Outage (Powerless Nation #1) (21 page)

“Are they following you?” asked Angela.
 

“They will be,” said Mason, grim certainty in his voice. “Once Hank gets started on something, he never gives up.”

“Then we'd better hurry with this. Milton suggested we lift out the cattle guard. Anyone driving this way won't suspect it's gone and will drive right into the hole. We've got it loosened, but we could really use the truck to power it out.”

Dee opened her mouth to object. They needed to get Hyrum back to Grandpa so he could take a look at his leg, but Hyrum shushed her. “It can wait.”

With the help of the truck they pulled out the bars of the cattle guard leaving a square hole in the ground. Dee eyed the pit doubtfully. “Don't you think they'll notice?”

Angela was already spreading a large piece of burlap over the hole and securing the edges with rocks. Jeremiah scattered leaves and dirt over the top, and though it wasn't much Dee had to admit that in the dark it was effective. It only took a few minutes and then Angela and Jeremiah jumped into the back of the truck. “Let's go,” she said through the back window.

When they got to the house Sammy slid out first and offered his small shoulder to Hyrum as support. Angela exclaimed over his leg and rushed to his side when she saw him hobble out of the truck. “I've had worse,” he said with a glance at Sammy, giving the little boy's shoulder a squeeze. “Run see if there are any Spiderman band-aids left.”
 

Sammy looked at him knowingly, “Your ouch is way too big for the Spiderman band-aids.” He paused for a moment then searched Hyrum's face, “Do you mind one with Tinkerbell on it? Those ones are bigger.”

Sammy ran inside while Angela turned to Dee, Mason and Jeremiah. “I'll get him inside. You guys keep a lookout and warn us when you see the truck lights go into the cattle guard. Milton says with the extra guns we took off Hank's men we've got enough firepower to hole up here and defend the house. I'm so glad you're back.”

After they were gone Mason and Dee exchanged a glance. She knew Hank was dangerously angry, and she didn't want him anywhere near the house. What if he found his men in the barn? They'd be outnumbered then. No, they needed to head Hank off before he got close. Mason must have been thinking the same thing because he turned to Jeremiah. “Stay here and guard the house while I keep an eye on that cattle guard trap.”

Mason didn't wait for Jeremiah's answer; he just started walking back down the lane. When Dee caught up with him he reached out to hold her hand as they hurried together into the darkness.

It wasn't long before they saw lights in the distance and heard the hum of an approaching car. They were hidden in the ditch next to the cattle guard, but it wouldn't provide much cover in a gunfight. Mason had his arm around her waist and she leaned into the warmth of his solid form. “I'm going to lure them up to the Searle place. There's cover and it's a good place to make a stand. You stay here and make sure no one makes it to the farm.”

Did he really think she’d fall for that? Dee knew he was just making up a job to keep her out of the gunfight while he led the danger away. She wasn’t about to let him leave her here while he took on all the risk.
 

Her pistol was still tucked down in her pocket next to the piece of gum she was saving and she wondered if she'd ever use either of them. She looked up at Mason, ready to object and felt him touch her cheek. “Please let me keep you safe,” he said softly.

In the light of the half-moon Dee saw his lips part as he leaned closer and kissed her gently. All thoughts of gum, guns and Hank fled her mind as she savored the feeling of his work-roughened hand on her cheek and the soft pressure of his lips against hers.

It was over too quickly, and Dee didn't know if her heart was pounding more from the kiss or the danger rushing their way. As they watched, the car rounded the turn onto the lane and pitched almost full speed into the cattle guard trap with a loud crunch and the tinkle of breaking glass.

In the moonlight Dee saw two men stumble out of the car. Mason stood up and ran past them towards the Searle house. His running steps crunched loudly in the gravel but they didn't go after him. They were busy trying to revive the driver, who was slumped over the steering wheel.
 

Dee watched Mason in the pale moonlight and saw him reach into his jacket pocket and pull his hand out empty. He checked another pocket, and then frantically checked all of his pockets. Her eyes widened as she realized he didn't have his gun.

“Leave him and let's go,” one of the men ordered as they headed for Grandpa's house.

