Dwindle: Populations Crumble: Book 1 Read online

  Dwindle

  Populations Crumble, Book 1

  K. A. Gandy

  Copyright © 2020 K. A. Gandy

  All rights reserved

  The characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  No part of this book may be reproduced, or stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without express written permission of the publisher.

  ISBN: 9798577245436

  Cover design by: K. A. Gandy

  Printed in the United States of America

  For my Dad, who raised me to fiercely believe that I could do anything, be anything, and achieve anything.

  Turns out, you were right.

  This one's for you, Dad.

  Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Two Tickets to Paradise

  Bus of Doom

  Welcome to the Deep End

  Intake Testing

  The Riot Act

  Spreading the News

  Gentleman Callers

  The Dollhouse

  Up In Smoke

  The Dating Game

  Go Fish

  Rendezvous

  Light the Match

  Shotgun Wedding

  Ripple Effect

  Letting Go

  Contenders

  Revelations

  Wedding Bell Blues

  Before you go. . .

  Books By This Author

  About The Author

  Two Tickets to Paradise

  The sun peeks through my window so bright and cheerful, it seems like any other day. As if today the only thing that will happen is the sun beaming down on flat pastures, the wind blowing through the pine trees, and the horses and cows grazing lazily. If only it was still yesterday. I know they say you can’t live in the past, but yesterday was my last day of freedom. At least for a few years, possibly ever. It’s going to be hard to let go of that day and embrace this one.

  With a stretch, I climb out of bed and start to dress for what’s coming. But what do you wear for the day your life is no longer your own? Well, I'm going with jeans. They are my protective armor. Jeans, my favorite boots, and a tank top are a little piece of comfort, and they let me pretend a while longer that all I'll be doing today is going out to saddle up and hit the woods with some of my brothers. Maybe check fences, or move some cows. But then, if that was my today, my wheeled duffle wouldn’t be sitting stuffed by my bedroom door. I pick up my pillow and shove it through the carry handle of my bag. There’s no use pretending when I've known for three years now the fate that awaits me, awaits every woman in the North American Alliance.

  I've known since I turned sixteen that a shuttle would be waiting in town today, to take me to the New Life Center of Georada. Somehow it still feels surreal, impossible. Is this really it? I mean, they send you a brochure on your sixteenth birthday, all glossy and freshly pressed, with pictures of happy, smiling women and handsome men with jaws that could cut glass. Little blurbs about how they will match you with your very own prince charming, your perfect genetic other half, and then send you off to a honeymoon paradise for the first two years of your new life together. Two years, or until I’m pregnant; whichever comes first.

  My heart nearly broke telling Morgan goodbye yesterday. We went on a long, leisurely trail ride, just me and him. When we got back, I untacked him, and gave him the best brushing down of his life. Somewhere in the middle the tears started to flow, until all I could do was cling to his big, warm neck and cry into his mane. There aren’t words to describe how much I will miss him, even though I know my family will treat him like a king. Mom’s going to do her best to fatten him up by feeding him leftover biscuits; I won’t be here to stop her.

  After getting ready in the bathroom, I pull out the handle on my bag with a click and wheel it down the hallway to the kitchen. Being the youngest of seven is no walk in the park, especially if you’re the only girl. But, I love my brothers. I would not trade having a single one for more girl time, or another stolen kiss with a boy in the hay loft. We are close, and the thought of telling them all goodbye today is tearing me in two. Gavin is already in the kitchen nursing a cup of coffee.

  “Good morning squirt,” he says with a sad grin. He’d usually be out in the back pastures by now, so I know he’s here to say his goodbyes. “How are you today? Hanging in there? I see you didn’t get all dolled up for the bus of doom.”

