Page 29 of Burning Escape

“I need you to take Joann and Josiah and get the medical help he needs.” Abraham held out a wad of cash. “I’ve made and sold furniture and Joann’s quilts. If this isn’t enough, I’ll get more. But it will be easier to find food and lodging for Joann and the baby alone. And I’m needed at the Refuge if we’re going to make it through the winter. Take them. Please.”

Tori’s eyes widened. She looked to Orion.

Baby Josiah cried again. A pitiful cry at that. It did sound more like a weak kitten than a baby. Joann pulled out a bottle and tried feeding him.

Orion didn’t take the cash. “Why not ask the Brinks? It’s not that we don’t want to help. It’s just…there’s a militia group that we’ve run across. They aren’t friendly. I would hate to put your family in danger.”

“The Brinks are pretty removed from society too. They do what’s necessary, but I don’t know who they know in town.” Abraham looked at Tori. “But Mara said you know someone with a child like Josiah. And like Joann said, we’ve prayed about this. God answered. I’m trusting Him and you to lead them and bring them back home to me. Please.”

“Even though it could be dangerous? If the Brinks don’t have a vehicle, we have a couple days’ hike before we reach town.” Orion needed to know they understood the risks.

“‘Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.’ Psalm 34:19.”

Well, how could Orion refuse that? But it wasn’t just up to him. “Tori? You okay with this?”

She looked down at Josiah, his tiny face peeking out of the sling as Joann fed him. His eyes were closed. Milk dribbled out of the side of his mouth. Was he getting any of it down? “I am. But we should get going.”

After a tearful goodbye between Abraham and Joann, the father kissed his son’s forehead and prayed over the group. “Lord, bless them. Protect them. Keep them strong for the journey, and bring Joann and Josiah back home.”

The baby settled down. Tori took a pack from Abraham. “I’ve got this.”

“I’d better get back. Amos won’t be happy about this, but I need to do what’s best for my family. Make sure you stay on the trail. There’s lots of snares and traps,” Abraham said before he turned and jogged away.

Joann wiped the tears and pulled back her shoulders. “Let’s go.”

It wasn’t long before they spotted the brown metal roof of a building peeking out above the trees ahead. The path widened to an actual dirt road.

“Looks promising.” Orion looked down at the map. “This must be it.”

“Now we just have to hope the Brinks are here and have a way to get us to Copper Mountain.” Tori shifted the backpack straps on her shoulders.

“Maybe you two should wait here, and I can run up ahead and check to make sure everything is safe.” Orion didn’t want to walk into another dangerous situation.

“I don’t know why it wouldn’t be safe. People from the Refuge often come here, and there’s never been a problem before,” Joann said.

“We should stay together,” Tori agreed.

They walked into a clearing with a log house, a couple metal-sided sheds, and a little barn.

Tori spun in a slow circle, looking around. “It’s a nice place. Let’s just hope they’re nice people too.”

Goats bleated in a corral off the barn, but beyond that, it was eerily quiet. The three adults spread out as they moved toward the house.

“Oh no.” Joann, her mouth agape, stared into the distance. Three chickens lay dead in the dirt outside what looked like an open coop.

“Look!” Tori pointed to the porch of the log house.

A woman lay on the wooden planks, passed out.

* * *

Tori made to rush to the woman.

“Wait!” Orion stopped her with his arm out. “We don’t know what we’re walking into. Joann, stay right here. Don’t get any closer to those chickens.”

Joann backed away, but Tori pushed against him. “We can’t just leave the?—”

The woman on the porch moaned.

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