Archive of Our Own

“I have to go,” I said, pulling myself from the bed and his arms, “We have to stop doing this. It can’t continue.”

He caught my wrist as I tried to stand and pulled me back down and against him. His muscles tensed as he held me tight. I gave a furtive struggle before relaxing against this chest. We had met in a cabin, neutral land in theory, though it was in his mountains. Moments stolen, in secret, when we could get away from our respective responsibilities. He was terrorizing the people in Hope County's mountains through brainwashing and good old-fashioned torture; mine was to stop him. At some point, our fighting had turned to fucking, and we couldn’t seem to stop.

“Stay,” he said, his face buried against my neck.

“Jacob,” I said, through clenched teeth as I tried to pry his arms away from my waist, “I have to go. It’s been a while since I’ve checked in with anyone. If Eli sends a party out for me and they find me in this cabin, with you…”

“When are you going to give up this Resistance thing, darlin’?” he said, trailing kisses across my shoulder.

I tensed.

“Probably around the same time you turn your back on the Project.”

I felt his chest deflate and his breath in my hair as he sighed. Muttering an apology, I nestled against him and stared out the window, watching the sky turn pink as the sun set.

I wasn’t willing to give up my morals to join him, and he wasn’t willing to stand down from his brother’s lunacy. Jacob was a pragmatic and practical man, a former soldier. His belief in his brother's messaging ran counter to what you would expect. But his love for his brother was what made him loyal. That was a loyalty he would never go against, never betray. For me, I believed in helping people and righting wrongs. My job was to keep people safe and stop the Project members. This was never going to change.

If the Seeds were never going to change their course, I would be forced to stop them through whatever means necessary. That would be the breaking point, when I started taking away his family; then I would have a target on my back.

Until then, we kept meeting every few days to work out our frustrations on each other. Every time that we separated, I fear and hoped it would be the last.
Eventually, I felt him relax as he fell asleep. I untangled myself from his arms and quietly pulled my clothing on as I gathered my things. Pausing as I walked through the door back out into the world, I gave him a final look. I could feel myself wanting to crawl back in there with him, away from the killing, the torture, and the sadness. With a defeated sigh, I quietly closed the door and made my way to the closest road, hoping for a ride or an abandoned car to make it back to Fall’s End for the night.

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“You look exhausted, Dep,” Mary May said as I walked in through the front door of the Spread Eagle.

A few patrons filled the bar stools, and a group of Resistance members occupied a few tables toward the back. I gave Mary May a weak smile, feeling guilty about where I was coming from and why I was tired. The hike back was a long one, especially when I had to keep ducking into the woods whenever I saw a fleet of Peggie vehicles coming my way. As I made my way across the bar, I kept my eyes low, worried that people would know about my indiscretions.

“Hey, I’ll get Casey to make you up some food. You go ahead and wash up, and I’ll bring it on up when it’s done.”

“Thanks, Mary May,” I said, knowing if I declined, it would raise more questions. Better to accept the generosity than make them wonder why I would refuse it.

I climbed the stairs up to a little apartment above the bar. It was small, but it had a bathroom and bed. Music from downstairs drifted through the floorboards, but it didn’t bother me any. I dropped my bag in the corner of the room and pulled off my clothes as I made my way to the bathroom. Pulling the door shut, I started the shower; when it was an acceptable temperature, I stepped under the spray.

I stood there for a long time, my head under the spray, my mouth open, while I tried to breathe. I didn’t know if I need to cry or scream, but I felt everything but calm. Leaning against the shower wall, I closed my eyes and argued with myself about what I needed to do about Jacob. I jumped as I heard a rapping on the door.

“Hon, I’m putting this out here on the coffee table. Make sure you get some extra sleep. Goodnight,” Mary May said through the door.

“Thank you,” I called out.

Realizing I had minutes before my hot water would run out, I began scrubbing myself clean. The first shards of ice-cold water hit my back as I was rinsing off. Gritting my teeth, I washed off the last of the lather and turned off the spray. I wrapped a towel around my body and headed out into the apartment.

Sure enough, there was a Styrofoam clamshell sitting on my coffee table. From the looks of it, Mary May had picked up my dirty clothes from the floor and took them and my hamper. Once a week, she took my dirty clothes home and washed them for me, leaving them clean on my bed the next day. I told her I could do it, but she said she didn’t have that much of her own, and my time not helping didn’t need to be spent washing my clothes. I couldn’t help but feel she would feel differently if she knew how I had been spending that time.

After pulling on a new t-shirt and a fresh pair of panties, I sat down on the beat-up couch, the only other piece of furniture in the room other than the bed and coffee table. I popped open the lid to find a burger with everything and a helping of fries and onion rings. Casey had been hooking me up with extras ever since I helped him pull off the Testicle Festival to boost morale.

As I stuffed my face, I flipped through one of the outdated magazines on the table. Thankfully, Mary May was more of a tomboy, so an article like “How to Get the Perfect Catch” was about fishing and not getting a man. I made a note to swing down to the bait shop over by the lake to pick up some new stuff.

I wasn’t always able to make it back to Fall’s End at the end of the day, so it was nice to have the option to catch a fish and cook it up if I needed to; honestly, any help in that area was welcome.

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I suppose that’s where everything started with Jacob. I had been sleeping next to a dying campfire when I was startled awake. Turns out Jacob goes for walks at night sometimes when he can’t sleep. When I woke up and saw him sitting across the fire, his face barely lit by the dying embers, I reached for my weapons, only to find them not where they should be.

I pulled myself up and looked at him, meeting his gaze, unsure what he was doing. I didn’t know how long he had been sitting there. Eventually, he got up and moved closer, sitting far enough away that I couldn’t kick him but close enough that he didn’t have to raise his voice to talk.

“What are you doing out here, Dep?” he asked, his voice low and softer than I had ever heard it.

“I was sleeping,” I said, suspicious of what he was doing, “What are you doing out here, Jacob?”

“I couldn’t sleep; so, I went for a walk.”

I was about to make a snarky comment about having a guilty conscience when I realized that he was pulling off his jacket. He tossed it in my direction and motioned for me to use it as a blanket. It was chilly, but I couldn’t help but wonder if this was just him lulling me into a false sense of security before he did something abhorrent.

“Won’t you get cold?” I asked.

“I’m going to get this fire burning a little bigger; then I’ll be fine. You were shivering in your sleep.”

“You don’t have to do that, you know…”

He shrugged and got onto his feet. He walked around the woods nearby for a few minutes and returned with an armful of wood pieces in various sizes. I draped the jacket over me, surprised by how warm it was and unnervingly excited I was by how it smelled like him. I watched as he expertly began to build the fire back up to its former glory before he sat close to it warming up.

With the fire going, I was suddenly too warm under his jacket. Whether that was the heaviness of the coat or the fact that with his scent on it felt like he was holding me, I wasn’t sure. I just knew that I needed it not to be on me.

“I’m too warm now,” I said, handing it back to him.

Instead of pulling it back on, he bundled it into a ball and laid it on the ground perpendicular to my feet before resting his head on it. It was a submissive move; I could have kicked him in the head. Instead, he just laid there. We laid there in silence for a long time. I was afraid to fall asleep, but it was a struggle to keep my eyes open.

“I’m not going to do anything to you,” Jacob finally said, “If you are staying up because of that, I have a hunting knife strapped to my leg. I’ll give it to you if it makes your feel safer. Your guns are over on the other side of the fire. I didn’t want you to wake up and put a bullet in my face when you saw me. There’re cougars and bears, and wolves, and my men out here. You should have a tent at the very least. I’ll keep watch while you sleep, wake you up before I go.”

I sat up, “What’s the angle here, Jacob?”

He ignored me.

“No, really. I spent my days practically slaughtering your army. You catch me, put me through hell only to let me go. Then I wake up to you be unnaturally kind to me. Excuse me, but my head won’t stop spinning with what could possibly be your plot here.”

“No plot. Get some rest, Dep.”

“I swear if I end up in a cage in the morning. Once I get out of that cage, I’m going to hunt you down and make you pay.”

“Understood,” he sighed before adding, “Goodnight.”

After fifteen minutes of resisting, sleep finally claimed me. I would occasionally wake up to find Jacob putting more wood on the fire or sitting up just watching the woods. At one point, I woke up and found him gone, only to hear his voice above me. He had moved to sit next to my head; his back leaned against the rock I was using to shield myself from the wind.

“I’m here,” he murmured, “I was starting to get tired laying down, and my back hurt moved so I could have something to lean against.”

“Oh,” I said, starting to sit up, “I’ve gotten some sleep. If you wanted to nap for a while, I could keep watch, or you could head home.”

“I’m fine,” he said, “If you need more sleep, go for it. If not, I can head out.”

The sun was just starting to crest the mountains; soon, it would be too light for me to sleep, so I pulled myself up next to him to lean against the rock. I opened my backpack in my lap and began to rummage around, and pulled out a small saucepan and my canteen. I put the saucepan into the embers of the fire and added water. After a while, the water was steaming, which was good enough for me. I pulled it off the fire and pulled out an enamel mug.

“Do you like coffee?” I asked, rummaging around in my bag.

“What all do you have in there?” he asked with a chuckle.

“Enough stuff to get by,” I said, finding what I was looking for, “It’s instant, but it’s not horrible.”

“Speak for yourself,” he said, making a face, “I wouldn’t mind some water if you have any left.”

I handed him my canteen and scooped some instant coffee into the mug, and stirred it. I retrieved a few packets of sugar from my bag and added those.

He raised an eyebrow as I began to drink it. I made a face.

“You’re right. It’s horrible,” I said with a laugh.

He laughed. He handed me back my canteen and took the coffee from me. He took a swig and sputtered.

“Drink the water,” he said, “I can’t let you drink that; I’m not that cruel.”

He winked at me and took another drink; it clearly pained him to do so. I grabbed the cup from his hand and tossed the contents into the fire.

“I’ll save us both. We can share the canteen,” I said, taking a sip before passing it back.

I dug around in my pack and pulled out a pair of protein bars. Handing him one, I started to open mine. He seemed surprised by my generosity, but after a minute, he opened his. We ate in silence, passing the water back and forth while watching the sunrise. After the sun cleared the horizon, I started to pack up my things.

“Thanks for not killing me in my sleep,” I said, getting to my feet.

He pulled himself to his feet. I could tell he was tired, but he tried to hide it. He gave me a wave before heading off in the direction of the Veteran’s Centre. I was supposed to be tracking down a vehicle for a man down the road from Fall’s End, so I knew I need to get down there early, maybe catch the Peggies that had taken it still sleeping so I could get out of there without having to hurt anyone.

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Things had snowballed from there. As I finished my burger and got ready for bed, I thought about that second night. I didn’t really have a home base. I stayed in Fall’s End when I was in Holland Valley, at the Marina when I was in the Henbane, and usually with the Whitetail Militia at the Wolf Den when I was in the Mountains. I had taken to sleeping away from the Wolf’s Den when I realized that Jacob was trying to find it. I didn’t want to lead the Peggies to it accidentally, so I mostly communicated over walkie to Eli unless I was sure I wasn’t being followed. Otherwise, I would just sleep outside, unless it was too cool or the weather sucked, then I made the trek to the Spread Eagle or the Marina. I probably could have stayed at the pizza shop, but there weren’t any beds there.

That second night, I was in the mountains again. I actually found a cabin that seemed abandoned. I was able to pick the lock and found that no one was currently staying there after looking around. I made a fire in the fireplace and dragged the mattress on the bed out by the fire. After moving around the rest of the furniture, I had a cozy spot. I even found some blankets in a closet. I was getting ready to crawl into bed when I heard a noise on the porch. It sounded like someone in boots. I grabbed my pistol and moved quickly around to the door, which I eased open.

“It’s just me, Dep,” I heard in the darkness, “I’m alone.”

I swung my pistol in the direction of the voice and watched as Jacob stepped out of the shadows. He had on a backpack, and his hands were up in front of him.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, startled to see him but relieved it was him and not someone else.

“A pair of my Chosen had said that they saw you moving over in this area. I told them to stand down. I hoped you would find an empty cabin to stay in but wanted to check you weren’t outside tonight; it’s supposed to get pretty cold. I brought some sandwiches if your hungry, and a thermos of proper coffee if your cold. I can leave it here on the porch if you’d like; I’ll pick it up tomorrow after you’ve left if you want any of it.”

“Do you want to stay?” I asked, lowering my gun, “I wouldn’t mind the company for a while. If you don’t want to stay, that’s fine too. You didn’t have to check on me.”

“I didn’t have to, but I wanted to,” he said, moving closer.

Turning and heading inside, I said, “I think this cabin is abandoned. At least no one has been here for a while.”

“They’re with the Project. The Anderson’s, this was their cabin.”

“Oh,” I said, “Do you think they’ll be upset I’m squatting in it.”

“I don’t imagine they’ll mind. But I won’t tell anyone if you won’t.”

I moved to sit on the couch, and he sat on the opposite end. He opened his bag and pulled out a few sandwiches, setting them on the cushion separating us.

“They’re peanut butter and grape jelly. I didn’t know how long it would take to find you, and I didn’t want meat and cheese to spoil. You aren’t allergic to peanuts, are you?”

“No, but I am deathly allergic to grapes.”

His face fell, and I started to giggle.

“I’m kidding. I like peanut butter and jelly. It was nice of you to bring me food.”

I got up and grabbed my bag; I tossed a bag of chips and some candy bars I had been given onto the pile.

“Is that all you had for food?” he asked, incredulous.

“I take want I can find. Not everyone has a kitchen staff,” I said, pointing to the food, “I hope you’re going to help me eat some of this.”

“You take the sandwiches. You need the protein,” he said, picking up the chips.

I unwrapped a sandwich, hesitating for a moment before taking a bite, “These aren’t drugged, are they?”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“You have me shot with bliss bullets.”

“You run.”

“I’m not willing to let you brainwash me.”

“The sandwiches are safe. I would never do that to you, taint your food.”

“If these are drugged…”

“You’ll hunt me down, I know. You told me that last time.”

“You get why it’s hard to trust you, right?”

“I do. But if it’s ever just the two of us, I won’t do anything to hurt you. It’s been nice being able to get away from everything for a while. Not being around people from the Project.”

