Hope Sparks Read online

  Hope Sparks

  Harley Tate

  Copyright © 2017 by Harley Tate. Cover and internal design © by Harley Tate. Cover image copyright © Deposit Photos, 2017.

  All rights reserved.

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

  The use of stock photo images in this e-book in no way imply that the models depicted personally endorse, condone, or engage in the fictional conduct depicted herein, expressly or by implication. The person(s) depicted are models and are used for illustrative purposes only.

  Contents

  Hope Sparks

  Prologue

  Six Weeks Without Power

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Day Forty-Four

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Day Forty-Five

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Day Forty-Six

  Chapter 29

  Acknowledgments

  About Harley Tate

  Hope Sparks

  A POST-APOCALYPTIC SURVIVAL THRILLER

  Six weeks into the apocalypse, would you have hope?

  From an emergency landing, to a full-blown riot, to a militia gone rogue, Colt and Walter have survived it all. Joining forces, their group heads toward Walter’s cabin and the promise of a new life. But mother nature has other plans.

  When your life is in danger, can you summon the courage to fight?

  Madison and Tracy think they’re safe at a cabin in woods. But a chance meeting with a stranger reveals how vulnerable they really are. Faced with an unpredictable threat, the pair must defend their new home, even when the odds are stacked against them.

  The end of the world brings out the best and worst in all of us.

  Dangerous wild animals, hidden traps on the road, and violent strangers combine to push everyone to the limit. If Walter and Colt can’t make it back home in time, Madison and Tracy might not survive. It’s a battle against nature and man that only the strong will survive.

  The EMP is only the beginning.

  Hope Sparks is book seven in the After the EMP series, a post-apocalyptic thriller series following ordinary people trying to survive after a geomagnetic storm destroys the nation’s power grid.

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  Prologue

  COLT

  Northern California Forest

  6:30 a.m.

  Colt’s breath steamed into the cool foothill air as he eased into a crouch on the water’s edge. The marshes around the edge of the pond held more ducks than a man could eat in a lifetime. Lottie sat beside him, alert and waiting.

  The first hint of a call sounded in the distance and Colt readied his shotgun. A single V of five birds swooped low and circled. Colt waited. As they came in for a soft landing, Colt fired. One fell into the water and Lottie took off like a miniature torpedo.

  The rest of the flock scrambled into the air, squawking and carrying on. Colt stood up. Five minutes later, a soaked little Lottie came swimming back with a bird twice her size in her teeth. Never in his life did he think a five-pound dog bred to fit in a purse would turn into a ferocious little hunter. But Lottie loved to retrieve.

  She dropped the duck at his feet and shook her whole body from nose to tail. Water droplets flew everywhere and Colt fished a piece of jerky from his pocket. He fed it to the little dog, patted her head, and picked up the duck. By the time they made it back to camp, everyone else was awake and starting the day.

  Dani crouched in front of the fire, getting it going just how Walter taught her. Larkin stood at the smoker, tending to the deer he’d killed the day before. Walter rummaged through their growing supply of dried plants and roots.

  All together, they made an efficient four-person team. It wouldn’t be long before Walter amassed everything he needed and then some. Colt hoped when the time came, Walter would decide to bring them all along.

  He set the duck down on the prep table they had fashioned out of cut branches and walked over to Dani. The wound on her cheek was healing well, and thanks to Walter’s even stitches, it might not leave too jagged a scar. Every day that went by away from Eugene and without conflict, Dani brightened. Gone were the pensive stares and somber moments when Colt wondered if she would ever laugh again.

  If they could find some stability in this ever-changing world, she had the potential to grow into an amazing adult. Colt crouched beside her. “So what’s on the menu today?”

  She smiled. “Miner’s lettuce, chicory root coffee, and guess what else?” Her eyes glittered as she waited.

  “Deer jerky?”

  “Nope.”

  “Duck meat.”

  “Try again.”

  “Smoked trout.”

  Dani laughed. “Eggs! Walter found a nest of quail eggs!”

  “Don’t get too excited.” Walter’s voice carried across the camp. “They’re small and we only have four.”

  Colt grinned. “Now if we could just make some sausage, we’d be set.”

  “It’s on the list. Find me some cloves and cayenne pepper and we’re in business.”

  The tidy camp lapsed into silence as everyone went back to work. In no time, they’d put together a breakfast most people would have paid a premium for only a few weeks ago.

  Colt eased to the ground beside Dani and watched as Walter tinkered with the radio. Thanks to the Humvee’s battery and netting poles, they were able to not only receive radio frequencies, but broadcast as well.

