Outbreak The Living (The Outbreak Series) (15 page)

Pulling me to my feet, he wraps his arms around me. “We ready to go? I see Mom has made us lunches. This will be a fun trip for the kids,” he says. Looking over at my mom, she seems so happy.

“Yep, we can go. I was thinking on the way back if it’s clear, we will stop at houses and clear them out along with any gardens we find.”

“Great, let’s get going." He hands me my 9mm and my backpack. I don’t have to check it because I know he will have everything I need already in there. Giving my mom a hug, I head out the door to the front yard. The kids are already there in front of the trucks. There is: Rachel, Lizzy, Tyler, Jonny, and Tara. And then the teenagers: Tomas, Zack, and Liam.  There are eight of them. This outing should be fun. Tabby walks over and gets into the truck that I will be riding in. Looking over at Mack, he shakes his head.

“She will be fine, Egypt,” he says quietly.

Watching the kids pile in the three trucks we will be taking, I hop in and get settled. The gate opens and Mack pulls out and heads down the road. It is about a twenty minute drive on all back roads. I am glad that we will not be going through towns with the kids. At the end of our road, Mack makes a right turn. Watching the farms go by, I see a few animals grazing. Hank will be taking a few guys with him to grab the animals to put in our fenced area by the barn. We will have fresh meat this winter when we need it. I think we will be able to keep them for a year before we have to eat them. I guess we will have to wait and see.

We make a left on Western Reserve Road. The houses as we pass them look abandoned. Maybe we can hit a few on the way back. We drive for about 15 minutes and come up to the orchard. The kids in our truck are getting excited as they raise their voices. Smiling, I look over at Mack and he is smiling too. He reaches over and laces our hands together. Pulling into the field. The kids giggle as we bounce around.

“OK, kids listen up. We’re going to drive around for a few minutes before we get out. So we can make sure it’s safe to get out.” As Mack slowly drives through the rows, the kids are quiet and looking out the windows. I’m glad they are taking this as seriously as they should. We take 15 minutes driving around before we stop. The excitement in the truck is overwhelming.

“OK, kiddos, listen up. Stay where we can see you if you see anything, come to us, don’t wait. We will be all around you guys.” Opening the door, I hop out, helping the little ones out one at a time. Mack goes behind the truck and grabs all the baskets. There are 30 in all. I hope we can fill all these up. We would be set for winter.  The kids each take a basket and run to the trees. I walk about 200 yards and keep watch. I grab an apple to munch on. Looking out over the orchard, I see Mack to my left, and Liam to my right. Pete and Hank are over at the other side. We should be able to see anybody before they can get to the kids.

A few hours and twenty baskets later we decide to stop for lunch. Walking over to the back of the truck, I grab the box with our lunches in it. The kids all lineup and grab a bag. There are enough lunches for all of us. Finding a place in the sun, I sit down on the grass and open the bag. There is a pop, sandwich, chips, and a cookie. My mom sure knows how to pack them. Tabby comes over and sits next to me.

“How you feeling, Tabby?” Looking over at her she looks so tired. When I get back, I am going to take her off duty. She needs to be resting more. Her weight looks good, so at least I do not have to worry about that.

“I’m a little tired, but I haven’t been out really since this all began. It feels good, though,” she says excitedly. Picking up a chip, she tosses it into her mouth with a smile on her face.

“Have you had any of the apples today?”

Laughing, she says, “Oh yeah, Mom, more than one.”

Laughing, I shake my head and drink the rest of my pop. Standing up, I walk over and toss my empty stuff into the box. The kids slowly do the same and start picking again. Smiling, I head over to Mack.

“I don’t think it’s going to take too much longer to fill the baskets.”

“Nope, they are fast, aren’t they?” Mack asks.

“We’ve got a lot to do before we leave in the morning for the armory. We…..” Liam comes running up and stops right in front of us. Looking over at him I see the worry on his face.

