I cant remember if its war or disease, but in the aftermath a man sets up in upstate NY (I think) with two women. They start with cabin in the mountains by a creek, slowly establishes a group.. At some point they rescue orphans and a mystical/religious person comes in to play, later that person starts directing people back to the community?
Sounds familiar. If i have the right one, one of the women was his daughter, and the mystic elements include a vial or something that lets the two safely have a child.
I also recall some effort to find horses. And when the last of the monks is dying, the man carries him up to a mountain top.
Unfortunately, I don't recall author or title.
I think I've found your story - 'Where the Mountain Rises' by Fofo Xuxu. I'm not sure it's the one OP wants.
AJ
Thank you for your help in finding it. The extra detail in your description made all the difference.
AJ
The basic premise also sounds much like my The Great Death (2012-2018) trilogy series (ISBN: 978-1-941498-14-9).
Dave and his daughter Alice drive into a massive meteor shower which disrupts their lives, but it that's only the beginning. The meteor shower spreads across the globe, crippling the communications and power systems of the world, and before long, new, unknown diseases begin spreading. With the only source of power, communications and safety, people soon join him, as they attempt to preserve order, maintain calm and help others to survive.
Dave and his daughter Alice emerge from an apocalyptic event prepared to help, but find the survivors so devastated by their losses they've lost all hope.
I also started revising it about seven years later, yet never finished.