Nathan Jones - First Winter

“I’m 99.9% sure it is.” Trev freed his hand and gently took her left hand in both of his. “May I?” She nodded eagerly, and he grinned like an idiot as he slipped the ring on. It was slightly loose, which was a shame, but then again Robert had assured him he could probably tighten it a bit if he needed.

Come to think of it, if Trev had really wanted to keep the ring a surprise he probably shouldn’t have shown it to so many people. At least it was the one thing he’d prepared for tonight that Deb did seem genuinely surprised by.

His fiancee held it up, staring at the glittering diamond. “It’s beautiful,” she said.

“It’s in good company.” Trev stood, offering his hand. “I think this is the part where we kiss?”

Laughing, she let him pull her to her feet and threw her arms around him, lips rising to meet his.

Smith family:

Trevor Smith: Goes by Trev. Average height, blond hair, blue eyes, 21 years old. A main character. Current leader of Aspen Hill’s defenders. Went to college in Orem, Utah, before the Gulf refineries attack forced him to return home.

George Smith: Trev’s dad. Average height, graying light brown hair, hazel eyes, in his late 40s. Mild-mannered, worked from home before the Gulf burned.

Clair Halsson Smith: Trev’s mom. Tall, blond hair, blue-green eyes, in her late 40s. Younger sister to Lucas Halsson. Worked in Price until a job opportunity moved the family to Michigan.

Linda Smith: Trev’s younger sister. Short, light brown hair, brown-green eyes, 16 years old. Pretty and popular before the Gulf burned, has shown signs of adjusting poorly to her new situation.

James Smith: Goes by Jim. Trev’s younger brother. Tall for his age, blond hair, green eyes, 13 years old. Inexperienced but determined to help out however he can.

Halsson family:

Lewis Halsson: Trev’s cousin. Tall, light brown hair, hazel eyes, 22 years old. A main character. Remained in Aspen Hill preparing for a disaster when his dad went on sabbatical to Norway with the rest of the family, returning to their roots in their ancestral homeland.

Jane Mathers Halsson: Tall, slender, red hair, light blue eyes. 24 years old. Married to Lewis. Formerly a refugee until her group was welcomed in Aspen Hill, her father Mitch was a gun nut and taught her to shoot, as well as taking her hunting. She shot competitively in college for a while and did well. Solitary and socially awkward, she’s proven able to take care of herself as well as the rest of her group.

Lucas Halsson: Lewis’s dad. Tall, silver hair, blue eyes, in his early 50s. Clair Smith’s brother. Originally stranded in Norway with his family when the Gulf burned, used the Gold Bloc invasion as an opportunity to get a position in the logistics division. Which allowed him to get his family back home to the United States, where he was reunited with the Smith family in a prison camp and aided them in escaping.

Eva Halsson: Lewis’s mom. Medium height, graying dark hair, dark eyes, in her late 40s. Quiet and unassuming, spends most of her time caring for her family and helping the shelter group where able.

Mary Halsson: Lewis’s sister. Tall, blond, blue eyes, 17 years old. Painfully shy. Has a habit of humming songs relevant to what she’s feeling or the situation she’s in.

Larson family:

Matthew Larson: Goes by Matt. Tall, blond hair, gray eyes, 20 years old. A main character. Current Mayor of Aspen Hill. Went to college in Orem after playing basketball in high school.

Samantha Hutchins Larson: Goes by Sam. Petite, raven hair, dark eyes, 20 years old. Married to Matt. Expecting a child soon. Grew up in New York City and was living in Utah for school. Hitched a ride with Matt to escape the riots and ended up in Aspen Hill. Helps in the clinic as a nurse.

Mona Larson: Matt’s mom. Short, graying hair, pale blue eyes, in her late 40s.

Ed Larson: Matt’s dad. Medium height, gray hair, brown eyes, in his late 40s.

April Lynn: Matt’s older sister. Fair hair, blue eyes, 26 years old. Married to Terry with 2 young children. Helps in the clinic as a nurse.

Terry Lynn: April’s husband. Reddish-blond hair, green eyes, 29 years old. Recently graduated as a surgeon and was interning at a hospital in Salt Lake City before the attack. Serves as Aspen Hill’s doctor as best he can with limited supplies.

Aaron Lynn: April and Terry’s son. Towheaded, blue eyes, 6 years old.

Paul Lynn: April and Terry’s son. Towheaded, blue eyes, 3 years old.

Aspen Hill residents:

Catherine Tillman: Tall, silver hair, light gray eyes, in her late 50s. Councilwoman in Aspen Hill before the Gulf burned. Successor to Mayor John Anderson after he was killed in Razor’s attack. Later gives up the position of Mayor to Matt, but still remains an important advisor and leader in the town.

Scott Tillman: Catherine’s husband. In his early 60s. Owner of Tillman’s Hardware before the Gulf burned. Donates most of his store’s stock to the town storehouse, including a small supply of guns, ammo, hunting bows, etc. Also offers his store as the storehouse site. Joins the volunteers fighting against the blockheads and serves as quartermaster.

Tamara Raymond: Goes by Tam. Catherine and Scott’s daughter. Petite, auburn-haired, 25 years old. Has a toddler daughter named Jennifer. Grew up as a tomboy and was a reliable defender during Aspen Hill’s fights against Razor and Turner’s raiders, and later joins Lewis fighting the blockheads near Aspen Hill. After the death of her husband leaves the fight for the sake of her daughter.

Carl Raymond (Deceased): Tam’s husband. A reliable defender. Joins Lewis fighting the blockheads near Aspen Hill. Dies in an ambush in Aspen Hill Canyon.

Chauncey Watson: Rick and Wes’s dad. Mid 40s, a retired high school teacher. Mans the town’s radio to glean news of the outside world. Lost part of his leg to amputation in the fight against Turner’s raiders.

Edna Watson: Chauncey’s wife. Early 40s, brown hair.

Rick Watson: 19 years old. One of the most reliable and well liked of Aspen Hill’s defenders, and a good friend to Trev, Lewis, and Matt. Joined the volunteers fighting along Highway 31.

Alice Thornton: 17 years old, long blond hair, blue eyes. After her parents die she moves in with the Watsons and becomes part of the family. Joined the volunteers fighting along Highway 31. Engaged to Rick.

Wes Watson: Rick’s brother. 16 years old.

Pete Childress: Medium height, reddish-brown hair, 17 years old. Mother died during the winter after the Gulf refineries attack, becomes an orphan after his dad dies in the first attack by Turner’s raiders. Joins the fight against the raiders, then later the volunteers fighting along Highway 31. After a dispute with Matt deserts and disappears to fight the blockheads on his own, until he’s later picked up by Lieutenant Faraday and invited to enlist.

Raul Gutierrez: Medium height, brown hair, brown eyes, classically handsome, 19 years old. Soldier who occupied Aspen Hill under the command of Riley Ferris just after the Gulf burned. Later joined the town and became one of the most trusted and reliable defenders. Grew up in Santa Rosa, New Mexico.

Tom Harding (Deceased): 46 years old. A member of Jane’s group and father to Alvin Harding. Died going back for Alice during Trev’s failed ambush of the blockhead patrol.