

## Shattered Existence

by Cy Bishop

Copyright 2014 Cy Bishop

Smashwords Edition

With special thanks to:

God, my patient family, Google,

and Jessica Dodson for the fantastic cover

Prologue

"Aim lower." Dad reached over and pushed the muzzle of the rifle down a fraction.

Leigh squirmed to adjust her grip, her propped elbows grinding into the dust and dead grass she lay on. The jars on the broken, waist-high wall still wobbled in the crosshairs. She'd seen the black, shiny material withstand drops to the floor. She'd even seen an angry trader throw one at a wall. It had bounced to the ground intact. The only damage was a dent in the wall. If she wanted to shatter the empty jars, she'd have to hit them square on.

She yanked the trigger. The rifle slammed into her shoulder and jumped upward, aggravating the bruise from the last lesson. She winced.

The jars didn't flinch.

She scowled. "I missed."

Dad chuckled softly, a throaty sound. He leaned over her and moved her arms once more, correcting her position and filling her nostrils with the smell of musk and gunpowder. The same smell that lulled her to sleep each night when she crawled into bed between him and her mother, her little brother squirming in behind her.

He wouldn't squirm in the way this time. This was her time with their father. She was seven. Mom had finally agreed to let Dad teach her to shoot. She hadn't done so well on the first few lessons. But Leigh was determined to prove herself worthy.

If only the jars would cooperate.

"Now, exhale before you fire. And squeeze the trigger, like you're giving it a hug. Don't pull on it."

Leigh put her eye against the scope and tried to line up the crosshairs again. The jars still bounced. "I can't get it still."

"Exhale."

She breathed out slowly. As the air left her lungs, the jars stopped wobbling.

She squeezed. A spray of splinters marked the place she'd hit the wall beside one of the jars.

"Good. Closer." Dad reached over and adjusted her aim again. "Lower, remember? Aim low for up close, high for far away."

She obediently lowered the scope. Exhaled. The jar sat just above the crosshairs. She squeezed again.

The jar vanished.

"I got it?" she gasped, scarcely believing.

"Winged it. Nice shot." His voice remained low and steady as always, but she saw the pride in his eyes.

She loved making him look like that. She'd done good. She wanted to do more. "Maybe when I get really good, I can help you fight."

He chuckled again and ruffled her hair. "That won't be for a while."

"Maybe I could get really, super good. So good, no one would come after us." She looked through the scope again. "So good, if the creatures tried to get us, we could stop them."

He didn't say anything.

She lined up the shot and fired. Missed. She'd forgotten to exhale. Embarrassed, she quickly prepared the next shot and tried again. Another jar disappeared.

She looked up, ready to see the pride again, but sadness weighed his face down. Disappointment? But why? She'd made the shot.

He pushed her aim lower again. "Don't talk that way about the creatures."

"Why not?"

He didn't answer.

She frowned as she adjusted her position again. Her small hands kept sliding on the long rifle. Her brain still worked as she settled back in place. Something she'd said had made Dad unhappy. But her mind wouldn't let go of the thought. "Where did they come from? The creatures?"

He sighed. Sat up. "That's not important. Focus on your shooting."

"I want to know."

He was silent a moment longer before speaking. "It was a long time ago. My dad's dad was alive then. People lived everywhere, on hills and mountains, all over. They were in groups called countries, like our settlements, but much, much bigger. And those countries fought a lot."

His voice sounded like it did when he told a story at bedtime. "One country was little and not very strong. So people in that country tried to make a better weapon. Something so big, no one would fight them anymore."

She looked up with large eyes. "What was it?"

"We don't know. It blew up before they could finish." His gaze fixed in the distance. "That was the Event. It flattened everything. The only buildings that stayed up were in the deepest valleys."

"Where we live."

"That's right." He ruffled her hair again and directed her head back toward the rifle.

"Is that what made the creatures?" She lined up her aim. The jars bounced in the scope as she talked. "Because it blew up?"

"Yes." He paused. "Exhale, remember?"

She refocused, aimed. Exhaled. Fired. Hit the wall.

"Try again." He pushed the end of the rifle lower again. "There had always been dangerous animals, animals that would kill people. The ones closest to the Event began to... change."

"Into the creatures?"

"Yes. Some places were safe from them back when my grandfather was alive, but the things grew. They spread. Now they're everywhere."

"Didn't anyone try to fight them?"

"They tried." He fell silent again for a long time.

Leigh looked up at him to see the sad look on his face. She'd said something wrong again.

He reached down and helped her sit up, facing him squarely. "Listen to me, honey. There's something you need to understand. The creatures are scary, right?"

She nodded. She still sometimes woke up in the middle of the night to hear claws scraping against the walls. Trying to get in. To get them.

"They are scary," he reaffirmed. "But they aren't the biggest danger here. See, the creatures are predictable. They come out only after the sun goes down. They try to get people. They go away before the sun comes up. We always know that's what they're going to do, and as long as we make our walls strong, they can't reach us."

He put a hand on her shoulder. His voice sounded thicker. "Understand? Predictable. They won't just shoot you for passing them on the road and looking at them wrong. They won't pretend to be nice so they can scam you out of something you need. They won't act like your friend only to rob and hurt you.

"The real danger isn't the creatures. It's the people."

Chapter 1

Leigh squinted past the ruins surrounding her home at the quickly-descending sun. Six minutes, maybe seven. That's all the time she had before night fell, drawing out the creatures.

Only a fool would leave so close to dark. But she'd run out of nails with one panel left to fix in place, to secure the home and protect them, to keep them alive one night longer. She'd have to run for it.

After hastily securing the door behind her with the two bolts that locked from outside, she took off at a run, ponytail swishing and a small bag of food banging against her thigh with each stride. Cole would get back home before she returned from the market. Her husband would worry. But she'd be back before dark. She had to be.

The last remnants of stubborn wall partitions jutted above what few buildings remained intact, casting bizarre shadows over her path as she ran. Stories, they used to be called. Her father once told her that his father's father had seen them with his own eyes: buildings stacked on top of each other two, even three stories high. Fantasies and fairy tales.

A particularly dark shadow crossed the road ahead of her. Her heart skipped a beat, but no creature leapt at her. The sun still hovered in the sky, though not for much longer. She turned her focus ahead and pressed on faster. Her feet automatically located the smooth spots in the pavement, weaving one way, then the other, to avoid tripping over the places where the concrete rose in jagged mountains, ready to catch the unwary foot. The roads used to accommodate machines, devices for travel, if her father's tales were to be believed. All long gone now. All melted down in the early days after the Event. Just like almost anything else made of metal. They'd had to.

The marketplace stood just ahead. She felt a surge of gratitude once again that Cole had managed to secure them a home along the same road as the gathering space, and not too far from it, either. As she'd suspected, most of the selling booths had already closed for the night. To her right stood the metalworker's home, metal-plated boards closing off the entrance. Same for the herbmixer's booth, a couple other swappers, everyone. Except for Max. She smiled. She could always count on Max to stay open until the last minute.

The bulky man spotted her just as he lifted the metal plating to close off his booth's window. His bristly chin wrinkled under a frown. "Leigh? The heck are you doing out?"

She slapped her bag down on the counter, her other hand twitching nervously at her side, tapping a rhythm of three on her thigh. A fresh apple rolled out of the bag. She'd heard that people used to think the biggest problem after society crumbled would be finding food. Funny, then, that food was plentiful enough to be used as currency. The traders constantly brought in an abundance of vacuum-sealed food jars from massive, centuries-old stockpiles buried deep beneath the distant mountains, along with fruits and bread from high-walled farms that had been built over generations into the same mountains' sides. "Three apples and two food jars, unknown. I need a bag of fourteen solids."

"Are you nuts? Have you seen the sun?"

"Then give me the nails so I can get back." Her fingers tapped again. "It's a fair trade."

He stared at her a moment longer, then grabbed a small bag from a shelf and threw it at her, swiping her bag from the counter at the same time.

"Thank you!" she shouted, already running back to her street. His grumbles became muted behind her as he pushed the cover into place. An electric whir confirmed what most people suspected; Max had gotten his hands on one of those devices that puts screws and nails into the wall automatically.

Only half the sun remained above the horizon now. Leigh doubled down, pushing her legs harder. Shadows stretched long around her, taunting her with whispers of the coming dark. She clenched her teeth, ignored the stitch in her side, pushed even harder. Had to make it home. She'd make it. She would.

Her foot caught a lump of upraised concrete. She stumbled, struggling to keep her balance, but landed heavily on her hands and knees. Pebbles cut her flesh. The bag rattled across the pavement, spilling nails.

Her heart slammed against her ribs. "No, no," she whispered, scrambling after them and stuffing them back in as fast as she could, ignoring the stinging pain in her knees and palms. She didn't look up at the sun. Didn't need to. She could feel it disappearing. Hear the scraping of claws, eager to emerge and hunt.

Back on her feet. Running. Gasping for air. Sweat stinging her eyes. Not daring to slow.

Home. She was safe. She fumbled with the key, jammed it in. First lock open. Second lock open. Relief washed over her as she turned the handle.

Nothing.

She slapped her hands against the door, the bag of nails rattling. "Cole! Cole, it's me! Let me in!"

An exclamation came from the other side of the door, the tenor sound muffled by the thick metal. Another lock clicked free, then another.

Leigh looked over her shoulder. Only a glimmer of light shone above the distant hills. "Come on, open it!" Her brain knew that he was working as fast as he could, but every square inch of her body screamed. _Open the door get inside by all that is good and holy open the door OPEN IT NOW!_

The door flew open. Cole caught her with one arm and spun her inside, then slapped the door shut behind them, shoving the locks back home as fast as he could. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close.

Leigh closed her eyes and struggled to breathe steadily, to calm down her frantic heartbeat. Her lungs burned as badly as the stitch in her side. Her fingers shook too badly to tap the rhythm they wanted to.

"I got home, and you weren't here," Cole whispered into her neck. Blond curls peeked out from under his backwards cap. His grubby tank top smelled of sweat and him. "I thought—I wasn't sure, and I wanted to go look for you, but the sun—"

"I know." She squeezed him, then turned, her breathing finally leveling out. Her fingers tapped on her thigh.

The front room was small. An upended table was the only furnishing, forming a barrier between the door and the entrance to the rest of the house. Behind the table stood a doorway leading to the long hall down the full length of the west side. A few bags rested in the opposite corner, near the door, evidence of Cole's daily collection. A handful of flickering candles provided the only illumination, as was the case with the whole house. Cole had apparently gone through and lit them all, probably to give himself something to do rather than worrying about her.

She strode around the barrier and down the hallway. "Come on. We've got one more wall to secure."

"I told you we were going to run out of nails."

She bit back irritation. "I had to use more on one section than I expected. It should've been fine."

The weak section stood along the back end. A thin sheet of metal plating rested beside it, ready and waiting to be secured in place over the damaged portion of wall. The last vestiges of light punctuated the section, glowing through various clawed-out holes.

They worked in silent unison, lifting the new wall partition into place over the damaged section, hammering the nails in to secure it, checking it with a solid yank to be sure it wouldn't budge.

Cole leaned back and admired their handiwork. "Good. Solid."

She exhaled, adrenaline finally wearing off. But it was settled now. The house was secure. They could eat dinner and climb in bed, safe for another night. Her hands smoothed over her tight ponytail, then dropped to her sides and tapped. "That was closer than I like."

His boyish half-grin, the one that still managed to make her melt even after all these years, turned in her direction. He caught her by the small of the back and pulled her against him. "I don't mind things close."

She swatted him and pulled his backwards cap around to the front. "Don't be a scoundrel."

He liberated one hand and returned the cap to the back. Then he waggled his eyebrows and dipped her into a low kiss.

She let herself melt into his embrace, allowing the moment of passion, twisting her fingers in his stubborn blond curls. For that moment, the house didn't exist, the dark didn't exist, the danger, the rough world around them—none of it mattered as they simply drank each other in.

He finally straightened. "How long have you been tapping?"

She looked down and realized her fingers were tapping again. Embarrassed, she forced them to stop. "Not long."

"Baloney. Are you out of your tea?"

"No."

He gave her a skeptical look.

"I'm not out," she insisted. His look persisted, and she finally gave. "There hasn't been time to gather the herbs, so I've been using half-doses for a few days. I'm fine."

"Clearly." He gave her hand a pointed look, and she realized she had resumed the tapping. She blushed and forced them still once more. Pressure built in her chest, tighter and tighter until her fingers finally tapped again, freeing the tension.

He sighed. "I'll take tomorrow off to go up the hill and collect the herbs."

She grabbed his arm. "You can't take a day off. The community needs your work."

"Then you'll have to go."

"I can't leave. The house needs reinforced. I need to sort your scrap and make trades. We need more wood for the front end of the house. And—"

He kissed her, effectively interrupting her train of thought. They lingered in the embrace, then he pulled back, arms still holding her close. "You need it, honey."

She sighed. "The house—"

"I'll have some of the others give us a hand." He studied her eyes for a moment. "We'll share our scrap in exchange for the work. We can gather more wood later, but your medicine can't wait."

Leigh hesitated a moment longer and realized her fingers were tapping again. She knew what she became without the medicine. Checking every lock three, even four times. Touching every wall to be sure they were secure. Anxiety crippling her until she could barely breathe. Or pushing her into desperate, frantic outbursts, panic overwhelming her senses until she could hardly remember what she'd said or done moments before.

She couldn't let that happen again. "Fine. I'll leave early. Maybe I can be back in time to drop the herbs off with Sal and help finish the house."

He kissed her again. "Good. I like your thighs the way they are, and I can't have you tapping holes straight through them."

She swatted his arm and pushed him away. "Brat."

He pulled her back in, smooshing kisses on her cheeks. "Honey-bun, sweetie-pie, sugar-bear..."

"Quit being such a dork!" she giggled.

"Never!" He tackled her onto the floor and kissed her deeply.

* * *

Leigh opened her eyes in blackness. Faint snores rattled beside her. She leaned down, brushed a light kiss on her husband's cheek, then stood. She finished her morning routine quickly, trying to stay quiet in the bathroom to avoid waking Cole early.

Without needing any light, she slipped through the workroom and into the kitchen. Once there, she located what she needed by feel. She munched on a chunk of bread while she dropped an apple and a small unlabeled jar, probably tuna, in a bag with a travel jar opener, the tool needed to puncture the vacuum seal and release the lid. Digging into the back of the cupboard, she found her husband's stash of Twinkies and pulled out a pack. The greasy, spongy yellow cakes weren't good for much except for quick bursts of energy and satisfying sweet tooth cravings. She needed both just then. As she ingested the sticky sugar, she filled a water bottle and added it to the food bag.

A faint scraping noise came from outside.

She looked where she knew the hallway was, the one running from the kitchen to the back of the house and around to the front on the other side, making it so an extra wall sat between the creatures and them in their bedroom through the night. No light through the puncture holes. The sun hadn't risen yet.

_Scree. Screeee_.

Her movements slowed. She secured the food bag to her side. Found a second bag, a larger one, for the herbs she'd be collecting. Folded it into her pocket. All the while with her eyes fixed on the pitch-black hallway. Fully aware of the .38 Special nestled against the small of her back.

_Skritch_.

Leigh's heart skipped a beat at the unmistakable sound of claw connecting with metal. Her fingers tapped against her thigh while the other hand inched closer to the gun.

_Skritch. Chunk_.

She couldn't see, but her mind saw it perfectly. Another hole in the wall. A claw penetrating metal. Digging, tearing, struggling to create a bigger hole.

Coming to get her.

Her heart fluttered faster, but her body remained still. Waiting. Ready.

_Scree. Skritch_.

She drew in a breath, low and steady. Her irrational side screamed at her to light a candle so she could see the oncoming threat. She silenced it with a sharp mental blow. Lighting a candle now would only encourage it—them?—onward.

_Chunk_.

Wood splintered. Her breath caught. Her arm moved without command, drawing her gun and pointing it down the hallway. Images of protruding claws, digging, grasping, tearing to get to her floated before her eyes in the blackness. She closed them, but that made no difference. She didn't want to see. If a creature was close enough for her to see it, she'd be dead.

The skritching sounds came more frantic now. It found a weakness and dug in with gusto, eager to enter.

She shouldn't have worried about getting up early for the tea. She wouldn't live long enough for it to matter.

Leigh winced internally and banished the morbid thought, but it pushed back, growing as it went. Which protector would be the one to find the hole in their wall? Who would clean their blood off the floor and walls? Who would take their generator home?

Why hadn't she heard the creature break through yet?

She blinked. The hall stood silent. A faint light glowed through multiple puncture points, flooding through one much larger than the others, almost head-sized.

Light.

The breath she'd been holding left her lungs in a rush. The sun was up. The creatures had gone.

She stumbled back until she found a solid counter to lean against. Closed her eyes. The gun dropped to her side. She gave herself a moment, breathing deeply to coax her heart back into a normal rhythm.

That came close, far too close for comfort. She straightened. Tucked the gun away. Checked the food bag at her side. She'd have to leave now to make sure she was back in time to help scavenge some new wood for that section of the wall. No way it'd survive another night with only metal reinforcement. They'd have to replace the entire panel.

With renewed sense of purpose, she hurried along the dim hallways to the front room. She paused beside the front door, listening closely. The day gradually brightened, but she didn't want to risk running into any stragglers. The rational part of her brain pointed out that no one had ever heard of the creatures attacking after sunrise, but the irrational part insisted on a lingering moment, just to be sure.

Annoyed, she shut both of them up and grabbed the locks decisively. Her heart seemed in tune with the irrational side, skipping slightly at the thought that a creature could be hovering near the doorframe, waiting. She clenched her teeth and determined to ignore the idea. It was silly, anyway.

Leigh pulled the door open and proved the rational part right. The road stood empty, silent in the soft dawning glow. She locked the door behind her and hurried on her way, turning left to head for the bordering hills to the south instead of continuing straight west toward the marketplace.

No one else stirred at this hour. The sun continued its gradual ascent, shadows reluctantly shrinking in its path. Her eyes took in the fresh damage surrounding her. Already broken walls reduced to crumbles. Strong walls scraped and broken. She saw a gaping hole in the side of one house as she passed. Old damage, standing as testimony to a previous tenant? Or fresh, with blood and gore spattering the walls as the only remaining evidence of the previous night's violence?

A shudder passed through her. She quickened her pace past the house. It wouldn't have normally bothered her so much, but she'd seen her own household come too close to a similar fate that very morning. That house would either become home to a new owner or scrap and salvage for the rest of the community. If the latter proved true, then by the end of the week, nothing would be left but a cracked cement foundation and a handful of boards too broken to use. She'd bet money on that.

Her surroundings gradually faded into a blur around her. A quarter-hour passed before she reached the edge of the community, and a full hour before she left the last vestiges of skeletal buildings behind her, emerging onto a wide, shattered road leading the rest of the way up the hill and out of the valley. No structures remained from here on, just broken remains and the occasional waist-high wall, damaged but clinging to existence. Toppled trees in the distance formed a uniform bed of rotting wood and dead leaves. They all pointed north, testifying to the direction of the Event's blast.

Leigh dug out her water bottle, took a couple swigs, and returned it to her bag, all without slowing her stride. It was unlikely she'd run into anyone else out here, but if she did, odds favored such a person being up to no good. The sooner she got what she needed and returned to the security of the community, the better.

Four more hours passed before the ground began sloping gradually downward. She slowed her pace for the first time, looking into the valley below her. Her fingers tapped against her leg. The closest settlement to her community. The herbs she needed grew in a field on the other side of the settlement. It'd be faster to walk straight through it, but she knew better. She and Cole had passed through that place once before they found their community and found it particularly nasty, even more so than most settlements. Best to keep her distance, as usual.

She left the broken road and picked her way across uneven dirt and rock, moving at a slower but still even pace. The path she chose gave the settlement a fair berth; with any luck, no one would spot her and decide to investigate.

"Well, hello there!"

She spun to face the voice, one hand tapping and the other reaching toward her gun.

A man stepped out from behind a half-broken wall, hands raised. "Easy, there. Didn't mean to startle you, miss." He grinned, displaying broken and rotting teeth in better shape than his clothes. "Not used to seeing travelers this far out. You looking for something in particular?"

"Just passing by." She began walking again, hoping to end the conversation, but didn't turn her back on him.

"Slow down, there. I still have a question for you."

Her feet slowed. Decision time. If she kept walking now, he might decide her rude and shoot her just for offending him. Or he might just brush it off and let her be. Hard to say.

A loud click told her everything she needed. She raised her hands and studied him, making an assessment of the weapon now in his hand. Revolver, short nose. Short range, unless he was a remarkably good shot. But the fact that he bothered cocking the gun told her he was more interested in show and flash than functionality. Still could go either way.

He smiled again. "See, that's not so hard. Come on back over here so I don't have to shout."

Tension built in her chest. Her fingertips twitched, tapping at the air. A test. He'd see how she obeyed. She took a few steps forward, but still maintained a decent distance between them. Ball back in his court.

He waved the gun emphatically. "I said, come _here_."

So it would be like that. Her body relaxed, but she kept her shoulders high to hide it. She approached slowly until she was in arm's reach. "What do you want?"

"Well, that's the question, there." He rubbed his jaw as if in thought. "We don't see many travelers here, 'specially not new faces. Just folks who're trying to find a new life, meaning they got all they own with them. Or traders. Who got nothing but valuables with them, too."

He paused and grinned, apparently waiting for her to make the connection.

She'd made it. She wasn't interested in playing his game, though. She raised her eyebrows, feigning ignorance. "What do you mean?"

"I mean you don't seem to have lots of bags on you, so I reckon you're from one of them rich cities, some place that still uses the moneys. I think I'd like to have me some of the moneys, myself."

Her chest tightened more. She shook her head. "I don't have anything like that. I'm not a traveler or a trader. I come from the settlement back there." She gestured with one hand back the way she'd come. "I'm sick. There's a medicinal herb growing in the field over there." She motioned with her head to the other side of the settlement. "I'm not out here because I'm rich. I'm out here because I have to get that herb to stay well. That's all."

He mulled this over, then shook the gun. "I think you're lying. Only rich folks can afford leaving their work for a day. Hand over the moneys."

Her fingertips twitched.

She took a deep breath. "I'm telling the truth. I really can't afford to leave my work, but I have to. That's how sick I am. Please, just let me go on my way."

"I ain't falling for that! Give me the moneys!"

She put on an expression of fear, but her eyes evaluated his closely. He was an idiot, but an earnest idiot. If he figured out she had nothing of value, he'd shoot. She could see it in his eyes.

"I'm not worth your time. I promise you that."

He stepped closer and jammed the gun in her face. "I said, hand it over!"

Pressure exploded in her chest. The gun flew. Limbs flashed around her. The sky darkened, then lightened again.

"Don't!" the man squeaked. "Please, don't hurt me!"

Leigh blinked. The man lay on the ground. Blood trickled from his nose. His face drained of all other color beneath the streaks of dirt, creating a grim visage. She knelt over him, one knee planted squarely in his chest. The other knee pinned one of his hands to the ground. Her right hand pressed his gun under his chin, and her left hand tapped wildly on her leg.

She took a deep breath. Another. The tension in her chest gradually decreased, though it didn't go away entirely.

"Please..." His eyes reflected genuine terror. He hadn't expected her to fight back. Idiot should never have let her get in arm's reach.

She leaned closer to his face. Her voice shook as she spoke. "I told you I'm sick and in need of medicine. You _really_ thought it wise to try something with me?"

He whimpered.

The tension built again. Something inside, something deep and dark, hissed a whisper in her ear. Do it. Pull the trigger. He deserves it. Anyone else would've blown him beyond by now.

She clenched her jaw. Jumped to her feet, getting a good distance between her and the would-be thief. Threw the gun as hard as she could toward the bowing forest. Then turned and ran.

The sooner she reached that field, the better. She'd lost control once. If she didn't get her medicine soon, it would happen again.

Her fingers rattled against her leg at a madcap pace as her feet stumbled over dips and bumps, rocks and clods. She barely took in her surroundings, struggling to keep her mind focused. Get to the field. Collect the herbs. Get home safely.

She made it five feet into the field before her location finally registered. Shaking fingers dug out the bag. Had she really let it get this bad? She'd been an idiot, thinking the partial doses would keep her balanced.

If only she didn't have to come so far, take so much time out of the day just to collect the needed ingredients. Sal had tried once to coax some medicinal herbs to grow on one of the few narrow patches of bare dirt scattered between buildings in their community. What didn't get trampled and torn overnight came up weak and brown, no matter how much work Sal put into them. The old woman had finally given up, instead trading for what she needed from the scavengers.

All but Leigh's herbs. Because Leigh was the only one who needed them.

Her eyes scanned the multi-colored plants covering the field, searching for the specific ones she needed. In the past, she'd wondered if the place had once been deliberately kept, with the plants separated by type and carefully tended. The way the plants clumped together and gradually spread out to blend with one another suggested such a thing. But there was no time for pondering today.

There. Bright, vaguely star-shaped yellow flowers. She tore them free by the handful, stuffing them into the bag. All the while looking around, checking behind her for any pursuers and seeking out the other plant she needed.

Once she'd gathered enough of the flowers, she half-crawled over to the other plant she'd spotted. A low, green, bush-like plant with oval leaves. Digging with her fingers, she uprooted it, tore the entire root system free, and added the roots to her bag. She left the leaves where they fell and did the same with another nearby plant of the same type. A couple more finished the job, filling her bag to the top.

Now to get home, turn the finds over to Sal, and let the old herbmixer do her work.

Leigh started back on the same path she'd taken, but wisdom pushed her to broaden her path around the settlement. The new route added another hour to her journey, but if that weasel of a man had gone back to the village and collected some friends... She'd rather not risk another encounter.

Her fingers settled into a calmer pace, still rapid but no longer frantic. The tension in her chest eased as she hurried along. She had what she needed. She was on her way home. All would be well. She dug out the jar, opened it to find tuna as she'd suspected, and munched as she walked. Once finished, she polished off the apple as well, washing it all down with a few more swigs from the water bottle.

The new route took her through waist-high brush, further slowing her as she had to pick her way through the lightest areas, avoiding thicker brambles. A twig ahead of her twitched. She stopped, staring. Nothing moved, so she stepped forward again.

A bird shot from the bushes, flying into the bowed forest.

Leigh gasped. Blinked. Forced herself to breathe. Just a bird. Nothing dangerous. Just a bird. She tucked her gun back away, not entirely sure when she'd drawn it.

She had to get home, now.

Her mind wandered as she resumed her careful pace forward. She couldn't even remember the last time she'd seen a bird. Rumors said the creatures killed any living thing they found, animals, reptiles, and even insects, same as humans. So just like the humans, the animals of the world had learned a whole new way of living. What would that be like, hiding from the creatures as a bird? Smaller, easier to hide. No opposable thumbs, couldn't build a metal shelter. Maybe they hid in the bowed forest.

The bushes rose in front of her, growing higher as she got closer to the rotting woods. Blocked most of the view ahead. She pressed on, unconcerned. No one came this far out. She shoved some of the leaves and branches aside, wincing at the others that grabbed and scraped her skin as she pushed her way through.

Straight into a clearing where five men waited.

"That's her!"

Blood still caked the weasel-man's face beneath his nostrils, but most of his color had returned. He pointed an accusatory finger. "I told you she'd come this way!"

Leigh remained still, taking a quick evaluation. The other four men stood tall, broad-shouldered, greasy. Three of them kept glancing at the fourth. Peons looking to their leader for direction. The leader stood a bit taller than the others, but without a dominating size difference. A long scar decorated one cheek of a rat-like face. He probably fought dirty to keep his status. That, or he knew someone powerful.

Rat-face gave her an equally appraising once-over. "This scrawny bit's the one 'at took you down?"

Weasel-man's face reddened. "She caught me off-guard."

The other men burst out laughing.

Rat gave Weasel a dismissive shove. "Beat it." He pointed at Leigh. "You. Hand over what you got, and we'll let you go."

Pressure in her chest flashed a red warning behind Leigh's eyes. She took a deep breath, trying to keep in control. "I'll tell you what I told your man here. I'm sick. I came out here for medicine, and now I'm going back to my home. That's all. I don't want any trouble."

Rat pulled out a gun that was designed to look impressive, a bored look on his face. "Then don't give us any. Hand it over."

The other four quickly drew their own guns.

Leigh's fingers twitched. The pressure built.

"Your man seems convinced I have something of value. I don't." She tugged at the bags on her side. "Here, see?" She showed off the empty tuna jar and jar opener from the food bag. "And a water bottle. And the other bag..." She tugged it open and dug out a handful of the yellow flowers. "If you boys are that desperate for some pretty flowers, you've got a whole field near your settlement to pick them from."

One of the men snickered. Rat gave him a glare that shut him up. "We know you got moneys. Give 'em here, and we'll let you go. If you don't..." He cocked his gun. "I think you know what happens next."

The other four laughed loudly. Two of them slowly wandered outward, forming a perimeter around her.

Surrounded. The pressure built to the point she could barely breathe. Her fingers rattled manically against her leg. "You don't want to do this."

"I think I do." He stepped closer, waving the gun in a manner meant to be intimidating. "Give it!" He grabbed her arm.

Pressure exploded. Everything went red.

Chapter 2

Warm.

Leigh opened her eyes. Extra candles gave the bathroom a particularly warm glow, almost competing with the soothing heat of the water surrounding her.

She sat up and blinked. The bathtub? When did she get home? Her eyes moved fast, taking it all in, seeking out the answers to the question marks. Other than the extra candles, nothing seemed out of order in the shelves around her. One rag draped over the side of the tub, looking distinctively red. The water, she noted, seemed oddly pink, though it was hard to tell in the candlelight.

The door creaked. "Okay, honey, it's just me," Cole said, slowly stepping in from the bedroom. "It's Cole. I got that fresh bar of soap. You just stay there and let me take care of it. It's all right."

She stared at him. Blood streaked the front of his tank top. "Cole? What happened to you?"

He dropped to his knees beside the tub. "You're okay!" He grabbed her and pulled her into a fierce kiss.

She pushed free. "You're hurt!"

"It's not my blood." He glanced away and held out the soap. "I can help you finish cleaning up if you want."

"Cleaning up?" Leigh took another look at herself. Blood streaked her arms, caked under her fingernails. Her hands shook. "What happened?"

He stroked her hair. "I wish I knew. You stumbled back into the community about an hour ago. Just about scared me to death, too, walking in with that much blood on you. I couldn't get a straight sentence out of you, so I put you in here and made you a tea with what's left of your last batch. I guess it finally kicked in." He hesitated. "I'm not sure, but the best I could gather is someone, or a bunch of someones, attacked you on the road, and you left them all flat. Or almost all. It was hard to tell."

Horror coated Leigh's mind. She'd killed someone on the road? She remembered the weasel of a man, but she'd just thrown his gun away and left. He'd been fine. The way back...

She couldn't remember the way back. Her brain searched, but came up empty. Vague, blurry images passed her eyes, like something from a dream. Flashes of guns, men, a rat-like face. Too indistinct to make any sense. Her chest tightened.

"Hey." Cole lowered his head, catching her eyes. "I know you. You wouldn't attack anyone unless you or some other innocent person was in real danger. And you sure wouldn't kill anyone without good reason. If you did kill someone, it's because it needed to be done. You did what you had to do."

"How do you know?" Her voice shook.

He kissed her deeply. "Because I know you." He picked up the rag, rinsed it, then took her hand, working gently with the rag and soap to clean the blood off.

"The herbs?"

"Sal's making you a fresh batch now."

"How late is it?" She pushed away to stand. "We should be working on the house."

He gently eased her back down. "It's a bit before sundown. Folks pitched in and helped get things solid. We'll pay them back tomorrow."

"There was one panel by the kitchen—"

"And it's been replaced." He kissed her forehead. "Relax. It's all taken care of. Sal's bringing the tea after she closes shop, and everything else is taken care of. It's okay to take a minute to take care of yourself, you know."

"You managed well without me."

He grinned. "Never. Now let's finish cleaning you up. Then," he waggled his eyebrows, "it's my turn."

She laughed and splashed him, never happier to see a day come to an end.

Once Leigh finished cleaning up, she made one final walk through the house. The panels on both sides of the hallway perimeter were solid, like Cole said. They would owe a lot to other people in the community for the amount of work done there. She reached the front and checked the door. Solid and secure.

She turned to walk away and felt a smidge of pressure in her chest. Annoyed, she gritted her teeth and forced herself to take a step. More pressure. Another step. Her chest and fists tightened. She closed her eyes and told herself how silly she was being, but it was no use. She sighed and returned to the door, pressing on each lock three times. The pressure immediately subsided.

She turned once more just as a rattling knock hit the door, making her jump hard enough to set her heart into a frenzy. How late was it? Cole said it was still before sundown. "Who is it?"

"Sal. Now open up!"

Leigh quickly opened all the locks and swung the door open. "Come in."

"Not for a second, though I'm glad to see you looking better than you did before." The long-nosed woman shoved a tin into Leigh's hands. "Pay me tomorrow. I've got to get home."

"Thank you," Leigh called as the older woman hurried away. She glanced at the sun. Barely above the horizon. She pushed the door shut and redid the locks.

Cole joined her as she finished double—or rather, triple—checking the locks. He wrapped his arms around her. "Let's go make your tea."

"You just gave me a dose. What was left was enough for one full dose, so I'll be fine."

He looked down at her tapping fingers.

She shook her head. "I'll be fine. You know it takes a little time to get back to normal, but I'm better. Enough to get through to tomorrow. And if I take too much, it knocks me out."

"That's not a bad idea. Get some sleep."

She hesitated.

He gave her a squeeze. "Go on. I'll be right behind you."

"Okay." She sighed. "It has to be dark by now anyway."

_Thump_.

Leigh pulled back, her heart rate jumping once more. Cole's eyes narrowed as he faced the door, poised for action. She stepped past him, gun already in hand.

_Thump_. "Help! Let us in!"

Cole released her and hurried to the door, then looked back at her, a question in his eyes.

She kept her gun ready and shook her head.

"Please, it's dark! You have to let us in! We have children!"

His eyes widened slightly. He jerked his head toward the door.

Leigh's heart tore in two. Couldn't open the door. Dark had fallen. Too much risk. But...

She nodded.

Cole grabbed the locks and slid them open at top speed and yanked the door. Four people tumbled inside, a man and woman with a boy and girl in tow. Cole shoved them aside and slammed the door shut, frantically scrambling to restore the locks.

Leigh kept her gun steady while her eyes took in the intruders. Ratty clothes. Two bags, moderate size. Transients, probably. Sallow cheeks, sunken eyes. Undernourished. Terror on their faces. No visible weapons.

She slid her gun back into the waistband of her pants and ran to the back corner. She knocked aside the hidden panel, revealing the tiny closet set into the wall. "Come on," she ordered the woman, keeping her voice low. Unkempt hair, sagging cheeks. Older than Leigh and Cole, probably close to forty. Old for these days. "Get the kids."

The woman obeyed with the cringing movements of one accustomed to beatings. Leigh's eyes narrowed. The man behind them hurried to Cole's side and helped secure the last of the locks while Leigh pushed the woman and children down into the cramped space. She reached past them into a small box and pulled out a vial. She waved it in the woman's face. "For if they make it in. You'll hear if they do. The children first, then yourself."

The woman's eyes widened even further. Her lips quivered.

Leigh grabbed her hand and pushed the vial into it. "Not a sound." She slid the panel back in place, and the closet seamlessly blended with the rest of the wall.

"Best get in there, too, miss," the man said, accepting a gun from Cole and bracing himself behind the barrier.

Leigh strode behind him and pulled her favorite Winchester from the secured case at the side of the hallway. She took position and sighted the door, aiming just below the knob.

"Trust me," Cole said, his voice quiet, "we want her out here."

The three of them stood in silence, braced and ready. Seconds dragged by.

"Do you think they missed us?" the man whispered.

Something thumped against the wall just beside the door.

Leigh's heart jumped, then settled into a steady, rapid rhythm. She exhaled and tilted her head to the scope, her head and arms disconnected from the rest of her body's sudden panic.

Scratching sounds hissed along the doorframe, then the door itself. Another thump.

The man's eyes flew wide. "We should start shooting now, right? We can't let them—"

Cole slapped a hand over the man's mouth, then returned to bracing his Glock. Good stance, Leigh briefly noted. He was improving.

_Thump. Thump_. They were pushing harder now, no longer merely testing the door's strength but genuinely trying to get in. A quiet cry came from the closet.

"Shut them up!" the man hissed.

Leigh kept her focus on the door, feeling her teeth clench with irritation. That hadn't been the kids. Apparently neither the man nor the woman could keep their mouths shut. At least the little ones had enough sense to remain silent.

More scratching. More thumps. The whole door shuddered.

The man swallowed loudly. His gun trembled.

A claw punctured the door.

The man yelped and fell over backwards.

Cole and Leigh remained still, guns level. Ready.

"Shoot! Get them!" the man squeaked.

Cole kicked him and shook his head.

