“Day before yesterday, one of John Slains’ men found my oldest granddaughter picking wild berries.” Bryan’s eyes narrowed. “He raped her and tied her up to drag back to their compound in the morning. When he fell asleep, she escaped. She returned last night after dark. We packed and left before first light in case she was tracked. We’d have a bullet in each of us if they found us hiding her.”
Cam nodded. Shit like that happened out there all the time. “That’s a fine truckload of hogs.” He nodded at the grunting animals.
“We’ve also got a pair of goats, a couple of cats, and a crate of chickens,” said Bryan. “Eighteen layers and two roosters.” His chest puffed out. “We’re not arriving empty-handed. This is our seed livestock.” He seemed direct and honest.
Rare qualities in the outside world.
Cam wanted to let them in. He rubbed his hand across his stubbled jaw, stalling. If anyone dared to cross the mayor, it would be him. He was family, so she wouldn’t kick him out, but she’d be pissed.
“Did the man who invited you have a name?”
“The Slains called him ‘Goliath.’ He was with them a couple years back. We heard he busted outta there and brought his pregnant wife here. He didn’t give us his name. Just said ifI wanted to keep the girls safe, we should come.” A shadow crossed the old man’s face as he glanced over his shoulder at his family in the truck. “I shoulda listened sooner.”
Shit. The description matched someone he knew. This day was getting worse, but Cam was going to do the right thing, policy change be damned. He yelled up to the tower. “Find Sergeant Walker. Have him meet us outside the office building ASAP.” He best matched Clark’s description.
“What about the mayor?” Johnson said, lowering his rifle. Beside him, the second guard remained on alert, his rifle trained on Bryan Clark’s grizzled head.
“She’ll turn up soon, I’m sure,” said Cam, deliberately misunderstanding the question. “Get Captain Wilson, too, while you’re at it.” His superiors could take some of the heat. Guaranteed, the captain would back up Cam for admitting the Clarks. He turned to Bryan. “When the gate opens, drive inside and park. Any weapons we need to know about?” He stared, looking for a reaction.
“A couple of knives. No guns. The Slains confiscated them years ago.” He spat again. “Bastards.”
Cam nodded. “See you inside. Welcome to xTerra.” He strode to the gate and pounded on the thick metal, a booming sound echoing over the plain. “Let me in, and open wide enough for the truck.” Behind him, the truck’s engine roared to life, the scent of exhaust filling the crisp fall air. They must have had access to the purple gas the Slains allocated to some of their larger farms.
No sooner had the truck parked and the gate closed than the mayor arrived. She must have been nearby and heard the gates open.
Cam’s mother narrowed her eyes, her lips clamped tight as she marched toward him. Not the truck. Him. He braced himself. Steam practically billowed from her ears, and anger waves radiated off her deceptively placid exterior. To a stranger,her almost neutral expression might seem businesslike and mildly irritated. To those who knew Mayor Dolores Montgomery well, she was irate.
Well, fuck. That hadn’t taken long.
“Cameron James Montgomery.” Her icy tone made the nearby guards stiffen. Several residents trooped out of the Office and Medical Center, probably attracted by the drama. All eyes turned toward the Montgomery show.
She was full-name mad. He might be thirty-one, but to his mother, he was still a child.
“Yes, Mayor,” said Cam, bracing himself against her ire—refusing to be goaded. “Good morning.”
“Do you remember the new policy?” Without waiting for an answer, she barreled onward. “I posted that memo myself after reading it aloud at the meeting of the Watch in September.”
He wouldn’t apologize for being decent. “They were invited, have stock, and they’re seeking refuge from the Slains. The oldest girl needs Medical.” In his peripheral vision, the truck doors creaked open on both sides, and four sets of feet hit the ground.
“It said NO EXCEPTIONS.” Hands on her hips, Dolores stopped two feet away.
Cam stood his ground, meeting his mother’s pale green gaze. His best option was to say nothing.
Her jaw flared as the silence stretched. His mom had never handled his stonewall defense well. When she didn’t receive further explanation, the mayor side-stepped, approaching the family. Bryan’s wife had her arms around both young women. One sported bruises on her face and raised her chin, staring Cam down. She must plan to resist being tossed out.
Cam nodded, and her posture relaxed infinitesimally.
The mayor spoke first. “Get back in that eyesore of a truck. I’m sorry for the confusion. You’re not staying. Mr. Montgomerydoesn’t have the authority to countermand my orders. Orders I installed for xTerra’s safety.”
The Clarks didn’t move while they stared at Cam.
From behind him came another voice. “But I do,” said the authoritative voice of Captain Luke Wilson. He’d approached on silent feet, Sergeant Kory Walker behind him.
Bryan’s eyes flickered with recognition. Yep. Walker had been Goliath. That fit. The guy was built like a fort and, at six-foot-eight, was memorable.
“They’re leaving,” said Dolores, turning to the captain.
Captain Wilson shook his head. “Not right now. I took the liberty of calling an emergency council meeting.”
