Darkness United Read online

  “How long has this been going on?” she asked. Roger scratched his chin where Anna noted the first start of peach fuzz. If she had to guess, he was not much over eighteen.

  “I’m not sure,” he said and glanced at his grandmother.

  “It’s hard to keep track of time now.” Anna had to agree.

  With no smartphones to tell them the time and date whenever they wanted, everyone was learning to adapt. At the Saturday Farmers Market, wind up watches were a hot commodity.

  “An estimate is fine,” Anna said, and after another couple coughs, Edith spoke up.

  “I'd say less than a week. We arrived in Astoria two days ago,” she said. “I had it for a few days before that I'm pretty sure.” Anna nodded as she wrote the information down. The common cold usually ran its course in seven to ten days, so hopefully Edith would start feeling much better soon.

  Walking over to the cupboard, Anna took out some Vitamin C packets to hand to Edith.

  “Mix these with clean water and drink them for the next few days,” she prescribed. “They will help with a faster recovery. Other than that, try to get some rest. Your body will take care of itself if you give it a chance.” Roger and Edith both looked reassured.

  “Thank you,” Roger said. Anna rubbed the young man’s shoulder.

  “You’re welcome,” she said and watched as Roger helped Edith to the door. She followed them out into the hall.

  “Remember, get some rest. And if you start to feel worse or especially if you develop a fever, come back to see me.”

  After watching them walk away, Anna looked to see who

  was next in line and called them in with a smile. She did not give the young man and his grandmother another thought.

  STANDING TO CHAT WITH one of the families in the new community, Lexi rustled the hair on the boy’s head. He beamed back at her. These are good people, she thought.

  Just not as lucky as we were in the beginning. They were as much a part of Astoria as anyone as far as Lexi was concerned. “So where did you come in from?” Lexi asked and the boy’s mother grew solemn.

  “Troutdale,” she answered. “It’s nothing like here. People are starving. Fighting.” Lexi raised her eyebrows. The city of Troutdale was also near the Columbia River and therefore should have fishing options. There was no reason the city should go hungry.

  “I’m sad to hear that,” Lexi said. “And that is quite a distance for you to travel.” The man and woman looked at each other before glancing at the boy. Lexi got the hint.

  Somethings they did not want to say in front of the child.

  Which only means the situation is horrible, she thought.

  “Crossing Portland?” Lexi asked quietly and both of the newcomers nodded. She had wondered what was happening there. When she escaped from Seattle months ago with Anna and their friends, that city was already coming apart at the seams. It was true Portland was much smaller in size, but still enough of a metropolis to make finding food and other resources difficult.

  “Gangs,” the man mouthed and Lexi gave him a nod. She could imagine the rest.

  “Nothing like that here,” Lexi said remembering not long ago, because of Jeff Eider and the gang he tried to form, the city was at risk for falling under just such a situation.

  Thankfully, things turned out for the best. She watched the couple visibly relax.

  “We appreciate you coming to say hello to us,” the boy’s mother said. “We were not sure how welcome we would be.”

  Lexi smiled. “Well, you are,” she said reassuringly. “And I promise, we will all work together to figure out where to go from here.”

  The woman grabbed Lexi's arm. “Thank you,” she said, and Lexi saw tears in the mother's eyes. She patted the woman's hand.

  “You’re welcome,” she said and moved away to talk to the next family. Again, she was convinced these new arrivals were good people. They wanted to help, to work. All that remained was working out the logistics. Foremost was getting them clean water and better sanitation. She estimated, just based on a count of tents and rudimentary shelters made from rope and tarps, there were up to a hundred people camping already. If people continued to migrate in, which she had no doubt they would, then the population would only grow every day. Time to talk to the team, she thought— Anna, Taylor, and Jackie especially.

