Through the Storm(35)

Just inside the door, Wayne and Dan hung their jackets on a rack. An older woman with long, gray hair peeked around the corner.

“This is my wife, Mary,” Wayne said with a smile. “Mary, this is Drake, Beth’s son.”

“I’m glad to see you again, Drake.” She stepped close and squeezed his hand. “Your mother was a dear friend. We’ve missed you and the rest of your family. Have you been getting enough food?”

Drake smiled and nodded.

The pastor led everyone through the kitchen into a combination living and dining room.

“Over there with the baby is my daughter, Katy.” Wayne nodded toward a brunette-haired woman breastfeeding an infant under a blue towel. She smiled.

Drake smiled back but, embarrassed, quickly looked away.

Wayne pulled a chair out from the dining table. “Sit here, Drake. I’ve got to get some things.” He turned down the hall. “I’ll be right back.

As he sat at the table, Drake looked around the room. He had always seen neighbors as merely people next door or down the street but now, in a time when his family was gone, these people welcomed him into their home. Pastor Wayne and his wife had shown him kindness. Afraid that tears would roll from his eyes, Drake wiped his face.

Moments later, Wayne returned with a backpack and he and Dan sat at the table with Drake.

“What’s your idea, Dad?”

“I’ll hike down to Riverbank and see if any law enforcement personnel are still on duty. Before we take the law into our own hands, we should check if any still exists. While I’m checking in Riverbank, you and Drake go around the community and tell people that we’ll have a meeting this evening at the church.”

Dan shook his head. “I should hike into town. You should walk around here with Drake.”

Wayne raised an eyebrow. “Why?”

“I’m younger, I can hike faster, and everyone on Fremont Hill knows you and won’t shoot at you.”

“Okay.” Pastor Wayne nodded. “Then Drake should go with you to Riverbank.”

“No.” Dan shook his head.

Pastor Wayne leaned back in his chair. “Why do you want Drake to go with me?”

“In case someone does shoot at you.” Dan shook his head. “You have a way of finding trouble, and I’m worried you’ll find it and no friend will be around.”

For some reason, Drake found that idea amusing and giggled.

Wayne smiled at his son. “Okay then, we have a plan.”

Drake remembered leaving Ashley at home. “Uh … what if Skinny and Fatty come back?” He had told her it would be safer at their house, but now fear boiled within him. “Ashley is alone at home, and Skinny knows I’m here.” He stood and moved toward the back door as he spoke. “I’ve got to get home.”

“I need to discuss security for this house with Mary.” Wayne nodded. “Go. I’ll be just a minute or two behind you.”

Drake darted from Pastor Wayne’s house and sprinted toward home. In a car, this part of the road had always seemed short, straight, and level, but since the sun storm, he had noticed how far away his neighbors lived. He also noticed every slope and turn. There were so many places a person could hide. As he neared his home, he slowed to a walk and tried to listen and look for movement.

Ready to run or fight, he strode around the last bend before his driveway. A hundred yards ahead, a group of six men stood talking. Drake gripped his rifle but continued toward the driveway a few feet away.

One man turned.

“Hey, kid, nice to see you again.” Skinny smiled.

The other five men stared at Drake.

Fatty grinned. “How’s your sister?”

Fear, both within himself and for Ashley, propelled Drake down the driveway with the rifle in his hand. Reaching the front door, he twisted the knob, but it didn’t budge. He had told Ashley to lock the doors and hadn’t brought his key.

Drake pounded on the door, shouted, and then listened as Gruff barked and scurried across the wood floor.

But no one unlocked the door.

“Ashley, it’s me!” Drake banged again.

The deadbolt slid back with a click and the door popped open.

Drake stumbled into the house and hugged Ashley. Relief at seeing her okay and at being home flowed through him.

Gruff pushed between him and Ashley.

“What’s wrong?” Ashley hugged him back. “Are you okay?”

“Yes.” Drake hoped that Ashley couldn’t hear his heart pounding in his chest. After a deep breath, he released her and locked the door. “I was worried about you.”

“Why? You’re scaring me. What happened?”

Ashley’s face paled as Drake described the encounters at Pastor Wayne’s home and on the road coming back to the house.

Directly behind Drake, someone knocked on the door.

Ashley gasped.

Gruff growled.

Drake spun around and leaned to the peephole. “It’s Pastor Wayne.” Drake let him in.

“Did you see Skinny and his cohorts?” Pastor Wayne adjusted the rifle slung on his shoulder.

“Yes.” Drake nodded. “Did they give you any trouble?”

Gruff sniffed at the pastor’s leg then wagged her tail.

Ashley clutched Drake’s arm.