Hungry Independents (Book 2) (32 page)

Jimmy narrowed his eyes. “What about my
brother? What have you done with Hunter?”

The angel smiled.

“I’m right here,” Hunter said, and was
surprised when he spoke aloud.

“He’s right here,” the angel copied his
words. “My presence is only temporary. Your brother will not be
harmed while I am with him.”

“What are you talking about?” Hunter spoke.
“I was getting my ass handed to me before you decided to show
up.”

“You were doing just fine on your own.”

Hunter found himself unable to voice another
comment. He figured the angel knew what he had in mind and most of
the words were made up of four letters.

“So what happens now?” Jimmy asked.

“Now you must rebuild. This battle is won.
You understand the hardships this winter will bring. There is no
time to rest.”

Jimmy surveyed the smoking ruins. Half the
buildings of Main Street were destroyed. The rainwater pooled in
the cobbled street. Jimmy raised his face when the sun broke
through the fleeting gray clouds. He smiled. “I guess the first
thing I need to do is find me a new hat.”

The angel laughed. “Yes, James. You do have
your priorities.”

Hunter felt trapped with the sensation of joy
and happiness he was unable to express. He wished the angel would
depart now that the trouble had been averted. Hunter desperately
wanted to hug his brother.

The angel turned quickly. Barbie lay silent
in her own pool of blood some twenty feet away. The angel went to
her and knelt beside the wounded saint. He brushed a lock of her
dark hair from her eyes.

Barbie blinked and tilted her head. “I’m
bleeding.”

“I see that.”

She frowned at him. “And?”

The angel placed Hunter’s hands on Barbie’s
wounds and bowed his head. “Dear Father, please bless Your servant
and heal her so she may continue to serve Your will.”

Blinding light poured from Hunter’s hands.
The angel filtered the power, channeling it through Barbie’s body
and mending the torn flesh. The healing took seconds, and soon as
the light winked out, Barbie stood and hugged the angel.

Hunter felt awkward from the affection he’d
been forced to partake in. He tried keeping his thoughts as pure as
possible with Barbie pressing her body against his, given the fact
that the angel probably wouldn’t appreciate Hunter taking pleasure
from their embrace.

“Michael, about the conversation we had last
night,” Barbie said.

“Yes, I accept your desire for a normal life.
I won’t be in the way any longer.”

Barbie crossed her arms, looking cold, tired,
and also very sad. “You sort of are in the way though.”

Hunter really wanted off the tracks to
wherever this conversation was headed. He had his own relationships
to deal with without being embroiled in the tangle between Barbie
and her angel boyfriend. That thought alone left him queasy in the
corner of his head. How did they even hook up in the first place?
Weren’t angels supposed to be in Heaven instead of dating human
chicks? Of course, Barbie was more heavenly than earthly because of
her sainthood.

Hunter fell back into the conversation as the
angel nodded their collective head. “I see. When I have finished
with this horseman, I will step out of the way. Our Father only
allows me access to Hunter when needed. You may pursue whatever
course you desire. I too understand how hard our relationship has
been.”

Barbie reached out and touched Hunter’s arm.
“And you’re okay with this?”

The angel smiled. “I will live.”

“Thank you.”

The angel and the saint embraced one more
time.

“Now I will take this creature someplace safe
and return Michael to you when we have finished.”

Hunter wondered what the angel meant by that
last bit. The angel walked over to where Jimmy had been standing
wary guard over the fallen horseman.

“James, remember to keep hold of your
goodness when everything around you seems lost. Your leadership
will save the children in the end. Use this rare gift of a second
life wisely.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me.”

Jimmy nodded.

“Are we going on a trip?” Hunter asked,
finally able to rejoin the conversation.

“We are indeed, Michael. I hope you’re not
afraid to fly.”

“Dude, I was born to fly.”

The rain slowed with big fat drops thumping
Scout in the head. Sunlight parted the dark clouds, ending the
storm. Humidity rose from the ground, thick in the air. Puddles
made finding a dry path tricky. At his feet, Catherine and Molly
lay sleeping after performing another miracle. Billy slept in a
tight ball beside Molly with his tiny fist curled under his chin.
He looked innocent, like a little boy should.

