He laughs. “That’s the spirit!”
“C’mon, kids. She chides. I’ve made up your beds.”
“Beds? You mean you’re putting us to bed?”
“Aww! No, not bed!” Harry exclaims.
“What? You think because it’s the apocalypse you don’t get put to bed?” Finn interrupts.
“Well,” Harry returns with a flash of defiance, “Cassie’s not my mum so she can’t tell me when to get to bed!”
“We’re all family now, sonny,” Rick says, stepping toward the young boy with a smile. “Cassie’s doing her best to look after you because your mum’s not here,” he continues as he puts his hand gently, but firmly, on Harry’s shoulder. “I think your mum would want that, wouldn’t she?” he asks looking across to Celie. “What about you Celie? Do you think your mum would want Cassie to help you?”
She looks at Rick and then to Cassie and nods. “Yes,” she says with sadness.
“I’m sorry,” Rick returns taking in the downturn of her mouth and the tears that threaten to spill over her lashes. “I didn’t mean to upset you, but it’s really important to me, and Cassie, that we all work together to survive. If you guys are tired out, or won’t get up in the morning, how’re you going to help us?”
“I think my mum would like Cassie,” Celie says.
“My mum would too,” Harry adds.
“So would mine,” Lina says stepping up next to the injured woman. “Which one is my bed, Cassie?” she asks.
“Thanks, Lina,” Rick says.
“Me and Finn made up two rooms with blankets and mattresses—all fresh sheets from the linen cupboard—one for the girls and another for the boys.”
“Like a sleepover then!” Harry adds, his eyes brightening.
“Yeah, sure, if you like,” Kyle laughs. “I’m tired,” he says stretching, “which room is it, Cassie?”
“First floor, first room to the right.”
“Race ya!” Kyle blurts staring at Harry, waiting for him to recognise the challenge.
Harry doesn’t wait and sprints for the door leaving Kyle in his wake.
“You’ll have to be quicker than that to catch that one,” Rick laughs as Kyle pushes up from the kitchen chair and runs out of the room. As Kyle disappears into the hallway laughter can be heard from the stairway and Rick turns to Cassie smiling.
“Night, Cassie,” Celie says as Lina takes her hand and leads her out of the kitchen. She pulls back and runs over to Cassie, slipping her arms carefully around her waist. Rick watches as Cassie bends her head to the girl and kisses her hair.
“Night, Celie,” she smiles returning her hug. “I’ll be up to tuck you in soon.”
As he watches, a tear threatens to spill over Rick’s eyelash as emotion wells up inside. He turns away embarrassed and walks over to the sink, looks out into the dark of the yard, and surreptitiously wipes the tear away.
“Thanks, Rick,” Cassie says softly.
“That’s OK,” he returns. “They’ve got to learn to do as we tell them. It’ll help keep them alive,” he says firmly.
“Yes, you’re right, but … but it’s nice to be like a family for them too.”
“Yes … yes, it is,” he admits. “It’s kind of how I’ve started to think of them … we’re all they’ve got … and … well, they’re all we’ve got.”
“Exactly,” she says stepping up close to him.
He yearns to put his arms around her. Hell! Get a grip! He takes a step away and his hand trembles as he strides across the room before turning to look at her again, his belly clenching as he takes in the light frown of confusion that sits on her face. “Where’s the boy’s room?” he asks with a forced smile, his voice calm, hiding the turbulence within; his own confusion at the strength of his emotions, the urge to hold her, the need to protect them all, so strong.
“Upstairs, second on the left. Dan told me which rooms you’d found … bodies in, so I chose clean rooms.”
He sighs with relief as she smiles at him, the frown smoothed from her face and turns to leave the room. He looks back with a final smile. “Thanks, Cassie,” he says. “You did good today.”
“Thanks,” she returns with a bemused grin and turns to close the curtains above the sink.
