“Jessie, do you take Ian as your lawfully wedded husband? Do you promise to love, honor and obey him, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
“I do,” said Jessie, holding Ian’s hands and gazing into his eyes.
Cleo reached forward and handed Jessie a wedding ring, trying to maintain her composure. Thoughts of Lex flooded through her mind and she wondered if the two of them would ever be standing here together. She remembered the way he looked the last time she’d seen him, broken and beaten. Was he even still alive? She quickly forced the thought from her mind. This was Ian and Jessie’s day and she wasn’t about to let her mood ruin the moment.
Jessie accepted the ring and slid it onto Ian’s finger.
“And Ian,” continued Rupert, “do you take Jessie as your lawfully wedded wife? Do you promise to love, honor and care for her, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
“I do,” said Ian, smiling down at Jessie. He turned and took the ring Shiloh handed him, squeezing Jessie’s hand gently, as he slid it onto her finger.
“Then by the power vested in me, by the almighty God,” said Rupert, “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Ian pulled Jessie close and bent down, pressing his lips to hers, as she wrapped her arms around his neck. They turned and headed up the aisle, followed by their wedding party.
The crowd cheered and applauded, throwing white paper confetti on the married couple passing by. The ceremony was followed by dinner and dancing, as the entire town rejoiced, momentarily forgetting about the foreign army lurking on the other side of the mountains.
“Would you like to dance?” Asked Billy, his face bright red.
“I thought you’d never ask,” smiled Dakota, taking his hand and leading him onto the dancefloor.
“Where’s Cleo?” Asked Shiloh, joining the Mason’s.
“She wasn’t feeling good,” explained Savannah.
“She said she’d be over at the jailhouse,” added Mason.
“I see,” said Shiloh, nodding his head sympathetically.
“Michael, aren’t you going to ask me to dance?” Asked Savannah, holding Mason’s hand in hers.
“I was just about to,” lied Mason, feeling awkward. Confident in almost every task he performed, dancing was not one of them. He glanced nervously at Shiloh and his palms began to sweat, as Savannah dragged him onto the dancefloor.
Shiloh smiled and watched, as the couple joined Ian and Jessie, gliding across the dancefloor. He thought of Sheila, longing for her touch and wished she could be here. His heart began to ache and he was about to turn and leave, when the DeLuca brothers walked up beside him.
“Evening,” greeted Richie.
“Hello,” said Shiloh, not in the mood for chit-chat.
“Nice party,” observed Lenny.
“Yep,” agreed Shiloh. He was trying to think of an excuse to leave, when he saw Jeremiah ride into town on a brown and white Appaloosa. The old man quickly dismounted and whispered something to Mayor Sullivan, before helping himself to a beer.
“Excuse me,” said Shiloh, noticing the Mayor’s face turn pale. He turned and walked around the dancefloor to where the Mayor was standing, deep in thought. “What is it?”
“Huh? Oh, hello Shiloh,” replied Mayor Sullivan, his expression bleak.
“What happened?”
“They’re headed this way,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief.
“Who’s headed this way?”
“The enemy,” he answered, looking at Shiloh, his eyes heavy with worry.
“How is that possible?” Asked Shiloh. “Aren’t the avalanches blocking the passes?”
“Aye lad,” agreed Mayor Sullivan, “but they’re digging through, using flamethrowers to melt the snow and ice.”
“How long do we have?”
“A day, maybe two.”
“Damn,” hissed Shiloh, contemplating their next move. “We need to dispatch riders and warn the other towns the timetable has been moved up.”
“Aye,” agreed the Mayor, “I’ll see to it. Do you think we should tell everyone?”
Shiloh glanced around at all the smiling faces and saw hope in their eyes. The music and laughter lifted his soul, filling his heart with joy. “No,” he said, “let them enjoy themselves. There isn’t anything they can do about it anyway. Besides, this valley offers both concealment and protection. We should notify Lt. Sawyer,” he added. “He may need to post extra guards tonight.”
“That’s a grand recommendation,” agreed Mayor Sullivan. “I’ll be sure to let him know.”
“A toast!” Rupert shouted, raising his glass in the air. “To my dear friends Ian and Jessie. May your life be long and fruitful, may your marriage be strong and durable and may the Lord always hold you in the palm of his hand!”
“Cheers!” Shouted everyone, before guzzling down their drinks.
“Excuse me sir,” said a woman, with two young children standing beside her.
“Yes,” replied Shiloh, smiling down at the little boy and girl.
