“Do we need anything special?”
“Extra food,” Deadshot replied. “We won’t be doing much hunting in the desert, and we’ll need more water.”
The kid nodded, a look of concentration on his face. Deadshot loved that the kid paid attention. It was a good habit and would take him far.
“We should get more canteens. We’ll buy some and fill them with water. We’ll probably still run out, but we’ll do what we can to try to prevent that from happening.”
“What happens if we run out of water? I mean, are there any rivers?” the kid asked, his voice growing panicked. “Will we be able to find water?” He continued, rambling now. “How long can a person go without water?”
Deadshot held up his hand. “Calm down,” he instructed. “If we run out of water, we’ll find some. We’re not going to die of dehydration. I won’t allow that to happen.”
Chapter 34
Sticking to his plan, Deadshot and Rider had stocked up on supplies and then headed into the desert. Deadshot had bought two extra canteens for each of them, meaning both of them had four now. They had filled them with water and stocked their bags with food. If they were simply going to make their way through the desert, Deadshot wouldn’t have been so worried, but they weren’t just heading through. They were going to be searching for Quincy’s hideaway, and who knew how long that could take?
Deadshot was pretty sure that they would find Quincy and his men hiding somewhere in the desert, but there was no guarantee, and that was the frustrating part. He had promised the kid that he would find answers for him, and he was determined to keep his promise regardless of how difficult the circumstances were. Deadshot would find a way to survive. He’d suffered through the desert before, but he was worried about the kid.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Deadshot asked as they rode. They weren’t pushing the horses to go too fast, and they were stopping often so that the animals could rest. The desertwas an intense place for horses, too, and they couldn’t risk losing them along the way.
“Yes,” Rider replied.
“I know you feel like you have to be a part of this, but it’s not too late to turn back. I can do this on my own. I won’t fail you.”
Rider shook his head. “I’m not turning back,” he said. “I’m seeing this through.”
“All right, kid. We’ll do this together, then.”
Deadshot understood why the kid felt like he had to do it, and if Deadshot were in his shoes, he would have done the same. Right now, the kid felt like he had nothing to lose. He was too angry and set on rescuing his mother and sister, who might or might not be alive, to see that he still had his whole future ahead of him. The kid was stubborn, but Deadshot already knew this, and it was up to him to make sure that the kid stayed safe.
They had left early that morning. At first, they had followed the road, but eventually, they had to venture off it and into the desert. Now, the road was long gone, and all that Deadshot could see in every direction was sand. The land wasn’t completely barren. Strown randomly across the plains were boulders, trees, and shrubs, but they were sparse and in no way provided any shade.
Deadshot had his wide-brimmed hat covering his head and his neckerchief covering most of his face. It was midday, and the sun was unforgiving. The kid looked pretty much the same. Luckily, working on his family’s ranch, he had learned how to protect himself from the sun a long time ago.
He lifted his hand and held it above his eyes as if to shield them from the sun. “How do we even know where we’re going?” he asked. “Everything looks the same.”
Deadshot laughed at this. “That’s what compasses are for.”
“I know that,” the kid complained. “It’s just... what are we even looking for?”
“I’m not sure.” Deadshot shrugged as he scanned the area that surrounded them. “But we’ll know when we see it.”
The kid groaned.
“Look, I told you this was going to be difficult, and we could be out here for a really long time.” Deadshot knew firsthand how being in the desert for days on end could affect a man. “You have to find ways to keep your mind busy. Don’t focus on the fact that everything looks the same or that hopeless feeling that’s going to seep into your bones.”
“How do I do that?” the kid asked, his focus on Deadshot now.
“Well, for a start, you’re not alone. It’s much easier to stay sane when you have somebody to talk to.”
“You already complain that I talk too much,” the kid pointed out.
This was true, but it could be useful in some circumstances. Deadshot had never had company on any of his missions before, but it would have been welcome during the previous times he spent in the desert.
“I’ll make an exception while we’re here,” Deadshot replied with a smile. “We’re going to have to find ways to keep our minds busy. Count the trees, play seeing games, sing songs, or tell stories. Whatever works.”
The kid burst out laughing. Deadshot wasn’t sure why, but laughing was a good thing. It was much better than worrying. “What’s so funny?”
“I can’t imagine you singing.”
