EMP Catastrophe by Hamilton, Grace (books to read in your 20s female .txt) 📗

another bomb of worry that sat in the dark recesses of Kathleen’s mind, ready to go off. If she worried and stressed about Matthew, she’d never be able to think straight. She’d lose sight of what she needed to do to keep Allison safe. Why did this have to happen now? Why couldn’t it have happened when we were all back at the hotel? “You know your father...” she began.

“Yeah, I do. And him and Grandpa together?” Allison shook her head in mock concern. “They’re always getting into trouble.”

Kathleen laughed. “I’m sure they’re fine. Grandpa’s a vet, he knows how to handle hard situations, and you know your father can talk his way out of anything.”

At least Patton is at the hotel, Kathleen thought. Allison was her beloved eldest, but Patton was her baby, and he would’ve been scared by the men in the truck if he’d been with them. While Allison had a tender heart, she had some maturity. Or at least, was forming that maturity. For now, as the streets began to clog with cars and humans again, she thanked her lucky stars that Allison was like her shadow, weaving around those in their path with expertise. Kathleen wished they could pull away from the populated area. She actually began to wish for the open road.

“Hey, pretty lady, hang on,” a man shouted, breaking from the dead engine of his Pontiac and jogging up alongside her bike. “How much for your bike?” he asked. “Hey, how much?”

“Not for sale,” she said, turning her face away and focusing on the road ahead. Allison pulled up closer beside her. Tension radiated in the air.

“Hey, I’m talking to you, slow down, hey I just want your bike!” His jog turned into a run, and Kathleen imagined him jamming a stick in her spokes, sending her sprawling on the pavement while he took her bike and left her bleeding without anything on the side of the road.

“I said it’s not for sale. And I’m not pretty.” Kathleen pedaled faster, outstripping the man and weaving through another Tetris-puzzle of cars. Behind her, the man shouted something obscene that created a ball of anger inside her.

Allison fell silent as Kathleen fumed, keeping up with Kathleen’s fast pace, before finally asking, “You really think this Rhonda woman can help us? She’s safe?”

“If nothing else, she can give us some water and food for the rest of the ride home,” Kathleen answered. Mentally, she tallied up the miles. A hundred and eighty-eight to Galena. Then, the trek up the mountain. In a car, it would take a couple hours, but on a bike it would take well over twelve if they pedaled non-stop. While Kathleen liked to take walks and stay somewhat active, she was no long-distance biker, and the idea of riding west with no water or supplies made her nervous. “At the very least, I could ask to borrow a hat,” she added, trying to lighten the mood. “I’m getting freckles.”

“Skin cancer is a real thing, Mom.”

Kathleen snorted. “I’d rub baby oil on my legs to get a tan in the summer when I was your age.”

“That’s what I’m saying! You’re susceptible to it. If this Rhonda has sunscreen, you will use it.”

A small smile spread over Kathleen’s lips. “I promise, honey, I’m only doing what I think is best.”

“I know, Mom.” Allison pedaled until she rode side by side with Kathleen, transformed from Kathleen’s shadow to an equal. “Let’s go find this prepper friend of yours.”

17

“So where do you come from originally?” Matthew asked Jade as they reached the top of the exit near the gas station and began to walk shoulder-to-shoulder along the interstate.

Jade shrugged, ducking her head a bit, and sticking her hands in her jacket pockets. “Here and there,” she said. “It’s not a new story. I don’t really have a home at the moment. My mom and I didn’t get along, so I ended up striking out on my own. I’ve been doing odd jobs since and just traveling around trying to figure everything out.”

“Do it when you’re young,” David said. “You don’t want to waste your life doing something you hate and figure that out too late.” He adjusted his backpack with a grimace.

Matthew held his tongue. He wanted to ask if David needed a rest, but he knew his father would dismiss the idea because, to him, the rest at the gas station had been long enough.

“Do you want me to hold your backpack for you?” Jade offered and held her hand out.

“Oh no. That’s all right. I can manage,” David said.

“Honestly, you’ll be doing me a favor,” Jade said. “Since you’re letting me stay at your hotel rent-free and all. I have to pull my weight some other way. Don’t make me beg.”

David eyed Jade up and down as if waiting for the punchline. She stared at him, waiting. Matthew couldn’t help but think the interaction was like wolves circling each other and trying to decide if the other was a threat.

Finally, David slipped his backpack off and handed it to her without a word. She grinned as she put it on, slumping forward for a moment in an overdone pretend stumble, as if the pack was far heavier than she’d expected. “Holy cow, you’ve been carrying this for how long?” she joked.

David chuckled and Matthew stared at him for a moment, astounded. Somehow, this petite young woman had pried through David’s many-layered shell and gotten him to do something Matthew hadn’t been able to this whole time. Somehow, she’d gotten David to let her take care of him, and he didn’t even know her. Matthew didn’t want to jinx it, but secretly he wondered what it was about Jade that had charmed his father.

As they continued on, Matthew decided to try and get to know Jade again. “Is there someone who will be worried about you that we should contact? Let them know you’re coming to Galena?”

Jade shrugged again. “Not really. I’ve been on