Chapter 38
I had done everything right and still my life was in chaos. Sam had his medicine and seemed to be responding after just a few weeks. His color was better, his energy improved, and his disposition more cantankerous than ever. The whispers behind my back in town had settled down, but no one was likely to forget that not only was I some kind of healing goddess to be feared, I was the sister of the freakazoid kid who ran off to the Western Desert, taking with him the constable’s son.
Even though it wasn’t all Zeph’s fault, the townspeople blamed him for the deaths of the men who had tried to stop the Industry agents from taking Tyler Johnson captive. The town was on edge, in mourning, and waiting for the next ax to fall. The rumors going around were that the Industry would most certainly come back again as long as I was in their midst.
“You don’t need me here. Nora will check in every day and make sure you have everything you need and that you’re taking your medicine. And Rudy said he’d stop in to help with the greenhouse and trips into town.”
Sam gave me the dirty look I’d come to know and love from taking care of him for so long. “I don’t need a babysitter. I need you to stay here where you’ll be safe.”
“My being here is making everyone unsafe,” I said, setting the last of the canned goods into the pantry. “Finally,” I sighed, “we’re all stocked up for the next couple of months. I don’t know how long I’ll be gone, but I’ll stay in touch as best I can and come back…with Zeph.”
Sam got quiet. “That’s the problem, Monkey…I don’t know if I want him to come back.”
“How can you say that?” Horrified, I set my hands on my hips and gave Sam a hard look. “You raised him from the time he was little. You know him. You know he didn’t mean any harm. And you also know that he sacrificed himself and Tyler to protect me…and you…and this town.”
Sam shook his head, his eyes growing weary. “He’s not welcome here, Lily. The people in this town haven’t wanted him here for a long time. There are those who suspect what he’s capable of and now that he’s gone and…has dragged the Johnsons into this, I don’t see how we can stay here.”
Sam had spent the morning down in the comp room making plans for our escape. “You go, Sam. Change your name, find a new home, and start over. You have a chance for a new life, and you’ve done enough for us.” I folded a towel and stuffed it into my pack.
“You can’t do this, Lily!” Sam pleaded, a determined set to his jaw.
“I have to, Sam. I can’t let them turn him into some kind of killing machine.” I shoved a fresh water container on top, tied the pack closed, and slung it over my back.
He grabbed my arm. “They didn’t take him.” Sam’s eyes were tired and glassy. “He went with them. I know you don’t believe this, but he’s better off there.”
“Where? In a science lab on a table being cut and probed, and who knows what else?” My stomach churned as I looked into Sam’s desperate expression. Every day that passed was another day that something unspeakable could be happening to my little brother. I couldn’t stand by and do nothing. “Zeph doesn’t know what he’s gotten into. He’s just a kid.” Tears stung behind my eyes as I finished writing instructions for care of the greenhouse plants.
“You would risk being captured? Leaving home? For what? Your brother doesn’t belong here. You and I both know it. I tried to be good to him, I gave him…everything…” Sam turned away, his voice cracking.
I went to him and hugged him tight around the waist. “I’m so sorry for what he did to Jackson and Aunt Beth. You know he didn’t mean to. It was an accident.”
Sam pushed me back, his face serious, “Accident or not, you can’t guarantee that he won’t use this power, this ability, for something…evil.” His tortured expression tore through me.
I pulled away. “I have to try, Sam. Don’t you see that? Would you rather they turn him into an assassin? Is he the kind of person you want these people to have access to?”
He shook his head, shoulders slumping, “It’s clear I’m not going to change your mind. Just promise me…” His face grew hard and serious. “If you can’t save him, you’ll…destroy him.”
His words should have shocked me, but in my heart, I’d already known that was ultimately my only choice. Save him or destroy him. I’d known that since the day my father died and left my little brother in my care. I didn’t know if I had the courage to make the second choice. I would do anything to control the outcome and save Zeph, but if I couldn’t save him, I had to be prepared to do whatever was necessary to destroy his power.
I thought again about the agent I’d killed. I didn’t feel bad about it anymore. With all I’d been through, I realized that Sam was right. You do what you have to do to get through another day. Everything that had happened here and in Albany had made me grow up. There were good guys and bad guys and some that fell in-between. I’d learned that life wasn’t always black and white. But mostly, I’d learned I had the strength and courage to do whatever it took to survive.
