An Undeniable Truth

By M.L. Cook

Jill found herself alone in a broken world. A world she fought to save. How much more would she have to lose?
Josh refused to allow the world to break him. With a carefree smile, and a big truck, he was ready to face anything...well, maybe anything.

Two people that couldn't possible be more opposite find each other in a world that is lost to the selfish, senselessness of mankind. Together they try to save what is left of their dying world.
But can they?

How will the world end? Is there any coming back from it? How will mankind survive, and if they do...will he learn from their mistakes?

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.L. Cook
• Release date: Aug 17, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005053734

M.L. Cook

M.L. (Mary) Cook lives in the Midwest. She enjoys her quiet mornings with a cup of freshly brewed coffee. It’s in quiet times, be they morning or the dead of night, inspiration comes to her, and words flow. It’s up to her to catch it and turn that inspiration into magical worlds, which will in time, unfold on the pages of a book. When she’s not writing, she’s caring for her grandchildren. In other words, playing with the babies.

Book preview

Earth Warrior Prequel

An Undeniable Truth

One Woman’s Struggle to Survive in a Dying World

By: M. L. Cook

An Undeniable Truth, Second Edition

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be copied, stored, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior permission of the author. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Contact Information: [e-mail]

Cover designed by Got You Covered

Edited by Lisa Miller

*This book was previously published under the name Almost Forever by (M.L.) Mary Cook

*This is the second edition of An Undeniable Truth, published in 2019

By (Mary) M.L. Cook

The Mists of Stone Lake

Mirror Image

Dark Intentions (now including Guilty)

Tenth Stem

The Adventures of Lok’Toria:

The Princess Finds a Pet

The Pet Finds a Boy

The Boy Finds a Crown

Username Unknown

Fury Rising:

First Oracle

Felidian Warriors:

New Dawn

Dawn of Inception

Forging an Alliance

Relentless Pursuit

Souls United

Tomorrow’s Hope

Captured

Dark Star Warriors:

Dark Star

The Wolves of Whitebark Stand:

Serenity’s Gift

Earth Warriors

An Undeniable Truth

Eden

Anna

Chapter One

Missouri

The local station had predicted today’s weather would be perfect, and they’d delivered. Temperatures had pushed past ninety degrees with humidity in the low fifties. The Midwest didn’t see many days as perfect as this, and Amber was determined to make the most of it. She stepped onto her patio, a glass in one hand and a towel draped over her arm.

After one glance into the cloudless sky, she grabbed her floating lounger and stepped into the swimming pool. She was ready to relax and do exactly what she’d spent months planning…nothing.

A large floppy hat kept the sun out, and a pair of darkly tinted glasses helped with the glare. She floated around the pool, occasionally splashing her overheated body, and sipped her tea.

Amber couldn’t think of a better way to spend her vacation. The glorious part was that it was free, it was easy, and she wouldn’t have to deal with anybody. Her phone sat plugged in, inside the house, turned off, and that’s where it would stay for the duration.

She hadn’t told her father where she was or what she was doing. A tug of guilt ate at the lie. After all, he was the only one she really cared about, anyway.

She had a dream job with a six-figure income and all the benefits. It was the only reason she could afford this large house—her dream home—in the country. She’d loved the spacious rooms. The jacuzzi in the master bath was a strong selling point. The pool hooked the deal. 

She’d never married and had no children, no responsibilities. Just the way she’d liked it, with no intention of changing it in the foreseeable future. Life was perfect for Amber.

She drizzled cool water across overheated skin and reached for her tea. Something in her periphery caught her eye. She took her sunglasses off, then her hat, and looked up. What she saw terrified her. She dove out of her seat and swam toward the bottom of the pool.

***

Across town, a fifth grader stared out the window, wishing school were over. Most of her days were spent looking out this window, watching as the clouds rolled by. Jilly often wished she could sit atop one of those same clouds and float away. She’d always been different, set apart by her classmates. Simply put, she didn’t fit.

