Secrets in Everly

By Mae Cannon

Dreams, family, justice? What will she choose?

Civil was is a beastly business, but sixty years later, the new Commonwealth of Glorian has rebuilt. The catch? Every citizen must swear the Oath of Dedication. Ainsley envisioned a simple life on the farm for herself after she swore the Oath. But when she discovers her father has

• Language: English
• Publisher: Author Mae Cannon
• Release date: Nov 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781958626122

Mae Cannon

Mae Cannon loves her simple life in a small town in Idaho. With five kids, a daughter-in-law, a busy husband, a lap dog, and a fixer-upper house, her life is anything but quiet. When it's cold outside, as it often is, she can be found either writing or curled up with a blanket, a mug of hot wassail, and a good book. She spends her summers on the lake soaking up the sun on her paddleboard and obsessing over the hummingbirds that call her front porch home.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

War is an ugly thing. But when it’s a civil war, it turns from ugly to beastly. Houses divided. Brother fighting against brother. Neighboring communities arguing over who is right and who is wrong. Conrad knew that better than most. He had willingly enlisted in the military just months before the civil unrest had officially started. The tension, of course, had been building for years. In his mind, he blamed the one-sided media. They ignited the fire then fanned the flames and watched as the country tore themselves apart from the inside. That’s why he had no use for communication devices. His job required him to carry a cell phone and radio. But he used his cell phone only for its original intended purpose: phones calls. He didn’t even like texting but did so when the occasion called for it. He did, however, hide a small tablet under his pillow. It served only one purpose: to watch Peaky Blinders. All six seasons were downloaded. The tablet contained nothing else.

He and his squadron were the key players in overtaking one of the most important military bases in the area. From there, it had been mostly economic warfare. The dissenters had no desire to raid or bomb or open fire. Cutting off food and energy supplies had secured their positions more effectively than they could have hoped.

The enemy, on the other hand, retaliated with brute force. They didn’t care about the number of casualties as long as at the end of the day, they won. Large cities in strategic areas that wanted to cede from the union had been blown to bits. Main interstates and highways had been disintegrated. But at the end of the day, their inhumane tactics only helped them lose.

The Summit of Succession was held in the spring of 2024. There, five new countries were born, creating a total of six independent countries where only one had stood. Three of those five new countries created their own international alliances, promising peace and fair trade amongst themselves. Two had been more than happy to be left to their own devices.

In the aftermath, the new countries had the arduous task of forming new governments. All three of the allianced countries modeled their governments in line with what America’s founding fathers had originally intended. Commonwealth of Glorian experienced harsh economic growing pains. But the general attitude of the population was of care and concern for each other. Communities banded together to share what they had. Neighbor took care of neighbor. For a time, money was almost unnecessary. Oil producers shared fuel with farmers, so farmers could share food with everyone. Doctors treated anyone who was ill without asking for payment. Teachers taught not for money but because they were deeply invested in the education of future generations. Everyone had their needs met, regardless of occupation, race, gender, or status.

In 2030, the President of Commonwealth of Glorian and his staff signed the Law of Dedication as an amendment to the constitution. The country flourished and thrived, and in 2042, they opened its borders to all who wanted to partake of this lifestyle. The one requirement set by this law: Every adult citizen had to swear the Oath of Dedication.

1

The letter sat on the kitchen counter, staring at her, taunting her. It was the first thing Ainsley noticed when she entered the room. Its edges were crisp, no crinkles or bends. Obviously, it had been hand delivered. She wondered how long it had been laying there. Couriers had probably been sent out at the crack of dawn. But she wasn’t going to give in to it. She didn’t have to open it to know what it said. There would be some superfluous garbage congratulating her on this important step forward in her life. It would tell her the day she is to leave and include a packing list. The only new information it could tell her is if she would get an escort and if so, who it will be. Not as if that mattered. Ainsley had heard rumors and idle gossip about some of the escorts, but she had never met any and knew none of them by name.

She didn’t open the letter.

She heard her mother’s footsteps coming down the hall. Ainsley wasn’t in the mood to be confronted or pressured into reading it. She grabbed her backpack and red leather jacket and rushed out the door. Her mother only saw the wave of Ainsley’s long strawberry blond hair before hearing the door slam.

