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

Patton nodded, looking solemn. Together, they went out back and by moonlight, gathered staples, nails, what plastic sheeting she could find, cardboard, and cheap wood and hauled it inside the hotel. She busted up pallets from previous shipments and laid out the wood panels, banging nails into the wallpaper to board up the broken windows. Patton remained quiet, yet stayed close as he helped her cover up the picture windows with a mix of wood, cardboard, and plastic. The wind battered against the plastic, but luckily it held firm. Finally, together they repaired the security system of can and twine and slung it once more across the window, although Ruth had a feeling it wouldn’t have the same effect if someone tried to break in again.

She hoped no one would. She wasn’t sure what she would do if they did.

“That’s all we can do tonight,” she said, taking a step back to survey their work. She pulled Patton into a one-handed hug. “Let’s get some rest.”

Distress filled Patton’s face as Ruth smoothed the hair back from his forehead. He blinked up at her with exhausted, but anxious eyes. “I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep at all, Grandma.”

“You should try.”

“I’m serious. There’s no way I’m going to sleep.”

Ruth sighed and ran a hand along her own forehead, feeling the inklings of a headache. “Honestly, I probably couldn’t either,” she admitted.

“What if they come back?” Patton asked. “What if someone tries to break in again?”

“We’ll be ready for them. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”

"Promise?” Patton asked, the maturity stripped away momentarily to show the worried boy beneath.

“Promise,” she said. “Cross my heart.”

“Okay,” Patton said softly. “I’m still not going to be able to sleep, though.”

“Come over here,” Ruth said and slumped on one of the old lobby couches. Patton sat down next to her. After a moment, he stretched out and rested his head in her lap. She rubbed his back.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you,” Ruth repeated, hoping he could drift to sleep.

To her surprise, she felt his hand tighten in hers. “I won’t let anyone hurt you either,” Patton said.

24

When Kathleen and Allison stopped to rest, Kathleen took the gun out of the holster and showed Allison how to use it. She showed Allison how to hold the gun, position her stance, keep her arms relaxed, and how to aim. They didn’t have enough rounds to practice shooting, but Allison handled the gun like she would something sacred: with wide eyes and respect.

Rhonda’s warnings had spooked them both. Kathleen wanted Allison to be able to protect herself if needed. She needed to keep her daughter safe, and teaching her how to use the weapon was the best way she knew how. She always felt on her guard, as if someone was watching them. Following them.

The second time they stopped for a snack and a bottle of water, Kathleen’s worry had slipped away. They were making excellent time. The numbing rumble of tires on the road had become almost meditative, and their pace was fast and sustainable. She never thought they’d be able to conquer so much distance in such a short amount of time, especially once they hit the highway and could zoom past stalled cars or stick to the side of the road and just cruise. They were by no means close to Galena, but they were much farther than she’d expected they’d be. She grinned at her daughter who munched on Rhonda’s trail mix and leaned against her bike, looking ready to take on the road.

The third time they stopped, Kathleen devoured a strip of jerky while stretching out the tightness in her calves. Allison groaned as she stretched, her arms high overhead. Her backpack sat near her feet along with Kathleen’s. When the sound of a choking diesel engine starting up filled the air, Kathleen snapped her head up. Her heart sank when she saw a familiar beige truck roar towards her and then screech to a stop beside them, close enough she could’ve reached out to touch the paint. She barely had a chance to back up and grab her bike before the grinning faces of young men with a bone to pick jumped out of the truck and surrounded her and Allison.

“What do you want?” Kathleen snarled, her bike clattering to the ground. She wanted her hands free for this. The guardrail was behind her, the truck in front, and men on either side. They were effectively trapped. The leader leered at her, and she recognized him as the one she’d held at gunpoint. He lunged for Allison, grabbing her arm and yanking her closer, but Allison tugged back and broke his grip, standing closer to Kathleen. He settled for grabbing Kathleen’s backpack instead, and handing it off to one of his friends.

“Long time, no see, ladies,” the leader said. “Looks like you haven’t lost your spunk. We got off on the wrong foot before, but us boys figured you might be more in a party mood now that you’re out in the open all by yourselves. What do you say? Ready to play nice and have a good time?”

“No thank you,” Kathleen said tightly, fear clenching in her chest. The leader threw his head back and laughed while his friends mimicked him.

“Get lost,” Allison piped up besides Kathleen. “We don’t want anything to do with you. Just leave us alone.”

The leader’s grin suddenly seemed frozen in place, before melting into an angry smirk. “Is that what you say when a nice guy like myself asks you out on a date? Did you just throw my invitation back in my face? Looks like you know nothing about respect.” The leader took a step closer. “Andrew Lang deserves respect.”

“Respect has to be earned,” Allison said hotly. “You’ve done nothing but stalk us—”

Kathleen held her hand out to cut Allison off. Here, they were like mice being played with by hungry cats. The men loomed around them, the same