Leigh's teeth clenched tighter. Idiot would get them all killed, making so much noise. Didn't he know a little puncturing was to be expected?

Another claw broke through the door. Then another. More thumps. The entire front frame rattled.

The acrid smell of urine filled the space.

Leigh exhaled and refocused. Couldn't let the distractions get to her. In truth, part of her wanted to wet herself right alongside him. But she couldn't afford to give in to fear. She hadn't since she was a child. She wouldn't break that record now.

Another claw came through, sending one of the locks rattling to the ground, twisted in pieces.

Cole tensed, raising his gun higher.

She remained still. Her aim was true. If the door broke, she'd hit whatever came through.

As if it mattered. If that door broke, they'd all be dead before they could even get a shot off. She'd never seen one of the creatures before. She didn't intend to see one now. Everyone knew one fact about this world: if you get close enough to the creatures to see them, you're already dead. No one who saw them lived to tell about it.

If the creatures got through the door, she'd finally know what they looked like. And then she'd die.

She banished the thoughts. Focused on her breathing. Kept her aim steady.

Another lock fell free.

The man huddled behind them, hands over his face. Cowering.

Cole glanced at her. His eyes whispered his love.

She let her eyes whisper back, but only for a second before returning her focus to the door.

_Thump. Thump_. Another lock fell free.

Her arms tensed. This was it.

_Thump_.

Softer this time. She forced her breathing to remain steady, but her heartbeat skipped with renewed hope. Were they giving up?

_Thump. Scritch_.

And silence.

Seconds stretched into a full minute.

The man finally lifted his head, just an inch. "Did they... are they gone?"

Cole gestured for him to shut up.

They remained still, Leigh silently counting in her head. Two minutes. Three. Still nothing.

She straightened and returned her rifle to the box. "It's clear."

Leaving Cole to deal with the man, she crossed to the closet and crouched in front of it. "It's clear, you hear me? They're gone. They didn't get in. We're safe. I'm going to open the door now." She put her hands on the panel and paused. "Do you understand? It's me. You're safe. I'm opening the door."

No sound came from the other side. She swallowed. If the woman had become too frightened, she may have taken the poison already. Or the woman could be poised with vial at lips, ready to take it the instant the door opened for fear of breach. Leigh'd heard many stories of people dying that way. Just never in her own home.

Soft scraping noises came from behind her. She glanced back to see Cole had pulled the man together well enough to help salvage what they could of the locks and get them back into the door, turning the screws carefully to avoid making too much noise.

She returned to the task at hand. "Here we go," she continued, pushing the right spot to slide the panel aside. "The door is opening. It's me. You're safe."

Three pairs of eyes reflected the faint candlelight. The woman trembled. She clutched the vial tightly in hand.

The scraping noise stopped. Cole took the man by the arm, and the two vanished down the hallway. Hopefully to get the man cleaned up.

Leigh reached in and put her hand over the woman's. "I'll take that now."

The woman remained frozen in place, but Leigh pried the vial free and returned it to the box. "Come on out. It's over."

The girl crawled out first, ratty brown hair spilling over her shoulders. Her face seemed expressionless, but Leigh saw the faint narrowing of eyes in appraisal. She looked young, maybe ten or so. Her eyes revealed a child forced to grow up too quickly. The boy, with almost white hair fashioned in a choppy bowl cut and a generous helping of freckles, followed closely behind his older sister, pressing against her side. He was much younger, maybe four. The woman stayed put.

"Come if you're coming," Leigh said. She turned and marched back down the hallway, past the wet spot on the floor left as evidence of the man's terror. She swallowed her disgust and kept walking. Two sets of small footsteps pattered behind her, finally joined by a set of heavier, uneven ones.

She led the way down the hallway, across the back of the house, then back up the east side to the kitchen. The faint candlelight showed the built-in counters, sink, and stove that they'd miraculously found intact when they moved into the house, as well as a wooden spool of sorts standing upright to make a table with rickety plastic chairs around it. Two of them stayed intact only by chunks of wood boards salvaged from other sources. Leigh motioned toward the chairs. "Do you need food? Drink?"

The woman still trembled. She remained in the doorway, not moving or speaking.

"We haven't eaten all day," the girl finally said, perching on one of the chairs. She nodded to her brother. He pulled the woman over to one of the other chairs, helped her sit, then clambered into his own chair.

Leigh tossed four apples on the table and set to work cutting chunks of bread.

Cole emerged from the interior rooms, the shame-faced man behind him. His pants now featured a broad wet spot, but the smell had diminished.

"Sorry, uh, sorry about that," the man mumbled. "We thought we'd find some sort of shelter before it turned dark. We aren't used to..."

Leigh motioned for him to have a seat. "You can stay here tonight, but come morning you need to be on your way."

"Of course, miss. We understand. We're just grateful, you know, you taking us in like this. Most folks wouldn't risk opening their doors after sundown." He grabbed the remaining apple and stuffed his face.

"I'm Cole, and this is my wife, Leigh," Cole said, still standing near the doorway.

"Nate," the man said around a full mouth, half-standing to hold a hand out to Cole. They shook, and he gestured toward his family. "My wife, Tasha, and our kids, Suzy and Wyatt."

"Why were you out so late?" Leigh asked.

Cole frowned, giving her a look that was almost scolding. "Accidents happen."

"Plan the day right, and there's always time to find shelter. Or make some." Leigh put the bread slices on the table and folded her arms. "So?"

Nate lifted his hands in peace. "It's a fair question, miss. We weren't expecting to leave when we did, see. We come from the little town just the next valley to the south. I don't know what things're like here, but over there it's every man for himself, might makes right, you know what I'm saying? Now, I've got a family to protect, but I never was much good with my hands, and never could do more than just collect enough to keep a secure shelter over our heads. I never could get extra to trade with, so we never had much in the way of defense."

"The men always came and took what we had," Tasha said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Food, scrap, whatever we managed to scavenge. Only left us enough to keep the house in repair so they could keep us around to steal from. We have no weapons to protect ourselves, and no one would help. Everyone just looked out for themselves there."

"Today we didn't find enough scrap," Nate continued, swallowing the last of the apple. "They took it all, everything we had. They've turned downright nasty today, not sure why."

Leigh and Cole exchanged a glance.

The man continued, oblivious. "We'd heard your little community here looks out for those in need sometimes, and we thought if we ran, we could find somewhere safe before dark." He wiped his grimy forehead with the back of one hand. "Guess we underestimated how far it was. And, you know, short legs can't quite go as fast. Lucky we found you folks."

"Why'd you have to come so far in?" Leigh asked. There were at least four or five other homes between them and the south edge of the community. "There are plenty of other people that would've let you in."

"We knocked, but no one opened their doors," Nate replied around a mash of bread.

She felt Cole's eyes on her, but resisted the urge to meet them. She knew what he was thinking. None of their neighbors would've turned away a family with kids. The sun wouldn't have even been down when the family reached the first house. She wasn't sure why the man was lying, but they'd need to keep alert. Her fingers tapped against her legs in patterns of three, soothing her frayed nerves.

"Finish up the food, and we'll get you settled for the night. Next room's secure." She cleaned the knife and put it away before walking past Cole into the workroom.

A low rumble of voices punctuated Cole's continued chat with the family. She ignored the sounds as she gathered the most valuable items from the room—the suitcase-sized generator, the toolbag, and the radio—and hustled them through the bathroom into the bedroom. She returned with an armload of extra blankets which she left in a heap in the middle of the floor. Cole would be fine getting the family settled and extinguishing the remaining candles, she figured. She took care of her business in the bathroom and retreated to the security of the bedroom.

Weapon boxes lined the sides of the room, mostly holding her collection of rifles, but Cole's handguns took up a box of their own near the door. She kicked off her shoes next to the bed, which was made of two mattresses stacked on top of each other in the middle of the floor and covered with a hefty pile of blankets. Cole had talked about building some sort of fire pit with a vent out the roof so they could actually have some heat in their room, but she'd heard too many stories of fireplace vents creating an opening, a weak spot. Every time she heard about anyone building a fireplace in their home, the story always ended with their neighbors finding a breach into an empty, blood-spattered room in the morning. The creatures never bothered with the roofs unless they detected an opening. A weakness. A way in.

It just wasn't worth the risk.

She left her sleeveless shirt on, but discarded her pants and climbed under the covers, sliding her .38 under the pillow. She had nearly fallen asleep when Cole climbed in beside her, the faint smell of recently-extinguished candle wafting through the air. "All settled?" she whispered.

"Snug as bugs in rugs."

Her fingers tapped against her thigh. "First thing in the morning."

"They'll be gone, I promise." His hand slid over hers, and he kissed her. "Goodnight."

It's fine, she repeated to herself. A part of her brain refused the reassurance. She exhaled and closed her eyes. Everything would go back to normal tomorrow. Everything would be okay.

Placated by the half-truths, she snuggled tightly against her husband's body and let the warmth soothe her to sleep.

* * *

Leigh wasn't sure how many hours had passed when she woke. A faint clatter came from the kitchen. She exhaled in frustration. Just once. Just _once_ she wanted to extend kindness to someone from outside their community and not have it slapped back in her face.

She reached for Cole and found him awake. He sighed. She couldn't see his face in the darkness, but she knew he was frowning.

She squeezed his hand.

They stood together, pulled their pants on, retrieved their guns, and crouched beside the east wall. Once again working in silent concert, they pried loose the four nails securing the hidden exit from their room, tucked the panel aside, and moved down the hallway to the kitchen.

"No! Less fruit, more food jars!" Nate hissed. He and Tasha rummaged through the cupboards, frantically throwing everything they could into large sacks, a single candle illuminating their work. "The fruit'll just go bad, and then where'll we be?"

"They'll pay more for fruit at the market!" Tasha hissed back. Her eyes, now narrowed, seemed snakelike in the dim lighting.

"It's true," Leigh said, stepping into the kitchen with her gun trained on the couple. "But in this case, the price difference isn't enough to make it worth it. Best to stick with jars."

Tasha's eyes narrowed further. She slowly lowered her bag.

Nate's eyes turned buggy. He put his hands up. "I, uh, I think there's been a misunderstanding here..."

Leigh kept her gun trained on the thieves.

Cole tucked his weapon away and approached the couple, reclaiming the sacks. "Nothing to misunderstand, friend. We saved your lives, and you're thanking us by robbing us blind."

Tasha jutted her jaw. "You gonna throw us out?"

"Please, please don't," Nate said, clasping his hands together in an almost comical plea.

Cole shook his head. "We aren't heartless. But we will be keeping an eye on you, hear? And you'll be leaving first light. With nothing but what you came in here with."

"Of course! Your generosity is... is magnanimous, good sir. We are in your debt." Nate spread his hands out toward them, beaming. "If there's anything we can do, anything at all—"

"You can shut up and go back to bed," Leigh said. "And stay there for the rest of the night."

Nate's smile faded. "Of course. Of course. Whatever you say. You're the boss."

Tasha's mouth tightened, but she stiffly walked past Cole and returned to the workroom, Nate scurrying on her heels and still gesturing in silent thanks. Leigh followed to the door. As she suspected, both kids were awake, watching with wide eyes. Nate and Tasha probably had them keeping watch to alert if Cole and Leigh got up; yet another reason why the escape door from the bedroom was so crucial.

Cole stopped beside Leigh and held up a fist. She raised her own. They pumped the air a couple times, then he threw paper and she threw scissors. He'd take the first watch. He lit a candle and sat down just inside the door, arms folded.

Leigh wordlessly passed through the room. She wanted to say a few things to the couple—a few choice things, at that—but she knew it wouldn't do any good. When they left in the morning, they'd probably just thank whatever lucky charm they held and go on to scam someone else.

Back in the bedroom, she restored the panel to its original position, then crawled back in bed, leaving the pants on this time, revolver still tucked in the small of her back. No telling what else the night would hold.

* * *

_Thump_.

Leigh's eyes flew open. A figure loomed over her, one hand reaching for her neck.

Chapter 3

Leigh grabbed the arm, catching the wrist with one hand and the elbow with the other, and yanked hard. Tasha screamed and dropped to her knees, body contorting to try to keep her elbow from snapping.

Leigh slid to her feet and kept the arm moving until it locked securely behind the other woman's back, keeping the wrist bent at the correct angle. Any attempts at movement on Tasha's part would only result in crippling pain. Leigh only needed one hand on the woman's bent wrist to keep the lock in place. Her other hand reached back for her gun.

Grunts and scuffling sounds came from the other room. Cole. Leigh pushed Tasha in front of her, drawing another yelp of pain. She ignored the protest and kept the woman moving swiftly through the bathroom and into the workroom.

Cole and Nate grappled on the floor, kicking and punching violently. Nate had some sort of blade in hand, but Cole gripped his wrist, keeping it at bay. Wyatt and Suzy huddled in the far corner, Suzy shielding her smaller brother. Cole's gun lay on the floor near the doorway, apparently lost in the scuffle.

Nate managed to get on top of Cole, his knife inches from Cole's chest.

"That's enough!" Leigh shouted, leveling her revolver at the mass of man in front of her. "Drop it!"

Nate glanced at her, knife still poised. He hesitated.

Leigh fired. Red spurted from Nate's shin. He shouted in pain and fell sideways, freeing Cole.

Tasha screamed. "Nate!"

Leigh released the woman and moved a safe distance back, keeping her gun steady. Cole extricated himself and struggled to his feet.

"You shot me!" Nate howled.

Bile scalded the back of Leigh's throat. She swallowed it back down, but it still filled her mouth and nostrils with bitterness. It was the one thing she still struggled with in this world. The one lesson that proved true every time she failed it. If an enemy hesitates, they're going to try something. And someone you love will get hurt. There's no choice but to shoot.

You had no choice, she repeated to herself. But the reassurance didn't reach her heart. The smell of blood and gunpowder made her stomach turn again.

"You're fine," Cole said, his voice thick with disgust as he retrieved his gun. "Lucky, in fact. Anyone else would've aimed for the head." He wiped blood from his nose.

Tasha dropped to her knees, looking genuinely afraid for the first time since her initial performance. "Please. It was a mistake. We know that now. Don't make us go outside."

"And don't shoot us," Nate added, lifting his hands.

Leigh remained still. Cole was right. No formal system of law or government enforced individual rights, so guns did the job instead. Theft, trespassing, assault, even merely threatening violence were all considered valid reason to fire at will. The community dealt a bit more kindly with its own members, but outsiders were subject to that mentality. In fact, most of their neighbors would've shot Nate and Tasha upon discovering them raiding the kitchen.

"Please?" Nate whispered.

Cole tossed him a torn chunk of blanket. "Wrap your leg before you bleed all over the floor." He glanced over at Leigh.

She nodded.

He gestured to Tasha. "Help your man, then get him to his feet."

The woman obeyed. "What're you going to do with us?"

"Well, it's not like we can trust you not to cause trouble," Cole replied. "I've got a wife to protect from people like you. I'm not going to risk you folk trying after us again."

"Please," Tasha said, helping Nate stand. "I beg you. Not in front of our children."

"Then start walking," Cole ordered, gesturing them back toward the kitchen. He lit a candle and led the way.

Tasha let out a choked sob, but she turned and helped Nate along.

"I only grazed you," Leigh said as she followed them at a short distance through the kitchen and into the hallway, gun still steady at their heads. "You'll live so long as you keep it clean. See a doctor within a day or two if you can so it doesn't get infected."

Nate looked over his shoulder, hope in his eyes. "You mean you aren't going to kill us?"

"Not presently. If I were you, I'd avoid doing anything to change our minds."

Cole led the way to the front room and opened the hidden panel. "Inside."

The thieves climbed in, and Leigh helped Cole secure the panel, adding new nails to keep their prisoners sealed.

Job finished, Cole stood with a frown. "They're just going to go cause trouble for someone else."

She took his head in her hands and wiped away some more blood, inspecting his wounds. Nothing too bad—a bloodied nose, a split lip, a few bruises. He'd suffered worse before. "You think we should shoot them?"

He sighed and shook his head again. "You know me. I'd rather not shoot anyone. Ever."

She kissed him. "Come on."

The kids still huddled in the same spot they'd left them, Suzy pressing her brother back in the corner. The little boy sobbed, tears and snot streaking the grime on his face.

Leigh looked at them and suddenly felt exhausted. "You gonna cause trouble?"

Suzy shook her head.

"Good." Leigh continued past them, through the bathroom, and collapsed into bed. Part of her wondered if she should worry about the kids, but even if they did try anything, she and Cole would hear them long before they could reach their parents.

Cole flopped down beside her. "We'll need more locks," he mumbled.

"I'll see what I can get at market tomorrow." Her fingertips tapped against her thigh for a minute, and the tension slowly drained from her body. "Night."

He mumbled something that turned into a snore halfway through.

* * *

Leigh woke about the same time as Cole. He kissed her, then stood and adjusted his clothes, tucking his favored handgun into the back of his waistband.

She climbed out of bed after him. She didn't feel like dealing with this morning, but it had to be done. And thankfully, it would all be over soon.

Once she was ready, they walked to the workroom. Wyatt still slumbered, blanket twisted around him in bizarre shapes that made Leigh wonder what exactly he did while asleep. Suzy sat upright, watching them without expression.

"Let's go," Leigh said, nodding toward the door.

Suzy nudged Wyatt awake and pulled him to his feet, still watching the adults. "You're going to make them leave now?"

"You all have to find somewhere else to go," Leigh said. "We can't have people in our home who rob and attack us."

Suzy didn't answer. She led Wyatt out of the room ahead of Leigh and Cole. Dawn light filtered in through a new assortment of puncture holes in the walls. Leigh automatically assessed and counted as they walked, deciding which sections were still good for another night and which ones needed reinforcing. Eight, maybe more. She'd have to recheck later when she could give it a more thorough examination. And they would have to repay those who had helped yesterday. And they needed a couple more locks. If there were any. Her fingertips tapped against her leg. A lot to get done today.

She drew her gun as they reached the front room, pointing it toward the hidden panel. "Stand over there," she ordered the children, gesturing toward the opposite corner with her head.

Cole pried the nails free and slid the panel aside. "Out."

Both Nate and Tasha made an impressive amount of fuss climbing out and standing. Nate turned to Cole and Leigh with pleading eyes, sweat dripping from his forehead. "This leg isn't gonna last. I need to see a doctor before we leave. You can't just send me out there to die!"

"Your leg's fine." Leigh waved one hand toward the door, the other keeping the gun aimed true. "Start walking now, I'm sure you'll find some sort of doctor before sundown. But not around here. You're leaving this community and never returning."

"Listen, we promise not to be any more trouble," Tasha begged. "We're so sorry for what we did. We were just so afraid, having to leave our settlement like we did, and we didn't have much with us, and we've got kids to feed, and—"

"You two seem to be under the mistaken impression that this is a matter for debate, or that there's some sort of choice available here," Cole interrupted. He pointed to the door. "Get moving."

"You don't understand what it is to be in charge of a family." Nate turned to Cole. "You folks don't have kids. You don't know what it's like to have to—"

"Walk," Leigh ordered. "Unless you want a hole in the other leg."

Tasha gave her a furious glare, but turned and trudged to the door, helping Nate alongside her.

Leigh glanced over at the kids. "Best go with your parents."

Suzy folded her arms. "They aren't our parents."

"Shut up!" Tasha hissed.

"We don't have parents. They took us from the last settlement. Said having kids along would make them more sympathetic." The girl cast a disdainful look at the thieves. "My name isn't even Suzy. It's Alexandra. They said I had to be called Suzy because it sounds more innocent."

Wyatt clung to the girl's arm, nodding solemnly.

Nate scowled at them. "Shut up, both of you! Of course they're our kids. They're just trying to trick you into letting them stay behind so they can steal, too."

Alexandra's eyes narrowed. "We don't steal. That's what you do." The imperious look returned. "If you're our real parents, prove it. Our real parents would know where Wyatt's mole is."

Tasha's frown deepened, but not before Leigh saw the flash of uncertainty in her eyes. "You little brats! Quit wasting time! We have to leave now, and you're coming with us!"

Cole stepped forward. "Actually, I'd like to hear it. Where is Wyatt's mole?"

"This is ridiculous! These are our kids!"

"Then prove it." Cole folded his arms, waiting.

Nate and Tasha looked at each other, obviously lost. Tasha's mouth worked a few times before she spoke again. "Shoulder. It's on his shoulder."

"Which shoulder?" Leigh asked.

"Uh... right, of course."

Alexandra rolled her eyes and pulled on Wyatt's t-shirt to reveal his right shoulder. No mole.

Nate glared. "Stupid kid. It's a trick question. He doesn't have a mole."

"Wrong again, 'Dad.'" Alexandra took Wyatt by the shoulders and turned him around. A prominent black mole sat just below his left knee, clearly visible beneath the threadbare hem of his grubby shorts. "If you had bothered to even look at him since you kidnapped us, you'd have known that."

Nate and Tasha sputtered.

Leigh took a few steps forward, gun steady. "We're done here."

"You can't—" Nate tried.

"Out."

The two cast sullen glares, but reluctantly walked out the door. Cole slammed it shut behind them.

Leigh put her gun away and eyed the children. "Why don't you two find something to eat in the kitchen."

Alexandra returned the eyeing. She took Wyatt's hand, and the two vanished down the hallway.

Cole finished locking the remaining bolts. "So, we'll take them to the marketplace, see if anyone can take them in, give them a good home?"

She looked back down the hallway. "We have a good home."

He stopped. Straightened. "You've been dead set against us having kids from day one. And now you're willing to take in a couple strays?"

"I'm not willing to bring kids into this horrible world. I'm still not. But these kids are already here and need someone to take care of them. Might as well be us."

"So you'll take in kids, but still don't want kids of our own? Look at those two! They're living proof that kids can adapt and survive in this world. They're smart enough to stand up for themselves and take care of each other." He put his hands on her shoulders. "Our kids'd be like that. We'd teach them to be strong."

She pushed his hands away. "Those kids are living proof of why it doesn't work. Where are their parents, their real parents? Killed by bandits—or by the creatures? Leaving two little children alone to fend for themselves. Or more likely, to be exploited by bandits and subject to whatever abuse other people decide to dish out!" She turned her back. "I won't bring a child into this world unless the odds are in favor of me still being around to keep that kid safe. That's not the world we live in."

"Life's never been certain, even before the Event." Irritation edged his tone.

She spun and faced him down. "How many deaths have you heard about in the last week? Just one week."

He hesitated.

"I'll make it easy for you. How about just in our community? How many have died just in this small area in one week?"

The dimple in his chin bobbed. He looked away.

"I can think of at least six off the top of my head, and that's without putting any thought or effort into it. I'm sure if I think hard, I can come up with more." She exhaled and pressed a hand against his chest. "I just can't do that to a child. I can't bring someone here and then abandon them." Her voice thickened. Unwelcome memories swirled at the back of her mind. "It isn't fair."

He took her hand, brought it up to his lips, and held it there for a long moment. Then he leaned in and kissed her. "Come on. Let's make sure they aren't taking after their 'parents.'"

They found the children sitting at the table, Wyatt swinging his legs as he munched on an apple. Alexandra stood at her seat, carefully cutting thin slices of bread.

"Small miracle you aren't digging through our things for valuables," Cole said, dropping into one of the free chairs.

Alexandra gave him a withering look. "I said, we don't steal."

Cole quickly lifted his hands in surrender. "Right. My apologies."

Leigh joined them at the table. "We were wondering if you'd like to stay here with us, or if you want us to find someone else for you to live with now."

The girl looked up sharply, sending a gnarled lock of hair at the side of her head quivering. "We don't need to stay with anyone. We can take care of ourselves."

Leigh exchanged a look with Cole. "You and your brother are quite young, and—"

"I take care of my brother." She met Leigh's eyes and didn't blink.

"How old are you two?" Cole asked.

"Five!" Wyatt declared proudly, bits of apple spraying from his mouth.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Alexandra scolded him, then turned back to the couple. "I'm eighteen."

Cole almost choked on a laugh.

Alexandra resumed the withering look.

Taking a deep breath, Leigh leaned back. "You're obviously a capable, smart young lady. And you clearly take good care of your brother. We still need to know how old you are."

The girl's mouth tightened, but she finally looked down and resumed slicing the bread. "Nine."

"That's not quite old enough—" Cole started, but Leigh cut him off.

"That's fine. It shows you're very strong, that you've been able to take care of your brother. But you still need a solid roof over your heads. That's all we're offering."

Alexandra's mouth twisted to the side in thought. She set the knife down and handed her brother a slice, then passed out the rest to Leigh and Cole. "I suppose you two seem to manage yourselves well enough. We might as well stay." She gave them a fierce look. "But we aren't a charity case. We'll work for our keep."

It took some effort to hide a smile, but Leigh managed to nod with a straight face. "It's a deal."

* * *

Cole left the kids in his wife's capable hands and headed out to work. As a protector, he watched for threats from outside the community, helped settle any disagreements that came up within, and generally helped around, cleaning up each night's mess, clearing away rubble, and aiding anyone who needed an extra pair of hands to reinforce and prepare their homes for the coming night. His payment came in the form of anything he managed to scavenge while cleaning up the damaged wall sections and rubble, as well as any tidbits that those he helped chose to offer. It wasn't much, but it was enough.

The faint sounds of raised voices from the marketplace hurried his feet down the last section of broken road. A crowd gathered in the middle of the marketplace, clucking over someone.

"And after they stole everything we owned, they shot my husband!" a familiar voice wailed.

Cole slowed, adjusting his backwards cap in wonder. Did they really have the guts to go to the community and lie?

The crowd shifted, confirming his suspicion. Tasha stood in the middle of the crowd, throwing a dramatic fit over Nate's injury. She spotted Cole approaching. A wicked glint passed through her eyes before they widened in feigned terror. She thrust an accusing finger at him. "There! That's the man who robbed us and shot my husband!"

The people turned, weapons at the ready, righteous anger on their faces.

Chapter 4

Cole grinned and waved.

The crowd burst out laughing and snatched back the food and water they'd offered the couple. Most of them walked away, shaking their heads and chuckling as they went. Others stayed put, enjoying the confusion on thieves' faces.

"Morning, Cole," Don, a fellow protector, called. "You put a bullet in this guy?"

"Wish I could take credit."

The broad-shouldered man grinned. "Yeah, thought I recognized your wife's handiwork."

Tasha stared, slack-jawed. "Aren't you going to do anything? That man robbed us!"

"Yeah, and tried to kill me!" Nate chimed in.

"You want to tell her?" Don asked.

Cole shrugged. "Folks around here know my wife and me a little too well to fall for your lies, lady. They know we wouldn't shoot unless we had to."

"They attack you?" Don asked.

"Among other things. Tried to clear out our kitchen, and when we caught them and tucked them in for the night with eyes on, tried to attack us."

The big man snorted. "You're lucky, the two of you. Anyone else in the village would've ended it the second they found you helping yourselves to the kitchen." He pulled out his handgun and eyed the two. "Law of the land says their lives are forfeit. Suppose we should take care of it before they go pulling tricks on anyone else?"

Tasha squeaked and clutched Nate tightly.

Cole shook his head. "No point. With any hope, they've figured out by now that if they try things like that, they get a bullet in the head. If they haven't, they'll get their bullets soon enough. No reason for us to waste our ammo."

"Suppose you're right." Don waved at the two. "Shoo. We got work to do."

"But I'm hurt!" Nate whined.

"Which is why you're in such a hurry to get to the next settlement and find a doctor," Cole said. "Maybe head on back to that place you took the kids from. I'm sure folks like you haven't burned any bridges there." He couldn't help but smile at the expression on both their faces. "Aw, you did? Pity. Guess you'd better find somewhere else, then."

"But, but..." Tasha spun to the others in the square. "Won't anyone help us?"

Don clapped Cole on the back. "I'll take the east side today. Why don't you work north?"

"Sounds like a plan."

Tasha and Nate continued pleading, but everyone ignored them. Finally, with a significant amount of grumbling, the two hobbled away in defeat.

Another protector, Benjamin, paused beside Cole. "Think they'll try to come back?"

"Maybe. But we all know them now. Won't get far if they do."

The man grinned, thumped Cole's shoulder, and got back to work.

* * *

After Cole left, Leigh finished eating and dragged the generator back into the workroom, pausing in the bathroom to refill the water reservoir so they'd have enough power for tonight's radio broadcast. They'd missed listening last night in all the fuss, and she hated missing two in a row. Who knew when warnings might come of raiders sweeping through?

The bathroom pipes rattled only slightly before releasing a clear stream of water. They'd been fortunate to find a place with the plumbing still functioning by whatever unknown power deep beneath the ground. And equally fortunate to trade for this particular generator shortly after arriving in the community. The technology of these water-fueled machines had been lost generations ago, so once a generator died, it was good for nothing but scrap. But this generator still showed no signs of wearying of its daily tasks, even after almost ten years in their hands.

Leigh settled the generator back in its place and caught a flash of movement out of the corner of her eye. She spun, hand on her gun.

Alexandra stood behind her, watching her with silent eyes. Wyatt hid behind his big sister, his own eyes large and fixed on Leigh.

Leigh exhaled and released the gun. It was just the kid. There were kids in the house now. She'd have to get used to that. "Finished breakfast?"

"We're done."

"Then watch your brother while I check the walls."

"We did that, too." The girl pushed a matted lock of hair out of her eyes. "Nine panels need replaced. There are two others that should be replaced soon, but don't have to be today."

Leigh's eyebrow snaked upward before she caught herself. She'd have to double-check for herself, but no need to make Alexandra think she wasn't trusted. "All right. We've got a few spare tools on hand, plus some extra food jars, we can use for trade. We'll still need to scavenge some more to repay some folk. You know how to find good scrap and wood in the rubble?"

"Of course." The child had a clear expression of disdain, displeased that Leigh would even question such a thing. "You think we're stupid because we're kids."

Leigh searched for words as she gathered the spare tools. "I don't know you. I'm sure you're capable. For now, I need to see how you do. In case there's something you aren't familiar with." It was at least partially true. Mostly, the thought of leaving her job in someone else's hands left her squirming inside. She led the way to the kitchen and loaded a bag with extra food jars.

Alexandra's eyes remained narrow, waiting for Leigh to be done, then the girl spun on her heel. "Fine. Come see for yourself."

Leigh followed Alexandra to the front room, surreptitiously checking the walls along the way. Alexandra was right. At least nine panels needed new metal reinforcement.

"You two been on your own for long?" Leigh asked, trying to sound conversational.

"A while now," Alexandra said.

"You came from the settlement to the south, right? Was there anyone helping you there?" She didn't voice her worries about what might come from the southern settlement after she attacked their men yesterday.

"No. There were some people who kept an eye on everyone, but they only did that so they knew which houses to steal from. They were thugs."

Leigh nodded. That was sadly typical outside her community. "You won't have to worry about that sort of thing here. We have protectors, like Cole. They help keep everyone safe."

Alexandra let out a skeptical snort, then seemed to catch herself. "I'm sure that's nice."

"Your parents—I mean, Nate and Tasha mentioned the men were riled up before you left?"

"Yeah. Before you ask, I don't know why. Something had them mad, though. Really mad."

"Really mad," Wyatt echoed with a solemn nod, still clinging to his sister's shadow.

"I see." The comments left Leigh all the more disconcerted, but she pushed her feelings aside and unlocked the door. The kids insisted on helping carry the goods, Alexandra hefting the food bag and Wyatt proudly carrying two of the tools clenched in grubby fists. They took a long route along the outer edge, gathering scrap and wood to fill Leigh's extra bags as they went.

When they reached the market, Wyatt stared with wide eyes at all the humming activity, people bartering and rushing from booth to booth, traders shouting out their finest goods. Alexandra seemed unimpressed as they dropped off scrap with the metalworker and a few jars of food with Sal, then headed for Max's booth.

"Glad to see you looking better," Max greeted Leigh. He eyed the kids. "Where'd they come from?"

"Sprouted from cabbage leaves." Leigh set the tools on the counter. "How much?"

"Six jars."

Alexandra burst out a laugh. "It's worth twice that, at least."

Leigh frowned. "Actually, that's nearly fair. Throw in some citrus, and we've got a deal."

"Quite a mouth on that one." Max turned around to collect the items.

Alexandra's eyes hardened at him in an almost hateful glare. By the time he turned to them again, the look was gone.

Leigh thanked him and took the food, ignoring Alexandra. This was going to take some getting used to, both for her and for the girl.

Thankfully, Alexandra made no further fuss as they worked their way through the rest of the market. Her nose occasionally scrunched in displeasure as Leigh bartered for a new door, locks, and other needed goods, including new clothes and a futon mattress for the kids from the clothworker.

Wyatt discovered a pair of shoes in the pile which fit him and immediately yanked them on before running laps around the square. His jog was frequently interrupted as he stopped to show off his new shoes to anyone who so much as glanced his way.

Alexandra sighed and marched after him to rein him in.

"You've got your hands full," Sal commented from her booth nearby.

"We're doing fine, thank you."

Sal snorted. "Heard about your trouble last night. Those two came in with the hoodlums?"

Leigh didn't miss the distrust in Sal's voice. "The kids were victims. We're taking care of them now."

"You're sure it's wise, letting strangers in your home?"

"They're just children."

Sal snorted again. "No such thing as 'just children' in this world."

Leigh's fingers tapped. She glanced back at the approaching kids. "Good day, Sal."

The old woman shook her head and waved dismissively.

Leigh met the kids a few paces away. Wyatt dashed an orbit around her, but Alexandra stared at Sal with narrowed eyes. "She doesn't like us."

Forcing back a cringe, Leigh directed the kids toward the good they'd collected. "She has a hard time trusting new people, that's all."

The girl's eyes hardened for a moment, but she shook her head as if dismissing it.

It took two trips to get everything home. As they finished munching on some food, Alexandra stood. "It'll take all of us to switch the doors out. Then we'll start on the panels. Wyatt and I will start in the front, and you can start back here by the kitchen. We'll meet in the middle."

Leigh's eyebrow once again slid upward. "If you say so."

The girl pursed her lips, but her usual emotionless expression slid back into place. "If that's okay with you."

Pick your battles, Leigh told herself. It'd take some time for Alexandra to adjust to her new surroundings and the idea of working cooperatively with Leigh and Cole. Better to ease her in gently. Besides, it was a good plan. "Sounds fine."

It took some wrestling to get the old door out and fit the new one in its place, and installing the locks on the new door was tedious, but the kids were fast and efficient workers. The whole task barely took more than an hour. Replacing the panels went even faster. Leigh surveyed the kids' work and was once again impressed.

"What next?" Alexandra asked.

"Repairing the rest of the damage." Leigh walked down the hallway. The panels they hadn't replaced were still damaged, and she needed to fix them before night fell. What would she have the kids do while she worked on that?

Alexandra slowed at the end of the hallway, trailing her fingertips on the interior wall. "Your bedroom. The walls are thicker."

Leigh nodded and kept walking. "The walls are double-reinforced."

"It's a good design. You've got this hallway around the outer edge of the house, so it's harder for the creatures to reach you. Smart. We only had a panic closet in our old house, but one wall still bordered the outside."

"The layout came from a settlement we stayed at briefly. Once we moved here, we spent a few years remodeling whenever we could."

"You've been here a long time."

"Just over ten years." Almost as long as she and Cole had been married. She remembered when they first came to the community, weary and jaded from the harshness they'd faced in numerous settlements over a mere two years of marriage. The welcoming, tight-knit community had been a balm, and they'd never looked back.

Leigh retrieved the generator and the joiner from the workroom. Her husband had found the small, wand-shaped device years back without really knowing what it was for. It turned out to generate varying amounts of heat, perfect for boiling tea water, warming a bath, or, most importantly, melting broken edges of metal together. "Why don't you two put the rest of the things away while I work on this?"

The displeased look flashed across Alexandra's face again. "We're going to help you."

Leigh wasn't sure how to explain to the girl that help wasn't needed. "I just have to hammer the punctures flat, then this thing melts them shut. It's a one-person job."

"We'll hammer the punctures. It'll go faster with us helping."

Leigh's fingers tapped on her leg. But the girl had a point. She nodded and headed outside to start fixing the panels.

One of the neighbor kids dashed past, pigtails flying behind her head. "Get back inside!"

"What's wrong?" Leigh called after her.

"A whole gang came in! They're in the marketplace, threatening everybody!"

She felt her heart drop. "Where'd they come from?"

"That settlement." The kid pointed south, then turned and resumed running.

Leigh hurried back into the house, horror returning. She'd caused this. She'd brought this on them. "Stay put!" she called to the kids, grabbing her favorite sniping rifle. "Those men from your old place are here. Lock up behind me, and keep Wyatt out of trouble!" She didn't wait for a response as she headed back out the door.

* * *

Cole kept his breathing even, his arms raised to a polite height, carefully watching the men who prowled the marketplace. A couple of them kept guns on him and the other protectors while the rest grabbed and shook various people, demanding answers. Sal crouched in her booth, avoiding eye contact but occasionally shooting a glance in Cole's direction.

