Their losses were enormous; the biggest was that of Frank Patton, one of the great heroes of the “Siege on Fort Laramie,” as some of the townies were calling it. As everyone congregated in the streets, they offered congratulations and thanks especially to Melanie and Dr. Carrington, or Doc as they liked to call him. Overwhelmed by exhaustion, Carrington and Melanie retired to their room, off their workshop, where a couple of the town council members were still sitting and discussing plans for rebuilding.
Melanie lit two candles and Carrington sat, watching her intently.
“What?” Melanie blew out the match. “Did I say or do something wrong?”
“No, you were amazing today. That was so brilliant with the water tank.” Carrington smiled, but then the smile went away.
“Thanks, though I’m sure you would have thought of it too… Wait, what’s wrong?” Concerned, she took a step toward him.
“You better sit down. I need to tell you something, which I haven’t really discussed with you, since we have been focused on this one goal of protecting the town together.”
She put hands on hips and tilted her head, arching one brow. “And so?”
“And so … Laramie was not my destination when I found you.”
“I know, you were headed to some sort of research facility …” She could see where this was going, and the whole thing lit her anger.
Carrington looked down at his shoes. “Well, that wasn’t entirely correct. It’s called Cicada, and it is a small city of pre-selected researchers and scientists and their families, but only them and their families, all working together to find answers to save humanity. I had not planned to be gone this long and should have been there long ago.”
“I know, I know, you have to go.” Melanie’s tone was very detached. “I’m not going to keep you here. And don’t worry about the town, they’ll forgive my little fib; it was mine after all. So, you don’t have to worry—”
“I want you to come with me.”
She was silent for maybe a minute. Hope started to pour through her like a warm elixir. “You already said that it was only pre-selected researchers and scientists and their families. I’m neither.”
He held up a little box. Tex, the only one who knew their secret, had arranged the ring and the box for him, only yesterday. He tried, but his lips were unable to form the right words; he had thought he had a couple of more days to practice.
“What’s this?” Melanie asked expectantly.
“I want you to come with me as my wife, my
“Are you serious? Sorry, that was just a slip of the tongue, y’know, to keep the men away until I found my place in this town. You’re much older than me and…and…” She was running out of excuses.
Carrington’s face dropped. That wasn’t the answer he had hoped for. “Look, I’m a widower and I never expected to care for another woman again, mostly because I didn’t want to suffer that pain again. But, something happened with our working together. And… well, I think I have fallen in love with you. More to the point, I cannot imagine being apart from you as I look forward every day to sleeping in the same room as you. Yes, I’m older, I admit that, and you are certainly young and beautiful, so I would expec—”
She interrupted him with a kiss, his mouth curving into a smile against hers. “Yes. The answer is yes,” she said, and kissed him again.
49.
Sadness and Signs
They walked up the driveway after scrambling over the gate, Steve and Darla ahead of Joselin. Steve carried Danny. There was a little light left from the sun, which had set twenty minutes ago, but the skies again illuminated the world below in green auroral light. It was Doc Reynolds who saw them first and called out to Wilber. “Yo Wilber, Steve is back and he brought some guests.” He stopped when he saw Steve carrying the body of a child and the two women wearing the olive green tees of God’s Army. Maybe Steve was being held hostage or something. “Whoa, wait right there,” he said holding his gun on Darla and Joselin.
“It’s all right.” Steve spoke up first. “This is my…” He fumbled, trying to find the right words.
“Girlfriend,” Darla answered.
“Yes, girlfriend, and this,” he said as he lifted the body a bit, “is her little brother, Danny, who was shot by one of God’s Army, because they were deserting.” Steve’s eyes wandered to three dug graves and three bodies. One looked like his father.
“Is that …”His eyes darted around looking for another possibility. “Is that my father?” He could feel his throat tighten, and his words were choked.
“I’m afraid so,” said Wilber, coming up behind the doc. “He killed the leader of their army.”
“Disciple Thomas?” Joselin asked.
“I don’t know, but everyone from your army left and there didn’t appear to be any other leaders coming forward, so I’m just guessing.”