Chapter Twenty-three
Riverside Lodge, Twenty-Four Days After Breakout
Cassie groans quietly as the light of morning filters through the curtains and warms her face. She moves, only half awake, to find a more comfortable position and bites her lip to stop the yelp waking the others as the pain in her shoulder bites at her. Damn woman! The spite in her eyes had been intense as they’d fought. Saskia, that was her name. Well, Saskia, if you ever cross my path again! She grits her teeth and sits up, careful to keep her shoulder in position, pushing the sheets away from her legs and swinging them to the floor. She reaches for her combats with her toe, drags them to her and spends the next minutes fumbling with them, trying to pull them up and button them with her good arm. “Damn, you,” she mutters as she fails again to secure the button.
“You OK, Cassie?” Finn asks from her mattress on the other side of the room.
Cassie turns to her. “I can’t do my button up!” she whispers in frustration. “I was going to sort out breakfast before the kids woke up,” she says gesturing to Celie who lays with her golden hair splayed out across the pillow—a perfect angel of peace as she sleeps. Cassie’s heart warms a little as she watches the child’s soft breath then turns back to Finn. “Do you think you could help me,” she asks, finally submitting.
“Sure,” the young woman says, pushing her covers back.
“Do you have a change of clothes?” Cassie asks as Finn emerges from the bed in her vest-top and knickers.
“Not here, but back at home I do.”
“I’ve got some clean underwear if you want some. I think we’re about the same size,” she offers. “I’ve never worn them,” she adds quickly before Finn has a chance to refuse. We stopped off to get ‘kitted out’, that’s what Rick called it, before we left the city, and I made sure I picked up plenty of spare knickers!”
“Then sure, that would be great,” Finn returns.
“I hope there’s water somewhere for me to have a wash! I just cannot stand to be dirty, especially down … well, you know what I mean.”
Finn laughs. “Yes, I do!”
“I tried the taps last night and there’s nothing—not a drop coming out.”
“Well, there’s the water bottles in the storeroom.”
“Yes, I saw them, but I really don’t want to use them for washing. Rick was telling us how important it is to save them for drinking—that bottled water is the only source of clean water now—unless we can find a spring.”
“How we meant to do that? Find a spring.”
“I have no idea, but Rick will—he seems to know a lot about surviving.”
“Was he a soldier or something?”
“Yes, I think so. I’m dying to ask him, but haven’t had the chance, but … and don’t tell Dan this … I’m so glad he found us. We wouldn’t have stood a chance without him.”
“You seem so feisty though, Cassie. I bet you would.”
“Well, when we first set off to leave the city I put on a dress and sandals! It was Rick who got me kitted out like this,” she says gesturing at the khaki combats and heavy walking boots.
“I think Rick’s amazing,” Finn adds. “He’s too old for me … but if he were a little younger,” she raises her eyebrows at Cassie.
Cassie laughs quietly. “Yes, I know what you mean and if I didn’t have Dan … No! Forget I said that,” she says with a giggle as Finn ties the final shoelace.
“Hah!” Finn returns. “Your secret crush is safe with me.”
“Finn!” Cassie exclaims in humorous exasperation. “I love my Dan. I’d never do anything like that to hurt him.”
“Don’t worry, Cassie,” Finn says with another laugh. “Your secret is safe with me,” and she holds her finger to her li
ps and winks at Cassie.
Cassie laughs, stands and walks to the door. “The fresh underwear is in my rucksack. Help yourself,” she finishes and steps out onto the landing.
“Rick!” she says taken aback as he steps past her to the stairs. “You startled me.”
“Sorry, Cassie,” he says with a grin and continues down the stairs, taking each step with a light foot.
Did he hear? If he heard! She takes the first step on the stairs and watches as he disappears into the kitchen then follows him down. She’d just have to brazen it. Just because she admired him didn’t mean she wanted him. She loved Dan and Dan loved her. End of story.
“Rick,” she says as she steps through the door and into the kitchen. The morning sun streams in through the window above the sink, casting a bright, crisp light across the room. Rick walks back out of the pantry, unscrewing the lid of a bottle of water. Is he laughing? She pushes away the thought. If he heard, then he heard. “Rick, I need to wash—we all need to freshen up. Where are we going to get water for that?”
He takes a swig from the bottle and water drips down the side of his mouth as he snorts with laughter and turns away from her gaze.
