Chapter 29
The next morning when she rose, Sarah felt like a completely new woman.
She couldn't believe how amazing it felt to sleep in her old bed again.
No matter what she did back at her apartment in Florida, nothing compared to your childhood home.
She hadn't given much thought to what the small city she once called home looked like since the solar storm had changed everyone's lives.
Sitting up in bed, Sarah stretched and looked out the window.
It had to be at least nine in the morning.
She couldn't remember the last time she had slept so late without working the night shift.
Instantly, she was on her feet and getting dressed.
It was strange to think that she was now considered one of the lucky ones to have almost a complete wardrobe ready to go.
How many people had been stranded at airports or on the road while traveling?
It broke her heart to think of how many individuals were now struggling just to make it from one day to the next.
As she headed out into the main part of the house and saw her mother plating breakfast, Sarah couldn't help but think of how domestic it all seemed.
The smell of bacon and the sound of it crackling over a grill could be heard through the open sliding glass doors.
Somewhere outside, the twins were running wild and laughing with each other.
She heard the sound of metal clanking against the hard soil and felt the subtle vibrations of the house.
It sounded like her father and Adam were already starting construction on the new bathhouse.
As she sat down at the island and smiled at her mother, Connie put a cup of coffee in front of her. It smelled like heaven.
“How’d you sleep, honey?” Connie asked.
“Well, I definitely slept a lot better than I have in a long time. I feel good about the day, and it was nice to sleep in a comfortable bed for once.”
“That’s good to hear. I’m glad you were able to get some rest. You looked exhausted yesterday.”
“And now?”
“You look rested and happy.”
“I am. This coffee is delicious, too,” Sarah said. “How’s everyone else doing this morning? How are the kids?”
“The kids are good. They’ve already fed the animals with me, and we walked the fence line to make sure there weren’t any holes or breaks.”
“What did they think about feeding the animals? I remember how that used to be my favorite thing to do when I was a kid.”
Connie smiled. “Oh, you loved feeding the animals. I think they enjoyed it. They really got a kick out of the chickens.”
“What are they doing now?” Sarah asked.
“I’m pretty sure they're just waiting on breakfast, which should be done any time now. You look like you have something else on your mind, sweetheart. What are you thinking about?”
Sarah chuckled. “Is it always so obvious that I’m thinking about something?”
“I’m your mother, Sarah. I just know these things.”
“Fine.” She smiled. “I was thinking about doing a bit of a recon mission. I just want to get a look around and see how things are. If I can get a better idea of what’s around us, then I will know how to protect us.”
“Well, I think that’s a great idea, especially since we have the kids here now. I don’t want to see anything happen to them.”
“I won’t let that happen. I’m just worried about what Adam and Dad will say about me heading out on my own.”
Her mother started to laugh and shook her head dismissively. Sarah knew Connie had more faith in her abilities than Adam or her father did. It wasn't their fault. They were simply protective over her by nature. Yet Connie understood just how skilled, silent, and crafty Sarah could be.
“Why don't you let me worry about them? But if you are going to go, I suggest you do so now before everyone comes inside for breakfast. It's going to be hot in a few hours. There’s no reason for you to be out there in the heat,” Connie said.
“I love you so much, Mom,” Sarah said.
Connie grabbed a couple of slices of bread from the counter. “Go get yourself ready and make it quick. I’ll fix you a breakfast sandwich for the road.”
She was on her feet in an instant, racing around the counter to kiss her mom’s cheek and give her a quick hug before rushing back to her room.
She had unpacked everything from her bookbag the night before.
Now, she only needed a few things in case of emergency.
From her childhood closet, she grabbed the binoculars her parents had gotten her the Christmas before and the camouflage outfit she’d used for the last five years to go hunting with her father.
Sixty seconds after stuffing her gun in her belt and zipping her bag, she was jogging back to her mother in the kitchen.
Connie handed her a sandwich wrapped in a paper towel before shooing her out the front door.
There wasn’t a minute to waste. Even as she slipped out the door, she heard the children and the men coming in through the creaking screen door in the back.
Moving away from the house, she kept herself low and headed for the forest that separated their property from the next.
As Sarah slowly made her way through the woods, she started to think about the places she could go to check for supplies.
She remembered the neighbors had a small RV.
She wondered if they were still there or if they had taken off when all hell had broken loose around them.
She couldn’t blame anyone for trying to make it somewhere less open, but she would rather be able to see what was coming for her.
Memories she had made as a child came rushing back to her.
Running through the woods with her friends, playing tag, and not a care in the world.
Now, the world had changed, and she needed to constantly watch her back and look over her shoulder.
Nothing had prepared her for the times they were in other than what her parents had taught her.
Finally, she made it to the neighboring driveway.
Sarah stopped and looked around, but it didn’t look like anyone had been there.
The place looked entirely empty, but then again, so did her parents’ house when they first arrived.
She made her way from one side of the driveway to the other, but there were still no signs of movement.
Quietly making her way up the driveway, she reached the front door.
The door was locked, but it didn’t take much to pick up the lock and gained entry into the house.
The first thing she did was to check the cabinets for anything that would be medically helpful.
Painkillers and bandages were going to be needed, and she quickly found what she could.
Sarah had just started going through the medicine cabinet in the upstairs bathroom when she thought she heard a noise coming from downstairs. Instantly, her heart started to race. Trying to be as quiet as possible, she started to creep back down the stairs.
Moving down the steps, she tried to avoid the ones that had made noise on her trip up.
Sarah pulled out the gun tucked into her pants and flipped off the safety.
Despite still being able to hear them rummaging in the kitchen, whoever it was wasn’t speaking.
Suddenly, a loud noise emitted from one of the boards beneath her, and she cringed, pausing immediately.
There was no way the intruders didn't know she was there now.
The sound of quickly approaching feet made her jump the last few steps and spin around, ready to fire at whoever was charging her.
As quickly as she had the weapon pulled, she found herself holstering it again as the intruders attacked her.
Sarah bent forward and picked up one of two obviously stray puppies as they wiggled at her feet.
They were absolutely adorable, with scruffy and dirty brown fur from head to paw.
With the RV she was looking for still parked in the driveway, Sarah considered the expedition incredibly successful.
Checking the kitchen and the rest of the house one last time to make sure there was no puppy left behind, she tucked the pair into her bag and quickly headed back for the homestead.
The two would be a welcome addition, and she knew the twins would be in love with them as soon as they saw them.
Hopefully, they would have more success than she had over the years at convincing Harry to let the puppies stay inside.
Something told her the twins already had her father wrapped around their fingers.
She smiled as the puppies wiggled in her book bag as she set out for Harmony Homestead with two more creatures to add to the arc.