Epilogue

A final glimpse into the lives of the survivors.

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Some of this podcast has been recorded on equipment from the Billings Public Library Co+Lab. Thanks to Renee Barratt of The Cover Counts for the cover design. Music by Mikhail Smusev from Pixabay.

Transcript

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Sternella Creative is proud to welcome you to the final episode of the serialized podcast production of The Scarring Underneath. Written and performed by T. S. Dickerson.

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Epilogue.

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Lena adjusted the lead rope of the mule she was ponying and gazed at the mountains. An early rainstorm had turned into sleet, forcing her and Cass to stay overnight on their supply run, like the first of the season. Snow was falling in the higher elevations, but their path home was clear. It helped that they could ride on the interstate the entire way from the city to the guest ranch they now called home. She glanced over at Cass, met her eyes, and smiled. She received a nod in return. Cass could smile again, but she didn't do it often. Most of her smiles were reserved for Billy and Dynamite. Lena admired the bay mare her friend rode. As she watched, Cass pulled back the reins and said, Whoa. Lena pulled up her own mount. What's up? she asked. Cass didn't answer, but secured the lead rope of the pack horse she led and dismounted. Lena huffed in disbelief, her breath visible in the air before her. How was it possible Cass had already adapted so well? She rode and worked like she'd never been injured, much less had an arm amputated. Cass walked up to a vehicle and rubbed her hand across the driver's side rear window. Lena clucked at her horse and moved in closer, trying to see what had caught the woman's eye. Goodies? she asked. Her eyebrows lifted as Cass turned to her, smiling. Two hours later, she watched an even bigger smile cross Cass's face as they rode into camp, and Billy spotted the guitar hanging across Cass's back. He stood back as she dismounted, shaking his head in disbelief. Two of the group's newer members, a brown haired boy and his aunt, who Doc had rescued from New Danville, took Lena's horse and mule. Lena thanked the pair and turned to greet Darcy with a hug. We were worried about you, she said. Was it just the weather? Lena nodded. We didn't know how bad it would get, so we found an old middle school to stay in. The horses slept in the gym. Darcy laughed and made room for Trista, who joined them with a crying infant in her arms. She bounced the baby girl and shushed her until she quieted. How's Katie today? Lena asked, wiggling her fingers at the baby. Not as bad as she'd have you believe, Trista said. She has a flair for the dramatic already. Maybe Billy will teach her to act one day. Lena and Darcy laughed, and all three women turned to watch as Billy inspected his new guitar and thanked Cass. He zipped up the soft case and leaned in to press his lips to Cass's forehead. He took her hand, and both of them paused to stare down at their intertwined fingers. They're getting better at that, Trista said. Darcy nodded and let out a little squeal. Lena rolled her eyes. Katie began to cry again, and the lovebirds approached. How's your girl? Cass asked. She wants her auntie, Trista said, passing the baby over. Lena watched in fascination as Cass took the baby and tucked her into the crook of her only arm. Someone had made Trista a sling to carry the baby as she worked, and Cass often used it, but didn't need it. Katie was always content with Cass. She twined her little fingers around the horsehair necklace made by her namesake and tugged. Lena laughed to herself. That's right, she thought. There was one other person who always ended up with Cass's smiles.

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Cass ran her cheek against the infants.

