Bella - Determination, Born out of blood: Bella, #5

By Barrel Coops

Alex's injury stalls their journey, and relentless snowfall adds to their woes. In the midst of this, a group of survivors from Jamestown, seeking refuge on the island, face exploitation by some islanders demanding labour for shelter. These survivors appeal to Bella, Alex, and his uncle for escape back to Yorkshire. However, transportation becomes a critical issue. The vehicle can only fit three, and with Alex's uncle also eager to leave, they confront a tough decision. In this post-CME world, where vehicles and fuel are scarce, they must navigate not just physical challenges, but also the moral complexities of survival and responsibility.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Barrel Coops
• Release date: Nov 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223543725

Barrel Coops

After the tragic loss of my girlfriend as a teenager, I sought an escape. My pub upbringing introduced me to a traveling gypsy family, and they allowed me to join their journey under one condition: I had to contribute. Soon, they discovered my talent for spontaneous storytelling, known as "pantsing." In villages and towns, I showcased this gift, crafting stories based on audience suggestions after Mahala's performances. My dyslexia prevented me from pursuing writing as a profession, given the cost of ghostwriters and publishing. Now, with five children and a 50th birthday surprise, I've told countless imaginative bedtime stories. Reflecting on my time with the gypsy family, I've realised the profound impact of storytelling on people, contemplating the possibility of chronicling that journey someday. Throughout my 30s and 40s, I occasionally returned to the stage for charity events, driven by my love for storytelling. My daughter encouraged me to write a novel, leading to my first series under the pen name Barrel Coops, named after her. It took just five months to write five books, with four more for editing, mainly due to my struggles with spelling and punctuation. After extensive feedback and courses, they are being rewritten for release in early 2024. Despite dyslexia being a constant challenge, I'm committed to writing. I hope my stories will captivate and inspire you, bringing enjoyment to your life.

Book preview

Chapter One.

Snores like a train.

Bernard lay lifeless in the cold, unforgiving snow, and a growing pool of crimson stained the white expanse around his ear. Sandra, her heart racing, immediately checked for his pulse.

Get him inside, she urged with a determined tone.

Inside, Sandra wasted no time. She hurriedly cleared the path to Bernard's bedroom, hastily removing covers and pillows in anticipation of his arrival. Gently, they placed him on the bed, allowing Sandra to carefully examine him. Robert, now with young Bobby in his care, left the scene. His eyes welled up with tears. Vincent, in an effort to bring some warmth into the room, opened the curtains, allowing the light to flood in.

Theo, please, leave for now. I'll call you if I need anything. Vincent, fetch me a bowl of water and some towels. Oh, also, bring me the most powerful torch you have, some scissors, and my bag from my room, Sandra instructed with a sense of urgency.

Vincent promptly sent Robert to retrieve her bag, while the girls, now awake, tended to a sobbing Bobby and gathered the towels and water. When Robert returned with the bag, Sandra sent him on another mission to investigate what had caused Bernard's head injury. The cut was small but bleeding profusely, raising concerns that he might have impaled himself with something thin and long, explaining the copious blood loss.

A few minutes later, Robert returned, clutching a piece of broken brick.

This was under the red snow, and there was nothing else there. Will my dad be okay? he asked, his voice trembling with anxiety.

Sandra, maintaining her composure, replied with a touch of empathy, I don't know for sure until I clean him up. I will call you once I have a clearer picture. I understand your worry, but until I can clean him up and determine the source of the bleeding, I can't provide a definite answer. Now, go and look after Bobby. Remember, he was here when your mother was in the fire, and this must be affecting him.

With her words, Sandra tried to balance reassurance with the grim reality of the situation, focusing on the emotional impact this crisis was having on the family.

Sandra carefully trimmed away Bernard's hair, exposing another cut hidden beneath, and it became evident that this particular cut had severed a small blood vessel, explaining the profuse bleeding. The source of the blood had been concealed by Bernard's thick white hair. Sandra, with a deft hand, cleaned him up and successfully stopped the bleeding, meticulously sewing up the wound. She then wrapped his head in a bandage to maintain cleanliness and prevent any further complications. After administering an antibiotic, she reached out to Robert.

I've managed to stop the bleeding and taken the necessary steps. Unfortunately, I don't have access to a CAT scan, but I've examined his skull, and there don't appear to be any obvious signs of fractures that I can determine. Now, all we can do is wait, she explained with a touch of regret. I'm sorry.

Sandra offered Robert a comforting hug before leaving him to sit with his father. Vincent had thoughtfully prepared a cup of tea for Sandra, and the girls ushered Bobby into the living room, reassuring him that his grandfather would be alright. This allowed Vincent and Sandra a moment to talk.

How is he? Vincent inquired, concern etched on his face.