“My name is Shannon and these are my children,” she explained. “We arrived in the eighteen-wheeler, with Casey Cooper.”
“Yes, I remember,” said Shiloh. “What can I do for you?”
“Well,” she continued, fighting the tears in her eyes, “Casey was one of the men who volunteered to warn the other towns.”
“Right,” agreed Shiloh, “I think he went to Virginia City.”
“He hasn’t returned,” said the boy, when he realized his mother was chocked up.
“Are you sure? He should’ve been back yesterday.”
“We’re sure,” said the little girl. “He promised to bring us some candy.”
“I’m sorry,” said Shiloh, “this is the first I’m hearing of it. I’ll head out tonight and see if I can find him.”
“Thank you so much!” Gasped Shannon, gripping her children’s hands in hers.
“It’s no problem,” smiled Shiloh. “Have you got a place to stay?”
“We’ve been staying in the truck, with our goat and chickens,” stated the young girl, full of pride.
“You can stay at my place if you’d like,” offered Shiloh. “My foreman Alfonso is a great cook.”
“That’s alright, but thank you,” said Shannon. “I’d rather be at the truck, waiting for Casey when he returns.”
“Of course,” replied Shiloh. “Well I’d best get going, before I lose all the light. Help yourselves to whatever you’d like and try not to worry, I’m sure he’s fine.” He set his half-empty beer on a nearby table and headed for his truck.
It was well after dark when Shiloh arrived in Virginia City and parked in front of the Bucket of Blood. He walked inside and headed for the bar, searching for Casey among the patrons.
“What’ll it be Mister?” Asked a burly man, with a handlebar mustache.
“A beer,” said Shiloh, sizing the man up, “and a pound of candy,” he added, noticing several barrels of candy behind the bar.
“Which kind do you want?” Asked the man, holding a silver scoop in his hand.
“A little bit of everything,” said Shiloh, remembering the little girl’s sweet face. “I’m looking for a friend of mine who was headed this way. He’s a stocky fella, with a brown beard.”
“Yeah, I saw him,” said the bartender, placing the bag of candy on the bar in front of Shiloh and pouring him a beer. “He was in here yesterday. Said he was looking for recruits to defend the mountain pass.”
“That’d be him,” agreed Shiloh. “Do you know where he went?”
“Nope,” said the man, “but you ain’t the only one who was looking for him?”
“What do you mean?”
“There were some fellas in here from Dayton,” he explained. “They sat in the corner, watching and listening to what your friend was saying. I noticed their interest peak at the mention of Clearview and when he left, they followed him out.”
“Who were these men?”
“One of them had a scar over his eye and seemed to fancy himself with a gun,” replied the bartender, wiping rings of water off the bar. “I think his friends called him Cody.”
Cody Hyde!!!
“Do you happen to know where they went?”
“No, but I had the impression your friend was headed home.”
“And that was last night?”
“Yep. I’d say, oh, around seven or so, give or take.”
“Thanks,” said Shiloh, finishing his beer and paying the tab. He left the saloon and climbed into his truck, placing the bag of candy on the seat beside him. Two roads snaked up the mountain to Virginia City and he’d used one on his way here. Not knowing which direction Casey had gone and having seen no sign of him on his way up the mountain, Shiloh decided to try the other route on his way down.
He’d only been driving for ten minutes, when he saw a car lying upside-down, halfway down the mountain. Although he wasn’t sure what vehicle Casey had been driving, the car looked familiar. When he reached a spot on the mountain, level with the capsized car, he stopped the truck and climbed out.
“Casey!” He shouted, scanning the area for a body, before climbing down the mountain to get closer. “Casey! Can you hear me?”
“Hello?”
“Casey is that you?”
“Yeah,” yelled Casey. “Who’s there?”
“Shiloh Evans, from Clearview,” he yelled back. “Shannon told me you hadn’t returned so I came out looking.”
“Mighty obliged,” yelled Casey. “I’m kind of stuck. Do you think you can help get me out of here?”
“I’m coming,” shouted Shiloh, careful not to lose his footing and fall down the mountain. When he reached the car he found Casey pinned inside, his leg wedged beneath the steering wheel.
“Hold on. I’ll be right back.” Shiloh hurried up the mountain and retrieved a crowbar from inside his truck. With the tool in hand, he quickly made his way back down to the vehicle. “Alright,” he said, bending down, where Casey could see him. “I’m going to pry the steering wheel up, while you squirm out.”
