Eliot Strange and the Prince of the Resistance

64) Home

After stopping several more times to move debris in the road that wasn't here days ago, it is later than sooner when we finally see the exit for home. Our base camp in Dobson, the former home of Marla's gramma, is dark except for lantern light coming from the front porch. Even as we pull up, I can see kids on the porch, and I swell up with an emotion I haven't felt in a long time. I think Steven feels the same way because I see tears in his eyes.

"Honey, we're home," he says to me.

"Home," I say right back. "That sounds about right. We're home."

After Cindy Lou and her baby are all settled in for the night, and the new doctor has taken a look at Torin, Steven and I go outside to sit with the kids on the porch. Only Adam and Sarah and a small child Sarah is rocking are still up.

"Prince Torin, ok?" asks Sarah.

"I think he will be," says Steven, "Good thing we got a new doctor."

"Yeah," says Adam,"things seem to be looking up."

"Yes, they do," I agree. "What are y'all still doing up?"

"Waiting on the soldiers to get back and Leia and our people. Thought they'd be back by now."

"We can go check in the morning," says Steven. "Take those supplies in case they need 'em."

"I'm sure they' re ok," I say.

The child in Sarah's lap stirs awake, and I realize it is Millicent. The blond haired beauty immediately asks about her new friend. "Where's my prince?"

"He's inside," I say. "Resting."

"In bed, where you need to be," says Adam as he picks her up to carry her in.

"Wait," Millicent says, "Is my prince safe? Did the bad guys have him?"

"He is safe," I say. "The bad guys did have him, but we got him back."

"Good, because the bad guys can't have our prince. He is ours."

Sarah says what we are all are thinking, "You are right baby girl. The bad guys can not have our prince."

After Adam and Sarah go to bed, it is just me and Steven still up. We decide we will leave first thing in the morning, go find our friends, and make sure they are ok. We decide to head in for the night when the new doctor comes out to let us know that Torin is restless and wants to see me.

I go inside and tiptoe over and around sleeping children in the floors and on the couches. I walk to the back bedroom where Torin is resting in a bed with his hand propped up on pillows. He looks like a ghost of Torin, but at least he is cleaned up and bandaged now.

"Come here," he says as he pats the bed beside him with his good hand. "Right here."

I crawl in the bed beside Torin carefully and try not to jar his hand.

"It's ok, my lady, I got some drugs. No pain now, except..."

"Except?"

"I miss my lady. Can you stay? Until I go to sleep. Please, my lady?"

Who could refuse that request from their prince?

Torin is soon asleep, but I am still awake. I think about my mama and General Nation and his army. I think about Patrick fighting to get back to me. I think about what Millicent said on the porch. All the other, lost forever children. I think about the hungry families. The dads forced to hunt for game. The milk massacre. Join or die. The executions.

All the horror. All because of one man and his army. He hurt Torin. He will come looking for Torin again.

But, he can't have Torin. He can't have my prince. Our prince.

General Nation and the One Nation Army can try to take our country and destroy our home, but they can not have our prince. 

No matter what.

My eyes are heavy. I turn to look at Torin beside me. I feel peace.