Free Endless Flames (Surviving Ashes, Book Four) by Kennedy Layne

us.”
    Maxie didn’t like the comforting, rich sound of Berke’s laugh. It gave her a sense of false security and she couldn’t afford to become lax. Instead, she concentrated on the soft breathing of Jacob behind her. Like many new mothers before her, she’d learned to anticipate each breath and soothe her own fears. She’d stayed many times at his bedside acquiring that habit. He’d come into her life at a time when she’d least expected it, but he’d given her a reason to fight. She would go down in a massive blaze of glory before she’d ever allow anything to happen to him.
    She was the mother grizzly now. All others beware.

Chapter Seven

    T hey had managed three days into the trip before all hell broke loose. The first twelve hours had been relatively easy, with the exception that Jacob wasn’t too thrilled with being cooped up in his car seat the entire time. Berke didn’t blame him and was impressed with Maxie’s ability to keep him occupied when he was awake. She’d rotated between the front and the back seat, depending on where she was needed.
    Now? With what Berke was staring at…he wanted her and Jacob anywhere but their vehicle.
    Fuel had become an issue after the second stop. Many of the main roads where stations could be found were strewn with abandoned vehicles. Berke managed to negotiate a deal for a fill-up with a local farmer in exchange for some much needed ammunition.
    Radio communication with Tank that same night had uncovered a request that they bring any grow lamp bulbs they could find while en route to Washington. Tank had a supply but he’d wanted more to have on hand. Berke had to laugh when Maxie had recommended they stop again for fuel at another farm, only to have it turn out to be home to a huge abandoned marijuana grow operation. Fortune had truly shone down on them that day. They’d gathered over fifty high quality grow bulbs and all the fuel they could use.
    With what was in front of them, Berke wasn’t so sure they’d manage to keep it.
    Berke had kept up the conversation to prevent both of them from becoming despondent over the change in scenery. The back roads had started to become congested around twelve hours ago and now they were fighting tooth and nail to find a route that wasn’t blocked. He wasn’t having any luck, so he’d become more vigilant and the silence would stretch for a couple of hours as he maneuvered them through the vast amount of cars, trucks, campers, and whatever else that had an engine.
    That was…until now.
    Berke hadn’t been surprised to see that the farther they drove, the majority of the small towns had all but been destroyed by looting from those people who’d decided to stay behind. It was easy to see that civilization was breaking down, but that wasn’t anything compared to what desperation would look like once the ash finally hit. No clean water? No sunlight? No fresh air to breathe? It would be hell on earth. It was rather morbid, but he wondered when they would see their first body. Sooner or later, someone would object to another idiot’s decision and guns would come out.
    Berke shouldn’t have even let those thoughts enter his head.
    What should have taken a day and a half with both of them taking a turn at the wheel had taken three, and they were nowhere near their destination. They had gotten to the West Coast prior to the ash fall making it that far south. The prevailing winds were taking the majority of the ash cloud directly east over the Midwest and on to the northeastern states.
    He would rather be dealing with those types of elements than what was standing before him.
    Berke hadn’t wanted Maxie to see his frustration at not making better headway, but he was having trouble hiding it with each passing minute. Now he didn’t have to.
    They were currently on the outskirts of Sacramento, having the wherewithal to stay away from the major cities and travel secondary roads whenever available, but it didn’t matter.