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“No, she’s got a bit of a sniffle. She stayed home. She’s watching over my roasted chicken, or at least she’s supposed to be, but she might get engrossed in a book and forget.”
On the stage, a six-foot folding table had been set up, and the council took their places, Tom seated in the center. Carly tried to match them to their names. The somewhat grouchy-looking elderly lady was, without a doubt, Old Miz Marson. The middle-aged man beside her could be either Clayton Bierce or Doc Cotton, but then she noticed the younger man to his right and decided he was more likely to be Clayton. She’d expected Doc Cotton to be older, on the basis it sounded like an old person’s name. She wondered if he was a doctor, or if his real name was Murdock or something along those lines. She hoped for the former. It would be wonderful to have a doctor around for Dagny’s sake.
Tom stood, and the murmur of conversation room fell to a respectful hush. “Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.”
There was a rumble as the audience stood, and hands were placed over hearts. Tom started the recitation, and the people continued, all in one voice. Here, in this precious little pocket of normalcy, America was still a country.
“You may be seated.” Tom waited for everyone to settle in their seats before he continued. “As you all know, we’ve been blessed by the arrival of four new friends. Five actually, if you count the little one.”
“And we do,” Old Miz Marson interjected.
“Five, then. In the course of getting to know them, I’ve discovered they’re fine people, indeed, and they have much to offer this community. Justin has many skills. Carly has her animals, including two horses, which will improve our farming, if she will consent to allowing them to be used in that fashion.”
He glanced down at Carly. She wasn’t sure if she was supposed to answer. “Of course. Shadowfax won’t mind pulling a plow.”
“Thank you. Beyond that, they have a good deal of medical supplies Doc Cotton here thinks could save many lives, things we don’t currently have. Now, I’ll ask if you all will consider allowing Carly and Justin, Stan and Mindy to join our community.”
Carly had half-expected this topic to be broached, but she hadn’t expected Tom would ask people to make a decision so quickly. She could tell Justin was surprised, too, from the tension in his posture, but he kept his face impassive.
There was silence for a moment before a voice rang out. “I’ll second the motion.”
Another followed. “I’ll third.”
“A vote is called. All those in favor?”
“Aye!” The cry was loud.
Carly’s breath caught in her throat, and she felt tears sting her eyes. Justin took her hand and turned his head to face her, a question in his eyes. She gave him a tiny nod, and he responded with a faint smile and a gentle squeeze of her hand. She threaded her fingers through his. Her heart pounded. It was the start of a new life for them, and Carly knew she would always remember how she had felt at that moment, the wild tumult of emotion. Excitement was tangled up in a little trepidation, for it was a big step they were taking. She was both flattered and humbled the community would embrace them so quickly and wholeheartedly. And she was happy, so happy their long journey was at an end, and they could begin the business of building a life for their family. She hoped Mindy would become more comfortable with the idea once she’d had a little time to adjust.
“Opposed?” Tom asked.
“What about that wolf?” someone called out.
Carly turned to look for the speaker. What about Sam? She had thought of all of them as a package deal and had assumed that’s how the offer had been intended. Apparently, she was not the only one because the room hummed with whispers and murmurs from the crowd.
Tom held his hands up and silence fell again. “The chair recognizes Mike Yoder.”
“That animal ain’t safe,” Mike Yoder said. He was a heavyset man with ginger hair that continued down his sideburns to join with a matching beard. “It’s not a dog. It’s a wolf. A wild animal. You can’t tame them, not completely. They’ll always have those predatory instincts. And you aren’t a professional animal trainer, are you Miss Carly?”
Carly tilted her chin up. “No, I’m not.”
Mike softened his tone a bit, possibly aware he had struck a nerve. “Never had no training in how to care for a wolf or how to recognize the danger signs in their behavior?”
“No, but—” The tears were threatening again. She tried to remind herself Mike wasn’t trying to upset her with his questions, and they were questions that, truthfully, represented valid concerns for someone who didn’t know what Sam was like.
“Miss Carly, I know you mean well and you believe the wolf would never hurt anyone, but you’re askin’ me to bet my child’s life on it. And I just can’t do that.” Having said his piece, Mike sat back down.
Carly stood. She could do it for Sam, though her voice trembled a little from anxiety of speaking before so many people. “You don’t know me. You don’t have any reason to trust me, and I understand that, but Sam is very special. He’s incredibly intelligent and well-behaved. He’s never once been aggressive toward peaceful people.”
“But he has been aggressive?” someone else called out.
“He saved my life,” Carly said. “He saved me after the Crisis because without him to take care of, I might have just laid down and given up. After we started out on our journey, he protected us and defended us when necessary. He brought me food when Justin was injured. In short, I owe this animal my life many times over, and I’ll understand if you say you don’t want him in your community, but I’ll go with him if you say he has to leave.”
Another voice began, “But you can’t guarantee—”
“Life has no guarantees,” Justin said sharply. He stood and scanned the room. “You can’t guarantee the person sitting next to you won’t go crazy tomorrow and kill people.” He took a deep breath and gave Carly a small smile. “Just as my wife said, you don’t know us, and you don’t know if you can trust us, but I have this to offer you.” He pushed up the sleeve of his shirt. “Do you see this symbol? At one time, it meant something—a set of principles and a code of honor—for which I would have gladly laid down my life. Know that I swear on my honor I would not bring that animal amongst you if I had any doubts about your safety.”
“Shall I call a vote?” Tom asked the room.
