Chapter 15 #3
“No, as it happens, I did not.” Perry chose to be amused. “In honor of you, I did an unprecedented act of charity and allowed them to bypass Ruger and Millersville by cutting across my land, using an old road the First Landing Norwoods built. Goes across the foothills.”
“They barely made it through, Dad,” said the AGcycle-riding daughter. “Tell the whole story.”
“Fleur there guided them a couple of times,” her father said with pride.
“Could the APC’s make it?” Jeff asked. “I’d rather avoid all the complications ahead on the highway.”
Shaking his head, Perry dashed his visitors’ hopes.
“The buses barely made it, like Fleur said. One of them literally burned out, ignited a helluva brush fire.” He glanced at Tamsyn.
“Don’t worry, all the passengers survived.
Your APC’s couldn’t manage the narrow road.
They’re a lot bigger than the school buses. ”
“Thank you for letting my friends use the road,” Tamsyn said. Hope the Rosewater refugees had made it to Glastine was a warm spot in her heart.
“Like I said, did it in your honor.” Perry transferred his gaze to Jeff. “You don’t want to skip a trip to Millersville, captain. There are people there who can tell you a lot about conditions at Glastine. Best to know before you get there, am I right?”
“Of course you’ll have to trade them something they value to get passage, not to mention information,” Perry’s oldest son said from his seat beside Tamsyn.
“That might not be so hard.” Perry had the air of a man about to spill a secret. “Mayor’s wife is pregnant and having a hard time. They don’t have any doctors left in Millersville—they all pretty much died when the infected overran the hospital. Your Dr. Jericho here might be just what’s needed.”
“I’d be more than happy to do what I can for the mayor’s wife,” Melly said.
“But she’s not going to stay in Millersville.” Jeff was adamant.
Perry raised his hands in surrender. “Hey, simply passing along a useful tip. Not trying to tell you what to do.” He focused on Tamsyn so fast she blinked in surprise. “Come upstairs with me, sweetheart. We can talk business in my office.”
“Of—of course.” She swiped her lips with her napkin.
“It was a fantastic dinner, thank you. So nice to see all of you again.” Rising, she stepped to where Perry was waiting, ignoring the way Cody half rose from his chair as if to join her.
She wasn’t in any danger from her old friend.
Looking at him, she said, “I’ll catch up to all of you in a bit. ”
Hand resting on the small of her back Perry guided her out of the dining room and up the big staircase to the second floor.
She remembered his office, having been there a few times when she came visiting with her father.
“Still got the bottomless candy jar?” she asked with a grin.
“Dessert was great but I could use a sugary chaser.”
His laugh boomed in the hallway as he unlocked the office door.
“Sure do. My grandkids would revolt if I let it go empty. Laid in a big supply of candy when we were stocking up necessities for the long haul.” Perry strode to the desk and sat in the big chair, pushing the ornate candy jar across the polished wooden surface in her direction. “Help yourself.”
“One is enough.” Tamsyn took off the lid and plucked out a single wrapped candy. “It’s so good to see you in person, although I’m sorry about the circumstances.” She settled into her comfortable chair, wondering what the old rancher wanted to talk to her about. “Brings back good memories.”
“What are you doing with those people?” he asked, brows drawn together in a frown. “You can trust me. If they’re coercing you or using you as a hostage, I’ll deal with it.”
Although rocked by his suspicion of Jeff and the others, she found her voice immediately. “No, no, they’re terrific. I’m here of my own free will, I promise.”
He sat back in his chair with a thunk. “I can’t imagine you leaving the Double Comets spread willingly, any more than I’d walk away from my place here. What happened?” Before she could speak, he waved his hand. “I heard what you said about the town falling and your foreman and the ranch hands.”
“After the town fell, I only wanted to get home. I planned to stay and do the best I could to take care of the animals but then I ran into Jeff and the others and while they were staying at my house I came to realize there was no point in me trying to maintain the ranch under these circumstances. For what? There’s no cattle industry now, barely even any civilization.
Jeff says we’ve been quarantined by the Sectors since he activated the warn-off beacon and no one else will ever be allowed to land here, or not for centuries.
And my situation wasn’t like what you’ve got here.
There was literally no one else but me. And then a swarm overran the ranch and if it hadn’t been for the APC, where we took shelter till it was over, I’d have died.