  I laugh, “If the bus of doom doesn’t like me as I am, I guess it’ll just have to send me back.” That’d just be too dang bad, wouldn’t it? ‘Sorry, ma’am, you don’t have glossy, shiny brochure-lady vibes, so please return to your ranch immediately.’ I am so not that lucky. He reaches back to the counter, and hands me a mug, which I can see marshmallows floating in. He’s pulling out all the stops today, hot chocolate with marshmallows before breakfast. I take a grateful sip, and give him a side hug. We hang like that for a few moments, just soaking up the early morning quiet, until we hear boots on the porch and the screen door bangs open.

  “Sadie! Where are you?” Brent hollers. That man is always loud.

  “In the kitchen, and quit yelling, it’s way too early for that,” I answer.

  “Who’s yelling?” he yells again, as Phil and Cade walk in behind him. Cade walks straight over and wraps me in a bear hug, lifting my feet off the ground in the process. I shove my mug out to the side so it doesn’t spill, and set it back on the counter before hugging him back. Once he puts me down, I see they are all in their work clothes, well-worn jeans with leather gloves hanging out of back pockets. They’ve probably been out mending fences and checking the herds since dawn. It’s getting close to time to start thinning the herds before winter, and they’ll be busy the next few weeks sorting them and bringing in the ones for the sale, and moving the rest of the herd out to the winter pastures. Only, I won’t be here this year.

  “How are the cows looking?” I ask, making small talk while they grab their own cups of coffee.

  “They’re doing fine, Sadie.” Phil answers, giving me a peck on the cheek and handing back my mug. “How are you holding up?” he asks with concern. Phil, the quiet sincere one. He doesn’t say a whole lot, but he’s all heart. That’s how he scooped Tess up so quickly; he and his high school sweetheart live across the way with their two sons. She passed on her blonde hair and blue eyes to both of my adorable nephews.

  “I’m okay, just trying not to think about it.” I refuse to start this new phase of my life with a tear-stained face. Just because it feels more like I’m heading to hell than paradise, doesn’t mean I’m not going to face it head on. They can print all the shiny happy photos of the New Life Center they want, that doesn’t change the fact that I have no choice but to participate in the compulsory marriage program.

  Marriage, at nineteen. I’m not ready to give up my freedom, but for women nowadays that’s merely a childhood illusion. It’s been years since any woman was actually free to choose her own fate. My parents were one of the last generations where participation was optional. We’re the rarity now. Most families have zero to one child, two if they’re extremely lucky. So, the North American Alliance created the New Lives Program, to help people find a better genetic match. People praised it as an amazing humanitarian effort at first, when it was voluntary. All the reports showed a thirty percent higher birth rate among couples who found their genetic match at a New Life Center.

  It wasn’t enough, though. Population rates are still in decline, and one day they d
ipped below an “acceptable level” to sustain even our new, pared down society. So here I am, nineteen. Three years after my glossy brochure promised me a perfect genetic match, and, you know, maybe someone I could grow to love . . . saying goodbye to my family, to go be a trumped-up broodmare with every other woman of age on the continent.

  I look around at my four brothers and try not to break my “no tears” resolve. With Peter off in the NAA Police Force and Teddy in training to join, the five of us are the only ones left at home. After today, our seven will be whittled down to four.

  “Mom and Dad should be here any minute with your breakfast for the road,” Brent says, breaking into my distracted state. “I hear Mom’s making you the full works; I think she’s worried you’re going to forget home cooking before they let you come back.” He says with a wry grin. As if anyone could forget my mother’s cooking.

  As if on cue, a familiar pattern is rapped on the front door. “I hope everybody’s decent in there!” my dad hollers, as he lets himself and my mom in.

  “We’ve been up for nearly two hours, Dad.” Gavin huffs, “Besides, you know Sadie doesn’t tolerate shenanigans in the bunk house.” He reaches over and grabs the basket Mom’s carrying, covered in a blue gingham towel, and then reaches down to pick up my suitcase. He heads toward the front door, to load both things in the truck.

  Mom responds, “It’s a good thing—somebody has to keep you knuckleheads in line. What are we going to do without our sweet Sadie?” She’s trying and failing not to choke up. I walk over and give both my parents a hug.

