“Julia is a good doctor. She knows what she’s doing. Your girl is in good hands, trust me. And we’ll get the medicine tomorrow night, guaranteed. If it wasn’t for the Patriot Hooligans.” Ed shook his head.

  Ben nearly choked on his food. The patriot Hooligans were here, too.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  “Are you okay?” Ed asked.

  Ben cleared his throat and swallowed a mouthful of water to wash it down. “That was a name I was hoping to never hear again.”

  “Oh, you know about the Patriot Hooligans?” Ed’s brow rose.

  “Enough to know they’re trouble. We had the misfortune of seeing some of their handiwork on the way here. We even ran into a few of them at our last fuel stop.”

  “How’d that go?” Ed refilled Ben’s glass.

  “Let’s just say there’s three less of them to worry about now.” Ben wasn’t embarrassed about killing those men, but he didn’t feel like talking about it. He was still struggling with the fact that after all the miles driven today, they were still inside the gang’s territory. And that was frightening for many reasons, but the main one was that it meant the Patriot Hooligans were large in number.

  “We haven’t had any problems with them out here yet.” Ed was trying to be encouraging, but it was lost on Ben and did nothing to alleviate the knot of apprehension building in his gut. “So what did you do before all this?”

  “I had a fly fishing and outdoor store in Durango,” Ben answered, but as he chewed his next bite of food, all he could think about was the gang of murderers and thieves that stood between him and the medicine his daughter needed. Ben realized he was being rude to his hosts, who had so far done all they could for Emma and the rest of them. “What about you, Ed?”

  “I’m a general contractor… Well, used to be. Mostly custom homes and the occasional outbuilding.”

  “You have a nice place here. Built it yourself, I assume?” Ben looked around the kitchen as he continued to wolf down the plate of food.

  “Yeah, the perks of doing it yourself,” he joked.

  “That fence and gate we came through… Electrified?” Ben took another bite.

  “Yes, as a matter of fact, it was originally meant to keep livestock in, but we never got that far. I suppose it’s just as well. Wouldn’t want to have to feed horses right now.” Ed shook his head.

  Ben’s brow wrinkled. “That’s a heck of a fence just to keep horses in.”

  “It is a bit overkill, I’ll admit. But that’s my nature.” Ed sighed. “To tell you the truth, I saw all this coming some time ago. Julia used to think I was half crazy, but not anymore.”

  “I always knew we were headed for trouble, but I never imagined it would come to this. Or maybe I just didn’t want to believe it would.” Ben blew out a long breath and leaned against the backrest of the stool. It was a bit overwhelming to think about the events of the last few weeks all at the same time. Better to think of the obstacles they’d faced individually, or not at all, if only that were possible.

  “Yeah, I saw it coming, too. Maybe not this exactly, but some version of it. The canary in the coal mine for me was the sudden increase in material prices. Lumber, shingles, drywall, siding, not to mention fuel and food costs. All of it, gone through the roof over the last couple of years and exponentially in the last six months. Heck, lumber alone was pushing two thousand dollars per board foot before all this happened.” Ed looked out the kitchen window. “Lotta guys closed up shop when folks couldn’t afford to build anymore. I was lucky. Building of the higher-end homes slowed but at least continued to some extent. People with money were the only ones that could weather the higher cost of construction. It was a good thing Julia’s practice was thriving.” Ed paused and sipped from his steaming mug. He held the cup up for a second as he swallowed, indicating he’d make Ben a cup if he wanted.

  “No thanks.” Ben couldn’t stomach the thought of drinking anything hot after the day they’d had. The dust still lingered on his clothing as a reminder. Besides, he was enjoying the novelty of cold water too much.

  “I guess we kind of live in a bubble of sorts. In Durango, that is. It’s a tourist town, and although the quality of people that visit sure has declined, those that come are still spending money. Lots of young people buying high-dollar camping gear. But I guess when the government gives out money for nothing, it spends easy. And with no jobs, they have nothing but time on their hands.” Ben smirked and shook his head.

