“There, now you kids quit knocking it over!” she scolded.
Duke barked as if to add his own two cents.
“That's right buddy. They are being naughty goats.”
Duke barked again.
Caitlin and Ryland came out of the lodge 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 done 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. Even an apocalypse wasn't enough to rid the world of preteen attitude.
“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’ll have when you’re finished,” she told them, smoothing back Caitlin's hair.
Ryland kicked at an invisible something on the ground, “Well, we better get started, Caity, or we’ll never finish.”
“How about this?” Megan 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 into playing as well.”
A huge grin spread across Caitlin’s face, “Yes! I want to play baseball, mom!”
Ryland played it off, but she could tell he was excited by the idea.
“Okay,” he said, “But this is a big list. I don't know if we can finish all of it.”
“Then we’ll have to wait until tomorrow or the next day. We can't play until the list is completed.”
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 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, but this was the new world they lived in.
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 baseball. “Who knew this thing would wield so much power.”
Megan laughed, “In the old days, we could threaten to take away the smartphones 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 never to 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’s 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 better than most of you and my eyes work just fine. I can also scream like a banshee if I need to. Just go back to what you were doing and I will relieve Albert.”
Jack hesitated and looked towards Rosie.
“She'll be fine, Jack. Get some water before you head back out,” his mother lectured.
“Okay, I’ll grab my coat and then head out there. Thanks, Megan.”
Megan quickly dressed, grabbed her rifle, threw some ammo in the coat pocket and 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, but bringing in more people would mean having to trust more people. Megan just wasn’t sure she was ready for that yet—she’d only just gotten used to trusting the lodge family.
“I know, Albert. Right now, everyone is busy trying to get the place fortified. Then we need to get food for the winter. There’s so much to do. We are all taxed.”
“Well, what good is it gonna do to have food if it’s just going to get taken when those guys come looking?”
Albert stomped off without giving her the chance to answer.
Megan climbed into the bird's nest and took a few minutes to appreciate the view. No wonder Albert willingly spent so much time up here. It was gorgeous and so peaceful. In the distance, a mountain peak stood sentry. There was already bit of white at the top. Locals would call it the snowcap. It heralded winter was coming. When the cap melted away, it was officially spring by mountain standards. Her gaze moved downwards. She could see the stream gurgling below. Lush vegetation grew along each side. It looked like the type of picture she would have paid money for in the past.
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 making it easy for him to maintain a lookout 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 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.
12
“I don't like it,” she said, trying to get comfortable on her perch of pine needles overlooking the meadow where they had scored the last deer.
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’ve been living in a bubble and it’s about to burst in a 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 those people. I mean, Bryan and Evan, sure. They seem decent enough. Amy, Sandra and Tara, I think they’re okay, but that is a handful compared to the twenty or so you are talking about bringing in.
”
“They bring in people all the time and they’ve been just fine.”
She spun around and glared at him.
“Yeah, that has worked out real well for them, hasn’t it?”
He rolled his eyes, “The newcomers aren't killing them. McDaniels is harassing them because they’re 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 run background checks on each one of them, you know?”
He laughed, “Oh, the good old 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 high. We can't expect to meet twenty strangers and they’ll 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 as a SEAL. Combat required him to trust his friends that were standing beside him with his life.
“What about food, beds, water and all that stuff?” Megan asked.
“If they’re here, they hunt and work. 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 on the doe standing in the meadow. Megan watched as the deer meandered into the meadow, stopping to nibble on grass and bushes. The deer froze and stood stock still, looking up into the trees surrounding the meadow. 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. But 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. I'm so much more than that!”
“Come on, Wyatt, you know you enjoy getting a little…dirty,” Megan teased.
“Only with you, baby.”
They both laughed as they made their way down the hill to take care of the doe as they talked about the fresh steak they hoped to eat 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 than once a month.
Deep down, Megan knew it was for the best, but it still made her nervous. It would start along a path that would force her to let more and more people into her circle of trust. 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, but a tad easier due to the doe being so much smaller. There was a lot of celebrating and everyone praised Megan for her killer hunting skills when they returned to the lodge.
She felt a great deal of pride at being such an intricate part of the group. She looked around for Wyatt and saw him and Albert in the corner, quietly talking. She had a feeling she knew what he was doing.
She casually walked to where the two men were huddled together.