“You heard didn’t you!”
“Heard what?” he asks with a frown, wiping the water away from his t-shirt.
“Me and Finn. You heard us talking.”
“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh,” she says regretting her words. “Forget it. So, do you know?”
“What?”
“Where we can get water from—for washing?”
“Well, we can’t use the bottled water for that—it’s too precious now,” he replies looking out of the window to the yard. “Last night—when I went out there,” he continues nodding his head towards the yard, “I’m sure I saw a water butt. Perhaps there’s some in there.”
Cassie looks through the window with dread. “You mean out there with the dead bodies and the pack of savage dogs?”
“Yep,” he smiles back to her. “That’s exactly where I mean.”
He’s enjoying this!
“OK,” she says straightening up. “I’ll go get some!” she continues with firmness.
“Cassie!” he calls to her as she pulls at the door. “Shut the door. I’ll get some in a minute.”
“Oh. Well, I can get some myself you know,” she replies though she shuts the door.
“I know, but you should be resting,” he says with gentleness and pats the back of a kitchen chair. “Come and sit down. I’ll go get the water so …,” he smirks, “so you can wash your bits.”
“Hey!” she exclaims, shocked with his bluntness. “I never said I wanted to wash my bits!”
“OK,” he says smiling and turns to the cupboards. “Now, where’s a jug in here?”
Infuriated, but thankful for his help, Cassie checks the cupboards with Rick as they look for a suitable receptacle for the water.
“Got one!” she exclaims as she grabs a tall plastic jug from a wall cupboard. “This will do,” she says triumphant and passes it to him then watches as he leaves the kitchen and walks to the brick outhouse.
Barking erupts as he steps close and Cassie holds her breath as he stops then continues to the water butt at the corner of the building. The door of the outhouse judders as, she presumes, the dogs bound against them. Her chest tightens as she watches Rick lift the lid of the butt then scoop at the water with the jug. As he stops mid-scoop and looks around the yard, Cassie tightens her grip on the sink. Come on, Rick! Get back in here. She looks out across the yard and as far into the distance either side of the outhouse as she can, checking for movement, any sign of a dog returned. I should be at the door ready to scare them away! She moves quickly to the door grabbing the electric kettle that sits on the counter and stands in the doorway ready to defend Rick the first instant she gets a whiff of one of those crazed dogs. Heart beating, she stands and waits as he turns to walk back to the kitchen. She checks again across the yard and into the surrounding gardens. A dog howls in the distance and panic rises. As he takes another step towards the kitchen he smiles up at her, but frowns. She gestures for him to hurry whilst clutching the handle of the kettle harder.
“What’s up?” he asks as he steps level with the shrouds.
“Just come on back in!” Cassie says exasperated as he stands talking to her.
He looks at her bemused and takes another step forward.
“I didn’t get water for that,” he says pointing to the kettle.
“No, it’s for the dogs.”
“The dogs?”
“Yes, I was going to throw it at them—if they attacked you.”
“Oh,” he replies. “Death by kettle!” he laughs.
Is he mocking me again? “I just thought I should be there—to help—if they came. I grabbed the first thing I could.”
“Well, a kettle would certainly do the trick.”
“Hah! I’ll throw it at you if you keep on!” she replies with a laugh as he steps up into the kitchen and pushes past her. She steps back but not before his arm has brushed up against her breast.
“Sorry!” he says, his eyes wide. “Your boo … I didn’t mean to touch your … sorry!”
“It’s OK,” she returns although a flush is tingling on her cheeks. “I should have stepped back quicker.”
“Here’s your water,” he says without looking at her. “There’s more in the rain butt and it seems fresh, so use what you need.”
“Thanks,” she says quietly as she takes the handle of the jug. “I’ll use it upstairs. There’s soap in the en-suite and I can share this with the girls.”
“Sure,” he returns as Kyle steps into the kitchen.
“What’ve we got to eat then?” he asks as he rubs at his eyes, blinking to focus. “I’m as hungry as that pack of dogs out there!”
“Glad you can laugh about it, Kyle,” Finn returns as she enters the room. “They terrified me!”
