Megan fought back the tears that threatened to fall. They had been working so hard and now it could all be for nothing. They could lose everything. Sometimes, she wished things would go right. She was tired of the challenges.
“What if the dam bursts or the lake floods with the added strain of all this rain?” she asked, suddenly realizing the rain wasn't only threatening to destroy the cob wall. There was a strong possibility the lake would flood or the water would spill over the dam, causing the river to flood.
Wyatt looked concerned, but tried to play it off.
“I think it would take a lot more rain. Like days of heavy rain to cause any real problems. I mean, I know it sounds and looks like a lot of water falling from the sky, but it’s probably only an inch or two. I don't think it’s a problem, yet,” he explained.
“I hope so. I don't think I can handle much more. This is getting ridiculous. Isn’t it time we got a break?”
Wyatt looked away, avoiding her eyes.
“What?” she asked. “I feel like you aren't telling me something.”
When he met her eyes again, the flash of guilt she thought she’d seen earlier was gone.
“I was thinking this could be our break. Since we are here, we may as well get caught up on some of the other stuff we have been slacking on. I need to move the empty rain barrels out of the store room and set them up.”
“Did you fix the gutters?” she asked.
“Yep, we have all four corners of the lodge ready to go. We'll move the empty barrels under the gutters. This way we catch every drop possible.”
“I can help you,” she said sitting down to pull on a clean pair of socks.
“No, I got it. Garrett is going to help and then we need to do some patches in the long house. This rain will help us find the leaks in a hurry,” he said, rushing out of the room.
“Okay, then,” she said to herself.
She wasn't going to be going outside, so she grabbed her tennis shoes. Her feet hurt. The boots were not in the best shape. Neither were her tennis shoes. They needed to find some shoes. For now, they would have to fix what they had.
“Hey Rosie,” she said heading into the kitchen.
Rosie, Willow and Tara were busy making bannock bread. Megan spotted the sugar and knew they were making it sweet. That was always a treat and made the bread a nice addition to the meal.
The bannock bread was something they had grown accustomed to eating at least once a week. The basic ingredients, flour, baking powder, salt and lard were plentiful at the lodge. The added sugar was always a bonus.
The Dutch oven was out, but Megan knew with the downpour, there was no way they could have an open fire. They would have to fry the bread in small rounds on the woodstove. She personally liked it better fried.
“We are going to be making another one of your favorites,” Tara said with heavy sarcasm.
“More pemmican?” Megan asked, trying to keep the look of disgust off her face.
Rosie laughed, “Nope, your other favorite, hardtack.”
“Why?” Megan said without thinking.
She hated the stuff. Everyone did. It was bland, hard and to her, a waste of ingredients.
“According to Wyatt, you guys are going to be doing some long-distance runs into towns. You need something to eat in case you can't find any food along the way,” she explained.
“Flour and water make paste, not food,” Megan argued.
“Don't forget the salt,” Tara joked.
Megan rolled her eyes.
“I'll make sure to pack along some honey. Spread a little on the top of the crackers and it will make it taste better,” Willow said with a smile.
They joked because they didn't have to eat it. Megan knew it was her choice to go on the hunting and scavenging trips and the other women were doing their part by making food they could pack along. It wasn't like they could stop at a convenience store and grab something to eat.
“Well, thank you, I guess,” she mumbled.
“You're so welcome,” Tara grinned.
“I need to fix my boots. If anyone else needs theirs fixed, let me know. I'll be upstairs working on the pile already up there. I am hoping there is a shoe store in our future,” she said carrying the boots upstairs.
“I think Evan put a pair up there he had planned to fix,” Tara said.
“Okay, I'll take care of it.”
They had a small basket of sewing items as well as what they referred to as the shoe hospital. They had been repairing shoes and boots all winter. Eventually, the footwear was going to fall apart, but for now, they had to do what they could to make them last.
Wyatt had duct taped one of his boots when the sole started flopping. He said it was like waterproofing, but a lot faster and easier. She had laughed at his one taped boot, but when he took it off at the end of the day and his sock was dry, she had been made a believer.
Megan picked up the tube of silicone caulking. There had been a case left behind in the shed and it had come in handy for shoe repair. Wyatt had the foresight to save it for situations like this. While it would have made the long house sealing quick and easy, Jack had shut down the idea. He reasoned if the settlers could do it and survive, they could too. The caulking was like gold.
She squirted a small bead on the sole of her boot and pushed it together. She grabbed the duct tape and tore off a strip, carefully putting it on the inside of the boot, against the side where the shoe itself was tearing away from the sole. She squeezed another bead of silicone over the hole before using a plastic spoon to smooth it out.
“Again, mom?” Caitlin asked.
“Yep, these old boots have seen better days.”
“I can help,” she said, grabbing the other boot.
Shoe repair had become the norm. The kids had duct tape over holes made in the toes of their shoes by their growing feet.
“Can you start working on Evan's boots?”
