Chapter 46
It had been nearly three months since Markwood’s death.
In that time, the city had continued to thrive and grow with the same enthusiasm as the village and surrounding areas.
For the first time since her arrival back at the homestead, Veronica was able to take the time to focus on Bella and herself.
It was strange to think about how far they had come since that first fateful meeting at the beginning of the disaster.
Now they had a bond that was unbreakable.
It was somewhere between siblings and a mother and daughter.
During that time, Veronica was amazed at how much her own relationship with her mother had blossomed.
It was truly wonderful to witness and be a part of.
She had no complaints. Sitting on the front porch with Darrell as they cleaned their respective shotguns, Veronica was surprised to see a rider approaching from the opposite direction of the village.
It wasn’t often that outsiders used the road that traversed up the opposite side of the mountain. Yet it did happen on occasion.
Veronica and her family were the first line of defense if trouble ever came that way for Dodger Run.
They worked together as a community. She was on her feet, and in an instant, making her way down the steps to the main road.
Darrell followed right behind her, ever watchful of the woman he’d professed his love to.
In a simple ceremony weeks before, they had been wed though not in the eyes of the law, and they knew it.
There were no magistrates or county courthouses to file the proper paperwork, but she was confident that when the lights came back on, they would take that final step.
The mounted man slowed when he saw them approaching the gate and gave them a wave.
He didn’t appear to be a threat, but she wasn’t going to take any chances, nonetheless.
With her pistol at her hip, she rested her hand there so the man could see it.
Almost instantly, he raised his arms to show he wasn’t carrying a weapon.
It was strange to think that anyone on the road would not be armed.
It seemed like a foolish idea, to say the least. But she wasn’t going to question his decisions, not as long as he came in peace.
“How can we help you, friend?” Veronica asked.
“I’ve got a letter here for the members of the household from the United States Government. I hope you don’t mind if I leave it with you. I’d like to make it to the other side of the mountain before dark,” he said.
“Another letter? We didn’t think we would be getting one again until the lights came back on,” Veronica muttered.
“Well, don’t shoot the messenger, but it seems things are taking a little longer than originally anticipated. That’s the government for you, though, right? Always taking their time with things, even when it’s a national emergency.”
Veronica didn’t like the sound of that one bit.
When the man reached into his bag and took out a letter, she willingly accepted it, though she was hesitant to read it.
Bidding the rider farewell, Veronica and Darrell made their way back up to the porch as the others emerged from the house.
It was still fairly warm, considering how late in the winter it was.
She knew her parents believed God was smiling down on them, but she was convinced it was simply global warming.
If nothing else could be said about the disaster, at least it had given Mother Nature a chance to heal from the destruction of humanity.
As the others gathered round, Veronica opened the now-familiar envelope and saw the same heading from the note they had received before.
Her heart raced as she quickly scanned through it before clearing her throat to read it out loud for the others.
The writer hadn’t been exaggerating; it was not good news.
“‘My fellow Americans, it is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that there have been setbacks in the restoration of power to the United States. In conjunction with allied forces, we are striving to keep our nation safe from outside enemies while sacrificing the needs of those citizens within. It is my duty as your leader to make you aware of the delay in restoration. At this time, we anticipate that the public sector will start receiving power within the next forty-eight months,’” she said.
“Whoa, was not what I was expecting,” Kevin whispered. “That’s a long time. I guess I’ve got time to make that chessboard we were talking about, Bryson.”
Bryson grinned. “See? I knew you couldn’t resist a good woodworking project. What do you say, Conner? Want to come scout some birch with us?”
“You better believe it,” Conner replied.
Veronica chuckled, happy to see her brothers were making the best of things.
It was going to be rough, but together they would make it through with their positive spirits intact.
Veronica was more worried about Bella. As she turned and smiled at the young woman, she saw the color had drained from her face.
Her gaze was focused on the farm and their home.
It was a lot for anyone to process. She wouldn’t have blamed the girl for being upset.
No one could have known that the end would be so far out of sight when they’d barely survived the first six months of the disaster.
“Four years?” Bella stammered.
Veronica took a deep breath and wrapped her arm around the girl. “I know it sounds like a lifetime away from now, but I promise you we will make the best of it.”
“No, I don’t mind it being four years, honestly. This is the happiest I have ever been. I don’t want any of it to change. He could have said it was never coming back, and I think I would be just as grateful as I am now.”
Veronica felt tears springing to her eyes.
She couldn’t believe Bella was genuinely happy there with them.
Yet, as she looked around at the rest of the group and saw all their smiling faces, Veronica knew the truth.
They didn’t need electricity, fancy gadgets, or running vehicles to be happy.
All they needed was each other to truly make the homestead a home for them all.
Together, they would overcome any obstacles they faced.
For so long, she had rebelled against her family, thought to be an independent person with no ties to the clan she would now protect with her life.
Lacing her fingers through Darrell’s, the group made their way back into the house and gathered around the kitchen table as Mauve grabbed a bottle of wine from the storeroom.
It was a trade she’d gotten from the city for a gallon of milk and sweet bread.
It was amazing to her that through it all, leaving her family behind and swearing to never come back, she was sitting there at the homestead.
A calming vibration overtook Veronica as she listened to the joyful conversations around the table.
At that moment, she realized she had finally come home.