The Harvest (Book 1)

by Ferretti, Anne

  “Find the bunker and then come back for us. I can’t risk taking him out there if we don’t have solid shelter for the night.”

  “Should only be an hour’s drive from here. I’ll unload the ATV…” She headed for the door mentally checking off items for the trip, “to save on gas.”

  “Undo Ed would ya? And bring the heater.” Austin turned back to Luke, who was fading in and out of consciousness.

  Madison hurried outside. She helped Ed up while explaining to him about Luke’s condition. Ed carried the heater inside the station, leaving Madison to unpack the gear from the ATV. She hauled their stuff over to the door. Austin would bring it inside if she didn’t come back before dark. She shoved a thermal blanket into her backpack just in case.

  She jumped on the ATV, turned the key and engine purred to life. She was about to shift into gear when from the corner of her eye she saw Austin jogging towards her. She pushed her goggles up.

  “You have your gun?”

  “Yep.”

  “The map?”

  “In here.” She tapped her head. “And here.” She pointed to her backpack. “And a thermal blanket just in case.”

  “Madison,” he paused, “don’t take any chances ok? If anything isn’t right about this guy, you get out. If he tries to stop you put a bullet in his head and get back here as fast as you can. Got it?”

  “Yes Captain.” She saluted him.

  “I’m serious.” He grabbed hold of her arm. “I don’t want to come looking for you.”

  “You’d do that?” She asked, unable to mask the surprise in her voice.

  He was about to say he wasn’t about to lose her too, but pressed his lips together and nodded instead. He let go of her arm.

  “I’ll be ok.” She lowered her goggles. “Wish me luck.”

  “I don’t believe in luck.”

  “Right. Never assume or leave anything to chance.” She revved the ATV’s engine. “See you in couple of hours.”

  He gave her a thumbs up and watched as she drove away, a sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. When he could no longer see the ATV, Austin went back inside the gas station.

  Not until she was five miles down the road, did Madison’s heart stop threatening to jump out of her chest. She focused on navigating the terrain in front of her. This was no place for an accident. It was no place for a lot of things, including her feelings for Austin. She made a vow to put her heart in check and keep a healthy distance between them.

  The miles flew by without event. At mile marker one fifty one Madison eased the ATV off the highway onto the uneven terrain of what used to be a long driveway. Parts of the fence, that had at one time contained thousands of cattle, could be seen intermittently along the way. A hundred yards in she slowed to a stop.

  Using the binoculars, she peered out across the vast white nothingness. Panic rose in her throat after she swept the horizon twice and came up empty. She had to find that bunker. Pushing her goggles up off her face, she mentally crossed her fingers and once again raised the binoculars to her eyes, careful not to touch the metal to her skin.

  “There you are.” She said out loud.

  She stuffed the binoculars in her pack, shifted into gear and sped off towards a ranch house half buried by a snow drift. Underneath that ranch house, through the cellar, was the entrance to the bunker. Austin would have laughed if she had told him she thought it a clever idea. Not that his opinion mattered. She gunned the ATV, hit a bump and almost lost control of the machine. She quickly corrected the tires and slowed down to a reasonable speed.

  “Don’t be an idiot Maddie”. Her mother’s voice chastised. “I’m not an idiot momma. I just have bad luck with men.” She could picture her mother nodding her head in agreement.

  At twenty five yards out Madison stopped to take a closer look at the ranch. She could see an old barn not too far beyond the house. At first glance there appeared to be no signs of life. No tire tracks that she could see or any indication the place was occupied. She zoomed in on the front entrance, noticing right off that a path had been cleared through the snow to the steps. The door was painted a dark brown color and was windowless. The side lights looked to be painted over in the same brown as the door. Brown shutters covered the windows.

  Movement to the right of the door caught her eye. Stuck on top of a snow mound sat a small yellow flag. On the flag, in bold green, was a picture of a marijuana leaf. “This must be the place.” She felt elated. The flag was new, which meant someone had to put it there very recently. She pushed her goggles back in place and eased the ATV towards the entrance, stopping short of the path leading to the steps.

