“Yes.” We share a blanket, and my head moves gently with the rhythm of his breaths. His heartbeat is soothing, pulling me closer to sleep like a lullaby.
“Dino told me about the settlements up north that we lost contact with,” Caden says. “It feels like the New-Humans all over again—an enemy that is way ahead of us.”
“And still the New-Humans are dead, and we’re not.”
“We were damn lucky last time.”
“We won’t need luck against Denver. We have alliances all across Colorado, and the enemy isn’t all the way in Nevada this time. We just need High Hope to join us.” I once more feel the heavy weight of this assignment, worried that Dino’s faith in me was wrong.
“I might have nightmares tonight,” I say.
“Okay.” Caden pulls me closer. “Bring them.”
*
We keep a steady pace the following two days. It’s warm this time of year, but there’s enough refreshing breeze when we ride. And still, Otto complains.Why are we so slow to reach Rifle? Why are we riding all day without stopping?Even his complaints don’t get along.
“Captain, permission to gag the crying baby,” Trey says.
“Granted.”
“You keep your hands away from me, Defender Ginger! I’m a representative of the assembly.”
“Yeah, so’s Finn, and he isn’t complaining about shit.”
Otto huffs. “Well, he has other things to keep him… occupied. Not all of us take our responsibilities seriously, I’m afraid.”
Well, that does it.I turn my head to unleash hell upon this fool, but Caden rides next to him and whispers something in his ear. Otto grunts and rides ahead, clearly upset.
I shift my horse close to Caden. “What did you tell him?”
“Nothing.”
“Tell me.”
He lowers his voice. “I told him I know he has a crush on you, and if he plays his cards right, we might have a threesome tonight.”
I punch his shoulder. “You didn’t.”
“Of course I did. Get ready, Finny; you’re about to be the sandwich.”
He rides away before I can grab him. I forbade him to call me Finny.
“We’re a few hours from Rifle,” Timothy says from his pony.
“Are you sensing anything we should be concerned about?”
“No, but I expect to sense more activity the closer we get to the city.”
“Rifle is more of a town, just around three hundred residents.”
“Well, in the old days, it would’ve been considered a street.”
We stop for lunch next to a pond. I sit in the shade of a tree with Timothy, eating one of the cans of food we brought from Unity. Caden sits with the other Defenders, and I find myself watching him while trying not to make it obvious. He also watches me, though he seems less concerned about hiding it.
“You should speak with Otto,” Timothy says.
“About what?”
