Carrington Event

Carrington Event - Book 2 - Chapter 2

This section is from Maria's Perspective

The sun already hung low in the sky as we made our way to the cabins, and Ivan went into his house. Gator's heavy boots crunched over bits of gravel, carrying our bags with a surprising show of chivalry. I glanced over at Mrs. Allen, simmering in resentment as she walked close to Mr. Allen. Her lips twisted into a sneer, her eyes darting between her husband, her kids, and the nature surrounding us. It was clear that she wasn't happy about this arrangement.

Without warning, she boiled over. "I didn't agree to be your wife to live in a shit hole in the middle of butt fuck nowhere!" she snapped, her voice dripping with venom.

I sighed quietly, "Ma'am, please don't swear around my children," I said, raising my voice just enough to get her attention.

"Amber Allen," Mr. Allen spoke loudly, not even trying to hide his anger. "I told you over and over. Shut up. We are keeping the kids safe. I don't care if you are happy; I care if they are safe." I wasn't happy with my kids seeing this, but he didn't break my rules.

Gator smirked but said nothing. He seemed to know better than to get involved in family squabbles, even if he didn't know enough to hide his amusement and not stare.

As we walked up to the cabins, Mr. Allen turned to me, his face marred by stress. "Maria, can you take care of my children, please? They seem to be doing better with your kids than with me and..." He nodded towards his wife. The desperation in his voice tugged at my heartstrings.

"Of course, Mr. Allen," I agreed, offering him a small smile. Mrs. Allen scowled and fumed behind him, but she remained silent for now.

"You should take the bigger cabin, and we will take the smaller one," Mr. Allen suggested, clearly trying to make the best of our situation. I nodded, grateful for the offer. The kids would have more room to play and, hopefully, stay out of trouble.

Gator set our bags down on the porch of the larger cabin with a grunt. "I'll leave you to it," he said, giving me a nod before heading back toward his truck.

"Thank you, Gator," I murmured as he walked away. He'd been a good friend over the years. Strange and backward and racist. But a good friend nonetheless.

"Maria, we're even now, and you're welcome!" Gator said, grinning at me over his shoulder.

I called out, "You really are a good friend."

Gator waved a hand. "Don't say that too loud. Don't want to lose my street cred."

As Derrick, Mr. and Mrs. Allen walked toward the smaller cabin, I turned to face the daunting task ahead. Gabriela, Rosalina, and I began to haul our bags inside, struggling under their weight. Meanwhile, Sofia sat on the porch, happily occupying the Allen kids with her infectious laughter and animated storytelling.

"Are you sure this was the right choice?" Rosalina asked while we dropped our bags into an empty space in the living room. Her eyes were narrowed with concern I shared deep down. "I don't see this going well. I don't like being dependent on people. We also abandoned our home and friends. How are Tome and the others going to survive without a medic? I feel like a coward running away."

I sighed, staring out the window at the surrounding wilderness. It stood against the fading sky, dark shapes creating an eerie backdrop to the quiet scene unfolding around us. "I'm not sure, Rosa... But it feels more peaceful here than it does in the city."

Rosalina's gaze followed mine, taking in the foreboding landscape. She shivered, whether from fear or the encroaching evening chill; I couldn't tell. "Peaceful isn't always safe, Maria."