  Snow drifts five feet high flanked both sides of the walkway and spilled onto the porch. Madison backed the ATV into a position where, if she got into trouble, escape wouldn’t be a problem. However, trouble didn’t seem likely. If what the article said was true, Zack Londergan was your typical free loving, free spirited stoner. Madison dealt with the type often in Tampa. Never once had she met a violent pothead. Stupid yes, but definitely not dangerous. Free loving or not, the world had changed and people like Paulson always seemed to be the ones to survive. So, taking nothing for granted, Madison put her gun in her pocket for easy access.

  On the top step, she paused to inspect the porch. Next to the door someone had placed a stuffed gray squirrel. Sitting on top of an upside down flower pot sat a raccoon. A handmade wood sign above the door read ‘Casa de La Redención’. She glanced up and was startled by a large owl perched on the porch rafters.

  “Shit you scared me.” She said to the owl, realizing it was also stuffed.

  The owl blinked in response, but Madison had looked away. The eyes of the owl and the raccoon followed her as she moved about the porch. At the far end, sitting on the porch swing, Madison found a medium sized stuffed black bear wearing a yellow t-shirt with a marijuana leaf on the front. The bear’s eyes blinked and followed her as she inspected the windows before moving back to the door.

  Standing at the door, Madison wasn’t sure what to do next. The windows were covered with metal shutters and the door was made of solid steel. Even the side lights were solid metal. She reached up to knock on the door, when the whirring sound of a small motor caught her attention. At her feet the squirrel had begun to gnaw on a walnut. Then the raccoon stood on its hind legs, which despite knowing it was stuffed, startled the crap out of her. In the rafters the owl flexed its wings in and out. She looked back at the bear, expecting it to move as well, but it sat motionless.

  Madison shook her head. The animals were a clever disguise for spying on people, but hardly inconspicuous once you began moving them about like a circus act. Madison stepped closer to the raccoon. She couldn’t tell if it was reacting to her motion or if someone was controlling its movement.

  “Hello.” She waved to the raccoon. “Hello. Is anyone in there?”

  “He doesn’t talk.” A man’s voice spoke from behind her.

  “Shit.” Madison jumped around to face the voice. A handsome young man, dressed in jeans, a turtle neck sweater and untied boots, stood at the bottom of the steps pointing a shotgun at her.

  “Didn’t mean to scare you.” He offered, but didn’t lower the shotgun.

  “Didn’t hear you come up or out.” Where in the hell had he come from? “I don’t want any trouble.” Madison raised her hands in the air.

  “What do you want?”

  “Help. My friend is really sick. He needs medical attention.”

  “Where’s your friend at?”

  “A gas station about thirty miles from here.”

  The man stood thinking. He seemed impervious to the cold. Lowering his shotgun to hip level, he walked up the steps. “Would you mind taking off your mask so I can see your face?”

  Madison did as he asked.

  “Wow. Are…were you a model? Actress maybe?” He asked, genuinely surprised.

  “What? No.” She stammered. What kind of crazy question was that to as
k?

  “Sorry. You surprised me.” He gave her a sheepish grin. “Haven’t seen a chick since I kicked Mandy out of my bed.”

  Losing her patience with the young man, who she determined was harmless, Madison used a sterner tone. “Look, are you Zack Londergan?”

  “How do you know Zack?”

  “So you’re not Zack?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “Please. I really need help for my friend.”

  “What’s wrong with him?”

  “He’s sick. High fever. I don’t know. I’m not a doctor.

  “What if he’s contagious?”

  The possibility hadn’t ever crossed her mind, but she shook her head anyway. “It’s probably the flu or pneumonia.”

  “The flu’s contagious.” He countered.

  “Only if you plan on kissing him.” She angrily responded.

  The man laughed out loud. “Got a name?”

  “Madison Capra.”

  “Zack Londergan at your service.” He lowered his gun. “Nice to meet you Madison.”

  “Will you help us?” She persisted.

  “Sure. We could use some company.”

  “We?”

  “Me, my brother Colin and our dog German. The only canine left alive.”

