There were a few patrons in the place, but they all looked local.
When Ajag and Sy walked out of the small hallway to my left, I sent him a small smile and then gestured for him to proceed me. Ajag walked to one of the bigger booths, for which I was grateful for.
Val and I didn't easily fit into the small ones. We were big guys. I think it was the dire wolf in us. We tended to be on the bigger side because we were born to be warriors and protect our pack. I wasn't sure what we were supposed to do when our pack was wiped out, which was why I was a rogue wolf.
Well, I was. I guess now I belonged to a pack.
Still not sure how that happened.
I took the menu from the waitress when she came by and then leaned down closer to Sy. "What do you want to eat, little man?"
I opened the menu and then pointed to a couple of the pictures. There weren't many. I glanced over the menu looking for the kid's section. Once I found it, I began reading off what was offered.
"Chicken strips," Sy piped up as soon as I said it.
Man after my own heart.
"Good choice," I told him.
We were primarily meat eaters after all.
"He needs some vegetables or fruit with that," Ajag stated.
"It comes with a fruit cup."
I didn't know much about raising kids, but I figured a fruit cup would suffice. That didn't mean I wouldn't get Sy some ice cream if he ate all of his food.
Ajag gave a single nod.
I ordered a bacon burger for myself along with a cup of coffee. I figured I could use the caffeine right about now. I also ordered three bacon burgers and some chicken strips to go. I knew there was a cooler in the back of Ajag's Jeep because I'd put it there myself.
Our meal was pretty reserved, only Sy's chatter and the low murmur of the other patrons breaking up the silence. I didn't know if it was because Ajag had nothing to say or if he was afraid to say anything at all.
"We need to consider finding a place to sleep at some point," I stated as I glanced at Val. "Any ideas?"
"There are a couple of places off the beaten path up by Moab that we can spend the night as long as none of you mind camping out under the stars."
"I've been camping for the last couple of days," Ajag stated. "Can't be any different."
"Just so you know, these places aren't registered campgrounds," Val pointed. "Like I said, they are off the beaten path, but I doubt anyone would find us there."
Ajag snorted. "Sounds like my kind of place."
"Then eat up," Val said. "The quicker we get there, the quicker we can get some rest."
I was all for that. I just wished we had more than one tent. It looked as if Val and I would be sleeping out in the open. We might even be sleeping in our fur.
Wouldn't be the first time.
We finished eating, grabbed the food to go, paid the bill, and then headed out back. Ajag loaded Sy up in his car seat, and then we were on the road again.
We rode another two hours down the road before Val turned onto a side street. It was another twenty minutes before he turned onto a dirt road that led up into the canyons. By the time he pulled over, we were all dusty. I was pretty sure I had dirt in places I'd rather not think about.
Upside, the place Val had picked was next to a river.
"I found this place a couple of years back," Val said as he climbed off his bike. "Of course, I was running for my life at the time, but it was a good place to hold out for awhile."
Considering how far back in the canyon we were, I'd say he was right. You couldn't even see the vehicles from the dirt road. We were totally hidden from sight, which made this place perfect.
