Braving The Storms (Strengthen What Remains Book 3) (23 page)

“If you’re hit, stay there. If not, get up and paddle!”

She paddled.

He glanced over his shoulder. They were firing into darkness, but that wouldn’t last long. Caden spun around in the seat, returned fire and started the motor.

* * *

Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, Saturday October 24
^th

Zach woke to gunfire. He grabbed his rifle, and helmet and joined others as they ran toward the levee.

“Everyone hold your fire.” Fletcher snarled over the radio. “Do this just like we practiced. If you shoot before I give the order I will kill you myself.”

Zach reached the river and spotted Major Westmore and a woman as they jumped from a Zodiac and ran up the embankment.

“More boats!” Zach pointed.

A dozen Zodiacs skipped downriver.

Multiple explosions boomed to the south.

“Drones,” Fletcher hissed. “Shoot at anything on the water.”

“Boats coming in from the south,” a panicked voice reported.

Zach glanced in that direction. Smoke and flames obscured his view downriver. Thirty yards away Major Westmore helped the woman into a jeep, then he ran back to the levee as the vehicle sped away.

“Shoot at the boats!” Fletcher ordered. He fired off several bursts.

Zach aimed at the nearest boat and shot.

Dirt sprayed around him.

Something hot cut his cheek.

Zach returned rapid bursts of fire.

A weird looking jet with a gun in the nose swooped low over the river and peppered it with bullets.

“That’s a Warthog,” a nearby soldier shouted. “And it’s from our side.”

The plane continued along its deadly path as a cheer rose from the men on either side of Zach.

An awful roar hurt Zach’s ears.

The plane exploded and fell into the water. Flames, wreckage, bodies, and sinking Zodiacs dotted the water.

“Fall back,” Major Westmore shouted over the radio. “Fall back to the vehicles and regroup at the airport.”

Jets darted back and forth overhead.

Zach jumped into the back of a Humvee and it sped away.

He slipped the rifle onto his shoulder and felt a three-inch long cut on his cheek. He gazed at bloody fingers.

Fifty feet ahead, a deuce-and-a-half exploded.

The Humvee driver cursed and swerved around the flaming wreck.

Minutes later the vehicle slid to a stop at the Cape Girardeau airport.

He jumped from the Humvee and tried to figure out what to do. Soldiers seemed to be running in every direction. Helicopters waited on the runway. Three jets circled overhead.

“Zach!” Major Westmore shouted and pointed to the helicopters. “Get on the middle chopper . Guard the woman.”

“The jets.” Zach pointed. “They’ll shoot the helo down.”

“They’re ours. Go!”

He nodded and ran to the waiting craft.

When he jumped aboard, Zach immediately spotted the lady. “Don’t worry ma’am, Major Westmore sent me to guard you.”

A ghostly pale face peeked from under several blankets. Soggy boots and a wet coat lay on the floor beside bloody, bare feet.

Zach sat across from her. Could she be the cause of all this death and horror?

The chopper lifted into the air.

Chapter Forty

On the road to Hansen, Saturday, December 24
^th

Even if he wasn’t on duty, Zach Brennon couldn’t have slept. As the Humvee rolled south he recognized more roads, rivers and buildings. He leaned back in the seat and smiled. He would soon be home.

After two months of fighting in Missouri, Illinois and Indiana, the unit had been rotated to the rear. Several days of hot food and eight hours of sleep had been great, but then it got better. Durant asked for a ceasefire and peace negotiations.

The surviving soldiers of the platoon received orders back to Washington state. He would be home for Christmas.

The vehicle exited the freeway and turned toward Hansen. He noticed the convenience store by the exit. His father had been murdered there years ago and, after the terror attacks, it had been looted, but someone had fixed it up. Lights were on. Windows had been replaced. Cars were parked outside.

He knew he should be pleased that some sort of life had returned to the store, but sadness came to him.

So much had changed during the year. Death, despair and depression had taken a heavy toll.

He had changed.

Early in the year he wanted to fight in the Battle of Hansen, but when he arrived he huddled in fear. Thinking of that boy now caused him to smile both in amusement and embarrassment. Back then he didn’t understand the terror of war. He wasn’t a coward, but it took him months to figure that out.