  “Washington isn’t helping those of us that work for a living, that’s for sure. When they continued to devalue the dollar with handouts, it was only a matter of time before the consequences rippled outward. A weak dollar makes a weak country,” Ed stated.

  Ben was about to ask Ed if he’d heard any official news about the EMPs, but he stopped himself when he heard someone coming down the stairs. A guy like Ed might know something new. With all these resources at their disposal, Ed and Julia were likely to have also thought about having the means to communicate with the outside world. They seemed prepared for just about everything else.

  “That smells good.” Joel and Brad strolled into the kitchen with Allie right behind them.

  Ed uncovered the large dish containing the mixture of potatoes, carrots, and venison.

  “Dig in, guys. Don’t be bashful.” Ed pushed a stack of paper plates and silverware across the counter.

  “Thank you.” Allie rubbed her hands together and took a plate.

  “Yeah, thanks for dinner,” Brad chimed in.

  “How’s Emma doing?” Julia entered the kitchen and joined Ed by the sink.

  “Sleeping,” Ben responded.

  “Good, she needs it. There’s a bathroom free upstairs now. We’ll probably power down everything but the essentials in about an hour, don’t you think?” Julia looked at Ed, who checked his watch and nodded.

  Ben looked down at his clothing. “I can take a hint.”

  “You’ll feel a lot better, Dad. I know I do.” Brad forced a big chunk of potato into his mouth.

  “Go ahead. I’ll keep an eye on Emma tonight. I want to check her vitals and give her more medicine around midnight anyway. You took care of my parents. I think I can take care of your daughter for one night so you can all get some rest. Besides, you’re going to need it if you two are going into town tomorrow night.”

  “That’s the truth,” Ed added.

  “I’m still going with you, right?” Joel looked up from his plate. Everyone turned their eyes toward Ben as if they expected him to change his mind. But Joel wouldn’t get any resistance this time, not from him. In fact, Ben was expecting Joel to join him on this one.

  “I’m counting on it.” Ben nodded at Joel.

  “I can help, too.” Brad looked at Joel, then at his dad. Ben knew this was coming and was prepared to let his youngest down as gently as possible.

  “I’m afraid there’s no room for anyone else,” Ed explained, saving Ben the trouble before continuing on. “Yeah, I figured we would run into town the back way. Our property backs up to an old logging operation. There’s some roads on that property that lead into the sawmill near town. The side-by-sides will be easier to maneuver and hide once we get there. Plus, it won’t draw as much attention. Downside is that it only holds four people. Or three people and Max.” Ed glanced over at the pack of dogs taking up most of the floor on the far side of the kitchen.

  The big German shepherd’s ears perked up at the mention of his name. Head twisted, he stared at Ed, awaiting further instructions. Brad’s reaction to the news was the opposite of Max’s, and he slid down in his chair to finish his food. Ben hated to see that, but it was better to have Brad disappointed than risk him being harmed or worse. And he was grateful to Ed for the save.

  “He’ll be an asset to have along.” Ed continued talking about Max.

  “Gunner won’t like that,” Joel stated. Ben glanced at Gunner, who hadn’t moved since finding a cool spot on the tile.

  “I think he’ll be okay sitting this one out.” The dog had seen enough action lately, and Ben was more than okay with leaving him here to rest up. He also felt better knowing at least Gunner was here to look over the others if something happened while they were away. Besides, something told Ben there was more to Max than chasing tennis balls. The framed graduation certificate from Alpha K9 Academy hanging outside the kitchen hadn’t gone unnoticed.

  Sandy was next downstairs, followed by Martin a few minutes later. It was a peculiar sight to have almost everyone in their group eating a meal around a table together. As Ben’s mind wandered to the events that had brought them all here, the others made small talk, and the occasional bout of laughter filled the kitchen. He was tired, though, too tired to pay attention. He was also worried about Emma and their chances of actually finding the medicine she needed.

