Dark Defiance (EMP Lodge Series Book 3)

by Grace Hamilton

  “So, I want to do more of the boards with nails in them. We will have them ready and put them out when we know it is about to get ugly. They will need to be in front of the doors and inside the house.”

  Wyatt shook his head, “We can't let them get in.”

  “I agree, but we have to be ready for anything.”

  “Our main problem is that front door,” Chase said pointing at the door they rarely used.

  “Let's barricade it.”

  Chase whistled, “I don't know man, that gives us one way out. I don't like that at all.”

  Wyatt winked at him, “We can make another way out. My dad originally planned for that outdoor storage room to be a panic room. His idea and how it turned out are very different.”

  “Is there access from the inside?” Chase asked.

  Wyatt could see the excitement in his eyes.

  “Well, not technically, but we could make one. That wall over there goes into the storage room. It wouldn't take much to remove the sheetrock. It is basically a hollow wall. We only need a big enough space for us to squeeze through. We wouldn't even have to take out any of the studs.”

  Chase slapped him on the back, “You are a frickin genius. Or your dad was, either way, that is an excellent idea.”

  “We will need something to hide the hole in the wall.”

  Both of the men looked around.

  Rosie shouted down from upstairs, “If you boys are going to be making a mess in my dining room, you will be the ones cleaning it up.”

  Wyatt laughed, “It will actually be the kitchen mom.”

  “Wyatt Morris, don't you dare destroy my kitchen!”

  Chase held back a laugh.

  Wyatt rolled his eyes. Big mistake.

  “I know you just rolled your eyes, mister and I am being very serious. You better think long and hard about what you are going to do before you start tearing into walls.”

  “I will, mom.”

  He turned to Chase, “Let's go to the storage room and measure just how deep it goes in. That way we can get a better idea where to start tearing walls down.”

  He said the last few words nice and loud so his mom would hear.

  She snorted. He could hear her complaining to Willow about the destruction of her kitchen.

  Wyatt opened the side of the lodge that led to the hidden storage room. Chase walked behind him, stretching out a tape measure. They spent a few minutes, tapping walls and measuring distances. They were going to have to move a couple of the water barrels, but their plan would work. It was an excellent idea and one they wish they would have thought of earlier.

  “Okay, so, we need to work on this and how do you want to take care of that front door?”

  Wyatt winked, “Have no fear, my friend. I got a plan.”

  They walked towards the shed. They had been collecting building materials for months and with what his dad had leftover from the construction of the cabin, they had quite a pile. Wyatt pointed to a portion of chainlink fence that was on top of a pile of wood.

  “That.”

  The fence was picked up with the intention of using it to build some kind of animal pen. It was a very small section, may four feet wide and six feet high, but in this world, they knew everything could be useful.

  Chase didn't look convinced.

  “We nail that to the outside of the door. Think of it as bars on a door, but chain link instead. They aren't going to get through the fencing. Hopefully they won't even try,” Wyatt explained.

  Chase nodded, “Ya, I guess that would work. Couldn't they just pry the nails out? A drill sure would be nice right about now.”

  “We don't have a drill, but we have plenty of nails. They can stand here and pry the nails out. I like the idea of shooting at non-moving targets,” Wyatt said with a laugh.

  Chase agreed and put it on their list of things to-do.

  “What about the windows,” he said, looking up at the huge picture windows that overlooked the area. The windows were completely uncovered and allowed plenty of natural light into the cabin, but they were definitely a vulnerability.

  Wyatt shrugged, “There is nothing we can do about them. We will hang the camo nets down, but other than that, we can't do much else. The only way someone is getting through those windows is with a ladder. They can break the windows, but they aren't coming in.”

  Chase had complained about the windows in the past. From a security standpoint they were a nightmare, but, they were also necessary.

  Both men walked around the cabin, paying careful attention to every detail.

  “We need to cover the smaller windows on the ground floor. Obviously nobody is coming through, but we don't want them tossing anything in either,” Chase said pointing to the one window in the kitchen that was still in tact.

  The other window had been boarded up after the storm sent a tree limb through it.

  Wyatt walked back to the front of the cabin, looking up at the windows and imagining what it looked like inside.

  “Do you think we can cut holes into the wood up there?” Wyatt asked Chase who was walking towards him. “You know like we had in our bunkers?”

  Chase nodded, “You are just full of ideas today, aren't you. That would definitely be helpful, but I don't know how thick that wood is. Maybe use a chisel and hammer?”

  “We'll figure something out. Then we can have Megan and Willow upstairs with guns. Megan has proven her skills time and again. With a bird's eye view up there, she can take out anyone that gets close.”

  “Okay, well, we got a lot to get done. You sure you are up to it?”

  “I told you I'm fine. It was just a little stiff after being in bed. I just need to get it moving and it will be just fine.”

  Chase didn't say it, but he clearly didn't believe him.

  “Let's get to it,” Wyatt said, walking away, gritting his teeth through the pain.

  He wanted to drive home the point he was fine. He was back to his old self and ready, willing and able to fight. The foot would heal, eventually. He could get through the pain until it did.