"Mom, we need to pack up, there are zombies coming down the road." Mack does not wait to hear the rest. He jogs over to the center of the kids and tells them to stop what they are doing and get into the trucks. I run to the trucks and open the doors so they can get right in. Hank, Pete, and Liam grab the baskets and put them in the truck. Pulling out my 9mm, I stand keeping watch as they finish up. The kids are safely in the trucks and the guys are just about done. When they finish up, I see the zombies turning towards the orchards. They must smell us. The guys start piling into the trucks. Hopping in, I slam the door closed. Mack starts the truck and we head out. Looking back at the kids they all have grim faces. Damn, I wanted this to be perfect for them, but I guess nothing will ever be any more. We take what fun we can get and enjoy it. None of them are crying, so that is a good thing.  We come to the end of the orchard and Mack heads back the way we came.

“Mack, just go straight home, the kids are worn out. We can hit the houses in a few days.”

“OK, I think we got a great haul of apples, don’t you?” he asks looking over at me.

Smiling, I say, “Yeah, they are great little pickers. And Liam was on top of his game this afternoon.”

We turn on Berlin Station and I can’t wait to be home. I’m hitting the shower and then getting married. Well, sort of. We do not have a pastor, but Hank will do. Mack grabs the walkie and tells them we are two minutes out, and to have the gate open and they do. Pulling in, I look back at the kids. Half of them look like they are about to fall asleep. It will be an early night for them.  Hopping out of the truck, the guys unload the apples and the kids are trying to help. Laughing, I head to the house and none too soon, my mom and Aunt Nancy meet me at the door and take me to my bedroom.

“We got to get you ready. Go hop in the shower and get cleaned up,” my mom says.

Laughing, I head into the bathroom and start the shower. Taking off my sweaty clothes, I hop into the shower. I take extra care getting cleaned up.  I let the water run until it gets cold. Turning it off, I dry off. I wrap the towel around me and then one for my hair. Walking out to my bedroom, Tabby is holding up a long plain white dress.

Laughing, I say, “That is one amazing dress, Tabby. Thank you." I look at the little dress she’s wearing. Grabbing the dress, I wiggle my way into it, before I let my mom do my hair. She pulls it up and curls the ends and pins them up around my ponytail. I go into the bathroom and put makeup on. I do not look half bad fixed up and in the middle of a zombie apocalypse.  Walking back to my bedroom, I put the heels on my mom hands me.  Turning in a circle, they all smile.

“Well, we are done. You ready to get married, Egypt?” Aunt Nancy asks.

“Yeah, I sure am,” I say quietly, looking around the room that I have had to myself for so long. I will be alone no longer. Mack will bring his stuff in here and this is where we will be together for as long as we live. Hearing the door shut behind me, I look over my shoulder and see that everyone has left. Walking over to the bed, I slowly sit down. I cannot believe how much my life has changed.  The end of the word and then my kidnapping. Then there was the rape that I will always have to live with. I can have Mack touching me, but anyone else brings flashbacks. Hearing a soft knock at the door, I get up and answer it. Opening the door it’s Nate, he is in jeans and a nice shirt and tie.

"Mom, you ready?” Nate asks. Smiling at him, I look around my room one last time. The next time I come in here it will be with my husband. My stomach flutters a little bit with the thought of it.

“Yep I’m ready babe, how about you? What do you think about all this?”

“I like him, Mom. I can see myself calling him Dad, I know I already have one and he was the best, but I know he’d be proud of you Mom. He would want you happy,” Nate says.

“So you giving me away?” I say laughing. Looking at Nate he is a fine young man. I feel bad that his dreams that he had will never come true now. I do know he will make it through this.

“Sure am and not fast enough either," he says laughing.  Laughing with him we make it to the dining room and I am speechless. There are decorations everywhere.

