Sloan's Journey: The Long Road South, #1

By Dawn Millen

My eyelids fly open with the soft knocking on the front door of Peggy’s home. Bessie is standing on the end of the mattress, her head turned towards the sound, a soft growl coming from her lips. The first grey streaks of morning show through the closed curtains. Who on earth would be knocking on the door at this hour of the morning. I reach under the pillow for the Glock and pulling the blanket aside I push up from the floor heading quietly for the door.

Peggy is already in the hallway as I open the bedroom door; her sword stick clutched in her hand, her wrinkled face has a determined expression. She slowly heads for the door and pausing by the window gently pulls the curtain aside, just enough to see who is there. A smile comes over her face as she leans forward to open the door.

Meet Sloan, anti hero, vigilante and all round tough soldier. His journey through a devastated land leading a band of assorted characters proves to be a rollicking tale of adventure. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Twinny in a Tinny Publications
• Release date: May 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386154761

Dawn Millen

Dawn Millen was born in North Wales UK has lived for long periods in New Zealand and currently lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia.  Dawn was widowed in late 2010 and wrote her first book, “Widowhood 101” was published in May 2012 and quickly followed by “Widowhood 102 – The Diary Entries” and “Widowhood 103 – Tears Grief”. Widowhood 103 was written in collaboration with Annie Watson. These books describe Dawn’s journey through the death of her husband and the first year of widowhood. There are more books planned for the series over the coming years as the changes wrought by the loss of her much loved husband become apparent. “Outback Exodus” was Dawn’s first venture into publishing her fiction work and the story has been written with a deep love of Australia which expands across the vast Outback and culminates on the beautiful East Coast Flood Plains.  “Settled on the Coast”  followed “Outback Exodus” and continues the story of the band of travellers as they set up their new lives  Gordon Under Attack takes you into the first year of settlement and the gangs which threaten the safety of the village. Sloan carries forward the story of the saviour of the village of Gordon.  New Generations carries the story of the settlement of Gordon 50 years into the future. If you enjoy the work please return to the place of purchase to leave a review. Dawn now adds a new series which has spun off from the Outback Exodus which picks up where Sloan finishes. The new series is called The Long Road South which was released in February 2017.   Connect with the Author on line Facebook    https://www.facebook.com/dawn.myfanwyn.millen https://www.facebook.com/JourneyfromWetoMe Amazon       http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B008NF9JLK

Book preview

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously; any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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Dedication

As always I am dedicating this book to those who are such a part of my life and of the stories.

Thank you Cathy and Jackie for your editing skills and eye for detail.

The books always read better when you ladies have been part of them.

A huge thank you yet again to the person Sloan is based on. Your help as always my friend is invaluable. One of these days we will meet face to face.

There are many others who should be listed on this page, they know who they are and they know they have my love and gratitude.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

About the Author

Chapter 1

My eyelids fly open with the soft knocking on the front door of Peggy’s home. Bessie is standing on the end of the mattress, her head turned towards the sound, a soft growl coming from her lips. The first grey streaks of morning show through the closed curtains. Who on earth would be knocking on the door at this hour of the morning. I reach under the pillow for the Glock and pulling the blanket aside I push up from the floor heading quietly for the door.

Peggy is already in the hallway as I open the bedroom door; her sword stick clutched in her hand, her wrinkled face has a determined expression. She slowly heads for the door and pausing by the window gently pulls the curtain aside, just enough to see who is there. A smile comes over her face as she leans forward to open the door.

It’s okay Sloan; Doctor Helen has popped round to see us. She has been coming most weeks recently to keep an eye on us and pick up some of the herbal medicines I make. Peggy laughs as she beckons the Doctor into the house. Come on in Helen, I’ll get the fire going and get a cuppa for you. We are only just getting moving this morning. We have a big day ahead of us.

We enter the kitchen to be greeted by Gracie and Bill who already have the fire going in the stove, the kettle is already on the hob. Morning Doc. Bill calls out from his place by the stove.

Morning Bill, morning Gracie. Hello again Sloan. The Doctor’s soft voice fills the kitchen.

I can see Doctor Helen’s eyes flickering around the room as she takes note of the gaps in places where things have already been packed away for the trip south. I also notice she is very tired; lines of stress are etched deep into her dainty face. Her pregnant bump shows awkwardly as she manages to snag a chair and flop into it with a tired sigh.

What brings you in at this hour Helen? Peggy asks as she hands the tired Doctor a cup of tea.

I came in to try to round up supplies to take back out to Gordon. We were attacked two days ago. I have a lot of injured to treat. I have been working almost around the clock since then, but we are fast running out of some of the herbal potions you make for me Peggy. I need the drawing paste and some of your willow bark liquid.

Attacked? Peggy tries to look surprised. Who attacked you, how many injured do you have out there. How many killed in the attack?

We lost several in the attack including Krystal. I have 23 injured out there including some of the gang who attacked us. The worst injuries are the gunshots, those are going to be difficult to heal, but we will have to deal with them the best we can. Gavin was shot in the knee; it has caused so much damage he will never be able to bend his leg again. Infection is going to be our biggest worry for the time being. The Doctor fills us all in on what has happened at Gordon.

I have plenty of the drawing paste and I have already written out the ingredients for you to be able to make more. The willow bark liquid is in the large brown bottle over there. It is double strength so should last a while. The recipe is also in the folder I’ve made up for you. I’ve included all the things I think you may need to make for your medicine cabinet Helen. Peggy hands Helen a folder filled to overflowing with her herbal recipes.

Is there some reason you won’t be making them? Helen asks.

Yes, there is, we are leaving to travel down south with Sloan. We will be out of here tomorrow. Sloan has become like family to us all so we are happy to be going with him. Gracie chimes in with her soft musical voice.

Tell us more about the attack, who was wounded and how badly, who was killed and how you got out of it without losing the settlement. Bill asks Helen to continue her story.

Gavin is one of the worst of the casualties, though I do have a few head injuries, some of the gang have some nasty broken bones, but they are not really a priority. The casualty list is quite long and may go up before we get much further through the week. Krystal you know about, Wendy Amiss, John Goodson and Fred Wilson were also killed. I’m not too sure about a couple of the injured either as I have no antibiotics to treat them with, so infection may take some of the weaker ones. Helen’s face falls as she tells the story of the attack, the injuries and deaths in the village. The pain of not being able to help as much as she could have a year ago is taking a toll on the delicate Doctor.

Funny thing though, the end of the fight came very quickly after Gavin was hit. A sniper got the two leaders of the gang and a couple of others. It all happened very quickly. The fight seemed to go right out of them after the leaders dropped. No one saw who it was shooting, but we know where he was as Ernie saw him from the observation tower, hidden in a tree about a hundred yards from the settlement. Helen tells the story of the last moments of the attack. No one is sure who it was in the tree, but the village is very grateful for their actions. It saved many lives including Gavin’s. Helen concludes looking straight at me, gratitude evident on her face, a small smile turning her lips upward.

We chat about the trip south for a while before it is time for Helen to head off back to Gordon with her supplies, the equipment to make them which Peggy was going to leave and the recipes. There were hugs all round from Doctor Helen