A Powerless World | Book 3 | Defend The Homestead Hunt, Jack (read my book TXT) 📖

Don’t look inside.” A moment later she took it from him, and Benjamin heard her gag as she walked away. Stepping back inside, he ran a hand over his stubbled jaw.

“It doesn’t make sense.”

“Of course it does. This land belonged to them, didn’t it?”

“Yeah, a long time ago.”

“Well, maybe they’re thinking of taking it back.”

He headed toward the door. “Where are you going?” Dan asked.

“To make sure my men are brought up to speed. To be on the lookout. I think it’s best for now that we don’t go on any more supply runs and focus on the town here. This is why we need to bring everyone into Eureka. I’m going to need your help, Dan. Approaching some of these people is liable to cause a reaction. Specifically the Stricklands and the Rikers.”

Dan rubbed his eyes. It was late. Too late to be approaching homes.

“Tomorrow. We’ll talk about it tomorrow,” Dan said. “And thank you, captain.”

“For what?”

“For not abandoning this community, I know it’s given you more than one reason to.”

Benjamin nodded and walked off, a smile forming. They were gullible, all of them except for maybe the Rikers and the Stricklands. He’d seen the way that Jessie looked at him. He couldn’t afford to have him spread lies. He had to act fast, and he had a good idea of what to do.

Chloe Jameson carried Lincoln’s body as far as she could in her truck before the terrain got too rough and narrow for a vehicle like hers. Jessie had already made arrangements before he left Eureka to have her family stay in one of the homes. After recounting the whole story to Deputy Johnson, he said he would ensure they had a safe place to stay. They were slowly bringing in families who wanted to be in Eureka and setting them up in homes. After getting out of the truck and transferring Lincoln onto the trailer attached to the back of one of the ATVs, Chloe thanked him and asked if he wanted her to go with him and speak with his mother.

“No. You shouldn’t come up.”

“I appreciate you speaking on our behalf.”

“It was the least I could do. Will you be okay finding your way back?”

She nodded.

“I’ll get these ATVs back to you as soon as possible. And again, thank you.”

They shook hands, and he watched her climb back into the truck with Matt and Tina. He waited until the red lights disappeared around the corner before he climbed onto the ATV behind his brother. Dylan and Zeke said nothing as they continued. Zeke was transporting Lincoln. Jessie felt a sick feeling in his stomach on the journey back to the hills. It felt surreal.

The last time he’d brought someone back it had been Miriam and she was alive, bringing back another would send shock waves through the entire family. He wasn’t sure how his mother would deal with this or how it would affect his relationship with her.

He didn’t care anymore.

As they got closer to the homestead, Dylan who was driving the ATV shouted over his shoulder. “Let me tell her this time.”

“It’s fine. I’ll tell her. You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I do. Let me carry some of the weight.”

It had always been upon him to step forward, to take responsibility as the oldest kid in their family. And even if Dylan would tell her, he knew she would blame him. You’re the oldest, you’re meant to set the example. You’re the oldest, they look up to you. You’re the oldest, you’re to watch over your siblings. It didn’t matter that the attack had come out of nowhere or that he had killed the man who had taken Lincoln’s arm. In her eyes, the fault would rest squarely on him.

Colby was staying with Hazel. Since returning he’d only been up to the house once and Jessie hadn’t heard the conversations between him and their mother. Hazel had offered him and Alicia a room and he’d taken it, mostly so he wouldn’t get caught up in the drama that came from being around their mother.

Dylan killed the engine, and the lights of the ATV went dark.

His mother was already on the porch, rocking back and forth, drinking a bourbon, waiting for news of what supplies they’d brought back so she could further her hidden agenda. “How did it go?” she asked, not seeing Lincoln curled up in a fetal position in the back of the trailer.

Dylan got off the ATV and ambled over to the house while Jessie and Zeke waited, waited for that high-pitched shrill that could only come from a mother who had lost a son. When it came, she didn’t collapse in Dylan’s arms, she dropped the glass in her hand, it shattered on the porch step. She immediately made a beeline for the trailer, not even making eye contact with Jessie. Zeke lifted the blanket that covered him and then she let out an ungodly cry. Jessie squeezed his eyes tight, hearing her sob.

It seemed to go on forever.

Once all her tears had fallen, then came the questions. “How did this happen?”

Dylan was quick to explain. He twisted the truth a little and said that Lincoln had gone into the building by himself and that they got there just in time for Jessie to take out the guy. He was trying to support him and it might have worked if he was better at lying. She could see right through it. “How about you tell me the truth?”

Jessie spoke up and when he told her, she walked over to him and without missing a beat, slapped his face three times, as hard as she could. His cheek flared red and stung. “Get out of here. I don’t want to see your face. Go!”

“Mom,” Dylan protested. She didn’t take her eyes off Jessie, only lifted a finger to Dylan to make it clear that he was to say no more.

“No,” Jessie said for the first time. He’d always been one to