What I can see of the backyard is the same way. I will have to walk down the steps into the backyard. There are lawn chairs on either side of where I will be walking. Tabby comes in with a big grin on her face.

“How on earth did you guys do this?” I beamed.

“Mom, it wasn’t hard, this is your special day, so it should look like this,” Tabby says gleefully. My favorite song comes on and I know it’s time for me to walk down the aisle. ‘
Hero’
by Enrique Iglesias. Tabby walks out before me. She is so beautiful. Nate tugs on my arm. I start to walk out onto the deck. Stopping at the top of the steps, I look out to where I see Mack. My breath escapes me. His hair is down to his shoulders, he’s got jeans and a white button down shirt on. Moving my eyes up to his lips there is a grin there. Smiling at him, I continue down the steps towards him and the rest of my life. My whole family is here to witness this amazing day. Stopping when we reach Mack, I turn and kiss Nate on the cheek.

I take my place in front of Mack while Hank talks about what marriage means, and then the blessing of the rings.  It flies by so fast. We are exchanging our vows and the rings, before I know it Mack is kissing me. Looking out to everyone, they are all clapping and shouting.

“Well, babe, how does it feel to be my wife?” he whispers in my ear.  Laughing I kiss him again slowly.

“I’ll let you know tonight,” I whisper right back to him.

Mom and Aunt Nancy have gone all out on dinner for us. The tables are covered with white cloths. There are flowers in the middle of each table. This is really amazing. Everyone is laughing and having a good time.

“This is amazing, isn’t it, Mack?” Looking up at him, he has not let go of me since the ceremony. He has been touching me one way or another.

“It really is. I just thought we’d exchange a few words nothing like this that’s for sure,” he murmurs.

Suddenly the music is playing over the speakers. Laughing, I shake my head. Well, you sure cannot say my family cannot throw a party! Tabby comes over and pulls on my arm wanting me to dance. Looking up at Mack, he shakes his head no to me. Laughing, I walk hand in hand with Tabby and dance with her. It feels so good to let loose even if it’s for a few hours. Plus a good song came on.
‘All about that Bass’

Raising my hands in the air twirling around I keep up with the beat. Looking over at Mack, I laugh. He is staring at me with his mouth open. Turning, I keep dancing. Other people come and join in. Some are singing along with the music.

I think we dance for an hour at least when Mack comes over and keeps up with me. His hands slide down to my hips and he leans in close. We dance like this for a while. Smiling up at him, I wrap my arms around his neck. I kiss him softly on the lips. A few people hoot and holler. Laughing, Mack pulls me off our little dance floor that really is just a patio, over to our deck.

"You ready to eat?” he asks. 

I am starving and had not noticed until now. Shaking my head, we make it to the line where there is a buffet of food lined up. Grabbing a plate, I grab some grilled chicken, corn on the cob, some cheese, and grapes. I wait until Mack is done and we make our way to the table they have set up for us. He sets his plate down and pulls my chair out for me.  Smiling up at him, I sit down and he pushes me in a little bit.

“Mack, you know if you keep that up, your reputation will be ruined, they will label you a gentleman,” I say laughing.

He sits down next to me with an evil grin on his face. “Oh, Egypt, don’t mistakenly think that of me. You know better than that,” he says to me while bending down and nipping my neck.  Laughing, I start to eat my dinner. I really cannot wait until tonight.  Some of the family come over and give us well wishes and little presents. Mack sits them down by our feet. It is really nice that they are doing this when they cannot get out to the stores.

Pushing my plate away, I sit back and watch everyone. Sally is talking to Nate, I cannot say I really like that. I look over to Mack.

“He’s got a good head on his shoulder’s don’t worry about it, Egypt” he says.

“I know, but I know how young girls can be. I just don’t want to see him hurt is all.”

“If it will make you feel better, I’ll talk to him tomorrow,” Mack says.

“Thanks, Mack, it really would.”