Jilly had only a few friends. If you could call them that. They were merely the ones whose names she knew, who also knew her name. They were more like acquaintances who’d call out across the halls as they headed for class. She didn’t let anyone get close, preferring to keep to herself. Everybody thought she was too shy. That wasn’t it at all. There was just no time or room in her life for friends.

Jilly’s mother worked part-time and took in extra work from the people in town to help make ends meet. Dad had been gone a long time. Jilly didn’t know where he was, and she honestly didn’t believe he was ever coming home. She’d asked her mother about him a few times. The answer was always followed by a long pause, which was then followed by questions that had nothing to do with her father.

Were her chores done? Did she finish her homework? Wasn’t it close to bedtime?

So, she quit asking.

His promised I’ll be home for your birthday was never fulfilled. She’d spent most nights softly crying, alone in her bed. Some nights she’d awaken to hear her mother’s sobs, while crying out for Jilly’s dad.

Jill knew the truth. Although, for her mother’s sake, she never said anything. Her dad wasn’t coming home.

Her musings were interrupted when she saw something out of the corner of her eye. A glowing ball of fire streaked across the sky, rushing toward the earth. She sat up straighter and narrowed her gaze on the mysterious object. Before she got a good look, the teacher stepped between her and the window. By the time she’d moved away, it was gone.

***

James McMurry stepped onto the front porch. Behind him, the screen door banged shut. Welp, I guess it’s time to feed the chickens, he said as he stepped off the porch. Behind him, wings flapping, a large mallard that he’d named Kingston followed. With every step, the duck proclaimed his loud protests.

James made his way toward the barn. Without looking back, he answered, Nobody said you had to come with me.

James had been driving back from town when a large duck flew into his path. Although he’d swerved, truck and duck met. After stomping on the brakes, he’d pulled over to the side of the road and checked to see how bad it was. He smiled as he watched her flap her way across, glaring at him and squawking loudly. Since she was still moving, he’d hoped she’d be all right. Instead, she fell before reaching the other side. When he went to move her out of the road, he noticed a nest with three eggs.

He’d decided since he couldn’t save her, he’d save her babies. He scooped the eggs up, put them in his hat, and drove back to the farm. Luckily, one of his old hens adopted them. Two of the three never hatched. The third produced the large mallard, which now followed him everywhere he went. He’d been dubbed Kingston because he’d declared himself king of the farm. Kingston never seemed to realize he wasn’t a rooster, and every morning at dawn, he would fly to the roof and loudly proclaim the day. He guarded the henhouse closely. Since he had hatched, not a single chicken had disappeared. No hawks, no foxes, not even the neighbor’s cats bothered the chickens, not with Kingston on patrol.

James took off his hat, wiped his brow, then looked to the far horizon. He glanced at his companion and said, Gonna be a hot one. Probably shouldn’t have worn these coveralls.

Kingston proclaimed his agreement.

James chuckled and continued toward the barn. Every morning he got up and put on his coveralls and fed the chickens. Once finished, he ate a breakfast that probably contained more eggs than a man his age should eat. After breakfast, he sat in a chair by the back window and sipped a cup of coffee, which more resembled mud than coffee. He had been doing the same thing for over sixty years and saw no reason to change now.

He and Kingston waddled over to the barn, filled his bucket, then went to the coop. Here, chick, chick, chick. He clicked and whistled until all the chickens gathered around his feet. Kingston flapped up to sit on the roof of the coop, then quacked loudly.

You do know, you ain’t no rooster? He certainly tried; James had to give him that. No matter how hard Kingston tried, however, there would be no fertile eggs from those unions, which brought a laugh from James.

After the chickens were fed, the bucket was returned to the barn. James hobbled over to the porch and sat in his old rocker. He used the brim of his hat to fan his face and gazed toward the place his daughter had bought a house.