  “That’s it?” She couldn’t help being disappointed.

  “Sorry to disappoint.” He shrugged. “Is it just the two of you?”

  “No. There are two others. Edward and Austin.”

  “So you’re the only chick?” It was his turn to sound disappointed.

  Madison sighed. “I am. But I’m sure there are more chicks out there somewhere.”

  “Do you really believe that?” He asked in a tone that came close to sounding serious.

  “Look, I don’t have time to discuss demography with you right now. If I don’t get back soon they’ll come looking for me.”

  “Hold tight Maddie. I got just the thing.” He pulled out a walkie-talkie, clicked the button. “Colin you there?”

  “I told you it was a chick.” A boy’s voice responded.

  “Shut up twerp and get the Monster.” He threw Madison a smile. “We’re going on a little road trip.”

  “Ten four. On my way.”

  A few minutes later a monster truck roared up to the house. Zack stepped aside, waving Madison down the steps and followed her out to the truck, where Colin, a younger version of Zack, sat behind the wheel. Underneath layers of dirt and rust the truck was painted to look like the drink by the same name.

  “Nice ride.” Madison commented, measuring herself against the five foot tall tires. “Very inconspicuous.”

  Zack laughed. “Maddie, meet Colin. Colin Maddie.”

  Colin, like his brother, was struck stupid by Madison, but unlike his brother kept this to himself. “Nice to meet you ma’am.”

  “Please. No ma’am. I’m barely thirty for Christ’s sake.” She pulled her face mask back on over her head.

  “Thirty! Woo, lord that’s old.” Zack joked.

  “Can we get going?” Madison pleaded, using all her will to hold back the irritation brewing over Zack’s lack of urgency.

  “I sense time is an issue with you.” Zack opened the door for Madison, who climbed into the truck. She sensed nothing was an issue with him, but refrained from saying so. It wouldn’t be prudent to insult him when she was in desperate need of his help.

  Colin shifted the giant machine into gear. The engine rumbled loudly as they rolled across the pasture and onto the highway.

  14 ZACK

  Six months earlier

  Pueblo Colorado

  7:50 am

  Zack Londergan lay under a pile of twisted sheets. He was twenty four, a two time college dropout, and a multi millionaire. At eighteen, Zack’s entrepreneurial spirit, and love for everything marijuana, led him to open a medicinal marijuana shop. At first the shop served as a place to hang out and get high, not as a serious business. Zack ran the place with his business partner Salvia. They opened and closed when they felt like it. If inventory was low they’d close shop for a few days until they could restock. If there was good powder on the slopes, they would close shop and go skiing for a few days. They had no worries.

  All that changed once Colorado legalized the sale of marijuana. Zack’s business seemed to take off overnight and he was forced to spend more time, and considerable effort, to keep the machine functioning smoothly. One store soon turned into fourteen, and by the age of twenty one Zack had made his first million. Two days prior, the company went public and Zack’s net worth jumped to triple digits. Not a Facebook fairy tale, but he had no complaints.

  The insistent ringing of his alarm clock was ignored. The body next to him grumbled. He reached out, hit the snooze. Peace resettled over the room.

  “What time is it?” A female voice asked.

  “Don’t know.” Was Zack’s barely intelligible response.

  A blonde head poked out from under the blanket. Pale blue eyes went from sleepy to wide awake. A very beautiful, very naked girl jumped out of the bed.

  “It’s almost eight o’clock damn it.” She threw her pillow at Zack’s unmoving body. “I told you I couldn’t be late today.”

  “You’re a big girl.”

  “And you’re an asshole.” She stomped off, slamming the bathroom door behind her. The sound of the shower running could soon be heard.

  Zack didn’t move.

  A half an hour later the girl emerged. Everything was fresh, except for her dress. The night over was obviously not a planned event. She walked over to the bed. “Can you give me a ride home? I need to change.”

  “Take the Porsche. Keys are in the kitchen.”

  “Are you serious?” She wasn’t happy with his response. “I can’t drive a stick.”

  “Get my cell would ya?” Zack still hadn’t emerged from under the covers. She brought over his phone, slapped it into his outstretched hand.