The freakiest thing Scout tried wrapping his
head around was seeing Jimmy shoot off the ground after Catherine
finished. Jimmy, healed and alive, didn’t say a word, but tore off
running towards Main Street.

“Did Jimmy just get up and run off?” Dylan
asked.

“That’s what I saw,” Mark said. “This has
been one hell of a day.”

Samuel’s laughter rolled like a train off its
track. “That’s the greatest understatement in the history of
mankind.”

“Let’s carry everyone to the church.” Mark
gave Samuel a funny look when they both bent down to pick up Molly.
“I can get my sister, Samuel.”

Samuel stepped back, scratched his head, and
slipped a goofy grin on his face. “Okay, sure. I’ll carry
Catherine. She’s lighter anyways. I mean, not that your sister is
heavy or anything. Please don’t tell her I said that. I mean, I
don’t want her to get her feelings hurt or anything because I said
something stupid.”

“Are you okay?” Scout asked. “You’re being
kind of jumpy.”

“It must be stress.” Samuel scooped up
Catherine and walked away without another word.

Mark shook his head. He stood with his sister
and grunted from the effort. “She is heavy.” He smiled nervously
before following after Samuel.

“I’ll carry Billy.” Dylan lifted the little
kid and caught up to Mark and Samuel.

Left alone, Scout turned the other way for
Main Street, keeping his feet out of the water. His shoes squished
over the damp earth. He avoided the muddy road and was happy once
he finally stepped on the brick cobbles.

Scout’s mouth dropped open in shock and
disbelief. Hunter stood in the middle of town with a pair of large
brown wings protruding from his back. At first Scout thought his
imagination was running wild, until they flapped. Then Scout
realized he’d stopped moving altogether and felt really stupid when
Jimmy waved him over. Every step Scout took toward the amazing
creature Hunter had become seemed like an eternity.

There was no smirk when Hunter looked his way
and nodded. “David, it is a pleasure to meet you at last.”

Scout fell to his knees and bowed his
head.

A strong pair of hands gripped him under his
arms and lifted him up. Scout slowly raised his head. The smirk was
there. “That’s the first time you ever showed me any respect.”

“Hunter?” Scout said, searching the familiar
face of his friend.

“I’m going to get to fly,” Hunter said.

“Please allow me to speak without
interruptions. I have something important to say.”

“Who are you talking too?” Scout said.

“He’s talking to me.”

“Who’s talking to you?”

“I am,” Hunter said.

“I’m confused.”

“Join the crowd. We’re all inside my
head.”

“Please, both of you,” Hunter said.

Scout was afraid to speak. Hunter released
him and stepped back. The wings rose above Hunter’s shoulders and
tapered down his back. This time, he gave him a normal smile.

“David, we are proud of the work you have
done here. We know your faith was tested as it always will be. We
are happy that you have chosen to believe.”

“Who are we?” Scout asked.

Hunter’s smile widened. Scout thought his
friend glowed and realized who “We” must be, and his legs
trembled.

“David, keep strong in your faith. Your flock
will need that in the coming days and beyond.”

“I will. I promise.”

“Good,” the angel said. “Now, I understand
that you’re the one to ask for rope.”

“Rope?”

“Yes, rope. I need this creature bound for
transport.”

“Transport?”

“He wants you to tie this dude up so we can
fly him somewhere for safe keeping,” Hunter said, regaining his
voice behind his smirk. “Go get some rope.”

Scout ran to his room, thankful that it
survived the fire. He gathered enough rope to tie up all four
horsemen and ran right back down, his heart hammering in his chest
the entire round trip.

Wings stretching behind him, Hunter held the
tall creepy dude while Scout lashed his arms and legs together.
Scout finished and stepped back. Hunter walked over to the girl,
Barbie. Scout finally noticed Jimmy standing beside him.

“Pretty amazing,” Jimmy said.

“If I woke up in my bed right now, I wouldn’t
be surprised,” Scout said, staring at the wings on his best
friend’s back.

Jimmy nodded. “I don’t ever want to sleep
again.”

