Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 67694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67694 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 338(@200wpm)___ 271(@250wpm)___ 226(@300wpm)
“Where is he based?” asks Dean.
“He took over a winery outside of Sonoma. Stocked up on weapons, food, and pharmaceuticals.”
“If he’s down in Sonoma, why in the hell does he care about a hardware depot an hour north?” Leon shakes his head. “No wonder he doesn’t have permanent security on these places he’s claimed if they’re so spread out.”
“Anything people are going to need to survive, he wants,” says Nash. “Plus, they work as bait. His men also check the hardware warehouse to the south of them, and any grocery stores between the two that they haven’t yet managed to remove all of the stock from. Guess he thinks they’re bound to come across some people they can bring back to camp.”
Natalia clicks her tongue. “Greed and power. The world ends and still everything stays the same.”
Leon gives her hand a comforting squeeze.
“You must have felt strongly about the child to have joined them,” says Reema.
“I remember what it’s like being that size, ma’am. Too small to fight back.” Nash clears his throat. “I was a bounty hunter for a while. Porter wanted my skills, but I was new, so he didn’t trust me. First opportunity I had to get Bowie out safely was when Cody told Porter we had a lead on this place. I talked Cody into thinking this would be a good chance to show the kid how things are done.”
Dean stares at the man in thought for a minute. “You want to stay here with Bowie?”
Leon narrows his gaze on the stranger.
“Just long enough to make sure he’s protected,” says Nash. “He needs a family. But Porter knows we ran into you outside Santa Rosa. He knows you’re out here somewhere, and he has nothing better to do than keep looking.”
“He’s going to have to be dealt with,” says Dean.
I just nod. Because from everything we’ve seen and heard, the likelihood of him letting us live in peace is as low as can be.
“We need more people to keep this place safe,” says Natalia.
“You do,” agrees Nash. “And I have some ideas about where you can find them.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
THURSDAY
“Eleven out of ten,” I announce with the utmost authority.
Hazel and Sophie fall about laughing. Even Bowie manages a small smile. We’re hanging out in the backyard of our house having a handstand competition. It’s been a strange day, starting off with a bang. I long for the times when death and dead bodies weren’t the normal. But here we are. Sunset isn’t for another couple of hours yet. We decided to get together and eat early. Have everyone inside their houses with the curtains drawn, blocking out any light, before dusk. Just to be safe.
The watch is continuing, of course. We’re now each doing duty twice every twenty-four hours. Once during the day and once at night. If the figures Nash gave us are right, then there’s no way we can stop Porter and all of his people, should they find us. But we can give each other warning and hopefully get the children safely out of town.
Hazel sets her hands on her hips. “That handstand was a twelve out of ten.”
“I’ll give you thirteen out of ten and that is my absolute last offer,” I say, waving a wooden spoon at the girls. Which sets off the giggling all over again. They are so high on life and it’s beautiful to see.
“You cannot be serious.” Avan shakes his head with much woe. “That handstand was clearly a fourteen. I’ve never seen such a spectacularly upside-down person!”
“Oh no,” I say. “There’s a dispute between the judges. What are we going to do?”
“More handstands,” shouts Sophie with glee.
I wish my phone hadn’t died. It would be good to have some pictures of times like this. The girls smiling in the late afternoon light.
We spent most of the day working in the garden. Dean didn’t want Nash helping with the bodies, in case he took the opportunity to pick up a knife or something in one of the houses. Given what happened this morning, and what he told us, it seems unlikely. And if he wanted to cause trouble, he could do it with his hands. But trust takes time. Leon helped with the gardening today too. Though he was mostly there to keep an eye on Nash.
Reema spent an hour or so teaching the children about photosynthesis and pollination and other garden-relevant science. They loved the attention, and they loved listening to her. She must have been amazing at her job because she’s an exceptional speaker. And she seemed to enjoy it too.
Bowie and the girls also dug in the dirt, searching for worms for a while. It was part of learning about composting and soil quality. He seemed okay so long as Nash was near. Which is fair enough, given he’s the one constant in the child’s life right now. Currently, they’re seated together on the edge of the back porch, watching the handstand competition.