  “I’m sure they’ll be fine, Mom. They were fine on their own before, and they’ll be fine while I’m gone.” She brushes my hair out of my face and lays her hand on my cheek. Her gentle touch has been honed by years of rocking babies and kissing skinned knees, and I will miss her with every fiber of my being.

  “I know they will sweetheart, we’re just all going to miss you. I hate that instead of a fairy tale, you’re getting an arranged marriage. This is not what we ever wanted for you. But I am praying that you find your perfect match, even if it’s under less-than-ideal circumstances.”

  Dad cuts in, “She’ll be okay, darlin’. If there’s one thing our Sadie is, it’s tough; and she’s too smart to fall for anybody who doesn’t deserve her. Isn’t that right, Sadie-bear?” He wraps his arm tightly around Mom’s waist, and my heart squeezes in my chest at the familiar sight.

  I smile back weakly, “You’re right, Dad. I’ll pick a good son-in-law for you, don’t worry.” I am worried, though. Once my testing is complete, I’ll be set up with my best genetic matches. And if there’s only one? There’s only one, and I’ll be walking down the aisle with him, whoever he is.

  Gavin comes back in, screen door slamming shut behind him. He doesn’t say anything, but he doesn’t have to. He just waits, hands in his pockets. This is it, it’s time to head to town, where the bus of doom awaits. I give everyone one last hug, and head out the front door to the truck. Gavin slides into the worn-out driver’s seat of the farm truck and cranks it up, while Cade walks me to the passenger side and opens the door for me, ever the gentleman.

  “Stay safe, baby sister,” he says as I climb in.

  I give him my strongest smile, “Love you big brother, I’ll be back before you know it.” He smiles back and shuts the door carefully. Head tucked low and hands in his pockets, he walks back towards the others standing on the porch. We’d had a farewell dinner last night, and stayed up until the wee hours packed into my parents’ kitchen, telling stories and laughing. We’d hugged and shared our favorite memories until we couldn’t keep our eyes open. I didn’t want a big public goodbye at the shuttle station, despite my parents’ protests. There’s no way I’d get on the bus, if they were all standing there comforting Mom while she cried.

  Gavin pulls out of the drive, and we bump along toward the main road. I look out the window just before the turn, and give them a final, melancholy wave. They all wave in return, except Mom, whose head is already buried in Dad’s shoulder. My heart clenches at the sight.

  The truck is quiet with both of us focused on munching on Mom’s homemade biscuit sandwiches, so I reach over and turn on the radio. The NAA One announcer says they’re doing an oldies hour and I have to laugh at what starts playing. Two Tickets to Paradise blasts through the speakers.

  Somehow, I don’t think government-arranged marriage is what Eddie Money had in mind when he wrote this song two hundred years ago.

  Bus of Doom

  The ride to town is uneventful, and a little while later we pull up in front of town hall. Gavin throws the truck in park, but leaves his hand tense on the gear shifter. “Sadie, I—” he pauses, clears his throat, “I want you to know that we are here for you, however this ends. Whenever this ends. You may not have a choice in this, but we will always choose you, no matter what.” He starts to choke up, and I try to cut him off.

  “Gavin, please don’t cry. I’ll be back. Things won’t be the same, but I’ll be back one day, hopefully sooner than later.” If he cries, I’ll start and won’t be able to stop, and I don’t want to see my immovable big brother brought to tears over me. I don’t want that to be the last interaction between us for the next two years.

  “Let me finish. You know that little spot near the side forty, with the giant oak and all the wildflowers each summer?” he asks.

  “Yeah. Of course I know it, Morgan and I have spent countless afternoons reading under that tree when it’s hot as Hades out.”

  “Well, we had a family meeting, and we all agreed. That spot is yours. And when you get home, you’re going to have a brand new home, right there. The boys and I are going to build it for you and your future family. We’re going to make it real pretty for you, with a huge stone fireplace, and a little window seat that looks out over a pasture for Morgan. We went through your sketchbook and got some good ideas.” He smiles with a small quirk of his mouth, nothing huge, just enough to show that he’s hopeful but also worried I won’t like the idea. He’s wrong. I love the idea.