“Can you get Greg on the radio?” Wyatt asked.
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.
“Eh, usually it’s 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 concerned. Megan suspected 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 asked, patting Albert on the shoulder and steering him towards the kitchen.
“Yeah, you're right. He can't sit by that stupid radio all day.”
They all pitched in to help cut the meat into steaks. They got busy cutting the rest into strips to dry near the fire.
Megan hoped with the addition of the doe, plus the other deer they’d already prepped, they would have enough food to get through winter. It would be tight, but they could do it.
If the other group came to the lodge, there was no way they could feed that many people for three months.
She wasn't going to hope for the best when it came to their food supply. If the other group was coming, she was going to do everything she could to pad their food stores. The risk of running out of food terrified her almost as much as McDaniels and his gang. She couldn't imagine not being able to feed her child.
13
Megan heard the shout before she saw Jack race through the trees that surrounded the outer perimeter of the lodge and towards her. Something was drastically wrong.
Her heart was pounding so hard she thought for sure it would bounce right out of her chest.
She didn't know whether to run towards him to offer help or run inside and lock the lodge down.
Caitlin!
“Caitlin! Ryland! Get inside! Get in the lodge now!” she screamed not willing to take any chances.
The kids didn't ask twice, dropping the game of ball they were playing and ran for the back door. Willow and Rosie heard her shout and popped their heads out of the mudroom door. Megan waved them back in. She needed them to keep the kids safe.
“What is it?” she asked Jack who was breathing hard.
“They're here!”
Megan felt like everything came to a stop. Her legs felt like lead. She couldn't move. She couldn't speak. She just stared.
This was what they had been expecting and preparing for, but they weren't ready. Not even close.
“Wyatt?” she managed to squeak out.
“Fine, he is talking with them now.”
Megan couldn't believe what she heard. What?
“Talking to them? What? Are you kidding me? What does he hope to accomplish? Why did you leave him, Jack?”
Jack's brow furrowed in frustration, “He told me to come back and let you know.”
“Me? Why me? What does he want me to do?”
Jack was getting irritated, “Go out and talk to them, Megan. Chase is with him. Brenda and Albert are each in a bird's nest, keeping watch, just in case.”
Megan considered shaking Jack, but didn't think it would help. The man was rattled and wasn’t making any sense at all.
“Jack,” she said slowly and with the voic
e she used when she talked to Caitlin when she was having a nightmare. “Jack, I need you to take a deep breath and start from the beginning.”
He glared, put his hands on his hips and looked her straight in the eye, “Get your butt out to the stream. Wyatt is there waiting with Evan's group. Brenda and Albert are each in a bird's nest keeping a lookout.”
When she looked at him with confusion, it was his turn to use slow and careful words.
“Go. Out. There. Now.”
“I'm not an idiot, Jack, but you said they. Who is ‘they’? I thought you meant McDaniels.” She groaned. “Never mind. I'm going.”
She started to walk away. Jack called her name. She stopped and turned back, “Be smart. Do what you think is right. I trust you.”
She smiled and nodded, “Thank you, Jack. I will. Take care of the kids.”
Megan sprinted out to the stream. When she saw Wyatt and Chase on the ground next to an older man, she gasped. Each of the people standing there, looking lost and forlorn, had blood on them. She couldn't tell if it was their own blood or blood from their family and friends.
She rushed through the stream, not caring that her feet got wet.
“What happened?” she asked, dropping next to Wyatt to offer assistance. She recognized the man whose leg had been sliced open. She couldn't remember his name.
Wyatt handed her a strip of cloth and she quickly tied it around the wound.
“Tighter,” he ordered, spurring Megan to do as he asked.
“We need to stop the bleeding,” he explained. “Make it good and tight so we can get him back to the lodge.”
Wyatt turned his head and yelled to the sky, “Brenda! We are gonna need you down here for this.”
Brenda responded that she was on her way.
They waited and watched a few seconds before Wyatt declared he was ready to move him.
“Hang tight for a second,” he told Chase before pulling Megan away from the crowd.
“What happened?” she asked again.
“McDaniels. He raided them and this time, he didn't go easy. He killed a lot of them. This is all they have left.” He looked away before adding, “They found the big cabin.”
EMP Lodge Series Box Set | Books 1-6 Page 47