Hunter hugged Barbie. Scout didn’t understand
the sadness involved, but why should that be any different. With a
nod towards Jimmy and Scout, Hunter lifted the tied-up creepy dude
and leaped into the air, beating his wings and creating a rush of
wind. Scout heard Hunter cry, “Wahoo!”

Jimmy walked over and placed his arm around
Barbie. Her eyes were a blurry mess and she buried her head in his
chest. Scout waited for them to come over to him, figuring space
was needed, if not required.

“What now?” he asked Jimmy.

“Now we rebuild and replant and prepare for
winter. But first I’d like to go spend some time with my
family.”

Scout watched Jimmy leave with Barbie,
helping her along the path back to the church. When they were gone,
he looked up and down the empty stretch of Main Street. The thick
smell of smoke mixed with the scent of the recent rain. Scout spun
in a tight circle trying to figure out where he was needed and
where he wanted to be. Everyone else was at God’s house, creating
the perfect opportunity for spiritual connection with his
congregation. It was selfish, but Scout needed to be alone.

Back in his apartment, he found his sermon on
the table and after a cursory glance he ripped out the notebook
pages, crumpled up the message, and made a perfect three-point shot
into the wastebasket.

Scout stared at the wall, waiting for
something that wasn’t coming as memories of Raven chased him around
the room before he fell to his knees and buried his head in the
couch cushions. He prayed, for a long time.

When night arrived like an ominous shade,
Scout lit a candle, searched for hope, and then he wrote a
different sermon.

Jimmy’s hand shook as he reached for the
handle on the church door. The sun hung high overhead, drying the
water from the land. He figured that’s why he was sweating so much.
It was either from the humidity or the thought of Ginger totally
freaking out over his resurrection.

He tamped down his fear and opened the door.
A ripple of excitement followed as he entered. Some who hadn’t
heard about his return gasped, and others calmed them as they dealt
with the surprise.

Vanessa walked up and embraced him. “I don’t
believe it, but I’m glad it’s true.”

“Me too,” Jimmy said, keeping his thoughts as
still as an untroubled pond so he wouldn’t be overwhelmed by his
emotions.

Mark hugged him, and then a progression of
Independents kids surrounded him, gripping his arm, reaching out to
touch him and welcome him back.

Samuel stood from where he sat next to a
sleeping Molly. He walked over and punched Jimmy a staggering blow
to the shoulder. The crowd took a huge step back.

“That’s for not taking me to Denver with
you,” Samuel said. Then he wrapped his arms around Jimmy and
squeezed. “I’m never leaving your side again, unless you’re going
to the outhouse. Then you’re on your own until you come out.”

Jimmy patted Samuel on the back. “I missed
you too.”

They broke apart and Samuel returned to his
seat next to Molly. Jimmy followed.

“Are Catherine and Molly okay?”

“She’s called Margaret now,” Samuel said. His
face turned red as he regarded the sleeping Margaret. “I think so.
They’ve been asleep since bringing you and Billy back from
beyond.”

“Bringing people back from the dead isn’t
easy,” Barbie said from behind Jimmy. She knelt next to Catherine
and felt the little girl’s forehead. “They’ll be okay after a
while. I’ll watch over them.” She leaned against the wall and
closed her eyes.

Jimmy nudged Samuel’s foot. “The food storage
building is gone. The fire wiped it out.”

Samuel’s eyes bugged out and his mouth
dropped open. “That Famine dude really F’d us up for good.”

Jimmy nodded, okay with Samuel using “F” as a
word instead of saying the “F word.” “Do you have seeds we can use
to start crops?”

“Yeah, but I don’t think there’s enough time
for anything to grow. We’ll have to greenhouse everything and we’ll
need to build a bigger one. I might have another option that I’ve
been looking into since you died. Only problem is the process
requires a lot of electricity. It’s called hydroponics and we could
grow our vegetables indoors away from bug threats.”

Jimmy frowned at Samuel. “Please tell me
you’re not growing weed in our basement.”

Samuel squirmed and looked around, probably
for eavesdroppers. He lowered his voice. “Man, I’ve been dealing
with a lot of stuff, starting with the death of my best
friend.”