The Damaged Climate (Book 1): Tornado Warning

by J. R. Tate

  “Sounds like all of my men are out of commission. Better hope we don’t have to spot for a while. We’ll have to depend on the sheriff’s office, and some of those guys wouldn’t know a tornado if it came down on top of them.”

  The mention of a tornado coming down on top of someone made the hair on the back of Ryan’s neck stand up. It literally had happened to him, and he wouldn’t wish it on anyone.

  “Well, sir, I need to get back to work. As you can see, we’re pretty swamped with vehicles.” He cringed at his choice of words. “I’ll check on an engine for you and get you a quote on how much it’ll cost.”

  “Thanks, Gibson.”

  Turning back to his work, Ryan had a hard time focusing. It was a shame they lived in a part of the country where they depended so much on their own transportation. Half of the town was without a vehicle, and he was the only game in town to take care of them. At least Cecilia’s car was okay. If it wasn’t for that, he’d have no way to get to work. The town would have to revert to the old west days and travel by horse, and with the way things looked in his garage, it was a likely scenario.

  Mrs. McElroy stopped by around lunch, dropping off sandwiches, coffee, and cookies for the guys. Ryan tried to give her some money for it, but she declined, stating that they were working hard for the people of Harper Springs and it was on the house. It was a nice gesture, and it made him thankful for the small town hospitality that most in the area still showed.

  “You were right, Mrs. McElory,” Ryan said between bites. “A big one hit. You know what you’re talking about.”

  “We dodged a bullet here in town. It came close. Did your place get hit?”

  “No ma’am. We were lucky too. You think we’re up for anything else in the near future?”

  She looked down at the floor, not answering him immediately. Maybe he shouldn’t even have asked. “There’s always that chance, Ryan. The air still feels different, but then again, I’m just a crazy old lady who never escaped this town.” She laughed and patted him on the shoulder. “I’ll leave you boys to it.”

  “Thanks for the sandwiches, Mrs. McElroy. If you ever need a tire rotation or a check up, it’ll be on me.”

  “You’re a sweet man, Ryan. They don’t make them like you anymore.” She winked and went back to her bakery. Ryan finished his sandwich and drank two cups of coffee, hoping it’d provided the needed energy to get a few more cars done before it was quitting time.

  Cecilia called around five thirty and though he was ready to call it a day, Ryan wanted to finish up a few more things. He had let Justin and Marty head out, but he wanted to fix what he could on Chief Rayburn’s truck. It was more than a one-man job to pull the engine out, but he could at least do some body work on it. With minor push back from his wife, mentioning his dinner getting cold and his son wanting to shoot some hoops, he was able to get off of the phone and work until seven, when his body couldn’t take much more. He had freed all of the broken glass from the windshield and took some of the side panels off.

  Standing at the front of the garage, it was hard to believe he had worked almost twelve hours. By the looks of things, they hadn’t done a damn thing, and Ryan tried hard not to get discouraged. They were three men. They could only do so much, and his customers would hopefully understand that.

  Cecilia got to the garage about seven fifteen. She didn’t look amused and looked back at Ty. “I saved you some dinner, but it probably won’t be good leftover. Want to just stop and get a burger?”

  “I’m sorry, babe. You should go inside and see the mess I’m having to deal with.”

  “Don’t forget your own truck. When are you gonna have time to finish it?”

  Ryan shrugged. He was so tired that he couldn’t think a rational thought, much less think about a probable timeline for all of the shit on his to-do list. “A burger sounds fine.”He reached in the back seat and nudged Ty. “Hey little man, how was school today?”

  “Good. We had a tornado drill. We had to get in the hallway, kneel down, and put a book over our head.”

  “Yeah? That’s good!”

  “Does that mean we are going to have a tornado?” Ty’s eyes widened and he gripped the Batman action figure in his small fingers.

  Ryan glanced at Cecilia from the corner of his eye and back to his son. “It’s possible, kiddo. But probably not for a while, okay? Did you eat all your supper?”

  “I did!”

