Weeds by Joy Barnes (uplifting books for women txt) 📕

“Yes, please. I want to get a dog.” I tell him.
“Certainly, follow me miss....”
“Call me Dayna.” I tell him, filling in the blank.
“Alright Dayna. Well we have lots of dogs to choose from, all non-aggressive and house broken. Feel free to go into any of the cages you want, and just call me if you need anything.” So saying, Casey lets me into a large wing of cages and disappears. I guess I'm on my own. I visit with every dog here in the shelter. I think it's going to be a hard choice until I come to the second to last cage. The label reads “Mack” and says he is a German Shepherd, only one year old. Looking in I see that it is the same breed of dog that chased me out of the city that day. Even though that dog had been scary, I was grateful to it. I wander into Mack's cage. He wags his tail and stands up to greet me. His fur is soft, his eyes are kind, and by the time Shannon finds me, I'm completely in love.
“So, who's this?” Shannon asks.
“Mack.” I tell him. Petting the dog again.
“Is Mack coming home with us today?”
“Yes, as a matter of fact he is.” I tell him.
“Very good.” Shannon runs his hand over the dog's ears. “I like him already.” We sign a bunch of paperwork and then Mack is ours. Ever intelligent and loyal, Mack runs right beside Rae the entire way home. And when Shannon bullies me into sleeping on the couch again, Mack sleeps right beside us, sprawled out on the floor. What a good dog.

I wake up the next morning to the sound of coughing. I sit up and cast a worried glance at Shannon. He gives me a weak smile and goes back to coughing. I pat him gently on the back and get up to fetch him some water. He drinks it gratefully and tells me it was nothing. Somehow I don't believe him.
Business goes on as usual for a few days, and then Shannon collapses while we are tending to the horses. He's been coughing a lot and I thought something was up. I help him inside, wrap a blanket around him and tell Mack to keep an eye on him for me. After leaving plenty of water within Shannon's reach, I tack up Fay, being the faster horse, and ride into town in search of a doctor.
The sound of coughing fills the streets in town, and it is a long wait before the doctor can ride out with me. The doctors name is Brooke Hauck, and she smiles tiredly at me, coughing slightly.
“It seems everyone is sick. I'm the only one of my colleagues who hasn't caught this bug yet. Let's go take a look at your boyfriend. She and I ride double on Fay, but it seems like forever until we get home.
I lead Dr. Hauck in to the living room and introduce her to Shannon and Mack, who are lying on Shannon's bed. She examines Shannon, then leads me out into the hall.
“This is a sickness I do not recognize. Some sort of strange weapon the city has been working on for some time, in hopes of getting rid of all the weeds. They think we'll be problematic. At least, that's what we all think. Did you see the planes flying low over us, they were spreading it. You and I aren't sick because we were still in the city when they were spreading the vaccine through the water. We're safe. Most of the weeds will die though.” She says sadly. “I'll give you something to keep him comfortable, but I can't cure him.” I nod and accept the pills she gives me.
“How were they spreading the vaccine?” I ask.
“Through the water supply. You and I were drinking it without even knowing.” She explains. I give her a ride home, already formulating a plan. I know where the city's water plant is. If they've been putting the vaccine in the water, then I already know where I can find some.

I wait until Shannon is sleeping, because I know he would never allow me to do what I was about to do. I take Mack with me, thinking that he might be useful to have around. Riding out on Fay, with Mack at his heels, I head out in the direction of the city.
I thank my lucky stars that the hole in the wall isn't patched. I wonder why on earth that is, but it doesn't matter. I have a way in.
After tying Fay to a tree, where he'll be out of sight to anyone passing by, Mack and I slip through the hole in the wall. We follow the wall for five blocks, then slip out of the cover of shadows. There's no one about. It's past curfew, everyone is asleep. It's improbable to them that a thief would ever dare roam the streets. Anyone living here is too well conditioned, and those on the outside are frightened into submission. I'm the first thief the town has known. For some reason, I'm proud of this.
Mack and I steal our way through the city, following the perfectly straight and symmetrical roads until we find the water plant. There are no guards posted. I shake my head at the city's foolishness. But I'm grateful. That's one less obstacle I have to go through. The door is not locked. This city takes foolishness to a whole new level. Then again, I recall that none of the buildings have locks on them. What idiocy.
The vaccine is in a clearly labeled yellow case with a sturdy handle. I check the contents, and all seems right. The city's inexperience has made this all to easy. Not having experience theft or crime before, the city was defenseless. As the sun peaks over the horizon, I am mounted on Fay's back again, the case tied securely to my saddle. We ride first to Dr. Hauck's home office.
I pound on her door, feeling regret for having to wake her. She answers the door, bleary-eyed and dazed. I hold the case out to her, and as she reads the label, her eyes widen. She invites me in.
“How did you get this?” She demands, relieving me of the case and offering me a seat.
“I went into the city last night.” I answer. “They don't even know what a lock is there, so it was made really easy for me.”
“Shannon's been alone this whole time, then?” She asks. I nod.
“Go take care of him. I'll bring my stuff out to your place and we can work on reproducing enough of this to cure everyone.” She says, leading me to the door. “And Dayna,” She calls as I'm walking away.
“Yeah.” I reply over my shoulder.
“You're amazing, thank you so much. As a doctor, not being able to cure all those sick people broke my heart. And now there's something we can do.” She waves me off and I ride home quickly.
Once inside, Mack runs off into Shannon's room, and flops tiredly onto his bed. Shannon wakes up at the noise.
“Where have you two been.” He asks me.
“Oh, nowhere.” I say nonchalantly, not wanting to worry him. I stay with him until Dr. Hauck arrives. We set up an office in the living room and get to work right away.

Between helping Dr. Hauck and taking care of Shannon, a week passes by quickly. Shannon's condition hasn't changed much. We are making progress on the cure. It's almost ready to be administered. I'm working in the living room with Dr. Hauck when obsessive coughing catches my attention. I head into Shannon's bedroom. Mack is in his usual place, lying up against Shannon's side. I sit down beside Shannon and offer him so water. He thanks me when he catches his breath, and sinks further into his pillows. He isn't looking too good.
“Will you hold my hand.” He asks.
“Of course.” I take his hand, and in his palm is a hard, rounded object. I try to pull my hand away to see what it is, but he shakes his head. We don't talk, Shannon's too tired. It's late at night, and I hear Dr. Hauck closing down shop and going to bed. Shannon drifts of to sleep too, and, resting my head on the bed, I follow suit.

I wake up in the morning to a silent house. I lift my head, and Mack wags his tail at me. Listening more closely I can hear Dr. Hauck firing up the machines and getting to work. The one thing I cant hear is Shannon's breathing. I shake him. His eyes don't open. I shake him again and call his name repeatedly. Then it finally dawns on me. Shannon's fight is over. I pull my hand gently from his, biting back tears. In my palm is a golden band with the words I Want You To Live

carved carefully into it. He must have know how this would end. I put it on my left hand, and decide to honor his last wish. By now I can't stop my tears, they fall like a waterfall and I don't do anything to stop them.

It's been almost six months since the disease hit. Most of us survived, and only a few are still sick. The able bodied men are readying for a war with the city. I am still working with Dr. Hauck, tending to the sick. My spirits are low, and I feel as if a part of me died with Shannon, but I am honoring his last wish. I take care of the sick, I ride the horses, and I am slowly but surely learning to live again.