  “Mornin’ Jules…Rough. Look my friend Mandy needs a ride home. Do you mind? She’s on her way down now. Thanks.” He set the phone on the nightstand. “Jules will take you home.”

  “Who the hell is Jules?” She clenched her fists.

  “My housekeeper.”

  “Your housekeeper. Are you kidding me?”

  “You can walk.” He rolled over, away from her.

  She stared at the lump under the covers, and stormed out, slamming the door behind her. The alarm went to buzzing again. Zack hit the snooze. After a few minutes his breathing became heavy and rhythmic. Ten minutes later the alarm went off for the third time, but Zack was in a sleep coma and didn’t hear it. Nor did he hear his phone ringing.

  COLIN

  8:30 am. Colin Londergan, Zack’s younger brother, waited by the curb outside his house. He had a cell phone to his ear and a pissed off expression on his face.

  “Come on Zack. Answer the damn phone.” He scanned the street for his brother’s black Porsche. A black car approached. Colin stepped forward, hopeful, but it was only a Volvo. The Volvo slowed to a stop in front of him. The window went down and a pretty red head leaned out.

  “Hey Colin.” Happy to see him.

  “Hey Sonya.” Not thrilled to see her.

  “Need a ride?” Her inviting blue eyes begged him to say yes.

  Colin hesitated, looked at his watch and the empty street. He was tempted to accept her offer, but looked back at Sonya and shook his head. “Nah. My brother’s on his way.”

  Sonya’s expression turned to disappointment. Colin was the hottest guy at school. She would have scored huge if they’d arrived together. And it didn’t matter in the least that his girlfriend was one of her best friends. All boys were fair game as far as she was concerned. Colin stepped back on the curb, dropped his book bag to the ground. Sonya, not one to beg, waved and drove off. Colin took out his cell, called Zack for the hundredth time. When he got no answer, he grabbed his bag and went back into the house.

  The Londergan home was deco
rated in expensive, albeit tasteful, furnishings. An accomplishment made easy by the fact his mom was a successful interior designer. He dropped his bag in the entry way. Something he wouldn’t have dared if his mom was at home rather than away on a business trip. Her absence was also part of the reason for his current abandonment issue. The other part, the bigger part, being he was on restriction for night skiing.

  His mom didn’t care so much that he had been arrested for trespassing. What really turned her pale was the fact he was skiing dangerous slopes in the dark. She didn’t care if it was a full moon. She had immediately restricted him without debate from driving, skiing, and anything remotely fun for two weeks. And remotely fun included seeing his girlfriend Zora.

  His cell rang. He answered without looking at the ID. “It’s about time douche bag.”

  “Colin Londergan!”

  “Shi…shoot mom, I didn’t know it was you.” He rolled his eyes to the ceiling.

  “Who did you think it was?” Her tone was suspicious.

  “Nobody…I mean I thought it was Josh. Anyway, I gotta get to class, what’s wrong?” He lied to her as was usual when it came to Zack.

  “Nothing’s wrong. I wanted to make sure Zack didn’t leave you stranded. Like he did the last time.” Her tone left no doubt this was exactly what she had expected to happen.

  “That was three years ago mom. And he didn’t do it on purpose.”

  “You’re right. I guess it was the undercover cop’s fault. If he hadn’t arrested your brother for selling drugs, he wouldn’t have left you stranded.” She didn’t hide her anger or bitterness over Zack’s chosen lifestyle. “Of course he would have been high when he picked you up, but at least…”

  “All right mom.” He cut her off before she really got rolling. “The bell’s gonna ring. You don’t want me to be late do you?” He heard a car horn honk several times. Colin covered the speaker.

  “No I don’t.” Her tone softened. “And if you can stay out of trouble until I get back, I’ll consider letting you off restriction early.”

  “Awesome. Gotta go. Bye mom.” He quickly hung up. The horn blared again, longer in duration.

  ZACK & COLIN

  Colin went to the front door, peaked out the side window light. A black Porsche was backing out of the drive. He grabbed his bag, ran out after the car.