“Okay,” agreed Casey, shivering from the cold. He’d been lying there for hours and desperately wanted to be free from the tangled metal.
“One! Two! Three!” Shiloh lifted with all his strength and could hear the wheel creak, as it twisted upward. “Now!” He shouted, holding the crowbar in place.
Sluggish from exposure, Casey squirmed and wiggled free from the vehicle and rolled onto his side. “Thanks!” He gasped, lying in the snow and rubbing his leg.
“No problem,” said Shiloh, letting go of the crowbar. “I’m just glad I got here when I did, you look hypothermic. What happened?”
“Some guys from town ran me off the road,” explained Casey, shaking his head in disgust, “and I don’t even know why.”
“Did one of them have a scar over his eye?”
“Yes,” exclaimed Casey. “Do you know him?”
“His name is Cody Hyde,” replied Shiloh. “I had a run-in with him too, but he didn’t fare so well. That might be why he ran you off the road, knowing you’re from Clearview, and possibly a friend of mine.”
“That figures,” grumbled Casey, trying to stand without success. “I’m surprised they didn’t finish me off.”
“They probably thought you were dead,” said Shiloh, holding Casey’s arm to steady him. He glanced up the mountain toward his truck. “Can you walk on that?” He asked, pointing at Casey’s crushed leg.
“Not without help,” he admitted, fearing it was broken.
“Come on.” Shiloh reached down and lifted Casey to his feet, before scooping him over his shoulder and climbing up the mountain.
World War III – Day Twenty-Three
Clearview, Nevada
Shiloh drove Casey back to his ranch and helped him out of the truck, as Alfonso hurried out to meet them.
“What happened?”
“He was in a car accident and might have a broken leg,” explained Shiloh, helping to support Casey’s weight. “Will you fetch the doc? He’s probably still at the wedding.”
“Of course,” said Alfonso, climbing into the Chevy and speeding off, headed for the hidden valley.
Shiloh helped Casey into the house and onto the couch in the living room, where a fire burned warm and bright. He covered the trucker with a blanket and propped some pillows under his head. “I’ll get you some hot tea.”
“Th-th-thanks,” replied Casey, his teeth chattering from hypothermia.
“Sure, no problem,” said Shiloh, tossing a couple of logs onto the fire. “Can I get you anything else?”
“Can’t th-th-think of anything,” he stammered.
Alfonso returned with Dr. July about thirty minutes later and guided him into the house, followed by Shannon and her children.
The doctor checked Casey’s temperature to ensure it was returning to normal, before going to work on his leg. “What happened?” He asked, cutting Casey’s pant leg open and examining his leg.
Full of curiosity, the children crowded around the doctor and watched, as he applied pressure to various parts of the leg.
“Ouch!” Screamed Casey, grimacing from the pain.
“You’re hurting him,” said Shannon, holding Casey’s hand in hers.
“It’s broken and needs to be set,” stated the doctor. “It’s gonna hurt.” He glanced at Shiloh, watching from the kitchen, and asked, “Do you have anything we can give him for the pain?”
Shiloh nodded and disappeared into the other room, returning with a bottle of whiskey and a handful of pills. “I’ve got some leftover pain pills from a knee surgery,” he explained, handing them to the doc.
“They’ll have to do,” said Dr. July, handing the pills to Casey. “Here, take two of these and chew them,” he instructed.
Casey did as told and made an ugly face, which made the children giggle. “They taste horrible,” he complained, grinning at Sam and Sandy.
“I know,” replied Dr. July, “but they’ll work faster. Here,” he added, handing him the bottle of whiskey, “wash them down with this.”
“Thanks.” Casey took several gulps from the bottle and handed it to Shannon.
“Are you ready?” Asked the doctor.
“As ready as I’ll ever be,” he said, bracing himself for the pain.
“Here,” Alfonso removed his leather belt and handed it to Casey, “bite down on this.”
“Obliged,” replied Casey, accepting the belt and placing it in his mouth.
“Now are you ready?” Asked Dr. July, positioning his hands on Casey’s leg, both above and below the break.
Casey nodded and closed his eyes, clenching the belt between his teeth.
“On three,” said the doctor. “One, two…” The doctor twisted the leg, shoving the bone into place, with a loud snap.
“Argh!” Grunted Casey, biting down on the belt. “What happened to three?”
“The worst is over,” said Dr. July, as he quickly fastened a splint into place. “You’re gonna need crutches for a few weeks.”
