Escape (26 page)
Authors: T.W. Piperbrook
“I wish this place had more bedrooms,” Meredith said, fluffing the pillows and sheets she’d set on the floor of the Sanders’ bedroom.
“Are you kidding me?” Dan laughed. “This is the best setup we’ve had in days.”
She had set up Dan and Quinn in the second bedroom; John and her would sleep in the master. For the remainder of the night, they’d agreed to take shifts watching over the property. Since leaving Meredith’s farm, there’d been no other signs of danger, but none of them wanted to take any chances.
It was a small price to pay for stability.
Meredith had agreed to take the first shift. Although she was tired, she knew that Dan and Quinn must be exhausted. They’d been on the run for days; they deserved to get some rest.
“Are you comfortable, Quinn?”
The little girl smiled at her from the bed through half-closed eyes. They’d been talking a few minutes, and already her niece was starting to relax. Meredith leaned over and kissed her on the head.
“I’m so glad you came to find me.”
“Me too, Aunt Meredith.”
Dan had arranged himself on the floor next to the bed. Meredith noticed he’d chosen a spot by the window. Even though it wasn’t his turn to watch, she was sure he’d been keeping an eye out just the same.
The thought gave her comfort, and she smiled down at him in appreciation.
“Try to get some sleep,” she told them.
“We will,” Quinn said.
“Goodnight.”
Meredith walked out of the bedroom, snapping the light off behind her.
When she went downstairs, John was in the kitchen, rifle propped at his side.
“Do you see anything?” she asked him.
“No. We’re all clear for now. Why don’t you head into the bedroom and get some sleep?”
“No, you go ahead and rest, John. I’ll wake you up in a few hours when I get tired.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
He handed her the rifle. In the wake of the attack, they had only a few guns left with ammunition. Those they had left were stacked on the dining room table, easily accessible to anyone keeping watch. Since arriving, they’d cleaned up the house; Meredith had even transported some of her pictures and belongings from the farm. Between the fumes of the propane and the smell of the bodies, they’d decided to vacate her old house, at least for now.
John kissed her on the cheek and headed upstairs. She looked after him, then switched her focus to the boarded windows. Through the course of her shift, she’d make the rounds to all of them, keeping a careful watch on the premises.
Hopefully that would allow her comrades to sleep.
The wind gusted from outside, blowing a gentle breeze through the cracks and crevices. It was still summertime, and the fresh air felt refreshing against her skin. In the coming days they’d have to figure things out. They’d need to replace the windows, get more weapons; figure out a long-term plan.
But for now, she was just grateful that they’d all found each other, and that they’d all survived another day. In the wake of what had happened, there wasn’t much more she could ask for.
Something brushed past her leg, and she jumped before realizing it was Ernie. He launched into the air, aiming for her arms, and she smiled. She picked him up and held him close.
The dog lapped at her face. Since arriving at the Sanders’, he’d spent most of his time pacing, doing his best to get adjusted. Now it seemed like he was settling down.
“You know what, Ernie? We’re going to get through this,” she whispered. “And no matter what happens, we’re all going to be OK.”
31
F
or the first time in days, Dan awoke not to the sounds of a disturbance, but to the smell of a home-cooked meal. He rolled over in his sheets and rubbed at his eyes. Even though he’d lain down, he hadn’t expected to sleep.
He glanced up at the bed next to him. The sheets were rumpled; his daughter was gone. For a split second he felt a tinge of worry, then he heard the sounds of laughter from the other room.
It was a sound he hadn’t heard in a while, and it felt damn good to hear it again.
He rose to his feet and looked out the window, which he’d kept open. The sun shone through the windowpane, promising another day of light and warmth, and a few birds circled overhead. He ignored the memories in his head and did his best to focus on the smells coming from the kitchen.
Still fully dressed, he turned and walked across the room, then padded down the stairwell. The dining room table was set. Meredith and Quinn sat across from each other, and John sat at the window with a plate on his lap.
“Am I the last one up?” Dan asked.
The rest of them smiled.
“You almost missed lunch, Dad!” Quinn said.
Meredith pointed to a place setting at the head of the table, where a plate full of garden-fresh potatoes and vegetables awaited. Dan pulled out the chair and sat, feeling more grateful than he had in days. He took a bite of his potatoes. Even though they were a little cold, he found himself thinking they were the best he’d tasted.
Sometimes a meal was only as good as the company you kept, and right now, he couldn’t have asked for better companions.
“How are things looking outside, John?”
“All clear since last night.”
“That’s great news.”
Dan took another forkful of food, wiped his chin with a napkin. He studied the man perched at the window. In all the commotion of the night before, he’d hardly gotten the chance to know him.
“So what did you used to do, John? I mean, before all this…”
“I was a woodworker. I have a furniture shop in town. That’s how Meredith and I met, actually.”
Meredith pointed to the boarded windows, which they’d transported from the farm. “All this wood was from his store.”
“You seem like a good guy to have around.”
The four shared a laugh. Quinn speared a piece of tomato with her fork, dropping it onto the floor on the way to her mouth. Ernie swooped in to pick it up.
“Ernie!” Meredith scolded. “Mind your manners.”
The dog licked Quinn’s pant leg in apology. She patted him on the head, leaning down to give him a kiss of her own.
“It’s OK, Ernie. I would’ve shared it with you anyway.”
When everyone had finished eating, Meredith stood from the table and reached for the empty plates.
“Anyone for seconds?”
Dan paused for a moment. His stomach was still rumbling; it’d been a while since they’d had a decent meal.
“Sure,” he said.
Meredith retrieved the dishes and returned to the counter.
“How long do you want to stay here?” she asked.
Dan paused, glancing around the room at his companions. For the first time in over a week, he had no pressing desire to leave. In just over a day, the Sanders’ had become not only a place of shelter, but also a place of familiarity; a place that felt like home.
“I’ll have to check out appointment book. We don’t have anywhere to be, do we Quinn?”
The little girl shook her head and smiled.
“Well, I have enough food to last for a while,” Meredith said. “Between the crops I brought from the farm and the packages you brought from the car, we should be all set for a while.”
“That’s great news.”
“I also saw a nice garden out back. I’ll bet we can harvest the crops.”
“Excellent,” Dan said.
“There’s a catch,” she said, holding up her finger.
“What is it?”
“I’ll need help. Anyone who wants to eat is going to have to work for it.” Meredith grinned.
Quinn immediately raised her hand. “I’ll help you, Aunt Meredith!”
“Anything for a meal!” Dan quipped.
The group laughed. John rose from his perch.
“You don’t have to worry; Meredith is a great teacher. Before helping her on the farm, I couldn’t even look at a plant without killing it.”
“Now he’s a regular farmhand,” Meredith said, punching his arm.
“We’ll need to figure out schedules for keeping watch, too. Maybe take some trips into town for more supplies.”
“Let’s talk about that later,” Dan said, giving the others a warm smile. “For now, let’s just enjoy our meal.”
The others nodded and turned to other conversation.
Within minutes, laughter filled the room. In the coming days, they’d have a lot of things to figure out. But all that could wait. Regardless of what had transpired, regardless of what the world had become, they’d found each other.
And right now, that was the only thing that mattered.
About the Author
T.W. PIPERBROOK WAS BORN AND
raised in Connecticut. He has been writing since childhood, but
Contamination
is his first published work. In addition to writing, the author has spent time as a full-time touring musician, touring across the US, Canada, and Europe.
He now lives with his wife, a son, and a Boston Terrier that hates squirrels.
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Table of Contents
Table of Contents