"Come on, we know she came this way!" the leader snarled. Built like a barrel, the man looked like all his hair had migrated from his head to his chin. Cole didn't like the wild look in the man's eye, but he saw reasonable enough intelligence there, too. The same couldn't be said for the minions.

Or for the weasel-like man at his side.

Beardy shook Weasel's arm for the umpteenth time. "Say it again! Tell 'em what you told me!"

"She... she was a crazy lady. Tall, brown hair in a ponytail. Clean, real clean. And, um, she attacked me and my friends for no reason. Killed them all."

"And one of those friends was related to our boss," Beardy roared at the cringing crowd. "He ain't too happy about that. We don't want to hurt anyone, but we will if that's what it takes. Just hand over the crazy lady, and we'll be on our way. Hear?"

Cole eyed Weasel. He'd gotten the impression from his wife's half-coherent mumbles that one of her attackers might have gotten away in the fight. This must be him. Judging from the man's look, his escape hadn't been due to any sort of fighting skill or intelligence. Beardy and his minions seemed to have the same assessment of the man, treating him with general scorn and contempt. A good start.

Sal glanced his way again. She must have put together who the 'crazy lady' was. Cole couldn't help but wonder who else might have figured it out. And how long it would take before they'd speak up.

Beardy stormed across the clearing to the protectors. "You know who I'm talking about." He walked slowly past the line, eyeing each one carefully.

Might as well break the ice now. "I saw a crazy lady last night."

Everyone stared at him.

Beardy stomped to tower over him. "Tell me, boy!"

"It's Cole, actually." He folded his arms and leaned back in a casual stance. "But I'm not sure if the crazy lady I saw is the same one you're looking for. See, her story's pretty different than the one your boy is telling. Might not be the same person."

Beardy's eyes narrowed.

"The crazy lady I met had been out scavenging. She said when she passed your settlement, some man—I presume this fine gentleman here," he gestured to Weasel, "accosted her and attempted to rob her. She returned to him his hindquarters on a platter and continued on her way."

Beardy snorted. The minions laughed uproariously once they got it. Weasel's face twisted in displeasure.

"So then, as she passed the settlement once more on her return journey, the same man faced her once more, now with a larger group at his side. They attempted to rob her, and when she refused, they attacked her. She killed them in self-defense." Cole scratched his chin in exaggerated thought. "Obviously, that's a significantly different story than what your man's saying. I'd reckon the lady I met last night isn't the same lady your boy came across. Unless, of course, your boy isn't being entirely honest."

All eyes fixed on Weasel.

He sputtered. "What? No! He's lying! I'm telling you, she just came out of nowhere and killed them all! I just barely managed to fight her off! See?" He pointed to his misshapen nose.

Eyes returned to Cole.

He grinned and fixed a look of contempt on Weasel. "You're just mad because a woman kicked your butt. Twice. And the second time, you ran like a coward."

"That's not true!" Weasel's face developed an entirely new shade of red. "I only ran to try to get help before she killed my friends! And she didn't kick my butt the other time, either!"

The minions turned their eyes back to Cole. Beardy's eyes remained on Weasel.

"What other time?"

Weasel's face went from red to white in a flash.

"You said she just came out of nowhere and attacked you and the others. You didn't say you ran into her another time."

"I... I, well, uh..."

Cole examined his knuckles in a show of boredom. "So your boy lied to you. Probably just trying to make himself look good. I guess the story I heard last night must be the real deal." He dropped his hand and faced Beardy square on. "I don't know how you folks settle things up in your place, but around here, if someone tries to steal from you, threaten you, or outright attack you, then you've got the right to put a bullet in that person's head." He gestured toward Weasel. "Suppose your crazy lady was a bit of a merciful one, letting this waste of space go not just once, but twice."

Beardy's eyes narrowed.

"But maybe you folks do it differently in your settlement. I suppose if I tried to rob you, you'd just let me walk free?"

One of the minions snorted. "He'd put a bullet 'tween your eyes faster'n you could—"

"Shut up!" Beardy snarled. He glared the minion down, then turned the scathing glare on Cole. "Where's the crazy lady now?"

"Gone. She left shortly after arriving. Just had enough time to talk to her before she moved on in a hurry." He shrugged. "Can't say where you'd find her now."

"He's lying!" Weasel shouted, apparently recovered. "He—I bet he's in cahoots with her! He's hiding her from us! Get her out here, and you'll hear the real story! He's just trying to confuddle things! He—"

Beardy yanked out his gun and shot Weasel in the head.

A handful of children gasped and cringed. Adults eased their weight backwards, ready to run.

Cole folded his arms and kept himself steady. His gun rested beneath his shirt only inches from his hand. He'd have it out in a flash if the situation called for it.

The leader's arm dropped back to his side as he turned to Cole. "Waste of space. Called that one straight." He shook his head. "You're probably right. It's no surprise to hear those boys started it themselves and got what they deserved for it. But me and my boys went through the trouble to come all the way out here today. And the boss don't take kindly to folks killing his relations. 'Fraid I can't walk home empty-handed."

He lifted his gun to Cole's forehead. "Tell me where she is."

Chapter 5

A shot split the air. Beardy dropped flat, a spray of blood turning into a pool beneath his head.

The vocal minion stared with huge eyes for a moment, then screamed, "Kill them! Shoot them all!"

The minions raised their guns. More shots blasted the air. Cole drew his Glock and fired, but it was hardly necessary. Most of the attackers lay on the ground after the last sniper volley.

The last two dropped to their knees, hands in the air. "Stop! We surrender!"

"Hold up!" Don ordered, waving a hand in the air as a signal to the snipers. He gestured to a couple of nearby protectors. "Take their guns."

The men hurried to obey, disarming the captives.

"We didn't mean to start trouble," one of the minions whimpered. "We'll just go and never come back. We swear."

Cole caught Don's eye and nodded. No reason to add more blood to the ground.

Don eyed him, then turned back to the two. "Your boss a generous man?"

"No, sir," the other of the two replied.

"You think for a moment he'll let this slide?"

They both hesitated.

Don nodded grimly. "Shoot them."

"No!" Cole shouted, but it was too late. The last two minions joined their companions.

Don's dark eyes narrowed at Cole, but he remained focused on the others. "Clean this up. Anyone hurt?"

A couple people called for help, but it looked like they'd only suffered flesh wounds and grazes. Satisfied that the other protectors had things under control, Cole marched to Don and pulled the larger man aside. "That wasn't necessary. Those men surrendered."

"They'd have gone back to their settlement and labeled us a threat. Brought down more attacks on our heads."

"Or they might've gone back and reported that we're not worth the bother, that we're well-armed and defended, and one 'crazy lady' isn't worth all of them getting shot for."

Don barked out a laugh. "You really believe they'd go back and say, 'some lady killed a bunch of our folks, and her buddies killed a bunch more, let's just leave them alone'?"

"Maybe they'd try one more time, but they'd give up once they see we won't fold."

The older man scratched at his gritty chin stubble. "You might be right. But either way, another attack's coming from that settlement." He gestured toward the dead bodies being carried away. "And now they've got about a half-dozen fewer guns to attack us with."

Cole's displeasure formed into a scowl.

Don clapped him on the back. "You're a good man, Cole. Did a good job today. We didn't lose any. That's always a good fight. Go on back to your duties."

Cole turned. "Next time, we discuss things before we outright murder people in the streets."

"Sure, sure." Don paused, then called after him. "That was quick thinking, by the way. The story you made up about meeting a crazy lady. Slick work."

Cole nodded awkwardly.

The larger man eyed him. "You're sure the crazy lady's all gone now?"

He knew. How many others did? Cole gave the square a quick glance, but everyone else seemed completely occupied with their work. No one paid attention to the two protectors' conversation.

"Yeah. I'm sure."

"Good." Don waved in dismissal.

Cole made it only a short distance down the road before he ran into Leigh. She grabbed him and pulled him into a tight embrace.

"Well! What'd I do to earn this?"

"You survived." She kissed him hard. "I couldn't hear what you said to them—I was too far away—but I've got a fair guess."

He toyed with her ponytail. "And I've got a fair guess as to who I can thank for taking out the leader, keeping his gun off me."

She looked away. "If you hesitate when a loved one's in danger, you lose your loved one."

The words fell from her lips in a half-mumbled recitation. He pulled her closer, gently pushing her head against her shoulder. Stroked her hair. "You did what you had to. Saved my life. It was the right call."

He felt her grim smile against his chest.

She lingered a moment, then pulled back, face calm. "Anyone hurt?"

"Nothing bad. You and your friends did well, as always."

She kissed him. "Then I better get back to those kids. I only hope the house still have a few things left in it."

"I'm sure it does. They're too small to carry much more than half our worldly possessions."

She rolled her eyes, then turned and jogged back down the uneven road.

He watched her go, his eyes occasionally dipping to her athletic rear. He grinned and returned to his work, whistling a cheerful tune.

* * *

Leigh reached the house, a sick feeling growing in her stomach. She'd been rash, leaving the kids alone. Cole might have been joking, but she knew how likely it was that the kids had robbed them, and his joke was actually more of a comfort than he may have intended. At least they would be limited in how much they could carry. She grabbed the doorknob and turned, bracing herself to assess the damage.

The door didn't open. She hesitated, surprised, and knocked.

A few moments later, Alexandra's voice came. "Who's there?"

"It's me, Leigh." She relaxed slightly, surprised but relieved to find the kids still there. They hadn't vanished along with half the goods in the house after all.

The locks clicked open, and Alexandra cracked the door. "Is everything okay now? Are they gone?"

"They're gone." Leigh gently pushed the door open and walked in.

Wyatt stood behind Alexandra, bouncing on his toes. "Didja get the bad guys?"

"They won't bother us anymore," Leigh promised.

"Good," Alexandra said. Her tone seemed flat, but a slight coldness indicated she knew exactly what Leigh meant by that. "We fixed all the metal and put things away as best as we can. We were about to go out and start repairing the wood panels."

Leigh looked at the hallway. What she could see appeared solid. "Let me have a look, and we'll go out to finish things up together."

"Or," Alexandra said, pursing her lips, "you can check our work while we get started."

"Fair enough." Leigh took a walk through the hallway, assessing each panel as she went. The kids knew what they were doing, it seemed. She was beginning to feel no longer surprised.

She joined the kids outside and found them hard at work. The three of them together had the work done by early evening, far earlier than Leigh would've had it done working alone. She smiled at them. "Nice work today," she said as they walked back inside, carrying the remaining wood with them to stash in the front room.

"Now what?" Alexandra asked.

"Baths."

Wyatt made a face.

Alexandra looked equally displeased, but she shooed Wyatt toward the bathroom. "We can't walk around looking like we rolled in mud if we expect to be part of a proper community."

Tending to the kids took longer than tending to the house, as it took multiple scrub and rinse sessions before pink skin finally emerged beneath the layers of grime. Leigh finally managed to get them both clean and trim Wyatt's hair into a more even style. She was still working on detangling Alexandra's hair when Cole got home.

He gave her a kiss. "Busy day?"

"You could say that." She reached over and turned his backwards hat around, then tugged at a particularly stubborn snarl before it finally gave.

He turned his hat backwards again and glanced at Alexandra. "You're looking better. How's it feel?"

"Fine, thank you."

Wyatt charged in from the other room. "New shoes!"

"Among other things, I see." Cole grinned. "Wouldja look at that, there was actually a boy under all that grime! And here I thought we'd brought in a walking dirt clod."

Wyatt giggled.

Cole and Wyatt prepared dinner while Leigh finished detangling and braiding Alexandra's hair. The style brought a spark to the girl's eye, the first time Leigh had seen a hint that there was still a child somewhere in the jaded, hard shell Alexandra kept on the outside.

As they ate, Wyatt eagerly recounted the day's events. "I got new shoes! First we found new scrap and stuff, and we got metal to the man, and we got food and a door and stuff, and then I got new shoes," he paused to take a bite of food, "and then we carried everything home, and then we put the walls up—"

"Slow down," Alexandra said. "Don't talk and eat at the same time."

He swallowed. "And then we got baths, and then a haircut, and see my new shoes?"

"Those are very nice new shoes," Cole said, still grinning broadly. "I saw the work you all did on the walls. You helped Leigh with that?"

"They did a lot of it by themselves," Leigh said. "They fixed the metal while we were taking care of business."

Cole looked properly impressed. "You two did some fine work there."

"I helped!" Wyatt declared.

Alexandra sipped her soup. "We did what needed to be done."

"You're gonna end up putting Leigh and me out of work, keep this up," Cole said.

"Yeah! I'll be a protector!" Wyatt thrust his spoon upward, flinging droplets of soup.

Alexandra caught his arm and pushed it back down. "Eat."

"I saw you have a new bed waiting in the front room, too," Cole said.

"I know I usually trade the excess for stockpile food and parts," Leigh started, "but—"

"But our guests needed something a bit more comfortable." He winked at the kids. "And they look better in something more than a handful of rags held together with dirt."

"I'm a walking dirt clod!" Wyatt declared.

"Not anymore," Cole said.

"Eat," Alexandra scolded again.

Cole put on a sheepish look. "Yes, ma'am."

Alexandra looked shocked, but saw the teasing gleam in his eye. She made a face.

Leigh's fingertips tapped against her leg. She stilled them and finished her soup. "I'll take care of the cleaning. You two help Cole get your room set up. Then we'll listen to the radio."

Wyatt's eyes grew round. "You have a radio?"

"Sure do. I'll let you man the controls," Cole said, ruffling the boy's shortened hair.

Wyatt scarfed down the rest of his soup and dashed from the kitchen, all but throwing his dishes in the sink along the way. Chuckling, Cole followed. Alexandra shook her head in disgust, but Leigh noticed that the girl finished quickly and hurried after them.

With the kitchen to herself, Leigh stood on her tiptoes to reach the tin on the high shelf in the kitchen. The weight of it in her hands was a comfort, but the comfort was tainted by the day's events. Her need for these herbs had brought the other settlement down on their heads. And it was unlikely that would be the last they'd see. How many people would be hurt because of her loss of control?

She cleaned the dishes while the tea steeped, barely noticing when Cole and the kids hauled the mattress past her into the workroom. After putting the dishes away, she sat and sipped the hot brew. The kitchen was blissfully quiet. She hadn't realized how much she missed silence.

The workroom door banged open. "We got a room!" Wyatt shouted.

It was nice while it lasted. Leigh finished her tea and stood. "Let's see it."

Cole had rearranged the workroom so that tools and supplies were on one side and the kids' space was on the other. The mattress sat in the middle of the wall with a couple spare pillows and blankets spread out as neatly as a man and two kids could get them. A shelf held their extra clothes on one side, and a curtain hung from the ceiling in the other corner.

"So Alexandra can change and not be 'barrassed," Wyatt said, hiding behind the curtain.

Alexandra gave him a withering look.

"Privacy's important." Leigh gave the room a nod of approval. "Now we just need to wash the old clothes—"

"I took care of that," Alexandra said. "In the bathtub, while they put the curtain up. I washed the towels, too. They're all hanging up to dry."

Leigh peeked in the bathroom. Sure enough, Wyatt and Alexandra's towels and old clothes hung on the line above the tub, free from dirt. "You did well."

Alexandra's lips pursed. She nodded.

"Radio!" Wyatt shouted.

Cole retrieved the radio from the bedroom and plugged it in to the generator. The flat disc slowly lit up with an internal glow. Words sprang to life on the screen, messages from people whose radios could input words.

"This button, Wyatt," Cole directed.

Wyatt touched the button, and the faint sound of static filled the room.

"I don't hear anything," Wyatt said.

"Just wait."

Leigh watched the messages scroll past. A handful of requests for help. A few calls of thanks for help received. Lots of threats and bluster. More of the usual, same as every night.

A crackle came from the speakers preceding Don's voice. "Hello today! Sundown, and I hope it finds you nestled snug and secure out there. We got today's report, one gone and two missing. Keep an eye out for Clara and Hessie; if you see them or hear any news, let the protectors know."

Leigh glanced over at Cole. His smile had faded. That was the less glamorous part of a protector's job, checking each house to see if any had been breached and cleaning up as much of the mess as possible. Don's cheery voice did little to brighten the grim news.

"We've been hearing some reports of raiders around the next settlement over in the northeast. Remember, if you see them coming, run. Don't try to face them yourself. Unless you know your way around a sniper rifle and want to help the community out. Ahem, ahem."

Cole nudged Leigh with his elbow and shot her a wide grin. She rolled her eyes. She wasn't the best sniper in the community, but she'd managed some impressive shots that left people talking as if she was.

"Most important, mind yourselves if you're near the south end of the community. Wager you probably heard by now, if you didn't see it yourself, we had a bit of a stir at the marketplace today. Seems one of our own fought off a group of punks from the next settlement to the south, and some people took exception to that. Final report, no serious injuries, nothing a handful of bandages couldn't fix. But we don't want anyone else getting caught up in that foolishness."

Leigh's stomach turned. Her fault.

"Last bit of news: Kenna, you left a couple of your purchases with Max. He's got them set aside for you, but if you can't be bothered to stop by, he's selling them. Oh yeah, one more thing. Most of you saw a couple with a sad, sad sob story in the marketplace this morning. Make sure you get their description out to anyone who missed it. They're thieves who'll kill if it comes down to it. Don't let them puppy-eye their way into your homes. G'night, all."

Cole directed Wyatt to the correct button to shut down the radio, then unplugged it. "All right, you two, into bed."

Wyatt bounced onto the mattress and jumped wildly about.

"Take your shoes off before you get on the bed," Alexandra ordered. She sat on the edge of the mattress. "What did he mean about the sniper?"

"He was making a joke." Leigh stood. "Get to sleep. Tomorrow we'll see if we can scavenge enough wood and metal to reinforce this room."

"Yay!" Wyatt flopped flat on the bed, kicked his shoes off the side, then burrowed under the blankets until only his toes stuck out on the pillow.

Cole tickled the side of the lump. "Goodnight, walking dirt clod."

"Goodnight!" came the muffled reply through a mess of giggles.

"Goodnight." He gave Alexandra a slight bow.

She nodded politely and gave her brother a kick. "Turn around."

He scrunched and wiggled, but remained upside-down.

"Goodnight, you two." Leigh walked back to the bedroom.

Cole followed, radio in hand. He tucked it in their secure box in the corner. "You okay?"

"Fine."

"Nice try."

She made a face. "How do you always know?"

"Why do you try to lie when you know I always know?" He grinned.

She sighed. "It's my fault they're coming."

"Nonsense. It's their fault. First for trying to pick a fight with someone who knows her way around a gun, and second for not letting it go."

"If it wasn't for me, they wouldn't be bothering us."

"If it wasn't for them being stupid, they wouldn't be bothering us."

"If only I had..." Leigh thought, but nothing she could have done differently came to mind. She sat on the bed. "I don't know."

"But I do, and it's okay. Remember, I know everything."

"Whatever," she snorted.

"Of course I do," he grinned and eased her down onto the mattress, leaning over her. "Like right now, I know you need to be kissed."

She laughed as he closed in. "Is that so?"

A creak came from the door. They both looked up, startled. Leigh's hand went to her gun.

Wyatt rubbed his eyes. "I hafta go potty."

Cole stared at him for a moment. "Okay. Go."

The little boy turned and stumbled back away from the door. A minute later, they heard a flush. Little footsteps padded back to the workroom.

Cole laughed and relaxed. "So, where were we?"

But the moment was gone. Leigh pushed him over to his side of the bed. "What if we moved on?"

He stared at her.

"Not like it's something I want to do," she amended, "but if we weren't here, they'd have no reason to keep attacking."

"They'll attack anyway. They're either going to kill you or keep getting beaten until they declare it a lost cause and give up."

She stared into the candle beside her. "How long do you think it'll take?"

"With any luck, not long. If they're smart, they won't come back at all. If they're half-smart, they'll only get beaten one more time before they let it go." He paused and looked at her. "Everyone's behind you, you know. You did the right thing. No one doubts that."

Leigh closed her eyes. "But I brought all this trouble on us. If it wasn't for me—"

"It's not about you."

"Of course it is! If I hadn't—"

He pulled her back over to face him. "You're looking at it wrong. What if it was me? Or Don? Or Sal? Same thing would've happened. It's not about you. It's about our right to defend ourselves if we're attacked on the road. They're trying to say we don't have that right. Every time we fight them off, we're telling them we disagree. Heartily."

She sighed. "I don't like it."

"None of us do. That's why we hope they'll get smart and give up."

"You sure it's not my fault?"

"Positive." He kissed her forehead. "No one blames you. I promise."

"All right." She closed her eyes and let herself drift to sleep in his arms.

Chapter 6

Leigh stretched as she woke, then realized someone was approaching her side of the bed. She bolted upright in the darkness, gun in hand.

"It's me," Cole said before gently pushing the gun down.

"You startled me." She tucked the gun away.

He lit the candle on her side of the bed and sat beside her, not speaking.

She propped herself up on one elbow and frowned. "What's wrong?"

"I was wrong."

"About?"

"They can only carry off about two moderate bags full of the goods from the house."

She stared at him, then grabbed the candle and jumped out of bed, hurrying through the bathroom and into the workroom. The mattress, blankets, and curtain were still there, but the clothes were gone, along with a helping of tools from the work half of the room. She closed her eyes and put her hands over her face.

Cole's arms wrapped around her, his voice quiet. "We'll just make a few extra trades today to recoup. I'll let the other protectors know what happened so they can watch for the kids."

"I thought..." After she'd returned to find the house intact yesterday, she'd thought the kids were actually trustworthy. "If they were going to rob us, why didn't they do it yesterday?"

"I don't know."

"I'm tired of this. Every time we help someone outside the community..."

"I know."

"Never again. We just can't trust people outside. We'll never take in strays again."

"Okay."

She finally lowered her hands and squared her shoulders, forcing away the tears that wanted to come. "Well. We knew how likely it was when we allowed them in. Like you said, we'll make a few extra trades today. I better get out there and start collecting." She paused. "To the north."

"Good plan. Except it's not quite daylight yet." He kissed her, then presented her with a Twinkie pack. "Care to enjoy some fine dining with your beloved, my dulcet darling?"

She snorted and took the packet, then flipped his hat forward. "You sap."

He grinned and turned it backwards again. "You know it."

Once daylight peeked through the puncture holes in their walls, they headed out to their respective work. She counted broken panels and calculated what she'd need to both repair the house and trade to replace the stolen tools and food, then took some food with her as she headed out to scrounge.

It wasn't long before Leigh found a house with a significant hole in it. She couldn't remember if anyone she knew lived there. Bloodstains marked the floor inside, dry but not faded. It couldn't be more than a day or two ago that people had lived in there. Before the creatures got in. She shuddered.

Pushing those thoughts aside, she got to work prying nails free and stacking narrower boards along with wide, flat panels of wood to the side. A sick feeling rested in the bottom of her stomach, and she had to keep reminding herself that she wasn't stealing from the dead. She was utilizing resources. This was how it had to be.

Leigh made her way through the marketplace on autopilot. Dropped off scrap with the metalworker for the needed reinforcement panels. Traded most of what was left with Max for tools, ammo, nails, and food. As she passed the clothworker's booth, temptation struck to ask him what he'd barter for the mattress back, but a spike of pain stopped the thought in its tracks. She wasn't ready for that just yet. Tomorrow, though, she'd be sure to have Cole carry the mattress in. No point holding onto the past.

Sal gave her a lengthy once-over as Leigh passed. "Had a bit of trouble, you might've heard. Some problems with the settlement yonder." She jerked her head southward.

"I heard the same."

"Heard some lady attacked some of their folk."

Leigh took a slow breath to ease the tension in her chest. "I'm sure it was provoked."

Sal caught her by the wrist and pulled her closer. "We'll run off any trouble comes our way. We take care of our own, you hear?"

Leigh had to swallow the lump back down her throat. She nodded. "Of course. We always do."

Sal patted her hand and waved her off.

Leigh exhaled. Collected the rest of her items. It took two trips to get everything home.

By then, it was late enough in the day that Cole walked in just minutes after she was, lugging a couple bags of his own. "Long day?"

"I had a lot to scavenge." She failed to keep the bitterness out of her voice. "Come on, help me get these panels in place."

"Righty-O." He grabbed a metal panel. "Where do we start?"

With her directing the show, they worked together, installing new metal panels over the damaged ones, and finished before long. Then she worked on using the joiner to repair the lesser punctures while he prepared dinner.

"I messed up," Cole confessed as she returned to the kitchen. "Everything was so busy today, I didn't end up telling anyone about the kids."

She had a feeling it had more to do with personal reasons, like how she couldn't bring herself to trade the mattress yet, but something else he said kept her attention. "Busy? Was there more trouble?" She'd kept her ears and eyes open for any signs, but hadn't heard or seen anything.

"No, nothing from the south. We had..." He glanced at her. "We lost quite a few last night."

"Oh." She looked down at the table as she sat.

He placed two plates of mystery meat and vegetables on the table, added a mug of steaming tea in front of her, then sat across from her. "I know. It's hard."

"But it's life." She picked up a chunk of the meat. "Thanks for cooking."

"You're welcome." He beamed. "I'm the finest I know at opening food jars and heating whatever I find inside."

They were halfway through their meal when a pounding noise came from the front door.

Leigh checked the remaining slivered holes in the hallway walls. Light still shone, but not much.

Cole raised an eyebrow. She nodded.

They hurried to the door. As always, she took her place behind the barrier and covered the door with her .38 while Cole unlocked it. He opened it wide, standing to the side so she had a clear shot.

Alexandra and Wyatt stood outside the door, each lugging a nearly-overflowing large bag. Wyatt's short hair stuck up at odd angles, and a few new streaks of dirt marked his face. Alexandra still had her braid, but some locks had worked their way loose, hanging out here and there.

Leigh lowered her gun. Cole blinked.

The girl cleared her throat daintily. "May we please come in?"

Leigh put her gun away. "Why should we let you?"

"These are yours." She gestured to the two bags. "We traded for them."

"Using the things you stole from us."

Alexandra's eyes darkened. "We do not steal. We took them to trade. To make good trades and bring you better things instead." She glanced back at the descending sun. "May we please come in?"

"Please?" Wyatt added, his eyes wide with innocence.

Never again. She'd made that vow. They couldn't trust anyone from outside. Couldn't afford to.

Leigh sighed. "Come in."

The kids entered, dragging the bags.

Cole shut and locked the door behind them. "How about a little explanation, if you please."

Alexandra eyed him, then nodded. "Of course. I apologize for leaving with no word. I'm sure it looked bad."

Leigh bit back a snort.

"But we only did what we did with the best intentions. You kept underestimating us. We needed to prove that we're able to make contributions of equal value."

Cole frowned. "You didn't have to—"

"Let the girl finish," Leigh interrupted. She'd seen it before, people who were convinced they couldn't get kind treatment just as an act of common decency. They believed they had to prove themselves, to offer services or goods in fair trade, and only saw kindness as condescension and pandering. If she and Cole offered charity to these kids, they'd only wind up taking off again. She had to let Alexandra believe they were making an equal trade.

"We only took items you had excess of, or things that are only useful for trade. We made good trades with a settlement to the east, and this is how much we got for it all." Alexandra gestured to the bags. "I understand if you're angry and don't want us to stay here any longer. These items are yours whether you allow us to stay or not. But I need you to understand that Wyatt and I have good skills. We can pay for our own room and board here in your house. Our abilities are useful to you. In fact, you need us around."

Cole opened his mouth again.

Leigh spoke before he could. "How'd you get so much for so little? You couldn't have had more than a couple moderate bags when you left."

"We're skilled traders."

Leigh raised her eyebrows and waited.

Alexandra chewed the corner of her lip, then nudged Wyatt. "Show them."

He picked up tool from the top of the bag and held it up with both hands, his eyes stretched beyond wide. He coughed a couple of times, weak, pitiful coughs. "Please, sir, my sister says we has to get more food. Three jars, she said. Is this enough?"

Cole laughed.

Leigh shook her head, but couldn't help smiling. They certainly were resourceful.

"See?" A smug smile crossed the girl's face. "You can get plenty for just a little if you know the right tricks."

"Not exactly a fair trade," Leigh said.

The smug smile remained in place. "If they're too stupid to know the value of what they have, then they don't deserve a fair trade."

Leigh frowned.

Alexandra's smile faded. She glanced back at the bags, then folded her arms. "So what do you say?"

"This really wasn't—" Cole started.

"Well." Leigh eyed both bags with an aloof, cool disdain. "We're still not happy that you ran off with our possessions. But..." She poked through the top of one bag, sniffed, then nodded. "I suppose it'll do."

"You suppose?" Alexandra laughed. "I've seen you trade. You don't get nearly as good deals."

Leigh turned her lips to one side in pretend thought. "Fine. You're right. I'm impressed. And we do need someone good at making deals." She straightened. "But you need to understand that Cole and I have a certain reputation in this community. That means if you intend to stay on as our boarders, you'll have to follow certain rules."

"Let's hear them."

"No ripping people off in the marketplace. As I said, we have a reputation to maintain. Fair trades of equal or near-equal value only. And you need either my or Cole's consent before taking something to trade. Or before leaving the community."

Alexandra opened her mouth, but Leigh held up a hand. "That's for our protection. Obviously, you and Wyatt can take care of yourselves. But if you're going to be our boarders, we need to know where you are. Otherwise, if we come home and find you gone, someone could come to our door claiming to have found you. They could take us by surprise that way. I won't risk it."

The girl mulled it over, then nodded. "Fair enough. We'll follow your rules so long as we remain safe and well-fed."

Leigh held out her hand. "Deal."

The two women solemnly shook on it.

Chapter 7

Wyatt cheered. "We're staying!"

"You two ate dinner yet?" Cole asked.

Wyatt shook his head.

Alexandra gave him a scolding look. "We had plenty on the road back here."

"But we didn't have desserts."

"Cole and I are still eating," Leigh said. "You two start earning your keep by getting these things sorted and settled, along with what Cole brought home for the day."

Alexandra nodded and helped Wyatt drag their bags over to join the other bags Cole had brought home with him.

Cole paused, but let Leigh pull him back down the hallway to the kitchen.

"You didn't have to be so harsh," he said.

"She wouldn't have listened to anything less." Leigh sat back in her seat and sipped her tea. The house already felt a bit warmer.

He shook his head. "Didn't expect to see them again. Are you sure this is wise? What if they take off again?"

"I don't think they will. Alexandra wanted to prove to us that she can contribute as an equal. She wouldn't have gone through the trouble if she didn't plan on staying."

"Trouble." Cole snorted. "That's one way to put it."

The kids joined them shortly after they finished dinner. While Leigh and Cole cleaned the dishes, Alexandra and Wyatt put away small piles of newly-acquired tools, parts, and food. Leigh eyed their acquisitions. She had to admit, the kids had done well.

"All done?" Cole asked.

The kids nodded.

"Good. Let's get the radio."

Wyatt cheered and dashed back to the workroom, Alexandra close behind him.

Leigh couldn't help but smile at their eagerness. She followed them in and sat behind Alexandra, watching as messages scrolled through the radio screen.

"Hello today!" sang Don's familiar greeting. "Sundown, and I hope it finds you all nestled snug and secure. No more trouble from the south, good for us. Less good for us, we had a bit of a bad night last night. We lost three, possibly one more beyond."

Wyatt plopped into Cole's lap.

"Haven't had any more trouble from the northeast, lucky enough. Keep a good eye out and let us know if you run into anything. One last message: Kenna, you forgot a couple items at Britton's booth. He said he'll keep 'em set aside, but if you aren't there the second he opens, he's putting 'em back on the shelf. Get your head straight, girl. People won't keep babysitting you forever. That last bit's from me, by the way, not Britton. G'night, all."

"Your settlement is strange," Alexandra said. "I don't understand why people keep holding things for Kenna instead of keeping them. If she forgets them, that's her problem, not theirs. It's good luck for them, actually, because they get to keep her trade and the item she traded for."

"It's different, I know, but it's how we treat our own," Cole said. "We take care of each other. That's how we stay so strong."

"I like that," Wyatt said.

Alexandra shook her head. "Strange."

"All right, bedtime, you two," Cole said. He reached for the radio's power button.

The radio speaker crackled. "Hey," a rough voice said, almost inaudible through the static. "Anyone seen Mac since yesterday?"

Cole's hand stilled.

"Didn't see him," another man replied. "You hearin' this, Boss?"

"What about Jay? Anyone hear anything from him?"

"Haven't seen him since he rode out with the others."

A harsh, nasal tenor joined in. "Has anyone seen any of the men who went to check on that idiot's story about the place up north?"

Silence.

Leigh met Cole's eyes. Place up north? Was this about their community and the settlement to the south?

The same tenor spoke again. "Why am I not surprised? Can anyone here do anything right?"

The two men responded with grumbling, half-audible apologies to their boss.

"Shut up. I want a report tomorrow before sundown. If anyone shows up, bring them straight to me. Think you can get that one right?"

"Yes, sir."

"We're on it, boss."

"Idiots," the boss grumbled. The static and crackling ended.

Wyatt tilted his head to one side. "Were those bad guys?"

"Maybe." Leigh reached over the boy's head and turned the radio off. "Bed."

Alexandra stood and neatly brushed her lap. "I hope they weren't talking about this community."

Leigh glanced at the girl and saw understanding in her small eyes. "I'm sure it'll be fine."

Wyatt bounced on his toes. "We could go see if it was them, like spies." He held his hands in front of his face and peeked between his fingers.

Cole chuckled and shook his head. "It's too late to go out now, kid. It's dark."

"We could be sneaky so the creatures don't see us." Wyatt's grin spread. "And you got your guns, so we can shoot anything if it tries to hurt us."

All moisture in Leigh's mouth vanished as her heart came to a full stop. He didn't know. Of course he didn't know. He was too young to understand how deadly the night was. But she wasn't ready to deal with that. She couldn't.

Cole looked equally off-guard. He glanced at Leigh as if searching for words.

Alexandra beat them both to it. "Get in bed. You know we don't talk like that."

Wyatt pouted, but kicked off his shoes and squirmed head-first under the blanket, leaving his feet on the pillow.

The girl climbed in beside him with a look of disgust at the feet. "Goodnight."

Leigh managed to mumble something that sounded like 'goodnight' before scooping up the radio and escaping to the bedroom.

Cole followed behind her, a disturbed look on his face. "That was unexpected. I thought, since they'd been on their own for so long..."

Leigh spun into him and clung to him, unable to do anything but that for several long moments. Thieves, she could handle. Thugs on the road. Raiders. Even the ever-hovering threat of the night. But this... This was more than she could take.

"Hey, it's okay," Cole murmured into her ear. His hand gently smoothed her hair. "I'm sure it was just a slip. He's still learning."

Leigh shook her head. "It wasn't a slip. Anyone who knows, who really understands, would never slip like that." She drew in a shuddering breath. "He still has hope, Cole. He thinks the creatures are something that can be fought, even beaten."

"He'll learn. And Alexandra keeps him in line, from what I've seen. It'll be okay."

"No." She turned away from him. Her hands balled into fists in rebellion against what she knew to be the truth. "It's more than that. It can't be just a lesson. He has to understand." Heat built behind her eyes. She closed them and tried to will it away as her fingers tapped against her thigh. "We have to destroy that hope."

Her stomach turned at the words, but she knew it was true. As long as the boy had hope, he might someday try to act on it. He'd think that the rules were only for protecting children, and if he got strong enough and skilled enough, then the rules would no longer apply to him. If Wyatt was going to survive in this world, his hope had to be destroyed.

Cole's hand rested on her shoulder.

She pulled away. Her voice barely rose above a whisper. "I can't do it. I can't be the monster to look in a child's eyes and watch that light die. But it has to be done. We have no choice."

He caught her arms and pulled her into his embrace. She pushed away, but he held firm. She finally melted into him.

He kissed the top of her head. "We don't have to worry about it just yet. He's safe here, and his sister keeps him in line. We'll find a better time to deal with it. And I'll take care of it when the time comes. I'll make sure he fully understands."

Tears pushed at Leigh's eyes again. She blinked them back unsuccessfully. "You would do that for me?"

"Of course I would. That's why there's two of us. You take care of bath time, and I'll take care of extinguishing hopes."

She couldn't help but smile at the teasing sparkle in his eyes. "Be serious."

"I am. Bath time scares the crap out of me."

A giggle escaped around the lump in her throat. She let it, feeling the tension lighten. "Thank you."

Still, the sick feeling didn't subside as she crawled into bed with him. The innocence of the little blond boy reminded her too much of someone else. She closed her eyes on the memories and drifted off into restless sleep.

* * *

The next morning after breakfast, Alexandra pulled Wyatt down the hallway to assess the damage, then into the front room to the bags. Leigh watched with mild amusement as they sorted the items and loaded them back up into bags for the marketplace. Alexandra worked on the pile for trading, and Wyatt worked on the pile for scrap.

"Hang on," Leigh said. She took a generator part from Wyatt. "Set this one aside."

"Why?" Alexandra asked. "It's just scrap."

"There's a guy in our community, Declan—Kenna's father. He's trying to figure out the generator tech, so he buys generator parts at the same going rate as tools, only double."