“Having some car trouble tonight?” taunted Mason.

What's he doing
, she thought even though she knew Mason would try anything to keep them away from Sammy.

“That little...” growled the man, and Dee's blood turned chill as she recognized Hank's voice in the darkness. “I'll take care of you later, boy!” The two men continued towards Grandpa's. They were past Dee now too, and she didn’t think they’d stop for anything.

Dee felt her heart beating in her throat and checked for her gun. She had to keep them away from the house and the prisoners. She got to her feet.

“You afraid of a girl, Hank?” she shouted. She heard Mason's curse but her attention was focused on Hank. Would he follow her?

Dee could see him waver so she tried again. “If you catch me I'll tell you where your men are.”

“When I catch you, you'll tell me anything I want to know,” he growled and raced after her. Dee and Mason sprinted down the road toward the Searle house with the two men coming after them fast.
 

Dee realized that just ahead and to the right was the trail that led to the creek. “Follow me,” she told Mason, and swerved off the road. “Hurry,” she panted, and tried to find her way through the woods. The area looked a lot different than it had on the sunny autumn afternoon when she'd last been there, and she came close to panic when she realized the trail was covered with snow. She and Mason raced through the trees and Dee hoped they were heading in the right direction.

They stumbled into the picnic clearing and Dee took a moment to re-orient herself before plunging straight back into the woods. She could hear Hank and his pal crashing through the underbrush after them and knew they weren't far behind. The snow was fresh and Dee counted on Hank being able to track them easily. She didn't want him to give up.
 

Her flashlight shone ahead of her and she spotted what she was looking for – the bear cave. “We've got to make it look like we went inside,” she told Mason between breaths. The two ducked under the low hanging rocks and quickly tracked partway into the cave. It was dark inside but not as cold. Dee looked deeper into the cave and she saw that it split in several directions. She wondered if Hyrum's dad had been right about the bear. She tossed her flashlight further into the cave and signaled to Mason to go back out. The two stepped backwards in their own tracks until they were outside the cave again. In the distance they saw flashlights dancing in the trees and she knew they didn't have much time.

“Come on,” she said, hopping from one boulder to another until she found a place to climb up. Mason looked at her in disbelief but followed her, checking their trail to brush away any tracks. The dead tree leaning on the rocky ledge above the cave entrance provided scant cover, but it was enough. Hank barely looked up from their footprints.

The other man paused at the entrance to the cave. “Are you sure it's a good idea to go in there?” he asked, hesitation in his voice.

“If they were going to shoot at us they'd have done it already,” snapped Hank. “That boy has had this coming for a long time. Maybe I'll let him watch while I convince his girlfriend to tell me where my men are. Who knows,” he added in a sly voice, “maybe I'll even let you help me convince her.”

The other man chortled and took a step into the cave. “You talked me into it, boss.”

Dee waited several moments and then pushed against the dead tree. She was going to shove it away from the ledge so it fell and blocked the cave entrance. She pushed as hard as she could but the tree didn't budge.

“Are you crazy?” whispered Mason. “This is the plan? Come on. We need to get out of here before they come out.”

“It'll work,” Dee panted, heaving against the tree. She could swear she felt it give a little and tried to get more leverage. “It's right on the edge. All it needs is a little push.”

Mason shook his head and leaned his shoulder into the log. “On three,” he whispered. They pushed and this time she knew the log shifted. The sound was loud in the darkness and she heard the echo of pebbles falling to the ground below. Hank was sure to hear it too.

Dee thought about Courtney and her little girls alone and starving, and she thought about Mason's mom dying in her own filth. It was time to put an end to Hank and his evil. “Come on,” Dee prayed, and then together she and Mason pushed the log off the ledge. It landed with a thunderous crash right in front of the opening to the cave.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

O
N
THE
WAY
BACK
to Grandpa's they saw that the driver of the car in the cattle guard was gone. They picked up their pace, worried he might be a threat to the others, but when they reached the farm they found the man still passed out and now handcuffed in the cart. Grandpa cleaned the wound in his head while the others gathered around Mason and Dee to hear what happened in the woods.

