Beneath Dark Skies (Rolling Hills Ranch #1)

30. Farron

THIRTY

FARRON

BY NIGHTFALL

Day 415

I leave my grandparents' house in a fit, the screen door slamming shut behind me. Their attempts to reassure me feel hollow, and my heart continues to race with worry. It hasn’t even been a full day since Todd and Adrian left, but Todd's words from last night replay in my mind like a broken record.

“Now you’re going to go off on a supply run?” I had berated him, noticing the wince on his face.

“Fare-bear, you know we need more supplies before winter,” he replied, his tone calm but firm. “We’re not even going to be gone for a whole day. We’re leaving in the morning to head North, and we’ll be back by nightfall. If we don’t come across anything tomorrow, we’ll just plan for another supply trip.”

“And what if you don’t come back at all?” I snapped, unable to contain my fear.

“That’s not fair,” he had breathed out, his expression hardening. “We need supplies, Farron, and just because you’re scared right now doesn’t mean the rest of the community should suffer for it.”

His words had struck a nerve, flooding me with guilt, but Todd hadn’t stopped there. “You know that’s the truth, and you know better than I do that if we don’t go off on this supply run, you’ll just end up taking off eventually to try and handle it all on your own.”

Pulling me into his arms, he had reassured me, “We’ll be okay, Farron, both of us. And we’ll be back before you know it.”

“By nightfall?” I had asked softly, my anxiety evident in my voice.

“By nightfall,” he had promised.

Ever since Holden left for a supply run that he hasn’t returned from, I’ve dreaded the next time someone has to leave. Worried about who would go, scared about who may not come back. Now my anxiety is at an all-time high, whispering to me that I should have done more to stop them, that I should have known better. Nightfall came, but the guys still hadn’t returned.

Earlier today, I visited Jay, seeking reassurance. But even his attempts couldn't mask the concern etched across his face. He, too, lost Holden, and now the worry for Todd is eating away at him, stressing him out, even if he won’t admit it.

Kenji and Theo have been absent all day, and I can't bring myself to seek them out now. What if they blame me for their brother's disappearance? The thought sends a wave of anxiety crashing over me. While Adrian and Todd would have left Rolling Hills with a list of supplies from the whole community, I know it’s my list of medicines that take priority, that is the true reason for the run. I fear Kenji's blame and dread Theo's attempts at comforting me, which is what I’m positive I would face if I came across them. Right now, I want neither.

As I step into the barn, the comforting sounds of the horses and goats chatting among themselves wash over me, easing the tension that had been building up. The barn has always been my safe space, and it has a way of easing my worries, even if only momentarily.

“Hey, boy, how are you?” I murmur softly as I approach EJ’s stall. As if sensing my distress, he leans his head against my shoulder, offering silent comfort. Wrapping my arms around his sturdy neck, I hold on tightly. “They have to be okay,” I whisper, the words barely audible.

Despite my desire to take EJ out, I know my nerves won't allow me to be away from the ranch for too long. Instead, I go and grab EJ's brush, finding solace in the rhythmic motion as I work on his coat. Each stroke of the brush becomes a distraction from the worry gnawing at my mind.

Lost in the repetitive motion, I'm startled when I hear footsteps approaching the stall. Peering around EJ, I see Theo emerging into view, bathed in the soft glow of the overhead light. His concerned expression mirrors my own turmoil, and I can't help but feel a glimmer of gratitude for his presence.

Theo signs the letters that he taught me for ‘O’ and ‘K’ with his eyebrows lifted upward, furrowed in worry. He’s checking to see if I’m alright, but what do I say?

I mull my response over for a second. Am I supposed to just tell him that I’m panicking over Adrian being gone because, despite the fact that I don’t really know him all that well, I somehow find myself feeling a little attached? Or should I just tell him that I’m so caught up in my brother’s disappearance that I can’t help but fear the same thing happened to Adrian?

Yeah, I don’t think so. Instead, I give him a weak nod and put some of the sign language Theo has been teaching me to the test. “I’m fine,” I tell him, plastering on the best smile I can.