“You know, you could just walk away from the Project, right? No one forces you to do what you’re doing.”

“It’s not that easy. I can’t just walk away from my family. Plus, I don’t have a life after this. I’m responsible for so much agony here. I’m never going to be able to walk free away from this. I’m a soldier; it’s the one thing I’m good at. I can command an army.”

“So you really believe in what Joseph says?”

“Not as much as John or Faith. Hell, Faith isn’t even our sister; she’s just a junkie who can practice her vice without the guilt it used to because she’s doing it in service to Joseph. John, he’s always looked up to Joseph, and when Joe found him at his lowest, he was easily swayed.”

“What about you?”

“I was dishonorably discharged from the military. Joseph found me at Veteran’s House. He doesn’t push the religious stuff on me as much. I’m the oldest, so I think he doesn’t feel it's his place.”

“But all the killing, the torture, conversion through fear, how can you be okay with that?”

“The weak are culled. If we are to have a strong society, once everything goes to hell, the weak need to be weeded out.”

“You don’t think that everyone deserves a place?”

“Some people are a drain. When things are scarce in the future, those that can perform the best deserve the best shot.”

“Darwinism works for animals, but humans are smarter and more evolved than that.”

“Are we?” he said, with a shrug, “Have you looked at the news?”

“Good people don’t deserve to die because they don’t buy into your brother’s fantasy idea of utopia.”

He didn’t say anything in response, and I didn’t know how else to explain to him that he should care about other people, even if they didn’t belong to his family or the Project. We ate for a while in silence. He passed the chips to me, and I finished them off. We split the candy bars, so we had half of each, and then he pulled out a bottle of whiskey.

We passed the bottle back and forth, and then finally, he sighed and spoke.

“I was surprised when Joe showed up looking for me. We were separated through the foster system. Johnny ended up with a family that sent him to the best schools, and he ended up being a lawyer. Joe had found a girl, fell in love, and got married. Then things went off the rails. I ended up bouncing around the system for a few years. I was kicked out of schools for fighting and ended up going into the military to just get away. There are things I did that I’m not proud of, things I had to do to survive. I still have scars I have to look at every day. When Joe found me and said he had found John, it meant I could have my family again. Our father was a drunk, a violent religious drunk who would quote scripture while he beat us, and more often than not me.”

I listened, my heart breaking for him. I knew all too well about drunken parents and finding yourself at the end of a belt. Keeping silent, I passed the bottle back to him. After a drink, he continued.

“Honestly, I would have thought our father’s actions would have triggered an aversion to religion in Joe like it did in me. But he swears that God started talking to him when he was a kid being beaten. This voice wanted him to lead people into a new world once this one destroyed itself. I went along with it because of his conviction. Some things feel wrong, but I try to focus on making sure people are strong. We can’t survive unless we’re strong. Any cracks and things start to fall apart.”

I reached across the space between us and put my hand on his arm. I could feel his bicep tense through his shirt.

“Sometimes cracks let things in. Things we need, like compassion and empathy. You don’t have to be strong all the time.”

I watched as the openness closed in his face. Maybe I had overstepped. He looked out the window and stayed quiet. I got up off the couch and headed into the bathroom.

“Will you be staying the night?” I asked once I didn’t have to it in front of him.

“I can go if you’d like,” he offered.

I didn’t say anything but finished brushing my teeth and washing my face. When I came back out, he was gone. Maybe I had pushed too hard; maybe I hadn’t been as accepting as he hoped and left in embarrassment of having opened up to the enemy. I knelt down on the mattress, moving the pillows and blankets into a nest of sorts when the door swung open. I jumped up, unsure of who would be bursting in.

Jacob had some firewood in his arms. He went over to the fire and started to build it up. I watched him, looking for any indication of what he was feeling.

“Jacob,” I said, “Did I say something out of turn?”

“I thought the fire needed some wood; I remembered seeing some out back while out hunting before. I didn’t want the fire to burn out overnight.”

I moved closer to him, putting my hand on his shoulder.

“If I said something I shouldn’t have, I apologize.”

He covered my hand with his opposite one, not turning his head. With his free hand, he worked on putting the firewood into the fire. When he finished, he sat back on his heels, still holding my hand on his shoulder. He sighed and turned to me.

“You spoke your truth. I know that what I’m doing isn’t right to you. But I can’t lose my family again.”

“Are you staying tonight?”

“Do you want me to?”

“I won’t mind if you do, but if you feel uncomfortable, I don’t want to make you stay.”

“I’ll stay,” he said, getting up and moving across the room to the couch.

He removed his boots, and I retrieved him a blanket and some pillows from where I had found mine. When I came back out into the room, he was lying down with his jacket draped across himself. He was too big for the couch, his legs extending past the armrest by a foot, and he looked uncomfortable. I laughed when I saw him.

“What?” he asked, “What’s so funny?”

“You,” I said, between giggles, “You’re a giant on that couch. Take the mattress; I’ll take the couch.”

“I’m fine,” he said, rolling his eyes, “You sleep in the bed.”

“Come on,” I said, walking over to him and grabbing his hand, “I’ll feel bad the whole night if you don’t. I’ll sleep terribly.”

He let me drag him off of the couch and over to the mattress. I laid down on the couch and watched him get on the mattress. He had to lay diagonal to fit, but he looked a lot more comfortable than he did a minute ago.

“Better?” I teased.

“I’m more comfortable, yes. You could have slept here, though; I would have been fine on the couch.”

I made a show of stretching out on the couch to show how much better it suited me than him, and he chuckled.

“Goodnight, Jacob,” I said, nuzzling into my pillow.

“Night,” he said, turning toward the fire and away from me.

I fell asleep pretty quickly, given that I was sleeping feet away from one of the heralds, someone that I would eventually have to take out to save the people of Hope County.

I woke up to the sound of the door shutting. I frowned, thinking that Jacob had left in the middle of the night. I sat up and realized the room was freezing. Had he put out the fire before he went? I was just about to get up when the door swung back open. Jacob walked back into the cabin, his stocking feet quiet across the floor. The room was dark, and I could only see by what little moonlight came through the windows.

Muttering oaths under his breath, he moved over to his bag, pulling out a lighter and a flashlight. After a few minutes, he had the fire going again. He came across the room and knelt in front of me.

“Hey,” he said, his eyes searching my face, “How you doing? The fire went out for a while. Are you okay?”

“I’m cold,” I said, with a laugh and a shiver.

“Come here,” he said, slipping an arm under my knees and the other around my shoulders, “We need to get you warmed up; you’re shaking.”

He put me on the side of the mattress closest to the fire and made sure I was wrapped in all the available blankets before moving to against my back.

“I’ll move once you’re warm,” he said, “I’m not going to try anything.”

He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me against him. I felt something stir inside of me. It had been a long time since someone held me, and it felt nice. I pushed the thought away because this was Jacob Seed I was wrapped up in, not some nice guy I had met for a date. This was a man who had kept me in a cage and forced me to go through his trials.

I started to feel warmer and stopped shivering, but I realized that Jacob’s breathing had dropped to a quiet shallow breath and that he had fallen asleep. I knew I should wake him up, if no other reason but to put some space between us, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I let myself drift to sleep in his arms, dreading the morning when they wouldn’t be there any longer.

When I did wake up, I was still wrapped in his arms. I was on my back and had kicked off some blankets in the night, but his arm was around me, and I turned to look at him. He wasn’t an unattractive man, despite the scars on his face. Devoid of his typical grumpy expression, he looked almost peaceful. I didn’t know what I should do. Do I wake him up? Do I try to slip out of his grasp? I had no idea what time it was; the sun was shining brightly outside.

I shifted a little, hoping he would wake up and spare me having to slip out and away. But he only tightened his hold around my waist and buried his head against my shoulder. I twisted toward him, reaching to the back of his neck and running my fingers through his hair. He nuzzled me, pulling me closer, and then tensed, I think, realizing where he was.

“Morning,” I whispered as he looked up at me.

“Sorry,” he said, his voice gruff, “I promised I would stop when you were warmed up; I must have fallen asleep. I didn’t do anything inappropriate, did I?”

He moved away from me and sat up with his back toward me.

“You were a gentleman,” I said, suddenly missing his arms around me, “I stayed warm all night.”

“What time is it?” he said, looking around.

“I don’t know. I was being pinned to the bed by this bear of a guy. I have a watch in my bag,” I said, crawling out of bed and over to my bag. While on my knees, I fished out my watch and checked it.

“Oh shit,” I said, turning around, “It’s half-past eleven.”

I watched his eyes move from my ass to my face; he shook himself out of it, “What?”

“Eleven thirty.”

“Damn it,” he said, “I have to go.”

He got up from the bed and, in a flurry of movement, pulled on his boots and jacket. He started packing up his bag. He fished out a thermos and set it on the floor between us.

“Black coffee. I brewed it before I came; it should still be good and hot. If it isn’t, just dump it. Leave the thermos here. I’ll grab it sometime. I have to go.”

“Thank you for the coffee,” I said, as he walked to the door, “and keeping me warm.”

“I’ll see you,” he said before closing the door.

I watched him jogging in the direction of the Vets Center. I spent the next hour or so tidying up, putting things where they went. When I finished, I decided to have some of the coffee that he had left me. After I finished what I wanted, I dumped the rest and rinsed it with water. I left the thermos on the counter where he could pick it up later and went to start my day.

That afternoon I was in the process of liberating the orchard when Peggies cornered me; my pistol ran out of ammo, just as I was able to take out enough men to escape. The remaining man swung his shotgun at me like a bat, and I blacked out before I even hit the ground.

I woke up in the dark, sitting in a chair, my wrists and legs bound to it. Shit. I let my eyes adjust to what little light the red bulb near a set of stairs was giving off. Struggling, I tried to pull myself loose from my bindings and free myself. I was five minutes into my struggle when a door to my left opened. A misshaped shadow blocked some of the blinding white light. I looked away so that my eyes could adjust and I could see again; the shape moved into the room.

John Seed was wheeling Joey Hudson into the room with me when I looked again. I struggled with my bindings some more as he wheeled her to place in front of me. Like me, she was strapped into a chair with her mouth covered by a strip of duct tape. Her eye makeup smeared down her face showed that her time in captivity had been unpleasant. I screamed at John to let her go, but all that came from me was muffled noises.

Making eye contact with Joey, I tried to assure her that I would get us out of here. John started spouting some sort of long-winded monologue about sinning, and I just checked out of all that until he approached me with a tattoo gun. He got close to my face talking about how he wanted to find out what my sin was so that he could tattoo it on me and slice it off. Ripping my shirt open, exposing my chest and bra, he leered at me.

As I struggled against my bonds, he jumped back and walked over to Hudson, and asked which one of us wanted to go first. I wasn’t about to let Hudson get tortured in front of me, so when he asked me to say yes, I did.

He quickly removed Hudson from the room so we would be alone, no doubt taking her back to her cell. Meanwhile, I knew I needed to find a way out of there. I couldn’t break my bindings, so I realized I had to break the chair. I wheeled it over towards the stairs, knowing that I only had one shot. Pushing off, I was momentarily airborne until I hit the first of the stairs. By the time I hit bottom, the chair was in pieces. Pulling the ropes off of me, I started to look for a way out. I needed to be gone before John came back for me.

No sooner did I hit the first hallway did I hear speakers throughout the bunker alerting that I had escaped. I had no idea how deep I was or where the exit could be, so I started looking for stairs. I found a ladder that ran up a floor and took it. Yells came from down the hall, so I started ducked into a tube in the hallway and pulled a box so it wouldn’t look like I was inside.

After the noise had receded, I started again, rushing past the next open doorway when I heard a voice coming from inside. I was a few feet away when I heard a footstep behind me. An arm snaked around my waist, and a hand covered my mouth. I flailed, trying to shake off my captor. My fingernails dug into their arm and hand. They pulled me backways through the doorway I was just sneaking past.

“Stop,” a deep voice said in my ear, “I’m putting you down. Stay here.”

I struggled away and turned to find Jacob; he gave me a look that said I needed to trust him. I cocked my head as he pantomimed a camera and pointed to a corner of the room.

“There’s no sound, but you’re going to have to put on a good show to get out of here. I have a pistol on my hip. I’m going to twist your arm back behind you, and when we have walked ten feet, you are going to twist out of it act like you knee me in the dick and take it. Then you are going to make me walk you to the exit and key you out of here. Do you understand?”

“Why are you helping me?”

“Do you want to stay here or not? Decide before I change my mind.”

“Fine.”

He took my arm, twisted it gently behind me, and used his other hand to steer me. When we had walked the right amount, I did as he had told me, pulling his own gun on him. He walked me toward the exit, and when we got there, he punched in the numbers to unlock the door. As the door opened, I walked toward it.

“Go, I’ll try to slow them down,” he said, “Get the gun back to me later.”

I took off at a sprint away from the bunker and away from Jacob. I didn’t stop to catch my breath until I found a car along the side of the road that I was able to hotwire. I drove to the Spread Eagle and holed up for the rest of the day, waiting until nightfall.

-----------------------------------------

As I crawled into bed, I thought about that night after he helped me escape, how I had snuck out of the Spread Eagle, intending to go to the Anderson cabin, hoping that he would come to me. I realized that it was a dangerous road I was going down. If we kept meeting, eventually, we would be caught fraternizing.
Granted, we were friendly, but from the way I felt when his hands on me and the gentleness he showed when he touched me, I knew that if we continued, one of us would begin to see the other as something more than just a friendly face. I wasn’t sure if we had already passed that point. So a mile down the road, I turned around and came back. I slept that fitfully that night and worried that I might have hurt his feelings. But I didn’t even know if he would have been there; how would I have felt if I had gone and he never showed?

-----------------------------------------

It was a week before I went to the mountains after I decided to stay in. A week of me missing him and his laugh, the way he tried to take care of me. Eventually, I went into the mountains, intentionally taking out several of his wolf beacons so he would know I was there. As evening came, I went to the Anderson cabin, worried that he wouldn’t show up, or if he did, he would be pissed at me for destroying his stuff.

