Only The Dead Don't Die | Book 4 | Finding Home Popovich, A.D. (any book recommendations txt) 📖

days trekking across apocalyptic America with Twila and their devoted equestrian friend, Willow. They had survived the trip despite hordes, Ravers, and marauders. Except then, she’d had the help of her spirit guide. “Silver Lady, where are you?” Scarlett pleaded internally.

“She forgot about us,” Twila bemoaned.

“Shhh, take a nap. Or read,” Scarlett scolded.

Twila responded with a theatrical gasp of disgust. Meanwhile, Scarlett strengthened her Merkaba shielding and tried deflecting the barrage of worries inundating her. She found the not knowing what would happen next, exasperating.

***

Dean and Luther waited for everyone to catch up at the three-hundred-and-sixty-degree wooden signpost, complete with colorful hand-painted destination arrows pointing in various directions. Something right out of the wild west.

Squinting against the low-hanging sun and the pollen swirling in the vicious winds, Scarlett studied the landmark. TENT CITY—FIVE MILES, Z-ZONE TRAM STATION—20 MILES, ZHETTO MARKET—50 MILES, MEDICAL CLINIC—75 MILES. A small square sign had been nailed into the base: NO TENTS IN UNAUTHORIZED ZONES—ALL VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED!

Justin ran to the signpost with his cart. “Guys, look, we’re almost there.”

By the time everyone caught up, they all frowned with uncertainty.

Ella firmly planted her hands on her hips. “No tents in Tent City?” Ella said it first. Still, it must have been on the tip of everyone’s tongue.

“It means no tents here,” Justin said, back to his usual spunk.

“Well, mijo can’t wait another five crappy miles. And neither can my feet,” Ella huffed. “I should have given him a bottle an hour ago.”

Dean scanned the perimeter. “I see an arroyo up ahead. We could set up camp there for the night. I, for one, don’t fancy walking in the dark.”

Justin gestured to the sign. “Duh, no tents—”

“We ought to be out of the line of sight until first light,” Dean said.

“My mojo’s acting up.” Luther panned the horizon. “We sure aren’t getting in five miles before sunset.”

Luther’s ominous statement had everyone trudging on. Ella started lagging behind. Justin encouraged her while Luther and Dean forged ahead, stopping every now and then to scan the horizon.

Mindy kept a steady pace behind Scarlett. The young woman had more endurance than she thought. Mindy was still an unknown. She kept to herself and basically considered everyone a possible threat. The young mother definitely needed to work on her trust issues.

Then again, Scarlett knew painfully well that constant paranoia kept one vigilant. And alive!

Chapter 27

Dean Wormer knelt at the edge of the ravine that no doubt served as a seasonal creekbed. The crackled, sunbaked clay showed no signs of recent rains. Although, he knew to beware of thunderboomers. Ravines, arroyos, and such have a way of fillin’ up faster than all get out in these parts.

“Justin,” Dean beckoned. “Leave your cart. Let’s you and I reconnoiter the ravine.” No point in lugging their supplies down the incline until they confirmed it was a viable option.

“Sure.” Justin gave Ella a quick smooch before sprinting over.

“Hang tight,” Dean yelled to the gang.

Poor Ella, she looked pooped, albeit determined. She had managed remarkably for recently giving birth. Which reminded him he wasn’t looking forward to camping with two babies. On the bright side, Luther had recovered from the Mindy rescue for the most part, and Scarlett, despite her undeniable sadness, was spot on again.

He and Justin briskly policed the ravine, looking for telltale signs of two-legged and four-legged creatures.

“It looks safe. No footprints or trash,” Justin said.

“Yep. Let’s get everyone here.” Dean corralled the gang to the ravine and also kept an eye on a group of people heading northwest on foot.

Once they made it inside the ravine, a good six feet lower than the plains, he parked himself in a niche on the lookout for wayward passersby.

“Why don’t you fellows join me for the time being?” Dean figured the gals could use a breather and no doubt in dire need of a potty stop. Women liked their privacy. As he recalled, Mary had hated camping for that precise reason.

“Oh ye-ah,” Justin said, “now that we’re in Zhetto, we need to remove our chips before we get inside Tent City’s walls.”

“I’ll let you be in charge of that,” Dean noted. He had enough things on his plate. “Don’t forget to use the antibiotic cream—”

“Yes, Dad,” Justin groaned.

Justin stared intently at the sky. “Guys, you know how the girls get these cray-cray ESP warnings? Well, I’m getting this freaky feeling we have to cross Zoat. Tomorrow! No matter what . . .”

“Yup. Getting a bad vibe myself.” Luther wiped his brow. “Then again, it could just be this oppressive humidity.”

“It’s this god-awful wind. Zoat can’t be more than ten miles away.” Dean found the concept of Zoat downright cringeworthy. What type of government would dig a moat around its borders where feasible and fill it with rotting dead-heads?

Luther inhaled long and hard. “Phew! I can smell those stinking nimrods from here. Or, there’s a horde in the vicinity.” He pivoted from side to side as if expecting to see a horde tumbling into the ravine.

“We’ve been known to handle a horde or two,” Dean said as upbeat as he could stomach. “Let’s rotate guard shifts through the night. Might not want to mention the possibility of hordes to the gals. Except Scarlett.” Ella needed a good night’s sleep if she were to handle what tomorrow had in store for them.

“It sounds like the best game plan,” Luther replied amicably, although the unsettling look in his eyes kept Dean on edge.

Luther’s stomach let out a long, loud rumble. He responded with a startled big-eyed look. “Damn, I can’t stop thinking about food.”

“Dude, you look like you lost twenty pounds since breakfast,” Justin ribbed.

Luther patted his broad belly. “I’m practically anemic.”

Dean found it comforting, listening to their banter. The gals stood around and kept