My place was indefensible, not like here. ”
Perry was nodding slowly as if he could accept her rationale. “You’re welcome to stay here with me when they go.”
“That’s kind of you but my place is with them.” Tamsyn tried not to blush as she uttered her next words. “And to be completely honest, I’m in a serious relationship with Cody.”
“The guy who wanted to object to you coming to the office with me?”
“Yes. We’re a couple.” She felt a flash of pride claiming Cody.
Perry stroked his chin. “Always kind of hoped you and my oldest would hit it off. Your Dad and I used to kid around about combining our ranches.”
Tamsyn remembered those jokes, which had made her uncomfortable and she didn’t suppose his son had appreciated them either. “I’m in love with Cody now,” she said tactfully. “I’m going where he goes.”
“They aren’t going to try ranching now though, are they?” Perry asked, eyes narrowed. “What are they up to?”
“We’re going to their veterans’ acres,” she said. It wasn’t her place to share anything Jeff might have said to her or the team. “We’ll be safe there and I don’t know what the next steps are.”
He watched her like a hawk watches a mouse. “Your Captain Pearson has the air of a man on a mission.”
“Getting us to their place and making us safe.” She nodded, trying to put conviction into her comment. “Anything else you’ll have to ask him about.”
“I will, have no doubt.” He pushed the candy jar toward her again. “Want another?”
“I’m good, thanks. I’ll take one for Mike though, if you don’t mind.” She reached into the jar and extracted a second candy for Melly’s brother.
“All right, that’s all I wanted. Close the door on your way out—see you tomorrow.” Perry turned on a desktop unit and began manipulating the keys.
If she hadn’t known the man for years she’d be offended but as it was Tamsyn felt nothing but relief. The fact he was done with his questions meant she’d satisfied him and he’d moved on to other concerns not involving her.
Closing the door softly behind her, she headed for the stairs and found Cody leaning against the newel. He straightened as she walked toward him. “Everything okay?”
Tamsyn looped her arms around his waist and kissed him lightly on the lips. “Perry was concerned I was here under duress. Plus of course he had more questions about why I left the ranch and what your team is really doing here.”
”He needs to talk to the captain.” Cody linked hands with her and they descended the staircase, proceeding out the front door and strolling toward the guesthouse.
“He said he would, tomorrow. Thanks for waiting for me.”
“Your personal bodyguard,” he said with a grin. “Don’t want you getting lost between the house and where we’re staying.”
“As if.” She sniffed. “I’m used to being on my own, remember?”
Cody stopped walking and turned her to face him. “Yeah but you don’t have to be any more. I’m here.”
“And I love it. And you.”
They kissed again under the moonlight until a passing ranch hand gave a wolf whistle and shouted, “Get a room.”
“We do have one,” Tamsyn reminded Cody. “Much more private than at the hot springs cabin too.”
“Thank the Lords of Space. What are we hanging around out here for?”
Lighthearted, they resumed their walk to the guest house.
The next day…
Tamsyn was bored. While she’d been upstairs with Perry, everyone else had gotten an assigned activity for the day.
Jeff was out with the rancher, doing an inspection of his defenses with an eye to offering suggestions, since Perry hadn’t seen a large swarm in action.
Melly was spending the day at the ranch’s well supplied clinic, going over notes with the senior nurse in charge and seeing patients the nurse judged might need the doctor.
Mike had been assigned to attend the ranch’s school for the day and then participate in the organized sports afterward, which Tamsyn was sure made him happy.
Spending all his time cooped up in a military vehicle with his sister and a bunch of adults had to be hard on a ten year old, even one as mature as Mike Jericho.
Buddy had been banned to the backyard of the guesthouse, where he was on a long lead, with plenty of food, water and shade.
Zach disappeared at dawn to ride the ranch with Fleur on AGcycles.
Ryan was on guard duty at the APC’s and Trent was catching up on his sleep, having stood guard all night.
And Cody was whisked away right after breakfast by Esme, to spend the day in the ranch’s electronics hub working on a secret project the two had ginned up over dinner.
Tamsyn was most displeased about this development.
Esme had been entirely too attentive to Cody last night, flirtatious and high spirited.
Tamsyn had no qualms about Cody’s fidelity to their relationship but she hated the idea he was going to work so closely with a woman who obviously didn’t care in the least whether he was taken.