wet cheek. His puzzled look caused her to smile. “Honey, I’m fine. Don’t worry.”
Everyone congregated for several minutes before Preacher reminded them that banditos didn’t take Christmas off and they were most likely enjoying fried chicken in their barnyard right about now. This drew a laugh from the ranch hands, who promptly retrieved their rifles and headed for their horses. The wives and children assisted Miss Lucy in clearing the tables after everyone voiced their appreciation for the wonderful dinner.
Preacher began to walk toward his horse when Lucy called after him, “Preach, before you go, would you mind comin’ inside for a few minutes? I’d like the family to get together for a moment and that, naturally, includes you.”
“Of course, Miss Lucy,” he replied. “Let me load up some of these dishes. Heck, I’ll help ya wash them.”
She smiled and touched his arm. “No, that’s not necessary, but thank you. It’s time to get the kids back in the swing of doin’ chores. That’s part of what I want to talk about, among other things.”
After several trips to the barn and back, the farmhouse-style sink was overflowing with dishes and serving pieces. Lucy would get her crew together to tackle the mess later. For now, she wanted to address several things while she had their attention. Somehow, after this meal, the concept of family gatherings would change from cheerful dinners to strategic planning sessions abo
ut security and food levels.
Duncan stoked the fire, and the flames danced inside the massive stone fireplace. Lucy and Major shared the settee while the boys scattered about the floor and on the fireplace hearth. Preacher took up a spot on the sofa, where Palmer joined him. The room was quiet in anticipation of what the matriarch of the Armstrong family had to say.
“Everyone, I’d like to apologize if I’ve been a little more ornery than usual,” Lucy began as she dropped her eyes to the floor and exhaled. She nervously fiddled with a kitchen towel as she spoke. One by one, she made eye contact with her kids. “I’m not going to get emotional again. But thank God you’re home.”
Palmer was the first to rush to her side and sit on the roll-top arm of the settee. The two hugged as the tears flowed. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room as the emotions poured out of them. Somehow, since the kids had arrived home, the Armstrongs had managed to keep their emotions in check in order to enjoy Christmas, but now they were allowed to let it out.
The room burst into a combination of tears, laughter, and conversation as everyone began telling their stories.
Finally, Lucy stood and waved her kitchen towel over her head. “Now do you see why I wanted y’all to wait until after Christmas? There is so much to talk about. I wanna know about Coop’s ride. Riley has been dyin’ to talk about this Red Rover truck. Duncan has one heckuva whopper to tell us about his exploits in North Korea. And I wanna get to know this angel who brought him back to us.”
Major took Lucy by the hand and gave it a loving squeeze. After the emotional moment, the rodeo kids took the sofa relinquished by Preacher, who readily took a seat on the king’s throne, as Major called his leather La-Z-Boy recliner near the fireplace. Duncan and Sook, who were inseparable, holding hands everywhere they went, remained on the hearth.
Duncan squeezed Sook’s hand, and she kissed him on the cheek to give him strength to tell his story. “I guess I’d better start because, without exaggeration, I believe this whole thing is my fault.”
“Son, whadya mean?” asked Major.
“Dad, you know I’m not supposed to discuss my job, but the world has turned upside down, and I couldn’t tell you at this point if I work for the United States government or if I’m a citizen of Texas or what.”
“You’re a Texan,” Riley chimed in.
“I guess so,” said Duncan with hesitation. “I really don’t know where I stand with Washington, the CIA, or my handlers. All I do know is they left me to die.”
Lucy sat up on the edge of her seat. “What? Son, why don’t you tell us what you can, you know, without giving up state secrets or whatever.”
“Listen, Momma. I don’t work for them anymore. I quit the day they left me and my partner, Min Park, behind in North Korea.”
“Fair enough, son,” interrupted Major. “Why don’t you tell us what happened and why you think everything from the EMP forward is your fault.”
Duncan gulped and looked around the room at his family. They were all listening intently to his next words.
“Yes, Duncan,” Sook encouraged.
He nodded and began. “I was sent to assassinate Kim Jong-un.”
His words exploded into the room, but nary a sound could be heard. Everyone looked at one another in disbelief and then back to Duncan for further explanation.
“Park and I were assigned to a patrol vessel in the Persian Gulf region when we suddenly received orders to report to a military facility in Japan. We were tasked to take out Kim Jong-un as he oversaw a missile test in the western part of North Korea. Y’all, there are so many details, this story might take hours to tell.”
“I reckon you missed, huh?” said Riley with a chuckle.
“No, actually, I hit the target, but it must have been a body double,” replied Duncan. “Park and I left the sniper hide thinking mission accomplished, at least the shooting part of it. After the shot, we had to get out of the country without getting caught or killed.”
“It sounds like a suicide mission to this old man,” grumbled Preacher.
“In a way it was, Preacher,” said Duncan, who immediately looked to his mother, whose eyes began to well up in tears. “Momma, there was a viable plan of extraction. Otherwise I wouldn’t have gone in. Again, without going into long details, I sensed something was off when the place was crawling with North Korean soldiers within minutes of the shot.