Caitlin picked up one boot and inspected it, identifying the areas that needed repair. It was always the same. The sole was always flapping at the heel and the area around the toes was always full of small holes.
Megan squeezed the silicone on while Caitlin gently smoothed it with the spoon.
As they worked, more boots and shoes were delivered to their shoe repair clinic. Megan didn't mind doing the repairs, but wanted to get back outside.
“I think we're good,” she declared when they had sealed their last shoe. “Thank you for helping out.”
“No problem. I was bored,” Caitlin said.
Megan peered out the window.
“Well, good news, it looks like the rain has stopped and we can get back to work on the dike!”
Caitlin groaned. “I don't like doing that. It’s boring and hard work.”
Megan smiled. “It’s good for you to work hard. Burns off all that energy you have. You could help me out there or I'm sure Willow can find some extra times tables for you to practice.”
“I'll help you!” she said quickly.
Megan laughed, “I thought that may change your mind. Get dressed, get your boots on and let’s rally the troops to get up there before it gets dark.”
They only had an hour or two left in the day to work on the dike. She had a feeling everyone would prefer to take the remainder of the day off but there was no time to waste.
21
Megan woke early the following morning. After the rain stopped yesterday, they’d only managed to work about another hour before it was too dark to see and she now felt tremendous pressure to get the dike built. Thankfully, the tarps kept most the rain off their newly formed bricks and as long as the sun came out, she was hopeful they hadn’t lost much work.
“I doubt anyone is up yet. How about we go up to the dam and see how it is holding up after the rain yesterday?” Wyatt offered.
“That would be great. I have this sense of urgency that I can’t seem to calm down, even with all the hard labor. It’s making me way too antsy and definitely s
tressed.”
They quickly dressed and headed up the mountain. Megan took a moment to enjoy the beauty surrounding her, even if there was ugliness looming up ahead. Spring in the mountains was spectacular. The lush greens and the tiny blooming wildflowers that glistened under the brush from the morning dew always reminded her of a brand new day. A fresh start, full of promise.
The sun shining through the trees was encouraging that the rain was gone; at least for a little while. It was going to be a beautiful spring day and she got to work outside in it all day.
“Feeling better?” Wyatt asked, grabbing her hand.
“I am. Thank you. This was what I needed.”
They walked past the dike. Her attention instantly focused on the unfinished project. She was proud of the progress and the fact the cob bricks had held up and looked strong. She started to walk towards the construction site, but Wyatt stopped her.
“Not yet. Let's enjoy the moment the rest will still be there in an hour,” he told her, gently pulling her up and away from her work.
She sighed and allowed him to keep her on the path up to the dam.
The sound of rushing water made her nervous. It was much louder than it had been.
They crested the hill and the dam stretched out before them. If it had been any other normal day, the view would have been gorgeous. Unfortunately, all she could see now was danger.
Wyatt walked closer, his gaze focused on the patch.
“Is it holding?” she asked.
He grimaced. “I guess. Probably about as good as can be expected. It looks a little muddy. I don't know if it’s because of the rain yesterday or the water seeping through the crack and soaking it.”
Neither option was ideal.
“Are we going to have someone stand guard again today?” she asked.
He nodded. “We probably better. Assuming I didn’t hit an organ or cause major damage when I shot him, he’ll want to finish the job sooner rather than later so he can get off this mountain. Personally, I’d rather make that as difficult as possible for him. Plus, I don't like the guy and really want to mess up his plans.”
She laughed. “That's what motivates you? You don’t like him? Not the fact he is threatening everything and everyone we know and love?”
“Well, that too, but mostly because he shot at me.” He winked, indicating he was joking.
“What about the patch?” she asked redirecting him back to why they were there. “I don't know if it’s really doing any good. It takes three of us to patch it, which is a waste of manpower. I think our best bet is to keep that man from blowing the dam and finish that dike.”
He stood on the walkway, extending his hand to her.
“Is it safe?” she asked, not sure the dam was in the best shape to be standing on.
“For now. Come and enjoy the view.”
She climbed the short distance and stepped onto the walkway. It made her very nervous. She already knew the integrity of the dam was compromised. Standing on a crumbling cement wall above a lake and rushing water on the other side didn't seem like the smartest idea. The amount of water behind the dam was intimidating, with hundreds of thousands of gallons in the lake held back by a cement barrier. It was so much water. She remembered the damage the floods had caused in Louisiana and she didn’t want to think about the devastation that would result when this dam cracked open releasing a deadly force from its confinement.
They walked to the middle of the dam's walkway. Wyatt stood, staring at the river flowing down the hill.
“It's flooding a little, but it doesn't look all that bad,” Megan said following the river with her eyes.
She had expected to see the river flowing out in every direction. It looked normal. There were some waves and whitecaps, but it didn't look like the death and destruction she had imagined.
“Quit focusing on the water. Look at the landscape. If only we had a camera or if one of us could paint, this is an image I want to capture and remember forever,” he said in a hushed tone.