Tom leaned against the brick wall of the school, shaded from the bright sun by a group of large pine trees. He had been avoiding Ainsley all morning, but he couldn’t avoid her forever. His usually tidy hair looked disheveled, as if he had been running his fingers through it all morning, something he didn’t often do. Wearing his typical jeans and a button up plaid shirt, complete with cowboy boots on his feet, he rubbed his closed eyes, attempting to stave off the impending headache. He knew he was the only person in the world she wanted to talk to right now. The entire senior class was buzzing with excitement about their letters, and the two couldn’t care less. At least, that was before he had read his. He watched her walk towards him as a knot formed in his stomach.

Ainsley approached cautiously.

Tom watched his girlfriend as she headed his way. Her tank top blouse and tight shorts showed off nicely her slender, toned body. Strands of red and blond hair glistened in the sunlight. He believed her to be the most beautiful girl in town. How he landed her was a mystery.

Despite his adoration for her, he skipped the pleasantries. Did you open your letter? His voice was hoarse as he tried to fight off emotion.

You know me better than that. Of course, I didn’t. I don’t care what it says. We know the drill. We’ll go, get our recommendations, swear the oath, then come back to Everly and get married, just like we’ve always planned. They had been planning their lives together for almost three years now. They envisioned a barn wedding. Ainsley insisted on burlap and sunflowers. Tom wanted a little house on the outskirts of town. And they both agreed on having a bundle of kids to make it complete.

He didn’t say a word, just fished his letter from his backpack and handed it to her. Fear set in as she started to read aloud.

Dear Mr. Hunt, Congratulations on this next step in your life. We are happy to inform you that you are scheduled to arrive Monday, June 5 to the Mammoth Lakes Testing Center.

Ainsley looked up with wide eyes. Mammoth Lakes? Why are they sending you there? Everybody from Everly goes to La Madera.

Keep reading, he said.

She obeyed. We understand that this location may seem out of the norm. Rest assured that this is not a mistake. After a thorough review of your high school transcript and test scores, we have determined that Mammoth Lakes offers a curriculum best suited for you.

Tom wasn’t the smartest kid in their senior class. But he wasn’t the dumbest either. Just average. In fact, everything about him was average. At five foot nine inches, with sandy brown hair, there was nothing special or extraordinary about him. That’s what Ainsley found so attractive. His normalcy. Not too shy, not to eccentric. Just normal. The kind of normal that made for a good father and husband. The kind that would be grounded.

They had been acquaintances since kindergarten. Everly was a small town with only two elementary schools, and both had attended the same one. They ran indifferent circles in middle school. As freshman, when allowed to pick their own electives, they shared all the same agriculture classes, a fortuitous oddity. The pair had been inseparable since.

You need to open your letter, Ains. Let’s not freak out until we see what yours says.

Ainsley wasn’t encouraged. Her exit exam scores were well above the national average, nearly perfect, a secret she had kept from Tom. A secret she had kept from most people, including her parents. She knew if they were assigned camps based on academics, they would not be attending the same one.

Tom ignored her sour expression, kissed her gently on the forehead, and quickly walked away as the bell rang.

She needed to open her letter…now.

2

Nila heard the old truck fly down the gravel driveway before it whipped passed the garden window above the sink. She was surprised to see her daughter home so early. Her hands and arms were covered in soapy dishwater, but she rushed to the back door anyway, wiping them on her apron.

Ainsley didn’t say a word, but the look on her face said that something was very wrong. She flew to the kitchen counter, toward the crisp, white envelope. The paper was thick and didn’t want to cooperate. Her hands shook too much to make any progress in opening it. Nila calmly took control of the situation and grabbed a knife from a nearby drawer. She sliced the envelope open and rested her hand on Ainsley’s shoulder before handing the envelope to her.

What was meant to be a reassuring look sent Ainsley over the edge. Tears threatened to spill. Nila reached in for a hug, but Ainsley pushed her back with a sudden fire in her eyes. She took a deep breath and began to read.

Dear Miss Morgan, Congratulations on this next step in your life. We are pleased to inform you that you are scheduled to arrive Monday, June 5 at the West Hope Testing Center.

Once, when Ainsley was younger, playing slo-pitch ball for the city league, she had been hit in the stomach with a baseball bat. The force knocked her to the ground gasping for air. This feeling was far worse. She couldn’t read the rest. She thought about Tom, about being apart from him. She lost all control when she pictured her happily ever after being ripped away from her. This new development was unacceptable.

