“What’s her name?”
My eyes jump to his face in surprise. Then see he’s focused on Molly.
“Molly.”
“Hey girl,” the man says. “Hey, Molly. How you doin’? You’re a beauty, aren’t you?”
Molly jumps off the lounge and hurries over so she can present her head to Micah for pets. She pants blissfully as he caresses her fur and scratches behind her ears.
I almost smile.
For some reason, his bonding with my dog makes me more uncomfortable than ever. He seems a lot better now. Maybe he’ll be able to leave first thing in the morning.
Into the silence, his stomach growls. Very loud.
I jerk in surprise, and he gives one of those dry huffs of amusement. “Sorry. Haven’t eaten in a while.”
With a sigh, I get up and go to the cabinet where I stowed the food I got in trading with Billy. I need to eat something too, so I make us both sandwiches with the cheese and ham.
I hand him one and sit back on the lounge to eat mine with a fresh glass of water.
“This is damn good,” he says around his second bite.
“I trade with the bar in Cleverly. They’ve got a community garden there and some goats, pigs, and chickens, so they always have bread, eggs, goat cheese, and ham or bacon.”
“What do you trade?” His eyes are slightly wary, and I immediately know why.
“If I wanted to trade sex for food, that would be my choice and a perfectly rational choice nowadays.”
“I never said it wouldn’t be.” He pauses. “Do you?”
“No.” I tell him the truth because I can see no purpose in a lie. “I would if I were desperate—anyone who says they wouldn’t has never been desperate enough—but I’ve been able to scavenge enough supplies to trade with.”
He nods and doesn’t answer. Just continues to eat his sandwich.
It’s just as well. I’m not sure there’s any answer he could have given that wouldn’t have raised my hackles.
It will be no surprise to anyone that my hackles are nearly always up.
I didn’t use to be like that, but I am now.
Later,Micah manages to get up and go outside, walking far enough to pee in the outhouse and return. He’s really shaky on the final steps back to the camper and the climb inside, so I don’t suggest he leave tonight.
Tomorrow morning will be soon enough.
I check my perimeter warning traps, go to the bathroom myself, call Molly back in from the woods, and then lock up for the night.
It’s pitch-black inside and out except some faint light from a crescent moon and the battery-operated lantern I turn on in the camper.
I fold the tabletop down, unfold the booth seats to spread into a bed, and then put my one spare fitted sheet over it with an old fleece blanket.
I’ve pulled out my braid and am brushing my long hair when I realize Micah’s eyes are on me. I thought he was already asleep.
I meet his gaze with a questioning look.
“You’re beautiful,” he says.
I blink, surprised by the compliment out of nowhere.
