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“Farming is a noble occupation,” she said with a nod. “And I sure do like eating.”
“Same. Thank you for this. The chance and the conversation. Since it’s not time to plant anything yet, I think I’ll still talk to Ryan about his plans about scouting for a new place.”
“He’ll appreciate the help.”
I breathed a little easier when we left Mya and Drav’s house just before dark. Turik and Vorx walked beside me as we made our way to Ryan’s place. An older gentleman I recalled from my last supply run answered our knock.
“Hi, Dad,” Turik said. “Is Ryan here?”
“Yep. Come on in.”
As we followed him inside, I appreciatively inhaled the scent of roasting meat.
“Any chance you boys are going to help me with the supply run tomorrow?” the man asked, shutting the door behind us.
“Shelby wants to help Ryan,” Vorx said. “Sorry, Dad.” The big fey sympathetically patted the man on the back.
The man’s gaze shifted to me. “Nice to see you again, Shelby.” He held out his hand. “I don’t think we’ve been officially introduced. I’m Richard. Ryan and Mya’s father.”
I shook his hand, trying to quell my hesitation. Did he know I’d been exiled from Tenacity?
“Ryan and I were in the den, studying the maps for tomorrow. I know he’d love some input.”
We followed him into the main part of the house. It was an open, sprawling space that connected the living room, kitchen, and dining room with an arched opening to a den.
“Vorx and Turik, I hope you boys are here for dinner,” a woman said from the kitchen. “That roast Gyrik found is big enough to feed ten people.”
Instead of answering her, Turik looked at me. The woman chuckled at my confusion.
“He’s waiting for you to decide. I have a roast with potatoes and carrots, and there’s plenty for everyone.”
My mouth started salivating at the thought of eating a real meal. I’d been living on stews and soups for months.
“I can’t say no to that,” I said honestly. “Thank you for the invitation.”
She waved away my thanks.
“All I did was cook it. These boys do all the work finding it. Go on in by Ryan. Dinner won’t be ready for another hour.”
Ryan sat at a large, dark table with several chairs around it. Maps covered the surface.
“I miss technology,” Ryan said when we entered. At only eighteen, he was the brains behind all the groups that left to scavenge supplies. The toll of that responsibility showed in his messy hair and the slump of his shoulders.
“Do you know how easy it would be to search a map online? We’d have current aerial shots of all the subdivisions in the area. These maps have to be at least a decade old. This subdivision isn’t even on any of them.”
“Yeah, old-time map makers would have a hard time keeping up with all the subdivisions going in around here. Around any small town close to a major highway, really. People like living in rural locations with access to the conveniences found in a big city.”
Ryan stared at me for a moment.
“Shelby, I could kiss you.”
“Shelby is not ready for kisses. And when she is, you will not give her any.” The slow way Turik delivered those words and how he crossed his arms carried a hint of menace.
Ryan just grinned.
“I can see why Garrett gets jumpy. Turik, I promise it would be a brother kiss if I ever give her one, and it was more of an expression than anything since she just gave us the answer we needed.”
“I did?” I asked as Turik grunted and uncrossed his arms.