  As she walked on, a movement to the left caught her eye. Glancing over, Lexi saw a man standing at the end of a row of tents. Not just any man, but a giant of one. Lexi felt her heart jump up a notch. One of the men who attacked Anna, Jackie, and Laura was described as big like this stranger. He was also the only one unaccounted for from the attack. Could this really be the guy? she wondered moving in his direction. Balling her fists, she felt more and more certain it was, and fury rose in her. Clearly understanding Lexi's intention, the giant smirked before backing away. In a flash, he disappeared among the tents and makeshift shelters. Lexi tried to catch up to him, but he slipped away.

  CHAPTER 8

  am was very selective about what she picked out of the Spantry. Although Lexi, Anna, and the others were all willing to let her take whatever she needed for the scouting trip, she was well aware of how valuable dried goods were to the household. Even with a considerable bounty of potatoes and other vegetables, not to mention fish and venison, the variety the few remaining canned goods provided made meals much more interesting. Alice appeared in the doorway. She held a few candles in her hand. “I just made these a couple days ago. They are good and cured so should travel fine if you wrap them in something soft,” she said.

  Sam smiled. “You don't have to do that,” she said. “I know you need those for trading at the Saturday Farmers Market.”

  Alice waved them at Sam. “What you are doing will no doubt bring back much more valuable things than these,”

  she said.

  Sam set the items she picked out on the table and surveyed the small pile. Lester could carry a lot more weight, but again, she worried about taking too much from the food shared by everyone. “I will scavenge some,” she said to Alice beside her. “There will be ripe fruit if I come across an orchard. Plus, I am taking my fishing pole.”

  Alice nodded, but still turned to the pantry and grabbed another half dozen cans of food. She set them on the table.

  “Then bring back what you don't use,” she insisted putting her hand on Sam's arm. “And you damn well better come back.”

  Sam covered Alice's hand with her own and gave it a squeeze.

  “I will,” she said. “It's only for a month at the most. I plan to stay on the fringes of anything I come across that looks dangerous.”

  Alice looked only half convinced. “I wish Laura was going with you,” she said. “She has a good sense about her, and I know you'd be much more careful.” Sam tilted her head.

  The idea of taking Laura along had not crossed her mind.

  Could I? she thought but knew without a second horse, it was impossible. Lester was strong and they could ride tandem, but not for days on end. The exertion would be too much for him. No, it won’t work. Unless I could find someone to trade me a horse, something gentle Laura could ride.

  Unfortunately, extra horses were rare in Astoria, and any were being used regularly for work or transportation.

  Disappointed at the hopeless dilemma, she tried to hide it with a grin at Alice.

  “And I don't have good sense?” she asked, and Alice smiled.

  “You're like my Charlie,” she answered. “Smart and handsome. Playful and loving to the core.”

  “But?” Sam asked.

  Alice shook her head. “But a little too hasty. You need a good woman to keep you grounded,” she said. “Like Laura.”

  Sam chuckled. “Like you were for Charlie I'm guessing,”

  she said.

  Alice wagged a finger at Sam. “Don't you know it,” she laughed.

  Sam laughed with her. Other than Laura, I’m going to miss Alice the most, she thought and then had an idea.r />
  “What do you want me to bring back for you?” Sam asked. “Something I can find or maybe trade for?”

  Alice waved her off. “The last thing I want is for you to be worrying about me,” she said. “Now where's your backpack

  so we can put this stuff away? I need to start peeling potatoes for mashing.”

  Sam did what she asked but was not giving up on finding something for Alice. If anyone deserved a special treat, it was her. “I'm serious, Alice. There must be an item you want or need,” Sam said as she walked across the kitchen toward the sunroom where she left her backpack. Alice tapped her lip with her index finger giving the question serious thought.

  “Actually, I do have one thing,” she said, and Sam paused in the doorway to wait for the answer. “Spices. I will happily take any kind of spices. Lexi was no gourmet, so my choices are limited, and most are used up.”

  Sam grinned, liking the answer. “Then spices it is,” she said.