Theo narrows his eyes, his expression tightening, like he can smell my bullshit in the air. But before he can voice his concern, another set of hurried footsteps interrupts us. Jay bursts into view, breathless and frantic. “They're back,” he blurts out before dashing away.

I sign, “Adrian,” knowing Theo will understand the significance of just that movement because I don’t know how to sign much more right now. His face lights up and we hurry out of the stall, but when I make it to the entrance of the barn, I linger for a moment, needing to gather myself. Theo turns back, his eyes silently questioning, and I manage a small nod, conveying my need for a moment alone. He offers a reassuring squeeze of my hand before continuing on.

Alone now, I lean against the sturdy wooden wall of the barn. With a hand pressed over my mouth, I let out a choked sob, then another, the tension of the past hours releasing in waves. Relief washes over me, yet my body remains wound tight with anxiety, so tight I feel like I’m going to be sick. They're back. It's all I've been able to think about, and now that it's a reality, the flood of emotions is almost overwhelming. Taking a few deep breaths, I try to steady myself before venturing out to see them with my own eyes.

When I exit the barn, the chatter from the front porch reaches my ears. Making my way around the corner, I catch sight of everyone gathered there–the guys, my grandparents, and Jay, who has Todd wrapped up in his arms. The crunch of gravel beneath my boots draws their attention, and Todd's smile lights up as his eyes catch mine, and he starts rushing toward me. I pick up my pace and run to meet him. Once he's close enough, I leap into his arms, and he catches me effortlessly. Despite my efforts, a few tears escape, and a choked sob breaks free.

“It’s okay, Fare-bear, everything's okay. We’re safe, we just got held up,” Todd whispers gently, his words a soothing balm to my frazzled nerves. I nod into his neck, clinging to him for a moment longer before he sets me down. Hastily wiping away the tears, I try to compose myself, though I'm sure everyone heard my cry. But right now, I don't care. Todd and Adrian are back, and that's all that matters. Todd gives me a kiss on the forehead before he turns and heads off with Jay while my grandparents retreat inside. I turn to face the guys and lock eyes with Adrian.

He’s already smiling at me as he quips, “Miss me too, Sunshine?”

I roll my eyes, relieved to see him safe and sound. Despite feeling a mix of vulnerability and longing to be near him, I stand frozen, too uncertain to make a movie. Theo seems to catch on because he signs something too quickly for me to catch, and drags Kenji away with him, leaving Adrian and I on our own. We simply stare at each other for a moment before I can’t hold myself back, and I run and jump on him, too, enveloping him in a giant hug that betrays just how afraid and worried I truly was.

His response is immediate, hoisting me up and encouraging me to wrap my legs around him. Adrian clings to me, his arms tightening around me, and I feel him inhale deeply while I just take a moment to feel his heartbeat against me. I hold on tight and breathe him in. When he finally moves to set me down and my body drags along the length of his, I feel a hardness I work very hard to ignore, although a blush creeps up my face. Clearing his throat, Adrian gently takes my hand in his, brushing a stray lock of hair out of my face with the other.

“I didn’t think you were going to miss me quite that much, Sunshine,” he tells me, a smile on his face as his eyes roam my face with a softness I don’t know that I’ve quite seen on him before.

“Yeah, well…” It’s my turn to clear my throat now as I shift my gaze away from him before I start letting him in on my feelings and thoughts. “You wouldn’t be the first people from Rolling Hills to head out for something and never return.”

My words hang in the air, cryptic and heavy. Adrian’s brows furrow as he tries to piece together what I mean, but I can’t delve into it right now. Rather, I don’t want to. I just want to bask in the relief that he and Todd are back, that the weight of my worries is lifted, even if it’s just for today .

Shaking my head, I change the subject, pulling him toward the horses. “In any case, I’m hoping you guys got some good stuff. Why don’t you grab your horse and I’ll grab Todd’s? I’ll show you our supply shed and you can help me put everything away.”

Adrian looks like he wants to ask more, maybe even argue, but he decides against it. We grab the reins of each horse and make our way back toward the barn, continuing just past it to the large shed that sits nearby. It used to house miscellaneous cattle-related supplies, but those have been rehomed to the barn or the Abel farm, leaving this space for our provisions from supply runs. I open the large door and grab the flashlight sitting on the closest shelf to light the interior.