  Chapter Eleven

  Megan finished filling the water bucket for the goats, again. She had to take some extra time to hammer a few pieces of wood together to create a frame for the bucket. The goats kept tipping it over, creating a mess in the pen and wasting precious water.

  “There, now you kids quit knocking over!” she scolded.

  Caitlin and Ryland came out of the house looking as if the weight of the world was on their shoulders.

  “What's up guys?”

  “Grandma says we have to get all this stuff before we can play with the ball,” Ryland said revealing how upset he was.

  Caitlin looked at Megan, “Do we have to, mom? We just wanted to play. This is going to take us forever.”

  Megan smiled. Everything was so dramatic at this age.

  “Well, you guys are both old enough to help out. We have a lot to get done around here. Just think about how much fun you will have when you are done,” she told them, smoothing back Caitlin's hair.

  Ryland kicked at an invisible something on the garden, “Well, we better get started, Caity or we will never finish.”

  “How about this?” she started, doing her best to sound positive and upbeat. “You guys take care of your chores, Wyatt and I will take care of our chores and if we all get done, we can play a game of baseball. Maybe we can talk everyone else in to playing as well.”

  Caitlin grinned, “Yes! I want to play baseball, mom!”

  Ryland played it off, but she could tell he was pretty excited by the idea.

  “Okay,” he said, “but this is a big list. I don't know know if we can finish all of it.”

  “Then we will have to wait until tomorrow or the next day. We can't play until the list is all done.”

  She hoped that would be enough incentive for them. They did tend to get a little off-task when they were together. Willow had decided to keep them separated when it came time for their
school sessions. They would either laugh over the silliest things and lose focus or grumble at each other about every little thing.

  They were best friends, which made all of the adults happy. They kept each other occupied and the friendship provided a sense of normalcy.

  Megan told them to stay close and headed towards the back door.

  She could hear Ryland grumbling about how much they had to do. They were kids and shouldn't have to do so much work.

  Rosie was in the kitchen, cleaning up after breakfast.

  “I saw the kids,” Megan said.

  Rosie started to laugh, “I know, you would think I sent them to dig their own graves.” She held up the ball, “Who knew this thing would wield so much power.”

  Megan laughed, “In the old days, we could threaten to take away the computers or television. Today, we get to take away their ball. Boy have things changed!”

  “Yes, they have. They only have a few things to do. I asked them to collect more moss, some grass and twigs that are already on the ground. We are hoping to finish those nets today so Chase and Jack can get them hung.”

  “I can help. We aren't going hunting until the other deer is off the hanger.”

  Rosie grimaced, “Yes, that is why we need to finish the nets today so we can start processing that thing tomorrow. Don't get me wrong, I am excited for the meat, but I do not relish the slicing and dicing part of it.”

  Megan agreed with her. The luxury of going to a butcher for her meat was something she vowed to never take for granted again. That is if the luxury was ever available again.

  Jack came in through the back door. He didn't look happy.

  “What's up?” Megan asked.

  “Albert needs a break. He has been up in the lookout since daybreak. I have to go up, but I wanted to grab a jacket. It is chilly out there when you aren't working up a sweat.”

  Megan thought about it for a second, “I'll take the watch. That way you can keep working on the perimeter.”

  When it looked as if he was going to argue, she shook her head, “Don't even try to say something along the lines of me being a girl and all that. You all know I can shoot just as well as the rest of you and my eyes work just fine. I can also scream like a banshee if I need to. Just go do what you were and I will relieve Albert.”

  Jack hesitated.

  “She'll be fine, Jack. Get some water before you head back out,” his mother lectured.

  “Okay, I'm going to grab my coat and I'll head out there.”

  Megan quickly dressed, grabbed her rifle, threw some ammo in the coat pocket and quickly walked to where Albert was waiting.

  He crawled down the tree using the pegs that had been hammered in to make the climbing into the bird's nest easier and faster.

  “This isn't going to work,” he grumbled.

  “What isn't?” Megan asked.

  “I can't be the only person watching. We built two more bird's nests, but what's the point if only one of us is on watch at a time.”

  He was right.

  “I know, Albert. Right now everyone is busy just trying to get the place fortified. Then we need to get food for the winter. It is a lot to do. We are all taxed.”

  “Well, what good is it gonna do to have food if it is just going to get taken when those guys come looking?”

  Albert stomped off without giving her the chance to answer.

  She climbed into the bird's nest and took a few minutes just to appreciate the view. No wonder Albert willingly spent so much time up here. It was gorgeous. It was so peaceful. She could see the stream gurgling below.

  It all looked so serene, but she knew that every few feet there was a deadly trap set. Their once peaceful property was now full of booby traps. The threat of someone trying to take it all away was very real. It ruined the splendor and the beauty of the magnificent view.

  Megan got comfortable. Albert had a small, folding fishing chair he had carried up. He was able to see and rest his knee at the same time.