  “Then let’s get you an ice cream cone. Sound good?” Thank goodness for Ty’s short attention span. He didn’t want to lie to the child, but he also didn’t want to put scary ideas in his head.

  Cecilia slipped her hand into Ryan’s, her soft palm smooth against his oil stained skin. “I’m sorry if I’m coming off bitchy. You work hard and everyone in Harper Springs appreciates it. Just don’t overwork yourself. Do what you can do. That’ll have to be okay with everyone, or too damn bad.” She wrinkled her nose, but she couldn’t come off mean even if she wanted to.

  “I love you, Cecilia.” Lifting her hand, he kissed the back of it.

  “Love you too. Looks like a quiet night ahead of us. I know a good way we can pass the time if you’re up for it.” She wiggled her eyebrow, her flirtatious grin melting his heart.

  “You know I’m always up for that.”

  A quiet night was exactly what they needed.

  Chapter Five

  The next day went smoothly for Ryan. The sun was out and the temperatures were about like they should be for that time of year. Even the news stations didn’t mention much about any systems coming through, just an upper level low that was going to keep most precipitation away. Ryan was prepared to work another twelve hour day, and one of the biggest things on his to-do list was find Chief Rayburn an engine for his Dodge.

  Marty and Justin were there early with him, both of them already working on other vehicles. Ryan went in his office and did some research, finding the lowest priced engine in a town about fifty miles away. Due to his current vehicle situation, the company was willing to deliver it with a little more tacked onto the price. Ryan would eat the difference and not charge his chief with it, only agreeing to it for convenience and their recent circumstances.

  Mrs. McElroy was helpful in bringing them food, and this time, Ryan didn’t take no for an answer when he tried to pay for everything. The day flew by, and Cecilia was waiting outside before he knew it. He knew better than to tell her to come back. He had some things he needed to take care of at home, and it finally felt like they were making some progress. Several people were able to pick up their cars and they were able to dig into the waiting list. Some people had snide comments about having to wait, but Ryan ignored it. Being out of routine made most people snarky and they’d eventually get over it.

  Cecilia pecked him on the lips as he climbed into the passenger side. Ty held onto the same action figure he played with yesterday, and was busy making it fly around to pay attention to anything else.

  “How was your day, hon?”

  Ryan stretched his arms out and forced a smile. “Busy as hell. Yours?”

  “I’m about halfway through making dinner. Figured you deserved a nice, home cooked meal out on the patio. It’s too beautiful to waste it inside.”

  Ryan nodded. “I hadn’t really noticed. I was busy trying to find an engine for Chief Rayburn. Cheapest I could find was about twenty-five hundred dollars. And they’re tacking on a hundred bucks for a delivery fee since I can’t get there.”

  “Is his truck worth that much?”

  “Yeah, I guess. It’s what he wants. The truck is only a couple of years old.” Ryan stared off, fighting exhaustion. What he really wanted was an ice cold beer and sleep. His body ached, and the wound on his forehead didn’t appear to look much better than the night he had gotten it. He was glad Cecilia hadn’t mentioned it. It’s not like she forgot it – the damn thing was noticeable with the purple bruising around the cut.

  When they got home, Ryan went straight to the refrigerato
r and grabbed a beer. Though he was tired, he invited Ty out to shoot some hoops. The goal was lowered where the boy could actually make a few. It was fun watching him learn the proper form, and though he was only five, he was a natural.

  “Look, Daddy! I made it!” The ball swished through the net and Ryan passed it to him again. He struggled to catch it, but stuck with it and finally gained control.

  “Good job! That was a great shot!”

  Cecilia came out on the porch, her hands on her hips. “Hey Ryan, I gotta run back into town. I forgot to pick up something, and supper will be a bust without it. One stupid ingredient! I knew I was forgetting something.”

  “Okay. We’ll be good here. Pick up another twelve pack, would you? I’m down to about three in there.”

  Cecilia smirked. “I guess so! Love you. Be back soon.”

  Ryan turned his attention back to Ty, who shot the ball again, only this time, it was an air ball. The boy pouted and curled his bottom lip. “I didn’t make it!”