“Whoa,” Adrian breathes out behind me, and I turn to give him a grin. I know exactly what he means. Everything is neatly organized into designated sections, with multiple shelves lining the interior walls of the shed.

“Pretty good, huh?” I ask, pride evident in my voice. “This is the main supply shed. When this one gets too full of certain items, we divvy it out among the other farms, but for the most part, this is where everything goes.”

“It’s crazy how organized this is,” he mumbles softly to himself, then turns his gaze on me. “Let me guess, this was all you?”

I give him a quick smile, but it’s tinged with a pang of hurt at the thought of my twin. Holden and I worked together to make the shed an extremely organized area, and we did a great job. Trying to push the memories aside, I focus on the present.

“I had a little bit of help, but yes,” I tell him before turning away from the shed and walking back over to the horses. “So Riri, why don’t you help me pull out all of these supplies and get them organized in the shed? Just make sure you’re putting things in the right areas, or I’ll end you,” I warn him solemnly despite the smile on my face. “ Watch out for the dates so the oldest goes to the front.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he responds with a dramatic salute, his grin infectious. The playful banter eases some of the lingering tension. We start unloading the horses, carefully carrying the bags of canned goods, medical supplies, and other essentials into the shed. The rhythmic clinking of glass jars and the rustling of packaging fill the air, blending with the ambient sounds of the crickets chirping away through the night.

As we begin putting everything away, I decide this is a good moment to talk to Adrian and get to know him better. At least then, I can justify to myself why I care so much about what happens to him. Feeling awkward and unsure of how to start, I figure it’s best to play it safe and just ask about his day.

“So, how did it go today?” I ask, glancing over at him while stacking cans of beans neatly on a shelf. “First Rolling Hills supply run and all.”

“It actually went pretty well,” Adrian admits. “We went North and ended up coming across a small town where there was a store sitting practically untouched and some empty homes. We just grabbed some of the big ticket items, but there’s a lot still sitting there for us to go back on the next run. We probably could have grabbed more, but…” he trails off, and I look up from what I’m doing just in time to catch the hesitation in his expression.

“But what, Adrian?” I prompt him gently, knowing there’s more than what he’s just shared.

“But we ran into a little issue with some zombies,” he admits, his tone shifting to one of nonchalance as he tries to downplay the danger. “Not a big deal, we took care of them! It just ate up some of our time, and we wanted to get back here by nightfall, so we left right after instead of grabbing more supplies. ”

“For fuck’s sake,” I mutter, frustration bubbling up inside me as I begin working on the medical supplies. I’m not sure what exactly is frustrating me. Maybe it’s the fact that Adrian and Todd got held up by the zombies and that something could have happened to either of them. Maybe it’s because I know there will have to be another run to this town, which means more worry and more fear. It’s likely a combination of both.

Adrian, sensing my emotions and trying to calm me down, says, “No need to worry, Sunshine! The zombies were pretty easy to take out. Todd can handle his own, and it’s not like you need to be worried about me.”

“Why wouldn’t I need to worry about you?” I ask, turning back to the task at hand: organizing the antibiotics by type, strength, and date. The labels blur momentarily as my mind races with worst-case scenarios.

“Because I may not be some badass assassin, and granted I may have fought more fires than I did people before the outbreak, but I can take care of myself,” he says, a big grin on his face.

“You were a firefighter?” I question as my mind begins to run a million miles a minute, picturing him suited up, putting out fires, and rescuing kittens from trees.

“Yeah, Kenji and I both,” he replies, his voice tinged with nostalgia. He runs a hand through his hair, the gesture making him look even more handsome in the low light.

I pause for a moment, absorbing this new information. This whole firefighter business would definitely explain their size, especially when it comes to Kenji’s stupid thighs. “So you’re used to running into dangerous situations to save people?” I ask, feeling a mix of admiration and concern.

“Pretty much,” Adrian says with a shrug. “It’s what we do. Or did, I guess. Now it's more about survival than anything else… Although I have to admit, I may just prefer baking with Nora over what I used to do,” he adds, shooting a wink my way.