I tried the cabin door and found it unlocked. Checking to make sure no one was watching me, I step into the cabin. As my eyes adjusted, I was startled to find Jacob sitting in the middle of the couch, his head leaned back against the top, a soft snoring sound filling the room. I quietly put down my bag and weapons, watching for any indication that he had woke up.

When I was sure he was still asleep, I slowly made my way over to him. Lowering myself to sit down next to him, I paused as his snoring hitched but resumed. I got myself comfortable and leaned over, putting my head on his shoulder. I felt his head move and lean against mine, his hand going to my knee.

“You came,” he whispered, “You have a hell of a way to get a man’s attention.”

“Sorry it took so long,” I said, “and about the beacons, I guess. But not really, those things are a nuisance.”

“Fair enough.”

I laced my fingers through his hand on my knee and sighed. I knew coming up here was giving in. I just didn’t realize how easy it would be and how natural it would feel to just sit here holding his hand.

“What are we doing here, Jacob?” I asked, rubbing my thumb along his pinky.

“Whatever you want, I suppose,” he said.

“I have your pistol,” I said, “I meant to bring it to you that night, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I worried about what it would mean if you were here, or worse if you weren’t.”

“I’ll be where you want me to be, darlin’.”
“But why?” I said, pulling myself back to look at him.

“You’re the only person that makes me feel like I’m not a monster or that I have to be a monster. The valley is terrified of me, and my family expects me to be the tough brute that keeps their army in check and trained. When I’m with you, you don’t expect me to do anything like that, and you’re kind to me and to anyone that doesn’t take a shot at you first.”

“Jacob, we’re actively fighting for opposite sides. Neither of us willing to back down; this is something that can’t happen.”

“Real Romeo and Juliet shit, huh?” he said, “Just don’t go poisoning yourself on my behalf.”

“Big scary mountain man knows his literature,” I joked.

“Sure, I read. But I also graduated high school.”

“I guess that is beginners lit, right? What do you read?”

“Do you really care what I read?”

“Of course, I do,” I said, “If we don’t find something to talk about, we’re going to find something else to do.”

“Is that so bad?” he said, moving his hand up my thigh, “All I’ve thought about this week is you under me.”

“Is that all this is?” I asked, turning to face him, “I’m not trying to be confrontational, but I think we should know what to expect from each other.”

“You know I can’t go against Joe,” he said, looking away from me, “But whatever else I can do, it’s yours.”

“I’ll never stop trying to stop the Project,” I countered, searching his face, wishing he would look at me so I could read him, “Where does that leave us?”

“Ports in a storm,” he said, finally turning to meet my eyes, “A place to seek refuge from everything that is happening.”

“What if we come across each other out there?”

“Depends. I helped you escape John. He’s still giving me shit about that, by the way. He can’t seem to wrap his head around the idea that you could have outmaneuvered me.”

“Hmm, it is a mystery. Perhaps, you’re slipping.”

“Maybe,” he said, “Maybe it’s that I know my brother isn’t the most gentlemanly, and I wanted you for myself. Or maybe your chest isn’t something I want to see all cut up.”

His eyes travel down to the neck of my blouse as he made no secret of appraising my body. I shifted; it seemed like it had been a long time since a man has looked at me with any interest other than if I could save them from the cult. I felt a blush climb up my cheeks, and I looked away.

“You’re cute when you blush,” he said, reaching out, his fingers stroking my cheek, “You’re cute when you don’t but particularly when you do. Don’t you have anyone telling you how pretty you are?”

“Being cover in mud and blood usually scares people,” I said, “You caught me on a day where I’m reasonably clean.”

“I’m bet you’re even pretty then too,” he said, his thumb tracing the edge of my bottom lip.

“I’m sure there’s plenty of women in the Project you could convince to be with you. There wouldn’t be a conflict of interest there.”

“I don’t want any of them,” he said, “Not when I see you running around in my mountains, giving me hell. I need someone strong enough to be with me. They’d all roll over in an instant, telling me what they want to hear. I know I won’t get that from you.”

“You want me to give you hell?”

“Darlin’, I want you to give me so much hell that I come track you down.”

“What would you ever do if you could catch me?” I asked, grabbing his hand and kissing his palm.

“Is this what you want?” he whispered, his eyes closing as he savored my kiss, “because if it isn’t, you can’t keep doing things like that. I’m only so strong.”

“So be weak,” I said, “Give in. I will if you will.”

There it was. I could only hope that he didn’t bristle at the idea of being weak with one another. Letting each other in, when life demanded we kept everyone else out. I heard his breath shudder, and he opened his eyes. I feared I would find anger for asking him to be weak, but there was only hunger.

I reached to him, my fingers running through his auburn beard and sliding around to the back of his head. He closed his eyes, and I couldn’t help but wonder when was the last time he had been touched with any sort of affection.

“Dep,” he whispered, “I want you. But you’re wrong; you make me be stronger. Like I could be a better man.”

I leaned over then, closing the space between us, and I kissed him. Softly at first, testing the waters, which quickly turned into rapids as I felt his hand reach into my hair, pulling me close. He guided my body closer to his, and I moved astride his thighs as his other arm when around my back, pulling me firmly against him. My hands went to the back of his neck as I deepened the kiss; my body responded to his hands on me in a way I hadn’t expected.

He moved to hold my hips as I pulled away to see if I was having the same effect on him that he had on me. Both of us panting, we started to laugh. His thumbs rubbed small circles on my sides, and I leaned over and kissed him on the forehead.

“You’re going to kill me, Darlin’,” he muttered, “I can already tell.”

“You need to work on your pillow talk,” I said, kissing down his temple and cheek.

I could feel him wince as my lips brushed the scarring that covered his cheek. I could only assume that he had gotten them from his time overseas. My own scars I felt shame for would be display before long, and I was determined that I wouldn’t let him feel an ounce of embarrassment because I knew that he would do the same.

“You’re an incredibly handsome man, Jacob. I wouldn’t be in your lap right now if I didn’t find you attractive,” I said, pulling back to stroke his face.

He caught my hand, holding it still, “You don’t have to do that. I know what I look like.”

“When you look at me like you do, you’re the best looking man I’ve ever seen,” I said, kissing his lips, before pulling away to stand in front of him, lifting my t-shirt over my head, “We all have our scars, I have my own. I hope you won’t find mine hard to look at.”

As I turned my back to him, I heard him drawn in a sharp breath. I closed my eyes as I hoped it wouldn’t be too much for him to handle. He wouldn’t be the first man to walk away when he saw the crisscrossing scars on my back. The couch creaked, and I felt him move to stand behind me.

“Who did this to you?” his voice was low and dangerous.

“My stepfather,” I said, “He was a drunk, like yours. Sometimes he used his fists, and sometimes he used his belt. Sometimes he was drunk enough to use the buckle end. For what it’s worth, he’s dead. Liver finally buckled under all that alcohol. You don’t think I’m hideous, do you?”

I turned around to face him, bracing myself for a freaked-out reaction. Instead, I saw a man warring between wanting to hurt someone and pain.

“I think you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he said, his hand going to my shoulder, “I am so angry that someone did that to you, but you’re still beautiful.”

“And so are you,” I said, reaching up to brush his cheek; instead of wincing, he leaned into it.

“Dep…,” he started, “God, I feel stupid. I don’t even know your name. All I ever hear everyone call you is Deputy.”

“I’m Kate,” I said, with a laugh, “Though I feel like I haven’t been called that in months.”

“Kate,” he said, with a chuckle, “I like that; you look like a Kate.”

I stepped closer to him and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him down so I could kiss him, “Make sure you call me that, not Dep when you call out my name.”

His arms went around me, pulling me against him. His hands dipped lower as I heard him growl in his throat. His hands grabbed my ass, and he pulled me up around his waist. I wrapped my legs around him as he carried me into the bedroom of the cabin. He laid me on the bed gently and began pulling off his jacket. I rose onto my elbows and watched him, taking in the muscles moving underneath his t-shirt.

“Keep looking at me like that, darlin’, and this is all going to be over too fast,” he said when he looked over at me.

“You’ll have to spend all night making it up to me then,” I said, with a smile, catching my lip with my teeth.

“I already planned on keeping you up all night,” he said, bringing his knee up onto the bed next to me, “But I’m sure I could find a way to make it up to you.”

“You’re doing an awful lot of talking for someone worried about things being over too fast,” I teased as he lowered himself down onto his elbow next to me.

“Let me change that,” he said, reaching over and pulling me against him.

He kissed me and rolled me onto my side next to him. I leaned over to him and, bracing my hand on his chest, kissed him. I pulled away and crawled up onto the bed a little better, and he got onto his knees and moved closer to me, leaning me back onto the bed, his knee going between my own as he bent over me. I reached up and pulled him close to me. I wanted to be covered in him. His hands ran up my sides before he braced his hands beside my shoulders.

Smiling at him, I toyed with the bottom of his t-shirt before pulling up his body. As I pulled it up over his head, he went rigid, awaiting my reaction. He skinned was a mottled patchwork of freckles, hair, and burns scars. I leaned up and began to kiss his neck and down across his chest; scars and all I wanted him.

As I kissed him, I reached behind my back and unfastened my bra, pulling off the straps and throwing it across the room. His face, now a visage of lust, lowered to my neck, kissing me. His teeth scrapping, but not leaving any marks I might have to answer for later. His mouth wandered down my chest as he took one of the nipples into his mouth that he had spent the last few minutes stiffening into peaks with the pads of his thumb.

Fire coursed through my veins; he wasn’t the only one that would be having a hard time with taking their time. I began working on his pants, but they were military-issue and a little more complicated. As he took over, I undid my own, slipping them down my thighs as he pulled his own off. He helped me remove them the rest of the way off of my legs.

When he turned back from throwing them on the floor, he sat back on his heels, just looking at me for a moment. His erection stood proud and slightly intimidating. Sheepishly, I made a half-hearted attempt to cover myself, covering my breasts with an arm and bringing my knees together and up in front of me.

He pulled my knees apart and pulled me towards him by my ankles. After I was closer, he reached forward and brushed my arm away from my breasts. Cupping one with his own hand, as he leaned over me, his manhood brushed the inside of my thigh, and I felt a yearning for him that I hadn’t felt for anyone in a long time.

“Are you on the pill?” he asked his hands on my waist.

“Implant,” I said, “STIs?”

“Clean.”

“Same here.”

“Hey, take it kind slow, big guy,” I said with a smile, “It’s been a little while for me.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Drawing me up against his thighs, he pinned one of my knees to the bed while he grabbed himself with the other. He positioned himself at my entrance, and when I thought he was going to push in, he drew the head of his member up between my lips and against my clit. My hips jumped off the bed at the jolt of pleasure that went through me. With a chuckle, he repeated the action, this time a little slower. I squirmed with need. The third time he did it, I moaned and arched my back, my breath quickening.

The next time he lined up with my entrance, I braced myself for another tease, but he eased himself into me, burying himself fully. He let me adjust to him before pulling himself nearly out and thrusting deep again, my hips rising to meet his. He pulled my hips up and around his so that he could get the leverage, and I began to move with him.

It didn’t take long for me to reach my climax, and as I shuddered around him. I felt him release inside of me, my name on his lips as he came. I relaxed as he dropped down next to me, his arm around my waist, his fingers running along my curves.

That night we stayed up until dawn exploring each other and figuring what we could do to make each other beg for release. That week we met every night in that cabin.

-----------------------------------------

After I stopped coming back to the Spread Eagle, Mary May asked me where I was staying. While I hated lying, I told her I was doing recon trying to figure out the best way to get inside Jacob’s bunker because if I could stop the eldest Seed’s army, it would mean fewer deaths for our side.

Things changed in small ways, ways others might not have noticed. There were fewer chosen and Peggies in the mountains, many of them being confined to the bunker and the Vet’s Center after there was a rumor that I was scouting those locations. It helped to keep me from being caught or having to take out as many of his men. It also kept my people safe.

I tried to be less aggressive against his men, killing only those who killed Resistance members. If I had to fight back, I would hit them in a not lethal area, ensuring that they would be out of commission for a while. Fewer members of the Resistance were grabbed to be put through the trials because Jacob’s people weren’t dying as fast. The few taken were released much better feed and hydrated than they had used to be and without the brainwashing. Jacob’s reasoning was that they would burn through their supplies if he wasn’t losing soldiers as much as he had.

None of this was discussed between us; just something seemed to happen. A month in I brought up the idea of us facilitating some sort of truce between our sides. When his shoulders dropped, and he sighed, I realized that his meeting earlier that day with Joseph had brought bad news.

“What’s wrong?” I said, “We’ve been making progress in the mountains, and as a result, things have been quiet.”

“Yes, up here. But the Holland Valley has seen more skirmishes by comparison. There have been more angel attacks in the Henbane as your people have grown bolder. Joe thinks that I need to be sending more of my men to Faith and John. He figures if you checked out the bunker or Vet’s Center, you would have already attacked. He wants everyone caught in any region to be sent to me, increase patrolling. He’s trying to make a final push.”

“You can’t reason with him? That he’s taken enough people. Isn’t it better to have a smaller number of devoted than a larger group with people still resisting in their hearts, waiting for the opportunity to strike?”

“He sees everyone as a soul that needs saving. He figures that I’ll weed out the least susceptible to his message and that what’s left will come around eventually.”

“Christ, Jacob, what am I supposed to do here?” I said, moving to look out the window, “These last weeks, I had started to feel hope that we could get through this, that maybe I wouldn’t have to take that next step.”

He moved behind me, resting his chin on my shoulder and wrapping his arms around me. Allowing him to hold me, I exhaled.

“Join us,” he said, “then maybe the Resistance will realize that it’s in their best interest.”

I turned in his arms before taking a step away from him, “I can’t do that. Not when what waits for them is torture, and being drugged, and brainwashing. These are people that would rather die than be in bondage, and you’re suggesting that I tell them that the water is fine, knowing that I wouldn’t be going through the same thing. I can’t imagine you would put me through your trials again after what we’ve been through together, nor do I imagine that you’ll let Faith pump me full of bliss, or John scar my chest. That’s not something that I can do, Jacob. No matter how I feel about you.”

“Do you think that this is easy for me to choose between people that I love?” he fired back, “If I pick my family, you’re going to do everything you can to take them away from me one by one. And if I pick you, I’m turning my back on them.”