  “That’s okay, Ty. Even Michael Jordan missed sometimes.”

  “Michael Jordan?”

  “The greatest athlete to every play the game.”

  Ty dribbled the ball and passed it to Ryan. “I like Kobe Bryant. He’s the best, Daddy!”

  “Oh c’mon, don’t even get started with who is the best, Ty!” He ruffled his son’s hair, but the sudden shift in wind caught his attention. The springlike air changed and it was cold, much like the night he got caught in the storm. Ty passed him the ball again, but it hit his leg and bounced off of the concrete court.

  Walking to the edge of the yard, Ryan watched the sky over the mountains. It was the exact carbon copy of what he had witnessed, and his heart skipped a beat. This time, it was closer, with Harper Springs right in its path. Trees swirled and the clouds darkened. Small droplets of rain splattered like ice as it hit his skin.

  Realizing he and Ty were still outside, he scooped his child up and ran into the house, turning the scanner and TV up. What the hell did he do with his phone? Rushing around the house, he found it on the nightstand, not even remembering putting it there.

  “Daddy! What’s wrong? Is there a tornado coming like we talked about in school?”

  Ryan ignored him, attempting to get Cecilia on the phone. It rang several times and she didn’t pick up. Redialing her, this time, a computerized voice came on, stating all circuits were busy. Shit! She shouldn’t be out there!

  He picked up Ty and took him everywhere he went, refusing to let him out of his sight. He needed to get hold of Cecilia somehow, so he rummaged through his truck, finding his radio in the floorboard.

  Queuing the radio, he said, “This is Gibson. Anybody out there spotting?” The radio crackled and he thought he heard someone, but he couldn’t tell what they said. “Who is that? Come in? Is there anyone out there?”

  Trying one more time, he called her again, but it was the same story – all circuits were busy. Thunder echoed off of the distant mountains, rumbling for what felt like hours. He went to the edge of the road, looking down the highway toward town. He didn’t have much time. Maybe she was safely in a building with a basement, or maybe she realized what was happening and went to a neighbor’s cellar.

  Lightning flashed, knocking Ryan backward. It was close because the thunder was seconds later. Still clutching Ty, he shielded the boy as small pieces of hail fell from the rotating clouds. The cellar was close, and he forced his achy body up. He had to get Ty to safety – that was his main priority. With each step he ran, it was like the cellar was moving back, and the shards of hail were getting bigger, the lightning was closer, and the ice pelted him in the back, knocking the breath out of him. He hugged Ty close, shielding his son as best as he could.

  Ty was crying and his death grip on Ryan’s shirt was so tight that he could feel the fibers ripping. Finally, he pulled the cellar door open, and the wind caught it, almost yanking it out of his hand.

  “Get down inside, Ty! Hurry!”

  Ryan went down the first few steps but paused when the tornado caught his eye. It was even bigger than the one that destroyed his truck and almost took his life, and it was in an adjacent pasture, coming right for them. High line wires sparked, the electrical poles dancing as the weather phenomenon pulled at them like they were toys. The suction was strong, ripping corn stalks from the ground and swirling them overhead. This time they wouldn’t be so lucky with the storm targeting them, and though Ryan knew they were in immediate danger, he didn’t move, watching like it was on TV and he was perfectly safe in his living room.

  His neighbor’s house a quarter mile away was ripped apart. He hoped they weren’t home or were taking cover, but he couldn’t remember if they even had a cellar. This was bad. Ryan was frozen, watching the world around him being destroyed by a mile-wide tornado that was growing by the second, feeding off of the moist and dry air like a monster with an insatiable hunger.

  “Daddy!”

  Ty’s screams pulled Ryan from his trance. It took every bit of his energy to get the door shut and secure. The cellar was pitch dark, and he pulled on the light switch. Surprisingly, they still had electricity, but it flickered and it’d soon be out. He located the flashlights and lanterns, getting them ready for when they’d be left in the dark.

  “Where’s Mommy?” Ty began to cry, his eyes as wide as saucers.