“I have a pair he can use,” offered Shiloh, retrieving a set of crutches from the closet.
Casey spit the belt from his mouth and took the whiskey from Shannon’s hand. He tilted his head back and took a big swig, followed by another.
“Did it hurt?” Asked Sam, watching intently.
“I’ve experienced worse,” grinned Casey, patting the boy on the head.
“Is it over?” Asked Sandy, looking up at the doctor.
“For the most part,” said Dr. July. “He needs to stay warm and get some rest.”
“Can I ask him now?” Sandy asked, glancing at her mother.
“No,” hissed Shannon, giving Sandy a scolding look.
“Ask me what?” Casey asked, handing Shannon the bottle of whiskey.
“Well,” Sandy began fidgeting with her fingers, “you said you were gonna bring back some candy, and well, I was wondering if you did?”
“I did have candy for you,” admitted Casey, “but when the car rolled down the mountain, everything was scattered and lost.”
“Oh, okay,” said Sandy, frowning in disappointment.
“And yet despite the accident,” said Shiloh, tossing Casey a bag of candy, “he still managed to bring it for you.”
“Thanks,” smiled Casey, before handing the candy to the children.
“Oh, thank you!” Gasped Sandy, popping a piece of candy into her mouth, before offering the bag to Sam.
Watching Shannon and her children reunite with Casey made Shiloh think of his wife and children, bringing a single, delicate teardrop to his eye. He wiped the tear away, before stepping outside onto the porch.
Duke and Kassie were lying side-by-side in the front yard, watching a squirrel as it foraged for food. Shiloh was mildly surprised and smiled, when neither dog gave chase. He sat down on the porch swing and watched, as the squirrel scurried up the tree and disappeared into a small hole.
Kassie glanced at Shiloh when he stepped outside. She let out a yawn, displaying razor sharp teeth, before resting her head on her outstretched paws and closing her eyes. She’d been mopping around the ranch ever since Lex’s untimely departure and had refused to eat.
Shiloh had tried everything he could think of, including things he knew she loved, such as carrot peelings, potato chips, and even ice cream, but she wasn’t interested in any of it. Instead, she sulked around the yard, watching and waiting for any sign of Lex.
As he sat there watching the dogs, memories of his wife and children playing in the yard, flooded into his thoughts. He remembered how they used to run through the sprinklers, laughing and giggling. One memory in particular popped into his mind, making him feel especially nostalgic.
He remembered sneaking up on his wife, as she lay on a towel in the grass, tanning. The kids stopped playing when they noticed him and watched, with mischievous grins, as he approached, holding a bucket of water. When he dumped the water, Sheila screamed and jumped to her feet. The children giggled with delight, as they watched their mother chase their father around the yard. Within seconds they came to their mother’s aid and joined in the chase, soaking their father with squirt guns. Remembering the sound of their laughter and Sheila’s shocked expression, brought a smile to Shiloh’s face.
His mind returned to the present, when he noticed Kassie’s ears perk up and her body become tense. She lifted her head and peered down the road, as if expecting someone. Curious, Shiloh stood up and looked in the same direction. In the distance, he could see Mason’s Hummer speeding down the road. The vehicle turned onto his drive and pulled to a stop in front of the house, with a cloud of dust settling around it.
Kassie leapt to her feet and watched in anticipation, as the doors swung open and Mason and Cleo climbed out. Recognizing Cleo as Lex’s mate, she ran to her, greeting her with a wagging tail.
“That’s the first sign of life she’s shown, since Lex was abducted,” observed Shiloh.
Cleo bent down and rubbed the dog’s head, before giving her a big hug. “I miss him too,” she whispered. “Don’t worry, I’ll find him and bring him back.”
“Do you think you can get her to eat something,” suggested Shiloh. “She hasn’t eaten for a few days.”
“Sure,” said Cleo, standing up. “Come on girl,” she added, patting the palm of her hand against her thigh and heading for the barn. Realizing it was feeding time, Duke jumped to his feet and followed.
“I heard you found Casey,” said Mason, joining Shiloh on the porch.
“Yeah, the doc’s in there with him now. He’s got a broken leg and was suffering from hypothermia when I found him.”
“He’s lucky you found him when you did,” observed Mason.
“It sounds like it was my fault he was down there in the first place. I had a run-in with a fella by the name of Cody Hyde, while visiting Mound House,” explained Shiloh. “I think Cody ran him off the road, just to get back at me,” he added, noticing Mason’s puzzled expression.