  Walter cleared his throat, moved a few knobs and began his morning broadcast. “Good morning. The time is 7:30 Pacific Standard, and it has been thirty-nine days since the United States power grid failed. My name is Walter Sloane.”

  He glanced over at Dani and smiled. “If this is your first time listening to my broadcasts, welcome. We have been through some of the most trying times we’ve ever had to face as a country. But we will persevere. If you are out there listening this morning, that means you are a survivor. You have found a way to keep going when the odds were stacked against you. Don’t give up now. Together, we can weather this storm.”

  Dani leaned against Colt as Walter kept talking, describing the things people could do to find water or food. He couldn’t help but wonder what Walter’s own family was doing now. Were they listening to him? Did they know he was safe? Sooner or later, Walter would head home, and the three of them—Colt, Dani, and Larkin—would need to find their own way.

  But for now, they were safe in the woods. With shelters made from Douglas fir and beds of matted pine straw, they were comfortable at night. Daily hunting and gathering provided enough to eat. The nearby creek gave them all the water they could ask for. It wasn’t a home in a good neighborhood with a manicured lawn and a new car in the driveway.

  It was better.

  Walter continued and Colt sat back to listen. “Over the past week, I’ve learned that family isn’t what’s written on your birth cert
ificate or determined by your last name. It’s about finding like-minded people to share life’s burdens. People you can trust. Yes, we’re faced with challenging times, but don’t let adversity stop you. Find others who want to survive and band together.

  “You might not have much, but you’re still breathing. You’re still alive. So take in that next breath with hope and courage and optimism. This isn’t the end of our country or our way of life. This isn’t the end of you. It’s a new beginning. Grab it with both hands and never let go.”

  Walter glanced at Colt before continuing. “I might not be broadcasting for a while after today, but don’t worry. I’ll be back before you know it. Until next time, this is Walter Sloane. Good luck.” He clicked off the radio and exhaled.

  Something in Walter’s words and glance said what Colt suspected. He eased away from Dani as he called out to his new friend. “So this is it?”

  Walter nodded. “It’s time. Thanks to all of you, I have more than I need and way more than I can transport.”

  Dani shifted on the ground, her face scrunched up in question. “What’s going on?”

  Larkin picked at a pinecone. “Walter’s packing up. He’s going home.”

  “But…what about the camp and all the work we’ve put into it?”

  Colt managed a sad smile. “We still get to use it.”

  Dani’s gaze shifted from Colt to Walter as understanding spread across her face. “We aren’t leaving.”

  “About that.” Walter stood up and brushed off the dirt clinging to his pants. “What would you say about coming with me?”

  “To your home?”

  “It’s not mine exactly. It belongs to another family. I don’t know if they will accept you.”

  “But you’re willing to bring us along?”

  Dani reached for Colt’s arm. “I don’t want to cause anyone else problems.”

  Walter held up a hand. “When we arrive, we’ll explain the situation and put it up to a vote. If it doesn’t work, you can go on your way or come back here.”

  Colt glanced at Dani. He thought about all she still needed to learn. All she would miss tagging along with two grown military men in the woods. “Are there kids Dani’s age?”

  “College kids. Four or five years older.”

  Better than nothing. He reached out and squeezed her hand. “We’ll come. And if it doesn’t work out, no hard feelings.”

  Walter smiled. “Good. Because there’s no way I can get there on my own.”

  Six Weeks Without Power

  DAY FORTY-THREE

  Chapter One

  MADISON

  Clifton Compound

  8:00 a.m.

  The soft earth crumbed beneath the weight of the spade as Madison dug a shallow trough. Before the grid failed, she spent every day planting, watering, and checking on the health of her plants. But at night she went home to a lit-up dorm room, dining hall, and trusty laptop.

  These days the only welcome was a small cot and a warm spot left by a little orange cat. The EMP changed everything. Without power, the cities devolved into chaos. Mass looting and riots. Panic and lawlessness. Her father barely escaped downtown Sacramento alive.

  The creeps calling Chico State home almost took them all out. If it weren’t for her father and her college roommate, Madison would be dead. She leaned back on her heels and stared at the ground.

  No more movie nights or all-night study sessions beneath the glow of a desk lamp. No more cell phones or computers or modern tech. They were back to square one: seeds, dirt, and prayers for rain. Agrarian skills were the new finance degree, sustainable crops the new hedge fund.

  “Didn’t know staring at a garden would help the plants grow.”

  Madison glanced up. Her former college roommate and now closest friend stood in front of her, rifle resting on her forearm like it belonged there since birth. “Finished your rounds?”

