Storming Love: Earthquake - Rhody & Brendan by Diana DeRicci

Author:Diana DeRicci [DeRicci, Diana]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: gay romance, earthquake
Publisher: MLR Press LLC
Published: 2015-11-03T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

Rhody was surprised at all the supplies they received by the time they were done. Two large carry jugs of water apiece, a small cooler of fresh food, packed with dry ice so it would stay frozen, flares if they had any difficulty or emergency, and other sundry items that he wasn’t even sure they’d have the need or time to use. But if something happened, they were prepared.

Brendan set his haul by his feet. “Let me find Lori. See if anyone can give us a lift back. I wasn’t expecting this.” He shook his head. “Not carrying it two miles, either.”

Rhody smirked. He was in full agreement with that decision. He waited, watching the world mill around him in a state of fugue. People still in shock, trying to recover some sense of safety, reconnect with family in the outside world. A few appeared dazed and unsure, clinging to each other, making him realize exactly how well he and Brendan had weathered the earthquake, with neither getting more than a few scratches and shaken, but definitely nothing life-threatening. The remembered pain over their friend’s loss meant that even what he couldn’t see on the surface was still affecting hundreds if not thousands. He doubted Kirk was the only casualty and that made it all that much more devastating. How many lives were lost, caught unaware, and unprepared by not only the suddenness but by the sheer violent intensity and range? The quake had been measured at an 8.2. They were lucky to have survived in retrospect and he knew it. He was sure as more reports trickled in, the true magnitude would be a lot worse than what he was seeing for himself, surrounding him at the lodge.

He crossed his arms to wait, standing guard over their supplies until he spotted Brendan returning, someone he didn’t know at his side, yet vaguely familiar.

“Rhody, Bambi. She’s one of the lodge reservationists.”

Now Rhody remembered. “You were working the desk when I checked in.” Rhody gave a kind smile. It was mostly returned, a little more tired, strained, but holding together.

The guys gathered what they had and she led them to a small hatchback.

“Sorry about the size.”

Rhody didn’t care. “It beats walking back. I’m not complaining.”

They loaded their supplies and then scrunched into the tin can of a car. It took far less time to travel to the cabin than it did getting to the lodge.

“Wow. You guys weren’t kidding about the road.”

Rhody’s gaze went to where she was gaping. It looked like the edge of the world had just fallen away. A ragged, raw tear in the asphalt and earth. Roots were exposed, hanging limp or sheared in different directions from the force of the ground tearing apart.

“You two going to be able to get everything across?”

“We’ll have to walk into the woods and go around. Probably make two trips.”

She leaned against the front of her car once all three were out. “Why are you staying? Everyone else has evacuated as far as they could get.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.