  AS SHE STOOD AT THE railing of the Wind Dancer watching Major Hamilton’s squad of soldiers starting to row away from the shore, Meg shook her head. Six more mouths to feed. And worry about, she thought because even though they were coming along against Meg’s will, Meg believed anyone on her ship was hers to keep safe. Of course, during their first meeting, the major was quite clear the military squad was not her responsibility. The woman was already infuriating. About the time she tried to imply she outranked Meg, she had been about ready to toss the woman off of the boat into the cold water and damn the consequences.

  Apparently, Major Hamilton had seen the look in Meg’s eye and relented a little. She watched the hard look of the woman’s face soften. Her eyes, a beautiful mix of greens and browns, were almost touched with pleading. What the hell is that about? Meg had thought. Does a part of her not want to see me arrested if I don’t do what she asks?

  “Let's be clear,” Meg said continuing the initial debate about who would be in charge. “This outranking business is not going to happen. On land, you can boss around whoever you want, but not here. It's my ship. I am the captain. The only captain.” She watched the major lift her chin and any softness in her eyes turned back to stone. For a moment, Meg was sure the woman would turn her down, but then she gave a single curt nod.

  “I accept that,” she said. “I'll advise my team.

  Meg smiled. “Good,” she said, mentally giving herself a point for winning a round. In her opinion, they were tied. The major was forcing her to sail to Astoria, but Meg was still running the show onboard while they went there. “Now I suggest we go check the map to make sure everyone is on the same page as to how we go down the coast.”

  Major Hamilton nodded. “Lead the way,” she said, and when Meg turned on her heel, the major followed. The woman leaned over the map on the table and Meg could not help but appreciate the woman's classic beauty. A delicate face but with full lips. Not a hint of makeup, which made sense under the circumstances, but Meg guessed the army officer would have forgone such luxuries. She wouldn’t want to call attention to how physically attractive she is I imagine, Meg thought. If the major was anything, she was decidedly no nonsense. This had the unfortunate consequence of making Meg wonder just what it would take to strip all of that away. A smile crossed Meg’s face at the thought of seeing the fair major stripped period.

  “Are you even listening?” Meg heard the major say, and it snapped her back to the current discussion.

  “Sorry,” Meg mumbled and looked down to see where the other woman pointed. It was the mouth of the Columbia River. The glower from Major Hamilton let Meg know she was not pleased with her lack of concentration. Oh, such a hard ass, she thought and considered again what it might take to chip through that ice. Perhaps it is time to see. Meg

  leaned forward until her shoulder brushed the other woman’s.

  Reaching out, she ran her hand along the map until it came to the spot where the major held hers. Intentionally letting her fingers brush Major Hamilton’s skin, she was rewarded when the other woman suddenly jerked upright. A glance over and Meg was pleased to see a distinct flush on her cheeks. It was all she could do not to chuckle. Well, if nothing else, this could be a fun distraction, she thought, turning her gaze on the major. She shrugged. “I’ve never been there,” she said. “Looks like a primary shipping lane though, so it should not be a problem.”

  Regaining her composure again, but clearly irritated, Major Hamilton gave a nod. “That is my thinking too,” she snapped. “Now I’m assuming you have a ship to run.”

  Meg narrowed her eyes. Maybe flirting with this woman won’t be so fun after all, she thought. Attractive or not, Meg did not need the hassle.

  AS THE Wind Dancer started her journey out of Aberdeen, Grace stood near the ship’s helm and watched as the open sea approached. A part of her relaxed, feeling in a way like she was escaping. But what am I thinking? she wondered.

  I’ll be returning soon enough. It was not like she was sailing away forever. Right? Suddenly, she felt goosebumps on her arms and a lump in her throat as a part of her acknowledged she hated everything about Camp Aberdeen.

  The realization bothered her as she knew her military future was tied up in the mission there. Before she could analyze it further, there was the presence of someone beside her and Grace was irked whoever it was could not sense the importance of the moment and her desire to be alone.

  Looking over to ask for privacy, she paused when she saw

  the visitor was Meg. She too gazed out over the water, no doubt thinking a million thoughts of her own. Her face was confident, almost arrogant, but if Grace was being honest, striking. At least she is smart enough to keep quiet, she thought with appreciation.

