Free Fortunes & Failures - 03 by T. W. Brown

thought was the most adorable look of confusion that she had ever seen. Reaching up, she pulled his head down close and kissed him again. This time much deeper. It took a few seconds, but eventually, with all the awkwardness of a schoolboy, his arms wrapped around her. It was exactly like she imagined it to be. His strong arms circled her in a ring of protection that gave both a distinct sensation of incredible power, yet amazing gentleness.
    “Ummm…” Juan reluctantly allowed their lips to separate. He could taste the sweetness of the honeydew melon from her tongue in his mouth and knew that forever, that taste would remind him of this moment. “What’s with all of this?”
    Catching his chin for a second with a playful nip, Mackenzie smiled. This time she allowed the laughter to come through in her voice as she spoke. “I’m in love with you, Juan Hoya,” she said looking into his eyes. “You big dummy! Now come on, sunrise is at least an hour away.”
    “Tight,” Juan said as a smile spread wide across his face. “Tight like a tigah.”
    Together, with Mackenzie leading Juan by the hand, the two went up the stairs to Mackenzie’s room. Margaret stood in the shadows just inside her bedroom as they passed. She remained still, not wanting the pair to know that she was awake. Once she heard the click of her daughter’s door closing, she allowed herself to breathe. She slipped silently down the hall and made her way down the stairs to the empty kitchen.
    Thank God, she thought, picking up Mackenzie’s melon half and spoon. Now, if something does happen to me…at least she’ll be watched over. For the first time since all of this madness had begun, Margaret Simms felt at peace.
     
    
     
    Chad Meyers raised his right hand, fist clenched, signaling the group to halt. They’d cut through an almond tree orchard and had reached the edge. A long, dirt road ran the length. Across that was a deep irrigation ditch. The fence was a simple three-strand barbed wire one that nobody would have any problem ducking through. That wasn’t the problem, or the reason, that Chad had signaled a halt.
    The four-lane road on the other side of the fence was a bit of a concern. A military blockade had been in place here. The vehicles still remained…mostly. Something had gone terribly wrong. A fire had left everything blackened. In fact, looking closer, he could see where the pavement looked rippled in places. Charred husks littered the area. Whether they had been soldiers, civilians, or zombies were impossible to tell. Across the road, a tan, stone fence marked off a residential area.
    Everybody gathered in close, many craning their necks to peek at the wreckage beyond. Chad noticed Ronni edge close to him. It was strange how she seemed to keep her distance as they travelled, but whenever they stopped, it was as if she were iron and he a magnet.
    “I think that the group should wait here and a few of us should check the road. We need to get a look at how things are on the other side of that fence,” Chad said.
    “I’ll come.” Scott Colson raised a hand. Scott had stepped in the other day when Sheriff Glenn Kollars had arrived in the midst of their group. Chad being a convicted felon of the most unsavory type created an instant and nasty tension. He was surprised when this total stranger had taken his side in the little standoff. But since then, the two hadn’t really spoken.
    “I’m in, too,” Brett Simmons, his old high school buddy said as he stepped forward.
    “Okay, everyone else stay put,” Chad said. “We won’t be long. If it looks safe we’ll hurry back and gather everybody.”
    “What’ll we do if you three don’t come back?” Sandy Miller, a woman whose peroxide-blonde days were over whether she liked it or not, and who had been much heavier if his memory of the woman had served him correctly, stepped forward and asked.
    “Keep heading up to the hills and away from the populated areas,” Chad