Sabotage (Powerless Nation Book 3) Read Free

“Is Doc Kerns here? We need him in town. There are people hurt.”
    “What happened?” asked Mason, rising to his feet and moving toward the kitchen door.
    “A raid,” said the man. “The town’s been attacked.”

CHAPTER TWO

    E VERYONE HURRIED INSIDE , AND when the man unwound his muffler, Dee recognized Max, the former fire chief of Lookout Falls, who now also served as mayor of the small town.
    “What’s going on?” asked Grandpa, shuffling into the room, pulling the suspenders of his work pants over the long underwear he always slept in.
    “A raid in town. We’ve got people hurt and need your help. Not sure who it was yet,” said Max, “They showed up after dark with guns and knives, demanding food. It was a small group, but they were well armed.”
    “There will be gunshot wounds then, I expect,” said Grandpa evenly. He moved to his doctor’s bag and checked the contents.
    “Some are shot, a couple knifed,” said Max. “It’s pretty bad.”
    “We’d better get going then,” said Grandpa.
    “Give us a minute to grab our things and we’ll join you,” said Dee’s dad, Ted. “Claire and I and the girls were planning to move into town with Milton first thing tomorrow. It might as well be now. I’m sure they need help at the clinic.”
    “I’ll get the bags,” said Jeremiah, running for the stairs.
    Grandpa looked around the room at the family gathered there. His eyes settled on Hyrum’s mom, Angela. “You sure you’ll be okay out here alone?”
    Angela nodded. “I’ve got my boys and Kade and Mason. We’ll be fine. Don’t worry about us or the farm. We’ll take good care of it until you get back.”
    Mason took Dee’s hand and led her outside. He closed the front door behind them and looked down at her.
    “I’m sorry about our date,” he said, smoothing a strand of hair out of her eyes. “I wanted it to be perfect.”
    “It was perfect,” said Dee.
    “I don’t know. I think it could have ended better,” said Mason, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He leaned down and kissed her softly. “ Now it’s perfect,” he said.
    The clouds of their breath mingled in the cold air and Dee felt a tug at her heart. “I can’t imagine not seeing you every day,” she whispered. “I’m not ready to leave you.”
    “Don’t worry, you’ll be back soon.”  
    “Do you promise you’ll be safe and not doing anything stupid?”
    “Promise,” said Mason, and his tone turned mischievous. “I’m already planning our second date. I do get a second date, right?”
    “I don’t know,” said Dee. “Kissing on the first date is pretty forward.”
    “I’ll show you forward,” he said, and kissed her again.
    They broke apart at the sound of footsteps.
    “Come on,” he said. “I’ll walk you to the truck. Do you think your folks will let you drive?”
    “Ha ha,” said Dee without humor. “Fat chance. My dad keeps reminding me I only have a learner’s permit.”
    Light spilled onto the patio as her family and friends opened the door to the house and loaded up the truck.
    “Don’t worry, it won’t be for long,” Mason promised.  
    Too quickly, it was time to leave. Dee couldn’t help looking over her shoulder while they drove away. She could still see the blue glow of the TV shining from the patio.

    When they pulled into town, Dee was surprised to see so many people on the street. They were gathered in small groups, or supporting injured people on their way to the clinic. There were guards now too, and one hurried over to them.
    “Max!” he said. “We found a few of them holed up at the Taylor Store. We’ve got them surrounded. Folks are pretty upset and some of the guys want to burn them out.”
    The fire chief jumped out of the car. “We need to find out who they are and where they’re from.” He turned to Grandpa and said, “I’ll be by the clinic soon.” Then he followed the man into the night.
    “I’ll take care of the bags,” Ted told