Strengthen What Remains (Book 2): A Time to Endure (7 page)

He
was relieved that the fighting was not at DeLynn house, but it was close.
Despite the fear that churned in his gut, he determined to stay nearby. He was
surprised at his determination and relative calm. Perhaps it was because no one
knew he was there and that he could hunker down and
observe
without being judged.

Behind
the van the ground was steep and covered in wet snow. The gang hid behind the
vehicle, but had no easy route of escape and the soldiers outnumbered them.
Using the gully and woods along the road, the military cautiously advanced and,
as they did, they gained greater angle of fire.

Zach
spotted Caden with Sheriff Hoover and several men in the gully below him. Staying
low, three of the men ran down the slope to a cluster of trees near the edge of
the road. From there Zach caught a glimpse as they entered the forest. The
young man knelt down behind a bush as the soldiers hurried past his position.
It was soon clear these three were moving to a location where they could
overlook the gang. Zach crawled to a good spot behind a large stump, ready to
watch the unfolding battle as the soldiers on the hill with him opened fire.

Two
of the gang fell immediately. Three others fled up the steep slope, falling to
their hands and knees as they ran in a panic for the cover of the trees.

Movement
near the van caught Zach’s attention, but whatever it was quickly disappeared
into darkness.

*
              
*
              
*

Hoover
was beyond the vehicle on his way into the woods.

Caden
called out to his men, “Stay close to them, but don’t be heroic. They’re hurt,
probably low on ammo and cold. We can afford to wait for reinforcements before
moving in.”

With
that, Staff Sergeant Fletcher led the squad into the forest leaving Caden and
one soldier behind to examine the van and bodies.

“What’s
the ETA on second squad,” Caden called over the radio.

“We’re
a couple of miles away…be there in two minutes,” Brooks replied.

The
private pointed to the van. A small fire flickered inside. “Should I check it
out?”

Gun
in hand, Caden stepped closer to the soldier and glanced at the name tag.

“Sure,
Private Collins, let’s check it out” With the young man a step ahead they
approached the van.

A
thunderous boom filled the air.

Caden
gasped as he hit the snowy pavement hard. He tried to stand, but couldn’t.
Something was on his legs. Heat, like an oven, radiated from flames a few feet
away. It was hard to see, harder to think. Caden pushed the smoldering bulk on
his legs. It was soft.

The solder with me?
“Private,
are you okay?” When Caden nudged him again he felt something wet and warm. “If
you can, I need you to….”

Movement
at the edge of the woods caught Caden’s attention. He squinted trying to see
who it was.

The
man laughed and said something in Spanish.

He’s not a soldier.

Caden’s
vision cleared enough to see the young man wave a pistol as he sauntered toward
him.

He
reached for his holster.

It
was empty.

His
eyes darted, looking for the gun, but couldn’t find it in the snow.

The
man neared. Tattoos covered his neck and face. His eyes were as cold as the
night.

Desperately,
Caden tried to come up with a plan.

A
smile spread across the man’s face. “Beg me for your life,” he said with a heavy
Hispanic accent.

Caden
stared at him without a word.

Bang.

Caden
flinched. Blood flowed from the soldier across Caden’s legs.

“Beg.”

Caden
shook his head slowly.

The
punk stepped closer and pointed the gun at Caden’s face.

An
arrow burst from the man’s chest. With a lurid scream he staggered backwards,
fired the gun into the ground and collapsed in a heap.

Confused,
Caden pushed the soldier off his legs and stood. Dizzy, he stumbled as darkness
engulfed him.

*
              
*
              
*

 
Images came in flashes, blood in the snow,
soldiers, and a boy with a bow. Gradually Caden became aware of a light shining
in his eye. He swatted at it.

“Good,
you’re awake.” Dr. Scott shined the light in Caden’s other eye.

“What?”
Caden mumbled and again slapped at the instrument.

Hoover
stepped into his view. “There was an explosion. We’re not sure whether it was
an accident or what, but Simon’s van would have had both gunpowder and primer
in it.”

“I
remember the blast. The soldier with me?”

“Dead,
I’m afraid,” Hoover frowned.

Caden
nodded and then rubbed his sore head. Realizing he was on a gurney in the
hospital hallway he swung his legs over the side and slowly sat up. He
struggled to stand, despite the protests of the doctor but, as dizziness caused
him to wobble, he quickly sat in a nearby chair. “How long was I out?” He
glanced at his arms and legs. “Was I hurt?”

