After the Fall Read online

  With each mile, every fear and doubt I have held all these months slips away, until I am left with only anticipation of what the future holds. I kept my promise to my father. I came home. And I believe wherever he is now, he is smiling down on me. Hope has staked its claim firmly in my soul, hope for a life after the fall. Now, all I have to do is live it.

  By early afternoon, we pull up to the farmhouse of Burninghead Farm, and I can’t wait to celebrate.

  Chapter Thirty-one

  I am half out of the truck by the time Dunk brings the pickup to a complete stop next to the farmhouse. I half expect the entire farm to be waiting for us when we arrive, hailing the return of the conquering heroes and all that, though I know my fantasy is completely ridiculous. Within moments, however, the people of Burninghead Farm have taken note of our arrival and one by one head up the hill to the farmhouse. Nothing stays a secret on the farm for long.

  I scan the faces of the farm’s residents, desperate to find Kate. I see Buck coming up from the direction of the dorm wearing a proud grin. I keep scanning the crowd, searching each face in turn until, at last, I find her. She seems to spot me at the same moment, and our eyes meet in one of those little bits of forever we always seem to share. I feel whole again.

  I move as if in a trance, slowly at first, almost afraid I will scare her off with the intensity of what I feel. But in my heart I know she feels the same, and when she starts running up the hill toward me, my mind knows it, too. I start running. We collide halfway down the hill and she jumps into my arms. I never want to let her go, but I also know, finally, that we have the possibility of forever in front of us, for however long forever might be, and that our days are no longer numbered by my clumsy, stupid heart.

  I pull back to study the face I know so well, that I have spent countless hours memorizing in the night. Her eyes glisten with unshed tears, and she smiles a smile that could light up a thousand starless skies. I press my lips to her forehead, drinking in the feel of her skin beneath my lips.

  “You came back to me,” she whispers.

  “I love you.” It is the only response that seems appropriate or necessary.

  She smiles anew against my cheek. “I love you, too.”

  “I must look a wreck,” I say, entirely too aware of my filthy clothes and the dirt permanently embedded in my skin.

  “You’re perfect. I don’t even mind the smell.”

  I laugh at that and cup her cheek, her skin warm and soft beneath my fingers. “There’s some people I want you to meet.”

  She eyes me curiously, but I shake my head, sliding my hand down to hers and lacing our fingers together. We walk back up the hill to where Dunk and the others are waiting. Buck is already there welcoming everyone, and he envelops me in a giant hug while Kate and Dunk embrace warmly.

  “Welcome home,” Buck says.

  He steps back and returns to Dunk’s side. Just then Nate and Lily approach, and I can tell by the twinkle in Buck’s eyes that he has already been introduced. Lily’s hand is tucked snugly in her father’s, and she looks up shyly at the way Kate’s hand is similarly tucked into mine.

  “Kate, I’d like you to meet my brother, Nathan, and my niece, Lily.”

  Her head whips around toward me, shock and joy evident in her expression. Fresh tears spring up, this time slipping freely down her cheeks. She turns her attention to Lily first.

  “Hi there, Lily,” she says, bending down so they can see eye to eye. “My name’s Kate. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

  Lily smiles and holds out her hand in official greeting. I hear Buck chuckle from over my shoulder.

  “You’re pretty,” Lily says, and Buck chuckles a little louder.

  “Thank you, so are you.”

  Kate rises again and hugs Nate, whispering something I can’t hear but which makes Nate smile.

  By this time, the rest of the farm has arrived, and Buck launches into his traditional speech to welcome the newcomers. After he finishes and people have had some time to introduce themselves, Buck turns to his daughter.

  “Seems like we’re going to need a place for all these fine folks to sleep.”

  “We’ll need to double up now, but it shouldn’t be a problem,” Margie says. “Help me, Kate?”

  Kate agrees, and though I am loath to let her go, I know there are too many important things that need attending to for me to be entirely selfish. At least for now.

