Page 70 of Beacon

“Oh yes, of course you should do that. You’re taking Aidan and Breanna and the others who came with you too, right?”

“Yeah. Everyone is coming. But there’s still room for you if you want to head back with us.”

I realize now why she’s worried. She doesn’t want to force me into a split-second decision on this, but there isn’t really any choice. “I can’t leave right now. Mack’s not ready, and I don’t… I don’t know what he’s going to decide.”

Rachel nods, her head turning in the direction of the backyard, which was where I left Mack, even though she obviously can’t see him through the walls. “Yeah, that’s what I figured. Don’t you think the fact that he came back and rounded up help is a good sign?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I do. But I don’t want to rush him. There’s no way he’s going to be ready to jump in the truck with us in the next hour, and I’m not going to leave him yet. I’ll hang out here for a little longer, and if it looks like Mack still doesn’t want to come home, I can travel back with Maria and them.”

“Okay, good.” Her expression is relaxing now. “That’s a good idea. I didn’t want to leave you stranded, but poor Ham…”

“Ham is the most important thing right now. Y’all need to save him if you can. At least give him his best chance.”

“That’s what we’re going to do.” Rachel pulls me into another tight hug, and it lasts longer than her normal embraces. “Shit, I’ve been missing you, Anna. Don’t stay away too long. Okay?”

“I’ll try not to.”

“And bring Mack home if you can.”

“I’ll do my best.” I clear my throat as we step back from each other. “You and Cal stay safe. You both have always seemed kind of bulletproof, but you’re not.”

“I know we’re not.” She shoots me an irrepressible smile. “But this is what we love, so we’re going to keep doing it for as long as we can.”

In addition to all the supplies the gangs stocked up, we find huge tanks of gasoline in a storage unit nearby. Cal fills up his truck and the huge transfer tank he always keeps in his truck bed before he, Rachel, and the others take off to bring Ham back east where he can be treated in the bunker community with their medical equipment and doctor.

The rest of the gas and all the supplies are divided between the local farming community and Logan.

I’m standing by Mack when Logan and his men are getting ready to take off and head back into The Wild.

Logan’s eyes are as sharp and cool as ever as he looks at Mack and then me. “My debt to you is paid.”

I nod. “It is. Thank you so much for your help. You made a real difference here.”

He takes an odd breath and then lets it out. “The gangs in this region have always troubled me, so I’m happy to have made a move against them. But don’t count on me for anything else.”

“We won’t,” I say. “Take care of yourself. And tell Elizabeth we said hi.”

“I will.” He strides back to one of the Humvees, turning once to glance back at us and wave.

Then he shouts an order to his people and climbs into the vehicle. In another minute, they’ve all started off, and it’s not long before they’re completely out of sight.

I reach out to take Mack’s hand, feeling the need for a connection.

He squeezes mine. His is large and warm and dry, and he doesn’t pull it away.

That evening, Mack and I hang out in the circle around the big fire in Maria’s camp.

I spent years with these women, and although the makeup shifts as various women come and go, the spirit of the group is forged by Maria herself, so it’s as solid and unchanging as granite. I’ll always feel welcomed and included in their midst, but it doesn’t feel like home anymore.

The mood around the campfire this evening is tired but satisfied. There were a lot of injuries and a couple of losses, but we did what was needed and did it well. We helped make things better for the decent folks in this region. In our small way, we reshaped the world.

Maria’s right arm is bandaged and in a sling since shewas shot through the flesh of her upper arm. She’s seated cross-legged on the ground across the circle from us, and for once she actually appears relaxed. She’s working on a chunk of roasted beef cooked on a skewer—generously provided by one of the nearby farms—and listening to some of the other women talk.

Everyone else from out east left before midday, and the people who had gathered from this region to participate in the attack have headed home. Mack and I wanted to give the Carlsons some space and privacy tonight. Ben is stable now, but whether he keeps his leg is still in question. Greta insisted we were more than welcome, and Jimmy and Chloe are staying with them at the house for a while so they’ll have assistance, but we told them we’ll spend the evening at Maria’s camp and only return to the house to sleep.

I still have no idea what Mack is thinking. About anything. Something seems to have changed—he doesn’t feel as wounded and withdrawn as he’s been—but I don’t know if that means he’s ready to come home yet.

I’m not going to push. He’s still working through things.

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