“You love me?” I said, caught off guard by the admission.

“Of course, I do, darlin’,” he said, with a sigh, “Do you think I would have been here every night like a dog waiting for you if I didn’t. That I would knowingly sabotage my brother’s efforts to convert this valley; make my own soldiers question my leadership. I’ve loved you since that morning when you made that horrible coffee and saved us both from drinking it. Never did I think for a second, you might be interested in me, too.”

“What are we going to do?” I asked, “I love you, and I either have to turn my back on this entire valley of people that trust me to protect them or hurt you so much that you’re going to hunt me down and kill me.”

“I’m pretty sure,” he whispered, “I already said you would be the one to kill me.”

“Real Romeo and Juliet shit,” I muttered, “That was more amusing when it was a joke.”

“Kate,” he said, closing the space between us, “I know you’re going to do what you need to do. I’m not going to stand in your way. But I can’t go against them, no matter how I feel about you.”

“I understand. What if you’re the last man standing? The Resistance isn’t going to let you just walk away from all of this without some sort of justice.”

“Spare me a life of knowing you’re out there and I can’t touch you or see you. Kill me before you finish everyone else. Strategically, it would be smarter to remove me first.”

“I don’t want to talk strategy unless it’s finding a way to make Joseph back down from this crusade of his. What if I offer myself for everyone else? Is that something? He’s always talking about how I need to be taken alive? My freedom has to be worth something.”

“He won’t stop at you. You’re a prize, for sure, but only as a tool to convince others that you’re part of the plan too.”

“Fuck,” I muttered.

“Let’s just spend the night together,” he said, reaching out and pulling me into his arms, “Then in the morning, you do what you need to do. The ensuing chaos of my death should knock everyone off their game, and without a leader for the troops, maybe that gives you some sort of bargaining chip with Joseph. He can head into the bunkers with the people he has and leave the rest of the Resistance alone.”

“People aren’t going to let go of the family members that have already been taken. There isn’t any way that blood doesn’t continue to get shed, even if you’re gone. And I’m not going to kill you. No matter what you think, I won’t be the one that ends your life. We…, or at least I, if you won’t help me, will figure something else out. There has to be a way. Would you surrender if I can take Faith and John alive? Bargain with Joseph to release you if he backs down?”

“He’s already decided that everyone is an acceptable loss if they die; you’ll only kick that hornet nest. People follow what I say out of fear; if Joe is the one calling the shots…people love him and are devoted to him. They’re only going to fight more passionately and harder if he’s the one giving orders. If you’ve become more of a problem than he thinks you’re worth, he’ll make an example of you. He’ll break you down, and then he’ll kill you once he’s taken everyone else you care about away. He killed his own daughter, for Christ’s sakes, because of the Voice.”

I buried my head against his chest as he wrapped his arms around me tighter. This was it; we were over. I felt like someone was squeezing all the air out of my lungs. When we left this cabin, we went back to where we were. Joseph wasn’t going to let him make things easier for me anymore, and I couldn’t act like I was some sort of strategic genius when I was only helping a man that I had fallen in love with.

“Make me feel something that isn’t this,” I said, looking up at him, “Please, just push all of this out of mind before I break down.”

He scooped me up into his arms and carried me into the bedroom. Sitting me on the edge of the bed, he knelt at my feet. Gently he began to remove my boots, tossing them to the side with a loud thunk. I leaned forward and kissed his forehead, cradling his head in my hands. The love in his eyes made me look down between us, lest my heart would shatter right in front of him. He tilted my head back up and kissed me, sweetly at first but quickly growing more urgent.

Pulling my shirt up over my head, he grabbed my waist while he buried his head in my neck. I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and pulled him close. Eventually, his hands traveled up my back, and after a few seconds of fiddling with the clasp, he unhooked my bra. Breasts spilled free and into his hands as I let it drop to the floor. His mouth traveled across my chest, making his way to a nipple.

He began to unfasten my jeans' button as he ran his tongue around the edge of my nipple before pulling it between his teeth. Slipping his hands under my knees, he tilted me back unto the bed and guided my pants off of my legs. When I tried to sit back up to pull him down with me, he just lifted my knees back up, tilting me back again. Then he drew my calves unto his shoulders, pulling my hips towards him. Kissing alongside my inner thigh, he slowly made his way up toward my center.

Just as he came to the juncture of my thighs, he switched to the other side, starting down by knee. I moaned in frustration, lifting my hips towards his face.

“Patience, darlin’,” he murmured, running his tongue up the length of my thigh, “I’ll get there.”

I laid back and let him take control. From experience, I knew he would only continue this slow torture until I relented and let him take the reins. Surprisingly, for a big tough, aggressive guy, he always seemed to be more into my pleasure.

Now that I was behaving, he got to work. Running his tongue along the length of my slit, he flicked the tip of my clit, making me squirm.

“You’re so fucking wet for me, Kate,” he murmured, moving back to repeat the action.

Between his actions and the fact that he was the only person in this county to call me by my name, I felt myself swoon. As I reached my peak, he held my hips firm and didn’t let up. As I came over and over again, I became more and more sensitive.

“Oh, god, Jacob,” I said, after orgasming for a third time, “No more, I can’t take it.”

Sheepishly, he looked up at me from his place and smiled. Lowering my legs off of his shoulders, he got up and laid back on the bed next to me, both our legs hanging off the bed. I curled up against his side, riding that post-climax wave of bliss, while he playfully ran his hand through my hair.

I rose onto my elbow and looked over him with a smile. He was completely erect, and when I raised an eyebrow at it, he chuckled.

“What?” he said defensively, through his laughter, “Am I not supposed to be turned on by you call out my name?”

“Get up here on the bed, big guy,” I said, pulling at his arm, “If I try to ride you there, my ass will be on the floor in no time.”

“There is more room down there,” he said with a conspirator wink, “But you’re the boss now.”

He dragged himself fully onto the bed and laced his fingers behind his head. “Do with me what you will. I’m at your mercy.”

I laughed at him, “As if you couldn’t turn the tables on me in a second if you wanted to.”

“You on top? That view? Why would I want to do anything to change that?”

“Smart man,” I said, getting up and throw my leg over his hip.

His hands went to my hips immediately. I leaned forward, catching his lips with my own, tasting myself on his. One of his hands went to the back of my neck as he deepened the kiss, his tongue probing for mine.

That hand traveled down my back until he was able to grab a handful of my ass. I rolled back up and, splaying my hands across his chest, moved myself back along his cock. Reaching between us, I lined him up with my entrance and, with agonizing slowness, lowered myself down his length until he was deep inside.

With one hand on my hip, he moved the other to my breast, teasing the nipple with his thumb. I moved slowly against him, drawing a moan from deep in his throat. I felt him tense beneath me, and I knew he was close. His hand on my hip, moved over and he began to run it across my clit, and I gasped, clenching down on him.

He bucked his hips up into me as I began to get lost in his touch. Sitting up, he pulled us face to face, his arms wrapping around me, his hands helping to guide me up along him. He moved his hand up to my cheek, capturing my attention as he reached his edge. Locking eyes, he grunted and began spilling his warmth inside of me. I kissed him and joined him in our bliss.

He laid back, his hand still on my cheek, his other arm wrapping around my back. We worked on catching our breath between kissing.

“I fucking love you, Kate,” he said, still slightly out of breath, “What if I got us a helicopter and we just left? Started a life together somewhere else, gave ourselves an honest to God chance.”

I felt my heart start to hammer harder. I knew that he wasn’t serious, but God, what if we could. I chuckled and kissed him. Hoping he wouldn’t repeat it, I couldn’t let my heart break, finding out he was serious.

“What do you think?” he said, “Find somewhere quiet. Have a couple of kids and watch them grow.”

“I have to go,” I said, pulling myself from the bed and his arms, “We have to stop doing this. It can’t continue.”

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This brought me to today and our parting of ways, possibly for good. My cheeks were wet with tears. I ached for him in a way that I hadn’t for any other man in my life. If only it were so simple for us to run away together. But I could never turn my back on what was happening in Hope county any more than he could turn his on his family. So, the smartest thing for us to do was to stop. I knew I had to be the one to make that decision. Sniffling, I pulled the covers over my head and tried my damnedest to push him from my mind so I could get some sleep.

For the next week, I purposefully avoided the mountains, keeping to the Henbane, until it became obvious that I would have to take Faith out. Blissed out of my mind most nights, I still stumbled back to Fall’s End rather than find somewhere I could be tracked down.

After I could make no more headway in the Henbane without killing Faith, I focused on making John’s life a living hell. I managed to sneak into his bunker one more time, but it was a trap. Once I made it past all of the Peggies, I found Joey, but John snatched her away and pumped the tunnels of the bunkers with bliss and released a dozen angels after me. I barely got away, running to the edge of the mountains until the Bliss wore off.

In response, I spent the next few days blowing up every single silo of fertilizer of his and liberating every Peggie outpost I could find. To say I was on his radar was an understatement. While he warned of retribution, it didn’t come in the next few days. With things at a standstill, I knew that I should head into the mountains.

Eli had been in contact with me for days, and I was running out of excuses of why I couldn’t make a trip up there. I agreed that I would make my way up to the Wolf’s Den the following day; if I was early, maybe I could slip up there without running into any Peggies or, worse, Jacob.

He hadn’t tried to contact me, knowing that if I wanted to see him, I would. But I felt bad thinking of him sitting in that cabin waiting for me, eventually going home when he realized I wouldn’t be coming to him. I busied myself during the day, but the nights were the worst. Once I even pulled on clothes to leave but talked myself down. After a night’s rest, I would try sneaking to Eli and dealing with whatever they needed and sneak away again. I was running out of things to do without going after the Heralds themselves.

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All plans for traveling to the north went out the window the next morning when I heard Mary May banging on my door. Bleary-eyed, I pulled myself from the bed and stumbled across the room, pulling up the door to a very panicked Mary May.

“Wha-,” I started to say.

“Deputy, we have a problem.”

“What’s going on?” I asked, moving around the room to pull on some pants and find a weapon.

“John’s trying to take back Fall’s End. Jason was out scouting and saw a caravan of Peggie vehicles coming this way. By the time he got back, they had formed a line and blocked the roads leaving town.

“Shit,” I muttered, “How many vehicles?”

“Dep,” she said, “we’re surrounded. It looks like Joseph’s called everyone for a final push. If we lose Fall’s End, we lose our foothold here.”

“Has anyone tried getting ahold of Eli or Whitehorse?”

“We wanted to get you awake first; see what you want to do?”

“Set up triage in the bar. Get everyone geared up with what we have in town and get into the garage. Keep low and out of sight if you can, make phone calls. I’ll get Eli and Earl on the walkies.”

Lacing up my boots, I started pulling out all of the ammo I had accumulated the past few months. If I didn’t have a weapon for it, hopefully, someone else would. I found my walkie in my bag; I decided to try Earl Whitehorse at the prison first.

“Whitehorse, It’s Deputy Jones,” I said, “I’m in Fall End right now; can you send some people over here? We’ve been surrounded; it sounds like John’s trying to take back the town. Over.”

A few moments passed before I got a response. As my walkie crackled to life, I picked it up off the floor next to me.

“No can do, Dep. We got the same problem. Peggies at our front door, breaching our walls. I was on my way to call you for help. Over.”

“Shit. I’ll be on my way over whenever I get what’s happening over here dealt with, Earl.”

“Godspeed. I’ve got to go.”

Muttering a string of curse words that would make even Hurk blush, I gathered some medical stuff to leave in the bar and exited my room. Coming down the stairs, I found Mary May pulling bottles of vodka out of a box and putting them onto the bar. The tables were all pushed to the sides of the room unless they were barricading one of the doors. Putting the medical supplies on the counter, I nodded to Mary May.

“Should I turn some of these into Molotovs?” she asked, “Where do you want me to be?”

“Stay here,” I said, looking out the large front window to see if I could see anything, “Keep the alcohol for cleaning wounds. I don’t know how today is going to go. Whitehorse said they’re dealing with the same. I’m going to get ahold of Eli, see if he can’t get some of the Whitetails to come, maybe sneak up behind and take out some of the Peggies. Get this window covered. Get Casey to drop the Widowmaker trailer in front of the bar.”

“On it.” I heard Casey call from back in the kitchen.

“I’m heading over to the garage, see who we have. Stay here; if we lose the line, I’ll call you over my radio, channel 4. Move who you can up to my room, lock the door. Everyone who can run should head to the Wolf’s Den. Eli will take care of you. Try to get in contact with Whitehorse later tonight. If I don’t see you again, know I’ve been grateful for your hospitality.”

“Of course,” she said, coming around the bar and embracing me, “Everything you’ve done for us in this valley, in this county; it was the least I could do. Take care, Dep, we need you around here.”

With one last nod, I left the bar; sticking close to the building, I ducked into the garage. Pastor Jerome had a map of the Holland Valley spread out on the hood of a truck parked inside the garage. I dropped my bag by the cash register and began putting ammo onto the counter. Once I reloaded my pistol and put it in my hip holster, I went to Jerome for a briefing on the situation.

“Morning, Jerome,” I said, pulling up next to him, “What’s happening?”

“They have us blocked in, Dep. No in, no out,” he explained, “They’ve blocked all of the roads coming into town, so any backup is going to have to come by foot or ATV. You talk to the Sheriff, yet?”

“The prison is under siege too, so we’re going to have to hold our own. I’m hoping Eli can send some Whitetails down, but it’ll be a couple of hours until they can get down here. I imagine Jacob has a checkpoint set up coming out of the mountains. Are they mostly on the westside?”

“West and North,” he said, pointing to the areas, “At least that was at last report.”

“Anyone get eyes on John himself?”

“He’s near the north. It looks like Jacob’s here too,” he said, “Former soldier, I would assume he’s the one behind the strategy.”

“Of course, he is,” I muttered, “I’m going to get on the radio and see if we can get some help from Eli.”

As I was getting my radio, I heard a plane overhead. I followed the sound with my eyes before shooting a look at Jerome. I asked, “Someone call Nick?”

“I didn’t,” he said, his brow furrowed, “Didn’t want to risk making that baby an orphan if we didn’t need to.”