  Ryan’s stomach lurched. She was out there somewhere, and he had to tell himself that she found cover. It came on so fast. Even the meteorologists made no mention of even a small chance of something like that happening.

  “Where’s Mommy?” Ty asked again, yanking on Ryan’s pants.

  “I don’t know, Ty. I don’t...” he lowered his voice. “I don’t know.” He had no other way to put it. What was he supposed to tell the kid?

  Despite the fact that they were underground, everything shook like an earthquake. Debris pelted the cellar door, and it slammed up and down, the latches on the verge of giving way. If that happened, they’d be in trouble. The wind would serve as a vacuum and pull them right out into everything.

  Backing Ty against the wall, Ryan stood between him and the door, keeping him as far away as possible, just in case the only thing separating them from the war zone above got destroyed. He knew better than to go up the stairs and try and hold it in place. The sheer force of the storm would be no match, and he had to stay close to Ty.

  “Daddy I’m scared!” The boy yelled, gripping Ryan’s leg.

  “It’s gonna be okay.” He said it to convince himself as well, though it wasn’t working.

  Everything was so loud that he couldn’t even hear himself talk. The shelves in the cellar rattled, and a few of the groceries they had bought fell to the floor. Weren’t tornadoes supposed to be quick and move on? What was going on outside? Maybe it just seemed longer than usual since they were in the brunt of it all.

  As predicted, the door slammed a few more times, the hinges creaked, and the wind ripped it off like it was a fragile piece of paper. Ryan grabbed Ty, holding onto him for dear life. Rain and hail hammered inside, but they were far enough back that it was only damaging the stairs. He tried to find something to hold on to. If he didn’t, the wind would pull them out. His body scooted toward the exit, his boots skidding across the dirt floor, but the walls of the cellar were helping, hindering the tornado from getting them out of the small hole where the door once was.

  Ryan had never felt anything like it. It was like he was weightless, and the helpless feeling was unnerving. Ty buried his face in Ryan’s chest and he pushed through the gale force winds, crouching in the far corner, using the cabinets as a shelter from the hail and rain that was making its way inside.

  “It’ll be over soon, Ty.” Comforting his son was impossible. He was terrified for Cecilia, wishing he could go back and stop her before she left for the grocery store. This was enough to scare anyone, and finally, the rain slowed and the hail stones got smaller until they finally stopped. Getting to a standing pos
ition, Ryan looked up through the exit. The sky was still dark and swirling, but everything went calm. That wasn’t necessarily a good thing, and he wasn’t ready to get out and observe the damage. It wasn’t over. The storm was still reeling, and he wished he could tell what the hell it was doing. It could easily backtrack like when he chased just a few nights before.

  Ryan hoped to God he was wrong about that.

  Turning to Ty, Ryan scooped him up and hugged him. The child was shaking, and he kissed the top of his head. How could he tell him to calm down when he couldn’t even gain control of his own nerves? Glancing up through the exit again, cloud to cloud lightning flashed and an instant rumble of thunder made Ryan scoot toward the back wall again.

  “Is it over, Daddy?”

  Ryan sat in the corner with Ty safely behind him. “I don’t think so.”

  “Make it stop!” Tears fell down Ty’s cheeks. “I want Mommy! Where’s Mommy?”

  “Everything is going to be okay.”

  Ryan had to keep telling himself that, not only to convince Ty but to convince himself as well. A carbon copy of what hey had just endured flew over them again. Without the cellar door protecting them, more hail was getting through, damaging whatever was in its path. Ryan tried to shield Ty and debris and hail hammered his back. Ty screamed over the loud rumble and when Ryan looked down at him, the boy’s face was bleeding.

  Unable to see where he was injured, Ryan held him, applying pressure to the wound. Ty was still conscious, but the blood was thick and streaming over his mouth. How in the world had he gotten hurt when Ryan had served as a shelter over him? Everything was happening so fast that he didn’t have time to take a second glance at it all.

  “Stay awake, Ty!” Ryan yelled as loud as he could, but he wasn’t sure that Ty heard him. Closing his eyes, Ty let out a deep breath. “Keep your eyes open!”