  “Taylor, why don’t you and Nate come into the house for a bit?” Buck says. “Let’s have a chat.”

  Nate looks down at Lily, who is still clutching his hand.

  “Probably better if it’s just us grownups,” Buck says meaningfully. He bends down to Lily. “Why don’t you go down with Duncan and find your room? I’m sure Kate will pick you out a good one.”

  Lily asks her dad for permission, and he nods.

  “It’s okay, sweetie.”

  She slips her hand out of Nate’s and immediately latches on to Dunk’s.

  “Come on, kiddo. Let’s see what trouble we can get into.”

  She giggles at that and heads off with Dunk down to the dorm. Once they are out of earshot, I turn to Buck. I wish I could read Buck’s mind. Maybe he just wants to talk through some of the challenges we will have integrating the new folks into farm life, but I doubt it. We follow him into the kitchen of the farmhouse.

  “You want some coffee?” Buck reaches for three mugs without waiting for a response. Seems like every conversation with Buck starts with coffee.

  “Actually, would you mind if I used your shower? I’m sure it’s chaos down at the dorm.” Despite what I assume to be the importance of whatever Buck wants to talk about, I just can’t stand the stink radiating from my skin for a second longer. “And maybe we could burn these clothes later.”

  “Sure thing. I’ll have someone grab you some fresh ones.”

  I head up to the bathroom and quickly strip, kicking my ruined clothes off into the corner, trying to put as much distance as I can between me and them. I step into the shower spray, groaning in delight as the pressurized water pelts my skin. A shower has never felt this good. I scrub and rinse and repeat, to the point where my skin glows pink even under the muted light of the bathroom. When I step out of the shower stall, a fresh set of clothes sits folded on the sink.

  I dress quickly and head downstairs, Nate’s and Buck’s muted voices echoing down the hall.

  “Well, you look much better,” Buck says, smiling.

  “Much. Thanks.”

  Nate smiles at me, too, but it is clearly forced. I look back and forth between the two men. They’ve been talking in my absence, and whatever they were talking about, it isn’t good.

  “What’s going on, Buck?”

  “Why don’t you have a seat,” he responds, sliding a mug of steaming coffee in front of one of the empty seats at the kitchen table. I sit down and wait, ignoring the coffee for now.

  “I was just filling your brother in on the farm.”

  “Is there a problem?” I ask, concerned that maybe Buck is unhappy I brought so many people back with me.

  “With them coming here? No. Absolutely not.”

  I look to Nate, who confirms Buck’s statement. “We’re fine here, Taylor.”

  I blow out the breath I didn’t know I’d been holding, but the pressure in my chest settles down in my stomach. “What is it then?”

  Buck fiddles with his coffee mug, as if he is unsure of where to begin.

  “Zeke paid us a visit while you were gone.”

  The words slam into me with such force they might as well be a Mack truck.

  “What? When?”

  “A few days ago.”

  I thought Zeke was simply a bad chapter in our lives, one I would never need to reread.

  Damn it all to hell.

  “What happened?”

  “He showed up late in the afternoon with his boys in tow, and some new ones.”

  “How many?”

  “He had five
with him. I got the distinct impression there were more of them, somewhere.”

  So Zeke’s little pack has grown.

  My mind flashes back to the morning Buck sent them packing, the morning I tried to run away. The same morning I went toe-to-toe with Zeke and dared him to try something. A man like Zeke doesn’t need much in the way of provocation, but I’d gone and done it anyway.

  What in the hell was I thinking?

  “He didn’t come back because of you, Taylor,” Buck says. I don’t know how he knows what’s in my head, but he does.

  “What happened?”

  “Oh, he put on this show about wanting to come back to the farm, how he’d learned his lesson and would play by the rules. I didn’t buy it for a second, and he knew it. He got mad, of course.”

  Buck grins at that, like it is some amusing tidbit instead of profoundly serious.

  “Buck…”

  “We chased them off, Taylor. It was no big deal.”

