Graham's Resolution Trilogy Bundle: Books 1-3 (49 page)

Graham lay on a couch covered loosely with a sheet. Recovering, Macy slipped loose and rushed to his side. As she lifted the sheet, McCann saw more blood had seeped through the bandages on Graham’s open thigh.

“Graham?” Macy was probably trying to keep the alarm out of her voice, but again McCann could detect a frightened tremor.

“He’s probably still asleep.”

“Graham!” She ran to him and knelt down beside him. “Graham, wake up. It’s me, Macy.” She looked pleadingly at McCann. “He’s the strongest man I’ve ever known. To see him like this is awful.”

“I know,” McCann said gently, using a cloth from the back of the couch to wipe sweat from Graham’s forehead.

“What happened, exactly?” Her voice cracked and tears spilled from her eyes. “He risked so much to save me and my sister, to save all of us.”

McCann spoke quietly. “I heard a truck pull up down the road early yesterday morning and then yelling. I knew the wild dogs were attacking someone; I’ve been dealing with them and wolves here since I arrived. I ran over there and shot one of them, but the other two would not let go of him. I killed them, but not before they hurt him. A lot.”

Macy’s low moan of distress cut into McCann.

“Macy, I promise you I tried the best I could. He lost a lot of blood. He’s been running a fever, and he mumbles a lot. I was up with him off and on through the night. I have experience with stitching up cows on my father’s ranch; I did the best I could with his wounds.” He was afraid she might blame him for Graham’s condition.

“I’m sure you did, McCann.” She sniffed and blew out a breath. “It’s just hard to find him like this. Did you know he’s been waiting for you?”

McCann shook his head.

“He takes care of all of us—my sister Marcy, and the little boy Bang, but also three others we’ve encountered since getting here.” She smiled. “Looks like it’s time for us to return the favor, and it’s all thanks to you.”

McCann didn’t want her gratitude, so he changed the subject. “So, we have two trucks to bring back to your camp now. We’ll put Graham in one, and I’ll hitch my horses up to the other. We’ll have to drive slow, but I’ll just follow you back.” Then he set to work as fast as he could to gather his gear and his horses.

Meanwhile, Macy checked on Graham. His temperature was still elevated, and he looked pale and fragile. She examined his wounds and noted how neatly McCann had stitched him up. There was a long gash coming from two directions down his thigh, with a lot of swelling, and Macy detected an odor. They needed to get him back to camp fast so that Clarisse might tell them what more they could do for him.

As Macy redressed his wound, Graham began to stir, and his eyes fluttered open for a bit. “Hi, Graham,” she said, so happy to see him come around, if even for a minute.

When he recognized her, he said, “Macy, girl. The dogs got me.” He tried to swallow.

“It’s okay,” she said as her tears dropped down to his chest, “McCann killed them.”

“Yeah, he came just at the right time,” Graham said, then his eyes began to flutter shut before Macy could say anything more.

She wiped her tears, and then went to the bathroom. She could hear McCann retrieving first the Scout, then the pickup, from in front of the post office. He left both engines running and came in through the front door.

“I think we’re all set. You know there’s a frozen deer strapped to the roof of your truck, right?”

“Yeah. My sister and two others just returned from a hunting trip, and I took the truck to look for Graham as soon as they got back.”

“I’ll help you get it down when we get there. I hope Graham’s still asleep, because moving him is going to be painful for him,” McCann speculated.

“He came to, just for a second. At least he knows I’m here,” Macy said. “I’ll help you carry him to the truck.”

McCann swept a gaze over her. “No. No, you won’t.”

“Maybe I’m not very big,” she argued, “but I’m strong. I can help.”

“Look, he weighs about as much as I do. He’s probably going to yell out in pain. Are you going to be able to handle that? If not, you need to go get into the truck now.”

“I can handle it, Carnation boy.” She glared at McCann. “You don’t even know me.”

“I’m just trying to help, Macy.”

“Then pick him up, and I’ll help you get him into the truck.”

As McCann began to heft Graham into his arms, Macy saw the strain it put on even his muscular frame. He didn’t object when she took part of Graham’s weight, laying his legs across her arms. “Don’t think he weighed this much when I first hauled him into the house,” he muttered, grunting as he lifted Graham higher and swung into a turn. Macy followed. Graham’s legs, wrapped in the sheet, hung heavy and limp against her.

Graham moaned when McCann accidently brushed an arm past his incision in an attempt to not drop him. Macy covered him the best she could against the cold. Walking sideways, she opened the door for McCann and escorted him to the Scout. She braced the truck door open with her back and helped to slide Graham into the backseat. “Okay, go ahead. I’ll follow behind with the pickup, but drive slowly. With the horses tethered to the back, we can’t go too fast.”