“You
just got here,” Dr Scott said. “I think you have a grade three concussion. You
should be fine, just try to remember that I have better things to do than fix
your head every time you decide to hit it against something.”

He
felt like saying, “Yes ma’am,” but just nodded his sore head. “I seem to
remember an arrow.”

Hoover
sighed and shook his head. “I can’t decide whether the kid is a hero or a
suspect. Zach used a bow to shoot the punk who was threatening you…”

“I’m
going with hero,” Caden mumbled.

“…but
the road the gang was on would have taken them right past his trailer. It
leaves me wondering why the kid was in the woods and why was he armed.”

“I
think you’re a little too suspicious, Sheriff.” The doctor smiled.

“The
kid has a record and I can see him hiding or fencing stolen goods for the
gang.”

Caden
shrugged. “I’m just glad he was there. Did we capture any of the thugs and who
exactly are they?”

“We
haven’t figured that out yet,” Hoover said. “The only one we’ve captured is the
one Zach shot.”

Setting
the chart on the gurney, Scott said, “They’re prepping him for surgery now. Dr.
Winfield will be operating on him.” She shook her head. “This has been one
strange year. I’ll bet no doctor in town has removed an arrow in over a hundred
years.”

Looking
back to Hoover, Caden asked, “Did you recover any bodies.”

“Yes,
several.”

“One
of my soldiers is a police officer from Seattle. He recognized gang tattoos on
the shooters at the freeway church last month. I’ll have him look at the
bodies. I need to talk to Brooks.”

“He’s
still finishing the mop up operation.”

Caden
looked at Hoover. “Did you bring me here?”

“No,
Zach and another soldier brought you in. Brooks said after that he was…well…it
seems the soldier with you had a mother here in town.”

“I
should be there.” Caden stood. His head throbbed and he wobbled.

“No.
I’m thinking you’ve had enough action for one night. Brooks can handle the mop-up
and you can talk to the mom in the morning. I’ll take you home.”

He
didn’t protest.

*
              
*
              
*

 
Caden’s eyes shot open and darted around the
room. Quickly, he sat up. Sweat trickled from his brow, his breathing was rapid
and shallow. His ears listened for trouble. He was alone in his bedroom. From
somewhere in the house came his sister’s laughter. A nightmare of battle and
death faded from his memory.

Gradually
he moved ample covers from his lower body. The chill of the room sent a shudder
through him, but the sun shining in the window was bright. For a moment he was
angry that no one had awakened him, but his sore head and multiple bruises told
him he needed the rest. He stepped to the window. There wasn’t a cloud to be
seen. The contrast between the blue sky and the snow covered world below was
astonishing. Winter in D.C. had always been a nuisance, but here it was
striking and beautiful, a portrait in white snow, blue sky and evergreen trees.
Remembering the events of last night he was thankful to be there and see it. He
sighed recalling the fallen soldier and the visit he would have to make to a
mother early this morning.

With
the chill in his mood came the sudden realization that it really was cool in
his room. He turned on a light just to be sure there was power. He dressed
quickly.

Stepping
from the room, he nearly collided with Maria. “I was just coming to check on
you.” In her arms was a well-bundled Adam.

“I’m
fine. A little bruised and the head is tender, but I’ll live.”

“Dr.
Scott wants to see you today to make sure there are no clots or other
problems.” She shifted the baby in her arms.

“I’ll
put her on the list of people to see. Why is it so cold up here?”

Maria
sighed and rolled her eyes. “The news is reporting that prices are going up and
your dad is concerned we won’t have enough cash to pay the electric bill.”

Caden
wrinkled his brow.

“He’s
checking to see if the whole house can be heated with just the wood stove and
fireplace.”

Apparently the answer
is no.
Caden
rubbed his sore head. “Prices are going up and we need to pay the electric bill
with dollars.”

“The
news calls it inflation, but your dad calls it a monetary collapse.”

“Yeah,
I’ve heard others call it that.” He squeezed Maria’s hand. “After I wash up we
can discuss economics and have breakfast beside the fireplace.”

She
smiled. “Sounds like fun.”

Both
the chill and the realization that he was hungry hurried his wash and shave. As
he finished, Caden remembered a weekend years ago when his father turned off
the electricity. It had been a survival experiment, but as a seven or eight
year old it was fun, like camping, but with a softer bed. Today’s experiment in
simple living was just annoying.

Caden
swung the door at the bottom of the stairs and the warmth embraced him.
This is why the upstairs is so cold.
He
left the door wide open.

