“Let’s go search around this town and see what we can find.”
And I realize, as I go without question, just how easy it is for me to trust him.
CHAPTER 4
KNOX
This looks like a place that time forgot. It joins the rest of North America since Eruption. This small town though? It’s different because nobody has picked through what’s left.
In the last few years, I’ve seen some of the worst that life has to offer. I’ve watched a man steal food from his child and seen families turn on each other for blankets.
None of the places I saw those things happen were like this one.
All things considered, this would be the perfect place to try and set up a community, but it doesn't appear that there's any water near here. Although I had hoped the wordDamin the name would indicate water, that's not been the case so far. My gut tells me we’re not going to find it either.
"Which way?" I ask Beth as we come to a fork in the road.
The motorcycle idles as we sit in silence.
It’s important to me that I give her the benefit of making decisions. Both of us have been by ourselves for a long time, and I don't want her to think I'm swooping in and telling her what to do. I want her voice to be heard.
She looks both ways and then gets off the motorcycle, walking a few feet in both directions. When it seems that she's made up her mind, she comes back and points to the left. "Over there. It looks like there are some houses a bit further down the road."
Following where she's walked, I see what she's talking about. It looks like the entrance of what was a very nice neighborhood. She gets back on the bike, and we cautiously roll through what had once been a gate. Keeping my eyes peeled on both sides of us, I slowly drive down the street. Even though things look nice and quiet. Looks can be deceiving, and underestimating the situation you’re in could get you killed. "Where do you want to stop?"
I turn so that I can watch her. Her eyes move up and down the street, before she answers.
“Most of these houses look like they haven't even been touched. Let's pull into this one."
She points to a two-story brick home with a two-car garage. I pull the bike around the back and hide it in the corner of the fenced-in yard, covering it with some overgrown tree branches. It’s close enough that we can grab it and far enough that if anyone else is around, they won’t look for it.
"Stay behind me." We walk up the rock and weed covered path. When we get to the back door, I try the knob, but it's locked, which is a good sign for us. If people were walking through here all the time there would be a worn path. Since there are weeds, that means there might be a safe place inside, and we'll be able to stay here for the night. Turning so that I’m facing the backyard, I force my elbow into the four-lite door. I pick up a stick from the back porch and use it to knock the rest of the glass out of the way before reaching in and unlocking the door. "Let's go."
She doesn't say anything but touches my back for the barest hint of a few seconds, and then we enter. We're quiet as we tiptoe through the house. I don't allow myself a good look at our surroundings until I've cleared every room, and then I holster my weapon and face Beth.
"This place is nice," she says as she glances around.
There's a fine layer of dust everywhere, but this was more than likely high-end construction back before the world ended. It's got granite countertops, hardwood floors, and the homeowner didn’t buy furniture from a discount store either. "It is," I agree with her. "We should look and see if there are any clothes we can use and see if there’s anything we can use in the garage."
"I'm going to head upstairs to the bedrooms we saw up there while you check the garage."
There's a part of me that doesn't want her out of my sight, but I have to remember that she spent years before this without my help. I’m quickly becoming to feel responsible for her. I guess that’s normal. We’ve been through hell and back trying to survive, and any relationships that are started these days goes quick. Either you know you want to hang out with someone, or you don’t. We all know that life is precious, and it’s fast. We want to be with the people who make us feel good. And I already know that Beth makes me feel good. "Be careful,” I warn her, keeping my voice low.
She grins. "I'm always careful."
I watch as she turns from me and takes the stairs. The worn jeans she wears cup her ass as her legs flex and propel her forward. My throat is dry when I swallow. It's been a long time since I paid attention to a woman in that way. The reaction isn't one that I'm used to having, but feeling my cock start to swell gives me some hope. I really thought that all of this destruction and survival had killed that part of me.
Walking over to the door I believe leads to the garage, I rest my hand on the knob for a beat. I haven't asked God for anything in longer than I care to admit, but I know that if Beth and I are going to make it, we have to keep the supplies we found. We have to have a safe way to travel, and the way we can do that is to find a decent vehicle that actually works and has fuel. "Please, please, please," I whisper. Let me find that here.
My stomach is full of nervous butterflies as I turn the knob and open the door. I'm surprised as hell when I see two vehicles in the garage. "Thank you," I breathe out, tilting my head back and looking to the sky. Now, to find keys and see if either one of these turns over.
The thumping of Beth's feet comes down the stairs. "I found clothes," she announces. "A lot of clothes. Some of them are going to fit me, and I think some will fit you, too. There are winter clothes too, Knox. We hit the fucking mother lode, and that makes me scared. Does that mean we're going to be screwed after all of this? Nothing in this world has been easy since Eruption."
"Maybe all the suffering is catching up with us. I think we'll be able to make it to Nashville if we can get all this shit and keep it." I run a hand through my hair. "There's two vehicles in that garage."
"Holy shit," she mumbles. "What kind?"
"A truck and late-model four-door Jeep. I’d like to take the Jeep. The old ones are reliable, and I know how to fix them. Come with me to see if it starts."