  I throw myself across the center console and hug him hard. “That sounds perfect, Gavin. Really, really perfect. Now I’m going to be dying to come back even sooner, to see what you guys do.” Now I’m the one choking up. Dang it, reel it in Sadie! “You are the best big brother I could ask for, Gavin. I’m going to miss you guys every day. Promise you won’t forget me?”

  “Aww, Sadie-bear, we couldn’t forget you any more than we could forget the sun itself. You’re going to be fine. Just make sure whoever you pick knows he’s got six of us to answer to, so he better treat you right. Or he just might meet Peter in a dark alley.” He’s suddenly serious, “I don’t care what this program claims—if he doesn’t treat you well, there will be consequences, do you hear me?”

  “I hear you, I hear you. I’d never allow someone like that within ten feet of me. Y’all taught me better.” Assuming I have more than one choice, that is. We say our final goodbyes as the shuttle pulls in. It’s sleek, and huge. The exterior is wrapped with a silver banner that screams, “Your New Life Awaits!” If only a new life was what I was after.

  There are several other girls milling around, a few I know, but surprisingly a few I don’t, as well. It looks like there are about seven of us catching this shuttle to the capital city. I give a small wave to the four girls I recognize from school, and they wave back with varying degrees of excitement as they say goodbye to their families. The younger the girl, the bigger the wave. It seems they’ve bought into the idea of wedded bliss and a two year vacation in paradise a bit more than I have—and by how young they look, a few of them must have had their parents sign the waiver to come a year early, at sixteen. Not me. I loved my life too much to want to leave a second sooner than I had to.

  Off the shuttle steps a man who looks to be in his early forties, with movie-star good looks. He’s clean shaven, and wearing a blazer over a button up shirt. He takes us all in and smiles, and his teeth could be in a too
thpaste commercial, they’re so white. “Welcome ladies! My name is Eric, and I’ll be your escort to the Georada New Life Center! I hope you’re all as excited to be here as we are to have you! If you’d all line up with your bags, I’ll be checking you in, and Todd, our driver, will be loading your bags under the shuttle for you.” Todd steps out of the shuttle and gives us a cursory wave before popping open the luggage compartment of the shuttle.

  “Once everyone is present and accounted for, you’ll all be able to choose your seats and we’ll get on the road. You’ll find everything you need inside; we have a full restroom, snacks, and beverages. As well as on-board entertainment. If you ladies find you need anything that we haven’t anticipated, I’ll be right here with you the whole way; all you have to do is ask. Every one of your heart’s desires is safe with me.” He finishes with a twinkle in his eye and a hand over his heart.

  The girls start giving final hugs and lining up, a single bag in tow for each of them. I turn to Gavin, who’s trying and failing to hide a mildly disgusted look. “He’s really laying it on thick, huh? ‘Your heart’s desire’, really? How much do you think they pay him to say that?”

  “Gavin, I’m sure he’s just trying to make everyone feel comfortable. What’s he supposed to say, ‘Beware all who board this bus of doom?’”

  He chuckles and loosens his stranglehold on my bag, “Fine, fine. I’m just not buying it, is all I’m saying.” He leans over and gives me a swift kiss to the forehead, and then reluctantly hands me my bag. “I’m going to wait right here until you’re safely off. As soon as they’ll let you, you call us. Or write us, or both, okay? There’s nothing too big or too small to tell us. And stay away from Eric; he gives me a bad vibe.”

  “I know Gav, I know. I’ll write as much as I can. You’ll be sick of hearing from me, promise.” I pause. I guess this is really it. “Take really good care of Morgan for me, okay? Show him my picture, and make sure he gets ridden a few times a week. Try to make sure Mom doesn’t just fatten him up with biscuits and apples. It’s really not good for a horse to have that much bread.”