by Tara Ellis
Chloe rolled her eyes as she dramatically draped the scarf around her neck. “I considered it, but decided the brown robes would be too restrictive if we ever really got into a fight.”
Ethan put his own scarf on and nodded thoughtfully. “True, but not all Jedi’s wear robes.”
They continued their debate as they went back to where the container was sitting and began the process of filling it. Ethan was glad she was in such a good mood. After the night before, he didn’t know what to expect.
Once his dad was done with his “trust” lecture and Ethan convinced him he was jumping to the wrong conclusions about his alone time with Chloe, he’d gone back to the barn to help finish up with the hay. Chloe and Bishop were in the middle of a pretty heated conversation, so he’d made himself scarce. He knew they had things to work out and since he wasn’t really a part of it, thought it would be best not to bring it up unless Chloe offered first.
Ethan wasn’t sure if it was a normal response, but he didn’t really care one way or another about Bishop, James, and the whole political mess with the senator. The only thing that interested him was the seed vault. Since Bishop was basically the reason they knew about it, he was glad the guy was some secret-agent dude. It meant Sam would have his indoor gardens, and the rest of them would be eating next year. Oh…and Dillinger. He also hoped having the recon guys there meant they could trounce the jerk whenever he showed up.
“Earth to Ethan,” Chloe sang while moving her hand back and forth in front of his face. “We need to pump it again, space cadet.”
Offering her a crooked grin, Ethan jumped down from where they stood on the platform. A very basic handpump was rigged up, connected to flexible plastic tubing that trailed from the bottom of the filtration system. Grabbing the pump, he got the water flowing again and then studied the level in the large plastic tub. “It’s already close to half-filled,” he said, scrambling back up next to Chloe. Licking his lips, he made a dramatic smacking sound. “I’m ready for another round of steaks.”
Chloe smiled and then raised her eyebrows playfully at him. “How about a side trip first?” She gestured over her shoulder toward the entrance to the mine. “You still owe me a tour.”
Ethan hesitated, and glanced up at the clouds that had continued to grow in intensity over the past two days. “Maybe,” he muttered, not sure why he suddenly felt so uneasy. It was as if the atmosphere shifted like before with the last storm, causing a heaviness in the air and a prickling along his spine. He looked to make sure his rifle was in its scabbard on Tango and noticed Grace was still pacing, adding to his foreboding. Turning back, he found Chloe watching him expectantly and he tried to shrug it off. “I hope it doesn’t rain on the party.”
Chapter 21
DANNY
City Center, Mercy, Montana
“What I’m asking from each of you is a commitment to work together!”
The crowd around Danny cheered again. The response to Tom’s speech was incredibly positive and he had to yell to be heard beyond the courtyard and out onto Main Street, where the population of Mercy overflowed.
Danny was amazed by the turnout. She thought Patty had been going overboard when she saw all the tables lining the sidewalks of Main Street, but now she wasn’t sure if it was going to be enough. To see so many people thriving in spite of what had happened was truly inspiring.
“If you haven’t already been assigned something to work on, please see the people stationed along the side of the town square. There are signs posted identifying the various programs and projects.” Tom gestured to the tables and then raised both of his hands over his head. “Most importantly, because of the actions of the military I’ve already described to you, we need anyone willing to act as part of a town guard. Especially those of you with any military, police, or security experience.”
A murmur rose through the throng of people gathered and Danny could feel an element of fear thread its way into the excitement. She understood the apprehension, and figured it might not be a bad thing. Fear had a way of compelling people to act.
Danny spotted her dad moving through the crowd, his head several inches taller than most of the people around him. Waving a hand, she jumped up and down to get his attention, wincing at the pain it provoked. “Over here, Dad!” she shouted during a lull. She saw him pull up at the water station earlier, right before the speech started, and was glad he didn’t miss all of it.
Tom raised his hands again and the hum subsided as everyone strained to listen. “Mercy will be free!” Tom smiled as several people shouted in agreement. “Just as our forefathers guaranteed our independence from tyranny nearly two hundred and fifty years ago, we will remain united and free!”
Danny wasn’t sure if Tom had intended for that to be the end of his speech, but as people cheered and applauded, it was impossible for him to say anything further. She was glad Ethan had talked her into letting Grace go with him and Chloe to the spring; the retriever would have been overwhelmed by all of the people and noise. Thinking of the two, she looked around, wondering where they were.
“The kids back?” she hollered to her dad while leaning in close to him.
Tane nodded, putting an arm around her shoulders so they could talk. “They should be here soon. Let’s go find our seats while Tom finishes his rally.”
Danny grinned at her dad, glad to see him making jokes. She didn’t know how he could be so calm in light of everything that was going on, including being on the last dose of his heart medicine. Melissa was working on coming up with some natural supplements to help offset the symptoms that were bound to show up with a vengeance, though it did little to calm her nerves. It was imperative they come up with a way to find it, in addition to all the other meds that were needed.
