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Chapter 1

The Waters’ Homestead

Outside Ellisville, VA

The first attack came three days later

After Dianne arrived with the much-needed medication for Jason, she heard the distant sound of vehicles roaring closer and was positive that they would be arriving at her home at any moment Hours ticked by as she and Mark sat inside near the atching and listening as they tracked the vehicle locations They had to h, since none of the vehicles were visible through the dense rows of trees surrounding the property Based on everything they heard, it sounded like the cars had split up and were co area, a fact that did not sit ith Dianne

For three days she, Mark, Tina and—to some extent, Sarah—planned out what they would do if and when the gang ever arrived at their doorstep Weapons were cleaned, checked and re-checked, vital supplies were hastily brought into the basement and tunnel fros were further reinforced to hopefully prevent anyone fro in It was the early afternoon of the third day that Dianne, Tina and Mark sat out on the front porch together, all of them armed with pistols and rifles They spoke in low voices, listening to the sound of the distant vehicles fading in and out of earshot

“Maybe they’re not co” Tina Carson took a deep slurp froround and idly rubbing at the handle of her pistol “Maybe they’re just racing or so”

Dianne looked at Tina with a tired expression and sighed “You know that’s not true They’re searching for us”

“I don’t see why it’s so hard for theht off the side road leading into town”

“There are a lot of side roads They’ve been going virtually nonstop for three days, though At so around here”

“You did kind of set the Mrs Carson and destroying their camp” Mark looked at her and smiled as Dianne rolled her eyes

“I’ood light they would have thrown her out of the carowling good-naturedly at the comment

“Watch it, Waters! Soive you quite the runs if someone happens to slip it into your coffee”

Dianne chuckled and then sighed, staring down at her e had a lot of buildings still intact and no one seemed to be there”

The door behind them creaked open and they heard the shuffle of feet before another voice replied, sounding as though the person behind it was fighting to talk over an immense amount of pain “Just you wait till I’ back all the coffee we need Along with everything else”

Dianne turned, stood up and took Jason’s right ar him to a chair out on the porch On his left was Jacob, with Josie trailing behind “Jason!” Dianne shook her head at him “You shouldn’t be up and about Should he?” She looked at Tina, who shrugged her shoulders

“Eh Let hih her words and demeanor were casual, Mark noticed that Tina’s eyes were sharply trained on Jason’s everyhim as he went across the porch and sat down on a nearby chair

“Fwah Thanks, you three” He smiled at Jacob, Josie and Dianne

“How’s the pain?” Tina asked, still with an air of slight disinterest “Feeling any better than it was this ?”

“It is, yes” Jason nodded “You’ve been marvelous”

“Nothing to it,” Tina replied as she pointed at Dianne “She did all the hard work”

“You did a wonderful job, dear” Jason smiled at Dianne and she patted him on the arm as she sat down on the porch next to his chair

“I’ it, though”

“What’s that all about, now?” Jason tried to turn in his seat but winced and clutched at his wound “I’ve been so out of it with all the drug’s puh me that I feel like I’veabout”