  What if the Patriot Hooligans or looters had already found the safe in Julia’s clinic? Surely by now they had looted every standing building in town and probably picked through the remains of the ones that weren’t as well. A safe was a good deterrent, but not impenetrable, and a determined, desperate gang would figure out a way to open it eventually or at the very least take it with them.

  Ben found himself once again stressing needlessly about things he had no control over. And those thoughts weren’t doing him any good. He shook his head and did his best to chase the worry from his mind. Instead, he focused on the smell of soap that filled the room. The others were clean and for the most part looked happy and refreshed as they ate their food and talked. It was time for him to join them and try his best to wash the day away. With any luck, it would vanish down the drain with the dirt covering his body. Tomorrow and its challenges would come soon enough.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Ben thought the shower would bring him back from the brink of exhaustion, but it had the exact opposite effect. Ed was anxious to show him the outbuilding and his shop. He’d mentioned that before Ben headed upstairs, but that would have to wait until morning. He’d also intended to make it back downstairs to check on Emma one more time and tell the others goodnight, but that never happened, either. He was only half awake and barely noticed when Joel and Brad finally joined him and went to bed.

  The morning arrived with a beam of sunlight that warmed Ben’s face in the coolness of the air-conditioned house. Slipping through the partially open curtain, the beam of light illuminated the room just enough for him to see. He struggled to focus on his watch and eventually made out that it was already a little after seven. That was late for him. Of course, there weren’t any tree roots or rocks poking him in the back this morning. He could have easily rolled over and slept longer, but the smell of breakfast and fresh coffee was too enticing to ignore. And he knew full well there was no chance he’d be able to fall back asleep now that his mind was turning. He needed to check on Emma, the trucks, and their gear. The longer he lay still, the longer the list grew.

  Both boys were still sleeping, so he did his best to keep the noise to a minimum as he dressed. He stopped short of putting on his hiking boots when he saw how dirty they looked against the almost-white carpeting. Opting to carry them downstairs for the sake of their gracious hosts and the carpeting, Ben tossed his holstered Glock in one of the boots and slipped out the door.

  The house was quiet, but he soon heard voices coming from the kitchen. Following the sound and his nose, he snuck through the loft area and past Martin, who was still asleep on the sofa bed and snoring into his pillow. Descending the oversized, curved stairwell, he realized the true size of the house, thanks to the early-morning light and his rested eyes.

  He followed the elaborate woodwork down the staircase and onto the slate floor of the two-story foyer. The house really was something, and it reminded him of the big ranches he drifted past while fishing the Animas back home. Ben guessed the property and house must have been worth a couple million dollars. Of course, the way real estate prices had skyrocketed before the EMPs, that would have been a conservative estimate.

  Off the foyer, he found a living room full of lounging dogs, all of them on the floor, except Bajer, who was proudly occupying an overstuffed dog bed with Max’s name embroidered across the front. Max seemed content with the arrangement and instead kept an eye on Ben as he crossed the room on his way to the kitchen. Ben didn’t get the impression that the cinnamon- and charcoal-colored dog let much slip by unnoticed.

  “Good morning.” Sandy saw him coming and was quick to grab a mug from the rack and fill it.

  “Thanks.” Coffee was exactly what he needed more than anything right now. Ben felt its warmth in his hands as he inhaled the aroma for a moment before taking a sip.

  “Hope you slept well.” Ed was busy at the stove and didn’t bother turning around.

  Ben took time to savor his first mouthful of coffee before answering. “Yeah, great. As a matter of fact, the boys are still out cold.”

  “Allie is still sleeping, too. I didn’t have the heart to wake her. It’s been a while since we’ve been able to stay somewhere this nice.”

  “I promised you wouldn’t be disappointed in coming here.” Rita beamed from the dining room table, where she and Carlos were enjoying their coffee.

  “Good morning, Ben.” Carlos tipped his cup.

  “Morning. Has anyone checked on Emma recently?”

  “Julia is in with her now,” Sandy answered.