At some point he had changed. Grown up? Perhaps there was no one moment. He had learned how to fight and that gave him confidence. But he had learned to hate killing, even when he knew he must. Only later did he understand that someone must stand in the gap.

He pulled the little Bible with its bent and frayed cover from a pocket and flipped through the pages. The night the book had been given to him seemed long ago. He found the verse marked with a pen. “I searched for someone who would build the wall and stand in the gap for the land.”

Yes, that was him. He nodded inwardly. That was the change. He hated war, and killing, but he would stand in the gap with his fellow soldiers to protect the land, his family and those he loved.

Was that the difference between a boy and a man? He shook his head. Such thoughts were way too philosophical for Christmas Eve.

“Stop at the road up ahead,” Major Westmore said from the back seat.

The convoy parked at the turn to Hopps Road.

“Sergeant Brennon.”

“Yes, sir?” Zach turned in his seat as the major opened the door.

“Come with me.”

Zach followed Major Westmore to the deuce-and-a-half behind them in the convoy.

First Sergeant Fletcher stepped from that vehicle and saluted. “Will you be leaving us here, sir?”

“Yes.” Caden looked down the road. “Tell Lieutenant Brooks I’ll be … no, don’t bother. Let him find me.”

“Yes, sir.” Fletcher smiled. “After all there is a ceasefire. The war can wait until after Christmas.”

“Exactly.” Caden turned to Zach. “And deliver our new sergeant here to his home. I think we can spare him for a while.”

“Yes, sir.” Fletcher nodded. “We just might be able to manage over Christmas without him.”

“Thank you, sir!” Zach grinned.

“Merry Christmas.” Caden grabbed his rucksack from the back and walked toward home.

* * *

Hollister Hotel, Saturday, December 24
^th

Zach pushed opened the door to the bakery.

A bell overhead jingled.

DeLynn’s familiar voice called from the back, “I’ll be right out.”

Near one end, he leaned against the counter and took in all the dough and fresh bread smells. He had kept his promise and come back to her, but would he be able to keep that promise till peace reigned? Only God knew.

DeLynn came from the back with her eyes fixed on the tray of buns in her hands. Then she looked at him with a flour-smudged face.

Zach stood straight and smiled. “Hello, beautiful.”

“Zach!” She dropped the tray onto the counter and ran to him with open arms. “I’ve been worried sick about you.” She ran a finger along the scar on his face. “Are you all right?”

“I am now.”

“Do you have to go back?”

He shrugged “I don’t know, but—.”

She smiled. “We’ll worry about that later.” She pulled him close and kissed him.

* * *

Near the Westmore Farm, Rural Lewis County, Saturday, December 24
^th

The clouds in the distance foretold snow. It might be a white Christmas this year. During his school days, Caden had walked this road many times and enjoyed the stroll beside the creek, but today he held a quick pace.

Home called to him in the distance. He adjusted the rucksack on his back and marched faster. It only took minutes, but it seemed like forever before he turned up the long driveway to the farmhouse. No vehicle could be seen, but smoke rose from the chimney.

The front door stood unlocked. He pushed it open and hurried into the living room. An ample fire warmed the space. Peter slept in the playpen near the television. Caden walked over to the baby. “Where’s mommy?”

The kitchen door creaked slowly open.

Adam stepped out still holding the door.

Caden looked beyond the toddler and spotted Lisa working in the kitchen.

Adam giggled.

Caden held a finger to his mouth. “Shhh.”

Adam stumbled back pushing the door behind him, and then went toward a box of toys.

From inside the kitchen came his sister’s voice. “Adam where did you go?” The door swung open. “I told you to stay in the kitchen with me.”

Lisa stifled a scream, gaped at her brother, and then ran to him.

Caden threw open his arms to embrace her. “I’m glad you don’t have a shotgun this time.”

She feigned disapproval. “Don’t surprise me, and I won’t shoot you. What are you doing here?”

“I pulled a few strings to get my platoon home for Christmas.”

She hugged him tight. “When did you get here?”

“Just now.” They talked for a few minutes just standing in the middle of the living room. Then Caden asked, “Where is everyone else?”