Alexandra's eyebrows rose. "Double value?"

"We'll check and see if he's buying today. It's only a short walk from the marketplace."

They loaded everything else up and headed out.

"Okay." Leigh folded her arms after they handed off the scrap to the metalworker. "Show me what you've got."

"You can go work on something else if you like." Alexandra dug into the bag and pulled out one of the extra tools they'd brought to trade. "We can take care of this."

"Today's your test. I already saw you know how to get the better hand in trades. Now I need to see how well you do at making fair trades."

The girl paused, then nodded. She handed the tool and a few other items to Wyatt. "Get at least seven jars of food from this." She pointed to Max's stall. "Start there."

Leigh watched without interfering as Alexandra and Wyatt worked to make the needed trades. Alexandra occasionally glanced Leigh's way as if checking for approval before telling Wyatt the value of items. Thankfully, she seemed to have a good concept of what was fair. Leigh wouldn't have to teach her proper valuing.

Once the kids finished the bulk of the trading, Leigh led the way to Declan's house and handed the generator part to Alexandra. "Figure out what's fair."

Alexandra thought a moment, then knocked on Declan's door and waited. They heard a minor commotion inside, items banging about and something scraping over the floor.

"Just a minute!"

More banging. Rattling. Thumping. Then footsteps rushing to the door.

It swung open, and the doorframe filled with a wiry man, his salt-and-pepper hair sticking almost three inches in every direction from his head, almost as if it was actively trying to flee. "Yes?" Papers behind him drifted to the floor in his wake.

Alexandra held up the part. "I'm looking for a trade. What would you be willing to give in exchange for this?"

He snatched the part from her hand and held it inches from his cracked glasses, turning it over and over in examination. "Model five-thirteen... at least two generations old... Ooh, ampule still intact, that's rare... Hmm, scratched over the lock joint, but that's easy enough to get around... Excess length on the wires, handy..." He suddenly looked up and put on a sad attempt at a poker face. "Uh, I'm not sure if I can use it."

Alexandra folded her arms and raised one eyebrow.

"Okay, fine, I'll give you..." He looked around behind him. "Let's see... A set of shelves?"

"It's worth more than that."

He grinned. "You're a sharp one. Okay, how about this. I'll give you this thing." He dashed across the room, sending papers fluttering in every direction, and returned with a rectangular, flat box with black grid lines across the top.

"What is it?" Alexandra asked.

"Watch, watch." He tapped a button on the side. The whole box lit up. "See? You put it outside somewhere all day, and it works like a candle at night!"

"You don't plug it in?" Leigh asked, peering at it.

"Nope!" He turned it back off and spun it around, revealing two outlets on the other side. "In fact, you can plug other things into it, and it can power them! Not like a generator, mind you, but strong enough for an evening's radio charge or a secondary light. If you need."

"How's it do that?" Alexandra asked.

He shrugged, nearly knocking the box into the wall in the excessive gesture. "Best I can figure, it somehow converts heat from the sun into energy. That's why you have to keep it outside during the day."

Alexandra eyed the box, then took it. "Deal."

Declan nodded, already absorbed in the new part, mumbling to himself as he tripped over his own feet back into the depths of his home. Leigh politely reached in to shut his door behind him.

After dropping their first load of bags back at the house, Leigh gestured the kids toward the marketplace. "Go ahead and pick up the rest. I'll start scavenging some extra wood to the..." She hesitated, glancing south. No movement in sight, but that didn't mean there wouldn't be. "I'll be along this road to the east."

Alexandra looked almost pleased before her usual mask returned. "We'll be right there."

Leigh hid a smile as she grabbed a hammer and prybar from inside the house and wandered east, watching for good scavenging grounds. It always held true: the easiest way to make a kid feel important was to offer some real responsibility.

The kids joined her before long, and they managed to collect enough boards and wood panels to reinforce the kids' room. Leigh kept a close watch on the south the entire time and was relieved when they finished with no signs of trouble. They returned home with plenty of time to put the metal panels in place and start work on the reinforcement.

Cole wandered in about an hour before sunset, just as they were finishing the job. "You three got a lot done today."

Leigh nodded. "Let's make dinner easy." She dropped onto the edge of the mattress.

"Easy dinner." Cole took his hat off, wiped his forehead, and returned it in place. "Sounds like a plan. Alexandra, give me a hand?"

"Wyatt will give you a hand," Leigh said, straightening. She eyed what was left of the girl's braid. "I need Alexandra."

While the boys made dinner, Leigh helped clean the girl's hair, brush it smooth, and secure it a new style, plaiting it into two small buns on top of her head.

Alexandra examined the style, her fingers lightly exploring. "They'll hold?"

"Better than the last style, so long as you don't try to scrub the floor with your head."

A tiny smile lifted the corner of the girl's mouth.

"Come on. Let's see what the boys found for dinner."

They went to the kitchen to find Cole and Wyatt placing apples, slices of bread, and slices of pink meat around the table.

"Dinner is served," Cole said. He gave Alexandra a smile. "I like it. Looks good on you."

"You look like a lady," Wyatt said.

"I am a lady." Alexandra sat in her seat with her head held a bit higher than usual.

"No, you're my sister."

"Better to let her have this one," Cole advised the boy. "Always let a lady be a lady." He winked at Leigh.

"What's that mean?" Wyatt asked around a lump of bread.

"Don't talk with your mouth full," Alexandra said.

"You'll get it when you're older," Cole told him.

Wyatt frowned, but seemed content enough to let it go. Instead, he turned to Leigh. "Can I have a dessert, Mommy?"

She froze. Glanced at Cole. He looked just as shocked as she felt.

Alexandra watched Leigh in silence. She didn't speak up to correct the boy.

Leigh hesitated a moment longer, then nodded. "After you finish the rest of your apple."

"Okay." He swung his legs back and forth under his chair, munching cheerfully.

She dug out a pack of Twinkies from the cupboard. Wished her hands would stop shaking. It was just a slip of the tongue, she told herself. Little kids accidentally call adult women 'mommy' all the time. She put the treat in front of Cole for him to dole out, then retrieved her tea. She needed it. Badly.

Whispers of past memories echoed through her mind. Another little boy with blond hair, looking so much like Wyatt, calling out for his mommy. Her brother. Smoke. Gunfire. Blood.

She clenched her eyes shut. Forced the memories back. Focused on preparing her tea.

Once Cole and the kids finished their food and dessert, he paraded them into the workroom to get the radio ready. Leigh sat back down at the table and sipped the hot brew. She closed her eyes. Just a slip of the tongue. It shouldn't bother her.

The door swung open. "Come on, it's starting!" Wyatt called.

She took her tea with her and followed him into the room. He chose to perch on her lap this time as they all sat around the radio, which was plugged into the new power device, and listened to Don's report. It was more of the usual. One more gone. One missing. No trouble today, but keep cautious around the south border still. A couple scavengers ran into the raiders to the northeast, made it away alive, but without most of their haul. Someone would have to patrol that area tomorrow, and maybe a sniper could help them all out. Really. Anytime now.

Leigh closed her eyes and drained the last of her tea.

Don finished with hearty congratulations to Kenna for not forgetting anything at the market and signed off with his usual goodnight.

"Was he talking to you?" Alexandra asked, staring intently at Leigh.

"No, he was talking to Kenna."

"Not that part. About the sniper."

She displaced Wyatt to the floor and stood. "It's possible."

"Are you going to?"

"Bang!" Wyatt shouted. "Get the bad guys!"

The radio crackled.

"My peaceful, happy little town has been disrupted by the dinky place over the hill to the north," said the same nasal, tenor voice as the previous night. The boss. "You know who you are."

Cole met Leigh's eyes.

"I'd like a chat with your leader. I'm sure we're both reasonable men and can sort this out. Meet me at the halfway point on the main road, four hours after sunrise. Otherwise, I'll have to assume you have no interest in being reasonable and will respond accordingly."

The static ended.

Wyatt sprang to his feet and grabbed the bottom of Cole's shirt. "You gonna go? You gonna get 'em?"

"Do you think Don will meet them?" Leigh asked. Her mind already flicked to the appointed meeting place. A few half-walls, a fallen tree nearby. A good place for an ambush.

"I'm sure he will, and he'll take some of us with him. I'll be there. With any luck, we'll talk some sense into the guy, and we'll be done with this mess."

"You should take your guns and BOOM BOOM BOOM!" Wyatt said, miming guns with his fingers again.

Cole gently pushed the boy's hands back down. "The plan is not to. It's better to make peace with other people than to hurt them."

Wyatt's mouth turned in a skeptical frown.

Alexandra shooed him to the mattress. "Bed."

"G'night, Mommy! G'night, Daddy!" the boy said before he vanished head-first under the blankets.

Alexandra looked back at them, face expressionless. She turned and climbed into bed.

It took Leigh a moment before she managed to respond with a weak "Goodnight" around the lump in her throat. Cole stood silent, looking even more stunned.

She tugged him after her into the bedroom. "Come on, 'Daddy.'"

He blinked a few times. "Is it me, or did we just get adopted?"

"Go to bed."

"Are we going to talk about this?"

"About what?"

He flopped onto the mattress. "Mommy."

"Daddy." She sat down next to him.

"So?"

She shook her head. "My main concern is that it might bother Alexandra. It's possible that Wyatt doesn't remember their real parents, but she more likely would."

"And that's the only thing that might bug you about it."

She didn't miss the skeptical tone in his voice. She stood and tucked her gun under her pillow. "Not now."

He stepped behind her and kissed her neck. "You sure?"

"Go to sleep."

"Don't worry about tomorrow morning. We'll take precautions."

He'd guessed wrong about what had her tense, but she was happy to let the topic change. She turned to face him. "I know that spot. It's a good place for an ambush."

"We'll be careful. Probably leave a couple guys hanging back to keep an eye on things. You just take care of the house tomorrow and don't worry about it."

She frowned and turned his hat forwards. "Better be more than just a couple guys watching your back."

He kissed her deeply, then put his hat back in place. "There will be. I promise."

She climbed into bed and closed her eyes. If only that was all they had to worry about.

* * *

Cole left early the next morning, munching on a lime as he walked down the uneven road. In spite of his early departure, most of the other protectors already gathered in the marketplace, talking quietly amongst themselves.

"Cole!" Lucas shouted, waving. Barely past his teen years, the skinny man's eyes glowed with the promise of action. "You heard?"

"Yeah." He joined them. "We got a plan?"

"Nothing formal," Don said. "Round up guns, walk out there, have a chat. Should be fairly simple."

He faced the larger man. "And for cover?"

"I asked a few of the snipers to keep an eye. And we can have a couple stay back to watch for an ambush."

"I want up front. Right with you."

"Sure thing."

Lucas nearly bounced in place. "So, we going?"

"Easy, tiger. We've got plenty of time before we need to get there." Don scratched his chin stubble. "Suppose it wouldn't hurt to take a look, get a feel for the area, make sure they aren't already there setting up some hidden guns."

"Let's go!" Lucas said, yanking his gun out.

Don put a hand on the younger man's shoulder. "You're staying here. We need a few good men to stay put and make sure those morons don't try to pull something dumb, like sending a group to circle wide and try to take the community while we're occupied with the meeting."

Lucas' face fell.

Don named a handful more men whose responses ranged from disappointment to relief. The chosen group wandered closer to the still-sleepy market, where the booths were only just beginning to open.

"Everyone loaded and set?" Don asked.

The remaining protectors, about a dozen men total, nodded, several raising their guns as evidence of their preparation.

"Lead on," Cole said, checking his pocket. Two spare magazines, both loaded. Ready.

The men marched out in grim silence. Cole found his fingers tightening on his gun as they neared the halfway point, his eyes shifting to take in all the half-broken walls and collapsed flora. Leigh was right. Perfect place for an ambush.

"You three, find cover back that way." Don pointed first to a few of the men, then to some of the debris further back on the left side of the road. "You three, over there." He pointed to the other side.

"Well, this is awkward." Despite the lack of crackling static, the nasal tenor was immediately recognizable.

Chapter 8

They turned to see a group of men approaching from the opposite direction. From the settlement.

Cole whipped his gun out and leveled it at the men. Several others did the same. Don remained still, narrowed eyes taking in the enemy.

"Easy now," the leader said, hands half-raised. He stood a full head shorter than the other men and at least half as muscular. His suit jacket featured spots worn nearly threadbare and a few patches that just barely didn't match the color, but looked surprisingly clean. A gentleman's hat perched on his head. "We're just here for a chat, remember?"

"You said four hours after sunrise," Don said.

"Which might make one wonder what you gents are doing out here so early."

Both sides faced each other in silence.

The leader laughed. "Who're we kidding? We're all here for the same reason, to scope out the area and check for ambushes. You're smarter than I thought. Certainly a cut above the typical nincompoops and thugs you find out here." He smiled and took a casual stance. "I go by Sieve. I presume you're the one in charge?" He nodded toward Don.

"We don't run things like that. We don't have one man calling all the shots." Don gestured toward the others with his head. "We work as a community."

Sieve chuckled again. "No wonder you have such trouble keeping your people in check."

Cole bristled.

Don shot him a look, then straightened. "So you came to talk."

"Let's talk like gentlemen, shall we? I'm afraid my throat will give out, shouting across the distance like this." Sieve drew a handgun, walked to the side of the road, and left it leaning against a pile of rubble. "We'll leave our guns here. You leave your guns there. We'll meet in the middle and speak as men, equal and peaceful."

Cole glanced at Don. They hadn't had enough time to check and ensure there were no threats hiding further down the road, ready to attack at the first opening.

The big man mulled it over, then nodded. He pulled his own gun out and set it aside. The other protectors followed his lead, some more reluctantly than others.

"Go ahead and call your boys back up, too," Sieve said. He removed his hat, dusted it off, and carefully replaced it. "If I'm going to have all my boys up here to chat, you can have all yours, too." He gave them a crooked grin that was meant to be charming, but failed miserably.

Don hesitated a moment longer, then beckoned the rest of the men forward.

Cole lingered, fingers still wrapped tightly around his sidearm. An impulse prodded him that it would be so easy, so simple to just fire now and be done with this. Sieve stood in range. Cole had hit smaller targets from farther away. And without a leader, the others would leave. Leigh would be safe.

He rejected the thought as quickly as it came. It was rare to find anyone outside the community willing to talk instead of just charge in, guns blazing. He'd be a fool to turn down the opportunity for peace. He added his Glock to the collection at the side of the road, placing his near the end and just a few inches away from the others. He noted with pride that the men kept a small distance between each weapon. Easier for each man to grab one in a hurry if needed than if they'd thrown them all in a pile.

Sieve grinned even more broadly as the two groups met in the middle, guns left far behind. "There, see? Gentlemen." He cleared his throat and put on a lecturing face. "We seem to have ended up with a bit of trouble between us. I'd like to see that trouble cleared up. I'd rather not lose any more men over this speck of bother, and I'm sure you folks would rather not lose any more, either."

Don snorted. "From where I'm standing, score shows our side hasn't lost any yet."

The small man looked startled and offended at the comment. He quickly adjusted the lapels of his jacket. "I was speaking metaphorically, of course."

"Of course." Don smirked.

Sieve's eyes narrowed, but he continued on with dignity. "As far as I understand, this entire fuss is all over one little crazy woman who likes to attack innocent men who were minding their own business. This may just be my opinion, but I think that unbalanced people aren't really worth going to war over, wouldn't you agree?"

He looked them over with the pretentious sneer of a man who asks questions he believes he already knows the answer to. "So the solution, as far as I can see, is simple. Hand the woman over so we can bring her to justice for her crimes against us. Then this whole mess will be over. No one else gets hurt." He beamed as if he'd just rid the world of the creatures single-handedly.

Cole stepped forward. "I'm afraid you've been misinformed."

The smile vanished. "Come again?"

"I know someone told you the woman attacked for no reason. But your boys were trying to rob her, threatening and attacking her. She only acted in self-defense." He folded his arms. "The fact that she let one of them live was an act of mercy on her part."

Sieve slowly ran his hands down his lapels. "Is that so."

"It's true," Don said. "Law and common sense both say she did nothing wrong. No harm committed, aside from when your men decided to roll into our community and try to take the whole marketplace hostage." He folded his arms and glared down at the smaller man.

Sieve returned the glare, unintimidated. "So you're saying we're the ones at fault."

"We're saying it was a misunderstanding," Cole said. "Your man gave you faulty information. You reacted reasonably on the information you had. And you lost some good men for it, so we're willing to let the unwarranted attack go and call it even from here."

The small man fingered his lapels again, eyes narrowed and shifting from Cole to Don to the other protectors. Then he burst out laughing. "Move back a few steps," he said, waving at his men.

They stared blankly at him.

He gave them a fierce glare. "Do as I say."

They reluctantly shuffled back.

Sieve lifted his hat, ran a hand over greasy hair, and settled it back in place as he stepped closer and spoke in low tones. "One of the boys your lady friend killed was a relative of mine. My cousin's son."

"We heard. It's unfortunate," Don said, his tone granite.

"Our condolences," Cole added, equally unsympathetic.

The man chuckled again. "To speak plainly, it doesn't surprise me that the story I heard was all a lie. Suspected as much myself from the beginning. It also doesn't surprise me in the least that my cousin's moronic dick of a son decided to stir up trouble, hassling an innocent woman in her travels, trying to rob her. The punk kid got what was coming to him. Honestly, I'm surprised it didn't happen to him sooner."

Don grinned. "Yeah, I've known a few like that."

"You understand, then. And, if I may confide..." Sieve leaned in even closer. "I find myself relieved to know the brat is dead. He's been a genuine pain in my posterior, using my name as some sort of pass-card to do whatever he wanted, buying off friends, flaunting his way around town like he owns the place. Never could stand the boy. And you're absolutely right. If he attacked that woman, she had every right to defend herself—even if it meant killing my relation. I'm grateful to you for clearing up that little misunderstanding."

"Then we're good here." Don straightened.

"Of course, of course." Sieve tilted his head to one side. "Except... As much of a dung-brain that kid was, as much of a thorn in my side he made himself, the problem is, he's still kin. And see those men back there?" He gestured back to the men behind him. "Those were the ones benefiting from the fool's largess, and I must say, they're quite sore about losing their own personal piggy bank."

"So I'm sorry," he continued with a shrug, "but we simply have to square up with the lady. And if you won't let us square up with her," he pulled out a gun, keeping it relaxed at his side, "we'll just have to square up with you instead."

The group of men behind him immediately drew guns as well, keeping them down, watching Sieve for their signal to act.

Of course. They'd all had two guns, one to set aside for show and a second one to use. Not quite the ambush Cole had anticipated, but a slick one nonetheless. He wondered if the discarded guns were even loaded.

Don lifted his hands. "There's no call for this. We can work things out. Like gentlemen."

"If there's one thing I've learned in this world," Sieve adjusted his hat, "it refuses to tolerate a gentleman, forcing the few of us remaining to lower ourselves to your barbaric terms. Now, be good chaps and hand over the lady before we have to kill you all."

One of the other protectors shifted his weight. Cole glanced over at him. Don couldn't be the only one who'd put two and two together and figured out who the 'crazy lady' was. What if one of the others decided that it wasn't worth risking all their lives over one woman?

Don's eyes narrowed. "No one from our community has done anything wrong. We have no intention of handing over an innocent woman."

Sieve shrugged. "As you wish."

He raised his gun.

His hat flew off. He stumbled backwards and fell to the ground, blood streaming from his forehead.

His men shouted, startled, and raised their guns, firing madly. A quarter of them fell in the next moment.

Cole already ran, halfway back to his own gun. A man to his right fell, streaking blood across the dark pavement. Instinct cried to stop and help his fellow protector, but that'd mean death for both of them. He gritted his teeth and pressed on. He grabbed his Glock and jumped over the half-wall in the same motion, secured his cover, then rolled back to one knee and took aim.

The enemies fired wildly in panic, some making a feeble attempt at strafing while others simply stood rooted to the ground, blindly shooting in terror. The rest of the protectors had found cover already, several with their own weapons retrieved, firing back with significantly better aim.

Cole took aim, but the man he chose fell to a sniper's bullet before he could squeeze the trigger. He selected another target and fired, catching the man's shoulder.

Next target. The thug looked ready to wet himself. He spun on his feet and ran away, arms flailing. No point in wasting ammo on that shot.

Next target. A beefy man with decent cover, firing with steady aim at a group of protectors crouched behind a rotted trunk near him. Cole shifted his position a bit further to the right until he had a clear shot. Took it. Beefy dropped.

The few remaining attackers saw they fought a losing battle, turning tail at record speeds. Cole kept watch to be sure none of them turned back. The other protectors kept firing. A couple more men fell, then the remaining escapees were out of range.

Cole tucked his gun away and waved back in the community's direction, signaling all was clear. He glanced over his fellow protectors as they emerged from cover. A few tugged makeshift bandages over grazes. A couple waved for help; one of the younger guys, a kid named James who kept asking everyone to call him Killer, lay on the ground, bleeding heavily from his leg. Cole started toward them, but they already had enough hands, one man bandaging the wound while others stood ready to carry him back to Sal for treatment.

He spotted the man who'd fallen beside him. Still lying in the same spot, his arms now folded over his chest and a hat over his head. A sick feeling settled in Cole's stomach as his eyes moved on to three other bodies laid out in the road. Men who hadn't been fast or lucky enough to get to cover before being shot. Nothing to do for them now.

"Come on!" Benjamin shouted, starting down the road. "We can still catch 'em!"

"No need for that," Cole said. "They know they're beat."

"They're just going to go get more reinforcements and come after us again!"

Don checked his magazine and tucked his handgun back into his belt. "Slow your roll, boy. We go after those men, we won't catch up until they're nearly back to their settlement. Won't be long before we're the ones outgunned, especially that far out with no one watching from the roofs."

"But—"

"Besides, we no longer have to worry about someone trying to avenge his relation's death," Cole added, gesturing to Sieve's body. "They'll have to find themselves a new leader. With any hope, whoever they choose will be smart enough to let this one go."

Don nodded. "We'll keep a close eye on this road from now on. Benjamin, you join your brother on whatever roof he found for his perch. If he spots any movement in that scope of his—any movement at all—you round up the troops, hear?"

Benjamin nodded and trotted back toward the community.

The large man clapped Cole's shoulder. "Besides, even if their new leader is dumb enough to keep after this one, we won't let your wife go anywhere."

Cole cringed and glanced at the other men.

"Relax, man. We all know," one of them said with a grin. "Only one lady I know crazy enough to take on a half-dozen men single-handed and come out on top."

The others chuckled and nodded their agreement.

"Besides," Don said, looking around at the bodies down the road, "she's obviously too good a shot for us to just let her go."

More chuckles.

Cole glanced back toward the community. Leigh'd been on the roofs? He'd told her to stay out of it. Not that he had any place to order her around. Not that she'd ever listen even if he did. Still, he didn't like the thought of her being any more involved in this mess. He'd seen the look in her eyes, the haunting grief that followed her any time she took a life. He'd always thought of her as one of the few true innocents left in this world. And he'd taken it on himself to protect that innocence, no matter the cost.

Don's just making assumptions, he told himself. The shots came from the other snipers, the ones Don asked to keep an eye on things. Just because the shots were good didn't mean Leigh was the shooter.

Though that first shot certainly smelled of her handiwork...

He shook the thoughts off and followed the others on their victory walk back to the community. Leigh was safe. Everything was okay.

Chapter 9

Leigh waited until Cole finally turned and joined the others on the return trip to the community before she moved her eye back from the scope. Her perch was of her own construction, a flat wooden platform built above their house, mostly hidden from view by what remained of the walls from the upper story. It stood just low enough to remain out of sight while still high enough to keep a full view of the hills and plains around their shallow valley. She'd seen the men from the settlement approaching before the protectors spotted them. Brief temptation suggested that she take the shot in that moment, stop the trouble before it could even start, but the hope of peace held her finger. Now she wondered if it might've been better for her to give in to temptation.

She glanced at the low morning sun. The kids would still be at the market. They'd been all too eager to attend to the trading themselves. She told them she needed to take care of some business and would meet them back at the house. It all seemed to go over Wyatt's head, but she caught the understanding in Alexandra's eyes as the girl left. Sometimes the grown-up hiding in the child's body frightened her.

"Good shot!" Davida called, approaching on the road. "Hey, come on, I know you're up there. Can't hide from me!"

Leigh poked her head over the side of her hiding place. "You got some good shots, yourself."

Davida grinned and propped her rifle against her shoulder. She sharply saluted. "Just doing my duty, ma'am!" She gestured with her head toward the northeast. "What'dya say we deal with that little problem Don's been on you about?"

"Oh, were his comments aimed at me?"

"Don't play dumb. It doesn't work." The heavyset blond tapped her foot, waiting. "Well?"

Leigh checked the sun again. "I don't have a lot of time."

"So we'll just take a peek." Davida bounced over to the rope ladder and started up. "If nothing's happening, we go on our way."

Leigh sighed and sat up. She reloaded as Davida worked her way up to the platform. "Fine. Just a look."

"That's the spirit!" Her friend pulled the scope up to her eye and scanned the northeast corner of the community, standing upright on the perch.

Leigh tugged at her arm. "You're presenting a fantastic target."

"Not like anyone's looking."

"You never know who might be looking." Leigh tugged again, and Davida reluctantly dropped down beside her.

"You're such a fussbudget."

Leigh lifted her rifle and tilted her head to see through the scope. A couple scavengers, a few people wandering. No trouble she could see.

"Leigh!"

She jumped at Cole's voice and peeked over the edge again. "You got back fast."

He frowned. "You sent the kids to the market on their own?"

"They know what they're doing."

He gave her a look.

She exhaled. "Hang on, I'm coming down."

"Aww," Davida pouted.

Leigh waved at her. "Feel free to stay up here. You're just as capable of making the shot as I am."

Davida pouted more, but stayed put and resumed scanning the area.

Cole met her at the bottom of the ladder. "I thought I told you to carry on as normal."

"I did. It's normal for me to keep an eye on things when there's trouble, isn't it?"

"You've already had enough problems with this. I don't want you worrying."

"I didn't worry." She kissed him. "I had my eye on you the whole time. Hard to worry when I know they won't have a chance to get a shot off."

He looked away. "That first shot?"

She nodded.

He focused on the distance a moment longer. "It was a good shot."

The sick feeling returned to her stomach. She squashed it by focusing on the necessary truth instead. "If you hesitate..."

He turned his frown back at her. For a moment it looked like he might say something else, but then he shook his head. "With any hope, this is the end of it."

"That was their leader."

"Yeah."

She leaned in and kissed him again. "I'm sure you did your best to convince him to settle things peacefully. He pulled a dirty trick."

He looked away again.

"You're mad at me."

"Actually..." He glanced back at her with a half-grin. "I'm kind of impressed. You made that shot from here?"

"I always use my perch."

"And made it right past Don and into that jerk's face." He whistled. "I don't think anyone else would've made that shot."

"Stop it. I don't need it from you, too."

"You have to admit, it was close. Anyone else might've winged Don instead."

"Anyone else could've made it if they focused." She smoothed her shirt. "Go back to work. I'll check on the kids."

He pulled her close and kissed her. "Thanks for watching my back. I do feel safer when you're up here."

Leigh smiled and returned her rifle to its locker in the house. Part of her glowed in the praise. Cole was right; no one else could've made that shot. No, another part retorted. Any of the snipers could've made the shot. It was just that none of them had the courage to try it when an ally stood so close to the target.

Courage or recklessness.

She secured the gun and returned to the door. It didn't matter. Either way, their side suffered only a few losses. That was all that mattered.

She opened the door to find Alexandra and Wyatt on the other side, both carrying large bags, Alexandra's hand upraised for the doorknob. The girl took half a step back, eyes wide with surprise.

Leigh stepped aside. "You're back earlier than I expected."

Alexandra peered at the room behind Leigh. "Going somewhere?"

"No, I'm finished."

"You were coming to check on us."

She didn't miss the hint of accusation in the girl's voice. "I finished earlier than I thought. Figured you might need a hand carrying things back."

The girl mulled it over and seemed to accept Leigh's words. "We had to leave the metal panels back at the metalworker's."

"You and I can get those while Wyatt works on putting things away here." Leigh glanced at Wyatt. "You can do that until we get back, right?"

"Got it, Mommy!" He tugged his bag inside past Leigh.

Leigh hid the internal cringe as Alexandra followed Wyatt in. The girl dropped off her bag, then followed Leigh out the door toward the marketplace. Leigh let out a sigh and glanced over to find Alexandra watching her closely.

"It bothers you when he calls you that."

Leigh hesitated. "I don't want you to think I'm trying to—"

Alexandra waved a dismissive hand. "Anytime we're around adults for more than a couple days, he starts calling them 'Mommy' and 'Daddy.' He wasn't very old when ours died. He thinks any adults who help us are supposed to be called that."

"If it bothers you..."

"It doesn't. But if it bothers you, I'll tell him to stop."

Leigh shook her head. "If that's what he wants to call me, and if you're okay with it, then it's fine."

The girl looked like she didn't entirely believe Leigh, but let the matter drop. They retrieved the metal panels and returned home to find that Wyatt had already sorted and put away most of the goods.

"Finish up, then help me with panels," Alexandra instructed him before she busied herself with the first panel.

"Okey-dokey." He beamed with as much cheer as his voice. He gathered up an armload of items and started toward the hallway, but stopped beside Leigh and tugged on her shirt.

She bent down to his level.

He planted a slightly sticky kiss on her cheek. "Love you, Mommy." Then he trotted off down the hallway.

Leigh slowly straightened. A rush of warmth washed over her chest, followed by cold. Very cold. She quickly turned her back and tried to keep her shaking under control. She'd agreed to provide a safe house for these kids. She wasn't their parent. It wasn't like that.

And yet she couldn't help but notice her heart slowly melting.

Thumping from the door behind her cut her thoughts short. "Leigh!"

Benjamin's voice. Her throat tightened as fears flitted through her mind. Something happened to Cole. The men from the southern settlement launched another attack.

She slapped the locks free and threw the door open. "What happened?"

"Trouble from those raiders. Don wants you in your perch," he panted out, then bolted before she could ask anything further.

It wasn't about Cole. Cole's fine, she told herself. Benjamin would've said something otherwise. She reassured herself of this three more times before she was able to think straight.

Leigh turned back to find two sets of curious eyes on her. "You two finish up in here. I have a little more business to take care of."

"You're gonna get the bad guys!" Wyatt said. He fired his finger guns in the air.

She ignored him, walked past them to the locker, and retrieved her rifle. Still loaded and ready from earlier. "Stay inside, both of you. If you finish up..." She glanced around, trying to think of something they could do without leaving the relative safety of the house.

"We'll keep things secure," Alexandra said. "Go."

Leigh nodded and hurried out the door. "Lock it behind me."

She heard the locks click into place behind her. Confident the kids were safe, she climbed back up the rope ladder.

Davida no longer rested in the perch; she must've moved on, back to her daily business or possibly back to her own perch. Leigh rested flat on the wood, positioning the rifle carefully. She spotted the trouble easily enough. Dust flew in clouds in the distance, testifying to a trader's panicked flight, a larger cloud showing the raiders giving chase.

The wandering groups of thugs established their own way of dealing with the world they'd been given: break into a house, kill or enslave its occupants, live off the food and supplies there until they were gone, move on to another house. Heavily armed and brutal, the bullies picked on any weak settlement or outlying homes. They supplemented their gains by attacking traders and scavengers between settlements.

No raider had gotten this close to their community in years. Apparently they needed a reminder of why this community was off-limits.

Leigh checked the wind, pulled her rifle in close to her body. Like an extension of herself. She lined up the scope. Found the trader. Eased past her to the raiders. Exhaled.

Fired.

The first raider fell. She prepped the next shot. Lined it up.

Her target stumbled, hit in the side by someone else's shot.

The raiders slowed, recognizing a new threat. They fired wildly, seeking their attackers.

Leigh exhaled. Fired.

Another raider fell.

The trader gained more distance. A woman, one arm furiously pumping while the other kept a dirty bucket hat in place on her head. Leigh again shifted her aim, the next shot ready.

Her target fired at the same time she did.

Both the raider and the trader fell.

A curse flew through Leigh's mind. Heat washed over her body. Her hands went through the motions, prepping the next shot, lining it up, firing. Again. Again.

The dust rose again. The remaining raiders fled, still firing randomly behind them.

Lined up another shot. They reached the edge of range.

Exhaled. Fired.

Another fell.

Prepped the next shot. They'd passed beyond range. She could still make it.

Lined up the shot.

Closed her eyes. Her head drooped. As much as part of her wanted to bring an end to those monsters, part of her knew she had to let some of them go. Otherwise no one would tell the other raiders to avoid the community. It's what saved them years ago when Leigh first encouraged the community to develop a few more skilled snipers. It's what would save them today.

The diminishing dust cloud left bile in her mouth. But she let them go.

She climbed down onto the roof, then sat, her back to the remaining wall section. Pressed shaking hands over her eyes. So much blood today. Sometimes this place just got to her.

Leigh pulled herself back together and climbed back down to the ground. She had kids to look after. She couldn't afford to fall apart now. She gathered up the rope ladder and tucked it into place, a small box just over the lip of the roof, nearly out of sight from below. Then she went to the door.

"Hey," she called, tapping on it. "It's me. All clear out here."

A long silence passed before the locks finally slid back. Alexandra cracked the door and looked out with a cautious expression. "They're all gone?"

"It's over." Leigh walked in and put her rifle away.

"Didja get 'em?" Wyatt asked, bouncing around her.

A powerful impulse washed over her, a desire to grab him, shake his little shoulders, and tell him that this wasn't a good thing, that it's bad to kill, that it's wrong and horrible every single time.

She squeezed her hands into fists. That was the worst thing she could tell anyone in this world, especially a child. If he didn't kill, he'd end up dead. Death was an inescapable part of life in this place.

She turned to see both Wyatt and Alexandra watching her with expectancy. She nodded. Took a deep breath and let her emotions slide aside. "It's taken care of."

"Yeah!" Wyatt jumped in place. "You got 'em!"

"Hush, Wyatt," Alexandra said, her voice quiet.

Leigh glanced at the girl and couldn't help but wonder if the girl felt the same way she did. "We've got time to scavenge some wood panels, if you finished the walls."

"They're done."

She nodded and headed for the door.

It took a little over an hour of walking northwest before they found an empty structure with intact walls. They managed to pry three panels free before the sun dipped too close to the horizon. Time to head back.

Leigh had never been so relieved for an uneventful trip out. The kids helped her tend to the damaged walls, then they piled back inside the house well before sundown. Cole returned home shortly afterwards and ate dinner with them. The whole thing almost felt normal.

Until a knock at the door broke the evening stillness.

Leigh met Cole's gaze as they both stood. The sun wasn't quite down yet, but it wasn't far off. More trouble? The few raiders she'd left to flee couldn't have regrouped this quickly, could they?

"Stay put," she told the kids, almost as an afterthought, as she followed Cole out of the kitchen. They reached the front room, and she remained behind the barrier, gun ready, as always.

Cole checked her, then swung the door open wide.

A dark-skinned man with gray hair and a matching bushy beard filled the doorframe. Wrinkles and spots decorated his face as testimony to a full and relatively happy life. He looked old, older than even Sal. Leigh couldn't remember the last time she came across someone so aged, especially in a traveler.

He smiled at them. "Evening, folks. Hope I'm not intruding. The name's Meshach, and I'm just an old traveler looking for a place to stay for the night." His voice resonated deep and rough, yet somehow soothing, like honeyed gravel.

Leigh's lips tightened. She'd promised herself not to trust strangers again. Especially not now that they had kids to protect. Her eyes skimmed his sides and saw no weapons. Still could have a gun hidden. She lowered her revolver, but kept it in hand and ready.

"I'm sure you've had your share of trouble with wanderers," Meshach continued. "But I'm not looking for anything special from you. I got all the food and supplies I need. All I'm asking is a roof over my head until daybreak. I'll even trade you for it." He pulled a square box from a bag at his side. It looked similar to the sun-powered generator, but bigger.

"I'm sorry," Leigh said, "but we don't—"

"Now, don't turn me away before you even get a chance to see what I'm offering," he said, holding the box a bit higher. "This here's the last generator you'll ever need. See these squares on top?"

"Light from the sun," Leigh said.

He looked surprised, but beamed. "You got it. You've seen one like this before?"

"We have one. Even when we leave it out all day, it barely runs a full radio broadcast in the evening." She shook her head. "Thanks, but you better move on."

"Ah, I've seen those. I call 'em minis. All they do is light up, give you a little power, right? This one's the real deal." He turned it around to show a display of buttons and panels on the side. He popped one of the panels open. "This one takes water, too. It runs on water for part of its energy, like the big generators, but small and easy to move around. It runs on sunlight for the rest of its energy, so it can renew every day and be ready to run all night long." He displayed his teeth again. "I had me one of these back when I was young, lasted a good thirty years without breaking down. This'll keep you running long's you need."

