“Bullshit! Kayla? So you know, we are, like…sohospibbible,” says Carlos, with utmost sincerity.
I bite hard on the inside of my cheek. “Thank you.”
“I’m gonna go tell the guys. First sanctuary case! Woo!” He punches the air, not as ready to give up as Sid. “We’re gonna be the friendliest place you could possibly live. Just you wait.”
He means well—in the same way a puppy eating its own poop means well—but as Carlos dashes towards the homestead, bile rises in my throat. Overt friendliness is not what I’m looking for. Especially from a group of… how many guys?
Sid comes back from locking up his bike. “He’s a lot, but he’s a good kid.”
“No kidding. So… it’s all men? No women at all?”
Sid winces. “None.”
“How many of you are there?”
“Eight.”
“And none of you are married or—or…” I stammer.
“Silas is dating a guy who lives by the docks and James usually has a girl or two hanging off him but… no. Not yet.”
“Oh.” I’m not sure how to react to that. Astolia didn’t allow men to date other men. Maybe that’s a good sign? But seven straight, lonely men is still too many.
“You know how the end of the world was. Crazy guys with guns.”
Unfortunately, I do know. Men owned more of the weapons and tools that kept people alive after the Quake.
“But that’s not why we want sanctuary cases,” Sid hurries to explain, but I’m distracted by the drama unfolding behind him. Carlos darts between doors, knocking on them, gesturing enthusiastically as he communicates with one man, then another, that I’m here.The long-fabled woman has arrived. A figure steps out who I recognize as one of the guards from the beach. Not Bandana Man, but the other one. James? He grins a smile as wide as a watermelon and my nerve fails me yet again.
I try to slide beyond their view, using Sid’s massive frame as a shield. He keeps talking. “We were approved to take over this acreage when the former occupants got too old to work it. That was a year ago. Before that, we were working full-time for the border patrol, but we’re mostly here now. They only called us in today because the signal fire was lit and they were short staffed. My old boss asked if I could do him a favour. Ironic, right?”
I nod, as if I any of this is making an impact on me, but I’m rather distracted by the sight of one man leaning over the railing to get a better look. “Damn, she’s skinny,” he mutters, sounding disappointed.
“I think the only reason we were granted the acreage is because we’ve got the young guys needed to work the farm, but we are underpopulated,” Sid continues. “These places are supposed to be for families, so yeah. Council might take the acreage back if we don’t meet occupancy expectations within a few years. That’s why we want sanctuary cases. The wholepointis to take the pressure off any of the guys needing to marry, or—”
“That’s great. It’s perfect.” Nowhere else is going to take me, so he doesn’t really need to explain. At some point, I can apply for my own housing and get out of here. “You said we could have our own room? Or unit? I think I’d like that.”
As many doors as possible between me and the tiny army living in the rest of this house, please and thank you. Even without guns, they’re an intimidating group. Every single one of them is taller than average, beefier than average, scarier than average. How do they know each other? Is this a sports team? Do they have sports on Salt Spring?
“Yeah, let’s set that up.” Sid turns towards the gaggle at the railing. “All right guys! Kayla and her sister need a unit to live in, so someone needs to give theirs up for a bit. Dom? Albert? Maybe you could—”
“That isn’t fair!” shouts one of the men. “Just because we’re related—”
“I’ll do it!” Carlos throws his arm in the air. “I can room with you, Sid.”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“You just want to steal my cigarettes.”
“That’s not fair! I promise, I won’t—”
“Anyone else?” Sid drowns him out. “I’m fine with being one of the people sharing, but we need someone other than Carlos.”
“I said I promise!”
“Me.” A quiet voice materializes from behind the crowd. Bandana Man has stepped out from where he was lurking in the shadows, though he isn’t wearing the bandana anymore. I should learn his name. Still, I would recognize him anywhere. I’m not one to forget a face that has aimed a gun at me. “I’m at Roger’s place half the time, anyway. She can use my unit.”