  “Thanks.” Ben took his coffee with him and headed for the bedroom where Emma had spent the night. He opened the door slowly in case she was sleeping and saw Julia sitting at the edge of the bed. “How is she?” Ben entered the room.

  “You can ask her yourself.” Julia smiled and stood up, making room for Ben to sit down.

  “Hey, Dad.” Emma sat up in bed a little and washed down a pill with a glass of water. The dark circles under her eyes were almost gone, and her skin tone was noticeably less gray. There was also a plate of half-eaten eggs on the nightstand.

  Ben smiled. “Hey there. You’re looking better.”

  “Thanks, I’m feeling better.” Emma winced as she lowered herself back down onto the pillow. “Well, a little better. My muscles are still pretty sore.”

  “You’ll get there. Take your time. Looks like we’re gonna be here a couple days.” Ben glanced back at Julia, who nodded in agreement.

  “Really?” Emma’s eyes lit up.

  “Yeah, so just rest up. I’ll check in on you later. Okay?” Ben held her hand and rubbed it for a moment before standing up. “Love you, Em.”

  “Love you too.” Emma rolled onto her side as he and Julia left the room. Once the door was closed and they moved a few feet down the hall, he stopped her.

  “So how’s she doing? She looks a lot better than she did last night,” Ben asked.

  “She’s doing well, and her temperature is returning to normal, but she’ll use the last of the medicine tomorrow morning. She’s going to need more.”

  “If it’s still there, we’ll get it. I can promise you that.”

  “But can you promise me you won’t get my husband killed trying?” Julia sighed and leaned her back against the wall as she closed her eyes. Ben was left speechless for a minute. He hadn’t asked Ed to come with them. The man had volunteered.

  “I’m sorry.” Julia stood up and rubbed her wrinkled forehead with her fingers as if she had a headache.

  “He doesn’t have to come with us. Just draw us a map of town and we’ll manage,” Ben offered.

  “No. He’ll go with you. I wouldn’t be able to talk him out of it, and neither will anyone else. That’s just the way Ed is,” Julia explained.

  “I’m sorry.” Ben wasn’t sure what he was apologizing for, but it was all he could think to say.

  “You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m the one that should be apologizing for taking my worries out on you. My mom told me that you traveled well out of your way to get her and my dad here.”

  Now Ben felt guilty, knowing full well they wouldn’t have come if it wasn’t for Emma.

  “We’re only here because Emma needed help, and your mom assured us we would find it in Fort Wayne. Otherwise, we’d be in Cloverdale, Indiana, right now. There’s a group of survivors there that we ran into on the way east from Colorado. They’re good people who helped us get back on the road when we had mechanical trouble.” It felt good to come clean about the real reason they were there, not that it was any real mystery.

  “I know that. But I also know what you did for my parents in that awful place you found them. They are alive because of you. Otherwise, they’d be locked up in a cage, wasting away. Maybe even worse by now. My mom said she and my dad wouldn’t have lasted much longer at the moonshiners’ camp if you guys hadn’t come along. So I don’t really care why you’re here, Ben, just that you are.” Julia’s expression changed, and she forced a smile.

  “I was glad to help them. Martin too. Nobody should be treated that way. I’d like to think anyone else in that situation would have done the same.”

  “I’m not so sure about that. And from the sounds of things, I’m not sure just anyone else could have done what you did,” Julia shot back. Ben was a little embarrassed but glad he had her vote of confidence, because while he and Joel could probably make do without Ed, it would be a lot easier with him as their guide. And whether it was circumstance or purpose that brought them here, it seemed to matter less and less with each passing minute.

  Ben looked her in the eye. “I’ll make sure Ed makes it home.”

  There was no way to guarantee that Ed would return safely from helping them get the medicine. There was no guarantee any of them would return. Julia knew that, just like the rest of them, but his words were all he had to offer. That was the world they lived in; peril was unavoidable in order to survive. Risk was the new currency, and prices were high.