  Turning back to watch the water as the sailboat progressed, the two of them stood silent. Not until they passed the last sandbar did Meg make a sound. “Well, Major, we are underway to Astoria for you,” she said, and Grace heard the frustration laced with sarcasm in the woman's voice. Deciding to put the captain in her place, Grace looked hard at Meg.

  “Consider yourself fortunate, Captain. You could be in a warehouse with the other refugees,” she said in the officer voice she cultivated over the years. Cool and confident. And about as far from how I really feel as imaginable, she thought. She watched Meg consider her for a moment.

  “Fair enough,” the woman replied with a shrug before changing the subject. “By the way, we will need to stay within sight of the shoreline.”

  Grace raised an eyebrow. “And why is that?” she asked.

  Meg sighed, apparently not happy with the restriction either. “With no working navigational instruments and an utter lack of skill by any of my sailors to read the stars, if we get out in open water, we will get lost.” Then the captain smiled. “Unless, of course, they taught you that in your fancy army training?”

  Grace frowned at the jab. She had about enough of Meg already, and they were just getting started. She was unwilling to take the bait.

  “Well, at least you have a map we can look at, Captain,”

  she said, and Meg nodded.

  “That I have,” she said with a smirk. “In my cabin. You're welcome to come to look at it anytime,” The woman paused before continuing. “Day or night.”

  Grace froze at the comment.

  For some reason, the vision of being alone again with Meg in her quarters made her stomach tighten. Surprised at the sensation, Grace frowned. What in the hell was that?

  she wondered. The absolute last thing she felt was any sort of attraction toward the arrogant captain. Of that, she was sure.

  CHAPTER 9

  s she stood in the dark on the front steps of the Afarmhouse and watched the headlights come up the long driveway, Laura already knew, even before Taylor came into the house to tell her. The appearance of a truck was such an unusual sight nowadays, it could only mean something significant. As her heart pounded in her chest, she felt what that something was, and the look on Taylor's face only confirmed it. “No,” Laura
whispered, and without a word, Taylor stepped forward to take Laura in her arms. The hug was meant to lend comfort, but it only made Laura feel trapped. As if suddenly she could not breathe. “Please no,”

  she begged this time as her body began to shake. Taylor clenched her tighter.

  “I'm sorry, Laura,” Taylor whispered. “We never should have let her go on the scout.” Laura felt her knees start to buckle and if not for Taylor's powerful arms, she would have dropped to the floor. Sobs welled up in her, but she pushed them down. She would cry for a lifetime later, but right now she had to see for herself. She had to see Sam.

  “Take me to her,” Laura said, and Taylor stepped back to look in her face.

  “Are you sure?” she asked, and Laura nodded. There would be no way she would ever believe it was true until she looked into the face of the woman she loved. Taylor sighed and took Laura's hand to lead her outside. They walked to the back of the truck, and Laura paused before looking inside the bed. She closed her eyes. Please let them be wrong, she prayed and then looked. There on a blanket, appearing almost peaceful, was Sam’s body. Unable to help

  herself, a scream rose from her core. Grief ripped through her and all she wanted was to climb into the truck to die alongside the woman she loved.

  Before she could even move or make a sound, she felt Taylor’s hands on her shoulders again. Laura tried to shake them off, but the grasp only grew stronger. “Laura,” Taylor said. “Laura.”

  “Let me go,” Laura said and started to struggle.

  “Laura, it's me,” Sam said, and Laura was confused. How can it be Sam? she wondered. “Laura, wake up,” came the voice again. It was definitely Sam, and Laura fluttered her eyes open to look into the face of her lover. Moonlight streamed through the window and she realized she was in the bed they shared. She had a nightmare. One where Sam was dead. Relief flooded her and she threw her arms around Sam’s neck to bury her face in the woman’s shoulder. Sobs wracked her as she knew the relief was only temporary. The wheels were already in motion for Sam to leave the day after next.