“I think we should go and mingle, Mom is giving me that look,” I say standing up, grabbing his hand I start to pull on it. Mom smiles so I know it’s what she wanted.

"OK, OK. I’m getting up, besides we do this and we can sneak off and be alone,” Mack says with a grin and a chuckle.  Shaking my head we make our way to some of the family. We smile and make small talk, playing the role my mother wants us to. She knows I am not a people person.  After we have talked to everyone, I notice that Sal is not around.

“Mack, where’s Sal?”

“He’s on watch, he didn’t want to come,” Mack says simply.

“What are we going to do about him? I just don’t see this ending well! I thought maybe it would with Sally in the picture, but he doesn’t seem into her,” I say, shaking my head.

“He’s going to be a problem. But we’re not going to think about him tonight. Let’s blow this place,” he says. Looking around, everyone is doing their own thing. Smiling, you better believe, I want some alone time with this man.

“Let’s go.”

We head to the deck, and everyone hoots and hollers just being silly. Mack bends down and kisses me quickly and sweeps me off my feet. Laughing, Mack carries me through the house to our bedroom door. He juggles me in his arms and opens the door. He kicks the door shut behind us. We fall onto the bed, looking up at Mack, I know I will never get tired of this. He is mine. I am his.

Slowly he lowers himself to me, kissing me first on the lips, nipping a little. Arching into him, I wrap my arms around his neck, sliding my tongue around his. Moaning, I cannot get enough of him. He slowly unzips my dress and moves it down over my breasts. He slowly kisses his way down my neck to my collarbone. He gets to my breast and nips at my nipple. Wiggling underneath him, I try and get his shirt off him. He chuckles and takes it off. Looking at his hard chest, my hands run over him. Pulling me up, he takes my dress the rest of the way off me. He picks me up, still kissing me and heads in to the bathroom. He lets me slide down his hard body, I can feel how ready he is. That just makes me want him more.

Turning the water on, I take the opportunity to undo his jeans. Sliding my hand in, I grip him, tugging a little bit. He growls and smashes his lips to mine. I work his pants and boxers all the way off and they pool at our feet. He kisses down my chest, paying special attention to each breast sucking hard. We make it into the shower in no time. Mack slowly kisses my stomach and makes his way down, sucking my clit hard into his mouth. I reach for the shower walls before my knees buckle. My left hand grabs his hair and pulls, which only makes him suck harder. Damn, I am going to come before he even gets inside me. He slowly stands up and turns me around. Grabbing my arms, he laces our hands together and enters me from behind. He thrusts all the way inside. Standing there, he lets me get used to his size.

Slowly he starts moving inside of me, I reach back and hold onto his hip. He bends down to gently suck on my neck while moving inside me.

I pant, “I love you, Mack.”

He starts to move faster into me. “I love you, you’re my heart, Egypt.” I grind back against him and it doesn’t take long for me to come. Not being able to hold it any longer, I let it go. Mack smacks me on my ass and the pain makes me come a little harder. He comes at the same time. He bites down on my shoulder and I feel him fill me.  He leans heavily on me, which makes me lean against the wall. We are breathing hard. That was so explosive. He slowly backs up and I feel him leave me. Turning around, I wrap my arms around him. He kisses me softly and carries me to the bed dripping wet. Going back to the bathroom, he comes back out with towels. He dries me off gently down my stomach and below.

After he is done, I grab a towel and dry him off. Turning him around, I slowly dry off the back of him. He has a few scars on his back. I slowly trace them with my fingers. He tenses up, but soon relaxes. He turns around and wraps me in his arms. I feel so loved and safe. I get to see a side of Mack that no one else does.

We get into bed with a little fuss. I end up falling on top of him.

“I wish we had more time alone together.”

“I know what you mean. I just don’t have enough time to do what I want with you,” he says.

Laughing, I know the feeling. Life just gets in the way. I feel his hand between my legs, I shiver. Tonight promises to be a long, hard night.