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Katie was hungry, and complained in half-hearted muse against Cass's face, trying to suck her aunt's soft flesh. Trista appeared, already unzipping her jacket. Thank you, she said. Cass leaned back to let Trista scoop the child from her arm. She stayed reclined in her camping chair, watching the patches of fog dissipate over the nearby hills, like wraiths disappearing into the clouds. The day was beginning to brighten and warm. Cam arrived, carrying a wooden box. We're having eggs with lunch, he said. Trista let out a soft cheer as she headed for the house. On the porch, Rylan clapped in excitement before gathering an armload of firewood and heading back indoors. First eggs, Cass, Cam repeated as he passed her, patting her leg. Come have lunch. She half smiled and looked back at the hills. Once alone, Cass tilted back her head and closed her eyes. Before she'd achieved any kind of peace, something struck her boot. She looked down at the pebble spinning near her foot and traced its likely trajectory. Billy stood in the thin space between the porch and the hill it nestled against. His eyes flashed as she watched him, and he tipped his head back and to the right, toward their spot behind the hill. Cass was hungry now, but not for food. She stood and followed where he'd already disappeared. She ran along the base of the hill until she collided with him, his arms keeping her upright. They kissed, deep and hot, each motion dragging at her, making her crave more. She slid her hand under his jacket and shirt, running it up the skin of his back. She felt his hand slip down along her hip and into the waistband of her jeans. She leaned into him. He pulled his head away. We could wait, he said, eyes sparking mischief. There's eggs for lunch. I don't want eggs, she said, pressing her lips against his again. Later, with her back nestled comfortably into a nook at the foot of the hill, Cass moaned. Her eyes flicked open, and she found her vision blurred by Billy's hair. Through the blonde strand she could see steam rising off his bare back, a miniature of the mist on the hills around them. A surge of sensation pulsed through her, and she had to fight to keep her eyes open, clenching her teeth with the effort of keeping her hand to herself. Her arms stretched above her in the sparse cool grass. Every inch of her skin was burning, every muscle taught as she pressed her body into him, matching his movement. Billy moaned and brushed his lips over her shoulder, and she shivered and tore at the grass, a clump of dirt popping free and crumbling in her grasp. She let out an agonized groan and tightened her legs around Billy's waist, pressing as much of her skin against his as she could manage. Unable to stand it any longer, she raised her arms, sharp pains radiating through the stump of the left. Bits of dirt and a few blades of grass rained down on her face and into Billy's hair as she placed her palm lightly on his shoulder. This time, Billy didn't flinch or slow, but rather ran his hand down her side, gripping her hip and pushing deeper into her. Cass increased the pressure on his shoulder, her fingers indenting his flesh, then whitening. She bit her lip to stop herself as Billy lifted his head and met her eyes. They were steady and dark with lust. His expression showed no hesitation. She slid her arm further around him, pulling her body up from the ground and tight against his, burying her face in his neck. She hadn't told him that this was when the phantom sensations of her missing limb were the worst. Not being able to do things as easily as she once had was at best an annoyance and often worse. But not being able to hold him the way she longed to, that was her agony. Maybe she would tell him one day. Maybe he would understand that her body was crying out the depth of her feeling for him. I love you, she gasped, as the two of them climaxed together. As Billy's breathing began to slow, Cass loosened her grip, but he pulled her harder against him. Don't let go yet, he whispered, trembling. Cass softened in his grasp, but continued to cling to him. They waited like that until the spring breeze began to chill Cass's bare skin. She shivered and Billy released her, lowering her back into the little notch in the earth. He stood, and Cass watched his naked body strong and lithe as he gathered their clothes and returned. She smiled and sat up, taking her shirt from the pile and pulling it over her head. This process was surprisingly easier than pulling on her underwear and pants. She shimmied them up her body, tugging on each side in turn. Billy, already dressed, was watching her. What? she asked. He wore a smile, but his eyes were uncertain. You know what you said, don't you? Instead of answering, she finished maneuvering into her pants and leaned back on her elbow. For a long moment she just watched him, still as a statue except for the movement of his hair and the wind. She felt her own blown back, her neck exposed and sending tingles down her spine. You're so beautiful, Billy said. The bottom dropped out of her gut. You're not bad yourself, she said, smiling. William. He shook his head with a crooked grin. Billy. Cass gave a single nod. I love you, Billy. He shut his eyes and tilted his head back as if lifting his face to the sun, though the sun still hung behind the clouds. I love you, Cassidy. She stood, crossed over to him, and pressed her lips to his. The kiss was gentle, sweet, and long. A bark cut through the silence, startling them both. They jerked away from one another, chuckling as Brick shoved his way between their legs. They petted him and followed him back along the hill. Cass thought of the bag she'd loaded with toys and grooming supplies while she was in town. It was probably excessive. But Brick was all she had left of Drew, and Drew had loved her so well, the least she could do was spoil his dog. Brick tired of their slow pace and bounded around the corner out of sight. Cass caught Billy looking at her side long. That arm is getting strong, he said, a huskiness in his voice. Cass nodded. And there's certainly nothing wrong with your legs, he added, slowing his pace so he could turn and look her up and down. Remembering those legs tied around him as he flexed and arced between them. She stopped walking. Nothing at all, she said. Her own desires were mirrored in his eyes. Cass reached out and took his hand, pulling it to her lips. She rubbed them across his knuckles, then drew his index finger into her mouth. She watched his shoulders rise and fall faster, and released his hand, smiling.

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We could always stay back here for a little longer, she said.

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It's been so much fun to visit Cass and Billy again. Thank you for joining me on the Durnhub. It's been a joy to share this book with you.