“Fair point. I have Mary May running triage over the bar. Take anyone wounded there,” I said, “I’m going to pop up onto the roof and see what’s flying over us.”

Before heading up, I got on the radio to Eli.

“Eli, it’s the Deputy,” I said, “We’ve got a bit of a situation happening down here in Fall’s End. Any chance you can send some guys down here?”

After a few minutes, he responded, “What’s happening, Dep?”

“They’ve got us boxed in. All the roads out of town are blocked, and they’ve brought a few dozen full vehicles of Peggies. So far, they’re hanging back, but for how long, I don’t know.”

“Do you know what they are there for?”

“I haven’t asked. They haven’t made contact. I can’t imagine it’s something we’re willing to give. I’ve been kicking that hornet nest a lot this week. I think this is retribution.”

“I’ll send some guys, but it’ll be at least an hour before they make it if they can’t find some cars to hotwire on the way.”

“Thanks, Eli. Tell your guys that if it looks like we’ve been overtaken, any immobile wounded will be up in the apartment above the bar. I’ve let Mary May know anyone who can run should try to. I imagine they’ll find someplace to hunker down for a while. If you’re able to the prison, it’s under attack too. There quite a few people there, but if you can spare anyone, I’m sure they can use the help.”

“Which is a priority?”

“Shit, I don’t know. They’re already under attack. We’re just being threatened. Send half to each, maybe?”

“You got it, Dep. Make sure you get through this, okay?”

“I’m going to try. Same to you, stay back if you can; the Whitetails need you. I’ll call tonight if we’re successful, if not, it’s been an honor working with your these last months.”

“Don’t you go saying goodbyes, Dep. I’ll talk to you tonight. I’m going to get those guys on the move then.”

“Thanks, Eli.”

Turning to Jerome, I confirmed he had heard everything. He nodded, and I gestured I was heading to the roof. He turned back to his map, marking spots on it.

“Be safe,” he said as I started up the ladder.

Up top, Chris, who lived in town, looked through a pair of binoculars, assessing the situation. I sidestepped the Gatling gun, set up near the opening, that had been here since the first time I came to town. I watched as a Peggie crop-dusting plane swooped low over the town again. My radio crackled to life on my hip.

“Good morning, Deputy,” came John Seed’s voice, “So nice of you to greet us all this morning.”

“Can’t say it’s a good morning on my end, John. You can see me, obviously, so you have me at a bit of a disadvantage. Now where the fuck are you so I can see your face when I’m talking to you.”

“North road in, Deputy. Though I have to admit I like the view.”

I turned around and flipped off the block to the north, realizing he had been looking at my ass this whole time. Walking over to that side of the building, I searched the men stationed at that blockage. I found John immediately as he was dressed more appropriately for a night out on the town rather than battle. My heart leaped into my throat when I spotted Jacob standing next to him.

Jacob wasn’t looking in my direction; he was looking at the radio in John’s hand. My chest ached. Despite my busyness and avoidance over the past week and a half, seeing him made me feel every emotion I had been stuffing down.

“What do you want, John?” I asked, after clearing my throat and testing my voice to make sure it wouldn’t betray me, “I see you brought your big brother to help fight your battles. Sad, really.”

I watched Jacob’s face crumble as he knew I saw him there. Waiting for John’s demands, I turned to Chris and sent him back down to the garage to load up. If I declined John’s demands, I didn’t want him to be an open target.

“Lay down your weapons: you and everyone else in that town. We can take the town nicely, or we can take it by force. Ultimately, that’s going to be up to you.”

“You see, when you say it like that, I feel like I don’t actually have a choice. Either way results in you taking Fall’s End, and, well, that doesn’t really line up with my goals. So, let’s try this another way. Leave. Take your men and yourself and get the hell away from my town. Go back to your ranch, and you get to walk away with your life today.”

I watched to see his reaction, flicking my attention over to the smirk on Jacob’s face; at least someone was amused here. I waited and braced myself for John’s response. I watched red creep up his neck and onto his face. Oh, he was pissed.

“Last chance, Deputy. Put down your weapons, and we won’t hurt anyone. If you refuse, we’ll be forced to come in and take each and every one of you.”

“Don’t threaten me with a good time, John. I see a single one of your men come into this town; they won’t be leaving alive.”

“Fair enough,” he said, “Remember, you had your opportunity to do this without bloodshed.”

“I’ll be waiting for your John.”

I clicked over to the channel that Mary May was on and told her that we were on defense. As I moved over to the opening to yell down to Jerome that we were about to have Peggies incoming, the plane that had been swooping down took another low flying dive over the town. I heard the first bullets fire as I dove behind a case on the roof.

Fuck. I had to take that bird out of the sky. I shouted to Jerome that everyone needed to get inside and moved to the mounted Gatling gun. I followed it as it made a lazy loop in the sky and headed back my way. Once it was in range, I opened fire, hitting the underside of the body.

I dove out of the way as it opened fire again, peppering the roof with bullet holes. Up and moving again, I got to the gun again, lining up for fire. Now the plane was smoking. I aimed again, opening fire, and before it was able to start shooting again, it took a sharp turn as something exploded inside it. As it craned to the west, it rapidly hurdled into a group of Peggie vehicles posted there, taking out a Peggie truck in the western field.

I slid down the ladder and into the body of the garage. As I hopped to the floor, I announced that the plane was down. There were easily four dozen Peggies outside, plus John and Jacob. We only had about a dozen people other than Jerome and myself that were competent shooters. The rest I sent to Mary May to give her a hand. I sent snipers to three of the roofs to try to thin out their numbers. I had four pairs of shooters head to the corners of town, ducking into houses to shoot from their windows. That left Jerome, myself, and a handful of others to spread out be on the move.

We broke and headed to our stations. Everyone had orders to hold their fire until the Peggies were close enough to hit or disarm; otherwise, we would be purely defensive. If we could keep them at bay, we would minimize the loss of life on our side. There didn’t need to be anyone playing hero if we could pull through this with minimal injury. As Jerome and I separated, we nodded a stoic goodbye if this was the way either of us went out.

I moved around the edge of town before climbing up the side of a building to keep an eye on movements. As Peggies started moving in from the west, I had the snipers start lining up shots; the second they stepped on the roads surrounding the town, I gave the word for them to shoot.

After I was sure that the snipers could handle themselves, I got back down on the ground. Keeping my back to the walls of buildings, I made my way around, assessing the situation. The few Peggies that made it past snipers were caught by the pairs hidden inside the houses. I heard and felt the asphalt explode near my foot as I was crossing a street; I looked up to see Jacob behind his candy red sniper rifle. I ducked behind a building, catching my breath.

I should have been pissed that he was taking shots at me, but he missed; he hit the ground near me. If he had been aiming for me, he would have hit me; he didn’t miss. His shots were for John only, a show for me.

For the next ten minutes, we held our own, slowly lowering their numbers. A few of our guys had gotten hit and were taken to the bar. The Peggies regrouped up by where John and Jacob were posted. The snipers managed to clip most of them off, and my men on the ground got the rest. Just down to John and Jacob, I had a half dozen of us remaining, sending the rest down backroads to help at the prison.

Flanked by Jerome and Chris, we took up behind the wall by the church. I sent Jerome back to Mary May, and with Chris on sniper as my backup, we waited to see what the Seeds were going to do. Chris poked his head up over the wall, and suddenly, I was sprayed by gore as Chris was shot at point-blank range by a Peggie no one saw slip into town. I returned the action with my pistol and, after looking around, stood up. It was just the Seed brothers and me. This needed to end today.

As I hopped over the wall, I felt a flash of pain across my bicep. Thinking it was Jacob and his sniper rifle, I was surprised to see John holding his pistol, leveled at me. I returned a shot through his hand, causing him to drop his gun.

I stalked toward the two of them, blood pouring down my arm. John managed to pick up his pistol in his opposite hand, but he couldn’t hit seem to get the aim right. Eventually, his gun’s ammo ran out, and as he fumbled to get ammo, I shot him in the knee. He went sprawling, his gun falling out of his reach. Locking eyes with Jacob, I continued my way down the road, daring him to pull the trigger of the gun he had trained on me.

Next to him on the ground, I could hear John shouting for him to take me out, but Jacob ignored him. Focusing on me and the pistol I had leveled at him, he watched as I drew closer. My heartbeat wildly in my chest. Was he going to shoot me, or was I going to shoot him? Could I shoot him? When the distance was close enough that neither of us would miss if we pulled our triggers, I finally spoke.

“Put the gun down, Jacob,” I said, “It’s over. All of you’re men are down; your brother is bleeding out. If you put the weapon down, we’ll tend to his wounds before we throw you both in a cell.”

For a second, his eyes hardened, “You know I can’t do that, Kate.”

“Kate?” I heard John sputter from down on the ground.

“Don’t make this more difficult than it has to be. I don’t want to kill either of you; the people of Hope County deserve justice for what you’ve done to them.”

“Don’t make me choose that. I’d rather you kill me right here,” he said, “I won’t let them lock me away from you. If they have to kill me, so be it.”

“Damn it, Jacob,” I said, my resolve starting to waver.

Jacob lowered his rifle, ejecting the magazine and the bullet in the chamber before tossing it to the ground next to him. Keeping my pistol trained on him, I watched him lower himself to his knees in front of me. John was silent, seemingly passed out from blood loss. I took a couple of steps closer to Jacob.

“Don’t make me have to live the rest of my life in a cell, never seeing you again,” Jacob said softly, reaching out to guide my gun to his head, “Grant me the kindness of letting me die on this road.”

“Jacob…,” I whispered before looking away.

I knew that the people of Fall’s End were watching us. People I had fought alongside, people I had trusted, and who had trusted me. With my free hand, I pulled the radio off of my belt.

“Mary May,” I said, “Come in.”

“Deputy,” I heard her say after a moment, “What’s going on out there?”

“Send Jerome and someone else out here. The Peggies are all down. It’s just the Seeds and I out here, and John’s unconscious.”

“What about Jacob?”

“I have him held at gunpoint. Look, Mary May, I’m going to need you to put aside any problems you have with the Seeds and mend John like he’s one of us. He needs to answer for his crimes, and he can’t do that if he’s dead.”

“They’re on their way,” she said, “I knew you would save us.”

A few minutes later, Jerome and another man came up beside us. I explained again to Jerome that John needed to pull through and that once he was fixed up, he needed to be put into a cell, or at the very least secured to something he couldn’t get away from. After checking that I was fine alone with Jacob, they carried off John.

“Pull that trigger, Kate,” he said, as I turned my attention back to him.

“I saved your brother, Jacob,” I said, “Even after he fucking shot me.”

“I told him he should hold off,” he said, “But he took the shot anyway.”

“Thanks for missing me,” I countered, “Don’t think that I don’t realize that you would have hit me if you had been trying to.”

“I couldn’t hurt you; you know that.”

“Then why are you trying to right now? What do you think me ending your life is going to do to me? Did you ever stop to consider the effect that would have on me? The same reason you couldn’t hit me is the same reason I can’t pull the trigger right now.”

“Leave the gun,” he said, “I’ll take care of it.”

“Damn it, Jacob,” I said, tears threatening to spill over, “You not here with me is what hurts. You not being here to kiss me, to hold me, that hurts. Either of us pulling the trigger is going to kill us both.”

“Real Romeo and Juliet shit,” he said sadly.

Finally, when I could take it no longer. I dropped my weapon to my side and then to the dirt away from us. I got down onto my knees in front of him and cupped his face with my hand. He leaned into me, and we both nearly fell into the dirt together.

“John is in custody,” I said, wrapping my arms around him, “If you don’t try to get him back, you are turning your back on your family. So, either you come with me, and we end this with Joseph. Or you’re going to be turning your back on someone in your family. It’s not an excuse you can use any longer.”

“He’s not going to change his mind,” he whispered, “You don’t know him like I do. He’s convinced.”

“We’ll see about that,” I said, raising up onto my feet and pulling him with me, “This ends today.”

As we walked up the road together, I grabbed his hand and moved him to be behind me. I didn’t need someone from Falls End taking a shot at him. When we walked into the Spread Eagle, you could have heard a pin drop.

“What’s going on, Deputy?” Jerome asked from a barstool, eyeing Jacob’s giant hand covering mine.

“I’ll explain everything in a couple of hours. How’s John?” I asked, turning to Mary May.

“He’s stable. He lost a bit of blood, but if he makes it through the night, he’ll be fine. That hand is going to be useless, and he’ll walk with a limp, but he’ll live. Jerome said Chris didn’t make it.”

“A Peggie snuck up on us,” I said, remembering that I was half-covered in Chris’ blood, “I put him down.”

“Jerome, I’m going to call for you to meet me somewhere in an hour or two, please come. Keep your radio to four.”

“Where are you heading?” he asked.

“To speak with Joseph Seed and stop this craziness.”

“And you’re taking Jacob, with you?” he asked,

“I am; between John and him, we have leverage.”

“I hope you know what you’re doing, Dep,” he said, sizing Jacob up, “These Seeds wait until your back is turned and your defenses are down to strike, remember that.”

With a nod, I pulled Jacob back outside with me, and we headed for one of the abandoned Peggie trucks. After checking for bullet holes, we found one that wasn’t leaking gas. I told him to climb into the driver's side, and I got into the passenger side. I pulled the walkie off of my belt and handed it to him.

“The prison is under attack. Get them to back down and retreat.”

He found the channel they were using and, after several minutes, convinced the commander that they needed to leave the prison, release the prisoners, and head back to the Vet’s Center to await further orders. After he called, I called Eli and had him get into touch with the Whitetails so that they could go back to the Wolf’s Den. Then it was time to call Whitehorse and let him know that the Peggies wouldn’t be returning. I made sure to tell each man that I would need them in the coming hours and that they needed to leave their radios open.

I exhaled and slumped down into my seat. Jacob looked at me and waited for what I was thinking of next. We both started to move at the same time, scrambling to get to each other first. Our lips coming together, I kissed the man who I couldn’t deny myself any longer. Between kisses, we uttered the things that we couldn’t keep to ourselves any longer.

“I can’t believe you would think I could kill you.”

“John’s going to be pissed.”

“John should be pissed. His brother’s lover bested him.”

