Defending No Where (The No Where Apocalypse Book 3) Read Online Free

sure.”
    Wilson cleared his throat. “Speaking of your boy, I was wondering if he’d maybe come and live with me and mine for the summer. We can really use the extra help now that we’re planting and tending to crops. Probably do him some good as far as growing up concerns.”
    Against what I believed to be astronomical odds, I saw Marge peek at Lettie and nod.
    “Yes,” Marge replied. “That would be good for him I believe.”
    I slid forward on the bench, reaching for her hands and attention. “Are you sure about this, Marge? Not just Nate, but yourself as well?”
    She looked at me, fierce determination flashing in her eyes. “We all have to do whatever it takes to survive, Bob. So yes, I’m sure of everything.”
    She may have been certain, but I wondered how Violet would take the news, giving up her mother and her brother for the upcoming summer.

Day 1,009

    Marge left with Johnny Wilson, disappearing in a thick shroud of fog. They strolled north on the blacktop, heading for Covington. From there, they would turn northwest towards Ontonagon, another 65 miles plus.
    To the south, we watched as Nate and Wilson vanished. He had some sort of secret route he took to his place. I always headed down Dizzy Drive to get back there. Lettie tried to explain it to me, but it was confusing. I just accepted the fact that a man who had lived in No Where all of his life knew his way around.
    Daisy stood next to me, rocking little Hope back to sleep after one of her two morning bottles. Tears streaked her pale cheeks, dripping freely to the floor.
    “How’s Violet taking all of this, now that D-Day is here?” I asked in a hushed tone.
    Daisy shrugged, readjusting the squirming child in her arms.
    “She and Marge aren’t really all that close,” she replied, turning to check the room. I did the same. Only Lettie was there, snoozing in her typical spot. Violet was absent, most likely changing in the bedroom since the door was closed.
    “And Marge has always been closer to Nate,” Daisy continued. “I don’t think Vi is going to miss them half as much as if you had left.”
    I rolled my eyes and headed outside to cut some wood. Daisy had a theory, and a stupid one at that. Secretly, she felt Violet adored me. That went against our entire relationship in my mind.  
    Whenever the teen spoke to me, a fair amount of disdain colored her tone. Sure, she stayed with me both times after I was shot, but her ‘oh-look-what-you’ve-done-to-yourself-now’ attitude made any sort of covert infatuation sound crazy to me. Holding the ax in my hands, I pondered the next few months. Wilson gave me directions to three probable locations for the Barster gang. According to recent reports, they were down to three people, though they were still on the attack. The two men he knew who were still living possessed alleged nasty dispositions, according to Wilson. And that was before the end of the world as we knew it.
    By verbal agreement and a firm handshake, I promised Wilson I wouldn’t attack until the supplies were back and delivered by him. Only then would I leave and he would take my place on guard, watching over my family.
    “Reduced family,” I said aloud, staring at the ax blade.
    “What’s a reduced family?” A small voice asked from behind me, which made me nearly crap my pants. Turning, I spied Libby on a stump by the south end of the cabin. Her bare feet swung back and forth in a childish motion. Ants in her pants, Lettie claimed.
    “We just have less, that’s all,” I replied, trying to gauge her mood. Normally she was a happy child. Now, I could tell by her frown she wasn’t feeling the same. “”What’s wrong, Libby?”
    “I didn’t want Nate to go,” she whined softly. “He played with me a lot. Who’s going to play with me now?”
    “I will,” a new voice answered. I looked up to see Violet coming through the door. If she were trying to cheer the little girl’s spirit, perhaps a smile would have