Page 46 of Shelter (The Wanderers 4)

CHAPTER16

Haley’s nerves were wearing on her as they approached the cabin that had illuminated their path like the North Star. It was small and old. At least fifty years old she would guess. It didn’t look like more than a shack from the outside.

Rush turned to the rest of them before they were close enough to be detected. “Let me go to the door and make sure we’re not walking into a trap. If anything happens to me, ever, on this journey, you keep moving west. Find The Wanderers. Understood?”

Haley nodded along with her men. She grabbed Rush’s hand before he turned away. “Be careful please.”

He nodded. “Always.”

She held her breath as he approached the cabin and watched him look around before he finally knocked on the door. She and the others stayed out of sight, but from her spot behind a bush, she saw a woman open the door.

Rush spoke to her for a few minutes before turning around and waving for the others to join him.

Braylon set a hand on the small of Haley’s back as they joined Rush, and Haley was relieved to find an older woman with two men at her back. They were all in their late sixties, she would guess.

“Welcome. Please, come in.” She held the door open to let them all pass.

The cabin had only one room. There wasn’t even enough furniture to accommodate the three people who apparently lived here, let alone five guests.

“I’m sure you’re all exhausted.” She glanced over her shoulders at the two men. “It’s better if we don’t exchange names or information. Safer for everyone. The important thing is we have a bunker several yards behind this cabin. That’s where you all will hide for the day. At nightfall, another vehicle will pick you up and take you on the next leg of your journey.”

“We can’t thank you enough,” Haley said.

The woman gave her a warm smile. “You’re very welcome, child. I’ve already put plenty of food and changes of clothing in the bunker. It’s not huge, but you’ll all be able to rest there without fear.”

“I’ll take you there now,” one of the men stated.

Haley followed the man out the door they’d come through into the night once again. It was still several hours until morning, but apparently the next time they would move wouldn’t be until nightfall again.

She felt anxious to put more miles between the Hanson estate and their destination, but it couldn’t be helped. She was grateful to Marian for making these arrangements. The woman put her own life on the line to save five people. Haley wished they would be able to repay her, but she doubted they would ever see her again.

The older gentleman brushed some hay away from the top of a hidden door and reached down to pull on the hatch.

Storm rushed forward to help him and lifted the door to reveal a ladder descending into the ground.

“I’ll go first,” Rush declared before lowering himself down the ladder.

Riggs followed.

Braylon helped Haley before following behind her.

Storm was last.

The older man leaned over. “There are flashlights at the foot of the stairs, but use them sparingly to save the batteries. When the sun comes up, you’ll be able to see better because there are a few solar panels hidden around the edges of the bunker.”

“Thank you again,” Storm said as the hatch was lowered back into place.

Haley shivered and rubbed her arms as they were once again thrust into darkness.

Braylon wrapped his arms around her from behind and held her back against his front.

A light came on. Riggs had located it at their feet. He shined it around the space. “Just so we can get our bearings,” he said.

Haley looked around, trying to soak in as much as she could. The back wall had wooden shelves, and she could see bottles of water and what she assumed was food.

There was a small door in the corner. She hoped it led to a bathroom of some sort, no matter how crude. She was going to need to pee soon. The floor under their feet was made of wood planks and the entire center of the room was covered with some pallets for sleeping on and blankets.

“Clearly, this is used primarily for overnight guests to sleep,” Riggs stated.

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