“At least they didn’t try to eat you!” he returns as he pulls up a chair to sit down and lays his arm on the table. The bite marks look red and angry and Cassie draws in her breath. “That needs washing and some more antiseptic on it. They look deep,” she says with concern.
“Yeah,” Kyle agrees as he scrutinises the puncture wounds. “Bloody thing sunk its teeth in and wouldn’t let go!”
“Morning!” Lina says brightly as she walks into the kitchen. “Ooh, Kyle. That looks sore!” she exclaims as she notices his arm stretched out across the table. She walks up to him and strokes her finger alongside the bit marks. “After breakfast, I’ll clean that for you,” she says. “We should make a poultice,” she offers. “That’s what my mum always did with wounds.”
“We have the antiseptic spray, Lina. Will that work the same?” Cassie asks smiling.
“We’ve got our own little nurse,” Finn smiles as she reaches for one of the bottles that Rick has placed in the middle of the table. “Is this breakfast then?” she asks holding up the bottle and unscrewing the lid.
“Don’t worry,” Cassie replies. “We’ve got some food.”
“It’s not too much further to the farm,” Rick adds. “When we get there I’m sure there’ll be plenty to eat—fresh eggs, milk, meat.”
Cassie’s stomach growls and her mouth waters at the thought. “Scrambled eggs for me!” she says, “and bacon if they’ve got it.”
“Hah!” Rick returns. “With a good strong coffee.”
“For now, we’ll have to make do with biscuits!” Cassie replies. “But I can make us some coffee.”
Rick brightens. “Really? How will you boil the water?”
“Oh,” she says looking about confused. She had forgotten about the electricity, or lack of it. “It’ll have to be cold!”
“Oh,” Rick returns deflated. “Well, I’ll give it a go, but cold coffee and biscuits for breakfast!”
“There’s cereal in the pantry too—just no milk.”
“Hmm! Yum. Col
d, coffee, biscuits and dry cereals,” he says raising his eyebrows and rolling his eyes.
The others laugh.
“Sounds good to me,” Finn joins in.
“Cassie, sit down,” Lina says. “The bag of stuff from the supermarket’s in the car. I’ll go fetch it.”
As Lina moves away from the table, Kyle mumbles and shifts in his chair.
“You OK, Kyle?” Rick asks as he pulls up a chair.
“Yeah,” he says, but his eyes are fixed to the table and he picks at the wood.
“What’s wrong?” Cassie asks, worried at the sudden change of atmosphere in the room.
“Well … it’s just …,”
“Spit it out, boy!”
“Yeah, I will. It’s just, me and Finn were talking last night … and …” he looks up at the door as though checking for something, “and … Dan …”
Cassie’s heart sinks and she catches her breath as she waits for Kyle to continue.
“He looks kind of familiar.”
Cassie’s hands tremble as Rick catches her eyes and he mirrors her glance of understanding.
“Familiar? How?” Rick probes, taking control of the conversation.
“Well … Oh, I don’t know how to say this!” Kyle says with obvious discomfort.
“We think we’ve seen him on the telly,” blurts Finn. “We saw him on the news before it stopped showing …” she turns to Cassie. “Is he the one?”
“The one?” Cassie asks feigning ignorance though she knows what is coming and she feels her heart breaking.
“Yes,” Kyle continues. “The one who made the virus,” he finishes looking into Cassie’s eyes.
“He and his father own Morgan Industries. One of their employees developed the virus.”
The room is silent.
Cassie falters but continues.
“It wasn’t Dan’s fault!” she says weakly.
“He’s Dan Morgan, isn’t he,” Finn says flatly. “They said he’d been in negotiations with the North Koreans about a biological weapon—the virus!”
“No! I don’t believe that,” Cassie returns, her cheeks burning now. “My Dan would never do that. What they said on the news it was wrong. He told me so!”
“Cassie, it’s OK,” Rick soothes. “Listen,” he says turning to the others. “Yes, Dan’s company did develop the virus an-.”
The Savage Road: A post-apocalyptic survival series (A World Torn Down Book 2) Page 11