Sandra sighed, her uncertainty apparent. I don't have a definitive answer. I lack the equipment to provide a thorough assessment. To be honest, at his age, any head injury is a cause for concern. Concussion can be dangerous, and all we can do now is wait and see. It's a waiting game, unfortunately.

The remainder of the day passed by at a painfully slow pace, and a heavy, sombre mood hung over the household. No one had the heart for anything else but waiting for Bernard to wake up. Vincent took charge of Bobby and Tina, leading them outside to finish milking the goats and tending to the other animals. Tina, seemingly unaffected by the situation, insisted on feeding the horse and then relentlessly pestered Vincent to let her play with the rabbits. After a series of pleads, Vincent finally relented. He assigned the boys the task of cleaning out the dog pens and feeding them. However, Vincent put his foot down when Tina wanted to bring the little Jack Russell inside to play with the rabbits, which led to her bursting into tears and running back into the house, Bobby close on her heels. Vincent was left to chase after the rabbits and safely return them to their enclosures.

Vincent and Sandra took charge of preparing the evening meal, and after everyone had eaten, Vincent instructed the boys to take over the chores from the girls so that they could eat as well. The boys were not particularly enthusiastic, understanding that they might not be relieved until daylight. Robert, meanwhile, had not budged from his father's bedside, not even to have a meal. As midnight approached, no one had shown any inclination to retire for the night.

Vincent finally ventured out to the barn. After tending to the stove and ensuring it was well-stocked, he fashioned a makeshift bed with bales of hay and settled down for the night.

Theo, who had been asleep on the sofa, woke to the sound of clattering from the kitchen and mumbled complaints. He thought he heard Vincent's voice, possibly grumbling about the fire going out, but he wasn't entirely sure. He turned over and tried to get comfortable again, making an unsuccessful attempt to return to sleep. Frustrated, he eventually gave up and made his way into the kitchen.

Eight thirty, nobody up, fire out. Do I have to do everything around here? Bernard grumbled as he stood in the kitchen.

Theo, surprised to see him, asked, You're up? What's going on?

Bernard, still irritated, responded, Try sleeping through my son's snoring. For some reason, he was asleep in my easy chair in the bedroom when he has his own room. Why doesn't he use it?

Bernard took it upon himself to light the fire in the stove and set the kettle on, seemingly oblivious to the events of the previous day.

Theo pressed on gently, asking, Do you remember what happened yesterday?

Bernard, still in the dark, replied, Nothing out of the ordinary, was there? Are those people back in the woods, then?

Theo's tone grew more serious as he clarified, No, you had a fall in the snow. You were at death's door. We all thought you were unconscious.

Bernard dismissed it, saying, Rubbish, I just went to bed as normal. I remember. Nothing happened. I did not fall over; I would have remembered.

Theo decided to show him the truth and excused himself to make tea. He returned with a shaving mirror, cautioning Bernard, Look, don't touch your head, just look, as he handed him the mirror.

As Bernard examined his reflection, Sandra stormed into the room, her voice filled with concern. What the hell are you doing up? You should be in bed.

Bernard, bewildered by his reflection, protested. How did this happen? More to the point, why don't I remember?

Sandra, quick to provide an explanation, said, Temporary amnesia. Now, get back to bed, or I will drag you in there.

Only if you wake that train in there and kick him out, Bernard quipped.

Sandra, with a knowing smile, remarked, He does snore loudly, doesn't he? realising that she had inadvertently revealed the family's secret that everyone already knew about.

Chapter Two.

Rosie tells Chris where to shove it.

Bella instinctively reached for her bow, her determination unwavering, but Helen intervened, telling her to sit down and wait for a look at her injured leg. However, Bella paid no heed to the advice, and as Helen was occupied with Alex, she slipped away without being stopped.

Entering the canteen, Bella found herself face to face with Tobias, who sternly told her to sit down or risk losing her leg.

You do not tell me what to do. Unless you're going up to the wheelhouse to instruct Babs to steam straight through them, I am, Bella retorted defiantly.

Tobias, desperate to keep her safe, pleaded, I will do it. Please, please stay in here until I get back.

Out in the wheelhouse, Babs showed no intention of veering off course and continued barrelling down on the approaching boats. However, she realised that they were vessels from their home harbour. She picked up the handset and announced over the tent, They are our boats from home, but I cannot see who is in them yet.

Tobias, now grabbing a pair of binoculars, rushed to the canteen porthole, but his angle offered no clear view. He returned to the wheelhouse and tried again, finally declaring, They are ours. I can see Vicky, Lucas, and George. Slow down; it's Vicky.

Babs complied and throttled back. As the old cruiser slowed, it came alongside, and Chris helped Vicky disembark.

Vicky wasted no time with pleasantries. Why are you?..

Later. Is anyone hurt? Steven and Lucas's girls heard automatic gunfire, so we came to help, Vicky explained.

Chris gave her an update. Yes, Bella has been shot. Rosie has taken a bump to the head, but they will survive. Alex is downstairs. He is in a bad way. He has been shot three times, I believe.

