Page 48 of Bound in Ashes

Her smile faltered for just a second. “Of course not.” She stood, then looked at my uncle. “Thanks again for your hospitality, Uncle Levi.”

Her voice was sweet, sincere-sounding, and not for the first time, I marveled at the way she always navigated these things.

Reminded myself that Caitlin wasn’t worth the annoyance.

“You’re welcome, honey,” Uncle Levi said before he took another bite of his oatmeal.

But I wasn’t buying the kind old man act. He looked at me, waiting for my reaction.

I said nothing, determined not to give Caitlin that satisfaction, and I saw Uncle Levi’s slight nod of approval that I managed to keep my cool, a skill that he taught me.

Once Caitlin was gone, I called Elliot and Lourdes over to the table. “So here’s what we’re going to do today.”

Jack

I turned over and blinked, wondering for a split second where I was. Remembered instantly and then noticed something else. I stood, making my way through Levi’s house. His dark house. One that was quiet.

I found her in the empty grain shed. It had a good view of the farm and was the perfect place for night watch.

“Two hours, huh,” I said.

“There’s a sandwich over there in case you’re hungry,” she said.

I scoffed. “Handing out bread and meat like it won’t run out.”

“Don’t feel special. It’s gonna go bad anyway.” Her voice was light, amused, but I heard the weight threaded through her words.

I’d talked about supplies with Asia and planned to talk to Levi again, too.

But not now.

It was hard to ignore the urgency clawing at me, but I forced myself to focus on Asia.

She didn’t look at me. Instead, she stared out into the darkness, a shotgun leaning on her chair.

I grabbed the sandwich and ate it without really tasting it. Our time on the road had changed things, reminding me of things I tried to forget.

But even with the shit that I was sure would rain down soon enough, things were good here at Levi’s.

It freaked me the fuck out.

“So what did you guys do while you let me sleep the day away?” I said.

I had slept fourteen, maybe fifteen hours. I couldn’t remember the last time I had slept that long.

Was pissed that I’d let my guard down like that.

“It’s not all on you, you know,” she said.

The chair she sat on squeaked, and I turned, looking at her.

“What’s not on me?”

“Making sure we’re all alright.”

“Yeah.”

“You don’t believe me?”