No ordinary mission a po.., p.15
No Ordinary Mission: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller,
p.15
“As ready as I’ll ever be.” He glanced in the rearview. “Don’t think Raymond will be happy to see me, though.”
“Don’t be so sure.”
Mud splashed on the windshield as they bounced and bounded through the forest and into the clearing. John parked and surveyed the property from the safety of the cab. “Doesn’t look like anyone’s here. No Explorer, no tire tracks.” He motioned toward the shack. “Look at those cobwebs.”
Emma chewed on her lip as she opened the door. “Let’s check it out anyway.” She eased down, boot splashing in the mud, and cautioned Noelle to stay in the vehicle. “Not right now, hon. I’ll never get all this mud out of your fur.”
The dog whined and nosed her way forward, but Emma shut the door and turned toward the cabin. Still as ramshackle as she remembered, with a patchwork roof and mismatched paint. She used her hand to wipe away the barren webs and reached for the door handle.
It turned easily in her grasp, but before she opened the door, John appeared, gun drawn and ready. “We should clear it.”
“Don’t be daft. There’s no one here.”
“Still.” He eased in front, gun pointed toward the interior, and pushed open the door. It only took a moment to confirm Emma’s conclusion. “It’s clear.”
She followed him inside. No sleeping bags crammed together on the plywood floor. No stack of food and water in the corner. No dishes in the dry sink or bucket of water waiting to be used.
Emma ran her finger across the table and it came back covered in dust. “They haven’t been here in weeks.” She swallowed, hard. If they weren’t here, what happened? Did someone get hurt? Did they stop waiting for Emma to return? Did they assume Dane was alive and victorious?
She’d always known taking time out to heal and recover before returning was a risk, but at the time, it felt necessary. Emma and John needed to be alone. To figure each other out, to be together as the rest of society fell apart. She’d thought Gloria and Raymond deserved that too, but now…
“Looks like they left a note.” John held out a flimsy piece of paper yellowed from the sun.
Emma took it with a frown.
In case you made it after all, we’re obviously not here. A friend is out back if you’d like to pay your respects. You’re welcome to visit if you are so inclined. Watch the drive. It’s just as steep.
She lifted a brow before handing it back to John. “I’m guessing that means they’re back at the cabin in Georgia? That driveway was a bear even during the dry season. But I don’t understand why it’s all so cryptic.”
“My guess is, they weren’t sure we’d survived. Needed to cover their tracks in case it got into the wrong set of hands.”
John set the note on the table and took Emma’s hand. “Come on, let’s go find the grave.”
It didn’t take long to find the simple wooden cross on the edge of the forest. The ground had sucked where it had been disturbed, remarking the hole for Vince’s burial. Emma crouched at the edge and said a silent prayer. He’d sacrificed his life for them and for that, she’d be forever grateful.
“Where to now?”
Emma stood and leaned into John. “The North Georgia mountains are beautiful this time of year. If we hurry, we’ll catch the best of the leaf color.”
He smiled. “You sure?”
She nodded. “They need to know it’s over.”
It took a week of slow driving and foraging for gas to reach the tucked-away cabin in the woods. John eased the gate open, and Emma drove through and straight up the gravel incline. As she cleared the trees, the little cabin came into view and her heart leapt in her chest.
Pringles and Tank romped in the front clearing, with a little goat standing on top of the Explorer’s hood, bleating and shimmying its little tail as the dogs barked and tussled. Noelle nuzzled her arm and twisted around in the back seat, eager to join in the fun. Emma parked the Jeep as the door to the cabin opened and Raymond appeared, shotgun in hand.
One look at her and his face broke into a smile as broad as she’d ever seen on his gruff face. She opened the door and Noelle bounded out, white fur attacking every speck of dirt as she trotted up to Tank and Pringles. The other dogs greeted with small wags and sufficient smells before accepting her into the group for a joy run around the cabin.
Emma laughed as Gloria pushed past her husband, running down the steps and straight toward her. She wrapped Emma in a fierce hug before pulling back to hold her at arm’s length. “You’re alive.” Her eyes shone with delight.
“I am.”
“And Dane?”
“We found him. Took him out.”
Gloria exhaled in relief. “What about—”
“Thanks to Emma, I survived, too.”
John’s voice sent a warm burst of love through Emma and she reached for him as Gloria let her go. She snuggled against his side. “And we took Noelle so she wasn’t left alone. Looks like we made the right call.”
Gloria turned as the two shepherds bounded past her.
Tank stopped at John and Emma, taking a moment to bump his head against their legs and get a good scratch behind the ears before rushing off to play again. “It’s like they’ve been waiting for each other.”
“You know Pringles is a bit of a bossy pants. It’s about time Tank can play with someone his own size.”
The door burst open again and Holly emerged, rushing out to wrap first John and then Emma in a hug. She’d changed in the last few months. Cut her hair, put on a bit of healthy weight, and a glow Emma recognized as happiness. “You look well.”
The teenager smiled. “It’s been good here. Gloria and Ray, they’re the best.”
Emma smiled. She’d been so worried about Holly and what would happen to her after her parents died. To see her so content with Gloria and Raymond put Emma’s mind at ease.
