EMP Catastrophe , Hamilton, Grace [phonics readers txt] 📗

of the hotel without telling any of us,” Matthew said. He hated how surly he sounded, as though he were tattling on his own father.

David glared at Matthew as Ruth continued to inspect his hurts. “I’m not a child. I did not sneak anywhere. I left last night to check out a group of people at the Carpenter Country Gun Club. They’re the ones who have been watching the property—”

“Spying on the property,” Matthew corrected.

“Watching the property,” David reiterated. “They tried to contact us. I wanted to see if I could set up an alliance with them, or possibly trade with them.”

“I don’t remember anyone coming to the hotel yesterday,” Ruth said, glancing between her husband and son. “When did all of this happen?”

“They left an unsigned message tied to a rock. When we were dry firing yesterday and inspecting the fence, we stumbled on it.” Matthew shifted side to side, feeling dread begin to fill his insides. Suddenly, he was fighting the sensation that he had done everything wrong and was only now realizing he would have to face the consequences.

“And instead of bringing it to the group for consideration, Matthew decided all on his own that we wouldn’t tell the family about any of it,” David accused.

“Matthew, is that true?”

Matthew spun around to see Kathleen standing on the porch, bracketed by Allison and Patton.

Matthew’s mouth went dry. Why did he suddenly feel like the bad guy here? “I didn’t want to scare anyone. The whole thing was sketchy. It was so strange that they left a message without actually approaching us. That they were watching us instead of talking to us. I didn’t want to alarm anyone or make anyone blow the situation out of proportion.”

“And instead of telling us about it, you decided to investigate all on your own, David?” Ruth demanded in a steely tone. “Without telling anyone where you were going and making us worry all morning? Was that why you went on a walk to get some fresh air?”

David looked down, chastised. “I had Jade as my backup.”

“Oh yes, Jade,” Matthew sneered. “Jade convinced you to go instead of warning us that you were going to do something as insane as visit a gun club in the middle of the night.”

“I did nothing of the sort!” Jade broke in.

“Did she encourage you, then?” Matthew asked, wanting to blame Jade for everything. “I get why you might not have any sense, Dad, but Jade certainly knows a lot about the outside world to know that approaching unknown people at night is a bad idea. That’s why she can’t stay here. We can’t trust her.”

“I am not a fool, Matthew. Stop acting like I am,” David said.

Matthew felt as though the conversation had spiraled out of control, but he was too angry to see through it. The one source of all this conflict, to him, was Jade. She was the source of every fight boiling between him and his father. She was the reason they continued to butt heads instead of talk things out. Maybe if Jade was gone, they could get back to who they used to be. “That’s why she has to leave. She can’t stay here anymore.”

Jade’s face flushed in fury. Behind him, Allison made a noise of negation. “Dad, you can’t just throw her out!”

“She can have supplies,” Matthew said, turning to look directly at Jade. “After all, you did help us out around the property. I’m not heartless. Take food, water, whatever you think you’ll need, but that’s it.”

Jade’s hands clenched into fists, but then she took out a hair tie and began to pull her waves of dark hair up into a ponytail. “You can keep your supplies, Matthew Riley,” she hissed. “I’ll be fine without your pity. You forget that I’ve been on my own for most of my life. I don’t have a family, but at this rate, I don’t think I want one. You’re so determined to do the opposite of the right thing, I don’t think I can stand to stay here. You refuse to plan out anything and because of that, everyone you love will suffer. Even if you asked me to stay, I wouldn’t.”

Jade took a step closer to Matthew and squared her shoulders. It was as though now she had her hair back, she’d regained her confidence. “I can’t stand incompetence, and Matthew, you’re full of it. Your ego is so big you can’t see that in this situation you’re completely at a loss about what to do. You want to protect your family, but you can’t see the skills that everyone brings to the table. I escaped a family like yours once, and I’m ready to escape it again. Like I said, keep your supplies. You’ll need them more than me. Later.”

Jade spun on her heel and nudged David in the shoulder. “Bye, David. Nice knowing you. I’d ask you to come with me, but I know you won’t.” Shoving her hands in her coat pockets, she began to walk down the road away from the hotel.

“Jade, wait!” Allison called out after her, but when Jade didn’t look back, Allison turned on her father. “How could you do that? After she’d worked so hard to earn your trust?”

“Does this mean we won’t have any more gun lessons?” Patton asked at the same time.

“Patton, that’s the last thing you should be concerned about,” Kathleen said, taking Patton’s shoulder and directing him back toward the door. “Why don’t the both of you get dressed and ready for the morning chores. We can discuss all of this later.”

“I still think you’re in the wrong, Dad,” Allison said before putting her nose in the air and going back inside.

Matthew watched Jade round the corner and disappear from sight. He felt a weight lift off his shoulders, even as another weight of guilt descended upon him. He sighed and ran his hand down over his face.

“She’s right, Matthew,” Ruth said as she focused on David’s wounds. “You