She looked at him and smiled. He was a truly unique man. He could appreciate something as simple as the natural beauty of a mountain vista while the weight of the world was on his shoulders. He would walk through fire to protect them all, but he had a soft side. That was a side he kept reserved for her, making her feel special. These moments with him like this were to be treasured.
He handed her the binoculars he had been wearing around his neck. She didn't think she needed them; the view took her breath away. The bright blue of the sky was a stark contrast for the tall evergreens that seemed to be reaching for the clouds.
He looked at her, smiled and brought their joined hands to his mouth, kissing the top of her hand.
“I hope the dam doesn't destroy this,” she said. “I want to come up here and take in this view every chance I get. It’s things like this that make me appreciate this life more than the one I had before; especially knowing that I’m sharing it with you.”
He released her hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his side. She felt completely relaxed and at ease. The construction of the dike and the impending doom were pushed out of her mind for the moment while his physical and emotional strength gave her the comfort she needed.
They didn't talk for several long minutes. Instead, they listened to the water rushing below. She closed her eyes for a moment before putting the binoculars up close. She scanned the area, imagining all the life below. Little animals were going about their business without a care in the world.
Something shiny and out of place caught her eye. She leaned forward, squinted and then opened her eyes wide before squinting again. She focused the binoculars on the area and froze.
“Wyatt!”
She looked through the binoculars again, letting her eyes focus and soak in everything she was seeing. It had been difficult to see through the trees, but now that she had a solid focal point, she could determine what it was she was looking at.
“Hmm,” he said, still lost in the moment.
“What is that?” she tried to hide the anger in her voice.
He played dumb, but she felt him tense up the moment she asked the question. He knew.
“What? What am I looking at?” he said, clearly trying to play dumb.
She used her finger to point in the direction of a chain link fence. She could tell it was the kind of security fence that was built with an angle facing out with a string of barbed wire around the top. She had seen enough power stations in her day to recognize one now. The tall gray transformers and the various wires connecting to power lines were telltale signs.
“The power station, Wyatt. Isn't that where you said there was an abandoned warehouse?”
Wyatt didn't answer her.
He had lied.
“Wyatt. Is. That. A power station?” she demanded.
He hesitated, looked away and released a deep sigh.
“Yes.”
“Why didn't you tell me it was there?” she shrieked.
“I didn't want you to worry about it. You had enough on your plate. It isn't like you can move the thing or as if it’s doing anyone any good right now.”
She opened her mouth to argue, but he held up a hand, cutting her off.
“The dike is our focus. Nothing else matters. It is the best and only way to save the lodge,” he explained.
“Wyatt,” she started again with exasperation in her voice.
“I know exactly what you’re thinking but we can’t save the power station.”
“You know the dike is going to force all that water directly into the power station. What if someone is down there trying to fix things? What if they are close to restoring power to this region?”
“Dike or not, the water will hit the power station. Saving the lodge is our priority. Not some ‘what if’,” he reasoned.
She narrowed her gaze at him.
He wouldn't look at her. He had already figured out the additional water being funneled directly at
the power station would devastate the area. He chose not to tell her so she would keep building the dike.
“Wyatt. This changes things. We can't do that. We can't flood the power station and destroy all that equipment. It may not be possible to replace it for years.”
He looked at her. “Megan, it can be fixed. The lodge can't. Our lives would be seriously jeopardized if we had to leave. What about Willow and the kids? We have to consider everyone we love. A power station can be rebuilt.”
“When? When can it be rebuilt?”
He shrugged. “I don't know. It may never be restored. We don't know what the plans are. We can assume our government, if they are even intact still, are working on a plan, but this region isn't exactly a booming metropolis. They aren't going to put in a lot of time, effort and manpower to restore power in our neck of the woods when the cities will take priority.”
“You don't know that. Wyatt this changes everything,” she repeated.
“It’s already damaged. It will be damaged whether we build the dike or not. It’s a lose-lose situation. After everything we’ve been through, we have to think of ourselves first, even if it sounds incredibly selfish. We can’t hedge our bets on a power station that appears to be abandoned,” he pleaded.
Megan suddenly felt ill. All the work they had been doing building the dike was only going to prolong the blackout. She couldn't believe she was being forced into an impossible situation. She was still trying to cope with choosing to let Jack die while she saved the larger group.
Fate was against her. That had to be it. She had done some awful deed at some point in her life and now she was paying for it all. Megan had never been one to believe in such things, but she did now. It was the only way to explain away the events that had unfolded over the past several months.
She wanted to be alone. She needed to think about the consequences of putting the lodge first. She had said she didn't mind living the way they were, but that was only her opinion. Other people weren't doing as well.
Even people at the lodge, like Garrett, would probably appreciate life going back to the way it was before the EMP. This was not her decision to make. It wasn't only her future she was toying with. Wyatt may choose to keep this small group safe and sacrifice the other people that were in the region, but she couldn't make that decision quite so easily.
EMP Lodge Series Box Set | Books 1-6 Page 73