“Are you sure they can't get out of the cave?” asked Hyrum, after they finished.

Dee noticed that he'd changed into soft sweatpants and leaned heavily on Grandpa's magic staff cane. “Yeah, the log wedged itself in tight, and there's no way they could squeeze past. We'll let them simmer down for a day or two and then get them out.”

“What about the bear?” breathed Joseph, his eyes wide. “Did you see it?”

“That's just a story,” Mason said, ruffling the boy's hair. “There's no bears in these woods.”

“That's not what my dad said,” Joseph said, puffing out his chest with authority.

Dee didn't want to think about the low growls she'd heard coming from the cave, or the gunshots and then the screams they'd heard echoing all the way to the road. They'd go back and check the cave in a few days, but she knew there wouldn't be anything left of Hank or his friend. “How about you?” she asked Hyrum, changing the subject. “How's the leg?”

“Nothing a little Tinkerbell band-aid couldn't handle,” he said with a sidelong look at Sammy. The boy beamed.
 

Hyrum added, “It wasn’t as bad as it looked. The bullet didn’t go in, it just nicked me pretty badly. Your grandpa patched it up.”

“Mason,” said Grandpa, “Can you give me a hand settling this fellow in the barn? His head's pretty banged up and I want to bed him down where I can check on him tonight.”

“Sure thing,” said Mason and towed the wagon toward the barn with Grandpa following after.

The others chatted in the yard for a while about the events of the night and then heard a sound coming from the house. Jasper was inside the screened patio barking for all he was worth. Sammy jumped up and down excitedly and clapped his hands, “Look at Jasper, he's all better!”

Dee raised her eyebrows at Hyrum.
 

“He wasn't doing so great when we got back from the station.” He lowered his voice. “Your grandpa told Sammy he wasn't sure he was going to make it. Hank's man must have kicked him in his injury and started the bleeding again.” Dee looked at the frantic dog on the porch and Hyrum added, “He doesn't usually bark like that though, does he?”

Dee shook her head, “Not that I've seen. Maybe he's just glad we're all back.” Even as she said it she knew it wasn't right. Jasper never barked like that. She looked around the yard and back down the lane. She gasped when something staggered out of the shadows towards them.
 

It was Hank.

His clothing was in shreds and he was covered in blood. His scalp was partially detached and dangled from one side of his head. Dee realized in horror that blood oozed from an empty eye socket.
 

The sight of the ruined man gave Dee conflicting emotions. Even though she was trembling with fear, she also felt bad for him, and a little guilty. She tried to make herself think of Courtney’s little girls. They’d be alive if it wasn’t for this monster. The man could barely walk though, and he’d probably bleed to death if he didn’t get help soon.
 

Hank looked them over until his gaze rested on Sammy. His voice came out in a hoarse whisper. “You ready to go home, son?”

Angela put her arms tightly around the two younger children, “It looks like you’re hurt, Sheriff. Come over to the clinic and let Doc Kerns stitch you up.”

Hank ignored her, his one eye seeking out and finding Dee. “Nice stunt at the cave, but I bet you didn’t know there’s a back way out. Of course,” he paused for effect, “to get to it you have to go around a really angry bear.”

“I didn’t know about the bear,” Dee said. “I just wanted you to leave us all alone.”

“Happy to oblige. Just give me my son and my men and I’ll be on my way.”

Dee looked over at Sammy; his face was hidden against Angela’s leg. He’d already been through so much.

“Sammy stays with us.” Hyrum’s voice was firm.
 

“Sounds like you want me to shoot you again.” Hank pulled a gun from his jacket pocket.

“Hank, listen,” Dee said desperately. “We know about Morty and the typhoid. We know you used him to spread disease so you could steal food and supplies.”

She saw she had his attention so she went on, “It’s over now. It’s all over. If this town is going to have a chance to survive, we need to stand together and stop hurting each other. You could help us.”

“Do you have any idea how naïve you are?” Hank’s voice was irritated and combative. “The town won’t survive. It’s every man for himself – survival of the fittest. You wouldn’t last a day off this farm and out in the real world. Not…” he raised the gun to point it at her, “that you’ll be around to find out.”