“Oh my God, I nearly forgot. You are a carrier? Right?” she asked with sudden fear.

“Yes, Macy. I’m the only one left from my town. I never came down with the virus.”

She nodded with bittersweet recognition.

McCann went to the pickup truck and waited there for Macy to pull around him. She turned around several times to check on Graham, who had settled back down and didn’t seem to be conscious of his surroundings. She pushed an errant sheet back over his chest with her right hand and continued on slowly to keep from jostling him around too much.

Macy put the Scout in gear, and McCann followed close behind as they made their way slowly toward camp.

The brake lights brightened ahead of him, causing McCann to stop. He got out and went to the back of the pickup to check on his two horses tied to the tailgate. Calming them in unfamiliar surroundings, he patted each one and rubbed their necks a bit. Afterward, he walked around to the front and found Macy standing by the side of the road looking worried and confused.

“What’s up? Graham okay?”

“He’s still asleep.” She pointed with the radio toward the side street. “This is the spot where Marcy said she let Sam out last night.”

“Who?”

“Marcy is my twin sister, and Sam is another guy living at our camp. I need to call in again and find out if Sam went back to camp. If not, I’ll go looking for him after we deliver Graham.”

“Tala? Over,” she said, waiting for a reply.

After no answer had come in more than a minute, Macy resubmitted the call, thinking they were probably busy with Mark’s injuries when Tala finally answered.

“Macy! How is he? Over.” Tala’s voice crackled on the radio waves.

“We’re on our way back. Graham was attacked by a couple of dogs, but he’s going to survive.” She flashed her eyes and smiled mischievously at McCann. “The Carnation Boy arrived just in time and saved him, but Graham’s got a long recovery ahead of him. Carnation Boy is coming back with us. Um . . . Is Sam still missing? Over.”

“Oh, it’s such a relief”—Tala’s voice choked up for a moment—“to hear that Graham’s with you. Um, no; Sam still hasn’t come in yet. Please hurry, and bring Graham home. And Carnation Boy too, of course. Macy, I have more bad news, though. Bang. He and Sheriff went off to track either Sam or Graham. The other radio’s missing, and he took Sheriff along with him. I . . . never caught him slipping out while taking care of Ennis and Mark. Over.”

McCann watched as Macy’s face drained of all color. “Oh no!” Her blue eyes flew up to McCann’s, filled with alarm. “Tala, he’s aware of the rule to stay away from the prepper camp, so don’t worry. You tried to call him? Over.”

“Yes. He didn’t answer. Oh, Macy, Bang always copies your every move. I’m sure he figures if you went off to find Graham, it was his duty to go track Sam.” Her voice broke again as a sob escaped.

“This time he’s gone too far. As soon as we find him, I’m going to kill him, if he’s not already dead.” She fell silent for a minute, then clicked the radio again. “Tala, I’m sure he’ll be back soon. Sheriff is with him. We’ll be right there, Tala, and then I’ll find him. I promise. Macy out.” She turned to McCann, and he could see her fear. “We should go,” she said.

“Wait a minute,” McCann said. “Prepper camp? Does this have anything to do with the fire last night?”

The prepper camp is located north of ours. They’re still susceptible to the virus, so we keep away from them. There was a fire there last night. I’ve tried to radio them, but they don’t answer. One of our guys, Sam, has a daughter who lives with them. He’s injured, but he still went to look for her to make sure she was safe. Bang, who is the five-year-old boy you must have seen with us back in Carnation, is now searching for Sam, I think. It’s a lot to explain; all you need to know now is that the preppers are friendly, but we don’t cross into their territory—ever, for any reason—without prior permission.”

“And who’s Sheriff?”

“He’s our dog. Don’t you remember the dog we had that growled at you?”

“Oh, yeah. He’s tame?”

“Yes, he’s part of our family now. He was a police dog,” she said as she slid back into the driver’s seat, and then her radio crackled to life again unexpectedly.

“Bang here. Macy? Over.”

McCann stopped in his tracks as he heard a little boy’s hushed voice pipe over the radio waves and stopped to listen as Macy barked, “Where are you, Bang?”

“Someone’s walking around in one of those suits, Macy. I had to get away to call you. I found Sam. He’s hurt real bad. I need you to help me get him home. I can’t move him by myself. Over.”

She began to tremble in fear as she asked him, “Where are you exactly, Bang? Over.”

“I’m near the bend in the river. On the other side. Over.”

She took in a sharp breath. “I told you never to go over there!” Tears of fury or frustration spilled down her cheeks now as she held one hand over her opened mouth.

“I had to. Sam’s lying in the brush. So, I went around and found him. Then, one of the preppers walked over here. Hurry, I’m afraid they’re going to find me.”

McCann asked quickly, “How far is it?”

