Cass pulled Kit into her, and he grasped her tight. The weight of Kit pressed her against the railing of the porch. His hand squeezed her thigh as he delivered every kiss as if he were trying to breathe her in.
Then a throat cleared, loud and long, causing them to spring apart.
After a second clearing of his throat, Art smiled. “I did not see that coming. Excuse me, I just need to get through you two to get a soft drink.”
Kit and Cass both slid opposite ways, each grabbing their beers and sitting apart.
Art walked through them. “I’ll be right back out. Just in case.”
There was an awkward silence, both Kit and Cass brought their beer to their mouths.
“I don’t know…” Kit showed his bottle. “How these didn’t spill.”
“Tell me about it. Good position and placement.”
Kit chuckled as he tipped the beer into his mouth. After his drink, he slowly brought it down. “Hey, Cass. You know how we said kiss and never mention it again?”
“Yep. And I swear I meant it. I won’t mention it again.”
“Can we not do that. Can we not… not mention it.”
Cass looked at him curiously. “What do you mean?”
“I’d like very much to not forget that happened. To be honest, I’m surprised by it, very pleasantly surprised.”
Cass smiled. “Me too.”
Just as they leaned back in toward each other, the door opened again.
“Told you I’d be right back out.” Art stepped between them and off the porch. “You may continue.”
Cass shook her head, blushing some. She brought in her bottom lip and leaned back to Kit. Only this time, he stopped. He sat upright, his eyes moving away from her.
“What is it?” Cass asked.
He stood, reaching to the porch for the rifle. “Headlights.”
Cass stood and Art stopped walking and turned around.
“You don’t need to aim that,” Cass said. “It’s Eb.”
“Eb?” asked Kit.
“Eb?” repeated Art. “Wow, this just got a whole lot more interesting.”
Cass stepped farther into the road as the truck slowed down and stopped.
Headlights still blaring, the driver’s side opened and Eb stepped out.
“Eb?” Cass walked to him. “What the hell?”
“Eb,” Kit said. “Why are you out here so late?”
“No one could get ahold of you. I was worried, Cass,” Eb said. “I was worried about you.”
“Eb,” Kit said. “She’s fine. I’m here. It’s awesome that you’re worried but you didn’t need to come out.”
“Actually…” Eb stepped back and turned when the passenger door opened. “It was one of two things. Either you guys were in trouble or you had sick people from that plane. Doctor Craig figured you’d need supplies.”
Craig stepped from the passenger side, lifting his hand in a wave.
Art walked to Eb. “We were stabilizing them and bringing them back in the morning.”
“We get that, but there’s not gonna be time to get the patients situated, so we’re jumping on it now. Craig brought IVs and stuff,” Eb explained. “Tomorrow morning at dawn Mark has us all assigned to teams. We’re spreading out. North, south, east, west. All directions to survey and see how close this thing is to us and from where it’s coming.”
“Kit was using spray paint,” Cass said. “Marking lines. This stuff moves fast.”
“We know. We just can’t figure out how fast. A lot of factors play into the spread,” Eb said. “But if we don’t move tomorrow and figure out a way to stay alive, like now… it will be too late. This is our Alamo. Our last stand.” Eb looked at Cass, then to Kit and Art. “We’re out of time.”
23.
MARK, GET SET, GO
May 10
Griffin, AZ
“Honestly, Mr. Mayor,” Art said, “had Craig not come out last night and brought the IVs, we would have lost three of these people. It was a good call.”
Mark looked tired, the sun had just started poking in the sky and all he’d had was a nap at the station. He peered around the makeshift hospital bingo hall watching as Niles, Cass, and Craig help the new people into the beds. “I’d like to take credit for sending him but that was Eb. He was being a little protective over his ex-wife.”
“She was fine.”
“No doubt. Well, let’s get these people well and strong. We’ll find them a place to live, get them what they need. I have the crews going out today. Twelve of them. I want them to go as far as they can. Report what they see. We’ll have a big meeting tomorrow to figure it out. I need you guys working on this fungus. We can’t have it reach Griffin.”
“It’s not deadly. It’s destructive. It might come down to how we live with it.”
“That’s unacceptable,” said Mark. “We need to learn how Griffin can live without it. Thanks, Doc.” He gave a swat to Art’s arm and walked over to Cass. She had just finished covering a woman with a blanket. Cass stepped back, looking as if she needed a break. She wiped the sweat from her brow and stood almost defeated, with her shoulders slumped.
“Get some sleep,” Mark said as he approached her.
“What?” Cass laughed as she turned around. “I’m fine.”
“You look beat. Sleep would help.”
“I slept a few hours. I’m good. Just a little physically worn out.” Cass smiled. “Thanks for your concern.”
“I’m always concerned about you, Cass.”
“That’s because you’re sweet. How are you doing?”
“Stressed. I’ll be better once we get an idea of what’s going on. We have…” Mark exhaled and dropped his voice to a whisper. “A damn prehistoric apocalypse is happening here. Tell me that isn’t the shit.”
“If we have the time, we’ll beat it. We’ll protect Griffin.”
“Bingo. No pun intended to our location now. But time is the key word. You aren’t going out, are you?”
Cass shook her head. “As much as I would like to, I’m with Ada on ration committee. Set up a stockpile place. But we’ll be at the meeting tomorrow.”
“Where is Ada now?”
“She’s home, making up her concoction so everyone can take it out today. She’ll need stuff to make more, you know. She doesn’t have endless supplies.”
“I’ll put that on my list of things to worry about.” Mark stepped back and stopped. “It really works?”
“Yeah it does. At least on the little areas.”
“Crazy Ada.” Mark shook his head with a smile. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”
He made his way through the bingo hospital and to the door.
When she herself turned to leave, Kit walked in the door.
“Hey.” She walked up to him. “I thought you were headed out with Floyd.”
“I am. We’re going south.”
“Prescott?”
Kit nodded. “I have a feeling we may find life.”
“I’ll keep my fingers crossed. What brings you by? I was just headed to Ada’s.”
“I wanted to see you. Is that… odd?”
“A little.” Cass smiled.
Kit cringed. “Anyhow. How about when I get back we do some Hamburger Helper tacos?”
“It’s not Monday.”
“I’ll make an exception.”
“I’ll be there.”
“Can we take you to Ada’s? Are you done here?” Kit asked.
“Um… yeah. I am. And thanks. I’ll take that ride.” Before walking out, Cass did a visual check. Everyone seemed to be settled. Even though she hadn’t truly stopped for days, she wanted to head over to Ada’s, start her work there. Everyone else was constantly busy so there was no reason Cass should be an exception.
It was hot. Too hot for six in the morning. Beyond the rows of her planted corn, Ada grunted as she tried to move a barrel. It barely budged. “Damn it.” She ran the back of her forearm over her forehead.