Families First: A Post-Apocalyptic Next-World Series Volume 6 Battle Grounds by Lance Ewing (ereader for comics .txt) 📕

Colonel as well. I’m guessing it’s mostly about you, and if they’re on board like I think they are, we will be headed out soon.”

“Say my good-byes is what you’re saying, right?” asked Mike.

“That’s it, and I’m guessing you will never be back.”

* * * * * * *

Chapter Twenty-one

The West

Loveland, Colorado

Sarah and the new doctors were overwhelmed with casualties from both Saddle Ranch and The West. Baker’s granddaughter and Max jumped right in to help with the steady line of victims outside, as well as in the lobby.

Injuries ranged from serious gunshot wounds to deep lacerations, a few twisted ankles, two broken arms, and some traumatized children with unidentifiable illnesses.

The plan was to mark them on the forehead with a number from 1-4, with 4 signifying a right-now intervention, but there ended up being less than she expected. It was easier just to take a quick look at each person as they came through the front door.

“Thank you, Lord—and you too, Colonel,” she whispered to herself. “I was expecting a lot more,” she added, as a little worry crept in that she hadn’t heard from Mac.

“He’s busy, I’m sure,” said another doctor. Sarah was never one for showing her emotions on her face, but she must have today, she thought.

“Back to work,” she said aloud and took the next patient.

Samuel came by the hospital an hour later after a follow-up with his old friend, the Colonel.

“Is it over?” asked Sarah, wondering why she hadn’t asked anyone before now. The hospital was, in fact, the only structure with occupants behind the front line, not underground.

“It’s over, sweetie,” he said, kissing her on the forehead, “and I checked up on Mac for you. He’s fine,” he blurted out quickly, hoping to calm any anxiety she had. “I hear he’s as busy as you thought.”

“I’ll bet,” she replied, with a smile only a smitten woman would know. “If he doesn’t ask to marry me soon, I’m going to do it,” she stated deviously.

“Oh, I don’t think it will be that long at all,” said Samuel, giving her a wink and disappearing out the front door to check on the rest of his group. He hadn’t told her yet that Mac made an unexpected visit to his house with John a few days back. Mac asked for his blessing and hadn’t felt more nervous since the first time he talked with Samuel about his daughter.

“At least I have a track record of taking good care of her so far,” he told Cory, who was becoming his confidant now that Jimmy was gone.

“You got this,” Cory replied. “Who else is a better fit? Nobody, that’s who! I’ll bet she’s been waiting for a while now for you to do it. Every week in this New-World is like a year in the old one, so it’s like you’ve been dating her for what, four or five years now, and haven’t popped the question?”

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I just needed to hear it from somebody else, is all.”

“How about you?”

“How about me what?” asked Cory, avoiding the question he knew was coming.

“You know we still have a lot of single women around, but who knows for how long?”

“Yeah, I know. Cameron keeps telling me the same thing.”

* * * * * * *

Chapter Twenty-two

Saddle Ranch

Loveland, Colorado

Mac helped me get my friend Jake into the back of his farm truck.

“Don’t drive up to the front,” I told him, or maybe asked.

“I’ve been there, and I’m sorry you lost him,” he said. “You have someone to talk to before they see him, right?”

“Yes, that’s right,” I replied.

He parked the truck behind the apartments, and we covered Jake’s body with a tarp. People heard the news that it was over and poured out of the basement, like ants whose mound had been compromised.

Walking straight ahead, I passed my family with a quick “I’ll be back soon.”

I didn’t know how I would tell Nancy that her husband, best friend from childhood, and father of her only son, wasn’t coming home tonight.

Thoughts flooded my mind, with panic in my gut, as one after another exited the basement that wasn’t her. Would I just say, “I’m so sorry” to start, or “We did everything we could,” or “There was a bad accident,” but it wasn’t that at all. He was killed defending his family and new home; that was it. There was no accident, no misstep or false information. He was dead, and I bore witness.

Had she already left? came the next wave of panic. What if someone else tells her befo...?

She came out slowly, holding little Danny’s hand. His face was looking better, and it seemed ironic, or maybe just a tragic coincidence, that both the person who caused his injury and the person who saved him were both dead in less than a week. I opened my mouth, hoping to just get it out one way or another but couldn’t think of the words, any words, for that matter. I wanted to say I did everything I could; I wished it were me instead. I didn’t have a chance to.

She walked towards me, as tears streamed down both of our faces.

“I know,” she whispered in my ear. “I know you did.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry,” I said over and over, realizing she was the one embracing me.

“We talked about this, he and I,” she said, not letting go of me. “We always knew it could happen.” She caught a passing Anna and asked if she could watch little Danny for a bit.

“Of course,” came her reply.

As we walked down the road, she said only four words. “Bring me to him.”

We walked the short way back to Mac’s truck, and she lifted the tarp on