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“I’m not sure what is going on,” Bill said at last, when the Senator walked away. “But I’m sure if we can get you good people to the fort, you are more than welcome there. ”

Expressions of hope appeared on the faces around them and Jenni looked at Bill nervously. She leaned toward him and whispered, “Bill, how are we going to get all these people there?”

“Dunno…but…damn. . they gotta have hope,” Bill answered.

Jenni looked up to see the people talking around her and realized that what had been missing since she had arrived was a sense of hope. Now it was spreading like wildfire and the very desperate expressions were giving away to smiles.

“Gotta have hope, Jenni,” Bill repeated. “Gotta have hope. ”

2. Preparing the Way

Travis could always tell when his wife was on edge. She’d stand with her legs slightly apart, arms crossed, one hip shifted to one side, her chin set firmly. Walking into the lobby of the hotel, he saw her posture and thought “crap. ” Moving up behind her, he looked over her shoulder to see at least fifteen people sitting around on the sofas and love seats, backpacks, suitcases and even pillow cases, all packed up and ready to go.

“Do I want to know?”

“They’re waiting for the army to come rescue them,” Katie answered in a low voice. “Ingrates. ”

“Katie,” Travis chuckled.

“They are! We risked our asses to go out there and rescue them and this is the thanks we get? Them ditching their chores and sitting around waiting for the army?” Her eyes were flashing with indignation.

“You know,” Travis said with a slow smile. “You’re kinda se

xy when you’re feisty. ”

Katie frowned and narrowed her eyes at him. “Don’t make me hurt you. ”

“Hormones,” Nerit whispered walking by.

“I am not hormonal!” Katie said passionately.

Travis grinned and chuckled. “Right. ”

Katie narrowed her eyes even more and pointed at him with one long finger. “You’re just lucky I love you. ” Turning on her heel, she stomped away.

“Pregnant lady coming through! Step aside!” Calhoun shouted as Katie walked toward the dining room. “She’s loaded and dangerous. ”

Katie flung up her hands at Calhoun before vanishing down the hall.

“She’s really cute pregnant,” Travis decided to no one in particular.

“I can’t believe they’re pulling this shit,” Curtis said joining him. “There are more coming down the stairs, all excited that the army is going to come rescue them. ”

“You can’t take offense, Curtis. I’m a little peeved, too, but they just hope things are better somewhere else. ”

“But it’s bullshit. After everything we’ve done for them!” Curtis’ young face was scrunched up with his anger. “Rescuing them, bringing them in, giving them shelter, giving them food. . . ”

“We’ve all done it together. Just some of the latecomers don’t realize how much the original group did. ” Travis tucked his hands into his jacket pockets and watched the little crowd grow larger. He noticed some dark looks among those walking by. This was not going to be a pleasant situation, he realized.

“They’re not country folk. They’re not used to having to pull it together and keep going. Working together to beat the odds,” Curtis said in a low voice.

Looking over the group Travis realized it consisted mostly of people from either larger towns or the city. “Well, I’m from the city and so is Katie and Jenni and a few others. ”

“Exceptions. They’re just lazy,” Curtis scoffed.

“Curtis, you’re too young to be so bitter,” Travis said with a little frown.

Peggy appeared out of the hallway that led to the hotel offices. She was flushed and anxious, “Travis! Travis! The military is calling us back. ”