“Lover?”

“Girlfriend?”

“Wife.”

“If we can get Joseph to stand down, I will marry the shit out of you.”

“All the more motivation. You got a plan here, darlin’?”

“You’re going to take me in as your prisoner. Then once we get to Joseph, we talk this all out. But for now, I need your hands on me. I’ve missed you so much,” I said, taking ahold of his belt and unfastening it.

“Christ, woman,” he chuckled, “Right now?”

“If you don’t get those pants off in the next few seconds…,” I threatened before leaning back to work on my own.

With a mischievous grin, he started to remove his pants, pulling them down around his knees. I got mine down around my ankles and maneuvered myself across his lap, sinking down onto him, exhaling as he filled me.

Frantically we rocked against each other, expelling the pent-up adrenaline of the past hours until I cried out in pleasure, and he joined me, holding my hips and thrusting hard up into me. Panting, we stayed together, our hearts hammering.

His arms holding me in place, he tilted his head up to mine, “Please, don’t leave me again. This week and a half was hell. My bed was cold, and my heart was broken. I love you, and without you, I’m miserable.”

“I won’t,” I said, shaking my head and brushing his temple, “I won’t push this away again. I love you, and this whole time without you, I felt like I couldn’t breathe.”

I kissed him deeply one more time and pulled myself back over to my seat, adjusting my clothes and making myself look mildly presentable. After he had himself situated, I slid over the seat next to him. He started the truck and rested his hand on my knee while I rested my head on his shoulder.

He leaned over and kissed my forehead, “You do have a plan, right?” he asked.

“Well, once we get over to the compound, you’re going to cuff me.”

“I like where this is going.”

“Easy there. Maybe if we get through this, that’s something for later. Anyways, you’re going to tell whoever you need to get us in front of Joseph that you’ve taken me prisoner, and I would like to talk to him. Once we are alone with him, you should have no problem sending people from the room; we talk to him. Ideally, we get him to see that this is a losing endeavor, and he will sit down with us and others from the valley, and we can come up with an optimal plan that stops the killing and lets everyone live in peace.”

“If he doesn’t agree?”

“I hope it doesn’t come to that. I’m hoping you’ll support me. You’re his big brother that has to have some weight.”

“I’ll try, darlin’. I’ll try my damnedest.”

As we came to the bridge that led to the island where Joseph stayed, in his church, I dug around in my pocket for the keys to my cuffs. Leaning over, I gave Jacob one last kiss and put the keys into the pocket of his jacket. I moved over to the other side of the bench and put one of the cuffs on my wrist, then I twisted my arm behind my back and hooked the other cuff.

“Tighten that would you,” I said, turning my back to Jacob.

I felt him gently click the cuff, so it was more secure, then he put his hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. I tilted my head and rested my cheek on his hand. After a moment, I turned in my seat and mustered up the surliest look I could on my face. I had to sell that Jacob had taken me against my will. Looking at me, he chuckled.

“You look angrier than a cat in a bathtub, Kate,” he remarked.

“Well, I shouldn’t be happy that you’re taking me to the Father. And I’m Deputy until we are alone to him.”

“Right, Deputy,” he said, “Here we go.”

He pulled the truck up to the gates of the compound, and once the man there saw it was Jacob, he waved him through. We bumped along the dirt road, people watching as we drove up to the doors of the church. Once we were in front of it, he parked the truck.

“Showtime,” he said, under his breath, “You ready?”

“Let’s do this,” I said, furrowing my brow like he had just said something mildly insulting.

He got out of the cab and came around to my side. He helped me down out of the cab in a way that wouldn’t look like he cared if I fell. Once he got my door closed, he called away the men stationed in front of the church doors.

“I’ve brought the Deputy to stand before the Father. Round up everyone you can and spread out along the perimeter; we don’t know that the Resistance won’t try getting her back. No one is to leave this compound until she leaves these grounds, whatever he decides is to happen to her.”

The man nodded and left with the other man in front of the doors to carry out Jacob’s commands. Under any other circumstances watching him command an army could be arousing, but this was neither the time nor place.

“Wipe that look off your face,” Jacob whispered in my ear, “If me directing people turns you on that much, I’ll be sure to use that at a later date. I’m going to give you a little shove when I open these doors, sell it like I really pushed you.”

I cleared my throat and put my game face back on. He pulled the big doors of the church open and gently pushed me between my shoulder blades. I stumbled forward like he had shoved me hard. He motioned for the men in the church to come to him, and he directed them to stand guard at the door; let no one come inside.

Grabbing hold of my arm, he dragged me up the aisle to stand in front of Joseph. The lighting made the Father seem much more menacing than the forty-something with a man-bun that he actually was. He came down the stairs from his pulpit and leveled his face with mine, bracing his hands on my shoulders. Then he turned his attention to Jacob.

“Jacob, things went well this morning, I take it. Where’s John? I’m surprised to see him not with you, especially if you have the Deputy in custody.”

“John is in Falls End,” Jacob said, “He was hit by gunfire. The people of Fall’s End are taking care of him, and once he is well, he’ll stay in their custody.”

“I don’t understand,” Joseph said, looking me over and then looking back to Jacob, “You left your brother, injured, with the same people that shot him.”

“No,” Jacob explained, “She’s here. He took a shot at her. She shot him in the hand, and when he tried to shoot at her again, she put another bullet through his leg.”

Jacob moved forward, clamping his hand on my shoulder.

“Why didn’t you get him out of there?”

“Falls End had a better strategy. They took out all of our men, and when the Deputy approached, I told him to stand down. I knew there were snipers on the roofs, and if we killed her, we would be next. He still chose to fire; she merely was a better shot.”

“So you brought her here, why? Why isn’t she in one of your cages getting ready to go through another trial, considering she’s such a good soldier?”

“We wanted to talk to you,” he said, pulling the keys from his pocket, “Give you an opportunity to put things right.”

“We?” he asked, watching Jacob move behind me and unlock my cuffs.

“We want to find a way for all of the violence and suffering to end,” I said, as I rubbed my wrists where the metal had been biting into my skin.

“What’s going on here, Jacob?” he said, turning his attention back onto his brother.

“Kate and the Resistance can’t keep hemorrhaging people; it’s only causing suffering. With John in their custody and me leaving the militia, it’s down to you and Faith.”

“You’ve betrayed us, joined the Resistance,” Joseph said, his voice even but with an undercurrent of anger, “Kate? You’ve let the enemy seduce you, brother.”

“If it were only seduction, she would have killed me by now,” Jacob said, putting his hand on my shoulder again, this time with more affection, “She let me be myself when everyone else around expects me to be this monster. She looked through all of that. We resisted each other as long as we could, knowing that we were doomed. I won’t fight against you; I’m not a member of the Resistance. But I won’t fight the woman I plan to make my wife either, and if you harm her in any way, you’ll have broken our family beyond repair, and I will make you pay. I love you, Joe, but I love her too. I won’t go against you, but I won’t go against her either.”

“Joseph,” I said, “There has to be a scenario that can have our people living side by side. You’ve recruited the people that would be interested in what you offered. A just God wouldn’t want you slaughtering his people just because they won’t join your church. If people don’t want to join, leave them to their peril if what you say is true. Let them live and love and spend what time they have before the collapse to themselves.”

“Joe,” Jacob said, taking a step toward his brother, “Surely, you and Faith alone can not keep up what was happening. Kate may even be able to convince her people that they should free John. If you work with the people of Hope County, you can keep our family together. But you have to meet them halfway. Please, Joey.”

I watched Jacob embrace his brother. I turned, giving them a moment alone to discuss things. As I sat down in a pew, reading one of the white bibles, Jacob came over to me and extended his hand. He led me up to the front pews where Joseph was sitting. I sat in the pew behind him, and Jacob sat next to me.

“You love my brother?” Joseph asked me as I sat down.

“I do,” I said, taking Jacob’s hand, “Very much so.”

Jacob brought my hand up to his lips and kissed my knuckles. I gave him a happy smile before turning my attention back to Joseph.

“I’ve never seen my brother in love,” Joseph said, somewhat dreamily, “It suits him. I told you there was something special about her, Jacob. I just didn’t realize that she was here for you.”

“Joseph,” I started, “I really hope that we can come to an agreement. For the sake of everyone in the valley.”

“Perhaps,” Joseph said, “Maybe God brought you here so that this would all stop.”

“I’d like to have you sit down with Jacob and me and someone from each region of the county to see what kind of treaty we can draw up. I really hope you’ll be willing to work with us.”

“The Voice never said anything about a union between our sides. Maybe it doesn’t have all of the answers. Or maybe it doesn’t have the whole story. Your people will want vengeance on what mine have inflicted on them. How do I protect my people lead them to our New Eden?”

“That’s why I think we need to have a summit of leaders. I think that’s the way that we figure out what is agreeable for everyone. There will be concessions made on all sides, I think.”

“Can we use the Vet Center?” I asked Jacob.

“Of course, darlin’.”

“We’ll meet there in two hours,” I explained to Joseph, “You, me, Jacob, Eli, Sheriff Whitehorse, and Pastor Jerome will sit down and figure out the best way for all of us to move forward. Is that agreeable?”

“Yes,” Joseph said with a nod, “Should I bring Faith?”

“She’s going to agree with anything you say, Joe,” Jacob said, “Better to leave her out of this unless you want things constantly derailed.”

“Fair enough,” Joseph said, getting to his feet and extending his hand to me, “I will see you in two hours at the Vet Center. Hopefully, we will all come to some sort of agreement.”

Jacob and Joseph embraced one more time, sharing a moment of confirmation that he would be there in two hours. Joseph pulled me into our own embrace.

“God sent you to save him,” Joseph said, holding me tightly, “He’s been so angry and bitter for so long, and you’ve breathed new life into my brother. I am forever in your debt. I will work to make things right with everyone involved.”

“Thank you,” I said, when he released me, “We’ll see you soon.”

There were some funny looks when Jacob and I left the church, but no one attempted to stop us. On the way up to the mountains, I put calls out to my delegates to let them know where we were going to meet. While initially it was met with some resistance, everyone was much more agreeable once I explained what was happening.

When I finally finished calling everyone I needed to, I got word that John was awake from Mary May. Jerome said he would bring him with him to the summit but that for everyone’s safety, he would be restrained until they got there.

“You’re going to be in charge of keeping John in order,” I said, slouching back against the seat, “Joseph won’t do anything, and my guys would sooner see him in a jail cell or dead. Think you can do that?”

“I’ll handle him,” he said, looking over at me, “Things with Joseph went better than I thought they would.”

“Same,” I said, “Though I hope it wasn’t misdirection.”

“He seemed genuinely happy about us. I think he realizes that despite what his Voice was telling him, he’s caused a lot of pain here. I think he wants to work toward making things right.”

“I hope so,” I watched the scenery fly by the window, struck by how different everything looked with a little bit of hope.

Halfway there, I slid across the seat and rested my head on his shoulder. I was exhausted. Everything was catching up with me, and my eyelids were starting to get heavy. We still had a long way to go, but for now, I could rest.

I woke up to a pat on my thigh and a kiss on the top of my head. Jacob was making his way up the dirt road to the Vet’s Center.

“How do we want to play this?” he asked, “My men will be confused as to why you’re all nestled up against me if we pull up this way. Unless you’re okay with that.”

“They’re your men,” I said, sitting up a little straighter, “Are they going to give my guys trouble when they get here? Or will they think you’ve lost it if you tell them to stand down?”

“Only one way to find out,” he said, “I’ll have you stand with me to address them, then I want to make sure that anyone in cages is released.”

“That’s nice of you,” I said, “Thank you. It can’t be easy for you to be doing all this.”

“I’m not doing it alone,” he said, with a smile, “That makes a helluva difference.”

I slid over closer to my door as we neared the gate, and Jacob pulled into the courtyard. After meeting the inquisitive eyes of a half dozen soldiers, I decided that the dashboard held more appeal. Jacob pulled over to where the trucks were all parked in a row and drove into a spot.

Turning off the engine, he turned to me, “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be,” I said, daring to take a look at the men that were making their way over toward us.

“Stay there,” he said, unbelting himself and getting out his side.

I sat in my seat as he greeted a few of the men that had made it over to the truck. He walked around the front of the truck to my side and opened the door. Helping me down, he extended his elbow for me to take. After most of the people had made their way over to us, he addressed them.

“As I’m sure you’re all familiar, this is Deputy Kate,” Jacob announced after the initial murmurs questioning what I was doing there had died down, “She is here to talk to Joseph. He’ll be here a couple of hours; I want this place in top shape. I am releasing the current members of the Resistance from our custody. You are not to stop them. In a few hours, men from around the county will be coming to hold discussions with Joseph to see how we can exist peacefully in this area. You are to treat these men with the same respect that you would give to Joseph or me. John will be arriving with them, injured and restrained. He will be released once we have our discussions, and no attempts should be made to free him before that happens. If there are any questions, I will take them now. Otherwise, your orders are to stand down and be respectful to our guests.”

There was a flurry of talking, but no one posed any questions, either through fear or surprise. Jacob led me around to the courtyard area where the Resistance members were kept in cages, starved, thirsty, and dirty. I had spent some time in these cages prior to Jacob and I getting to know each other. It was hell. Seeing familiar faces between those bars broke my heart. I sighed heavily.

“I’m so sorry, darlin’,” he said with a frown as he fished a set of keys out of his jacket pocket, “I have so many things I have to make up for. Let them out; they’ll think I’m tricking them if I do it.”

I nodded and took the keys from him. We went cage by cage, letting people go. Some were relieved, falling to their knees in gratitude and tears. Others were hesitant, fearing punishment if they left. I did what I could to reassure them, but ultimately, I had just to leave the door open and hope they would walk out when they were ready. If any remained when Jerome, Eli, or Earl got here, I would make sure to prove to them that we weren’t trying to fool them.

After those that trusted us had left, Jacob and I watched his men to make sure that no one would stop them or harass them on the way out. After we had confirmed that everyone had left who was going to go, he led me inside.

“Let’s get you cleaned up,” he said, leading me through the building, “The showers here are communal, but they lock from the inside.”

“That’s probably why no one is giving me shit; I’m covered in blood,” I said, “This shirt is ruined. Any chance you have something without that cross on it?”

