Page 37 of Her Fearless Warrior

Katherine burst out laughing. “He’d be whining about this rain, that’s for sure. But he’d love your look. It’s like you’re in a wet t-shirt contest.”

Leila looked down at herself and grimaced. She didn’t want Suitman to see her like this.

“Ahhh, I’m sorry, Leila. I wasn’t thinking.”

“It’s okay, Katherine. This is what we agreed on. Sunshine, unicorns, and rainbows. We weren’t going to let this get us down. Remember?”

“Actually, I’m not so sure that’s going to work for me any longer,” Katherine admitted. “My sciatic nerve hasn’t liked everything we’ve done in the past twenty-four hours. I’m not going to be able to stand anymore.”

“Here, let me help you,” Leila said as she guided Katherine into a sitting position with both of her legs stretched out. She was letting out small whimpers of pain. Leila knew how excruciating it could be. Her grandfather suffered from this, and not even the shots they gave him would help. It took steroids, narcotics, and time to help him through the worst of it.

“Katherine, is there anything I can do for you?”

“No, sweetheart, I just have to ride it out. It’s the same thing I have to do if I were back home in Boston.”

“Yeah, but you wouldn’t be sitting in three inches of pee and rainwater.”

“Speaking of that, can you pass me the bra? I’m thirsty.”

So spunky. There is no way her nene could have handled this. There would be tears and recrimination, but Leila would have had to hold strong.

“You wanna try singing? That usually cheers me up,” Katherine suggested. “Plus, it always put my children in better moods during family road trips. Wanna try?”

“Sure,” Leila said. She would have said yes to almost anything at this point.

“Okay, let’s go with an old favorite, shall we?”

Katherine started to sing.

She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes.

She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes.

She’ll be coming round the mountain.

She’ll be coming round the mountain.

She’ll be coming round the mountain when she comes.

She’ll be driving six white horses, when she comes.

She’ll be driving six white horses, when she comes.

She’ll be driving six white horses, when—

“Stop! Please stop! You and Suitman win. I’ll tell him everything. Anything he wants to know, I’ll tell him. Just quit singing that song,” Leila begged.

“Yeah, it is really more fun when you sing it in harmony. Are you an alto?”

“Katherine, are you really trying to torture me?”

Katherine laughed.

“You should see your face. For the last five minutes, I didn’t notice the pain in my leg.”

They both looked up as they heard the scratching up above. Then a clang as someone lifted the grate from over the hole. Neither of them made a sound.

“Hello, ladies. I do hope you enjoyed your accommodations.”