Page 51 of Cora

“Don’t forget our woman can take care of herself,” I reminded him. “We should let her know that they’ve been watching us.”

“No,” Isaac said. “I don’t want to worry her more than she already is. Stress isn’t good for the baby.”

“You need to stop coddling her so much,” I scolded him. “I want to protect her just as much as the rest of you, but you didn’t see Cora in action. She can handle herself and is more than capable of being responsible for her well-being. She isn’t some Princess in an ivory tower like you seem to think. She’s spent most of her life in these woods. She knows them better than all of us, including Queen and her people. Give her the credit she deserves.”

“I said no, and that’s final,” Isaac growled, causing Cora to stir.

I sighed and looked at Trent for help, but he shrugged. “There is no point in arguing with him.”

I took his advice and kneeled beside the couch, laying my head on Cora’s still-flat stomach. Our baby was growing inside of her. I doubted that biologically it was mine, but that didn’t matter; the baby would still belong to all of us. We’re a family, and any child of Cora’s was a child of mine, regardless of which of us fathered it.

“Well, one thing for sure,” Trent said as he started to run his fingers over my head. “If they attack, they’ll regret it. We have a full armory downstairs and a bunker. They have... dull knives. I’m not too worried.”

If only I shared his optimism.

Chapter twenty-five

Cora

Everyone has been tense and on edge for days now. The likely possibility of being pregnant has caused a lot more worry and stress for all of us. Plus, winter was coming quickly; a little more snow failed to melt each day. Soon, the ground would be covered and stay that way until spring. Add to that the potential threat Queen held if she decided to come back, and tempers were understandably... short. I had been at a loss for how to help or make it better when I noticed the date on my iPad last night that had given me an idea.

I didn’t usually pay attention to the date or time on the iPad. At some point, I assumed it stopped being accurate, and in this world, time has no real construct or place. Sun up or sun down: that’s all that matters. But for some reason, I took note of it last night and realized that Thanksgiving was only a few days ago. That’s when I remembered the orchard Daddy planted a year before the apocalypse. He’d planted it down in a little dip in the mountains close to the house. Because it was rather protected, he predicted it would stay a bit warmer, stretching the fruiting season.

That orchard had apples. And the only ingredient I didn’t have for apple crisp was apples. How excited would the guys be if they came in from a long day preparing for winter to some warm apple crisp? I knew I had to at least run down to the orchard and see if my plan was even possible. I had contemplated telling them this morning while we ate breakfast, but they were already so surly that I decided not to. I wanted to lift their spirits, not cause more disappointment. I waited until they were busy, collected my things, and left the house. It shouldn’t take me that long. There was a good chance I’d make it back without them even noticing I was gone. What a surprise that would be! I’ll tell them it’s magic!

I knew I was safe once I was behind the house since it blocked their view of me. I swung my basket as I made my way to the orchard. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and it was a gorgeous fall day. I never expected to be able to enjoy a day like this ever again. If my guys hadn’t stumbled upon the house, I might not have. After a short five-minute walk, I reached the orchard tucked into the mountainside. I crossed my fingers as I walked the rows of trees. Many still had fruit on them, though not the apples I was looking for. I’d have to come back another day to harvest the entire orchard.

Finally, I found the apple trees and grinned when I saw plenty of apples left ripe for the picking. I filled my basket quickly, contemplating the other things I could make with the apples I picked. Applesauce was at the top of my list! I turned to leave, and my steps and smile faltered. Two men stood at the end of the row, blocking the exit. One was far taller than the other. Both looked dirty and too skinny for the clothes that hung off their bodies. Mean eyes peered at me from within their unruly head of hair and full beard. There was so much of it that you couldn’t tell where the hair on their head stopped, and the hair on their face began.

Fear gripped me tightly, but I squared my shoulders, refusing to let them see it. I knew how to care for myself, and they’d soon figure that out if they didn’t move along. I make a shooing motion with my hand, hoping they will take the hint.

It only made them laugh.

“Queen told us to watch the house day and night for you to come out. And we did,” the shorter one said.

“She said if we made you disappear, we could stay in the house with her,” the other added.

Great, just what I needed. Bums with goals and aspirations.

Deciding that even if I could communicate effectively with them, there wouldn’t be any point, I reached for the gun at my back.

“Don’t move!” They ordered, pointing dull-looking knives at me.

I tilted my head curiously. Or what? They were ten feet away, and I’m pretty sure they couldn’t hit the broadside of a barn at half that distance.

Ignoring their order, I pulled out my gun and pointed it at them. I saw the exact moment they realized they had fucked up. Their entire body shifted from predator to prey in an instant.

“No, wait! We didn’t mean it!” The short one said, dropping the knife and holding up his hands in surrender.

“We never saw you!” the other shouted, turning and running away.

Too little, too late. I sighed and pulled the trigger once, then twice, killing them instantly. More scum gone from the world. I didn’t like killing people, but their intentions leave me no choice, and it’s them or me and my men, I’m always going to do what’s best for us.

I crouched down and listened to the forest around me. My shots had disrupted the peacefulness of the day but left deadlysilence in its place. I raised my gun as I heard something racing through the forest, the sound getting louder the closer it got.

“CORA!”

I lower the gun immediately at the sound of Isaac’s voice. Of course they would come running as soon as they realized I wasn’t in the house. I holster my gun, set the basket down, grabbed two rocks, and started banging them together to get his attention. Isaac enters the grove with the others right behind him. His eyes are panicked as he rushes past the dead bodies.

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