Kyle Pratt - Through Many Fires

She nodded and for another half mile the SUV bumped and splashed along the rutted road.

“Just beyond those trees go up the driveway. It’s at the top of a small hill.”

As she turned, Caden saw the white home he had grown up in. “Drive past the barn, there’s a place to park between the buildings.”

“It looks nice, like a traditional American farmhouse.”

“It should look traditional; the original part was built by my grandfather. My father did an addition and it has been remodeled, but much of it is nearly a hundred years old.”

Even as Maria pulled to a stop, Caden stepped from the car and looked toward the covered porch of the house. From behind him came the unmistakable pump of a shotgun. For the second time that day he slowly spread his arms away from his body.

Maria stepped from the car and looked toward the barn with a smile. “You must be Lisa.”

“Who are you and why are you here?”

His back to his sister, Caden smiled. “Sis, is that anyway to greet your older brother.” Gradually he turned and faced her.

She squealed and ran toward him, fumbling with the shotgun.

Boom!

Caden awoke to darkness. What happened? He remembered hearing his sister’s voice and turning to face her. She shot me! His right leg throbbed. He reached down and felt the moist bandage. Slowly he rose and sat on the edge of the bed. Robbers didn’t shoot me, the guys at the blockade didn’t shoot me—Lisa, my own sister, shoots me. He looked at the bloodstained dressing around his lower leg and wiggled his toes. Muscles in his leg hurt, but the toes worked.

He looked about. On his right was the world map he had put up in high school. Pins and string still traced the route of trips across the globe he had hoped to take when he grew up. Over the years he had visited many far off lands, but now he was glad to be in his old room at home.

Gingerly he touched the back of his head, the door opened with a squeak.

Maria smiled and then called over her shoulder. “He’s awake.”

Before Maria could reach his bedside, Lisa burst in. “I am sooo sorry. Are you okay? I didn’t know who you were and when I realized it was you…. I’m really sorry. I could have killed you.”

He smiled as he looked up at the sister he had not seen since high school. “I’m really glad you failed.” She was still the wavy-haired brunette he grew up with, but she was now, a grown woman.

Lisa sat beside him on the bed. “After the D.C. blast we were afraid…. I was really surprised to see you.”

Maria turned on the light, pulled a chair over, and sat.

Floor boards creaked in the hallway. He looked toward the door. She had more gray hair than he remembered, but the smile from the woman coming toward him was clearly that of mom. He tried to stand, but the pain told him to sit.

His mother sat beside him on the bed and they embraced.

Wiping tears from her eyes, she said, “You being here is a bright spot in all this darkness.”

Caden looked around the room with a smile. Even if I did get shot upon arrival, it’s good to be home. “I guess I don’t need to make introductions. Maria, I know you’ve met Lisa, but have you met my mother, Sarah?”

Maria nodded, “We’ve been talking while you slept.”

His mother took his hand, “She’s told us about your journey here, but if you’re up to it,” she smiled, “I’d like to hear it from you.”

“The leg hurts, but I can talk.” He felt the back of his head, “I’ve got a bit of headache. What happened there?”

Lisa blushed. “You fell against the car when I shot you.”

“There’s a dent in the door where your head hit it,” Maria said. “The doctor thinks you have a mild concussion.”

“How is my leg?” he asked.

Again Lisa blushed. “It was buckshot and most of it went in the ground. Doctor Scott thinks she got the rest out.”

Caden had a thousand questions, but they were waiting to hear his story. “Okay.” With a glance at Maria he said, “I’ll tell you how we got here, but when I’m done you’ve got to answer my questions.”

They agreed.

With as little emotion as possible, he described the D.C. blast and his race to leave the burning city.

His mother nodded. “The news said tens of thousands left Seattle that day. They just kept coming.” She shook her head, but said no more.

“I wanted to get to Atlanta and Becky.” Caden noticed the awkward glances toward Maria. “I headed through Maryland into West Virginia. I was at the Georgia border when they bombed Atlanta. I assumed Becky was dead, but she isn’t.”

“Where is she?” his mother asked.

“New York. She’s working for President Durant.” He took his mom’s hand. “Things have changed between Becky and me.”

“Well son, I hate to say it, but I never did think she was the right one for you.”

Caden shrugged and then described the fiery wreck and finding Adam not far from his dead mother. “I took Adam with me to Fort Rucker hoping to find someone to take him.” He looked around. “Where is Adam?”

“Asleep in the spare room,” Lisa said.

“We got a crib out of the attic,” Maria added.

His mother smiled. “It was yours when you were a baby.”

Caden felt his face warm. “Okay, well, continuing on with my story. After I arrived at Rucker, I set up camp on the edge of a field near some trees. Armed robbers came during the night and threatened me and the baby. They were about to shoot Adam when Maria came out of the shadows and fired first. She killed one…”

Lisa gasped.

“…and I killed the other. That’s how we met.”

Maria stared at her feet.

Sarah walked over and hugged her. Looking at Caden she said, “Maria told us you met in Alabama, but she didn’t mention a robbery or saving your life.”

As he told of the crash landing at JBLM his mother interrupted. “You were flying into Seattle when the blast occurred?” she asked as she sat beside him.

He nodded.

“Your father was driving into the city, maybe just arriving, when it happened.”

“Sherriff Hoover said he was looking for Peter. Why?”

“Finish your story, son, and then I’ll tell you all I know.”

“There isn’t much else to say. Maria and Adam came through the crash with bruises. I was banged up a bit and spent a couple of days in the hospital, but overall I was fine. The Governor wants me to take command of the Hansen armory and act as a liaison to the community.”

His mother squeezed his hand. Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m glad you’re here and okay. I’m glad Maria was there for you and that you were both there for Adam. You have angels watching over you.”

“Why did Dad go to Seattle? Why didn’t Peter and Sue come here?”

His mother took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “On the day of the Seattle blast Peter called. I talked with him only a moment. He wanted to talk to Trevor. I’m not sure what was said, but your father grabbed his go bag and went.” Tears flowed. “A couple hours later, when he would have been there….” Tears became sobs.

Lisa took up the story. “Peter called me early on the morning of the Seattle bombing. I nearly shouted into the phone….

“Peter!” Excited, she fumbled with her phone, almost dropped it. “I’ve been worried about you. I’m surprised you got through. I’ve been trying to call, but….”

“I’m at the station on an official line,” he said in a low, but tense voice.

“Are you okay? How is Sue?”

“We’re as fine as can be. I’ve been doing twelve on, twelve off since the D.C. blast, but…I have just a minute and I wanted to make sure my little sister is okay.”