  Brianna nodded. “Nothing to see except a scrawny squirrel and a teenage farm girl who bit off more than she can chew.”

  Madison raised an eyebrow. “What are you talking about?”

  “This plot of land. It’s enormous. You really think you can plant and maintain it all?”

  Madison stared out at the twenty rows of earth. Their survival depended on a healthy garden yield. With seven mouths to feed, they needed every tomato, carrot, pea, and head of lettuce they could harvest. Asparagus and broccoli would help, too.

  If she had her wish, she would have three gardens this size, an expanded orchard, and trained wild blackberries in the forest. As long as she stayed at the Cliftons’ place, Madison would contribute. The more the better.

  The alternative wasn’t something she wanted to consider. Failure would mean wasted seeds, empty plates, and hardship in the summer. Starvation in the winter. Even if her father managed to kill every deer in the surrounding forest, they would need more than venison jerky to ride out the snowy months ahead.

  Madison leaned back on her heels. “I can do it. It won’t be easy, but the soil is already tilled thanks to Peyton’s hard work. The rain the past few days has softened it. Once we rig up some rain barrels, it’ll almost take care of itself.”

  “What about the animals that will root through the crops? I’ve seen a ton of squirrels and birds. Won’t they cause problems?”

  “We can solve that with some scarecrows and netting.”

  Brianna adjusted the bandana barely holding back her curls with a frown. “What about intruders? If anyone comes across this place in the summer, they could clear it out before we even know they’re here.”

  Madison snorted in frustration. Brianna held valid concerns, but what was the alternative? “Would you rather starve or use up all your parents’ supplies?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Then we don’t have a choice. We need this size garden and we need to protect it.” Madison pointed at the tree line. “We can string up a trip wire around the entire place with cans and cover it up with branches and leaves. As soon as someone runs into it, we’ll hear them. It won’t keep a person out, but we’ll know if someone finds the garden.”

  Brianna squinted into the sun. “I wish we had a watchdog. That would solve a lot of problems.”

  “Fireball can’t fend off a thief, but he’ll help with the critters.”

  “He’ll get fat if he keeps catching as many mice as he’s managed lately.”

  Madison smiled. The little cat loved the property and the surrounding forest. He hunted all night and sprawled out in a little patch of sun on the porch all day. It was cat paradise. Thanks to the generosity of Brianna and her family, not only Fireball, but Madison, her mom, dad, and friend Peyton all had a home. It was a place they could do more than survive the day. It was somewhere they could live.

  Breathe. Sleep at night.

  When the grid failed, Brianna helped them leave school and hit the road. She was the reason Madison and Peyton were alive. Madison owed her former roommate and her parents this garden. It would have to work.

  Madison picked up the box of seeds beside her. “You ever think about what everyone from school is doing now?”

  “No.”

  Madison blinked. “Not once?”

  “Never.” Brianna turned away, hiding her face from view. Her voice carried over her shoulder. “What’s the point? They’re either dead or will be.”

  “I guess I—” Madison faltered, unsure what to say. Brianna’s boyfriend Tucker died on the way to the cabin.

  After his makeshift funeral, Brianna acted as if college never existed. If Madison or Peyton brought up UC Davis, Brianna shut down or checked out.

  She channeled all of her hurt and sadness into scouting missions or chopping firewood or inventorying their supplies. Brianna didn’t stop working until she collapsed into bed at night. It made for productive days, but Madison worried about what was going on inside her head. Did she think about Tucker? Did she blame herself for his death?

  Madison would never be able to r
epay Brianna for the kindness of bringing her family to safety, but she wished she could ease the twenty-year-old’s burden. She stood up with the box of seeds under her arm. “I’m about to plant two rows of peas. Would you like to help?”

  Brianna turned back around, her eyes glassy and bright. “I need to check on the traps.”

  The mention of hunting roiled Madison’s stomach. Her father was out in the forest, miles and miles away from the cabin, hunting and gathering as much food as he could. Walter Sloane wasn’t a man for sitting around or failing to contribute. After only two days at the cabin, Madison’s father packed up and headed north. No one knew when he was coming home.

  “Your dad will be all right. He’s tough as nails.”

  Madison scrunched her nose. “Is it obvious?”

  “That you’re worried?” Brianna flashed a weak smile. “Yeah, but your secret’s safe with me.” Stretching her arms wide, she closed her eyes and tilted her head toward the sun. As she relaxed, she slung her rifle onto her shoulder. “I guess hunting can wait. Let’s plant some peas.”

  “Are you sure? I can manage if you need to go.”

  Brianna shrugged. “Some company could do me good. Besides, it’s about time I learned some of this stuff.”