“You can have one of my t-shirts,” he said, “It’ll be a little big on you, but it’s better nothing. Doors at the end of the hall; go ahead, and I’ll bring you some shampoo and soap and all that stuff.”

I walked the rest of the way down the hall and knocked before pushing my way through the door. The room was empty and surprisingly clean. I went over and sat on a bench and started to untie my boots. The weight of the day finally hit me, and I found my hands shaking as I undid the laces. I fumbled to get them off, and once I had, there was a knock at the door. I went over and asked who it was.

“Kate,” Jacob said, “It’s me.”

I let him in, and once he was through, I relocked the door. He walked over to where my boots were and set down the things he had in his arms. I went over and helped him. He had brought me a towel and some socks in addition to the other things he said he was grabbing.

As I started removing my clothing, Jacob sat on the bench and started untying his boots. When I cocked my eyebrow at him, he put out his arms, which I just realize had splatters of blood on them, from me, maybe from John. As I finally stepped out of my jeans and kicked them aside, he gestured for me to give him my foot. He slipped my socks off as I held on to his shoulders.

Standing up, he pulled off his shirt and shucked his pants and underwear. After pulling off his own socks, he handed me the shampoo and some soap and walked over to start the water—temperature testing before he pulled us underneath the spray. As water rained down on us, he tilted my head back and kissed me sweetly. Sweetness turned passionate as we tried desperately to get close enough.

For the first time since this morning, it was just us, and we had time. Gently, after getting a handful of shampoo, he began to scrub my hair. His hand would make the occasional journey around my waist while his other hand worked through my tresses. When he was finished, he led me back under the water to rinse as I playfully swatted his hands away. Arching my back, I rinsed my own hair, giving him a show of my breasts as rivulets of soapy water ran down them.

He grunted and reached out, palming one of them, while wrapping his other arm around the small of my back, pulling me against his growing erection. I closed my eyes and moaned in appreciation of how he was making me feel. Once my hair was rinsed, I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him down so that I could kiss him. With a sweeping motion, he pulled me up against him, my legs wrapping around his hips. He walked through the stream and pinned me up against the tiled as I deepened our kiss.

His hands grabbed my ass, guiding my hips as he lined up with me. With aching slowness, he pushed into me. Taking our time, he thrust into me with languid movements.

As his breathing quickened, he shifted and was hitting that spot deeper inside of me. I arched against him, moaning. As his fingers dug into my hips, I tightened around him, crying out. He thrust a final time, and I felt his warmth spill. Panting, we clung to one another.

Still inside, he held me and kissed my neck. Running my hands across his back, I wrapped my arms around his shoulders, holding him close.

“I love you so fucking much, Kate,” he whispered in my ear, “No matter what happens today, I want you to know that.”

“I love you,” I said, pulling my head back to look into his eyes, “I won’t let you go this time. No matter what we agree to, I’m not leaving your side.”

“Kate,” he said, “I wasn’t kidding earlier. I want to marry you. I want to have a family with you, one that is ours.”

“Do not propose to me in the shower,” I said, with a laugh, “Especially not when you’re still inside of me.”

“This isn’t romantic enough for you, darlin’,” he said, holding me so I could lower my feet down onto the floor.

We finished washing and spent some time drying and dressing before he pulled me into what were his quarters. He looked sheepishly at the floor while I took in what constituted his home. To say that it could use a woman’s touch was an understatement. Everything was in varying shades of browns and greens. There was a set of double doors that he opened, and it led out onto a balcony. The view was amazing. Montana had unrivaled beauty in its mountains if you could stop long enough to look at it.

As I stood at the balcony, Jacob came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist; we looked out over the land, and for the first time in a long time, I didn’t hear gunshots. I leaned back against him and sighed. I wasn’t sure what our life would look like after our meeting, but as long as he put his arms around me, I could be happy.

“I figured we’d meet in my office,” he murmured, his chin on the top of my head, “There’s a strategy room if you think that might be better.”

“It might be,” I said, my hands clasping around his forearms, “A more neutral setting. I don’t know that they’re going to give up their weapons, but I think it would be best if Joseph showed he wasn’t armed, and John was patted down. It will go a long way to put people at ease if you give up your own. I’ll do the same, so they don’t think that I’m compromised.”

“Sounds good,” he said, nuzzling his face in my neck.

“That room ready to go?”

“Should be.”

As we stood there, my stomach growled, loudly. I laughed, and I could hear Jacob’s deep laugh in his chest. He let go of me and took my hand, and led me back inside.

“Let’s get you something to eat before everyone gets here,” he said, leading me through his quarters.

Walking me down to the main floor, he took me into a utilitarian room that had to be the cafeteria. We went through a set of doors and were standing in a kitchen; it wasn’t huge but bigger than one you would find in a house. He lifted me up and sat me on the counter.

“What’re you in the mood for?” he asked, heading towards one of the large refrigerators.

“What are my options?” I asked, watching him, surprised by the ease in which he walked through the kitchen.

“Looks like there’s some chili from last night,” he said, his head in the fridge, “Some lunchmeat, some, oh God. Someone needs to clean this out. There’s fruit in our pantry.”

“A sandwich is fine. Maybe some fruit,” I said, hopping off of the counter.

He grabbed a few things besides the lunch meat out of the fridge and began to assemble them on the prep table in the middle of the kitchen; some condiments and a couple of different types of lunchmeat and cheese. Then he headed over to a door and walked inside. Grabbing a loaf of bread and a bowl of fruit, he brought those over to the table too. We made a few sandwiches and ate them there in the kitchen while discussing how we should go about our meeting with everyone.

With half an hour left, we went up to the strategy room and made sure that it was ready for everyone to meet. I quickly removed any sort of maps and plans for taking over. Better to have the remnants of fighting removed so we could start from a clean point. When it was about fifteen minutes until the time for arrivals to start, we went outside.

Joseph was the first to arrive; he was brought to the Center by a few of his men. Jacob told the men to stand down and set them to work with the other men on the property to disassemble the cages now that everyone had felt safe enough to leave them. Next, Sheriff Whitehorse arrived in his beat-up pickup. Eli and Pastor Jerome came in the same vehicle, with John in tow.

As Jacob and I ushered everyone into the building. John was the only one to raise a fuss, but some words from Joseph and he began to settle. We entered the room; the brothers sat on one side while the Resistance leaders took seats on the opposite side.

“While I realize there is no objective third party,” I started, “I think the fact that we are all adults in this room means that we can speak without resorting to name-calling or juvenile behavior. We need to discuss what our expectations are and how best to achieve them. Given that the Seeds have been the aggressors, I think it would be appropriate that the Resistance take the floor first. Seeds, do you agree?”

“Agreed,” Joseph said, “Thank you for meeting with us.”

“In the interest of transparency, I have a confession to make,” I started, “Jacob and I started spending time together about two and a half months ago. I imagine that both sides noticed a difference in how we approached things; fewer Resistance members were captured, and the ones that were weren’t put through trials and were taken better care of than previously. As a result, I mostly stuck to Faith and John’s areas as my presence wasn’t as badly needed in the mountains. Over time friendship became something more, and we are together. This doesn’t mean that I don’t have the Resistance’s best interests in mind; I want there to be peace. The senseless killing needs to end. I love Jacob, but the Resistance is where my priorities lie.”

I looked over to Jacob, and he nodded to me. As I looked toward the men on my other side, I braced for their reactions. Pastor Jerome looked as though his assumptions from earlier had been confirmed. Eli and Whitehorse, on the other hand, seemed completely caught off guard. I heard John snort and mutter in disbelief.

“So, I suppose, if none of you wants to speak for the group, then we could just work down the line with each of you saying your piece and what you believe to be steps to moving forward. Pastor, if you don’t mind starting us off.”

“I think I speak for everyone here when I say that there needs to be an immediate ceasefire. There have been far too many lives lost, and it needs to stop. I worry that if the Project isn’t disbanded, then this will happen again. And there needs to be justice for people how have suffered.”

I watched Joseph’s expression as I knew that he would be the one that we would have to come to terms with these demands. His jaw clenched at the mention of the Project getting shut down. I knew there would be resistance at that point.

“Sheriff, Eli?” I asked.

“There needs to be some sort of restitution; people have lost their homes, members of their families. People that were taken prisoner need to be released,” Eli added.

“That about covers it for me,” Whitehorse echoed, “People just want to live their lives without the threat. That and the Seeds have to answer for their crimes here. I’m sure you agree with that sentiment, Deputy.”

“So, what seems to be actionable steps that we can take? What seems like a suitable punishment? I realize that it’s a little unorthodox to forgo a trial, something I’m sure that John is unhappy about, but in all honesty, I feel like taking the Seeds in front of the valley will result in a mob that won’t be happy until they are hanging from the highest tree,” I said, trying to get to some specifics rather than skirting the issue.

“Might not be the worst idea,” Eli said gruffly, “They put this county through a whole hell of a lot. People might think a little retribution is acceptable.”

I winced; I couldn’t help but to. I had a personal stake in seeing that a punishment of death wasn’t what happened. But if it was what was decided, what leverage did I have to save the man that I loved? As I snuck a look at the Seeds, I could see John sitting, his face red, practically vibrating out of anger. Joseph sat calmly listening, and Jacob stared at a fixed point in the middle of the table.

“I suppose if there is nothing else to add from the Resistance’s side; Seeds, you have the floor,” I said, mainly to Joseph.

“The reason for establishing The Project at Eden’s Gate,” he started, “was to save as many souls as possible before the collapse of society. I think we can all see from news reports and social media today that mankind is heading down a dark path. In building the Project, we sought to give people a home to weather the storm, but we couldn’t take just anyone. If we started our new Eden with snakes in the midst, then we would eventually fall. Our approach was militant and, at times, I can admit, cruel if our intentions were unknown. I understand your desire for justice and retribution, but I worry, and I say this as a man who realizes his life is in your hands, that the taking of our lives could result in more ardent followers seeking retribution for our deaths.”

“I don’t think it’s in your best interests to make threats, Joseph,” Eli said.

“Not a threat, merely a concern. As such, I offer a possible solution. Our side will stop conversions immediately, only taking in people that want to join us in earnest. Instead of taking our lives, I propose you allow followers who wish to stay with the Project to be allowed to, and my family and I will go into our bunkers with them. We aren’t a part of the life in the county anymore, and it frees members who may have misgivings about how they were recruited.”

“Anything else to add, John or Jacob?” I asked the other two brothers.

“I’ll do as Joseph wishes,” John said, through clenched teeth.

“I’m fine with whatever you come up with, Kate,” Jacob added, “You know that.”

“On the table is a complete ceasefire, releasing of any prisoners and unwilling followers, and the Seeds going into their bunkers as a type of prison. To add to that, I will be going wherever Jacob goes. If I could say my peace, I think that all needs will be met. This may be too forward for either side, but I propose that Jacob not be exiled to a bunker. While admittedly, my reasons are selfish, I feel that he could pay for his crimes by helping to rebuild the valley. It’s something that I wish to contribute to as well. We would help to rebuild homes and businesses as a way to show the community that he isn’t a threat and that he is willing to do anything to get into good graces.”

Joseph nodded and gave me a small smile. A glance toward Jacob showed me that he would prefer my option as opposed to being locked up inside for years. As I turned to check with the men of the Resistance, I felt myself tense, worried that I may have overstepped my bounds. They seemed to be considering it rather than rejecting it outright.

“Is there somewhere we could discuss this privately, Dep?” Pastor Jerome asked.

“You could step out into the hall, and we’ll stay in here,” I offered, “In case you think anyone is a flight risk, or we could go to Jacob’s office if you wanted to stay in the room.”

“We’ll step out into the hallway,” Eli said, getting to his feet, “You intend to stay with Jacob?”

“Yes,” I said, moving to walk the men to the hallway and closing the door behind them.

I moved over toward where Jacob was sitting and pulled out a chair of my own—taking a seat, I reached over and squeezed his hand. He picked it up and brought it to his lips, kissing the back of it gently. Lacing our fingers together, we sat hand in hand.

“Well, isn’t that a sight,” John said condescendingly, “Here I thought your sin was wrath; turns out it was lust. It’ll take more than a pretty face to turn my brother against his family.”

“Watch how you are speaking to the woman I plan to marry, John. You’re my brother, but I will defend my wife.”

“You can’t be serious!” John sputtered, “That bitch shot me through the hand and leg; I don’t know if I’m ever going to be able to use this hand again or walk properly, and you’re just going to marry her.”

“John,” Joseph said calmly, “Jacob can make his own choices. For what it’s worth, he’s never seemed happier. Also, that woman may be the thing keeping you from being put in front of a firing squad.”

“You shot me first,” I added, “I was fine just arresting the two of you.”

“You never took a shot,” John said, turning his venom to Jacob, “She shot me twice, and you never even returned fire back at her, did you? She could have killed me.”

“Notice I hit you nowhere near fatal points,” I said, “I wouldn’t do that to Jacob, no matter the fact that I have a pretty sizable graze on my arm.”

“I should have aimed better,” he spit back.

“John,” Jacob said, “Drop it. Now.”

“I’m just saying it’s bullshit. We’re all going to have to live in caves now because you couldn’t help but fall in love with the enemy.”

“What’s the plan here?” Jacob said, “You trying to get me to hit you. I’m not going to do it.”

Their discussion was interrupted by the sound of the doorknob clicking as the Resistance leaders returned to the room. With a pat on the hand, I removed mine from Jacob’s. It wasn’t so much that I was ashamed of our relationship, but it felt wrong to flaunt it right now.

“We’ve come to a decision,” Pastor Jerome started, “We agree to the ceasefire. We insist that all of the members be allowed to leave if they so choose and that their families can talk to them before they ultimately decide to stay. As for the Seed family, you will spend the next twenty years in your bunkers. If you need supplies, they will be donated from the County once a year. Regarding Jacob’s assignment, we understand that you and the Deputy are a package deal; therefore, to keep the Deputy, we will allow you to work off your time helping to repair and rebuild in the county. Does this sound agreeable to you?”