“Mom and Sue are at the church. They’re helping prepare for the candlelight service tonight. It’s the first service in … well, a long time. They’ll be home soon.”

“Where’s Maria?”

“The barn. I think.” “We should give you two some privacy. Adam, come with Auntie, back in the kitchen.” She took the child’s hand, but fixed her eyes on Caden. “We’ve all been worried, but I think it was hardest on Mom and Maria. Go find your wife.”

“Thanks, sis.” He stepped back through the door. “I will.”

The hinges squeaked as he entered the barn.

Nikki darted toward him but stopped, growled, barked, and then seemed to recognize Caden. Wagging her tail, she ran to him.

Caden knelt and petted the dog.

In a denim jacket and jeans Maria stepped from the tool room. Seeing him, she gasped. Then a smile grew on her face. “Is it over?”

“No.” He frowned and slowly stood.

“How long can you stay?”

“That depends upon the peace negotiations. A few days … a week maybe.”

She ran a hand through her hair. “Then, let’s not waste it.” She stepped close to him.

“I agree.” Caden reached down and swept Maria off her feet. “There are several things we never got to do after the wedding.” He carried her out of the barn, up the porch steps and across the threshold.

* * *

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Glossary

ACU
Army Combat Uniform

AK-47
The AK
-
47 is a selective-fire military rifle, developed in the USSR, but also used by the People’s Republic of China.

Fueler
An army or National Guard fuel truck

Humvee
High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV), commonly known as the Humvee, is a four-wheel drive military vehicle.

JBLM
Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) is a large military installation located nine miles south-southwest of Tacoma in Washington state.

M11
United States military designation for the SIG P228 pistol. See SIG P228.

M2
The M2 is a Browning .50 caliber machine gun.

M4
The M4 is a common U.S. military magazine-fed, selective fire, rifle with a telescoping stock.

M9
The M9 is a semiautomatic, 9mm, pistol in common use by the United States military.

M35
A military truck in the 2½ ton weight class, often referred to as a “deuce and a half.”

MOPP Level
MOPP is an acronym for “Mission Oriented Protective Posture” and as used in the book it refers to the level of protective gear used by military personnel in a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear combat situation. MOPP Level zero means gear will be carried, but not worn.

MRE
Meals, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) are self-contained, individual military field rations.

OPLAN
Operation Plan

Op Order
Operations Order often abbreviated as OPORD

PLA
The People’s Liberation Army of the People’s Republic of China

Recon
Military slang for reconnaissance.

RPG
Rocket-propelled grenade

SIG P228
A compact pistol in use with many law enforcement agencies and the military where it is designated as the M11. Caden is given a M11, 9mm .40 S&W, in Chapter 13 along with two 15 round magazines. Caden refers to the M11 by the SIG name.

Also by the Author

Through Many Fires (Strengthen What Remains, Book 1)
Terrorists smuggle a nuclear bomb into Washington D.C. and detonate it during the State of the Union Address. Army veteran and congressional staffer Caden Westmore is in nearby Bethesda and watches as a mushroom cloud grows over the capital. The next day, as he drives away from the still burning city, he learns that another city has been destroyed and then another. America is under siege. Panic ensues and society starts to unravel.

* * *

A Time to Endure (Strengthen What Remains, Book 2)
The exciting saga of Major Caden Westmore continues in this, the second book of the
Strengthen What Remains
series. In the first book,
Through Many Fires
, terrorists use nuclear bombs to destroy six American cities. Now, the nation’s economy teeters on the verge of collapse. The dollar plunges, inflation runs rampant, and the next civil war threatens to decimate the wounded country. In the face of tyranny, panic, and growing hunger, Caden struggles to keep his family and town together. But how can he save his community when the nation is collapsing around it?

* * *

Titan Encounter
Justin Garrett starts one morning as a respected businessman and ends the day a fugitive wanted by every power in the known universe. Fleeing with his 'sister' Mara and Naomi, a mysterious woman from Earth Empire, their only hope of refuge is with the Titans, genetically enhanced soldiers who rebelled, and murdered millions in the Titanomachy War. Hunted, even as they hunt for the Titans, the three companions slowly uncover the truth that will change the future and rewrite history.