“They had us surrounded, but Park and I fought our way through to the extraction point at Sinmi-do, a tiny island on the Yellow Sea. We managed to hit the beach ahead of schedule where the pickup was to take place. But they never came. He and I decided to find our way back to South Korea by taking a boat from the village where Sook lived.
“That’s when we ran headfirst into a North Korean patrol. Park got hit, and I tried to carry him to safety. They shot at us moving through the woods. Park was hit four times in the back, killing him. The impact of the rounds knocked me down, and I fell thirty feet off a cliff into a river.”
Duncan shook his head and took a deep breath. He gave his mother, who had Major’s hand in a death grip, a reassuring smile.
“I should’ve died that night, but Park shielded me from the bullets, and then Sook, together with her father, pulled me out of the water. They kept me safe and nursed me back to health.”
“Sounds like a Rambo movie,” quipped Riley.
“How’d you get out of the country?” asked Cooper.
“Sook’s father led us out to sea with a fishing boat, which we then drove toward South Korea. After a brief skirmish with a North Korean patrol, we made our way to the south. The rest is a long story too.”
Major leaned back on the settee and put his arms around Lucy. She quizzed Duncan. “Why would they leave you behind?”
“That’s how these things go sometimes,” Duncan replied. “You know the drill—deny, deny, deny, and then if that doesn’t work—disavow. They probably had some type of dirty dossier on me that linked me to a radical group in South Korea that was acting independently of the Seoul government and certainly without any U.S. government authority. Dad, you can imagine, right?”
Major raised his eyebrows and nodded.
“But, honey, this never made the news,” continued Lucy. “If you killed a man who was supposed to be that dictator, why didn’t he throw it in our faces that we shot the wrong guy?”
Sook spoke up for the first time. “May I answer that question?”
“Yes, honey, please,” said Lucy with a smile and a nod of approval.
“The Kim dynasty has ruled our people with fear and intimidation for many years. Any attempt on his life would be seen as a sign of weakness. He attended his parades and public appearances as if nothing had happened.”
“And although Park and I had deep cover stories, it wouldn’t take long for his team of hackers to determine that my partner was an American of Korean descent,” Duncan added.
Major shook his head and grimaced. “Kim Jong-un responded, but not publicly. He orchestrated the EMP attacks and sent us back to the nineteenth century, except for Texas, of course.”
“Here’s what I don’t understand,” said Cooper. “If Kim wanted to settle the score with us by using the EMPs, then why did everybody start firin’ off the nukes?”
“We may never know, Coop,” said Duncan. “I will, however, find out who left me there to die. Somebody made that call, and I wanna find out who it is.”
Chapter 3
Christmas Day
The Armstrong Ranch
Borden County, Texas
The rodeo kids took their turn at describing their month-long journey home. It started with Riley’s dramatic play-by-play of Cooper’s ride atop One Night Stand. Riley jumped up and down, spun around on the floor and then jumped into the air with his arms raised in victory as if he’d ridden the beast himself. The hilarity lightened the mood, so they could begin to relay what they’d seen during their journey from Calgary to the ranch.
To an extent, Cooper,
Riley, and Palmer kept their promise to shield their mother from the ugliest aspects of the trip, especially the kills made by Riley and Cooper. As agreed, Coop, the oldest of the three, was allowed to discuss it with their father. It would be left up to him whether their mother found out.
Preacher thanked Lucy for a wonderful meal, and he left to check on security. Duncan and Cooper walked outside to get some fresh air. It was the first time the two had been alone together since their return.
“Coop, I wanted—” started Duncan before stopping.
“Can we talk for a minute?” said Cooper simultaneously.
“You first,” they said together nervously. The two brothers began to laugh.
Cooper put his hand up and smiled. “No, please. Age before beauty.”
“Yeah, yeah,” said Duncan with a laugh. “I’ve heard the buckle-bunnies throw themselves at you bull riders. Is it true?”
“Yeah, sorta,” replied Cooper. “I’m real focused on the road, so I don’t pay them any mind. There was one girl in Calgary. I got her number but lost it, I think. It was before the lights went out.”
“Well, brother, congratulations on your ride. It sucks that the Vegas thing was cancelled. Heck, everything’s been cancelled.”
“No doubt,” said Cooper. “Duncan, um, I had a lot of time to think while we were on the road home. It’s amazing how you see things differently when there aren’t distractions to clutter your brain.”
Duncan laughed. “You mean insignificant distractions like the apocalypse?”
“Right, the apocalypse ain’t nothin’,” Cooper answered with a laugh. “Nah, I’m talkin’ about what a jerk I’ve been to you over the last few years. Duncan, I’ve missed my big brother, and I realized it when we were on the road. I was afraid I’d never see ya again.”
“No such luck, Coop. Y’all can’t get rid of me that easy. It’s like I’ve got nine lives.”