“That’s…impressive,” I admit, feeling a newfound respect for him. “And terrifying. I can’t imagine running into burning buildings.”

"Well, it’s not for everyone," he laughs, the sound rich and comforting. "But it does teach you a thing or two about staying calm under pressure."

I nod, appreciating his ability to stay composed. “That’s a good skill to have, especially now.”

“Yeah, it comes in handy,” he agrees. “But enough about me. How about you? What did you do before all this? I feel like I’ve heard a million things about you from everyone else here, but not straight from the source.”

I chuckle, knowing he’s definitely heard all sorts of things from the folks here. I go to speak but hesitate for a moment, not really wanting to delve into the past but feeling it’s only fair to share something. “I was studying to be a vet,” I say softly. “I wanted to help animals.”

“That’s amazing,” Adrian says, genuine admiration in his voice. “I can see that. I’m also guessing that’s where all your medical knowledge comes into play?”

“Thanks,” I say, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Yeah…It’s not quite the same as being a vet, but I can definitely put some of my knowledge and skills to use here as the doctor.”

He hums, seeming to absorb everything I’ve said before he speaks again. “What’s your favorite thing about working with the animals here?”

I pause, considering his question. “I think it’s the connection,” I say finally. “Animals are honest, you know? They don’t hide their feelings or pretend to be something they’re not. They just are. It’s grounding, especially now.”

Adrian smiles, a genuine warmth in his eyes. “That makes sense. I’ve seen the way they respond to you—it’s like they know you’re looking out for them.”

“They give as much as they take,” I reply, feeling a bit embarrassed by his praise but also touched. “It’s a mutual thing.”

We continue to work, getting the supplies put away and speaking the whole time. Adrian's curiosity about me seems boundless, and it feels good to talk about things that aren't life or death. We trade questions and answers, focusing on the present rather than the past. I learn that his favorite color used to be blue but is now a deep emerald green, that he's been a horror movie aficionado since childhood, and that his childhood dream was to become a circus performer, of all things.

“You wanted to be in the circus?” I laugh, picturing Adrian in clown makeup or walking a tightrope. “That’s unexpected, but also not. Actually, it explains a whole lot.”

He grins sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, well, I was a weird kid. I thought it would be the ultimate adventure—traveling, performing, and making people laugh. Kind of ironic, given the world we live in now, huh?”

“Maybe not so ironic,” I muse. “You still have that wild spirit, that crazy energy. It’s just...directed differently.” He snorts at my attempt at a diplomatic response.

As we finish up with the supplies, I find myself appreciating this moment of calm and levity with him. Everything has felt so chaotic for me for a long time, especially today. But here, in this little shed with Adrian, things feel almost normal.

As I move to get up and out of the shed, my foot hits a container on the floor underneath the bottom shelf. Curious, I crouch down and pull the large container out, realizing it’s one of those butter cookie tins that never actually ends up containing cookies. I’m not sure what exactly I expect to see when I open it, but it’s definitely not an absurd amount of condoms. Oh my god, Holden. What in the world was he stocking these for?

A laugh bubbles up inside me, but I manage to stifle it, though I can’t help but shake my head at the ridiculousness of it all. Even in the apocalypse, Holden has a sense of humor, or maybe he was just overly prepared for anything.

“So, what’s next?” Adrian asks from outside the shed, breaking me out of my shocked stupor.

“Next, we double-check the inventory, make sure everything is where it should be,” I say, quickly pocketing some of the condoms in a moment of hazy weakness and pushing the tin back where I found it. I step out of the shed and look around to ensure everything is in its place. “Then we can call it a night.”

“Sounds like a plan,” he agrees. “Lead the way, doc…Actually, I take that back. Sunshine is definitely the better nickname, and I’m a fool for even trying something else.”

I roll my eyes at him but can’t help but smile. Together, we go over the supplies one last time, ensuring everything is in its proper place. As we work, I realize that this is what I’ve been missing—connection, teamwork, and levity. And maybe, just maybe, a little bit of hope.