EMP Catastrophe by Hamilton, Grace (best ebook reader for pc .txt) 📕

Kathleen paused. Even if she still felt wary of Jade, there was a kind of mutual respect being molded inside her. At the same time, she wasn’t sure she had the right to give Jade any kind of forgiveness, especially when she couldn’t even forgive herself. For a moment, her motherly instincts told her to give Jade a soft answer, but Kathleen knew the young woman deserved better than a placating brush-off. For Kathleen, everything came down to family. So that’s where it would stay.

“If you keep putting family first, we’ll all get there,” she said.

Jade nodded as if in agreement and stuck her hands in her jean pockets. “Good enough for me,” she said and then looked past Kathleen. “Hi,” she said. “Find anything?”

Kathleen turned and saw Matthew approaching them carefully with a guarded look on his face. “Didn’t see anything,” he said sharply. “Maybe we should all call it a day. Get some rest and relaxation. It’s been stressful. I could use some time off.”

“That would be nice, actually,” Kathleen said, thinking of lying down in bed and perhaps actually getting some sleep for once. Matthew climbed the porch steps and stood close to Kathleen. His body seemed strung with anxiety. Kathleen patted his shoulder and he started to go inside the hotel. Kathleen followed, but turned when she noticed Jade wasn’t joining them. She put her hand on the doorframe and asked, “Are you coming?”

Jade looked over her shoulder and the sunlight illuminated her profile in stark relief. “I’ll be in soon. I need some air.”

“Okay,” Kathleen said softly. She knew the feeling. Sometimes, there was nothing you could do for your memories but to let them play out somewhere safe. Somewhere where you could be alone.

She closed the door gently, hoping that Jade knew it would be open for her.

17

Some might say that David Riley was an impatient man. Mainly, his wife.

Some might say that David Riley was a suspicious man. A cautious man. Mainly, his son.

Others might say that David Riley was one stubborn son-of-a-gun. Mainly, that was everyone who knew him, including David himself.

Self-reflection consumed David as he finished out the day and furiously crafted a plan. So far, he’d managed to get his family to see his side in most things—his greatest victory had been bringing Jade into the Riley fold—but he’d have to take drastic steps if he was going to prove to Matthew that they needed to meet with the mysterious people at Carpenter Country.

He and Matthew had always struggled in the way of fathers and sons, but now that the world had completely changed, David realized that the two of them had been fighting so much because they were likely subconsciously attempting to settle who the real man-of-the-house was. David knew his son was desperate to keep his family safe, and he was proud that he’d raised a son with those deep-seated values. At the same time, he’d seen that same desperation slip other men too far into paranoia. Now, he saw that Matthew was certainly perceiving the world as his enemy and not as a place that needed to be treated with care and caution. And Matthew’s willful blindness to the necessity of making partnerships had raised red flags for David.

Now it was time to take matters into his own hands. He didn’t want to start a fight between himself and Matthew, but time was running out. They didn’t have the luxury of debating and mulling over the situation. They didn’t have time to weigh the options.

After all, everyone would say that David was a stubborn son-of-a-gun. He’d protect his family at all costs, even if that meant defying his only son.

At least the Rileys were finally getting some alone time. As dusk rounded the mountains, David kissed Ruth and told her he was going to get a breath of fresh air. She put down her book about the local flora and gave him that small smile that told him she didn’t believe him for a second. But they’d been together so long that he knew she’d trust him.

He snuck downstairs and was happy to hear loud snores rumbling from Matthew and Kathleen’s room. His son had finally collapsed to get the rest he needed. Poor Matt would need it too, because David already knew the furious fight they’d have when David returned.

But if David could get them what they needed, maybe it wouldn’t be the final falling-out in their relationship.

He’d hated the way they’d left things after Matthew had found the note. More than that, he hated the gruff way Matthew had commanded him to stay silent about the ordeal. David had kept his promise, but, say it once and say it again, he was a stubborn son-of-a-gun taking matters into his own hands. Despite the tightness in his chest. Despite the wary flutter in his heart in response to the adrenaline.

He holstered the pistol around his waist, knowing that Matthew always kept the shotgun close. He avoided the creaking floorboards as much as he could as he walked out the front door. Zipping up his jacket, he paused on the porch steps when he spotted the slender form leaning against the railing, her head cocked up to study the emerging stars. David plastered a smile on his face and tried to relax. No use alarming her. “Lovely night,” he said to Jade as he walked past her and down the steps.

“You can say that again,” Jade said. “Where are you going this time of night?”

David paused, cursing inwardly. He turned around and looked at her. “Just going for a stroll.”

Jade raised an eyebrow. “Sure, and I’m just skinning a turkey. I’ve snuck out of enough windows in my time to know when someone is breaking out. You’ve got the look all over you.”

David winced. It was pointless to lie to her. He was never good at it anyway. “Matt and I found a note earlier today wrapped around