Two guitar players took Tom’s place on stage and they began a rendition of a popular, patriotic country song. Danny moved to meet him at the foot of the platform, but Sheriff Waters ran up and cut her off, radio in hand.
“We have a sighting,” he announced, not bothering to try and keep it a secret. “A lookout positioned just beyond the south gate. Estimates a good two dozen armed soldiers on horseback.”
One of the guitar players must have overhead because he faltered in his strumming and stared down at them in alarm. “The soldiers are here already?” he shouted.
Tom sighed and rushed back out onto the stage. “Everyone, stay calm! Please, remain here and we’ll do our best to take care of this.”
Danny fell in behind Tom and his entourage as they pushed their way through the swarm of people. Once on Main Street, movement became easier, and a deputy waited for them with their horses a few blocks away.
Danny rested a hand on Lilly’s neck as she watched James and his men get organized. Apparently, they didn’t go anywhere without their gear close by because they were already looking like G.I. Joe action figures. When the soldiers opted to stay on foot and began walking down the road, Tom led Lilly by the reins so he and Danny could continue talking.
Once they neared the roadblock, he became increasingly antsy. “I’m not even going to try and tell you guys what to do,” Tom said to Danny as he glanced over her shoulder.
Turning, Danny saw that Sandy and Senator Jenson were catching up to them and she grinned back at Tom. “Good idea. I don’t think any of us would listen.”
“Will you at least stay back and let Bishop and James try to do the talking first?” he said, including his mom in the conversation as she pulled Senator Jenson along by the arm. He gestured to the politician. “We don’t want to show all of our cards up front.”
“I’m more than happy to let the guys flex their muscles at each other for a while,” the senator replied, and Danny raised her eyebrows at the woman.
“Senator, I’ve met Dillinger,” Danny cautioned. “This isn’t a guy who’s all show and no bite.”
“Unfortunately, Danny is right,” James added, slapping a magazine into place on his assault rifle. “A show of force up fron
t is the best way to approach him.”
Danny looked at the six soldiers and knew they would be outnumbered at least three to one. Hicks also had an AR, but Tom, Bishop, the Sheriff, and his two deputies only had pistols or rifles.
“Chief Martinez and Sam are working on rounding up some help,” Sheriff Waters said while climbing onto his horse. “But if what you’re saying is true, James, it would be best if we’re all waiting for them at the gate when they get there.”
“Give me your radio,” Danny said to Waters while holding out her hand. When the sheriff glanced at Tom before complying, she was unable to hide her annoyance. “You don’t need two radios with you! We’ll hang back out of sight, and if the corporal decides he wants to have a conversation with our senator here, you can let us know.”
Tom, clearly relieved to have his mom and Danny not pushing to be a part of the confrontation, took Waters radio when he offered it, and handed it to her. As her hand wrapped around it, instead of letting go, he pulled her towards him. Kissing her briefly, he then pressed his forehead against hers, sharing the same breath with her for a moment.
“Be careful,” she whispered. “And I’ve got your back,” she added, shaking the radio at him as he pulled away.
Sandy set a hand on her shoulder as the men continued down the road, both on foot and horseback. She appreciated the small gesture of support. Sandy was the type of woman Danny imagined her own mother would be, if not for the addiction that took over her life. Reaching up to grasp Sandy’s hand, she was going to say thank you but was stopped by a panicked voice on the radio.
“North gate to…anyone. We have a large group of soldiers approaching. We—”
“North gate, repeat your traffic!” Tom’s voice squawked.
Danny watched as the group stopped in the road, some distance from their goal. Tom was twisted around in his saddle and looking back in their direction. Had they been tricked somehow, and Dillinger was at the north end of town, instead of the south?
Then, the unmistakable sound of horses approaching began to rumble from nearby, growing louder by the second. Confused, Danny took several steps in Tom’s direction, and squinted at the guards standing near the gate a couple hundred feet away. First, there was a plume of dust and then the first row of horses came into view, all ridden by soldiers in combat gear.
“I’ve got a sergeant here who says he’s from the Malmstrom base.”
Danny stared at the radio in horror as the realization of what was happening became apparent.
The radio clicked again and the guard’s broken voice gave confirmation. “Says he’s here by order of a General Montgomery and we’re to surrender the town.”
Danny looked first at Sandy and then Senator Jenson, holding the radio out like it had turned into a snake in her hands. “We’re surrounded.”
Chapter 22
TOM
South Gate, Mercy, Montana
Tom’s initial reaction was humiliation at being so easily overrun. He wanted to be angry with Bishop and James for not anticipating the move and countering it before it had happened. However, as he watched Dillinger riding toward them, he accepted the fact that they were in an impossible situation.
James and his men had arrived less than twenty-four hours ago. They’d already increased the lookouts and guards in the town and were actively recruiting their own army. There was nothing else they could have done in such a short amount of time.
“Dillinger.” James spat the name like it was something vile and took a step forward so that he was in front of everyone.
Tom dismounted and withdrew his rifle from its scabbard before he and Bishop took a position to either side of James. Tom waited in apprehension as the corporal continued his approach. Raising the radio, he said the only thing he could think of to the guard at the north gate. “Tell the sergeant to standby. We’re meeting with Corporal Dillinger now.”