“About twenty minutes on foot,” Macy answered. “If they find Bang and Sam, they’ll shoot them. Those are the rules we agreed to.”

“Let’s take the horses,” McCann offered.

“We can’t. They’ll make too much noise. I have to go alone. I don’t want them to shoot you or your horses.”

McCann grabbed her arm and stopped her short before she headed into the woods, alone and unprepared. As he spoke, he replaced her pistol into her harness. “Listen to me. Graham needs to get back to camp. I can take my horse and follow the river from here to get them both back on the right side. I’ll be quiet. I’ll get them both and then bring them all back to camp. You need to get Graham home.” He gave her a little shake. “Macy, trust me enough to get this done. Go on.
Move.
Graham’s getting colder and weaker each minute we stand here talking.”

McCann could see the war Macy had to fight with herself, but eventually she nodded. “Okay,” she said, “I’ll get Graham home, then come back here for you. Let me talk to Bang.” Quickly, she outlined the plan to the boy, telling him not to be afraid of the man on the horse, to come with him when he got there. “You’ll have to take my radio so you can talk to him,” she said to McCann after logging off.

McCann mounted his horse, slung his rifle over his shoulder, and was about to move out when she grabbed his knee. “Just remember, going over there, into their territory, means they can shoot you. It’s our agreement with them. If you come across anyone other than an injured man or a little boy, please hide from them.”

“Macy, I’m not going to let anyone kill a five-year-old kid because he crossed over into their territory. If they want to shoot at me, they’re fair game as far as I’m concerned. If I have a confrontation with them, I’ll try to reason with them first, but I’m not making any promises that I won’t shoot someone aiming at me or a kid. I should be back within an hour. It’ll be all right, Macy, I promise.” With that, he tipped his hat at her and headed the chestnut mare into the ravine leading down through the forest beyond.

Macy gazed after him for a moment.
Who is this guy?
Then she hopped back into the Scout and began to drive away. “He thinks he’s a cowboy,” she whispered to herself, shaking her head.

“Maybe he is,” Graham murmured low from the backseat through the pain and fever combined.

Macy turned really quick and saw that he was conscious, but barely, with his eyes mere slits.

“Graham! I didn’t know you were awake.”

“Well, I am. You need to tell me what’s going on with Bang,” he said as he tried to reposition himself. He grunted and groaned through the excruciatingly painful effort.

“Nothing. He’s fine.” Macy tried to sound casual though she had never been able to lie to Graham. “He went looking for Sam. He’ll be home soon. Nothing you need to worry about right now.” He groaned with agony she knew he couldn’t suppress as she drove on.

“Macy, thanks for trying, but you never could lie to me worth a damn.”

She guided the truck carefully, trying to avoid any dips in the icy road. Some obstacles couldn’t be avoided, so she tried to warn him when they were coming up. When she pulled up in front of the cabin, Tala looked like she had stood outside on the porch waiting since their last conversation. Her face held creases of worry, and her skin was pale.

Wiping away tears, Tala ran to open the truck door, and Graham smiled upside down at her in the backseat.

“Sorry, I forgot my radio this time,” he said sheepishly.

The sweat pouring off his forehead was the first giveaway that his condition wasn’t good. Tala tried not to cry, but she couldn’t help it, seeing him in so much pain. She reached down and kissed him. “You’re forgiven, but next time, you might not be so lucky,” she said.

“I wasn’t so lucky
this
time,” he whispered, trying to swallow though his mouth felt thick. He began to shiver with the fever and the cold.

“I’ll get Marcy to help you inside, Graham,” Macy said, and with Tala’s assistance, tried not to cause him any more pain than necessary. They got him onto a canvas stretcher and carried him into the cabin. Soon, he lay on his bunk next to Ennis’s.

Tala still cried and Graham said over and over, “It’s okay, Tala. I’m going to be fine. It’s my own fault.”

He was clearly not fine. Tala found that his temperature was over 102 degrees, and his leg injury was flaming red. With all the movement, the wound bled again, and she patted at the sutured area with gauze, wondering who had stitched him up so well. Marcy retrieved fresh dressings, as well as antibiotics, and passed Macy as she left the bunkroom, seeing that Graham was now in good hands.

Macy glanced at Mark on the living room sofa to see how he fared, and though he still couldn’t talk, he waved at her. His face displayed black and blue marks, but he seemed to be in good spirits.

She’d begun to back out the front door when Mark beckoned her over to him. She shook her head, but he looked stubborn and patted the table next to him to make her stop. She put her finger up to her mouth, asking him to be quiet. He glared at her and shook his fist forcefully, but she backed out the door all the way and ran for the truck. She didn’t want to explain about Bang’s whereabouts or hear any other questions she wasn’t ready to answer. Especially about going over to the preppers’ side.