  The more she looked around, the more she realized this one viewpoint wasn't enough. They needed more eyes. She would like to have a lookout at night, but it didn't make a lot of sense. It would be next to impossible to see. However, they could have someone near the lodge on watch. That way if those men happened to get through all the traps, they would have a chance to fight back.

  Megan spent about an hour in the bird's nest before Albert hollered at her he was back. She had actually been enjoying herself. It was so peaceful and gave her plenty of time to think.

  She and Wyatt were going hunting again tomorrow. She needed to talk to him about their future here at the lodge. Things had to change.

  Chapter Twelve

  “I don't like it.”

  Megan knew she sounded like a petulant child, but it was the truth.

  “Megan, we have to think long term. We need to be realistic. We have been living in a bubble and it is about to get burst in a very big, terrible way,” Wyatt reasoned.

  She refused to look at him and kept staring out into the meadow. Their hunting trip wasn't quite as nice and enjoyable as the last time.

  He had started in about inviting Evan's group to the lodge last night in bed and hadn't let up.

  “Wyatt, we don't know each and everyone of those people. I mean, Jackson and Wyatt, sure. They seem decent enough. Amy, Sandra and Tara, I think they are okay, but that is a handful compared to the 20 or so you are talking about bringing in.”

  “They bring in people all the time and they have been just fine.”

  She spun around and glared at him.

  “Yeah, that has worked out real well for them.”

  He rolled his eyes, “The newcomers aren't killing them. McDaniels is because they are easy targets. We aren't exactly a force to be reckoned with. Should I send my mom out with a rolling pin and tell them to shoo when they come knocking on the door?”

  She groaned in frustration.

  “I know. I know we need more people. I just wish there was another way. I wish we had more time to get to know them. Seriously, I wish we could Google each one of them, you know?”

  He laughed, “Oh, the good ol' days when you could stalk someone before you actually had to talk to them.”

  “I get that more people presents a stronger force. It means more people shooting at the bad guys, but it also means we have to trust more people. The odds that there is a bad apple in the group are pretty high. We can't expect to meet 20 strangers and they all be good, honest people who won't stab us in the back or cause problems.”

  It was Wyatt's turn to groan in frustration.

  “You are only as strong as your team. You have to trust the guy standing next to you, fighting against a common enemy,” he said more to himself than to Megan.

  She knew he was thinking back to his days in the Navy. Combat required him to trust his friends that were standing beside him.

  “What about food, beds, water and all that stuff?” Megan asked.

  “If they are here, they hunt. Yes, it will tax our resources, but the more people out hunting, planting and collecting edible plants, the more food coming in. It isn't like we are going to invite them in so they can have a vacation and sit around. Everyone will be working together.”

  “Shh!”

  Wyatt watched as Megan held up her rifle and carefully moved the barrel just a hair to the right. She could feel his eyes on her, but she didn't let that interrupt her focus. Her focus was on the doe standing in the meadow.

  The deer knew they were there. Megan could tell by her stance that she was going to bolt at any second. She pulled the trigger and watched the doe drop where she stood.

  She turned to look at Wyatt to gloat.

  The look on his face stopped her from doing so. He was looking at her with such pride and love it made her heart swell.

  “You got her, baby, you got her!”

  Megan grinned, “Yep, now guess what you get to do?”

  “I hate that you only use me for the
dirty work.”

  They both laughed as they made their way down the hill to take care of the doe. They both decided they were going to be having fresh venison tonight.

  Megan knew they had come to an understanding about Evan's group. Wyatt wanted to take it slow, but they were going to improve the relationship. They needed to be stronger allies and that meant talking more often then once a month.

  Deep down, Megan knew it was for the best, but it still made her nervous. She would just have to keep her guard up and pay attention. It would be a tense few months, but she would do whatever it took to keep her family safe. If Wyatt thought this was the way to go, so be it. She trusted him implicitly. He would never do anything to put any of them in jeopardy.

  Time would tell if it was the right choice.

  Between the two of them, they dragged the doe back to the lodge. It was a repeat of the other day. There was a lot of celebrating and everyone praised Megan for her killer hunting skills.

  Wyatt had pulled Albert off to the side.

  “Can you get Greg on the radio?”

  Albert shrugged, “I could try, but he doesn't always answer. I haven't heard from him in a couple of days.”

  “Do you normally hear from him more often than that?” Wyatt asked.

  Megan had come over to join the conversation. She knew Wyatt was putting his plan into motion. She wanted to know exactly what he had in mind.

  “Eh, usually it is once a day. Just a quick hello and check to see how things are going.”

  Megan was impressed. Albert had made a friend. The two had never actually met, but they seemed to have a lot in common.

  Wyatt looked concern. Megan knew he was worried McDaniels had gone back and either killed them all or maybe took the radio.

  “I'll give it a try. Maybe the solar panel wasn't working right. Or maybe the old codger couldn't figure out how to plug it in,” Albert joked.

  Megan could see the worry on his face as well. He was concerned for his friend, but was doing his best to play it off.

  “How about you do that after we have some dinner. Better chance he will be settled in for the night and around to hear your call. Right?” Megan said, patting Albert on the shoulder and steering him towards the kitchen.