I recoiled at the thought of taking the life of someone I loved…I had to try to save Zeph. I would find a way to free him, to convince him to come home, to work with me again on taming the fire that burned inside of him. I knew how all-consuming his power could be. If I could only teach him to control it…if he would only let me try.
My doubts ate away at me as I made my final preparations to leave. Maggie and Nora came to see us off, and Will waited with the Rover parked out front. Maggie hugged me tightly.
“You take good care of yourself, young lady.” Tears filled her eyes as she looked me over from head to toe as if memorizing me.
“I will. Please don’t worry.” I forced a confident smile, “I got your cannabis butter delivered and traded, didn’t I?” I didn’t add that it was Rudy who’d done all the wheeling and dealing, not to mention that he’d filled all the orders while I was out subverting the authorities.
“I’m so proud of you, Lily.” She hugged me again and stepped back, allowing Nora to step forward and engulf me in a sturdy embrace.
“Don’t worry about your uncle. I’ll take good care of him.” Her expression grew serious. “And if Sam has to leave this place, I’ll be sure he’s well on the mend and that I know exactly where he is. You just make your way back home here, is that clear?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Will was shaking Sam’s hand and the two were exchanging final words which I couldn’t hear but probably sounded something like, “If you let anything happen to my niece, I will hunt you to the ends of the earth and cut your heart out and feed it to the wolves.”
Will retreated to the Rover, closing the back hatch and insuring that our fuel supply was secure along with enough food for a few weeks. If all went well, we would be back in that amount of time, but there was no telling what obstacles we might encounter.
Sam shook his head sadly. “I can’t believe I’m allowing you to leave.”
“You couldn’t stop me, Sam. This way,” I waved at the vehicle, fully stocked and loaded with every provision, “at least I’m as prepared as I can be.”
“Drive carefully. There are maps in case the GPS isn’t working. You’ll only get a signal occasionally, but route eighty is well-marked. Following the northern route might take a day longer but my sources say it’s safer. Make sure you have plenty of water stocked up. Once you hit the drought states in the Midwest, clean water will be scarce.”
“I know, I know…stop worrying…I’ll be fine. You’ve taught me everything, Sam. I’m not a little kid anymore.”
I buried my face in his shoulder and soaked in the warmth of his arms around me. His heart beat strong against my cheek. If the medicine did its job, Sam would live to fight another day, spread his message of freedom, and help rebuild this world. Or if he had his way, he would create the technology to travel to other planets before this one burned up or turned into a frozen ball hurtling through space.
I smiled through te
ary eyes. “I’ll be back. I promise.”
We let go and I climbed into the driver’s seat. Sam had been giving me lessons all week and I was ready. I slammed the heavy door shut and rolled down my window. The sun was well past the Zenith and the steamy air and heavy clouds promised a shower not far off.
I waved at Nora, Maggie, and my uncle, all sad-faced and yet smiling. If they had any faith in me at all, it showed in those smiles, and I would remember this moment forever—the moment I went from being a girl with the gift of healing to a young woman on a quest.
Will wore that handsome dimpled grin that made my stomach quiver. “You ready?” he asked.
I hit the gas and we lurched forward, heading for the narrow road that led down the timber trail. “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.” I looked in the rearview mirror, my eyes stinging as Sam’s worried expression faded in a cloud of dust.
“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive?” Will gripped the dashboard as we hit a bump.
“Just put your seatbelt on.” I gave him a wry smile, “And don’t think this means that I trust you completely.
“You’d be crazy to even consider it.” He sat back, smiling, his wolfish grey-blue eyes sparkling with mischief. In the distance I heard the baying of the wolves and wondered what other secrets Will Callahan might be hiding.
THE END
OF BOOK ONE
The story continues with Book Two, WESTERN DESERT, and concludes with Book Three, HEALING WATERS, now available!
Read SOUL REDEMPTION
Read on for an excerpt from WESTERN DESERT
WESTERN DESERT
(Book 2 in the Chronicles of Lily Carmichael Trilogy)