Free Broken Ties: A Tale of Survival in a Powerless World (Broken Lines Book 3) by James Hunt Page A

Ray.”
     
                  The magazine fell to Ray’s lap. He turned on his side, making sure he was looking Nelson full in the face.
     
                  “No, I know you’re not a coward, Nelson. But you’re also not a man of action. You let things happen to you. You let things happen to your family. You’re no better than the people who burned down Mike’s house in our neighborhood.”

              Nelson shot up out of his chair. He marched over to Ray, his temper rising.
     
                  “I don’t know where you were when Mike’s house was getting burned to the ground, but I’m the one who pulled him out of the fire. If I hadn’t been there to pull him out, he would have died.”
     
                  The words came out in stinging, harsh whispers. Nelson was right in Ray’s face, and Ray grabbed hold of his collar.
     
                  “The only reason you were able to pull him out was because you were tucked away in your house. I saw you out there on the lawn. I saw you walk away,” Ray said.
     
                  Nelson grabbed hold of Ray’s shirt. The two men locked together. Ray’s body hit the floor as Nelson pulled him from the couch. The commotion caused Anne to run from the hall into the living room.
     
                  “Enough! Stop it, you two!” Anne said.
     
                  She peeled them off each other. Ray sat propped up against the couch, his leg lying at an awkward angle.
     
                  “Now is not the time to start this. Am I clear?” Anne said.
     
                  The two men nodded, looking at one another, each breathing heavily.
     
                  “Sorry,” Ray said.
     
                  “It’s all right,” Nelson answered.
     
                  Then when the door to the cabin opened and Nelson looked up, he didn’t think it was real.
     
                  Katie’s face was smeared with dirt, and her tattered business clothes were filthy. She almost looked like a stranger, but her green eyes staring back at him were familiar territory.
     
                  “Katie?” Nelson asked.
     
                  Her name left his lips like a whisper. He wasn’t sure how long he sat there before he jumped to his feet and rushed to her. He held her, kissed her, afraid letting go would stop making the moment real, as if she would dissipate into the night air like she had in so many of his dreams.
     
                  “Sean? Is he okay?” Katie asked.
     
                  “Yes, he’s fine. I just put him to bed.”
     
                  Nelson noticed Sam standing there in the doorway behind her, looking unsure of whether he should say anything.
     
                  “Sam?” Nelson asked.
     
                  “Hi, Nelson,” Sam answered.
     
                  “He helped get me out. I wouldn’t have made it without him,” Katie said.
     
                  Sam extended his hand, but Nelson embraced him in a hug.
     
                  “Thank you,” Nelson said.
     
                  Sam patted him on the back.
     
                  “Can I see him?” Katie asked.
     
                  “Of course.”
     
                  Nelson led her to the bedroom where Sean was sleeping. When he opened the door to let her in, she took a moment just watching him sleep. He was still, peaceful.
     
                  She walked to him and knelt down by his side. She ran her hands softly along the length of his small arms and legs—a feather’s touch.
     
                  Nelson saw the smile spread across his face when he opened his eyes. Sean jumped up and threw his arms around Katie.