 
In the living room the couch and chairs had
been pushed closer to the fireplace. Sue read in one. Nikki, the puppy, lay
lengthwise in front of the fire. A few feet away Adam, on hands and knees,
stared at the dog and rocked back and forth.

“Where
is everyone?” Caden asked.

Sue
set the book on her rounded belly. “Your Mom and Maria are in the kitchen. Dad
is in the barn. Lisa is with David at the armory.”

Caden
smiled as he wandered toward the kitchen. His little sister was moving faster
than he was with Maria.
Perhaps, I should
change that and finalize plans for the wedding.

Nikki
followed Caden as he headed for the kitchen. Passing Adam, the pup licked the
baby across the face.

The
kitchen was warm, warmer than the living room, smelled
good
and Maria was there. He walked to where she stood at the stove preparing
breakfast and kissed her on the cheek.

As
the two talked, his mother came in with the morning eggs.

Nikki
laid
down under the table.

“Everyone
has eaten except you,” Maria said, “but I’ll have your breakfast ready in a
minute. Do you want to eat in here? It’s warmer.”

Caden
nodded.

Trevor
entered with a milk pail. “Glad to see you’re alive and awake.” They talked
briefly then the older man headed back to the barn.

His
mother poured the milk into several containers and retrieved a strange device
from the cabinet. It looked like a cross between a coffee grinder and a
blender.

“What’s
that?” Caden asked.

“A
butter churn.”

Caden
watched his mother whip the milk until Maria brought him a plate of eggs,
pancakes, corn bread and coffee on a tray.

Between
bites he asked, “Is there any sausage?”

“No,”
Maria walked back to the counter.

“Bacon?”

“No.”

“Bread?”

“Cornbread.”

“Maple
syrup for the pancakes?”

“No,
but we have plenty of butter.” His mother whipped the milk in the butter churn.

“Or
honey,” Maria added.

His
stomach grumbled. “Can I get some of each?”

“Sure.”
Maria brought a plastic container filled with soft white butter and a jar of
honey. She pointed to his cup. “We even have cream, but only a little more
coffee.”

“Really,
we’re low on coffee? I thought we had plenty.”

Maria
shook her head. “There’s only one can left in the pantry.”

The
availability of cream and butter rolled around in Caden’s mind for a moment.
Of course
.
“I
guess we’re lucky we have the cow.”

Maria
smiled. “Sue and I named her Bluebell.”

Caden
smiled back. Naming a cow they might someday eat was a bad idea. “Did you name
the calf?”

“Your
dad said to wait. I’m not sure why.”

Caden
grinned, but said nothing. He was nearly done eating when the phone vibrated in
his pocket. Looking at the display he saw it was Brooks and quickly answered
it.

“I
wanted to let you know Sergeant Palmer, the man from the Seattle PD, is on his
way to the hospital. He’ll check out the tattoos, but he doesn’t know enough
Spanish to do an interrogation.”

“Let
the sheriff do that.”

“Their
only Spanish-speaking deputy was killed during the golden horde chaos….”

“Golden
what?”

“Golden
horde, that’s what people call the mass exodus from the cities during the
attacks. The only bi-lingual deputy was killed at the time. They’re looking for
someone reliable.”

Caden
looked at Maria. She had spoken only English around him, but he knew her family
ancestry was from Mexico. “Maria do you speak Spanish?”

She
gave him a confused look. “It’s rusty, but yes. Why?”

“We
might need your help questioning the guy who tried to kill me.”

Her
eyes widened and mouth opened, but she said nothing.

“If
that is okay with you. Think about it.” He looked at the table and spoke into
the phone. “Did we have any other casualties?”

“Only
the one. The others were just minor wounds.”

“The
man we lost, his name was Collins, right?”

“Yes,
Richard Collins. I visited the mother last night. You don’t….”

“She’s
here in town…a neighbor. I should.”

Brooks
gave him the address. After breakfast Caden dressed in his class “A” uniform.
On his way out he paused in front of a full length mirror making sure every
ribbon and insignia were properly placed.

“You
look good. Are you going to visit the mother?” Maria stepped into his reflected
view.

Caden nodded.
                          

Maria
breathed deeply. “I’ll interpret if you need me.”

“Thank
you. Hopefully we won’t.” He kissed her then walked out the door.

On
the way into town, Caden spotted Zach and his sister as he passed the stream
where they set their traps. He stopped the car and walked back. “This is the
second time I’ve stopped to thank you.”

The
boy climbed the bank. Vicki followed with an intrigued look on her face.