“We agree to the terms,” Joseph said, “Thank you for showing us grace when we have not been as gracious. Thank you for the concessions and generosity you’ve shown us when you didn’t have to. We’ll begin preparations right away. We should have everything gather to go in by the end of the weekend. Is that acceptable?”

“It is,” Pastor Jerome agreed.

“Thank you,” Jacob said, speaking up, “I understand that I’m being given special treatment because of the Deputy, but I will do everything to make sure that I fulfill your stipulations. The Vet’s Center is yours; most of the medical supplies are in the basement. It would make for a good place for our recuperating people, both sides.”

“Thank you,” I said to the men of the Resistance, “We’ll make sure that you never regret the decision you made today.”

As we nailed down exact times for families to see their loved ones and both sides radioed their men to stand down, it felt like things were going to work out. There was a deadline set for when the Seeds would have to enter their bunkers, and the date was set for annual resupplying. We went our separate ways, and as Jacob and I went to his office, he pulled me into his arms.

“I don’t know how you did it, but I’m glad you came up with something that worked for everyone.”

“I couldn’t have made it work if Joseph weren’t so open to it.”

After a moment of holding me, he let go. He moved over to his desk and pulled out a few things. Then he sat on the edge of his desk and just looked at me.

“What’s next?” he asked.

“We go home?” I said, making my way over to him.

Sitting on his desk, he was about a foot shorter, so I kissed his forehead, and he pulled me against him, wrapping his arms around my back.

“Where’s home?” he asked.

“I’ve been living above the spread eagle in Falls End. There’s a small apartment.”

“Will I be permitted to stay there?” he asked.

“Only one way to find out,” I said, stepping out of his arms and taking his hand.

We left the Vet’s Center just as a fleet of Resistance trucks were pulling up. Jacob handed the keys off to a surprised member of the group, and we grabbed one of the Project’s trucks and began the trip over to Falls End. To be honest, I wasn’t sure what kind of reception we were going to get. Jacob had lived at the Vet Center, and I had flown in from out of state. If Mary May denied us, we would have to find somewhere to stay the night before looking for something more suitable.

As we pulled into town, I noticed that Pastor Jerome was busy pulling boards off the church's windows. I asked Jacob to pull over; the sooner Jacob and I started helping, the better graces we would be in with the people of Hope County.

“We should give the Pastor a hand,” I said, “If you’re up to it…”

“Sure thing, darlin’,” he said, with a smile, “Lead the way.”

I hopped out of my side and walked up the short walkway to the church. Jacob trailed behind me but close enough that it didn’t look like I was dragging him against his will. As we approached, Pastor Jerome saw us and put down the board he had just removed.

“Deputy,” he said, extending his hand to me.

I shook his hand and watched in surprise as he greeted Jacob with a handshake.

“Pastor,” Jacob said in greeting.

“Can we give you a hand?” I asked.

“I just started,” he said; there are some crowbars and hammers over in the garage if you want to grab one.

“We’ll go grab them,” Jacob said, taking hold of my hand.

We walked past the area where I had been standing when things had happened that morning. It felt like that was days ago. As we passed the spot, Jacob steered me away from seeing the puddles of dried blood left from Chris and the Peggie that killed him.

We grabbed tools from the garage and avoided the stares of some of the people in town, then made our way back to the church. For the next hour, we helped the Pastor to pry boards that were put up to protect the stained-glass windows. Next, someone brought over some buckets of soapy water, and we got to work cleaning the graffiti and scuffs off of the wood. It wasn’t perfect, and the church would probably need a new coat of paint.

As night crept in, we helped the Pastor set up and straighten the pews and sweep the floors. After he thanked us for our help, we bid him good night and headed over to the Spread Eagle. In our work to help clean up the church, the anxiety I had about our reception had disappeared. Now it came roaring back as we stepped up onto the front porch.

I walked into the dimly lit bar and was surprised at how busy it was. As we made our way through a group of people near the door, I looked for Mary May and found her behind the bar. We walked over, and as I got there, she saw me, and her face lit up. She reached under the bar and brought out one of my favorite beers; she popped the bottlecap off of it and set it down on the bar as we arrived at it.

“Congratulations, Deputy,” she said with a big smile, “I hear celebrations are in order. Looks like we can finally take back our home.”

“I’m just happy that all the killing has stopped,” I said, still wary that she was going to tell Jacob to get out.

“Jacob Seed,” she started, her gaze leveled at him, “What do you drink? The first one is on the house, the rest you’ll have to pay for.”

“Same as Kate is fine,” he said, “Thank you.”

“Mary May,” I said, “We were wondering if the apartment upstairs is still available. We can start paying you to rent it if you’re okay with us staying here for a little until we can get some property and build a place of our own.”

“Of course. I wasn’t so sure when Pastor was guessing that you two might have something between you earlier, but now that I’ve seen it with my own eyes, he was right.”

“You’re okay with Jacob staying?”

“Sure,” she said before leaning in conspiratorially, “Just don’t be too loud when there are people down here. Don’t worry about rent. I’m sure you two are going to be too busy helping with fixing stuff to hold jobs, so rooms free until you get a suitable place.”

“Thank you,” I said, reaching across the bar and hugging her, “We’re going to head upstairs, but we’ll be back down for something to eat once it dies down.”

“That might take a while. Everyone is in a celebrating mood with the news of today,” she said, “Oh and Jacob, I suppose I don’t need to tell you this, but if you don’t treat the Deputy right, I am the start of a very long line of people that will kick your ass. Understand?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said as I led him away.

We got upstairs and into the apartment. Mary May had put my washed clothes on my bed, so I told him to sit on the couch while I put them away. I tidied the place up a little too. When I finished, I walked over to the couch and straddled his lap, sitting on his knees, our forehead pressed together. I exhaled and just shared that moment of intimacy with him. His hands cradled my ass so I didn’t fall backward. While nothing was overly stimulating about what we were doing, I soon felt him harden against me.

“Sorry,” he whispered with a low chuckle, “You in my lap just does that to me. Ignore it’ll calm down in a minute or two.”

After a laugh of my own, I pulled back and kissed him on the forehead, wrapping my arms around the back of his neck. If I had any energy in me, I would have started removing my top, but I was honestly exhausted by the events of the day.

“While the offer is tempting,” I said, moving to kiss his cheek, “I can barely keep my eyes open.”

“So, let’s take a nap,” he said, pulling me tight against him as he slowly got up to his feet.

He carried me across the room and sat me on the edge of the bed. Bending down onto his knee, he started to remove my boots. I yawned and marveled at how good my bed felt underneath me. He pulled off his boots, and with some maneuvering, we managed to get the two of us in the bed and reasonably comfortable. He held me as I drifted off to sleep.

-----------------------------------------

As I slept, I dreamt that we hadn’t been able to convince the Resistance leaders to spare the Seeds and as such, they determined that all the Seeds would be sentenced to death by public hanging. All of them were hanged in the same tree, the weather wild and windy. As the clouds rolled overhead, pierced occasionally by lightning, cold rain fell on us.

My heart pounded in my chest as I watched them tie the noose around Jacob’s neck. He found me in the crowd and locked eyes with me. A sad, pained smile crossed his face, and he mouthed I love you to me. I mouthed my declaration of love back to him and watched as he closed his eyes and lowered his head. As they readied to pull the stool from beneath his feet, there was a crack of thunder, and I watched in horror as his body dropped.

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“Hey, hey,” a deep voice near me said, “It’s okay. You had a bad dream. I’m here.”

Jacob’s arms wrapped around me, pulling me against his chest. I buried my face into the side of his neck, trying to catch my breath and willing my heart to stop trying to escape my chest.

“Everything’s fine, darlin’,” he said, rubbing circles across my back, “I have you.”

“I dreamed that they hanged you and your siblings.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” he whispered to me, tilting my face up to his own with one of his hands, “Everyone decided. I’m going to help everyone get back to normal, and you and I are going to grow old together in this county, have a couple of kids, and be happy.”

“I don’t know if I could stand losing you,” I murmured back to him.

“Luckily, we don’t have to worry about finding out if you would,” he said, sitting up and pulling me up alongside him, “It sounds like it’s died down a little downstairs. You want to see if they could make us up some dinner.”

“Okay,” I said, getting to my feet, “Let me just run to the bathroom first.”

I headed inside the bathroom and relieved myself. As I was washing my hands, I took a look in the mirror. My skin was paler than usual; that dream shook me to my core. After splashing water on my face, I pulled my hair up into a messy bun and went back out into the apartment.

Jacob had already pulled his boots on and was sitting on the couch, leafing through a magazine. I went over to a pile of my stuff in the corner and pulled out a pair of flip-flops. After I put them on, I grabbed a hoodie off the pile of my clean clothes and slipped it on. He got up and came over to me as I walked to the door.

His hand snaked around my waist, and he pulled me back against him. I leaned my head back against his chest. His lips brushed my forehead as he slipped his other arm around my shoulders.

“If it makes it easier for you, I could stay here,” he said, “Ease everyone into my being around.”

“Nice try,” I said, “I’ll need a hand to bring everything up. Maybe we could try eating down there?”

When we got downstairs, we found that there were only about a dozen people still there. We took two empty stools at the bar and sat down. Mary May came over after she got back from clearing one of the tables.

“You two looking for something for dinner?” she asked, wiping the bar in front of us.

“If that’s okay,” I said, “Don’t have Casey make anything special.”

“Burgers and Fries, okay?” she asked.

“Thank you, Miss Fairgrave,” Jacob said.

I nodded.

She got us set up with a couple of sodas, and we sat and chatted until the food arrived. While we received a few weird looks, mostly everyone was okay with us being there. We would get to them being welcoming, but I knew that it would take some time.

Eventually, our food was finished, and as Mary May handed us our plates, she said, “Pastor was in here earlier looking for you. Something about a meeting tomorrow to start our plans for people getting their homes back and cleaning up the county. I told him you looked exhausted and probably were napping but that I would send you his way in the morning if you didn’t come down tonight.”

“Thanks,” I said, “He give any indication who else was involved?”

“The usual, I think. Plus, the Ryes, Grace, Jess, Adelaide. I imagine they’ll bring in others as we need people to do the actual work, but the planning seems to be a dozen or so. I’ll be there. We’re meeting at the church at ten in the morning.”

“We’ll be there,” I said, picking at my fries, “Thanks again, Mary May.”

We eat in comfortable silence while occasionally being interrupted by some of the patrons. Most of them congratulating me on the success of a ceasefire and the banishment of most of the Seeds; some of them shot Jacob weary looks. It had to be hard on him, and I hoped that people would learn to embrace him sooner rather than later. I hoped that they would see the effort that he was making and see that he had changed. Some would never; there had been irreparable damage done to some families because of the Seeds. When we finished eating, we had a couple of beers and waited until it was closing time.

Once Mary May shooed the last of the patrons out the doors, we helped her and Casey clean up the kitchen and bar. We had talked it over and decided if Mary May was going to let us keep living upstairs rent-free, the least we could do is help her close up at night if we weren’t needed elsewhere. After seeing the two of them off, we climbed the stairs up to the apartment for the night.

As I entered the apartment, I lifted my shirt up over my head and threw it in the direction of the basket in the corner. I missed, but Jacob grabbed it and put it in the basket. I kicked my flip-flops over by the basket.

“I feel bad,” I said, working on my jeans, “You’re about to find out just how feral I live. I’m messy; is that going to be something a former soldier like you can take?”

“As long as you can tolerate things, like me waking up early,” he said, “Though I’m willing to guess that you’re the type to sleep in.”

“Guilty,” I said, tossing my jeans at him, “I’ll try to be better; I have another’s feelings to consider now.”

“Though if me picking up the dirty clothes that you fling around gets me the reward that I’m looking at right now, I’ll gladly do it.”

“Oh, something like this would get me out of trouble,” I said, slipping one of my bra straps off of my shoulder.

“Hmmm,” he said, taking off his belt and tossing it onto the couch, “It would depend on the size of the trouble.”

“Interesting,” I said, slipping the other strap off my shoulder, “So how does that work? Is there a chart I can consult or something?”

“Oh,” he said, smiling at me as he pulled off his t-shirt, “I’m sure you’ll know.”

Arching my back, I reached up and pulled the tie out of my hair. My dark waves fell around my face. Reaching behind me, I began to work at the clasp of my bra.

“Christ,” he said, his voice low and rough, “You’re beautiful.”

I tossed my bra at him, and he caught it in one hand, the other working at the button on his pants. I smiled at him and turned around. Slowly, I slid my panties down, taking my time and giving him a show. He made a sound in his throat, and I turned and kicked the panties at him.

He caught them, and I was surprised to find he had gotten the rest of his clothes off. He made it across the room in three quick strides, and he grabbed me, his hands going around to my ass as he pulled me up against him. I wrapped my arms around his neck and used my hips to hold on tight while his hands supported me. My head slightly higher than his, I lowered my face down to his and kissed him deeply.

He steered us over to the bed and sat down, letting my knees hit the mattress. I shifted as he leaned back and took himself in his hand. He guided himself to my entrance, and I lowered myself down onto it. He held my hips as I used his shoulders for leverage and began to move against him. Between my striptease and the way he made me feel when he looked at me, it wasn’t long until he thrust up into me, holding me tight against him. I clenched around him as I came, and he hit his release. I held on to him for a while, just feeling him inside of me, feeling whole.

“Tomorrow,” I said, my mouth next to his ear, “after we get done with the meeting in the morning, I want to call Joseph.”

“Could we not talk about Joe while I’m still inside of you?” he said, his voice gruff.

“I want to see if he’ll marry us tomorrow evening if he has time,” I said, “We can do all the paperwork later, but I don’t want to spend another night after tonight without being your wife.”

“Clandestine marrying?” he said.

“Real Romeo and Juliet shit, I know,” I said, “But I think it would mean something to your family, and I don’t think the rest of the county is ready for some big wedding. I don’t mean for it to be a secret marriage, but I don’t think we should flaunt it in everyone’s face, not when wounds are so fresh.”

“Okay,” he said, “But when we can, I want to give you a proper wedding and a proper reception.”

“I love you, Jacob,” I said.

“Kate, you’re the best thing to ever happen to me,” he said, pulling back to kiss my forehead, “I love you, and I’m happy I get to spend the rest of our lives showing you every day.”