Page 64 of Beacon

“But maybe…” I’m not sure exactly what I was going to suggest, and I don’t get the chance to find out. Because the sound of an engine breaks the quiet morning, and a familiar old pickup truck rattles into sight on the road in front of the farm.

Mack and I both stand up as the truck turns onto the driveway. It heads toward the house, so we walk across the grass in the same direction, waving back at Rachel, who is leaning over Cal’s big body in the front seat so she can greet us enthusiastically.

There are a bunch of people gathered in the truck bed. Most of them I recognize from New Haven, Halbrook, or the bunker community, but there’s a couple who were sitting in the front with Cal and Rachel and now climbing out whom I’ve never met.

He’s incredibly good-looking with a lean build and golden hair, and she’s beautiful and vibrant even from this distance with glowing red hair and a smile like sunshine.

“They’re from out east,” Mack says, noticing the couple at the same time I do. “When we took down thatbig criminal stronghold a couple years back. What the hell are they doing all the way out here?”

I wasn’t there for that particular mission although under normal circumstances I would have wanted to help. That was shortly after Mack and I broke up, and I was trying to give us both some space, so I stayed at New Haven while he drove out to western Virginia with Cal, Rachel, and the others.

Rachel runs over to hug me and Mack, and then I walk over to greet grinning, freckled Ham and the other people I know who are jumping down from the back of the truck.

Mack steps over to speak to the couple from out east, and after a few minutes I join him.

“This is Breanna,” Mack says. “And Aidan.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” I say with a smile, shaking both their hands in turn. “You came all the way out this far to help?”

“Yes.” Breanna is as gorgeous as I’ve always wanted to be with her true red hair and vivid blue eyes, and she seems genuinely friendly and possesses an air of brisk confidence it’s hard not to envy. “A lot of y’all came a long way to help us when we needed it, so it’s only fair that we return the favor.”

“We were already traveling in Kentucky,” Aidan puts in, surprising me by speaking in a pleasant, cultured English accent. He lost one of his hands at some point in the past. The cuff of his left sleeve is hanging empty. “Visiting and looking to trade goods. So the timing worked outwell for us to lend a hand.” He clears his throat. “So to speak.”

I giggle at his almost imperceptible wink. “Well, we’re grateful. Thank you so much.”

We chat for a few more minutes, and I keep glancing up at Mack because he’s not saying anything.

He’s always been social. Friendly. Offering advice and encouragement and support and good feeling to anyone he meets.

But right now he looks like he’d rather be anywhere else but here.

Four hours later, I walk out of the house with Mack and head down to where we left the ATV yesterday.

He’s leaving. And my chest might actually crack in two.

We’ve spent the past few hours in discussion with Maria and the others, working out the details of her plan to attack the headquarters she has located. We’ll start at dawn tomorrow, and hopefully by midday the deed will be done.

But Mack won’t be part of it. He needs to leave now so he can make it back to the cabin before dark.

There’s a chill in the air, so I’m wearing my jacket. Mack, as usual, has on short sleeves and doesn’t appear to notice the temperature.

We’ve been quiet ever since he murmured against my ear back in the house that it was time for him to take off. He didn’t tell anyone else or draw attention to his departure. I know he wants to slip away unnoticed.

When we reach the quad, Mack stows his stuff away and then straightens up, gazing down at me.

“Well,” I say, trying to smile even though I’m suddenly close to tears.

He nods, not a trace of a smile on his mouth or in his eyes. “I could stay until tomorrow morning if you need me to.”

“No. I don’t want you to do that.” At his questioning look, I explain, “You want to leave now, so that’s what you should do. And I really don’t want you to end up getting railroaded into helping, which could possibly happen if you stay through the night. You need to leave now. Please be careful on your way back.”

“I will.” He leans down to press a very soft kiss against my lips. “You be careful too. Don’t you dare die.”

“I’ll try not to. I think I have a relatively safe position.”

I’m not going to be part of the direct frontal assault with Maria and her crew. Me, Cal, Rachel, Breanna, Aidan and a few of the others will sneak around the back of the building so we can catch anyone trying to retreat, while two other groups will cover the sides.

“Maybe. But we don’t really know their numbers. It’s possible a force could come from behind you, and then y’all will be trapped like sitting ducks.”

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