“I see,” said Mason, slowly nodding his head. “I know how you feel.”
“Lex?”
“Yeah, it’s my fault he was taken. It should’ve been me.”
“We’ll get him back.”
“I hope so,” said Mason, glancing at the barn, where Cleo was coaxing Kassie to eat.
They sat there in silence, until another car appeared in the distance. The vehicle turned at the drive and parked behind the Hummer.
“Can you send for reinforcements?” Asked Mayor Sullivan, climbing down from the truck.
“I’ve tried,” replied Lt. Sawyer, as he and several Marines dismounted. “They’re jamming our signals and we can’t get a message through. In fact, I haven’t heard from Major Conrad since he arrived in Las Vegas.”
“If we could only slow them down a little, until reinforcements arrived,” said the Mayor, scratching his head.
“What about Cave Rock Tunnel?” Suggested Dr. July, standing in the doorway.
“What about it?”
“Couldn’t we blow the tunnel? It’d force them to drive all the way around the lake,” he suggested.
“But they’re watching and waiting for us to send another team,” said Lt. Sawyer. “My scouts have reported sentries, posted on all roads leading up the mountain. We’d be walking into an ambush.”
“What about a one or two man team on snowmobiles?” Suggested Mason.
“That might work,” agreed Shiloh, “but we’d need dynamite or C-4, something to blow the tunnel closed.”
“What about grenades?” Asked Sam.
“They aren’t strong enough,” replied Mason. “It’d be like throwing darts at a concrete wall.”
“What about the gold and silver mines up in Virginia City?” Suggested Alfonso, joining the men on the porch.
“What about them?”
“They use nitroglycerin,” he explained. “There might be some leftover.”
“Nitro would be more than enough to bring that tunnel down in pile of rubble,” said Mason.
“Sergeant Powell,” shouted Lt. Sawyer.
“Yes sir,” said the Staff Sergeant, stepping forward and standing at attention.
“Take two men and go with Alfonso to pick up some nitroglycerin,” ordered the Lieutenant.
“Yes sir!” Sgt. Powell saluted the Lieutenant, before spinning on his heels. “Gibson! Malarkey! You’re with me.”
When the small group returned a few hours later, they transferred six bottles of nitroglycerin into three backpacks, two bottles per pack.
“I didn’t realize how clear it’d be,” replied Shiloh, as he handed Mason the last of the glass bottles.
“Yeah,” agreed Mason, securing the bottle in one of the packs. “Whatever you do, try not to shake it.”
“I won’t,” replied Shiloh, handling the bottles delicately.
“Are you sure ya want to go on this mission?” Asked Mason. “Cleo and I can handle it.”
“I’m sure,” said Shiloh, glancing from Mason to Cleo. “Neither one of you know the area as well as I do.”
With their packs loaded and armed with assault rifles, they climbed onto three snowmobiles and headed up the mountain.
“I wish I was going with them,” said Lt. Colonel Kye Williams, as he watched the small group disappear into the tree line. He’d arrived at the Evan’s Ranch with old man Sampson, after hearing of the enemies advance.
“There’s no way in hell I’d of volunteered for this one,” admitted Sampson. “Those bottles of nitro could blow at any second. Enough direct sunlight is all it’d take. I sure as heck wouldn’t want one strapped to my back!”
“I know,” said Kye, “but I’d like to get back in the fight. If only I had access to a fighter jet!”
“I might be able to help you with that,” replied Sampson, nursing his wounded shoulder.
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll show you,” grinned the old man. “Come with me.” Sampson drove Kye to his ranch, only a few miles away and pulled to a stop in front of a large, brown barn.
“Is this your place?”
“Yep.”
“Where’s the house?”
“It’s underground,” replied Sampson, as he climbed out of the truck.
“You’re kidding. Where? I don’t see anything.”
“Good, you’re not supposed to.”
“Come on,” said Kye. “Tell me.”
“You’re standing on it,” said Sampson.
“Really?” Kye looked at the ground beneath him, searching for any sign of construction, but could find none. “What is it with you and your brother? One lives in the trees and the other below ground.”
“He’s my half-brother,” spat Sampson. “Come on.” He led Kye to the barn and opened the large, wooden doors.
“Whoa,” gasped Kye, letting out a whistle. “Where’d you get all this stuff?”
“Here and there,” replied Sampson. “I’ve been collecting all my life. Most of it was brought back from battles I fought in. Some of the items are much, much older.”