  “If it was no big deal, then you wouldn’t have brought us in here to tell us about it,” I say angrily. Realization strikes me. “And you did bring both of us in here. Why? Nate doesn’t know Zeke.”

  Buck peers down into his mug, like maybe he’ll find some answers there.

  “You think he’ll be back,” I say flatly.

  Buck nods slowly. “And I figured Nate should know what he and his folks are getting into,” he said, looking over at Nate apologetically.

  Nate’s eyes hold more understanding of the situation than they should. “He tell you about Zeke?” I ask him.

  “Yeah,” Nate answers. “And I know Zeke’s kind all too well. We had run-ins with some boys like Zeke, men who think they can take whatever they want from whomever they want. It wasn’t pleasant.”

  I file that information away to ask him about later. I wonder just what my brother has been through that I don’t yet know.

  “How’d you chase them off?” Zeke could’ve taken Buck in a heartbeat, and I am surprised by his restraint.

  “He wasn’t really prepared to do anything. After they dropped the pretense of wanting to come back quietly, which didn’t take long, he just ran his mouth.”

  “What did he say, Buck?” When he doesn’t answer, I press him. “Come on, Buck. You didn’t bring us in here to shoot the breeze. Tell me what he said. Tell me what really happened.”

  Buck sighs. “He spouted his same old lines of crap. The details aren’t important. You know the gist. Zeke believes he should be running this place, that this farm rightfully belongs to him. He said that if I couldn’t see that, then he’d be back to take what I wouldn’t give him. Then they left.”

  Buck rises from his chair, walking over to refill his cup. He turns and leans against the counter.

  “They didn’t just leave.”

  “Well, no…” Buck says, grinning. “Kate pulled a shotgun on him.”

  “What!”

  “Don’t worry, it wasn’t just her. Some of the others noticed me talking to Zeke and rode in to the rescue,” he says proudly. “But Kate was the first.”

  “Jesus, Buck—”

  “You should have seen her. All fire and teeth. I think ol’ Zeke must’ve pissed himself for the fright she gave him.”

  As angry and scared as I am at the thought of Kate taking on Zeke—yet again—I can’t help grinning at the image of her making that asshole squirm.

  “Exactly,” Buck says, seeing the look on my face.

  I sober quickly.

  “I’m sorry, Nate.” My brother is thoughtfully sipping his coffee. “Maybe I shouldn’t have brought you all here. This isn’t your fight.”

  “Like hell it isn’t,” he says forcefully but without anger. “I’ve had enough of people like Zeke. These guys think they can dominate through fear and intimidation and brute force. Damned masters-of-the-universe types, who think other men are there to be conquered and women are there to be controlled. But they don’t get to inherit what’s left of the world just because they think it’s their birthright. Not as long as I’m still breathing.”

  Buck nods. It’s clear he likes Nate, and I couldn’t be more proud of my little brother.

  “You know I didn’t want this, Taylor,” Buck says. He is sad, but resolved. “But I think we’re going to need to finish it.”

  “Then we’d best get ready,” I say, my own resolve hardening in my veins. “Do folks know?”

  “Not everyone. Not everything.”

  “We should tell them.”

  “Tomorrow. We’ll tell them tomorrow. Let them have one last night of peace.”

  We talk a while longer, making some preliminary plans. There isn’t much we can do to secure the farm. It is too big, and without the wall finished, there is just no way to prevent Zeke and his men from getting in. Still, with three sides of the farm protected by the wall, we know at least when they come, they will have to come in from the north. It isn’t much, but it is something.

  Eventually, we make our way down to the barn for supper. I can smell the makings of an elaborate meal as we near the building, and my stomach does jumping jacks. The barn is packed with folks chowing down, especially the newcomers from Asheville. I catch sight of Dunk, who waves us over to where he, Kate, and Lily are seated. There really isn’t any room left for us, but by the time we get there, Dunk has gotten everyone to squeeze together enough to fit us in. Buck and I sink down next to Dunk, and Nate settles in across from us beside Lily and Kate.