Bishop nodded at Tom in approval. “Tell him we’ll advise them of the corporal’s orders. That’ll buy us some more time.”
“More time for what?” Tom asked, but keyed the radio up before getting an answer. “I’ll advise you of the corporal’s orders.” He shrugged at Bishop as he clipped the radio back onto his jeans. It didn’t matter what the response was.
He glanced over his shoulder to reassure himself that Danny and his mom were out of direct view. Danny must have been watching him closely, because she raised a hand when he turned, confirming they were in the shadows on the porch of a small, abandoned real estate office. He felt some relief knowing that Ethan and Chloe were at least far removed from it at the spring.
They had left the buildings of Main Street behind and now were primarily surrounded by wilderness and very few structures. However, Tom was painfully aware of how close the water station and City Hall were. It wouldn’t take long for Dillinger’s troops to reach all of it if they were overpowered.
“Tom, do you copy? Tom!” Sam’s voice was barely audible as he yelled into the radio.
Tom snagged the radio without looking away from the road and the soldiers coming closer to the gate separating them. “What is it, Sam?”
“We’ve got some reinforcements for you. We’re on our way.”
Uncertain exactly what Sam meant by reinforcements, Tom tried to think clearly about the best way to use the extra help. “Split anyone you’ve got between us and the north gate. Out.” He could hear more chatter but ignored it. It was too late to do anything else.
“Whoa,” Dillinger called out as he pulled his horse to stop and held a hand up to direct his men to do the same. “What have we here?”
It was obvious to Tom that the corporal was surprised to be met with any kind of organized resistance, but he still had a smirk on his face. It was as if he found the whole thing amusing. Tom felt his cheeks burning and it was all he could do not to shove his way past James and pull the arrogant man off his horse.
“Master Sergeant James Campbell, 1st Force Reconnaissance,” James barked, sounding steady and dangerous. “State your business here, Corporal.”
Dillinger shifted in his saddle and studied the sergeant like he was an oddity. Even from a distance of more than twenty feet, Tom could see the mockery on the corporal’s face. “I didn’t think we’d be meeting again so soon, Sergeant. How about we drop the formalities and be frank with each other? You decided to take a little field trip.” Dillinger wrinkled his nose at the trees and visible landscape. “Can’t say it would have been my first choice.”
“The sergeant gave you an order!” Bishop snapped.
Tom was startled by the iron authority Bishop emanated and he stole a glance at the older man. He was standing rigid in what Tom assumed was “at attention” in military jargon, and his gaze was fixed on Dillinger. He left no doubt, even without a uniform, that he outranked everyone there.
Dillinger sat a little straighter and took a moment to put it together. Tom had to give him credit for taking it all in stride. “You must be the elusive Colonel Campbell.” He smiled broadly. “I can see the family resemblance now. Well, that’s going to make things so much easier. Good job finding your father, Sergeant. I assume the senator is somewhere nearby, too?”
“Let’s cut through the bullshit so everyone here is clear about some things,” Tom shouted. He was pretty sure he heard both James and Bishop grunt in disapproval as he marched past them, but this was his town and Tom wasn’t going to play games. He certainly wasn’t going to play Dillinger’s game.
“My name is Thomas Miller and I’m the mayor of Mercy. This man behind me is Sheriff Waters.” Ignoring Dillinger, Tom focused on each of the men fanned out behind him on horseback. He recognized a few of them from FEMA Shelter M3. That was good. “This is a community with a population of more than six hundred people and it’s my responsibility to speak on their behalf. I’m informing you that we do not need, nor do we require your assistance. Based on your violent takeovers of other towns and farms, you’re not welcome here.”
Dill
inger scoffed, but several of his soldiers turned to look at each other with uncertainty. Tom figured it was one thing to overreact in the heat of a fight and kill a random farmer or two, but to summarily gun down a mayor and sheriff protecting their town? These were men and women who also had families and Tom was praying they still had some integrity left.
Dillinger slowly nodded, tsking at Tom as he slid a leg over and dropped down from his horse. “I gotta hand it to you, Miller. You got some steel ones. Unfortunately, all it’s going to accomplish is getting you killed.” Any remnant of humor left the corporal’s face as he took a marked step toward Tom. “You want me to be blunt? Okay, here’s how this is going to go: you and your posse are going to lay down your weapons and allow these troops to carry out our orders. If you don’t comply, you will be shot. Your farm will be destroyed, and I will see to it personally that your family is killed in the middle of Main Street as an example to the rest of your precious town. Is that clear enough for you?”
Tom clenched his teeth against the surge of rage and adrenaline, his nostrils flaring. He heard James raise his rifle just before the rush of blood in his ears muted everything else out. Grunting in frustration, Tom lost his inner battle and lunged forward as Bishop and Waters both grabbed at his arms. Realizing he was playing right into Dillinger’s plan, Tom allowed his friends to drag him back as the corporal began to laugh.