"Then why're you giving it up just for a night's stay?" Leigh asked.

"Fair question, miss. You're a sharp one." He reached into his bag and pulled out a second generator. "Not much use to me, carrying around two. It's win-win, the way I see it. You folks get a good generator, won't break down or run out on you for decades. I get a safe place for the night and one less thing to haul around in this bag, digging into my old shoulder day after day."

Cole glanced back at Leigh, one eyebrow elevated.

"I'm sorry," she said. "It's a good trade, but we've got kids to think about."

Meshach nodded. "You got kids? I had a couple kids myself, back in the day." His eyes took on a distant glaze. "Not sure where the one is now."

Leigh didn't have to ask about the other.

He returned to the present and smiled. "Say no more. I understand. Though..." He glanced around. "I'd be willing to just stay out here in your front room. I'm sure you already have it set up to barricade that door behind you. It's the only way into the rest of the house from here, isn't that right? I recognize this layout. Smart way to arrange the house, if you ask me. I saw it just once before, in a settlement some ways from here."

Leigh tensed. Her fingers tightened on the gun. Cole took a step forward, his knuckles white on the edge of the door.

Meshach raised a hand. "Easy, there. I know what you're thinking. But I only stayed in that place one night, just enough time to see the house design—and to see how nuts they were." He shook his head. "I know 'dog eat dog' might be the law of the land out here, but them folks made it an art form. I got me out of there fast as I could."

Cole relaxed. "Same here, pretty much."

"Never seen a place so eager to tear into each other's backs," Meshach chuckled, shaking his head. He glanced past Leigh. "And these must be the kids. Beautiful, both of them. If you don't mind me saying so, you make a lovely family."

Leigh looked over her shoulder to see Alexandra and Wyatt in the doorway, looking curiously at the stranger. She frowned at them.

"Don't mind me, little ones," the old man said. "Just a crazy old man with too much life under his belt and too little brains left in his head."

Wyatt giggled.

"Is he staying here?" Alexandra asked, studying Meshach. The look on her face was almost the same as when a trader appraised an item or Declan scrutinized a new part, examining an object to determine if it had any value.

"He might." Cole caught Leigh's eye, eyebrow once again raised.

She sighed. He was old. And had kids of his own. And was willing to stay sequestered in the front room. As long as they moved the weapons and supplies back into the hallway, what harm could he do?

"Tell you what," Meshach said, digging into his bag once more. "Let me sweeten the deal. So to speak." His large hand emerged with a fistful of fruit. A pear and a peach rested on top.

Wyatt's eyes turned round. He tugged at Leigh's shirt. "Can we, Mommy? Please?"

Alexandra's mouth pursed, but Leigh saw the sparkle in her eye.

She sighed again. "Very well."

"Yay!" Wyatt cheered. He scrambled forward to collect the fruit.

Alexandra caught him by the collar. "Don't approach strangers."

"Smart girl, there." Meshach stepped inside. Once Cole shut and locked the door behind him, he deposited the fruit and generator in Cole's arms. "Go on and give that thing a test. I let it soak up some sun while I travelled. Add a little water, and it's set to run all night long."

"Thank you," Leigh said, already collecting items to carry into the hallway. "Alexandra, Wyatt, give me a hand."

Alexandra helped lug the bags of goods into the hallway. Wyatt hurried through the task and rushed off the kitchen with Cole as soon as they finished.

Leigh paused in the doorway. "Need a blanket?"

"Thank you kindly, miss, but I have everything I need, as I said. Just needed a roof over my head."

Alexandra hovered at Leigh's elbow. "Need water?"

"That I might accept." He held out a couple empty water bottles. "Thank you, little miss."

Alexandra ran to get the water while Leigh waited in the doorway. When the girl returned, she carefully handed the bottles to the older man. "I'm going to live as old as you someday."

"Takes a lot of work, getting this old."

"I'll make it." Her eyes flicked over him in quick scrutiny. "If you can make it, so can I."

He laughed heartily. "That's the spirit. Go on with your mama, now. Enjoy that fruit."

Alexandra eyed him a moment longer, then marched back to the hallway.

"Go ahead and help Cole," Leigh said. She secured the last of the guns in the hall, then put the beam in place across the door, sealing the entrance shut.

She knew the beam would keep the door shut. She knew there was no other way to get into the rest of the house. Still, she found herself on edge as she joined the others in the kitchen. Cole and Wyatt had put the fruit and generator away, and Cole had doled out slices of peach for everyone. Leigh joined them at the table and glanced back at the hallway, half-expecting to find the old man standing there. Her fingers tapped on her leg in a pattern of three.

"You're jumpy again," Alexandra said.

"I like to keep an eye out when strangers are in my house."

"That's why you woke up so easily when Nate and Tasha tried to steal from you?"

Leigh glanced at the girl. "Yeah."

Alexandra nodded and resumed eating.

"We're not strangers anymore," Wyatt declared.

"That's right."

"We're your kids."

Leigh blinked. Smiled. "Yeah."

He grinned and chomped into his slice of peach, sending juice streaming down his chin.

Once they'd finished, Cole led the way to the workroom to turn the radio on early, just in case. Leigh brought her tea into the workroom and sat on the edge of the futon mattress. Alexandra sat beside her, and Wyatt squirmed his way onto Cole's lap. The kids appeared content watching the usual messages roll through the screen. Leigh ignored the messages, instead keeping her ears open for the telltale static crackle. She knew why Cole had turned it on early. If the other settlement sent another message, they didn't want to miss it.

Don's report first noted that while five were lost that day, only a few of those were because of their morning meeting, thanks to some sharp eyes. Wyatt let out a cheer at that. The rest of the report was shorter than usual. He probably wanted to listen for new messages, too.

But by the time Leigh finished her tea, they still hadn't heard anything.

Cole glanced back at her. "You think they gave it up?"

"If they're smart." Her words sounded hollow in her own ears. As much as she hoped it was true, she knew deep inside that it wasn't. They wouldn't give up. It was just a matter of time before the next attack.

"Listen up out there!" a youthful male voice shouted over the radio.

Leigh stiffened. A new leader? There'd been no crackle, but maybe this was a different radio in the settlement, or they were broadcasting from somewhere nearer the top of the hill.

"We've got this thing figured out! My name is Pilot, my buddies are Tom, Kierra, Mack-a-Back, and Roo. Write those names down, people, because we are about to become your heroes, your personal gods."

Cole met Leigh's eye and raised an eyebrow.

She shrugged. The voice sounded like a teen. Punk kids always made brash claims. They probably took out a group of raiders and got their hands on a talking radio to brag about it.

"We've finally figured out the trick. We're going to keep broadcasting live as we walk outside in the dark and kill us some of those creatures!"

Chapter 10

Leigh drew in a sharp breath. Cole stiffened.

"Yeah, you heard right. We figured out the secret, and after we survive tonight, we're going to share it with all of you. Crank up those generators, people, because we're taking back the night!"

Wyatt looked back at Leigh. His eyes shone with excitement and hope.

Leigh jumped to her feet and dashed to the radio so fast, she nearly knocked Alexandra over.

"Hey!" the girl protested.

The radio fell silent under Leigh's hand. She pointed to the futon. "Bed, both of you."

"I wanna listen!" Wyatt protested.

"Be obedient," Alexandra said.

He pouted, but climbed off Cole's lap.

Leigh didn't wait to see them get into bed. She grabbed Cole's arm and dragged him through the bathroom, not slowing until they stood in their room with the door shut behind them. She pressed her back against the door and closed her eyes. "Did you see the look on his face?"

"It's just some kids being dumb. They won't—"

"Wyatt believes it. He believes they'll fight the creatures. He believes they'll win." She shook her head. "I can't stand it, and I sure as anything can't do it myself, but it has to be done soon. Now."

He hesitated, then sighed. "Okay. Let's go talk to him."

Leigh let him lead this time, following with dragging feet. She didn't want to do this. She wasn't even sure what it would take to extinguish that light in Wyatt's eyes. She couldn't bear the thought.

Faint sounds reached her ears and quickened her feet. Voices? Her heart skipped at the thought of their visitor in the front room. Had he broken in?

They opened the door to find Alexandra and Wyatt sitting by the new generator, the radio glowing with life in Alexandra's hands. They'd left it in the room with the kids. Leigh mentally scolded her foolishness as she strode toward them.

"Here we go, we've got the radio set to open broadcast so you'll get to hear every bit of this," the teen said. "Let's go!"

"Turn it off!" Leigh reached for it.

Alexandra pushed her hand away.

The sound of a door opening. An eager shout, ready for battle.

Then screams. A loud thump as the transmitting radio hit the ground. Scritching noises nearly drowned out by the screams, a terrible sound only made more horrific as each scream cut sharply into silence.

Leigh grabbed the radio and turned it off. One look told her the damage was already done. Wyatt sat in frozen silence, mouth open, eyes wide and dull. His tiny shoulders quivered, but no tears came, no sound came out.

Everything in Leigh urged her to rush to his side, to cuddle him in her arms, to tell him everything was okay. She swallowed the instinct. Faced him squarely. "Do you understand?"

His didn't look at her. Didn't even blink. He slowly nodded.

"I'll get him to bed," Alexandra said. She straightened and held out the new generator. "You might as well keep this in your room with the radio."

Cole silently took the box.

Alexandra walked with them back to the bathroom door. She paused, glanced back at her brother. He hadn't moved. She leaned toward Leigh and Cole. "I had to do it. Now he won't ever believe it can happen." A distant look drifted into her eyes. "I remember the first time I realized it. I cried all night that night. I've never cried since."

Leigh looked away, unable to answer. Her eyes fell on Wyatt. The boy looked even smaller than normal. He quietly climbed onto the bed and under the blankets. His head rested on the pillow this time, his eyes vacantly fixed on the ceiling above.

The girl shrugged. "Goodnight."

Cole pulled Leigh back to the bedroom. He took the radio from her hands and set it with the generator in the corner. "It's done."

She nodded and climbed into bed. The image of Wyatt's face wouldn't move from the front of her mind, determined to haunt her eyes even when she closed them. She curled up into a ball and held herself tightly.

Cole wrapped himself around her, gently stroking her hair. In minutes, his hand slowed, then stilled. His breathing took on a steady rhythm with faint nasal sounds.

Leigh closed her eyes and cried for the first time since she was a child.

* * *

As soon as Leigh woke, she lit a candle and headed toward the front room. Time to see the old man on his way. The kids were already awake as she passed through their room. Alexandra watched her go without comment. Wyatt gave Leigh a sleepy smile. Despite the smile, his eyes... they'd changed. She knew they would, but she wished it hadn't had to happen so soon.

Leigh exhaled as she walked through the perforated hallways. Deal with one mess at a time. First see the stranger on his way, then see to the kids.

The beam still rested in its place with no signs that anyone had tried to disturb the door during the night. Apparently their guest had at least basic manners. She opened the door and stepped into the front room, one hand on her gun.

Meshach opened his eyes, yawned, then smiled at her. "Morning. Hope this new day finds you well."

"Well enough." She glanced around. No signs that he'd tried to poke around the walls, either. The hidden panel hadn't been touched. The old man had been a proper guest.

Cole's hand rested on her shoulder. He smiled past her to Meshach. "Care to join us for breakfast?"

Leigh stiffened slightly, but forced herself to relax. All evidence indicated the old man was harmless. And Cole would be there, too.

"I've got what I need here," Meshach said.

"As our guest."

He looked surprised. His gaze turned to Leigh as if asking a question.

She nodded.

He smiled again. "I'd be honored."

Wyatt stayed uncharacteristically quiet through breakfast, only speaking up once or twice. It felt like a blade between Leigh's ribs to see him so broken. She pushed the pain aside. It had to be this way. It was the only way to keep the boy protected in this world.

The kids finished first, as usual, and Leigh sent them to work on sorting items for the day's trades.

Meshach watched them go, then settled back with mug in hand. "How long you had those two?"

"What makes you think they aren't ours?" Cole asked.

The old man chuckled. "When you're as old as I am, you'll know."

"For a while," Leigh said.

He picked up on her closed tone and dropped the topic. "And the two of you? Warms the heart, seeing such good people finding each other out here."

Cole leaned back, a grin spreading across his face.

Leigh tried not to roll her eyes, though a smile pushed its way forward at the same time. Any opportunity he got to tell his favorite story...

"I was just barely eighteen, on my own in the world," Cole said theatrically. "All I was trying to find was a safe place to settle down. My previous home, well, it didn't work out."

The old man nodded with clear understanding.

"So I found my way to another settlement, but just as I reached the border, a group of raiders decided to launch an attack. I barely found cover and got my gun out before this one guy, a real brute, spots me and charges in. We're trading shots, back and forth, I'm just barely keeping him off, and then..."

Meshach's eyebrows raised, and he leaned in, Cole's dramatic pause having the desired effect.

"Click! I'm empty, nowhere near enough time to reload. The raider sees I've stopped shooting, comes clear out of cover and marches right up to me, gun out and aimed right for my forehead. I knew that was it—he'd kill me, take my gun, my ammo, and leave my body to the night. But just then, BLAM!" Cole grinned. "And down he goes, perfect shot right between the eyes."

Leigh took another bite of fruit to hide her smile. It was an exaggeration, but she'd stopped trying to correct him years ago.

"I was so startled, I fell right back on my butt, looking around, trying to figure out where the shot came from, see if there was some new threat I had to deal with. But instead, this jaw-dropping, breathtakingly beautiful young woman, right about my age, walks up to me, short hair swishing around her face, one little piece right in front of her eyes." His eyes met her, his face glowing with the memories. His fingers crept toward hers.

She let him take her hand, feeling the same glow creeping into her own cheeks in spite of herself.

He kissed her palm. "And that's when she spoke to me. The first words from the love of my life."

As the pause grew, Meshach leaned even closer. "What'd she say?"

"She said, 'Where're ya hit?'" Cole laughed and squeezed Leigh's hand. "She couldn't see why I wouldn't have just jumped up and run once the raider was down unless I was injured. She'd hopped right out of her sniper nest to come play nursemaid for me." He grinned at her.

"Couldn't let the scrawny boy I'd saved bleed to death in the street," Leigh said, but she found herself returning the grin.

"We've been together ever since," Cole finished.

"Amazing." Meshach settled back, sharing in their glow. "Not too many people with happy stories to tell anymore."

"It hasn't always been happy," Leigh said.

Cole finished his fruit and stood. "But we found our way to a decent community, and do well enough for ourselves here."

Meshach took the hint and stood as well. "Thank you kindly for the deal, folks. I'll be on my way."

"I'd better get going, myself," Cole said. "Nice to meet you."

"The pleasure's mine." Meshach made a little bow as Cole gave Leigh a kiss, then headed down the hallway.

Meshach adjusted his jacket. "If it ain't too bold of me, miss, I gotta say something about that girl of yours."

Leigh felt her body tense. She eyed the older man carefully. "What?"

"Something not quite right about that one."

She bristled. "I don't think anything's 'quite right' about anyone in this world."

He chuckled. "Ain't that the truth! But this one..." He squinted. "Something more to it than that."

"I think it's time for you to be on your way." She gestured toward the hallway.

He nodded politely. "Of course, miss. Don't mind me. Just an old man, seen too much of this world." He walked ahead of her to the door.

Alexandra and Wyatt were just finishing collecting the sorted scrap and goods when Leigh and Meshach reached the front room. Alexandra glanced at the old man briefly before addressing Leigh. "We're ready to go."

"You know what we need?"

The girl nodded.

"Good. Get to it." Leigh paused, trying not to look at Meshach as he gathered his things. "Don't dawdle."

Alexandra glanced past her to the older man and nodded, understanding in her eyes. "We won't." She hurried Wyatt out the door, each carrying a large bag.

Leigh turned back to the old man, who'd nearly finished. "Thank you for the generator and fruit. It was a generous deal."

"Fair's fair. Like I said, you're doing me a favor, one less thing for these old bones to lug around." He straightened and lifted his bag over his shoulder. He turned to the door. "I just have one last piece of advice to leave you with. It's a little something I think everyone ought to know and remember in this world. If you ever find yourself or a loved one on the wrong end of a gun, then you make sure to never hesitate—"

Leigh's heart stopped. Her fingers tapped against her leg as she interrupted. "You need to leave now."

He blinked, eyebrows up. "My apologies if I offended. It's just an old saying from a settlement I used to live in."

Leigh opened the door. "Have a nice day." She didn't make any effort to keep the ice out of her voice.

Meshach paused, then gave her a small bow. "Thank you again for breakfast and a night's stay. Best of all to you and yours." He turned and walked out.

Leigh slammed the door and shoved the locks shut behind him. She dropped against the door and slid down to sit, unable to keep herself upright any longer against the onslaught of memories.

She couldn't remember their faces anymore. But she remembered blond hair. Long, silky blond hair. Her mother's hair. Always untangled, always clean. Combed smooth every morning. Mama promised Leigh could have long hair, too, but she had to keep herself clean first. Prove that she could take care of it.

She remembered Papa's musky smell, the way he always nudged her aim downwards for short-distance shots and upwards for long-distance. His rich voice whispering in her ear, giving directions as if the jars on the fence could hear them. Watch for the little details, he said time and again. The little details are all you need.

She remembered that day, the little ten-year-old Leigh in hiding, clutching her rifle. The acrid smoke burning her nostrils. Mama screaming at her to take the shot, to just shoot NOW. Her little brother's blond hair bouncing as he ran toward Mama and Papa. The confused expression on his face as Papa yelled at him to get away. He couldn't see the approaching men. His shrill cry.

"Mommy!"

The would-be robber, startled by the shout, spinning to face the new threat, his finger squeezing the trigger in the same motion.

If you hesitate...

The sound of the gunshot in distant memory shook Leigh free. She blinked and found the corners of her eyes wet and warm. Took a deep breath. Wiped the tears away. Pushed the memories back into the locked, hidden corners of her mind.

Stood up and got to work, letting the past fade into forced obscurity behind her.

Leigh put the two sun-powered generators out on the roof, hiding them behind a broken wall edge, doing her best to keep her focus on the here and now. The kids were making their trades. Cole was working. It freed her up to attend to other needs.

She retrieved her rifle and climbed up into her perch. Turned her scope to the south. They hadn't heard any talk on the radio last night, but it didn't mean the settlement wasn't up to anything. They could swoop in, descend on the community without warning, like they'd done the day after her fateful journey. Or they could have given up. It was hard to say what they might do next, now that their leader was gone.

The road stood bare. No stir of dust, no movement, nothing.

She settled in and kept her watch. If any trouble came, she'd be the first to know.

Hours melted past as the sun beat on her shoulders. The kids returned from the market by mid-afternoon, hauling the first load of goods. They vanished inside the house with no indication they'd seen Leigh above, then Alexandra reemerged.

"Get those put away," she called inside to Wyatt. "I have to find someone to help me bring the panels home."

Leigh's gaze drifted from the scope for the first time. Guilt pricked at her. Someone else would have to interrupt their day to help Alexandra when she was sitting on the roof, doing nothing. There had been no sign of trouble, and there wasn't any evidence to suggest there would be.

She took one last scan to the south. Nothing.

"Hold on. I'll go with you."

Alexandra looked up at her, startled. The surprise disappeared almost as fast as it had come. "I didn't see you up there."

"Sorry to startle you." Leigh climbed down, put her rifle away, and followed Alexandra back to the market. "Listen, I wanted to talk to you about last night."

"It needed to be done."

"I know. But Cole and I should've been the ones to take responsibility for that. We shouldn't have left it for you to deal with, and I'm sorry for that."

Alexandra stared at her as if Leigh had spoken in a foreign language. "He's my brother. It's my job to make sure he's ready to survive in this world. No matter what it takes."

Leigh hesitated, but nodded. Alexandra didn't seem at all disturbed by the change in the boy. She hated to admit it, even just to herself, but the girl's cavalier attitude disturbed her. Meshach's warning about Alexandra slid back into her mind.

Leigh straightened, pushing the thoughts away. The girl had raised Wyatt alone for years. It wasn't really so odd. Leigh'd seen it before herself, kids without parents who had to grow up too fast.

She'd lived it.

She helped Alexandra carry the panels back to the house, then retrieved her rifle. "I'll be back soon."

"Going back on the roof?" Alexandra eyed the rifle.

"No, scavenging for extra wood." Leigh walked away before they could ask any further questions. She headed south, watching between the buildings and broken walls. No signs of movement. No signs of trouble. Maybe they really were in the clear.

Hammer strikes provided a steady background to her travel as people reinforced their houses, preparing for the coming night. She turned one corner and slowed at the sight of Meshach, nails sticking out of his mouth, working steadily to hammer a wooden panel in place. He saw her and dipped his head in greeting, his lips curving around the nails.

Davida worked on his other side. She beamed at Leigh. "Isn't he a dear? He's going to stay in my extra room and help keep this place secure."

Cold crept through Leigh's chest for no rational reason. The old man was harmless. One of only a few decent travelers she'd met in her life. Friendly, warm, even caring. But the way he seemed to know more than he should, the memories he triggered, left her feeling too exposed around him.

"I thought you were moving on," she finally said.

Meshach took the nails in his hand, freeing his mouth. "I was planning on it. But you folks have a nice community here. I could see me finding a place in it, if it'll have me."

"Of course it will," Davida said, giving Leigh a funny look. Then she nudged Meshach with her elbow. "And maybe having him around will stop Lucas from hitting on me all the time." She giggled and returned to her work.

Leigh bobbed her head and walked on quickly. Her heart was beating so fast, she could hear it pounding in her ears. Her fingers tapped again and again on her leg.

She forced herself to breathe as she walked. In slowly, out slowly. Again. Again. Her heart and fingers reluctantly slowed. She was being silly. There was no reason to feel this way. Meshach was a good man. He'd be a great asset to the community.

She repeated it to herself five times before her mind finally settled and refocused on the task at hand. Check the southern road. Find some scrap wood.

She returned home before sundown with only a handful of boards and no new information about the southern settlement. Maybe Cole's hopes proved true this time. Maybe they'd finally given it up as a lost cause. She could only hope.

Cole was already directing the kids through dinner preparations. Leigh put her rifle away, gave the freshly-reinforced walls a brief appraisal, and joined her family in the kitchen.

Cole raised his eyebrows in question.

She shook her head. "All quiet out there."

"No bad guys?" Wyatt asked. He looked like he might have regained a touch of his normal spark, but only a little.

"None that I saw."

"Good. I don't want them here."

Wyatt resumed his new, quiet nature, but spoke up again before they'd finished eating. "I wanna go with Daddy tomorrow. I wanna be a protector like him."

Startled, Cole glanced from the boy to Leigh.

She leaned back in her seat. "Did you talk to your sister about this?"

He turned large, pleading eyes on Alexandra. "Please?"

Alexandra shrugged. "They aren't going to let you hold a gun. You're too little."

"I don't want a gun. I wanna help."

"If it's okay with Cole, then."

Cole stared blankly at Leigh. "I, um, it's not always the best place for kids."

"I can help carry things and clean up the roads."

"He doesn't have to go inside the houses," Leigh said. "But it's up to you."

Cole contemplated the matter a moment longer, then nodded. "Okay. I'll let you try it out tomorrow. But if I decide it's not a place for kids, then you go home as soon as I say, no argument. Got it?"

"Got it!" Wyatt grinned and stuffed his mouth full.

"Chew with your mouth closed," Alexandra said with a sigh.

After dinner, Leigh almost felt afraid to turn the radio on. To her relief, the evening's listening proved uneventful. Don gave his report. Threats ranging from vague to overt passed the message screen. A few people called out messages for friends. Cole turned off the radio and shooed the kids to bed.

Leigh followed Cole into the bedroom. "Is this normal now?"

"What?"

"You, me, two kids? Like a family?"

He pulled her against his body and kissed her. "Best family ever."

"I spent most of the day watching the south. I never would've been able to take the time for that before." She leaned her head against his chest and breathed him in. "This is starting to feel normal. Different than before, but normal."

He rested his head on hers. "I know. It's normal and strange all at the same time. To be honest, it's part of the reason I hesitated about Wyatt joining me."

She tilted her head back to look up at him. "You don't have to let him come along."

"No, I think it's good. He and his sister spent most of their lives around those other places. This'll be a good way for him to learn what it's like to be in a place where people take care of each other."

"Right." She kissed him and crawled into bed. Maybe she could handle this life after all.

* * *

Leigh woke up to scratching noises, followed by the bedroom door slamming shut. She reached over and turned on the new generator light. Alexandra and Wyatt leaned against the door, holding it shut, the boy still tangled in his blanket.

Cole sat up. "What's wrong?"

Alexandra stared at them with round eyes in a pale face. "They're inside," she whispered.

Chapter 11

Ice shot through Leigh's veins. She and Cole scrambled out of bed and put the bar in place to secure the door. "Come on," she whispered, pulling the kids onto the mattress. They huddled tightly together.

Scratching sounds came from the hallway. A crash from the kitchen.

Wyatt whimpered.

Cole opened one of the secure boxes and pulled out two handguns. Leigh took her Remington from the same box. She favored the heavy, pump-action shotgun for close encounters. Not that it would do her much good if those things made it inside the room.

More scratching. A claw punctured the wall.

Leigh turned the light off, even though she knew it wouldn't make a difference. Instinct said to hide and fight if hiding failed. Knowledge and experience told her that neither would help. They just had to hope that they'd reinforced their walls well enough.

Another puncture. More scratching.

Leigh pushed the kids down until both lay flat on the mattress. Keeping her eyes on the dark wall where the sounds came from, she reached under the edge of the bed. Found the small vial she sought. If it came to it, she'd have to be the one to give the drops to the kids. If she was lucky, she'd have enough time for Cole and herself, but more likely the creatures would get to them first. She exhaled slowly. Kept the shotgun firmly on the wall.

_Thump_.

The door shuddered. Leigh jumped and shifted her aim.

_Scritch_. Another hole in the wall.

Her heart pounded. How long would the walls hold out? How much longer until sunrise? For all she knew, they still had hours to go.

_Thump. Thump_. A loud crash came from the bathroom, then two more in succession.

Wyatt whimpered again.

The sound put the creatures in a frenzy. The thumps against the door intensified. The scratching grew more frantic.

Cole's hand found her arm. Squeezed.

She moved one hand into his and squeezed back. Returned it to the gun. Forced her breathing to even out.

Silence.

She stared at the holes in the wall and realized she could see them. Sunrise.

Adrenaline fled in a rush, depositing her almost flat on the bed. She pushed the vial back under the corner of the mattress and closed her eyes. It was over.

"Are they gone?" Wyatt whispered.

Cole reached past them to turn the light back on. "They're gone." He took Leigh's shotgun and put the weapons away. "We'll give it a minute, then take a look and see the damage."

Alexandra sat up and folded her arms, glaring defensively. "We checked all the walls. All of them. They were fine yesterday. I mean, a couple could use some more wood, but they weren't bad enough to breach. We checked."

Wyatt rolled closer to Leigh and snuggled tightly against her. She draped an arm over him, feeling her energy slowly return.

"This wasn't your fault," Cole said. "Trust me, I see it every day. No matter how well you make your walls, sometimes they just find a way through. We'll take a look in a few minutes and see what we find."

Alexandra sat by the door with her back to them while Cole dressed. Then Cole picked up Wyatt so Leigh could dress.

"I'm glad they didn't get in," Wyatt whispered.

"Me, too," Cole said. He checked the holes. "All clear."

Leigh nodded, tucking her .38 in the back of her pants. "Let's go."

The kids crouched behind the bed while they unbarred the door. Wyatt sucked in a breath as Cole opened the door, but Alexandra pulled him up. "See? It's fine. They don't stay out after the sun rises."

The wall of the bathtub had been smashed in, the shelves knocked off the walls, items scattered all over the floor. Some were smashed beyond use. Towels torn and stomped over.

Leigh closed her eyes, took a deep breath, opened them again. They'd rebuild. Items could be replaced or repaired. At least they were all still alive. She led the way into the workroom, which didn't look much better. Tools littered the floor. The futon featured a long gash near the bottom. The curtain lay on the floor in tatters. Worst of all, the generator sat in a crumpled heap, emitting random sparks.

"The bed," Wyatt said, looking mournfully at the gash.

Cole crouched next to the generator and pushed the power button. It sputtered and spat out an impressive array of sparks and water, forcing Cole to jump back.

"Guess we'll see just how well the new one works on its own," Leigh said, keeping her tone level. No use getting upset. Just assess the damage and get to work making it right.

Jars of food still rocked back and forth on the kitchen floor. The chairs lay on the floor, along with half the table and parts of the counters. Water poured from where the sink used to be.

Cole rushed over to turn off the flow to the broken pipe.

Leigh rubbed her forehead and turned her back on the whole thing. No use getting upset. No use getting upset.

It didn't take them long to find the breach. Cold morning air blew in through a gaping hole in the back of the house.

"It was fine yesterday," Alexandra said, her voice insistent. "We even added new metal to that panel."

Leigh studied the hole. If she'd worked with the kids instead of spending the day watching the south, would this have happened? If she'd paid more attention to the walls when she got home, would she have seen the problem and fixed it before nightfall? Or was it like Cole said, that nothing was wrong with the wall, and sometimes the creatures just managed to find a way in?

"It was fine," Alexandra repeated, glaring at her and Cole.

"We believe you," Cole said. "We're just trying to figure out how to fix it now."

The interior damage could wait for rebuilding, of course. They couldn't leave that hole in the wall overnight. The creatures had destroyed one section entirely. Two others were damaged badly enough to need replacing. They'd have to see to that right away, as well as repairing the rest of the usual overnight damage.

Leigh straightened. "Wyatt, start collecting anything that's too broken to use so we can scrap it down. Alexandra, get the new generators on the roof to charge, then help your brother. Cole, go let Don know what happened. We'll need you working here today."

The three headed off to their assigned tasks. Leigh turned and walked back to the kitchen, dreading every step. It was too big to conquer alone. But it had to be done. So she would do it.

She collected torn towels from the bathroom and threw them down to sop up the puddled water. Collected the food back together in the few cupboards with the least damage. Put together a quick and easy breakfast for everyone. Set to work sorting out what items she could repair and what items were beyond salvage.

The kids munched on food between taking loads of junk to the front room. "Front room didn't take much damage," Alexandra reported. "But a lot of the walls need work."

"We'll have to trade as much as we can today," Leigh said. She gathered the pile of scrap she'd collected and added it to the kids' piles in the front room.

Cole returned with a couple other protectors in tow, Lucas and one other whose name she couldn't remember. "They're going to give us a hand making repairs," he said.

"Aren't you already shorthanded with Cole working here today?" she asked.

"This is part of the job," Lucas said, tipping an imaginary hat. "We help repair the damage."

She nodded. "In that case, I'm going to go see what I can scavenge for walls."

"I'll go with you," Alexandra said.

Wyatt waved his arm. "Me, too. I wanna go with Mommy!"

"Stay here and help Cole," Leigh said.

"Maybe Alexandra should stay, too," Cole suggested.

Leigh turned his hat forwards. "She's a good worker. It'll be done faster with her help."

He looked displeased, but turned his hat back around and kissed her. "Be careful."

"You, too." She glanced at the other protectors. "Thanks for helping. You boys take a few jars of food on your way out."

Lucas tipped the hat again. "Thank you, ma'am."

Leigh glanced at Alexandra as they left. "How many would you say?"

"Twelve, at least."

"Counting the interior damage?"

The girl pursed her lips. "Fifteen."

"Good."

They walked eastward in silence, moving at a steady pace. They passed another house near the edge of the community with a fresh hole in the side. A tangy, coppery smell testified that this house's occupants hadn't been as lucky as them.

Alexandra slowed a bit, studying the hole, but Leigh picked up her pace, not wanting to subject the girl to such fresh carnage. "We've got a lot of work ahead of us."

The girl jogged slightly to catch up. They resumed their silent march onward.

They didn't find any usable walls until almost midday, and then there were only four salvageable panels.

"What if we don't find enough?" Alexandra asked as they pried the panels free.

"We'll do what we can."

"But if we don't get the walls strong enough, they'll just break through again."

"If we don't have enough to repair everything, we'll hold off on repairs until tomorrow. We can reinforce the bedroom and stay in there for the night."

"It'll hold?"

"We designed it that way. If anything happens to the house, we can live in the bedroom for a while until we can fix things."

They carried the panels with them for a couple more hours before they found another two.

"Time to try another direction," Leigh said. "I know there's nothing close enough to the south. Let's try west."

They dropped off the panels they'd collected at the house, where the protectors were helping Cole and Wyatt install new metal panels to reinforce the sections that were still strong enough to get by without full replacement. After eating a quick lunch, they continued on through the marketplace and out the community to the west.

It again took several hours before they found anything worth salvaging.

"We're not going to find enough at this rate," Alexandra said.

"We'll do what we can."

The girl pursed her lips, but continued on in silence, helping Leigh collect a new pile of wood panels.

A soft sound caught Leigh's attention as they worked on the last panel. She stopped prying and glanced over her shoulder.

A scruffy woman wandered down the broken road, stumbling over jagged spots and weaving back and forth weakly. Her hair, which might have been blond under the dirt, stuck out in patches from under a faded head scarf.

Leigh lowered her hammer and turned to face the approaching woman. The wanderer didn't seem to notice them.

Alexandra spotted the woman and pressed near Leigh's side, watching.

The woman finally looked up and blinked at them. "Oh! Thank the stars!" She sped up, stumbling even more. "Please, do you have water? I've been walking for... I don't know how long. I can't find any water. Please, would you help me?"

"Where'd you come from?" Leigh asked.

She gestured broadly behind herself. "I've been walking so long. I'm so thirsty!"

"There's a settlement about two hours back that way. You didn't ask anyone there for water?"

The woman blinked a few times, her mouth sagging wide. "I... uh, I..."

"Useless!" a man spat, stepping out from behind a nearby wall. He smacked the woman on the back of the head, knocking her to the ground. "You're supposed to get them to come closer, not make them suspicious, stupid."

Another man jumped out. "Hey, it's not her fault this one was smart."

"Yeah, don't yell at her," another woman added, following the second man out of hiding.

Leigh folded her arms, examining the group as a few more emerged into the street. She'd wager that at least a couple still remained out of view. "Let me save all of you some time and hassle. We've got nothing of value. We had a breach last night. We're just trying to find some new walls to survive another night."

Alexandra nodded solemnly.

"Then you aren't any good to us," the first man said. He pulled out a long, jagged knife. The rest of the group followed suit, though some held lengths of pipe or wood rather than knives.

Leigh had gun in hand and aimed in a heartbeat. "Back off."

The man blinked. "We outnumber you."

"You don't outnumber my ammo." She took a steadying breath. "Walk away. We just came for some walls, then we'll be on our way."

Something solid slammed into Leigh's back. She hit the ground hard, gun skittering across the uneven surface. Alexandra shrieked.

Leigh rolled over just in time to avoid another blow from a tower of a man holding three pipes bound together in a cluster. She struggled back to her feet. Caught his wrist on the next swing. Spun and twisted, pulling his arm into an unnatural position. He grunted in pain and dropped the pipes.

His free arm swung. He punched her in the face, knocking her back again.

She struggled to clear her foggy mind. These people would kill her. They'd kill Alexandra. She had to get back up. She struggled to move, but the ground swayed beneath her.

Alexandra screamed again. The girl charged in, bashing her hammer into the man's knee. He dropped, shouting in pain.

Leigh managed to regain her feet and grabbed his pipes. Swung hard, catching the man just above the eyebrow. He dropped flat and remained still.

She coughed and straightened, but it wasn't over. The first man yelled in rage. Raised his knife.

Leigh tore one of the pipes free from the cluster and threw it at him, her eyes taking in as much as possible. Little details, her brain screamed. Find the little details!

There. A glinting reflection came from a clump of dead grass off the side of the road. She broke the last two pipes free and threw them in succession, not caring if she hit or missed. The pipes were just a distraction. She bolted for the side of the road.

Though slowed by the pipes, the man still reached her before she got to her gun. She caught his arm, pushed the knife back away. Her other arm swung, punched him in the throat. He dropped to one knee.

She left him behind. Lunged for the gun.

Burning pain shot through her leg.

She clenched her teeth. It didn't exist. The pain didn't exist. The knife didn't exist. Just her and the gun.

Alexandra screamed again, farther away this time.

Leigh's fingers wrapped around the handle. Pulled it close. She spun and shot the man in the face.

A woman chased Alexandra down the road. Leigh aimed, exhaled, fired. The woman dropped.

Someone grabbed her arm. She punched blindly. The grip loosened. She shifted the gun and fired. Blood sprayed over her as the person fell.

The others charged, some already on top of her. Her brain blurred as her body responded instinctively, firing one shot after the next until her gun only clicked in response to the squeeze.

She blinked, feeling herself return to awareness. No one else stood on the road. She'd gotten them.

She struggled to her feet and looked back down the other way. "Alexandra?"

The girl cautiously poked her head out from behind a half-crumbled wall. "Look out!"

Leigh turned. Two men approached, knives in hand and angry scowls on their faces. She'd been right; two had stayed out of view. Sometimes she hated being right.