Nila took the letter and continued.

We understand this location may seem out of the norm. Rest assured that it is not a mistake. After a thorough review of your high school transcript and test scores, we have determined that West Hope offers a curriculum best suited for you.

Mammoth Lakes and West Hope couldn’t be further away from each other. Both were beautiful locations. Both held the picture-perfect landscapes high in the mountains. West Hope, however, was as far northwest as Commonwealth of Glorian goes. Mammoth Lakes was the opposite direction, much closer to Everly, though almost to the east boarder.

Ainsley’s world was spinning. This must be a bad dream. She was so focused on her current dilemma that she didn’t hear her comm in her back pocket buzz. It buzzed again, and again. Nor did she hear her mother talking, reading the remainder of the letter, informing her that she would indeed have an escort. She didn’t sense her mother’s wide eyes staring at her.

Ainsley! Nila finally shouted. She snapped to attention with a gobsmacked look. Ainsley, where is Tom going? Nila’s voice was reverent now. She was aware of the couple’s plans and even approved of them, despite their young age. Nothing would make her happier than having her daughter and future grandchildren close by. And Tom had already become a part of their family. She placed her weathered hand on Ainsley’s. She had strong, calloused hands, leathery from years of arduous work on the farm. Yet, her touch was so soft and gentle. The gesture was almost enough to break Ainsley’s emotional damn. Almost, but not quite. Fighting to keep her emotions in check, she bolted for her bedroom, dropping her backpack off her shoulders with a loud thud on the kitchen floor.

She was glad to have her room to herself but wondered where Ashton was. Ashton spent most of her time sitting in the large bay window seat that overlooked the river. Everette, their father, had it custom built for the twins. Nila had updated the fabric over the years, replacing the grey and pink elephants of the nursery, to purple unicorns in their youth. They had briefly gone through a No Compass phase, the latest popular boy band. Now, it was a subtle, mature light blue and tan argyle with matching throw pillows. Ainsley was relieved to see that the spot was unoccupied. She plopped on the cushion, pulling her knees up to her chest. She hugged them, swaying back and forth, and allowed the tears to come. She gave herself five minutes to cry. Less would be ineffective; more would just make her feel sorry for herself. Her comm buzzed again, but she ignored it, and, after a minute of constant buzzing, turned it off altogether. At least her mother had the forethought to give her some time alone.

Ainsley and her mother had been at odds for most of her senior year. It happens naturally, she had once overheard Nila whisper to her father. It’s the final push that will help her break the umbilical cord when she graduates. This makes it easier for her to enter the next stage in her life. Her father had been concerned about the rising tension in the otherwise peaceful home, but Nila had assured him all would be well after Ainsley swore the oath.

She pondered on that conversation that she wasn’t meant to hear. She didn’t intentionally argue with her mom, but she did agree that the tension would make it easier for her to leave. The ironic part was, Ainsley didn’t want to leave. There were times when she envied Ashton. She didn’t envy the physical ailments of her twin, the constant pain that Ashton lived with, or the dependency on others to meet her needs. But she was jealous that she wouldn’t have to go to Oath Camp. Being disabled exempted Ashton from the country’s coming-of-age ritual. Ainsley would be more than happy to stay in Everly. She could take agriculture courses online and continue working with her dad on the farm. She would marry Tom sooner than later. He would join the family business and maybe take classes in marketing to help them with their online presence.

You’re going to go bald.

Ainsley hadn’t even realized she was pulling at strands of hair, something she always did when she was nervous; or pensive, or bored.

Ashton’s motorized wheelchair whirred as she entered the room. Ainsley looked at her twin sister with mixed emotions. Jealousy, sympathy, even pity. Genetic testing showed the disease before the twins were born. Ainsley had been miraculously unscathed. The average life expectancy for children with her disease was two years, three at best. Their parents had doctors lined up before the birth. That quick action prolonged Ashton’s life these last eighteen years. But now, her stomach pains grew worse with each passing day. Her muscles were weaker than ever before. Her paper-thin skin sagged with no fat underneath to hold it up. But the light in her eyes never diminished. Ashton had a zest for life and learning rarely seen in someone dying a slow and painful death. While