The once pristine Valley had a dividing line once again. Not like the one that used to separate the Ranch from The West, where even though the group’s beliefs differed they still had respect for one another. No, not like that at all. This division started not on the first day but certainly the first few weeks, like a grain of sand inside an oyster. First, as it rubs, it’s annoying but tolerable; then it becomes irritating as it starts to grow; and eventually, when it’s hard enough, the host is ripped out of the water and pried open with a hammer to reveal the irritant inside.
Only this was no pearl. This was the “others,” and it could mean war.
James and David had their hands full in Weston with the same problem, and the Colonel had it times two hundred across the country!
The “others” were once hardworking men, women, and families in the old-world—maybe a neighbor, coworker, or even once a friend. They lost it somewhere along the way. The desire to work for their daily bread, to ensure the seeds were planted for the season’s harvest and the livestock were not missing, all now taken care of by FEMA. They lost it all and became known as outsiders in Chapters all across the country that everyone knew as “The Others.”
The Colonel kept close tabs on Sergio and Mike, tasking them with heroin missions to get Government personnel safely off the mainland.
Mike came back for an unexpected visit in early spring, amidst the chaos, with grand tales of his last eight months abroad and ending with a soberingly clear message from the highest power in the land.
I sat down on the floor; we all did, not believing our ears. Mike repeated the message, and we knew it was true…
To be continued….
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lance K. Ewing lives with his wife, three boys (Hudson, Jax and Hendrix), Ringo, Mini and Bobo (dogs and a cat) in McKinney, Texas. When he is not at work, he can always be found with his family, preferably outdoors. Lance grew up in the foothills of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, with the Rockies quite literally in his backyard. Families First is his debut novel. Volume seven is being written now.
Lance is a Chiropractor in Dallas, Texas. His Chronic Pain quick-read series of books is now available for sale on Amazon Kindle. Lance’s first illustrated children’s book is titled The Super Great Adventures of Rico, the Monkey-Tailed Skink, available in paperback. He has released another children’s picture book, titled The Great Toy Revolt, reminding kids that their classic toys can still be more fun than the glitzy electronic ones. It is available on Kindle, KU and in paperback.
From the author: “As a young man, I was fascinated by the writing of Stephen King. I can still remember getting a used, or sometimes brand-new, copy of classics, such as The Shining, Firestarter, Christine, Cujo, and The Dark Tower series. One book, however, topped them all: The Stand. To this day, that is the book I measure all other Post-Apocalyptic work against, including my own. As I grew older, I never left for a vacation or camping trip without a book by James Patterson stowed away in my backpack.”
If you enjoyed this volume, please leave an honest review. In this new age of publishing, reviews are heavily tied to the success of Indie authors who don’t have the backing of a large publishing house. Contact Lance at Lance@lancekewingauthor.com.
For those interested in this series, please consider keeping in touch by visiting my website at lancekewingauthor.com for upcoming books and projects, as well as updates on what I am up to. Join our e-mail list for news about upcoming volumes and sneak peeks. I will not distribute your e-mail anywhere. In return for your e- mail, I will forward you my Quick Guide e-book (free of charge and not available for sale) with more on the characters of Families First, including their backstories, much of which you will not find in any of the volumes.
Visit the Facebook page: Families First.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/447305392509202