She grabbed the knife from the first man's hand and brandished it. The ground tipped around her, but she managed to maintain her footing. Adrenaline still kept her upright, but if she didn't bandage her leg soon, she wouldn't last long.

"You want to end up like your friends?" she challenged, hoping her voice came out threatening enough. It didn't sound like it to her own ears.

The men lunged at the same time. She dodged the first one, caught the other one's arm. Swung her knife under his guard and found a home between ribs. He staggered toward her. She pulled the knife free and spun in time to catch the other man's next swing. He grabbed her hair and yanked, setting her scalp on fire. She screamed and lashed out with her good leg, catching him in the groin. He pitched forward onto her ready knife.

Leigh stumbled and landed heavily on her back. It seemed a natural enough position. She closed her eyes.

Alexandra shook her. "Come on, you have to get up!" Panic edged her voice.

She opened her eyes. The girl bent over her, terror on her face.

"Come on!" Alexandra pressed, pulling her upwards.

Leigh blinked. A strip of cloth formed a bloody bandage over her leg wound. She didn't remember doing that. Unless Alexandra bandaged her? She didn't remember that, either.

"We have to make a shelter!" Alexandra insisted, tugging her onward. "Hurry!"

She looked up at the sky. The sun sank below the distant hills, only half of it still visible.

Adrenaline shot through her body anew, giving her the needed energy to find her feet. "This way."

They hurried down the road, Leigh peeking between each broken shell of former houses until she saw what she was looking for. The remnants of a door half-covered a set of concrete steps leading into the ground beneath one of the houses. "We need the panels."

Alexandra ran ahead of her, but had to wait for her to help carry the heavy wood siding. They brought the panels back to the place they'd found and down the concrete stairs.

"Get these upright. I'll be right back."

"But—"

Leigh was already halfway up the stairs. "Lean them against the opening, but leave space for me to get back in."

She found a handful of loose boards and pried a couple more free. Only a glimmer of sunlight remained. She limped back down the stairs. "Push them in place, hurry!"

They positioned the panels to cover the opening. Thankfully, the opening came parallel to a hallway, giving them an immediate wall to brace the boards against. Leigh pushed one board into the middle, securing the center of the panels and bracing it against the opposite wall. She pointed Alexandra to the pile of boards. "Each corner."

The girl nodded in the near dark and grabbed a board, securing the bottom corner, while Leigh braced another against the top corner. She quickly braced the other top corner, then reached to help Alexandra with the final corner.

The boards shuddered.

Chapter 12

Alexandra froze.

Leigh turned her back to the panels, pushing with all her might. She grabbed Alexandra's arm and pulled the girl beside her.

Another shudder. Scratching.

Leigh closed her eyes. How many panels had they gotten? Five, six maybe? Would that be thick enough to keep the creatures at bay?

Her injured leg gave out. She winced and sank down a few inches, her good leg tightening to compensate.

The boards shuddered again, this time directly in the bottom corner next to her. They'd found the weak spot, the place that wasn't braced yet.

She gritted her teeth and pushed harder.

Another blow. A claw shot into the space between the panels and the wall, wrapping inward. It sank into her side.

She bit back a cry. Grabbed the claw with both hands and pushed until it finally released its grip. But the claw didn't retract. The gap between the panels and the wall widened.

Alexandra pushed beside her. "They're getting in!"

Weakness washed over Leigh. Her head drooped.

Another claw tore into her shoulder.

"Push! Keep them back!" Alexandra shouted. Her voice sounded hollow, distant.

Another claw broke in, caught her side again. Her good leg shook. Began to drop.

Alexandra grabbed her arm. "Please, Mommy, help!"

The cry pierced straight to Leigh's soul. A new burst of adrenaline shot through her body. She shoved hard. The panels bashed into the wall, crushing the claws. A terrifying shriek rattled the boards, and the claws finally retracted.

The creatures battered back, slamming against the panels, but Leigh's feet remained planted, her back solid against the wood. The bashes slowed, growing fewer and farther between until a weak, half-hearted bump signaled the end of the attack.

"Get the board," Leigh said, her voice barely audible.

Alexandra hefted a board into position, and the two of them secured it against the wall. Two boards remained; they braced those near the middle. Leigh found the opposite wall in the darkness and slid down to the floor, her limbs shaking in protest against the trauma. She had to bandage her arm, her side. Her fingers moved numbly, not quite grasping what they needed.

Small, cold fingers found her arm. The girl moved efficiently in the darkness, finding the wounds and helping bandage them.

Something thumped against the panels. They both stiffened, but the boards didn't give. The creature moved on after only a couple more attempts.

Leigh closed her eyes. She couldn't remember ever feeling so weak in her life.

Alexandra curled up against her less-injured side. Nestled in tightly.

She managed to muster up enough strength to lift her arm and drape it around the girl. They'd be okay. Morning would come.

* * *

Leigh opened her eyes, colors blurring in a dizzy way around her. Sunlight illuminated specks of dust floating through the air, swirling in front of her eyes when she moved. She blinked a few times, bringing the world into focus.

Morning light washed over the steps. The panels rested against the wall, only partially covering the entrance anymore. The boards sat in a neat stack in front of the panels.

Alexandra climbed down the stairs, carrying a water bottle in hand. Droplets of dried blood decorated her face. Leigh's heart jumped, but she quieted it. The blood wasn't fresh. Probably from yesterday's fight. The girl's face looked as impassive as ever, seemingly unaffected by either the fight against the bandits or the creatures' attack. As if she was used to such things as a normal part of life. Leigh shuddered.

Holding out the water bottle, Alexandra knelt next to Leigh. "Drink."

Leigh accepted the water, drinking greedily until the girl took the bottle away.

"Can you stand?"

Leigh struggled, tried to push herself upright. Her wounds screeched at the attempt. She couldn't even move her injured leg. The arm fared little better. She closed her eyes.

"Stay here. I'll get Cole."

She winced, opened her eyes. "No. I can—"

The girl pushed a hand against her uninjured shoulder. "I'll be fine. I know how to avoid trouble. I'll be back soon." She set the water bottle and a knife next to Leigh, then turned and trotted back up the stairs.

Leigh tried to stay awake, keeping watch for any approaching threats. If their attackers had any friends, those friends would likely come looking to see what happened. But she kept finding herself waking out of a doze, unsure how much time had passed. Once the sun no longer reached the stairs, it became impossible to tell its position from where she lay.

Hands woke her rudely with a sudden grip. She gasped alert and lunged for the knife.

"Easy!" Cole caught her hand. "It's me."

She blinked. He crouched beside her, one hand cradling her head. Another person stood nearby, silhouetted in the light from outside. Alexandra? No, too big. One of the other protectors, most likely.

"Here, chew this." Cole pressed something against her mouth.

She accepted the bitter mass, recognizing the flavor immediately as one of Sal's most popular treatments, some mixture that helped fight infections, slow bleeding, and regain energy. She choked it down and gratefully allowed Cole to help her drink.

"I'll get the supplies," the other protector said. Benjamin. He hefted the wood panels against his side, then looked at the boards.

"Leave the boards," Cole said.

"We just needed something to brace..." Leigh cleared her throat, struggling to make her weak voice heard.

"You did a good job." Cole kissed her. "Alexandra told us what happened."

"She's..."

"Back home, helping Wyatt and Don work on the house."

Leigh pushed and managed to sit up. "The house?"

"We tore the reinforcement out of the kids' room and used it to repair the rest. It held."

Another fear crept into her mind. "The other settlement?"

"Still nothing. I think they've given up."

She hoped so, but something inside her still insisted that it was too good to be true. They were lucky not to have been attacked yet, but it was coming. Just a matter of time.

He helped her to her feet. She swayed, her body reluctant to find equilibrium in the new position.

Cole pulled her good arm over his shoulders and slid his arm around her waist, being careful to avoid the wound in her side. "Come on. We need to get you to Sal."

"I'll be okay. The house needs finished."

"The kids and I have it covered, with a little help." He kissed her. "You need to take care of you now."

Too weak to offer any further protests, she let him help her up the stairs, Benjamin following behind them with the panels hefted on his back. She blinked in the sunlight. Not even noon yet. Alexandra must have run all the way back to the community.

They emerged onto the broken road. A couple of broken knives, a handful of bent pipes, and several blood smears remained as the only evidence of the previous day's fight. Doubtful anyone had shown up to bury the bodies before nightfall, leaving this as the creatures' handiwork. Her stomach tightened, and she looked away.

The trip back to the community took longer than Leigh remembered. Somehow she wound up carried in Cole's arms by the time they emerged in the marketplace, though she didn't recall when that happened. A handful of people clustered around, clucking and whispering, but it all swirled around her like a vague buzzing noise.

Sal stood as they approached her booth. "Take her on home and get her resting comfortably," the old woman ordered. "I'll be along in a minute."

The next time Leigh opened her eyes, Wyatt hovered at her side, staring down at her in solemn worry. Alexandra sat on her other side, clutching her hand. Sal hummed softly as she spread something cold and slimy on the wound in her side. Leigh looked up and recognized her own ceiling.

"We finished the walls," Alexandra said. "Cole double-checked everything. We'll be safe tonight."

"Finished?" Leigh looked over at the wall, but they'd apparently repaired the interior walls as well, leaving her with no way of gauging the time. "How long—"

"It's still a couple hours to sundown," Sal said. "Don't worry yourself. I've no intentions of spending the night in your home, regardless how lovely your family might be." Her laugh turned into a wheeze.

"She's going to be okay now, right?" Wyatt asked.

"Of course she is," Sal said. "Your sister did a good job of getting help straight away."

Alexandra sat a little taller, but still clung to Leigh's hand.

Sal finished her work and straightened. "Time to let her rest. You'll be sore, but you should be on your feet by tomorrow morning—so long as you take it easy on yourself the rest of the night. Clear?"

Leigh nodded.

Wyatt pressed damp lips against her cheek. "Love you, Mommy."

"Love you, too," she murmured.

Sal shooed him ahead of her out the door.

Alexandra started up, then leaned in closer. "I, that is, I wanted to say I'm sorry. For calling you that. I didn't mean to bother you."

Leigh squeezed the girl's hand. "It didn't bother me. It was what I needed to hear." She smiled in the soft light the box emitted. "You helped me make sure those things didn't get in."

"Do you think..." She hesitated.

"What?"

"Maybe, if it's okay with you, maybe I could call you that again?"

The trepidation in Alexandra's voice nearly broke Leigh's heart. She nodded. "That would be okay with me."

Alexandra hugged her, then turned and hurried out of the room.

Sal's warning to stay in bed proved unnecessary. Leigh fell back asleep within moments and only woke when Cole and the kids brought her dinner and tea. They ate with her, the kids once again clinging as tight to her as they could get without hurting her.

Cole brought in the radio afterwards. Once again, there was no sign of a threat from the other settlement. Cole made no comment, turning off the radio after Don's announcements like normal. He really did believe the trouble was gone. Perhaps Leigh should believe it, too.

In spite of all the rest she'd gotten, Leigh already felt exhausted once more. The kids clung so tightly to both of them that sleeping in separate rooms wasn't even considered. Cole helped them carry in their blankets, then tucked the two in at the head of the bed. Their breathing evened out within moments, and Cole tip-toed his way through his evening routine. He climbed in beside Leigh and wrapped his arms around her.

"When you didn't come back home, I thought..." He pulled her closer, still mindful of her injuries.

"I know."

He kissed her. "Promise you'll take it slow tomorrow. Sal gave me something for you to take in the morning to help with the pain and speed recovery, but it won't make you magically all better. You can't go at it full tilt."

"Sure," she sleepily mumbled into his chest.

"I'm serious. Promise."

"I promise." She tilted her head up and kissed him, then nestled back into place. He said something else, but she didn't hear it as she drifted back to sleep.

Cole returned to work the next morning, but left Wyatt to help Leigh and Alexandra. The kids insisted that she stay put while they used some of the stockpiled goods to make the necessary trades at the market, and she found herself reluctantly agreeing, though as the morning passed, she limped into the kitchen to prepare lunch for them all. It took a bit longer than usual, her brain still foggy from the pain and medicines.

The door slammed shut, announcing the kids' return. She set the food out on the table and eased into one of the chairs, her aching leg complaining that she'd overdone it.

Wyatt reached the kitchen first, but seemed to be walking slowly, almost cautiously. Large eyes fixed on Leigh in a pleading way.

Her chest tightened. Something was wrong. Another attack from the other settlement?

She stood as Alexandra entered the room, followed by a gun pointed at the girl's head, followed by a man she hadn't expected to ever see again.

Nate grinned. "Back in the chair, if you don't mind." He shook the gun for emphasis.

"They were around the corner. We didn't see them when we got back," Alexandra said, her voice quiet and barely hiding a seething rage.

Leigh lowered herself back into the seat, her heart racing. Nothing rested between her back and the chair. She'd been so foggy, she'd forgotten to tuck her .38 in its usual place. Vehement curses rippled through her mind, but she pushed them aside. Had to focus. Had to think of a way out of this.

Tasha laughed as she followed Nate into the kitchen. "You weren't particularly hospitable last time we stayed here." She gave Leigh a wicked sneer. "I think you need to make up for that now."

Nate shoved Alexandra toward the table. "Sit down, brats."

Wyatt's face screwed into a glare. "You're bad people! You can't make us—"

Alexandra caught his arm and pushed him into a chair. "Quiet." She sat beside him, her eyes flicking to Leigh, a question unspoken on her lips. What were they going to do?

Leigh had no answer.

Nate turned the gun on Leigh. "My darling wife is right. I think we'll wait here while she takes a look around and sees what we might like to own."

Tasha rubbed the sneer in a moment longer before sauntering off into the interior rooms.

No gun. No knife. And Nate out of arm's reach. She'd have to be creative.

The man hadn't stopped grinning. "Bet you didn't think you'd ever see us again." He patted his leg. "Patched up just fine. And it seems I owe you for that one, don't you think?"

"Seems that way," Leigh said, watching his eyes. He hadn't shot them yet. What was his aim? To rob them blind, wound her, and leave? Or was he just waiting for Cole to get in so he could kill them all?

"It wasn't easy, getting back in here," Nate continued, the gun drooping in a lazy manner. His wrist tightened at the same time. He was ready to snap the gun back in place at a moment's notice. "Lots of people watching for us. Today's the first time we managed to slip in unnoticed."

He paused as if waiting for some sort of response. Leigh didn't oblige.

"And you two." He addressed the kids. "You offended us rightly. We took good care of you, and that's how you repay us? Shame." He shook his head.

Wyatt's hands balled into tiny fists, but Alexandra's grip on his arm kept him silent.

"Leave them be," Leigh said.

"Why should I do that?"

"They saw an opportunity and took it. Same as anyone would do. Just like you tried to do to us."

He laughed. "Guess we rubbed off on them some, would you say?" He gave Alexandra a mock bow. "So pleased to have been your mentor."

The girl's eyes flashed with momentary rage, but the only sign on the rest of her face was a slight downturn of her mouth. "You didn't teach us anything."

He was relaxing, letting himself get caught up in the back and forth. Good.

"Besides, Cole and I were the ones who caused you trouble, not them," Leigh pressed. "Speaking of Cole, I expect he'll be home before long."

Nate's grin took on a twisted edge. He took a step forward. "Good." He watched her face, looking for a reaction. "I'm counting on it."

She faked a flash of fear. "It doesn't matter if you're expecting him. He'll still beat you."

Anger darkened his eyes. He stepped closer. "You think so?" Another step. He leveled the gun between her eyes. "You think he'd risk harm to his pretty little wife, huh?"

Not close enough yet. And Alexandra and Wyatt—too close. Leigh's mind raced. "Doesn't matter. He'll figure out a way to beat you." She cast a quick glance at Alexandra.

The girl nodded as if she understood. Leigh hoped that was true.

Nate's lips twisted. "You put too much faith in your husband."

"I know him better than you." Leigh allowed her own lips to rise in a smirk. "You don't stand a chance."

He closed the gap and shoved the gun into her forehead. "Or I could just shoot you now! How about—"

Alexandra dropped the floor, yanking Wyatt down with her.

Leigh caught Nate's wrist and thrust upward, pointing the gun at the ceiling as the man reflexively squeezed the trigger. The shot nearly deafened Leigh, but she ignored the ringing in her ears as she rose and lashed out with the other hand, catching him in the midsection. He grunted in pain and buckled, but didn't release the gun.

Keeping her momentum forward, Leigh knocked him to the ground. She ignored the fiery pain tearing through her leg, her side, her shoulder. Clenching her teeth, she focused on his hand, squeezing between his wrist bones and tearing at his fingers, trying to get her hands on the gun. He kicked his legs around until he found some leverage and shoved her back, his free hand swinging for her face. She moved, but too slow. His fist glanced off her cheekbone, snapping her head to the side.

The door flew open. Tasha shrieked. "Get off him!"

Nails clawed across Leigh's face. She let go of the gun with one hand and slapped at Tasha. The woman grabbed her hair and tried to pull her back.

Alexandra screamed as she landed on Tasha's back, continuing to scream in the woman's ear while tearing at her face, her neck, anything the girl could reach. Tasha howled and staggered backwards.

Nate swung at Leigh again, but she was ready for it this time, deflecting it with her good leg while striking his face with her palm. His head rocked back. Blood spurted from his nose.

Tasha screamed again.

Leigh wanted to spin, to check on Alexandra, but Nate still held the gun. Had to get it away from him. She kicked hard with her knee, again hitting his midsection. A rush of air choked from his mouth. He was winded. She slammed his hand against the ground, again and again until the gun finally skittered free, rattling several feet away.

His fingers clawed at her.

If you hesitate...

She punched him in the throat. He gagged and slumped against the floor.

Leigh scrambled to her feet, stumbling back toward the gun as she looked to see if Alexandra needed help.

Tasha lay on the floor, hands weakly swatting at the girl sitting on her chest. Alexandra squeezed the woman's neck with both hands. A light spray of blood decorated the girl's cheek, matching the ooze from Tasha's split lip. Her face was impassive. Expressionless.

Cold.

Leigh's breath caught. "Alexandra, that's enough!"

The girl looked startled, her grip relaxing. Tasha shoved her off and writhed on the floor, coughing violently.

A clatter sounded behind Leigh. She spun to find Nate staggering to his feet, the gun in his hand. His mouth formed words that his damaged throat couldn't voice. He lifted the gun.

The shot came from behind her. Nate's head rocked back, red droplets covering the wall behind him.

Before his body had time to crumple to the ground, Leigh dropped into a crouch and turned to face the new threat. Something popped in her side. She winced, but fought against the wave of nausea and pain. Had to be ready to fight.

Lucas stood in the doorway to the kitchen, gun outstretched in shaking hands.

Tasha screamed in pure rage. Scrambled to her feet. Stumbled toward her husband's killer with clawed hands outstretched.

Leigh covered her ears in time to protect them from the second shot. Tasha slumped to the floor only a few feet from her husband.

The protector's hands shook harder now. "Anyone else?"

Leigh could barely hear his words over the ringing in her ears, but she shook her head.

"Is everyone okay? I heard a gunshot and started this way, and then I heard screams..."

She pushed herself upright, feeling the adrenaline drain off, leaving her muscles feeling like rubber. Dropping into her chair, she checked the kids. Alexandra and Wyatt crouched under the table, Wyatt clinging to the center and Alexandra hovering over him. She must have crawled there after Tasha shook her off. Blood still streaked her face.

"You hurt?" Leigh asked, her voice too loud even for her own ears.

Alexandra shook her head.

Wyatt stared mutely until his sister nudged him. "I'm okay."

Lucas put his gun away and rubbed his left arm, probably trying to hide the shaking. "I'll see if I can get another protector to come help me clean up in here."

"Obliged." Leigh took a deep breath and tried to coax the tremor out of her voice. It was over. They were safe.

Lucas jogged off down the hallway.

Alexandra crawled out from under the table and stood, brushing her clothes off. "If we'd seen them—"

"It wasn't your fault," Leigh said. Her voice leveled out as her hearing slowly returned to normal. Her wounds still burned. Her side felt like she might have torn the injury open again. She pressed her hand against the spot and felt warmth, confirming her suspicion. "They were determined enough to find their way to us one way or another."

The girl's frown deepened. "We tried to escape. Honest. And we would've, but—"

"Really, it wasn't your fault." Leigh found a bandage in one of the cupboards and wrapped her side as best as she could, then glanced back. She saw a moment of uncertainty linger in the girl's eyes, and it clicked. Alexandra was afraid they'd think she was weak.

"Actually, I owe you an apology." Leigh turned to show off the back of her shirt and empty waistband. "I was so foggy from everything that happened that I forgot to grab my gun when I came out here to make lunch. If I'd remembered my gun, this never would've happened."

Alexandra seemed mollified. "Well... we all make mistakes."

"Come on. Let's get cleaned up." Wyatt hadn't been spattered, but he didn't need to stay in the kitchen. None of them did. Death was a normal part of life; that didn't mean they had to camp out and picnic beside it.

The little boy still clung to the center of the table. He released his grip at Alexandra's touch and allowed her to lead him from the room.

When they reached the bathroom, he'd perked up some. "You got them!"

"Lucas got them," Leigh corrected. "That's why we have protectors in our community. To protect us."

He nodded solemnly. "He did his job good."

"Yes, he did." Leigh tossed Alexandra a washcloth and checked the mirror. Blood smeared down one side of her face from Nate's punch. And she'd caught some of Tasha's spatter. Her stomach twisted, but she forced the bile back and washed herself with professional detachment.

Professional detachment. The sick feeling returned. That's what she'd seen in Alexandra's eyes. She snuck a look at the girl, who was focused on cleaning. Leigh approached the topic cautiously. "That was quick thinking, jumping on Tasha to get her off me."

"You couldn't fight them both at once." Alexandra paused, then glanced at Leigh with a hesitant expression. "I was afraid if she got up, she'd attack you again, and they'd kill us all. I did everything I could to keep her away from you."

"Right." That's all it was, Leigh told herself. The girl was frightened and desperate. She'd had to keep Leigh alive in order to protect herself and her brother. It was probably the same instinct that kept the two kids alive during the years they lived alone. That's all.

Still, the coldness disturbed Leigh, bringing Meshach's assessment of the girl to mind again. She finished scrubbing her face and body clean and rinsed out the cloth, forcing the thoughts back. It had to be some sort of coping mechanism. Alexandra had been forced to take on an adult role too early, fighting to protect her brother. It's only logical that some degree of detachment would come with that role.

The bathroom door flew open, and Cole rushed in, gently gathering Leigh in his arms. He held her for a moment, then pulled Alexandra in on one side and Wyatt on the other, wrapping his entire family together in one big embrace. The kids lasted a few moments before squirming free.

Leigh pulled his hat forward and kissed him. "We're fine."

"I should've been here." He pushed his hat back, anger twitching at his face. "I should've been watching. I never thought—"

"Neither of us did." She kissed him again. "I hadn't thought of them in days."

He nodded, only partially satisfied. Leaning back, he frowned at the red stain on the side of her shirt.

Before he could speak, she showed him the bandage. "It just opened a little. Set me back some, but not too much."

"Sal should have more medicine." He gave her a gentle squeeze, avoiding her injuries. "I'll stop by her booth after I help clear the bodies out."

Leigh, Alexandra, and Wyatt waited until the protectors had plenty of time to remove the bodies before returning to the kitchen. Red streaks and the smell of copper and gunpowder remained as evidence of the fight that had taken place.

Bile rose again. Leigh swallowed it back. "You two go take care of your market things."

"I can help," Alexandra said.

"Help your brother."

The girl paused, eyeing Wyatt for a moment, then silently obeyed.

By the time they returned, Leigh had managed to clean most of the mess. She let them take their food into their bedroom to eat while she finished. Her own appetite had vanished.

The evening followed in a subdued mood. Cole came home early and seemed clingy, hovering over her as she took the medicine he brought back from Sal. Wyatt recovered from his shock, but found other topics to jabber about. Alexandra focused on tasks. The radio report brought no news from the south. Leigh's side throbbed until she gave up and went to bed early.

Everyone recovered by morning. At breakfast, Wyatt told Cole all about how brave Alexandra and Leigh had been, and Alexandra glowed in the praise. Cole grinned and ruffled the girl's hair, then headed off to work.

Leigh remained seated at the table as the kids assessed the house and loaded up goods to trade. Wyatt gave her a sticky kiss goodbye. The front door slammed shut behind them as they left.

Leigh sat a moment longer, then stood. Her side twinged, but Sal's medicine had done its work. She could get around normal enough, so long as she didn't push herself too hard. She gathered water and some food in a small bag at her side, tucked her .38 and a backup handgun in her waistband. Slung her Winchester on her back.

Walked out the door and headed south.

Chapter 13

Leigh wove between buildings, avoiding the main pathways as much as she could. As she left the ghostly remains of buildings behind, she crossed from shattered wall to shattered wall, keeping as much cover as she could, until she finally reached the crest of the hill. A broad stump stood at the side of the road, just barely high enough to crouch behind. She settled down and rested her rifle on the edge of the broken wood smoothed by time. Fixed her sight downward, to the other settlement.

"Davida told me about the mess you all had with that place," a gravelly voice spoke behind her.

She spun, her handgun already in hand and aimed.

Meshach put his hands up. "My apologies. Didn't mean to startle."

Leigh exhaled. Of all the people from the community to find her out here, he was probably the last one she'd wanted to see. She turned back to her scope and tried to pretend he wasn't there.

He settled down beside her, keeping a respectable distance while remaining in the cover of the stump. "Glad to see you up and about. I heard you had a breach. Can't say I was as worried as some, though, seeing your house design."

She focused on scanning the buildings down the hill. No signs of movement, but she was still quite a distance away. She'd need a higher, closer vantage to see all the hidden alleys and squares.

"I feel I owe you an apology, miss," Meshach said after a long silence. "I clearly disturbed you with my reference to that place I passed through. Where my life motto comes from. I get the sense it's your life motto, too."

She clenched her teeth and didn't answer.

"Bit of a strange thing, there. I recall hearing something in that place about a family, good folks all of them. Sad thing that happened. Some robbers on the road wiped the lot of them out, all but one little girl. Poor thing disappeared a couple days later. They asked me if I'd seen her on the roads. Real worried, those folks."

The smell of gunsmoke wafted through Leigh's memories. Her fingers tapped against her leg as she forced it back away.

"They told me a lot about her, and I promised I'd keep an eye out. Real good shot, they said, but not very strong." He scratched his head lazily. "Got to say, they had the wrong idea about her. There are two kinds in this world, from what I've seen. Some folks, they suffer a loss and disappear inside themselves. They get sad or angry and never open up again. Can't stand the thought of getting hurt or losing anyone again.

"But the strong ones, they're the ones who lose, but realize loss is part of life. So they open up again. Find love. Start a family. And if they lose again, they mourn, then pick themselves up and try again. Takes a real strong person to open up again after so much loss."

Tears slicked down her cheeks. Where'd they come from? She swallowed down the lump in her throat and shoved the tears away.

"Listen to me, going on. Us old folks tend to ramble. I only meant to say, I apologize for distressing you the other day. You seem like a fine lady, good head on your shoulders. Strong. Didn't mean to cause you grief."

Leigh lifted her rifle. "Excuse me. I need to get closer." She ducked out from behind the stump and hurried to the next bit of cover, a wall that was more red dust than brick anymore. Her side fussed at her, forcing her to slow down.

She checked the settlement, saw no indication anyone had seen her, and moved to the next cover. And the next one after that. Closer. Good vantage. She lined up her scope and studied the streets. Now she could see people moving around, but no indication of anything outside the normal paces of everyday routine.

"I see you had the same thought I did," Meshach said.

She gritted her teeth. Of course he'd followed her. It was as if some force of fate was determined to keep her from focusing on her task.

"It's been how many days since they showed hide or hair near your community? Davida's happy as a kid, same for most folks I seen. Your people took out their leader. They must have given up. The fight's all over." His chuckle triggered a throaty cough. He cleared his throat and continued. "But you're like me, I see that now. Seen too much in this world. We know it's never quite so easy."

"I'm just scouting," Leigh said.

"Smart idea. Same thing I'm here for. And like they said in the olden days, two heads are better than one. Two pairs of eyes to watch for trouble, two sets of ears to listen for news."

In spite of herself, she found part of her mind agreeing with his comments. A man didn't survive to Meshach's age without some skills to protect his hide. The fact that he'd come up behind her without her knowing proved him stealthy enough. Maybe they could get even a bit closer.

"That is, if you don't mind an old coot tagging along."

She looked away from her scope and studied him. The rational side of her pointed out that she hadn't really given him a fair chance. He reminded her of her past, and she hated that. It was unfair of her to take it out on him, though. She returned to the scope. "Which way would you approach?"

He pointed along the east border of the settlement. "Lots of trees and broken buildings. Good cover along that side."

She nodded and slung her rifle on her back. "Let's go."

Meshach moved behind her, keeping pace without a sound. Leigh's heart tightened the closer they got, her fingers tapping sporadically. Her father's lessons flashed through her mind. Stay low, stay unseen. Watch for movement. The little details. You'll see them before they see you. Be ready.

She spotted a flash of color to the right and ducked behind the wall they were passing.

Meshach crouched beside her. "See something?" he whispered.

She put a hand up for silence and peered around the edge of the wall, keeping as low to the ground as her injuries permitted. People were less likely to see things if they were low or high. Get outside the range of eye level, and you might go unnoticed.

A man grunted as he yanked a board free. A scavenger. Unaware of their presence.

She faced Meshach, pressed a finger against her lips, and motioned for him to follow her lead.

He nodded, and she hoped that he really did understand and didn't merely believe he understood.

She checked the scavenger again, then stepped out, making a direct path to the shell of a building. The outskirts of the settlement. She kept herself mostly upright. Staying stationary and low could avoid detection. Movement at low levels caught the eye, though. Some primal need to watch for animals, engrained in the brain, training it to jump and look at any low, scurrying thing. Walking at a steady pace, upright, calm, was less likely to attract attention. Normal. Nothing to see here.

She checked the scavenger out of the corner of her eye. The man swore loudly as he struggled to pry the next board clear. He still hadn't noticed them passing only a couple yards away.

Leigh fought the urge to increase her speed as she neared the building. Kept steady. One hand tapped fingertips to leg as her other hand kept a tight grip on her handgun.

The scavenger disappeared from view as she slid behind the building. Clear. Safe. Meshach pressed his back against the wall beside her and nodded. They'd made it.

Step one down. It was the easiest step, reaching the outskirts of the settlement. Step two would be harder.

She crossed to the other end of the building and checked the corner. The space between buildings remained uniform here, passing at least seven crumbling structures before running into another building. No signs of people. By luck, the easiest side to approach the settlement also happened to be sparsely populated. From the ravaged state of the buildings, this area was mostly fodder for the scavengers rather than anyone's home. It made a good way in, though the broken shells provided less cover. If someone spotted them, it'd be over in a heartbeat.

She took a moment to steady her breathing and still her hand. The longer they lingered, the greater the chance of being spotted. They needed to get close enough to the people, to listen and watch, to see if anything was planned or if the settlement truly had given up, as everyone hoped. Then sneak back out and get home before anyone was the wiser to their presence.

Meshach touched her shoulder and jerked his head to the side, suggesting without words that it was time for them to move.

She checked the alley again. Clear. She drew her .38 and kept it low at her side as she stepped around the corner and followed the side of the building to the next corner. Clear along that side. She led Meshach past the space to the next building.

A grunt caught her ears. The scavenger. He'd gotten closer. She crept to the next corner and checked. He worked on the building beside her, digging nails out of rotten, broken boards.

Leigh pressed flat against the wall, focusing on her breathing. He hadn't spotted her. He hadn't detected them. They were still safe.

Meshach slid past her, checked the corner. Pressed flat beside her.

She raised her eyebrow, asking if he had any ideas.

He seemed to mull it over for a moment, then nodded. He moved with remarkable grace and silence for his size and age, scurrying back to the first corner. Crouching, he dug at the dirt for a moment, then emerged with a pebble. He glanced back at her.

She nodded, having a vague idea of his plan.

He readied himself. Threw the pebble.

It hit home, clattering against a broken board and rebounding to hit a stone wall with a smacking noise. The sounds echoed well in the empty spaces of the half-formed buildings.

Leigh checked the corner beside her. The scavenger stood at alert, gun in hand, hammer and nails forgotten. He cautiously moved toward the source of the sound. Away from Leigh.

Meshach appeared at her side, ready.

The scavenger disappeared around the corner.

Leigh swiftly crossed the gap between buildings, Meshach right behind her. She led the way two buildings down, then took the next corner. She pressed tightly against the building. If the scavenger had half a brain, he'd check this alley before he gave up his search.

The old man followed her without questioning, leaning flat against the wall beside her.

She checked around the corner. Nothing.

Her fingers tapped against her leg. She focused on her breathing until they stilled, then checked again.

The scavenger stood in the alley, scanning the area.

She withdrew and remained still. He hadn't spotted her that she could tell. She intended to keep it that way.

A soft thump preceded a muffled curse. He was trying to sneak, but doing a poor job of it. And he was getting closer.

She gestured and passed Meshach, heading for the next space between buildings. Crossed it and ducked behind another wall, moving closer to the center of the settlement and further from the searching scavenger.

A gunshot split the air.

She dropped low, her gun pointed back the way they'd come. Had he seen her? Seen Meshach? Was the old man hit?

No, the old man was beside her. A Colt rested comfortably in his hand, aimed the same direction as her own gun. She hadn't even known he owned a gun, though logic dictated he must in order to still be alive.

Another gunshot, and she knew then what was happening. The scavenger was trying to flush them out, make them think they'd been spotted. She put a hand on Meshach's shoulder and shook her head. He nodded in understanding, though neither of them lowered their guns.

A long moment passed in silence, then a string of curses unleashed and steadily moved away from them. The scavenger had given up.

She sighed in relief and turned back to their initial goal. Deeper into the settlement.

Meshach remained content to let her lead the way, though occasionally his fingers would catch her shoulder, stilling her as a random scavenger or trader she hadn't spotted passed by. The deeper they went, the more intact the buildings became, providing better cover. But more people walked the streets this way, forcing them to make convoluted and often abrupt route changes to avoid being spotted.

Leigh let out a breath she'd been holding after an overly-armed thug passed the barrels they crouched behind. Maybe this had been a mistake. If Meshach had come on his own, he might have wandered in like any other traveler, unrecognized. He could've gathered information without raising too many eyebrows. Or he could have played innocent if caught sneaking through the streets. No one would have any reason to suspect him of being connected to the community.

But if she was spotted, they'd know in a heartbeat who she was. Brown hair. Ponytail. Clean. That last one alone ruled out most people in the world and made her stick out like a sore thumb, thanks to her mother's insistence on tidiness. Just because we have a hard life is no reason not to have proper hygiene. Show that you respect yourself and others will respect you for it.

Not this time.

Leigh exhaled again and gripped her gun. Too late to turn back now. And they'd come so far already. They'd get the info they needed and get out. The sooner, the better.

Meshach stayed low beside her. He jerked his head onward, ready to move.

She led the way to the corner of the building and studied the open square before them. It was obviously this settlement's version of a marketplace, though it was far more chaotic than the one in her community. Two women fought over some object, screeching and slapping at each other. A man held a scrawny child aloft by one arm, yelling as he yanked a stolen item from the kid's hands. A scavenger and a trader were in a shouting match over prices. Everywhere Leigh looked, men and women shoved, hit, and screamed at each other while children darted between legs, occasionally emerging with some valuable hidden under their shirts.

She kept low, out of sight, and tried to keep her disgust internal. She'd almost forgotten how bad other settlements could get. Almost.

A large man with a tusk-like mustache thundered toward them. Her fingers tightened on her gun. Everything in her screamed to duck lower, to jump up and shoot him before he reached her, or to flee. She focused herself and managed to keep still. He might not have seen her. If she moved, she'd be spotted for sure.

Tusks grabbed a smaller man standing only a pace from Leigh's hiding spot. He lifted the man clear off his feet and shook him. "I told you not to show your face here again."

"I just need some food," the smaller man whined.

Tusks slugged him in the face, sending him crashing into a nearby booth.

The trader jumped to his feet. "Watch what you're doing, punk!"

"Bug off." Tusks hauled the small man up again and threw him into someone else's booth.

"Stop it!" the trader shouted, fumbling for a weapon.

Tusks yanked out a gun and shot the trader in the face, then turned the weapon on the small man. "See what you did?"

The man gaped, his mouth opening and closing a couple times. "I wasn't—I didn't—"

All commotion in the marketplace had ceased at the gunshot. Everyone stared, even the two women with their hands still locked in battle over the object.

Tusks eyed them. "You all saw that. You're my witnesses to how this dung heap shot that trader for no reason." He cocked his gun. "So now it's time for justice."

"I didn't!" the small man squeaked, but it was too late. His blood stained the dirt and sprayed across the second vendor's booth.

The vender made no protest.

