A Powerless World | Book 4 | Outlive The Darkness Hunt, Jack (feel good novels .txt) 📖

passing comment about looking forward to seeing Miriam again as if she hadn’t seen her for several weeks.

“But she was here this morning, wasn’t she?” Colby asked.

“Matt, did Miriam swing by today?”

“No.”

“Girls?”

“Didn’t see her.”

Colby felt a twinge in his stomach. Why had she lied to him? And if she wasn’t there, where had she been? It was possible she was running errands for his mother but still… why lie?

Chapter Eighteen

Kane must have sensed he was coming as he was already waiting at the gate when they arrived, tailing thumping the ground. He’d only been away from him for a few days and he already missed him. Kane was the only true, untainted thing in his life. The one he could count on no matter what. Hell or high water, he had his back.

Not far behind him was Miriam. The moment she saw Hazel, the smile left her face.

Her eyes darted between Hazel and Colby as she opened the gate to let them in. It was as if she knew the gig was up. Whatever she was hiding, he planned on finding out. “Miriam,” Colby said with a nod as he passed her on the horse. Miriam smiled but it vanished quickly. She averted her gaze, almost as if an expression might give her away.

She wasn’t the only one that was surprised to see them.

Martha stepped down off the porch, a look of concern masked her face as the ATV swerved in front of the sprawling property. “Hazel. What are you doing here?” she asked.

“Heath’s dead,” Zeke said. He dismounted and strolled past her.

She looked confused so Colby filled in the details, along with Nina’s death, and the situation the town was facing. When he was finished, unlike Hazel or themselves who saw the danger on the horizon, Martha appeared almost giddy with excitement. “Well you know what this means — the family can come home now. Colby, go get your brothers and sisters. Zeke and I will prepare us a nice meal. Hazel can help. Can’t you, sis?”

She turned to head back into the house as if her word was final.

“We’re not coming back,” Colby said. Martha stopped and looked back at him.

“Don’t be a fool.”

“I’ll let the others know but the decision is theirs not yours.”

Her cheeks flushed red. Embarrassment. Hazel picked up on it and put an arm around Miriam. “Come on, let’s go inside and leave them to talk.”

They waited until the door closed before they had the conversation. Zeke sat on the porch, feet up, chewing on an apple. He was the only other one privy to the spat they had.

“Why do you keep making things difficult?” Martha asked.

“I do?”

She crossed her arms. “What is your aversion to being here?”

“Besides, you?”

She couldn’t believe he’d said it, and by the expression on Zeke’s face, neither could he. In theory he knew it was true but thinking it and saying it were two very different things, and they’d spent their entire lives thinking things but never saying what they felt. That changed the day he left Humboldt. Colby could see she wanted to slap him but she wouldn’t. She had far more to lose by doing that. Instead, she tried to play the victim card. “I guess I deserved that.”

“The only reason Hazel is here is because we can’t protect her down there and she won’t move into Eureka.”

“If Boone is trying to make the town suffer, why would you stay?”

“For the same reasons I would stay here if this place came under attack. Look, agree or not, Mother, your family has outgrown this place but that doesn’t mean they’ve outgrown you. But if you keep holding on so tight you’ll just push us further away.”

“So you hate me?”

“I have every right to hate you but I don’t. As messed up as you are, you are my mother, and the only one I have. But that doesn’t mean I’m planning on sticking around or asking how high every time you say jump. And you shouldn’t expect that from the others either. They have given years of their life to this farm, to you, to a way of living that has only harmed them.”

“Harmed? They have everything.”

“Yes. Gained illegally.”

“I didn’t see you complaining when you lived here.”

“Because I had no choice. I knew no better. Do you know why none of us brought anyone from our school back here? It wasn’t because we were ashamed but it was because we didn’t want them to think less of you. We’ve all spent years protecting you, this farm, this way of life. Isn’t it time you let them go?”

“I have.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Okay. I admit it. I’ve been a little controlling but it’s only because I care for you all.”

Colby cocked his head to one side. She knew that wasn’t entirely true, and she knew he wasn’t buying it.

“What do you want me to say, Colby? Huh? I’ve apologized over and over again. I don’t know what else I can say or do. I am the way I am.”

“No one is expecting you to change. It’s a little late in the game to think that could ever happen. And you can’t change your past. I get that. None of us can. We’ve all given God enough reasons to abandon us. But if you want to save what little relationship you have left with us… stop holding so tight… stop lying… stop using us like pawns in a game of chess.”

Martha sighed. She glanced over her shoulder at Zeke. He lifted an apple her way, grinned and took another bite. “I can’t promise you anything. But I’ll try. That’s the best I can offer,” she said.

He nodded. “Can’t ask for more than that.”

“Are you coming in?” she asked.

“We have a meeting to be at. Jessie is liable to lose his cool.”

“And if it all backfires. What then?”

“That’s not your worry. That’s ours. Remember, don’t hold too tight.”

She nodded. “This is going to take some getting used to.”

“Look, did you send Miriam