Amber had been on him to get rid of the farm for the past year. She had driven him to all the surrounding towns and shown him one senior living place after another. He’d refused to give up the farm, telling her there were too many precious memories there for him.

He thought back to the day they’d returned from her failed attempts to get him to move.

 That’s where you took your first steps, and over there’s where you fell off that table and busted your head. Had to get six stitches, about scared your mother to death…

His voice faded at the memory of his wife, now gone for so many years.

Amber pointed to an old rocking chair in the corner by the bookcase. It was Sheila’s favorite place to sit. She could reach all her favorite books and feel the heat from the hearth. A basket of her knitting still sat next to her chair. In a voice choked with emotion she said, "And that’s where mom took her last breath.

Dad, I know this place holds a lot of fond memories, but it also holds some very sad ones. The kitchen where Benny fell out of his highchair and cracked his head open, mom screaming as she held his limp body. I thought it was just her, but his chair still sits in the corner.

Can’t act as though he never lived, James hissed as he glared at his daughter.

He reached into his back pocket and took out a handkerchief to wipe away the stray tear. After all these years, he still hadn’t gotten over it.

The memory brought with it the realization that it was time to move on. It was time to make some new, happy memories. After Amber had left, he’d called back one of the assisted living places and talked to a woman. She’d driven out and picked him up. He gave the place a second look and decided to take it. He’d insisted on taking her for a bite to eat in return for putting her out. They’d spent most of the evening sitting on the porch sipping bad coffee spiked with a little whisky. The next morning when she headed back to town, his mind made up, he called a broker and put the farm up for sale.

He had yet to tell his daughter. As soon as she returned from her vacation, he’d make the announcement.

Something streaking across the sky caught his attention. Whatever it was, it was headed right for Amber’s new house. Well, no sense worrying about it now. Nothing to be done about it. Amber was on vacation, and he didn’t want to bother her with something that would only cause her worry. Right now, she was probably sitting somewhere on a sandy beach, sipping exotic drinks delivered by nearly naked men. Even if he were inclined to call, and he wasn’t, she’d told him there was no service there.

***

Across town, Phil sat in his patrol car behind the sign welcoming people to their small town of Hartville. The windows were down, hat pulled over his eyes, seat reclined. The squawk of the radio startled him from his nap.

Phil, you there?

He sat up, closed the windows, and reached for the mic.

Yeah, I’m here, what’s up, Tam?

I just got a report of an object falling from the sky. Looks like it’s just north of town, out toward highway 133 and 17. Out by the old McMurry farm.

I’ll drive out there and check it out. Hopefully, everything’s all right. Old man McMurry has had more than his share of trouble these past few years.

It’s out past his farm. Some say it looks like it might be where they’ve put up that new addition.

Okay, you got it.

Chapter Two

California

The thing Susan Cooper hated the most about living in Southern California was the traffic. She’d begged her mother to take a flight, which wouldn’t put her in rush hour. Without success. That woman’s happiness revolved around doing everything she could to make Sue mad. There was nothing she could do about it now. She was sitting in a parking lot referred to as the Santa Monica Freeway. She was going to be late, and probably wouldn’t get home until after Doug put Joshua down for the night.

Sue was a nervous wreck. Doug had assured her that everything would be fine, that she was worried over nothing. He told her he’d win her mother over with his charm and wit. Then there was the baby. She worried about how her mother would feel about him. How could she not love baby Joshua? He was adorable, with that head full of curls and big blue eyes. Who could hate a baby?

Sue was startled out of her thoughts when the loud ringing of her phone came through the car’s speakers. She glared at the number on the large screen. With a loud sigh, she answered, Hi, Mom.

Katherine’s irritation bled through the speakers. Susan, where are you? I’ve been here for half an hour.

Sue narrowed her eyes and slammed a hand against the steering wheel. At the sound of her horn, she yelped and shot an apologetic smile to the driver in the car next to her.

Turning her attention to her mother, she hissed, "This is exactly