Tusks turned to the crowd, waving the gun as if waiting for someone else to challenge his actions.

"Sure thing, man." A wiry, tall man strode out of the crowd, clapping Tusks on the back. "We all saw it. Good job, dealing with that murderer."

Tusks studied him for a moment, then nodded and tucked his gun away.

The rest of the crowd went back to what they'd been doing as if nothing had happened.

The wiry man gestured with his head down the side street near them. "Come on. We got some new things coming up, and the boss wants word spread before tonight."

Leigh's ears perked. The boss. So they had gotten a new leader in place. The question was, did this new leader intend to carry on in the old leader's footsteps? Or was this guy unconcerned with the old leader's feud? If they were lucky, the new guy would be grateful to their community. After all, if it wasn't for them, he probably wouldn't have his position now.

Meshach was already sneaking back toward the further walkway when she turned around. He wanted to listen to this conversation, too. She followed him, hid behind the barrels until the way was clear, and slipped around the side of the building. They crept steadily, sliding around corners and ducking behind debris whenever passers-by got too close, always tracking the two men wandering away from the marketplace. When the men stopped, Leigh searched for a good spot to get closer. Nothing there. For all the debris and garbage filling the streets, it figured that the men would choose to talk on the cleanest corner in the settlement.

The two were already talking, but too low for Leigh to hear from the distance. She looked around, desperate for some way to get closer without being seen. Her gaze caught the lip of the roof above. Meshach followed her look and crouched, knitting his hands together to form a step. She let him help her up onto the roof, then pulled him up after her. They stayed low, out of sight, and snuck to the edge.

"And he didn't have anything to say to that?" Tusks asked, disbelief in his voice.

Wiry snorted. "Not a word. He just pulled his gun and blew the guy away. I told you, man, this guy's certifiable. Better keep that lip of yours in check around him. But get this—long as we play nice to his face, follow his little rules, he'll let us go on as we want."

Tusks' head bobbed in thought. "Good. Works fine by me, so long as he doesn't get in my way of taking what I need." He grinned. "Or want."

"Take away, man." Wiry glanced around and leaned even closer to Tusks, his voice lowering until Leigh had to strain to hear. "I hear he's gonna round up the single women for an auction. Maybe you'll have a chance after Hannah after all."

Tusks laughed, an eager gleam in his eye that turned Leigh's stomach in knots. "I've got a few special moves saved just for her. No one says no to me."

"That's the spirit." Wiry enjoyed the moment a few seconds longer, then returned to business. "You're still watching the road, right?"

Leigh's heart skipped. She leaned closer.

"When I'm out there, yeah. Nothing yet."

"Good. Things've been too quiet. Boss is starting to wonder if those numbskulls might be thinking about trying something."

It took effort to keep from letting her relief show. Sounded like these guys were more concerned about her community trying something than about trying something themselves.

Tusks snorted. "Those cowards? Nah, they're all about peace and love and skipping through the flowers. They ain't gonna try anything."

"Just keep watching. The boss doesn't want them coming after us before he's ready to move."

Leigh's relief turned into a chill.

"Why don't we just take them already? We got more than them. We'd have the whole mess of morons in a puddle of blood in less than an hour."

"Haven't you been listening?" Wiry shook his head. "Get a punk dead, you get nothing but what he's carrying that one time. Get a punk scared of you, you get what he's carrying today, and what he's carrying tomorrow, and what he's carrying the next day. Boss'll bring them to their knees, and then just think of the tribute they'll pay." He closed his eyes and made a contented humming sound as if imagining the riches to come.

"So let's do it." Tusks waved his gun. "I'm ready now. Same for the rest of the boys. We're itching for a fight. Ain't you? Or you gone soft?" He poked his gun at Wiry's shoulder.

Wiry pushed him away. "I ain't gone soft. I gone smart. Like the boss says, we wait. Give it days to pass without a whisper. They ain't seen a thing of us since they took out Sieve. Probably think we're done with them, but they're still careful. Watching the roads, maybe even taking a peek now and then. We play nice, like nothing's on, they walk away thinking they won. And BAM!" He slapped his fist into his hand. "That's when we hit."

Leigh closed her eyes. They hadn't given up on it. They did plan on attacking again.

She hated being right.

"All I'm saying is, we could have this done already," Tusks said. "Don't matter if they expect it or not. We'll take 'em."

"It's not about taking. It's about the fear. We hit when they don't think it's coming, they learn they can't mess with us."

Tusks shook his head. "Fine. What else?"

"That's it. Spread the word and keep a watch on the road."

The two men parted ways, Wiry vanishing back into the marketplace and Tusks wandering off down a side road, cursing as he tripped over a pile of rotting trash.

Leigh scooted back from the edge of the roof, realizing only then how easily they could've been spotted. She'd let herself lean out too far in trying to hear. If either of the men had looked up, they'd have seen her head and some of her shoulders sticking out.

She met Meshach's gaze. The old man nodded grimly. They'd been right; the settlement was planning another attack. It might not be for a few more days yet, but it would come. Now the two of them just had to make their way out of the settlement without being seen and get back to warn the community.

She rose to a half-crouch and crept to the back of the building. The path behind it remained clear. She turned to climb down.

"Hey!"

Chapter 14

Everything in Leigh wanted to freeze, but instead she crouched back, dropping flat against the roof.

Footsteps thudded against bare dirt below them. "Someone's up there! I saw them!" A youthful voice.

Heavier footsteps followed, many sets. Clicking sounds testified to the number of guns being cocked.

"Get down here, you," a throaty voice growled. Whoever he was, he must be massive.

Meshach squeezed her shoulder, then slowly rose, his hands in the air. "Don't shoot."

Leigh remained flat, her body calm but her heart going into conniptions. The old man was taking the heat. Most likely he'd come to the same conclusion she'd contemplated earlier. If he was caught, he could pretend to be a random traveler passing through.

"Drop your weapons and climb down," Throaty ordered.

Meshach obediently tossed his gun over the side of the roof, then turned to climb down. His eyes briefly met hers before he disappeared from view.

"Search him. What's he got?"

Scuffling sounds. In her mind, Leigh could see rough hands grabbing at Meshach's bag, his clothes. She clenched her teeth and fought the desire to jump up with her rifle on the thugs below.

"What's this junk?" Thudding sounds marked each of Meshach's possessions as they hit the ground.

"I'm just a traveler. Found some goods to trade, thought I'd peek at your market and see if I might get some good deals here." Meshach's voice remained steady and calm. Leigh knew it wasn't the first time he'd dealt with this sort of thing.

The thugs chuckled, and Meshach let out a pained grunt. Someone had punched him. Her fingers tightened on her gun. The rest of her fingers tapped madly against her leg.

"You'll talk when we say," Throaty barked.

A moment passed before one of the other men spoke up. "He's got nothing. Just a bunch of garbage."

"What were you doing on that roof?" Throaty asked.

"I told you. Checking the marketplace."

"From the roof?" one of the other men asked.

"Best way to see it all. I know it sounds strange to young ears, but us old folks get set in certain ways of doing things."

Another moment passed in silence. Leigh's fingers tapped harder. Should she move now? Wait? It was impossible to tell.

"Get his stuff together. See what you can get for it," Throaty said.

"Then you got what you wanted." Meshach's voice still rang calm, calmer than Leigh would have managed in his shoes. "Send me on my way, and I won't show face again."

"Yeah," Throaty said. "He's useless to us."

Anyone else might have thought the thug was agreeing. Leigh knew better. Time to act. She again suppressed the urge to jump up and start firing; that'd be a great way to get both of them shot. Instead, she scooted back without a sound, getting as far back as she could, then sprang to her feet and bolted for the edge of the roof. Launched herself off. Landed on the next roof in a roll, barely missing a gaping hole in the rough shingles. Her side, shoulder, and leg screamed at her.

Shouts came from below. She was already on her feet again, racing for the next roof, jumping. Footsteps tracked her, thudding heavily as the men gave chase. Most of them. Only a couple stayed behind with the disarmed old man. Probably figured him harmless without his gun. But no one reached that age by being harmless. He'd be out of there quickly enough. She just had to worry about keeping ahead of the mob chasing below.

A gunshot split the air. Her arm stung. Just a graze. She leapt to the third roof. Her foot caught the edge. Her other foot missed. Her momentum carried her forward, flat onto the shingles, scraping her cheek hard and sending reverberations of pain from her wounds. She clenched her teeth and forced herself to ignore the pain. Back on her feet. Running.

More gunshots. A shingle dented inward beside her as she passed it. Debris splattered around her feet as evidence of more missed shots.

Then the shots slowed. Giving up?

She heard a grunt. No. Climbing up. She glanced back in time to see a hand appear on the edge of the roof she was on.

A gunshot rang, and the man fell. The shouts changed direction. "Get him!"

Meshach had gotten free faster than she'd expected. Impressed, she ran on, jumping two more roofs before the pain in her side almost flattened her. She dropped flat against an edge and allowed herself five seconds to breathe. Her body wailed for a longer break, but she couldn't afford it. There wasn't time.

A man landed on the opposite edge of the roof from her, proving her point. "Gotcha." It was Throaty himself. He raised his gun.

She rolled off the edge, spinning to right herself in the air. She'd have landed fine, but her leg gave out, depositing her in a heap on the ground. Her rifle skittered away, jarred loose from the fall.

Get up, she told herself. Have to run.

Her body wouldn't cooperate.

A dark hand caught her arm, lifted her to her feet with surprising strength. Meshach towed her behind him for twenty paces before she got her legs to cooperate again. A bloody streak marked his forehead, but he had a gun in hand and two more tucked in his belt. None were his original gun.

She matched his pace, her breath coming in ragged gasps. "Get us far enough ahead," she managed to say. She wouldn't be able to run much longer.

Meshach led the way onward without answering, his own breathing labored. They wove between buildings as the structures grew less and less intact. A trader yelped and scrambled out of their way, watching with wide eyes. With any hope, he didn't care enough about this settlement to join in the chase.

Fire spread from her wounds, joining with her burning lungs to try and distract her flight. Her brain shifted into a gear she hadn't used in ages. Numbness. The pain didn't exist. The men behind her didn't exist. Meshach didn't exist. She didn't even exist. Just her legs, running. One, two. One, two.

The old man caught her arm again, pulled to the side. She crashed to the ground behind a short wall.

He pressed her rifle into her hands. "We got cover," he gasped.

Her brain automatically corrected gears. She rose and brought the rifle up in one movement. Fired before she consciously aimed. Throaty dropped flat, blood spraying from his throat.

Exhale. Fire. Repeat.

Meshach fired beside her, emptying his first gun in a matter of seconds, keeping pace with her shots. He tossed it aside and yanked the second gun out, resuming with hardly a second break.

They'd dropped nine of the pursuers before the rest got smart enough to find cover. Only five remained. The men seemed to realize their odds. One shouted, and a smaller man slunk back toward the settlement, ducking behind another wall before Leigh could get a clear shot on him.

She gritted her teeth. If he brought more men back with him... She aimed carefully, tracking where he must be on the other side of the wall, and fired. Wood and plaster splattered outward, and a cry of alarm echoed down the street. She'd missed him, but gotten his attention.

Meshach leaned closer. "Now's our chance."

He was right. Fewer attackers to pursue them. They could pick the men off as they ran. And running might distract the thugs from the idea of getting reinforcements.

She slung her rifle on her back. Pulled her revolver. Bolted.

Shots ricocheted around her. Another sting hit her ankle, but it was just another graze. These guys weren't the best shots. Small miracle.

She twisted and fired behind her. Missed. Her second shot hit home. Meshach dropped another one.

The buildings grew more and more skeletal. The ground sloped upward. Her legs threatened to give out again.

She fired behind herself, catching someone in the leg. Turned forward and shifted gears again. Had to run. There was no choice.

The numbness got her almost to the top of the hill before the pain took over. Her legs shook and wobbled. Her pace faltered.

Meshach tugged at her arm, though he wasn't doing much better than she was.

Her foot hit an uneven patch wrong. Her ankle folded inward. She hit the ground hard.

The old man spun into a crouch, bringing his handgun up. Fired three times in succession. One man fell. The remaining two scrambled for cover.

Leigh struggled upright. Aimed her handgun. Caught one of the men in the shoulder. Waited for the other one to show himself.

Dust rose on the next street over. The coward had crept to where he'd be out of view and made a break for it. She bit back a curse and struggled for her feet, but then his voice carried above the ringing in her ears.

"Raiders! We got raiders!"

She almost collapsed in relief. They thought she and Meshach were raiders. Or the thug didn't want to admit that his crew had been bested by a woman and an old man. One way or another, her community wasn't implicated. The men of the settlement wouldn't see this as a directed attack.

Meshach was pulling at her arms again. She let the numbness take over. Her ankle held, but barely, forcing her to hobble and stagger unevenly behind him.

He led the way past the crest of the hill, then checked her arm. "Good, still bleeding." He guided her toward a crumbled wall and had her wipe her arm against it. Then again on some angled, broken boards near the bowed forest.

It took a few minutes for her dulled thinking to make the connection. He was creating a trail. If the men of the settlement came looking for them, they'd think the 'raiders' had gone west, not north.

Meshach crouched low and crawled into the forest, breaking rotten branches and swiping his own blood over a few trunks and logs as he went. Then he crawled backwards, emerging rump first, and heaved himself upright with no small effort.

"These old bones don't last quite as long as they once did," he puffed.

She knew exactly how he felt. "Come on. We can't be here when they come looking."

"No rest for the wicked." He gave her a tired smile and even managed to wink.

She reached out, offering him an arm for support. He took it, but also reached wrapped his own arm around her. Leaning against each other, the two of them stumbled their way back down the hill into the community.

A startled cry shook Leigh out of her numb state. She blinked as Davida rushed at them.

"What happened to you two?" her friend demanded, clucking first at Meshach's head wound, then Leigh's arm and leg.

"We need to talk to the protectors," Leigh said. She'd rather find her way to her bed and pass out for the next century, but the leaders needed to know what had happened. And that the settlement was planning an attack within the next few days.

Leigh and Meshach sat in Don's house, Sal and Davida tending to their injuries while Don, Cole, and Benjamin listened to the whole story. The displeasure on Don and Cole's faces came as no surprise to Leigh. It was the main reason she hadn't told anyone her plans to begin with.

"You're sure they didn't link you two to us," Don said.

"Positive." She winced as Sal pulled a bandage a little too tight.

Sal shook her head. "As if you didn't have enough problems, you go waltzing off into their settlement. Might save them the trouble and gift-wrap yourself next time."

Don looked like he was about to agree with her, but instead he turned to Benjamin. "We still got men watching the south?"

"Most of the time."

"Step it up. I want that watch kept every second we have sunlight. Just in case they put two and two together." He glanced at Leigh, then strode off to resume his duties.

She exhaled. No, that wouldn't happen. They'd covered their tracks. No one had recognized her. It was going to be okay.

Meshach stood and stretched, seeming much better now that he'd caught his breath. "Apologies if I stirred extra trouble for you folks. I'll join that watch, if you like."

"No, you need more rest," Davida ordered.

"Talk to me later if you want," Benjamin said. "But she's right. Rest up first."

Leigh bristled on Meshach's behalf. If anything, he'd proven himself more than capable.

But the old man just nodded. "These tired old bones could use a few winks." He let Davida lead him off, her still fussing over him.

Leigh bit back a laugh. Davida always had a little mother hen in her. Having someone to take care of had brought it right to the surface.

She looked up to find Cole frowning at her. He glanced at Sal. "How is she?"

"She didn't do her injuries any favors, but nothing broke open this time. She'll mend."

He nodded and handed the old woman a jar of food. "I'll bring more by later."

"Two more should be enough. Oh, and some fruit." She gave Leigh a stink eye. "For the idiocy tax."

Leigh ignored the barb. "Thank you for the help."

Sal muttered under her breath and returned to her booth.

Cole reached out a hand to help Leigh up.

She started to ignore it, but her leg fussed at her enough to override her pride. She sighed and took his hand.

"You know how stupid that was," he said.

She nodded.

"You're the one who kept saying you didn't want kids because we might get killed and leave them abandoned. But now that we've got a couple kids in our care, you go out of your way to look for trouble?"

Part of her wanted to protest and defend her actions, but she knew he was right. She'd acted stupidly. She'd do it again in a heartbeat, but it didn't change the fact that it was stupid.

He glared at her a moment longer, then pulled her into his arms. "I can't lose you."

The first twinge of guilt pricked at her. She wrapped her arms around him. "I don't want to lose you, either."

"What were you thinking?" He stopped. "Never mind. I know what you were thinking. You had to see if they were planning to come after us again." He shook his head. "It never occurred to you to wait and trust the protectors to keep an eye on things?"

She didn't answer.

He sighed and rested his head on top of hers. "Never mind. I know the answer to that one, too."

"I'm sorry I worried you."

"I'd rather you were sorry for going at all, but I know that's not going to happen."

She kissed him. "We got good info. And we made it out alive."

"With Meshach." He glanced back toward the door. "I'd gotten the impression you didn't like him much."

He was right. Or he had been, up until now. "Opinions change."

He eyed her, then kissed her again. "Go on home. And no more risky excursions, got it? Or if you absolutely have to..." He tipped her chin up and met her gaze. "Take me with you next time."

"Okay."

"Promise?"

She pressed her lips against his, drinking him in for a full minute. "Promise."

* * *

Leigh did her best to behave the next morning. Wyatt went to work with Cole, so she joined Alexandra in sorting and trading. Her leg still ached, thanks to yesterday's foolishness, but she got around well enough to help.

"Mommy!" Wyatt charged across the square as soon as they reached the market. He threw his arms around her good leg. "I'm helping!"

Cole grinned and waved from where he worked near the edge of the marketplace, clearing some rubble from a recently-damaged house.

"Good." She gave him a quick squeeze, then gently pushed him back in Cole's direction. "Back to work, you. Earn something good for us."

"I will!" He trotted back, loudly hollering to Cole about how he saw Mommy.

She couldn't help but smile as she watched him go, then she returned her attention to business at hand.

Shouts stilled her heart. She spun to the sound of gunfire.

Chapter 15

A mass of men spilled into the marketplace from the south, guns in hand, all shooting madly into the crowd.

Her feet moved before her brain kicked into gear. She caught Alexandra by the arm near the edge of the market, then scooped up Wyatt and slid behind a nearby wall. Her leg and side protested to the abrupt movements. Screams of panic and terror flooded the area, but she remained focused. She saw Cole ducking behind a trader's booth, firing as he went. More protectors rushed in, firing back, providing some cover. She waited. Wyatt clung to her shirt, sniffling in terror. Alexandra's fingers clutched her hand tightly.

The attackers gradually became more focused on the protectors than on the crowd. Leigh saw the opening for escape and took it, pulling the kids with her as she weaved back around the outside of the marketplace, making her way through the still-fleeing crowd. Someone slammed into Alexandra. The girl lost her footing. Leigh didn't slow down, pulling her back up as they continued forward. Alexandra stumbled, but managed to regain her original pace, running at Leigh's side.

They broke free of the crowd. Leigh paused at the edge of a building, peered around the corner. Nothing. The attack focused on the marketplace, to her relief. She rushed the kids home at top speed. Her brain raced. The way the men had talked, it sounded like there was still another day or two until their attack. Why had they changed their plans? Had someone recognized her?

"Get into our bedroom and stay hidden," she ordered them as she collected her five best rifles. Extra ammo. Backup scope. "I'll lock the door. You just keep down until we come for you."

"What if they get in?" Wyatt asked, eyes wide.

"I'll keep you safe," Alexandra said, "just like always." She gave Leigh a grim nod and ushered her little brother down the hallway.

Leigh hurried back out of the house and locked the door behind her. She'd been right. She hated being right. Shaking off the thoughts, she pulled down the rope ladder for her perch.

"Leigh!" Davida ran to her side, puffing. Two rifles bounced on her back. "The market!"

"I know." She scrambled up the ladder. "Hurry up!"

By the time Davida reached the perch, Leigh had already settled into position, one rifle in hand and the others within arm's reach. The twinge in her side had sharpened into a stabbing pain, but she took a few deep breaths, pushing the hurt aside. The crack of gunfire still echoed through the air, rapid and fierce. She lined up the scope and found the market, heart pushing its way toward her throat. Cole was down there. In the middle of it.

She clenched her teeth, forced herself to focus. A quick sweep with the scope gave her the situation. A few dozen attackers. Half of them flanked the marketplace, keeping the protectors and some civilians trapped. The rest found cover in the booths and stalls of the square. None presented easy targets. Apparently they'd learned from last time.

One shouted loudly, gesturing from time to time. The leader. She lined up on him and tensed. Tusks. Suddenly it made more sense. No one had recognized her, Tusks had just given up on waiting patiently for the leader's plan. He'd decided to lead a raid himself. She lined up and squeezed the trigger. Tusks fell mid-shout.

Cole. He still crouched behind the trader's booth, popping up from time to time to squeeze off shots. How much ammo did he keep on himself during the day? She couldn't remember.

A wood beam near his head splintered. Her chest tightened at the near miss. One of the attackers had found him.

She traced the shot back, found the culprit. He knelt behind a barrel, aiming a shotgun in Cole's direction.

Her jaw muscles tightened. She lined up the shot. Exhaled. Fired.

The barrel rocked as the shot passed through it. The man fell, clutching his side.

She closed her eyes, but only for a second. Had to focus. Couldn't let her fear for Cole's safety get in the way.

The flanking attackers presented the best targets. Better to take care of them first, even if the ones in the marketplace were closer to the protectors. Closer to Cole.

She shook the thought off and adjusted her aim, finding the nearest attacker on the outer edge of the square. Fired. Kill shot. Next target.

Davida cursed beside her. "I can't get a clear shot!"

"Go for the ones on the outside. Let's open a path for our people to get out of there."

Faces and sounds blurred together as Leigh fell into a new focus, searching out the attackers, getting lined up, and firing. Most of the attackers had enough cover that she only managed to injure them, but even that was a victory. Get them out of the fight, get their gun on the ground, and the people trapped in the square had a better chance.

She fired her last shot and reached for her next rifle. Someone pushed it into her searching hand.

Startled, Leigh sat up. Alexandra crouched beside her, eyes round.

"I told you to stay hidden!"

"I can help."

"Wyatt—"

"He's fine. He's hidden in the secret closet." Alexandra grabbed the empty rifle and set to reloading. "There's too many of them. You have to help."

Leigh opened her mouth to order the girl back down into the house, but a roar of pain from below silenced her. She whirled back into position, lined up the scope, searched out the source. Don lay half-hidden behind a booth, clutching his shoulder. Lucas reached out to drag him back into cover. A nearby attacker lined up a shot on the boy.

Leigh exhaled. Squeezed. The attacker dropped.

"Keep your head down." She didn't have time to argue with the girl. She had to protect her people.

Regaining her focus, she found her next shot. Winged it. Scowled. Another protector fell inside the square.

"Here," Alexandra whispered. She pushed the first rifle at Leigh. "This one's better. I reloaded it for you."

Leigh paused, stared at the girl. Then at the gun. Sure enough, it was loaded correctly. How a little girl learned to properly load a long-range rifle...

She shook it off and swapped out the guns. Found her next target. Kill shot. And again. And a solid torso hit, possibly a kill.

An escape route opened up at the far edge of the marketplace. A few civilians started creeping closer to the area, led by Meshach.

Leigh spotted an attacker edging that way as well. One shot dropped him. The civilians made their break.

One fell, clutching his leg. Leigh found the attacker, hidden under too much cover. She fired just above his head, forcing him to stay down. Fired again. Meshach helped the fallen man up and dragged him to safety. She fired once more, giving the civilians enough time to get clear.

The attacker jumped up, furious, aiming after the retreating group. Leigh took the shot. He fell without a sound.

She shifted her aim, back to the easier targets around the outside of the square. Her scope swept past Cole's hiding place. No Cole.

Her heart clenched painfully in her chest. She checked the spot again, looked close. Massive damage to the booth. She couldn't see the ground just behind it. He'd been hit? She raised her head a few inches, trying to get a better view. Still couldn't see.

A shot whizzed past her head, leaving a hot blast of wind on her forehead. She dropped flat.

"They found us!" Davida reloaded and fired in panic. Her shot went wide.

Leigh readjusted. Found a handful of men moving in their direction, keeping tight to cover and firing over each other. "Keep your heads down!"

Her order was mostly for Alexandra's sake. She should've taken the time, should've thrown the girl off the roof if that was what it took to make her get back to safety. Now the kid was in the middle of a firefight.

Davida lay flat. "I can't get a shot between!"

The attackers kept a heavy cover fire raining on them, preventing much movement. Leigh took a deep breath. Raised her head just enough to get her aim. Another shot blasted past her, on the left this time. She exhaled. Took her shot. Prepped the next shot, took it. Two men fell.

She dropped flat again as more shots battered the perch. Good thing she'd reinforced it with extra metal. She closed her eyes, another deep breath. The shots slowed. She came up, aimed, fired, dropped.

Davida followed her lead, managing another shot.

Leigh checked the scene below. Only a couple left. Her next shot brought it down to one.

The man ducked back behind a mass of rubble, flattening against it to present no target. He lifted his gun over the edge and fired shot after shot with surprisingly decent aim.

Davida remained flat, curling slightly inward.

Leigh exhaled. Waited. Found her opening. Raised up. Aimed.

_Click_.

Her heart stopped. She dropped back down. She'd lost track of her ammo, and now she was out.

Another volley came, even tighter this time. She inched closer to peek. The man peered over the edge of the rubble now. Presented a target.

She dropped her rifle and reached for Alexandra to hand her the next one. The target wouldn't stay for long.

_Blam_.

The man fell, a hole clean between his eyes.

Leigh sat up, even more startled, and stared.

Alexandra lay on the perch in perfect form, rifle lined up, head tilted to the scope.

The girl paused, then slowly looked up at her. A faint glimmer of guilt and something else flashed in the girl's eyes. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have touched your gun." She sat up and set the rifle aside.

Davida stared slack-jawed.

Leigh looked back at the fallen man. "Where'd you learn to shoot like that?"

Alexandra shrugged.

A shout from the square caught Leigh's attention. She dropped to one knee and grabbed one of the backup rifles, checking the scope. The attackers retreated back toward the south, firing behind them as they went. Benjamin waved at the roofs and pointed repeatedly at the fleeing enemy. The order to continue the attack.

"Get back inside," Leigh ordered, sliding back into position. Anger and confusion blinded her to any other sensation but the sight of her targets dropping, one after the other, as she kept a steady stream of fire until her rifle emptied.

Davida put a hand on her shoulder. "They're out of range, sweetie."

Leigh grabbed the next rifle, lined it up. But Davida was right. Three men vanished into the distance over the hill, out of even her range. She exhaled and slowly lowered her sight.

Davida looked down at the carnage in the street leading up to the house and whistled. "Glad those aren't my kids. That girl gives me the creeps."

It took Leigh a moment to find her voice. She collected her weapons, unsure how to respond. Truth be told, Alexandra's shot creeped her out, too, more so than anything else she'd experienced in her life. The look on Alexandra's face just after taking the shot burned into Leigh's mind. It was the same cold, distant expression as when she'd tried to strangle Tasha.

Leigh clenched her teeth against the thought. "She's had to protect her younger brother with no adults helping them. You know what that sort of life does to a person. Even a kid."

Davida shrugged. "If you say so. But that shot was freaky good. Like your shots."

"Anyone can shoot like me." She climbed down, trying to stop the shaking that rattled her whole body.

Cole. She needed to check on Cole. A convenient excuse to avoid facing the kids, to put it off at least a little longer. Once Davida reached the ground, she stepped back on the ladder and tucked her weapons just over the lip of the roof, then put the ladder away.

"Good shooting," she told her friend, giving her a quick wave goodbye as she jogged away.

She reached the marketplace just as people slowly emerged from their hiding places, peeking out to confirm that the threat had truly passed. She ignored them and ran straight for the trader's booth.

Empty. No Cole.

She looked around, eyes critically examining the area. Had he been hit? Where would he go for the next cover?

"Leigh!" Cole dashed over and threw his arms around her. Kissed her fiercely. "I saw those men heading your direction. I tried to catch them, but they'd already passed my range, and—"

She kissed him, effectively shutting him up. They held each other a long moment, then she drew back and turned his cap around. "I didn't see you back there. I thought—"

"Benjamin got pinned down. I moved to get a better line of sight." He turned his hat backwards. Kissed her again. "The kids?"

She felt sick. Took a deep breath to clear her mind. "Inside the house. I told them to go hide."

He nodded. "Good. They didn't need to see this."

"How'd they get this far?" She took in the shattered square, the blood, the bodies. "I thought there was supposed to be a watch."

Cole shook his head. "I don't know. Lucas was supposed to be watching from the roofs, and we had a couple out near the road. I'll find out what I can." He squeezed her. "Better go check on the kids, if you haven't already."

"I..." She looked down. Another deep breath. "Alexandra climbed the perch with me."

"You let her up there?"

A buzz of activity grew around them. People helping the wounded, clearing away the dead bodies. Leigh lowered her voice to avoid being heard. "I thought she was hiding with Wyatt. It's what I told her to do." She closed her eyes. "She snuck up after me. I didn't realize she was there until halfway through the fighting."

"But she's okay, right? She didn't get hit?"

Leigh shook her head. "But..."

"What?" He stepped back, holding her shoulders. "What's wrong? What happened?"

It took another moment for her to speak. "She took a shot."

"She what?"

"Used my Mauser. Clean kill shot, right between the eyes."

His eyebrows shot upward.

"Perfect shot, actually."

His mouth worked for a moment. He finally looked away. "What do we do about it?"

"I sent her back inside." She stepped into his arms and rested her forehead against his chest. "I'm not looking forward to our next conversation."

"We can't just let it slide."

"I know."

He sighed and kissed the top of her head. "I'll talk to her. Tonight. For now, just carry on as normal."

She nodded. Leaned up and kissed him. "Stay safe."

"Always."

She returned home, her mind buzzing. She still hadn't told Cole about Alexandra's role in the fight with Nate and Tasha. What she'd seen.

But that was because it was nothing. Her mind was trying to make a big deal out of what would come naturally to a little girl on her own in this world.

Still...

Leigh shook her head, retrieved her guns, and unlocked the door. The first room was empty, to her relief. She tucked her weapons and accessories away, then headed back to the bedroom.

Wyatt crouched behind the bed, fingers curled on the edge of the mattress and wide eyes peeking over. Alexandra sat in the middle of the bed, the generator-light in her lap.

"It's all over," Leigh said. "We're going to help them clean up the square."

"The bad guys are gone?" Wyatt asked, his voice small.

"They're gone."

He jumped up and ran to hug her.

Alexandra turned off the light and stood a bit more slowly. "You're mad at me."

"I'm..." Leigh sighed. "It's like you said. You shouldn't have touched my gun."

"I'm sorry."

Leigh nodded awkwardly. "Come on. They need our help out there."

Wyatt trotted ahead, and Alexandra followed, subdued. Leigh set the generator on the roof to recharge, then they went to the marketplace to join the work. Almost the entire community turned out, helping repair the damage and clean up any broken objects while the protectors took care of the wounded and carried the bodies to the edge of the community.

It took the better part of the day to get at least a good start on the cleaning process, but the metalworker and his apprentice worked their trade through the entire time, leaving stacks of panels ready to go by the time Don declared it time to stop the work on the market and attend to their own homes. Leigh gratefully collected their share and hurried home with the kids.

Cole got in just before sundown, exhausted. "We're not quite back to where we were before, but we got a good start."

"How many?" Leigh asked without thinking. She cringed inwardly at the calloused question in front of the kids.

"Fewer than it could've been."

"And the watch?"

"They overwhelmed the men at the road before an alarm could be raised. As for Lucas..." He shook his head. "Dumb kid got mixed up. He thought he was on watch the next hour. No one was on the rooftops. The attackers must've been watching for their chance to sweep in undetected."

She squeezed his hand, fighting back a stab of guilt. She could've been up on the rooftops, watching.

He returned the squeeze, then kissed her and headed to the bathroom to wash up.

Don's report answered her first question: two lost overnight, sixteen lost in the fight. Leigh closed her eyes and didn't hear much of the rest of the report. The community lost people too quickly. But she supposed the same held true for everywhere these days.

"The other side lost more," Cole said. "Lots more."

Wyatt curled tighter against Leigh's side.

She patted him on the head and stood. "Bedtime."

The boy pounced onto his blanket and took it with him under the other blankets. He rested his head on the pillow.

Leigh smiled, but felt sadness tug the gesture down. She kissed his cheek. "Goodnight."

"G'night, Mommy."

Cole straightened. "Alexandra, come on in with us for a minute."

Alexandra glanced at Cole, then Leigh, guilt once again flashing behind her eyes. She held her head high, face once again expressionless. "Certainly. Wyatt, go to sleep. I'll be right back."

He nodded, curled up on one side, and closed his eyes.

Leigh led the way to the bedroom, wishing Cole would take Alexandra to the kitchen or front room for the talk instead. Why did she have to be present for this? She didn't want to deal with it. Couldn't.

As soon as the door closed behind them, Alexandra spoke up. "I know why you want to talk. And I have already apologized for touching something that didn't belong to me. I recognize it was wrong, and I promise that I will not do it again." She waited, clearly expecting that to be the end of it.

"I'm glad to hear that." Cole sat on the edge of the bed. "From what I hear, it was a good shot. A really good shot, even."

A flicker of pride passed and was quickly buried. "Thank you."

"Where'd you learn to shoot like that?"

Her eyes shifted downward.

Cole waited.

She still didn't answer.

Leigh kicked off her shoes. "You aren't in trouble for making a good shot. It's just not usual for someone so young to be quite that familiar with guns, especially not rifles."

She shrugged. "I had to take care of Wyatt."

"Why did you feel the need to join me on the roof instead of doing what I said and protecting your brother?"

The girl looked up, clearly stung. "I did take care of him! No one would've found him in that closet."

Leigh folded her arms and waited.

"I... I wanted to see."

"And the reason you felt a need to take the shot yourself instead of giving me the rifle?"

Alexandra looked down and didn't make eye contact again. "I thought he might take cover again. I didn't want to lose the shot."

They both waited, but she said nothing more.

Cole sighed. "Listen. You do a great job of taking care of your brother. Part of being in a family is that everyone has their own jobs. Your job is protecting your brother. My job is to protect Leigh. Her job is to protect you. Understand? It's our job to shoot bad guys so you don't have to."

Her eyes remained downcast.

"You need to trust us that we can protect you."

She looked up, tears pooling in her eyes. "I'm sorry, Daddy," she whispered.

Cole drew in a slow breath, then gave her a hug. "Just make sure it doesn't happen again."

"It won't," she promised, clinging to him.

"Good." He patted her shoulder. "Head on to bed. I'll see you in the morning."

Leigh watched the sniffling girl leave. Something still prodded at her mind, refusing to settle or be content with the girl's promise. Something about the way she looked. Or in her tone. Leigh just couldn't put her finger on it.

Cole wrapped his arms around her. "All better?"

It was probably nothing. It'd been a long day. Tense. That's all. She forced a smile. "All better."

Chapter 16

Leigh kept a close eye on Alexandra the next day, but the girl was helpful to a fault, seeming to go out of her way to do the best she could, constantly glancing at Leigh as if looking for approval.

Leigh tried to offer that approval, but she couldn't find it in herself to smile and nod at the girl. Meshach had been right. Something wasn't quite right about her.

The thoughts tumbled through Leigh's mind as she guided the kids in doing their part to clean the market. The only thing that distracted her from it was when she took her turn watching from the roof. It came as a relief to climb up and leave the worries below her, though new worries plagued her as soon as she lifted her scope and checked the southern road.

What if she was wrong and Tusks wasn't acting alone?

What if they had realized she was one of the 'raiders' the other day?

Would the attackers who escaped rally another attack?

No signs of trouble on the road, thankfully. But she didn't relax. She didn't dare.

Her muscles ached from holding position by the time one of the other snipers climbed up to take over. She stretched and babied the aches for a minute. If she was honest with herself, she'd say she was stalling, avoiding having to face Alexandra again.

Quit being silly, she scolded herself. You're the adult here. And is it any wonder the girl's got problems, with all she's been through?

Feeling a new sense of resolve, Leigh shouldered her rifle and climbed down. Alexandra was still adapting to a whole new way of living. But with time and love and care, she'd get used to the idea of letting others look out for her. It might even be enough to melt through that coldness inside her so that it never appeared again.

Alexandra looked up as soon as Leigh rejoined her. "I helped Max sort his booth to get rid of all the broken stuff. And I traded a scavenger for some food, but I made sure it was a fair trade. I even gave her a little extra because she'd lost a lot in the fight." She waited, that expression of expectancy and hope on her face once more. Looking for approval.

Leigh smiled and was relieved to find it come naturally. She gave the girl a hug. "Good job. Let's see if we can help Sal get her booth back in order."

Leigh kept her ears open for signs of trouble, but evening came with no movement to the south. She ushered the kids home, where they got the reinforcements installed for the night.