“Aren’t you going to put that gun down and come down here and say hello?” Gloria motioned toward her husband and at last, Raymond lumbered down the steps.
John held out his hand. “It’s good to see you, Ray.”
Raymond stared at it for a moment before looking John in the eye. “What about Dane?”
Gloria started to admonish him, but John waved her off. “He’s dead. And the threat to your wife is gone.”
Ray’s shoulders visibly lowered as he finally shook John’s hand. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
The group of five reminisced and talked about the last few months late into the night, until no one could keep their eyes open. In the morning, Emma woke to find John standing out on the deck, staring out at the long-range mountain views and the vista of reds, yellows, and oranges of the trees in the height of fall.
She handed over a steaming cup of coffee. “Good morning.”
He smiled and set the mug on the worn table beside him. “I never thought I’d be this happy without electricity or modern conveniences.”
“It won’t be easy.”
“No, but it won’t be hollow, either.” He reached into his pocket and Emma lifted an eyebrow.
“What are you doing?”
“Something I’ve wanted to do for the past three months.” He lowered down onto one knee and Emma’s heart lodged in her throat. “We might have our work cut out for us, surviving in this new world, but there’s no one else I want to wake up beside every morning, or any other woman I’d protect until my dying breath. I love you Emma Cross. Will you marry me?”
John thrust a gold ring with a solitaire diamond in her direction.
Emma blinked back a wave of tears. “Where did you get that?”
“You don’t want to know.”
She laughed and the tears spilled down her cheeks. “Yes. I’ll marry you.”
He slipped the ring on her finger and stood before wrapping her up in a warm embrace. Their breath fanned out in puffs of steam as Emma nestled against John’s chest. She never expected to be standing in the middle of the forest, in love with a former hitman, hiding from the rest of the world while it fell apart. But she couldn’t think of another place she’d rather be.
Whatever happened next, they would survive. Together.
_ _ _
Thank you for reading book three in the No Ordinary Day series. Miss the prequel, No Ordinary Escape?
Learn about Gloria, Raymond and their struggle to reach their cabin today:
If the power grid collapses, will you be prepared?
With nothing but time on her hands until she testifies against her employer the following week, Gloria spends her days watching the news and trying not to worry. When reports surface of an imminent geomagnetic storm, she grows worried.
When the odds are stacked against you, will you adapt in time?
Raymond trusts his wife’s instincts. When she voices her concern about a potential solar flare and resulting EMP, he knows just whom to ask. Rather than put his fears to rest, his contact only amplifies them.
As society crumbles, everyone is put to the test.
It’s a race against time for both Gloria and Raymond. Will they secure everything they need to bug out before the rest of the city panics? Or will TEOTWATKI wreck their plans?
Subscribe to Harley’s newsletter to find out the minute book three goes live:
www.harleytate.com/subscribe
If you are new to my work, check out my After the EMP series:
If the power grid fails, how far will you go to survive?
Madison spends her days tending plants as an agriculture student at the University of California, Davis. She plans to graduate and put those skills to work only a few hours from home in the Central Valley. The sun has always been her friend, until now.
When catastrophe strikes, how prepared will you be?
Tracy starts her morning like any other, kissing her husband Walter goodbye before heading off to work at the local public library. She never expects it to end fleeing for her life in a Suburban full of food and water. Tackling life’s daily struggles is one thing, preparing to survive when it all crashes down is another.
The end of the world brings out the best and worst in all of us.
With no communication and no word from the government, the Sloanes find themselves grappling with the end of the modern world all on their own. Will Madison and her friends have what it takes to make it back to Sacramento and her family? Can Tracy fend off looters and thieves and help her friends and neighbors survive?
The EMP is only the beginning.
Also by Harley Tate
NUCLEAR SURVIVAL
First Strike (exclusive newsletter prequel)
Southern Grit:
Brace for Impact
Escape the Fall
Survive the Panic
Northern Exposure:
Take the Hit
Duck for Cover
Ride it Out
Western Strength:
Bear the Brunt
Shelter in Place
Make the Cut
AFTER THE EMP
Darkness Falls (exclusive newsletter prequel)
Darkness Begins
Darkness Grows
Darkness Rises
Chaos Comes
Chaos Gains
Chaos Evolves
Hope Sparks
Hope Stumbles
Hope Survives
NO ORDINARY DAY
No Ordinary Escape
No Ordinary Day
No Ordinary Getaway
Find all of Harley’s releases on Amazon today: www.amazon.com/author/harleytate.
Acknowledgments
Thank you for reading book three in the No Ordinary Day series! My apologies on the long delay in releasing this conclusion. It’s been another year, hasn’t it? But I’m percolating all new stories now and expect to be back with a new series soon. Stay tuned!
As I’ve mentioned before, a few liberties may have been taken, especially with place names and other minor details in writing this novel. I hope you don’t hold it against me!
If you enjoyed this book and have a moment, please consider leaving a review on Amazon. Every one helps new readers discover my work and helps me keep writing the stories you want to read.
Until next time,
Harley
Harley Tate, No Ordinary Mission: A Post-Apocalyptic Survival Thriller