Out of the way, then, Vicky directed, brushing past him and heading into the canteen before making her way downstairs to the cabin.

Helen welcomed her, relieved. I'm glad you're here; I can't stop this bleeding.

Vicky wasted no time in taking charge, asserting, Stand aside, let me see. As Helen stepped away, Bella, Lucas, and Danton entered the room.

Get out, Vicky ordered, her voice unwavering. Not you, Bella. Let's see that leg, Helen added with a sense of urgency.

Bella took a seat, and Helen carefully removed the belt Chris had used as a makeshift tourniquet to stop the bleeding. She then produced a pair of scissors, ready to cut Bella's jeans to access the wound.

Bella, determined not to damage her jeans, firmly stated, No way, you are not cutting this pair of jeans. I'll take them off.

Despite the evident pain, Bella gritted her teeth and slowly pulled the jeans down, allowing Helen to remove her Doc Martens as well. Helen then took charge, cleaning the entry wound.

You're lucky; it barely grazed the muscle and went straight through. But I'll need to address the exit wound, Helen explained.

Helen applied gauze to the entry wound and secured it with tape. She then instructed Bella to lie face down on the bench so she could sew up the exit wound. Helen glanced at Vicky, who shook her head.

I'm very sorry, but this is going to hurt. We don't have anything left to give you for the pain. We used it all on Alex. Are you going to be okay? Helen inquired.

Bella, in a show of determination, replied, Probably not, but stop talking about it. Just do it.

Helen handed Bella a roll of bandage to bite down on, and Bella, though unsure of the process, complied with her instructions. Helen had been right; it hurt intensely, but Bella was determined not to cry out and potentially distract Vicky. Alex's condition was of utmost importance.

As Bella stood up cautiously to put on her trousers, she noticed Alex staring directly at her, momentarily unsettling her. It was odd to have Alex looking at her while she was in nothing but her skimpy underwear, and even more peculiar was the fact that he didn't seem to blush.

Bella, hello, Bella, are you with us? Are you okay? Sit back down, Helen urged, then she realised what had caught Bella's attention. Don't worry, his eyes may be open, but Vicky gave him a sedative. Sometimes that happens. It's rare, but he can't see you.

Bella, somewhat flustered, explained, Sorry, it caught me by surprise, that's all.

Bella retrieved her combat trousers from her bag and put them on.

Helen, I'll need your help with this next part, if you're finished over there. I need to remove those last fragments of broken teeth before I can sew up his cheek, Vicky instructed.

Bella sat back down on the bench, still pondering why she hadn't covered herself when she saw Alex watching her and why she didn't seem to mind. She attributed it to the shock of the situation, choosing not to dwell on it further.

Bella attempted to stand, though her wounded leg throbbed even more than before Helen had sewn it up. Surprisingly, standing seemed less painful than sitting. Bella yearned for some fresh air and the opportunity to update Max, who had been anxiously waiting for news, about Alex's condition.

As she entered the canteen, Bella spotted Max leaning on a table, his head buried in his hands. She approached him and reassured him, Max, Vicky assured me that Alex is going to pull through. You can see him in a minute.

After they had secured the boat, Lucas, who had overheard Bella's conversation with Max, shared the news with the rest of the crew and suggested they leave Bella and Max alone for a while to give them some peace.

Curious about the earlier commotion, Bella inquired, What was the shouting earlier? I thought I heard Rosie shouting.

Max explained, Rosie hit her head on something, and when she regained consciousness, she felt fine. But then it started bleeding again, just a little. Chris, in his wisdom, was going to put an oversized bandage on her head. Rosie took one look at it and let him know where he could put his bandage, albeit with more colourful language. That's all.

Chapter Three.

Explosion.

Sandra returned to the kitchen with Robert after tending to Bernard.

He's going to be one of those patients we have no control over. They always think they know better than the doctor and refuse to stay in bed, Sandra remarked. Theo, is there another cup of tea in that pot? I need one.

Theo responded, Yes, freshly made. Sit down.

When Vincent returned with a pail of fresh milk from milking the goats, the three of them gathered to discuss how they could persuade Bernard to take it easy. They were well aware of his stubborn nature and his penchant for getting out of bed as soon as their backs were turned.

Vincent was about to start preparing breakfast, but as he stepped into the bathroom for a quick wash, Brenda and Rachel took over the cooking. Robert filled the girls in on his father's miraculous recovery while they worked. After the meal was prepared, everyone sat down to eat. When Bobby and Tina entered the kitchen, Rachel informed them that they would have to wait until the others had finished their meal. The girls proposed making more cheese and a fresh loaf of bread and asked Bobby and Tina if they wanted to help, but they initially declined.

Brenda asserted, That wasn't a question. You both will be helping. It's time you learned how to cook, no arguments. She then looked at Robert