Cole got in shortly after they finished. "We got the marketplace just about finished. Don says the merchants can finish what's left, so we're back to normal routine tomorrow."

Leigh wanted to laugh. Normal routine? Was there even such a thing anymore? "Go ahead and rest. I'll get dinner."

"No, you rest, too," Alexandra said quickly. She pulled Wyatt down the hallway. "We'll take care of dinner."

Leigh raised an eyebrow, but the kids were already gone.

"Alone at last." Cole swooped Leigh into a low dip and kissed her.

"Oh!" she gasped, startled. Her side twinged, reminding her of the need for gentleness, but not badly enough to give it much notice. She raised her eyebrows. "Aren't we the romantic."

"I aim to please."

She turned his hat forwards. "I need to supervise dinner."

"The kids have it covered." He flipped his hat back and kissed her again.

She laughed and squirmed free, letting herself bask in the moment. Not having to worry about an attack from the south. Not having to worry about a girl who was too dark for her young age.

The rest of the evening passed quietly, and Leigh woke the next morning feeling better. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. Better prepared. After Wyatt trotted out the door with Cole, Leigh surveyed their supplies. The last couple days of cleaning the marketplace meant they had little to no excess scrap for trades, but they still had their stockpiles.

"Here. Take this bag down and get started on trading while I collect more," she said, handing the first bag she'd gathered to Alexandra.

It didn't take long to fill the second bag, and she headed to the market with a clunky sack of random metal objects digging into her back. She slowed as she approached the market, listening to the still morning air. No sounds. No movement ahead.

She hurried her feet and stared at the empty square. Her chest tightened, and her fingers tapped on her leg. Where did everyone go? There couldn't have been another attack. She'd have heard the shots. Then what was it?

A creaky voice caught her attention. Sal still sat in her booth, one eye squinting at Leigh. "Bit of a fuss at the edge of town. Seems someone's on their way here."

"Trouble?" Leigh asked, her heart skidding to a stop in place. How far away? She'd have to run back to her perch—

"Just one man, from what I hear," Sal said. "With a white flag."

Her father told her about those once. A sign of surrender, or peace, or something like that. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion, but her heart gave a tiny thrill of hope. Maybe they were ready to call for peace, to bring this mess to an end.

She gave Sal a quick nod and hurried south. People gathered near the edge of town, attention fixed on the road. As she neared, she saw a massive man slowly marching toward the community, grubby white flag waving from a massive pole resting on his shoulder.

Two shorter heads in the crowd of onlookers seized her attention. Alexandra and Wyatt. She frowned and hurried to join them. "What are you two doing here?"

"I think he just wants to talk," Alexandra said, still staring at the man. "We wanted to hear."

Leigh glanced up. Cole stood beside Don on the road, Benjamin on the large man's other side. Don's injured arm rested in a sling, but his other hand gripped his Colt revolver. The other protectors spread out to stand between the man and the curious onlookers. All had weapons at ready.

"We just wanna hear," Wyatt said, gripping the bottom of her shirt. "Please?"

She sighed. Drew her gun, but kept it low. "Stay behind me. If I tell you to run home—"

"We will," Alexandra said. "I'll keep Wyatt safe."

Leigh nodded.

The man stopped a respectful distance from the protectors. He stepped to the side of the road and slammed the pole into the ground, burying it at least a couple feet in one blow. He let go, and the pole remained upright, the flag still waving proudly despite dirt streaks and frayed edges.

"I'd like to come inside your little settlement here, have a chat," the man declared, folding his arms and facing Don. His voice rang out in bass tones as rough as torn metal. He stood taller than anyone else there, his hair shaggy around his ears and matched by an equally shaggy, unkempt beard. The faint scent of body odor reached far enough to make Leigh's nose twitch in displeasure. His leather jacket featured almost as much wear and filth as the flag, but the metal spikes on the shoulders and collar gleamed, obviously cleaned recently. His eyes seemed a little on the small side, but compensated with intensity.

"We can't let you inside," Don said. "I'm sure you understand, the way your folks've been treating us."

The man grunted. His eyes wandered over the gathered crowd, and he slowly began walking parallel to the community, examining the people as he passed.

"What do you want?" Don asked. "You said you wanted to talk. We can talk here."

He didn't answer, instead continuing his slow scrutiny.

"If there's something you want, you'll have to talk to us," Cole said.

The man slowed to a stop, eyes on Leigh. He glanced down at the kids. His lips twitched to one side in a smirk which faded as he returned his attention to Leigh. His eyes narrowed.

Her fingers tapped on her leg.

Warmth rushed her face. How long had she been tapping? She forced her hand to remain still.

He kept staring.

She met his eyes, unblinking, but felt the pressure building in her chest. No, not now! She mentally fought and strained and cursed, but finally her fingers moved against her bidding, tapping her leg and releasing the pressure. She did her best to keep her face emotionless, but cringed inwardly.

The man laughed, loud and long. He turned and began a slow wander back toward the road. As he walked, he sang in a slow, gravelly way, dragging out each word. "When we all pull together, together, together... When we all pull together, how happy we'll be."

Leigh's fingers tightened on her gun.

He grinned at Don, standing to face him once again. "You have such a cheery place here. I love the 'all for one, one for all' vibe. So cute." His grin turned into a smirk. "Little wonder you're in such a mess, with that attitude. But really, I'm impressed. You've held out this long, let so many people die, just for one crazy lady."

He tilted his head to one side, then the other, popping his neck with a loud crack. "But at some point, you gotta do the math on this one. So you didn't let me come inside and see your happy little magic place. I still seen everything I needed. My people outnumber yours, something like four of us for every one of you. We've underestimated you because of that, I confess, but we're not playing anymore. Tomorrow morning, first thing, we're all coming here." He paused. "ALL of us."

Don glanced at Cole, then Benjamin, before returning his attention to the man. "You're the new leader, then."

"You got it."

"And you didn't catch what happened to the last one."

He grinned. "That's why we're making sure we win next time."

Cole took a half step forward, raising his gun. "We could just end this now."

The man laughed again. "Go ahead. My people still have orders to come tomorrow morning. It won't stop your cute little utopia from being crushed into the ground."

Don gestured Cole to lower his gun. "You know we'll fight back."

"True words. I'll probably lose a chunk of people. But know this: none of yours will walk away from it tomorrow." He leveled his gaze across the crowd, then shrugged. "But truth is, we're not interested in slaughtering your entire community. We just want the crazy lady."

He gestured back to the flag. "So here's the deal. If she's standing there tomorrow morning, we'll do what we need to do and leave. No one else gets hurt. We get a clean slate between our people. But if she isn't..." His lips twisted in an ugly smile. "Then we let ourselves in. We march through your community, and we don't stop shooting until every living thing is flat on the ground, feet going through those final twitches."

Don's face hardened. "You'll never get that far."

The man chuckled. "We won't—so long as that crazy lady's waiting right here for us. I'd wager most of you know which person we're talking about. You want to go on living? You make sure she's standing right here tomorrow morning."

"You're really that obsessed?" Cole lashed out. His voice sounded strong, but Leigh could hear the faint note of desperation in it. "You're so insecure that you have to risk all your people over one little woman?"

A grin spread across the man's face. "You know that's not what this is about."

Cole fell silent. He himself had said it before: it wasn't about Leigh. It was about control, about the men from the settlement trying to make the community bend to their will.

With that, the man gave them all one last glare, his eyes lingering on Leigh. Then he turned and walked away, chuckling and singing once more. "When we all pull together, together, together..."

Leigh tucked her gun away. Grabbed the kids' hands. Strode back toward home.

"Hang on!" Alexandra protested. "We've got stuff at the marketplace!"

Leigh's heart drummed in her ears so loud, she almost didn't hear the girl's words. "Right." She helped them gather the items and hurried the kids home.

Once the bags rested in the front room, she caught both their shoulders and made them face her. "You will not leave this house tomorrow. Not for any reason at all. I don't care what you hear or see or anything. You will stay put and look after each other."

Wyatt nodded, looking a little afraid.

Alexandra's lips pursed. "I told you I won't touch your guns again."

"In. Side. The. House." Leigh gave her the fiercest glare she could muster. "The entire time. Got it?"

The girl sighed. "Fine."

"Good. Let's get to work."

The door swung open. Cole strode through it, leaving it swinging free in his wake, and crossed straight to Leigh, pulling her into a firm embrace. "We're not going to let it happen."

Leigh's side protested, and she pushed until he loosened his grip. "You two, get to it."

The kids headed down the hallway, though Alexandra seemed reluctant to do so.

"I promise," Cole said. "No one's handing you over. No one even brought it up as a possibility. You're going to be safe. The other protectors are already at work with everyone, setting up traps all over the streets. And ambushes—lots of ambushes. They won't make it past the first couple houses. We're going to fight them off, just like every time before."

She exhaled. Pressed her head against his chest. "I don't want our whole community to die just because of me."

"But we won't! I just told you—"

"We'll still lose a lot of people. I don't doubt they outnumber us. Even if he was exaggerating, we'll probably lose at least a few dozen. That's on top of the people we already lost." She shook her head. "Not for me. I won't let them."

He caught her shoulders and gripped them until she met his eyes. "No one in the community would let you go. Didn't you hear what the man said? It's not about you. If we give in, we're telling that settlement that we'll always do what they ask as long as they threaten to kill everyone over it. We can't open that door. We can't show them that we're willing to let them pick us off one by one. We've always been a community, and we'll stand up for any of our own. Even if it means losing a few along the way."

She hesitated. Nodded. Slid back against his chest. She hated to admit it, hated to think of people dying for her sake, but he was right. If they showed weakness here, the other settlement would just continue to threaten and bluster whenever they wanted anything.

They remained silent as the seconds slid past. Then she spoke again.

"Fine. But I'm still going to stand by that flag in the morning."

"But—"

"Listen. If they don't see me standing there, they might circle around, flank our sides, come in from all directions, whatever." She stepped back and folded her arms. "But if I'm standing out there, they'll think they've won. They'll see no reason to spread out. And we'll know exactly where they are."

His mouth took on sour look. "Bait."

"We can set up all our ambushes along the main road. We do this right, they won't even make it into the community. We'll catch them all on the road itself."

"I won't let you—"

She interrupted him with a kiss. "It's the only way we're going to get an advantage over their numbers. They already think we're afraid. They see me standing there, they'll stride in like conquering heroes. They won't be watching for a trap."

He pulled her close again. "I don't like it."

She nodded.

He sighed and held her tight for a long time.

* * *

Leigh woke up the next morning to find Cole already dressed. "Ready for this?"

He shook his head.

She smiled grimly and dressed fast. Went through the boxes around the room, collecting all of her guns into a large bag. There'd be no time for reloading from her position.

"As soon as they're in range, you get to cover," Cole said. "I want you to keep your head down and keep yourself safe."

"Got it. I already said so last night." He'd said the same thing at least three times when they went over the plan with Don and the rest of the protectors.

"I'm serious." He caught her from behind and pulled her in tight. "I want you to stay safe."

She turned his hat forwards. "You, too."

He kissed her. Walked over and collected his guns. Left his hat forwards.

"I'll be careful," she said.

He nodded and walked out of the room.

The kids remained quiet during breakfast. Cole nibbled on an apple slice. Leigh couldn't eat at all.

"So you two," Cole started.

"We'll stay here, inside, the whole time," Alexandra said. "If we hear anything, we'll hide in the secret closet."

He nodded.

Wyatt looked up at Leigh. "You're gonna come back, right? You're not gonna let them get you?"

Her throat tightened and threatened to close. She forced a swallow. Patted his shoulder. "Don't worry."

"Say it!" He jumped out of his chair and threw his arms around her legs. "Say you're coming back!"

She couldn't speak. Almost couldn't breathe.

Alexandra pulled Wyatt off. "She's a good fighter. She'll be fine. Now finish your breakfast."

He paused, looking like he wanted to jump on Leigh again, but he slowly obeyed.

Leigh turned and walked to collect the rest of her guns. She wouldn't be sniping from her position, but the more weapons she had at hand, the better. And she couldn't bear to stay in the same room as the kids any longer.

She pushed her thoughts aside and bagged the rifles. She'd have to be careful using those, be extra aware of what stood behind her target. At short range, her shot could go right through the enemy and land in one of their own.

Cole joined her shortly after. "You know—"

"Yes, I know!" she snapped. Closed her eyes. Took a deep breath. "I'm sorry."

He held her close again. Kissed her deeply. "You're going to do fine." He grinned and flipped his hat back around. "Besides, none of the protectors'll let anything happen to you. You're still the best shot we've got around here."

She couldn't help but smile. "Be careful. Don't get yourself shot being a hero."

"I'll do what I can." He kissed her again, collected the rest of his guns, and walked out the door.

She followed shortly afterwards, making sure the kids locked the door behind her. Her fingers rattled madly against her leg. Maybe she should've taken an extra dose of her tea this morning, just to be sure.

She exhaled. Pushed herself back into business mode. She could do this. Just like any other day. Face death, tell it to go screw itself, be home in time for dinner.

The walk to the flag went faster than she wanted. No other people in sight, but she knew the protectors already crouched behind nearby rubble, inside half-demolished houses, anywhere cover could be found.

The flag waved in more tatters than the previous day. Claw marks left it slashed in patterns of three. She found it morbidly appropriate.

Leigh looked around, identified the nearest cover behind her: a crumbled wall from what used to be a house. Just under a dozen yards from the flag. If the others provided good cover fire, she'd be able to reach it.

She crouched behind it and unloaded her bag, leaning the rifles in order and lining up the shotguns and handguns. Had to keep them all close together, make sure she could reach each one without too much movement on her part.

This would work. She closed her eyes and reassured herself again. This would work. It had to.

She straightened. Brushed herself off. Walked with steady feet to stand beside the flag. And waited.

The minutes crawled past. Dark clouds edged in on the sun, a rare sight. Shadows crept across the ground, keeping pace with the clouds above. Also morbidly appropriate. The wind, hot yesterday, now felt cool, biting at her cheeks, nose, and ears.

Then she saw them.

Their leader marched at the front of the throng, but faces beyond that grew indistinguishable. Like yet another shadowy cloud, the enemy surged along the road in a dark mass, punctuated by glints of metal from the weapons in their hands.

Leigh's fingers tapped on her leg.

They focused solely on her, as she suspected. A few cheers stirred the air as more of the people saw her. Laughter. Snide taunts.

A few raised their guns as they drew closer to her. Her hands twitched, instinctively desiring her own weapon, but she forced them still. She had to let the crowd get closer.

The leader signaled them to a stop only a couple yards from her. He grinned broadly. "I see your people got smart."

"I volunteered." She kept her voice level, her eyes still watching the rest of the mass gather into the small space. Just a few more moments... "No sense in drawing this out any further. I say we end it now."

More laughter and cheers. Almost there.

"Clever girl," the leader said. He stepped forward. Lifted his gun.

Her chest tightened. So long as no one from the community got excited, fired early, revealed their hand, everything would be fine. They were so close.

"Any last words?" he asked.

"Isn't that a bit melodramatic?"

He shrugged. "If you don't want..."

"I see no purpose in it."

"Fine." He cocked the gun.

She almost winced at the wasteful move. Flashy and completely unnecessary. She kept her face still, though. "I do have a last request, though."

"Now who's being melodramatic?"

Laughter and elbowing rippled through the crowd.

"Perhaps a bit. I just don't want you to shoot me here, in front of my people. Take me back to your settlement. Or even further down the road. Just not right here."

"Hmm." He tugged at the end of his beard as if considering it. "No. Your people caused a lot of trouble for us. They need to learn what happens."

There. The last stragglers finally joined the mass.

She smiled. "Guess we're all getting a lesson, then."

She spun and bolted.

Gunshots rang out. Shouts. Screams. She pinpointed a few of the shots coming from the roofs beyond. Davida? Most likely. And a handful of other snipers, too.

Heat tore a pin line across her leg. She stumbled, but kept on. Just a graze. Most of the focus had turned from her. She didn't waste time looking back, but she knew what was happening. Protectors sprang up from their cover, fired openly on the unprepared crowd. Snipers joined in the fun. Dozens more men and women took shots from the buildings along the edge of the community, laying down as much cover fire as they could so she could get to safety.

Another pin line along her side. Kept running. Reached the wall. Jumped over. Dropped flat behind it. Her side flared in pain. Splinters and bits of rubble sprayed over her as another shot hit the top of the wall, but nothing made it through to her. She'd picked a good spot.

The running was over. Now was time to fight.

Chapter 17

Leigh grabbed her .38 special and her second favorite, the .44 semi. Peeked above the wall, ducked back down. Another shot blasted more splinters in her hair. Someone refused to be distracted by the cover fire, determined to bring her down.

She exhaled. Crawled to the edge of the wall. Peeked out, ducked back in. No shot.

Guns in hand, she peeked out again. Spotted him, a greasy ape with pig eyes focused intently on the top of the wall where she'd been moments before. Head clean above cover. He fell to her shot in seconds.

A new barrage sent her back behind the cover. A few still focused on her, apparently. Not surprising. She returned to the middle, peeked up again. Got a couple more shots off before she had to duck back under. Couldn't tell if she hit anyone.

Her ears began to protest the constant barrage, the deafening roar of continuous gunfire. She should've grabbed some cotton to stuff in her ears. Too late now. She squeezed off a few more rounds, took down one of her attackers. Ducked back in and focused on her needs. Tore a corner off her shirt, split it, and stuffed her ears. It didn't cut the blasts as much as she'd have liked, but it took off the edge. Traded her empty guns for the next pair.

A woman jumped around the edge of the wall, screaming and firing. A spray of dirt and gravel from the near miss bit into Leigh's leg. Her arm flew on its own accord, squeezed off the shot instinctively. The woman fell.

Leigh got a few more rounds off, took out another couple attackers, slid back down. Her brain reviewed her brief glimpse of the battlefield. No one occupied the center of the road; all the attackers had found cover. Cole fired madly from behind a rotting tree further up the road, alternating with Don, who hid behind cover on the other side. She'd lost sight of the enemy leader.

More splinters rained on her. She waited, then found her target and fired. Dropped him flat.

Someone shouted near the community. A group of attackers moved in, charging the people and forcing them back.

Leigh's teeth clenched. She swapped for her Remington. Scooted to the edge of her cover wall. Found her shot. Exhaled. Squeezed.

The man fell. A woman in the group shouted. They turned, seeking their new attacker.

She fired the next round, prepped, fired again, one after another with mechanical precision. A couple others from the community took advantage of the distraction, dropping a couple more. The remaining attackers scattered.

Leigh turned back to her guns just as a man jumped around the other side of the wall. Her arm swung, but she stopped it this time. Didn't know what was on his other side. Couldn't risk hitting a friendly.

Too late now. His gun fixed on her. "Drop it, girly!" He grinned, showing crooked, blackened teeth.

She slowly lowered the rifle to the ground, her eyes fixed on him. His grin widened. Overconfident. Good.

She lunged for her shotgun, ignoring the escalating pain in her side.

He darted forward, planted his foot on it to block her. "Ah, ah, ah!"

Overconfident and determined to draw it out. Even better. She grabbed his ankle with one hand. Slammed the other palm into his kneecap. He buckled, screeching on his way down. She caught his wrist, pushing the gun away from her.

Someone grabbed her shoulder, tried to pull her away. She shoved the other man's gun into the newcomer's face, squeezed wildly until she found the right spot. A spray of blood baptized them.

The first man swore, yanked at her hair. She clenched her teeth against the pain. Pulled the gun downward, then upward, as hard as she could. Heard his finger break in the trigger guard. He fell backwards, howling in pain. She spun the gun, pushed herself upright, fired. His howl silenced.

Her heart thudded in her ears as she turned one way, then the other, checking for more attackers. Clear. She pressed back against the wall. Dropped the man's handgun—flimsy piece of trash. She grabbed her guns, peeked. Still clear. Located a couple more with poor cover. Dropped them both.

A meaty hand caught her ponytail, sent her flying backwards with blinding lights of pain flashing in front of her eyes. She sailed airborne for a moment, crashed to the ground, rolled a few times. Gasped. Pushed herself back up in time to catch a boot in her midsection. White heat tore through her body. Rolled again. Couldn't breathe.

"Lesson learned," the leader growled, his voice even rougher than before. Blood oozed down the side of his face, mixing with the dirt. His chest heaved.

She struggled. Tried to regain her feet.

He charged forward and kicked again, knocking her flat. "Did you learn yours?"

Everything blurred and swayed around her. She struggled to breathe. To move at all. Her eyes searched for any glint of metal, any lump of rock, any board, anything she could use as a weapon.

He grabbed her ponytail again, yanked her head backwards. "I'm gonna kill you. And then we're gonna keep killing. We won't stop 'til everyone's dead. And it's all because of you. You hear me?" He shouted directly into her ear. "All because of you!"

She punched, caught him in the throat. His voice cut off into a gag. His grip on her hair tightened as he stumbled backwards.

Leigh grabbed his wrist with one hand, used his grip to pull herself up to her feet. Lashed out again, knee to the groin this time. He twisted sideways, blocking her strike. Yanked at her hair again, but with her hand still gripping his wrist, she managed to maintain her balance.

He roared. His hand flew, caught her across the face. Her ears rang as stars blinded her again.

She didn't care anymore. Abandoning reason, caution, logic, she locked her other hand onto his wrist and lashed out with both feet, catching him once in the midsection and once in the jaw. He buckled, his arm dropping from her weight. She landed hard on her back, felt her hair slip free of his grasp. Rolled away from him.

He cursed, lunged at her again. She came up with a board in hand. Swung it like a club.

He caught the other end, yanked her forward. She let go, but not before he caught her arm and twisted it painfully back.

"Sing for me, little girl," he hissed in her ear, his breath as foul as the rest of him. "Sing all about how sweet your little settlement is. How we all work so nice together."

She stomped backwards. Caught his instep.

He howled again. Yanked at her arm, but she was ready for it. She brought her other hand around, caught his thumb, twisted it backwards. His grip loosened enough for her to pull free.

"Get back here!" He charged after her.

She scrambled, stumbling over her feet, one after the other. Her guns. Had to get to her guns. Just one of them. Then she'd be fine.

His hand caught her ponytail again. Pain lit up her view until she slammed into his massive body. His arm wrapped around her neck. Squeezed in, cutting off her windpipe.

"Sing a goodbye song," he whispered. "To your people. Your husband. Even those cute little brats."

Red flashed in front of her eyes this time. She stomped into the ground, caught his ear with one hand, flipped forward. His entire bulk launched over her shoulder. Slammed into the earth below. Clouds of dust swirled.

Choking, she stumbled back a step, then toward her guns.

A hand closed around her ankle.

She fell forward. Almost there. Stretched her fingertips. Had to reach it...

"Let her go!"

Cole stood at the edge of the cover. Sweat left streaks in the dirt on his face, mixed with a light smattering of blood. He'd shot someone at close range. His shoulders quaked with fury, but his gun remained fixed steadily on the leader.

The man paused. Stared. It almost seemed as if he was waiting.

Leigh's pain-fuzzed brain finally connected. Cole stood out in the open. Not behind cover.

And no one shot at him.

"Your people already surrendered," he said. "Now let go."

The leader's lips twitched in a near-scowl. He glared at Cole, then at Leigh. Finally, he slowly released her ankle and raised his hands in surrender.

Other protectors swarmed in. Pulled the man to his feet and dragged him back to the middle of the road.

Leigh scooted forward. Grabbed her gun. Didn't quite feel safe without it.

Cole tucked his gun away and helped Leigh to her feet. He brushed at some of the blood on her face, touched the graze on her arm. "Still with me?"

She coughed, found her voice. Tucked her gun into the back of her pants. "More or less."

He kissed her and wouldn't let go.

The adrenaline slowly dissipated. She found herself perfectly content to let him keep her upright.

A low chuckle interrupted her relief. They turned as the leader's chuckle turned into raucous laughter. The man knelt in the middle of the road, his hands on the back of his head, which was tilted upward in mirth.

"Enough!" Don snapped.

The leader shook his head, still laughing. "You're an idiot. Losing so many people over just one crazy lady."

"I could say the same to you," Don retorted. "But as you said, that isn't what this is about."

The leader's eyes narrowed, but then he burst out laughing again, his laughter taking on a bitter, angry edge. "You idiots don't know a thing. Bunch of trusting fools that don't even know the sort of danger you've let into your homes."

"We're only dangerous to people who come after us," Cole said, his eyes narrow. "Even the 'crazy lady' only killed in self-defense."

"You think I'm talking about her now?" He laughed again. His small eyes rested on Leigh. The look in them turned her blood cold. "She ain't the only danger you've got around here. How are those darling little angels of yours, hmm?"

She clenched her teeth. "If you dare—"

"You even know who those kids are?" He grinned. "I do. They lived in my settlement for a few weeks. Wandered in from somewhere else with a sad, sad little story to tell. And wouldn't you know, some suckers fell for their sob story and took the brats in. Wasn't three days before those suckers turned up dead. Brats said robbers did it. We all knew that wasn't the truth."

Leigh tried to take a breath in. Failed.

"Kids kept themselves cozy in the house, though. Nice little life. At least until a couple swindlers passed through, decided to nab themselves a couple brats to sweeten their story. Imagine that's how you came by the little darlings. What'd those two call themselves... Nate?" His eyes scrutinized their faces for their reactions. "Tasha?"

Cole's face drained of color. "You're lying."

The man barked out another laugh. "And you're a naïve fool." He spat on the ground. "Anyone who trusts anyone else in this world—even kids—is a naïve fool, just asking to die."

Images flashed in front of Leigh's eyes. Alexandra, hands around Tasha's neck, face cold and detached. Crouched on the roof, rifle in hand, weapon still warm from the shot she'd fired. The attacker, perfect bullet hole between his eyes. She looked at Cole and saw the same thoughts reflected in his face. They both turned and ran.

The leader's wheezing laugh chased them down the streets, fading into song. "When we all pull together..."

"It's okay," Cole panted as they neared the house. "It's all okay. I asked Davida to check in on the kids after the fighting ended. She'll be there. It'll be okay."

Leigh nodded, but his words didn't lift the weight from the pit of her stomach.

She reached the door first. Pushed it open.

Alexandra and Wyatt stood on the other side of the barrier. Alexandra held a handgun, aimed straight at them. The smell of gunpowder and copper permeated the air. The door clicked shut.

Cole put his hands halfway up. "It's just us. We're back. Everything's okay now."

The girl lowered the gun to her side. "Did we win?"

"Where's Davida?" Leigh asked, caution in her tone. "She was going to stop by. To check."

"She left already," Alexandra said, her face as flat as ever.

Wyatt wouldn't meet Leigh's eyes. A red stain colored the ground in the hallway just behind him.

Leigh saw it in Alexandra's eyes now. The same thing Meshach saw. The one thing she didn't want to be true. And she knew exactly what happened to Davida.

"Okay." Cole stepped forward, reaching one hand out. "You're safe. Give me the gun now."

The girl still didn't move. "You said you won? The bad guys are gone now?"

Leigh slowly moved, circling out to the side.

"It's over." Cole stepped again. "They're beaten. I don't think they'll ever try again."

"You're sure?"

He nodded. "We're safe now. So give me the gun."

Alexandra nudged Wyatt with her foot. "Get your gun."

His lips tilted downward. "I don't wanna."

"Get it!"

Cole lifted his hands again. "Alexandra, just give me the gun. Now."

"But I like these ones," Wyatt said. "They could be our real Mommy and Daddy, instead of just for pretends."

His words hit like a knife through Leigh's heart. "That's right. We care about both of you. You don't have to do this, Alexandra."

The girl ignored her. "I said, get your gun!" she hissed at Wyatt.

"But—"

"Don't be stupid! I told you, we can't trust anyone!" Cold, glittering eyes fixed on Leigh. "They act like they're so different, but they aren't. They'll steal and kill just like everyone else when it comes down to it."

Cole blinked, looking as stunned as Leigh felt. "What have we ever done to make you think that, Alexandra?"

Alexandra seemed to bristle at Cole's question. "Just because you haven't done it yet doesn't mean you won't."

"But they're nice," Wyatt pressed, tugging on his sister's shirt.

"Nice means nothing!" The girl was nearly screaming now. Her lips twisted in rage, but then the expressionless mask settled back over her face, her voice returning to its cold, steady tone. "Some people wave a gun. Other people pretend to be nice. But they're all the same in the end. And that's why we can't keep them around."

"If you really feel nothing for us, then why did you wait?" Cole pressed. "You've been with us for so long. Why didn't you just kill us off right away? It's pretty clear you liked having us around. Why did that change?"

Alexandra snorted as if he'd just asked a stupid question. "You think you mean anything to either of us? We kept you around because of the fight with the other settlement. If it hadn't been for that, we'd have finished you both the same night we got back from scouting the area."

Leigh winced internally. That day the kids disappeared.

"But now it's over, you said. And I have to take care of things before you turn on us."

"It's not like that," Leigh said, but she could already see it in the girl's eyes. The world had taught her not to trust anyone, to kill and steal before others could do the same to her. There would be no convincing her otherwise.

The girl's eyes narrowed in a brief glare at Leigh. The gun slowly began to rise.

Leigh whipped out her gun. Leveled it at the girl. "Put it down."

Cole drew his own gun in the same moment, braced and ready.

Alexandra paused.

If you hesitate...

Revulsion stilled Leigh's trigger finger before instinct could make it move. She couldn't kill a kid. Couldn't. She lowered her aim. If she had to shoot, she could just wound the girl. She didn't have to kill.

She couldn't.

Alexandra's eyes narrowed further. They flickered to Leigh for a moment, then settled on Cole. His gun remained leveled at her head. She reached back and grabbed Wyatt's arm. Her gun inched further upwards in Cole's direction.

"We'll let you go, if that's what you want," Cole said. "But I think you've liked it here. I think you've liked having someone take care of you. And maybe that scared you. But I promise, Leigh and I love you. We'll do everything we can to take care of you and protect you. Leigh's right. You don't have to do this."

The girl's lips pursed. Her eyes flickered once more from Leigh to Cole.

Her gun flew up as her other arm moved. The shot split the air.

The sound triggered Leigh's instincts. She fired.

Cole and Wyatt fell.

Leigh's heart stopped. Time froze. She stared in mute horror.

Alexandra had pulled Wyatt between herself and Leigh. She'd pulled her own brother into the line of fire.

The girl turned, but everything seemed in slow motion. Her arm moved. Bringing the gun around. To shoot Leigh.

Leigh couldn't move. Couldn't speak. Two of the people she cared most about in the world were dead on the ground. The third one was about to shoot her.

And she couldn't find any reason not to just let it happen.

Cole groaned.

She gasped.

Time snapped back to normal.

Alexandra swung her gun around. Aimed at Leigh.

If you hesitate...

Her finger acted without conscious command. Her gun bucked.

Alexandra stumbled backwards a step. Shock registered on her face. Crimson stained her clean, new shirt.

The girl fell.

* * *

Cole groaned again, struggled to stand. Fire burned in his shoulder. A bit lower, and she'd have hit his heart. As it was, he felt nearly dead.

No time for that. Alexandra had a gun. Had to be stopped. Did she already shoot Leigh?

The world cleared into focus around him. Leigh stood, gun level in the direction of the barrier. She didn't move. Didn't blink. Tears glistened in the bottoms of her eyes until they pooled too much and one fell, streaking down her cheek.

Both children lay on the other side of the barrier.

He stumbled forward, trusting Leigh to cover him. Wyatt lay on his side, eyes closed, face at peace. Cole might have thought the boy was only sleeping, except for the red pool slowly forming beneath his chest.

Tears blurred his vision for a moment. He drew in a shuddering breath. Pushed them away. Had to check Alexandra. Make sure she wasn't about to jump up and start firing.

One step was all it took to prove she wouldn't. She faced the other wall, her glassy, unseeing eyes fixed beyond it, her face twisted in rage and shock.

Cole tore his eyes from the sight. Leigh hadn't budged from her position. More tears stained her face. He moved toward her. "It's okay. It's over now."

She still didn't move. Her eyes stared through him, like he wasn't even there. The innocence he'd fought so hard to protect had vanished, along with all light and signs of life.

He stepped to the side of her gun and gently placed his hands over it. Carefully removed it from her fingers.

Still no response.

He tucked the gun in his own waistband and pulled her into a firm embrace. "It's okay, honey. It's done. You did what you had to do. You didn't have a choice."

He kissed the top of her head. It was as if she wasn't there anymore.

"It's all over now."

Epilogue

"Cole!"

Cole paused and turned to see Sal waving him over. He reversed trajectory and went to her booth.

"Here. This is the last of it." She pressed a tin into his hands and lowered her voice. "She's taking the tea?"

"As much as I can coax her."

"Good. And?"

He shook his head.

"Keep at it. She'll pull through."

He nodded, unwilling to admit that he was starting to lose hope. He gave the old woman a quick smile, then returned to his original route to pick up the last of the metal panels from McCoy.

"Here. Threw in an extra one, just to be sure," the younger man said.

"You're going to bankrupt yourself this way."

McCoy shook his head. "You just take care of that wife of yours."

Cole nodded, collected his things, and went home. The week since the final fight had been like this, everyone going out of their way to help. Don had led it up, starting with cleaning up the house. He told everyone that one of the attackers got in past their blockade, made it into the community, went after the kids. The expressions around him told Cole everyone knew it was a lie, but he couldn't help but feel grateful that they all went along with it. They'd buried the kids and Davida properly, helped scrub the blood off the floor. A few women tended to Leigh while everyone else helped Cole make the needed repairs.

Cole dropped the materials off in the front room and made his way to the bedroom. Leigh sat on the edge of the bed, vacant eyes fixed on the wall. Same as always. He kissed her forehead, then her cheek. "I'm home, honey. Have a good day?"

He sat down next to her, wrapped an arm around her. "Sal says hi. Everyone misses you."

He sat in silence, holding her for a couple minutes. When he spoke again, his voice was barely above a whisper. "It's over, honey. It's all done. No one blames you. You did what you had to do. You did the right thing." He drew in a shaky breath. Kissed her unresponsive lips. "When are you coming back to me?"

No response. Same as every day.

Cole swallowed the lump in his throat and kissed her cheek again. "Okay. Back to work for me."

Sal had come in to look at Leigh when she hadn't improved by the next day, but all she could say was to give it time. Don formally excused Cole from all duties until Leigh was better. He even made the two of them official wards of the community, guaranteeing Cole would have enough help to keep the house in order and Leigh cared for in the duration.

She hadn't changed much since then. At least she was finally accepting food and drink. At first, she wouldn't even do that much. He'd nearly jumped up and down with the delight and hope when she first took a drink of her tea, but the hope had quickly faded. She was eating and drinking, yes, but her eyes remained as dead as ever. He wasn't sure he'd ever see his Leigh again.

Cole carried the stack of metal panels down the hallway and rested them against the wall. He picked up the first one, set it in place against the damaged panel, and set to work securing it in place.

Fingers brushed against his shoulder. He turned, startled.

Leigh stood behind him, her fingertips resting on his shoulder. Her eyes remained fixed on the wall.

His heart sped up. "Honey?"

"I've been thinking." Her voice came out soft, low. "We should dig down into the foundation. Create a hidden room beneath our bedroom. Just to be safe."

He cautiously took her hand. "Yeah, I think we could do that."

"And I saw some good walls further out there. Maybe I could scavenge a bit further, get all of our outer walls reinforced better. Maybe even double-reinforced, in time."

Cole stood, leaning to one side, trying to catch her gaze, but her eyes remained distant. "Okay. If that's what you want."

She remained silent for a moment, holding his hand. Then she spoke. "Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. To have one of our own. We'd raise it right. Teach it right." She paused. "We'd get it right."

He blinked, unsure how to respond. "What about all the bad people out there? The risk of leaving them parentless?"

Her lips moved slightly before she answered. "We'd all look out for each other. We'd make it. And if we didn't, they'd have a whole community to look out for them." She fell silent for a moment. "We'd teach them to tell the difference. Who they can trust. Who they can't."

She paused again, and when she spoke again, it was so quiet that he had to learn closer to hear. "It wouldn't be like it was with her."

Cole squeezed her hand. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah." Her eyes finally met his. A tiny smile caught the corners of her mouth. "Besides, you and I would make really pretty babies."

He laughed, more out of relief than anything. The light was back. More than that, the innocence. His wife had come back to him. "Yeah, okay then. I suppose I could be open to that."

Then he pulled her into a long, passionate kiss.

THE END

About the Author

I enjoy life with my life-mate and little sprout in the Pacific Northwest. I obtained a degree in Counseling Psychology from Northwest University in Kirkland, WA, which I use to create fully dimensional characters with unique personalities and quirks. In fiction, I'm a huge fan of all things speculative: anything where the rules of reality need not apply. My books include traditional fantasy, space fantasy, post-apocalyptic, and more. When not writing, I can usually be found reading, watching movies, or wasting entirely too much time on the internet.

Connect with me at

cybishop.com

**The "Pay What You Want"** **Quarantine Deal**

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