  “Everything all right?” Kate asks, reaching across the table to squeeze my hand. “You all were gone a long time.”

  “Everything’s fine,” Buck answers for all of us. “How’d the move in go?”

  Kate doesn’t miss the change in topic, and she looks over to me. I squeeze her hand in response, and she nods imperceptibly, understanding that I will tell her everything later. Given her part in the run-in with Zeke, the news won’t come as a surprise.

  We are barely settled when three plates of food magically appear before us. I look up to find Franny hovering.

  “Now don’t go expecting this kind of service all the time. But I figured y’all would just spend the night gabbing away, completely forgetting that I can’t get my kitchen cleaned up until everyone has eaten. Speaking of,” she says, staring down at me, “seems to me I have you to thank for all these extra mouths to feed and the dirty pots and pans that come with them, so I’ll be expecting to see you later for KP.”

  With that, Franny sashays away, leaving me slack jawed. The thought of what that kitchen must look like is scarier than any Freddy Krueger movie.

  “She’s kidding,” Dunk says, trying to reassure me, and himself. He looks to Buck for confirmation. “Right?”

  Buck laughs and starts in on his dinner. I look to Kate, hoping she will tell me I am worrying about nothing, but she just shrugs.

  “Oh man,” I grumble, going to work on my own supper.

  Later, Buck tells me Franny had only been joking. I remain unconvinced, especially since every now and then I see Franny poke her head into the room, holding up a large pot in her hand and grinning wickedly at me.

  We finish our suppers and chat about the day. The move in had gone well. Every room is now filled up, with most everyone sharing. It isn’t long before dinner gives way to a full-blown party, despite the fact it isn’t Saturday. There is much to celebrate. I have never danced so much or laughed as hard as I do this night, and it all feels perfectly normal and exceptionally right. This is my life now, and it truly is worth living.

  I am running on joy and adrenaline, but even that can’t sustain me forever. Exhaustion finally grabs hold of me, so suddenly it rocks me on my heels. Kate, who has been off somewhere chatting with some of the farm’s new residents, is at my side in an instant.

  “I think it’s time to get you to bed,” she says, wrapping her arm around my side.

  “Yeah. Sorry. I don’t know where this came from.”

  She frowns at me, like I am completely daft for apolog
izing for being exhausted. She leads me to my room, good old 39, but pauses outside the door.

  “Now, you know we had to double up to accommodate everyone,” she says hesitantly.

  I nod at her dumbly. All I can think about is climbing into my bed and sleeping for a week, with Kate tucked safely in my arms. Her point is lost on me.

  “So, you know that means we all have roommates now.”

  I still don’t see what she is driving at. I really am dense sometimes.

  “I have a roommate now. And so do you.”

  Understanding knocks me upside the head. We have roommates. There will be no sleeping with Kate in my arms anymore. I am now very cranky.

  “Who?” I demand, even though it isn’t that person’s fault, even though it really doesn’t matter who it is.

  “See for yourself,” Kate says, turning the doorknob and leading me through the doorway.

  I stumble into the room, frustrated and fatigued, only to have those feelings replaced by confusion. The room is empty aside from Kate and myself. More confusing is that the two single beds that had previously occupied opposite sides of the room are now pushed together into one double bed, complete with an appropriately sized comforter.

  Kate grins nervously.

  “I don’t understand. Who…”

  Another whack to the head. A lazy smile creeps up my face.

  “You mean…you?”

  “Surprised?”

  I feel like I’m going to burst.

  “Is this okay?” she asks, still nervous but growing more confident at my reaction. “I just thought—”

  “It’s perfect.”

  “It just seemed—”

  “It’s perfect.”

  “Because if you don’t want—”

  I pull her into my arms. “It’s perfect,” I say again, this time whispering into her ear. She finally relaxes, looping her arms around my neck.

  “I just figured if you were going to have to bunk with someone, it should be with the woman you love and who loves you back.”