by Marla Monroe
“That stream back of the property should have some good rocks we can wear down to make solid points. Got to rig up a way to fasten them to the shaft. It’s a good thing the feathers are holding up. I’d hate to have to figure out how to catch a bird to get their feathers.” Benton sighed.
“I noticed there were some traps in that back shed. We might be able to use those to catch something big like a bear or moose,” Travis said.
Benton chuckled. “Trap a moose? I don’t think so. They didn’t look large enough for anything other than rabbits or maybe foxes for fur. Wolves maybe.”
“Wolves will work for me. They’re out of control. I’ve never seen so many of them hunting in packs. They’re even some dogs with them now.”
“Mother of necessity and all that,” Benton said. “They’re banding together for survival, just like us.”
“It’s damn spooky how they seem to work together like a freaking seal team. I guess I never knew that wolves were so smart or devious.” Travis opened another cabinet.
“You just about finished with that side of the kitchen?” Benton asked.
“Yeah. I don’t see any reason to clear out the dishes and glasses. We’ll use them, and as they get broken, we’ll have replacements. We’re bound to break some as we go.”
“Let’s tackle the first bedroom, then call it a night.”
Benton led the way upstairs to the first bedroom. There were clothes tossed all over the place from where someone had rustled through them looking for what they could salvage. Most of the clothes were women’s with a few pairs of men’s jeans and button-down shirts. They looked like they’d fit Travis, but Benton was a little larger than the other man. They folded the women’s clothes up and stacked them on the bed, then cleared out the other stuff from the closet to take outside later. The extra sheets they stacked on the bed, as well. They’d pick a common place to store them once they had all three of the bedrooms cleared out. The one they were working on now appeared to have been the master since there were both men’s and women’s clothes in it, as well as an attached bathroom.
Since they didn’t have any need for the makeup or other girly products, they added them to the large box to be thrown out later. They kept everything that could be used like soaps, shampoos, and even bath salts. They would feel good after a long day of working a garden by hand.
“Ever wonder how many people there are left on Earth now?” Travis asked out of the blue.
“Not really. Too worried about our sorry hides to think about anyone else at this point.”
“We haven’t seen a soul in close to a month. Just hard to believe there can be that many people left,” Travis said.
“True. Of course, we are pretty far north off the beaten path now. Hell, we might even be on the Canadian line. Winter’s going to be tough up here.”
“Not as bad as it used to be before everything changed. We’ll make it,” Travis said.
“Come on. Let’s toss this crap out back and call it a night. I’m tired and hungry.” Benton grabbed the boxes of stuff they couldn’t use and left Travis to bring along the rest.
They both walked outside to the back of the house to toss out what they didn’t plan on keeping, only to find a ragged female digging through the ruined cans of food, trying to get a lid off of one of the jars.
Everyone froze.
Chapter Two
Gail couldn’t believe her eyes. There were two men carrying boxes of stuff out the door of the house where she’d been digging through the ruined food for something she could eat. Why hadn’t she heard them?
Because I’m so freaking hungry, all I can hear is my stomach growling.
“Hey there. Easy now. We aren’t going to hurt you.” The taller of the two men carefully set the box he was carrying down and held his hands out to his side.
The other man carried what looked like a sheet full of other things over his shoulder. He slowly dropped the bundle to the ground, as well. Neither man made any move to get closer or aimed a weapon at her. Gail’s heart thudded in her ears like a train over railroad tracks.
“We won’t hurt you, but nothing in that pile is safe to eat. If you’re hungry, we’ve got food we’ll share with you,” the taller man spoke again. “I’m Benton, and this is Travis. What’s your name?”
Gail didn’t know if she could trust them or not. In that moment, she almost didn’t care. She was starving, having existed on berries and leaves for the last few days. She’d found plenty of water, following the stream she’d found ever since she’d escaped from Beavis and Butthead. If they fed her, she could deal with the rest later. Couldn’t she?
“G-Gail. My name is Gail.”
“You look pretty torn up, hon. Why don’t you let us feed you and see about some of those cuts you have? Can’t afford to let anything get infected out here.” The one named Benton held his hand out toward her. “Come on. We won’t hurt you.”
Gail looked at the man’s hand. It was callused but clean. She edged closer to him despite the fear coursing through her veins at the thought of trusting another man. Where Beavis and Butthead had been short and stocky, this man looked to be about six feet with broad shoulders and a trim waist. His shaggy brown hair hung in waves over his ears but wasn’t stringy and dirty like the others’ had been.
The other man stepped back as she slowly reached out to Benton. The one called Travis was an inch or two shorter than Benton, with thick black hair he had tied loosely behind his head. It was a good two to three inches longer than Benton’s hair. His eyes were a striking shade of light blue, making him look like a fallen angel. Benton’s hazel eyes shown when he gave her a tight smile.
“It’s okay, Gail. We aren’t going to hurt you. Just let us feed you and take care of those scrapes. There may even be some shoes here you can wear. Your feet are in bad shape.” Benton’s warm hand closed lightly around Gail’s as he spoke.
She gasped at the jolt of electricity that shot from his hand to hers then straight up her arm. She nearly jerked her hand from his, but hesitated. He wasn’t trying to trap her. She relaxed and allowed him to lead her toward the house. Travis followed behind them. Once inside, Benton released her hand and indicated a chair next to a table piled high with cooking utensils.
“Have a seat and we’ll rustle something up for you. Let Travis see about those wounds on your feet.” Benton pulled out a can and an old-fashioned opener, while Travis brought over a bottle and poured some water into a pan. He gently lifted one of her feet and began cleaning the multitude of cuts and scrapes on the bottoms.
“Damn, woman. These have to hurt. I’ll try to be gentle.” Travis cleaned and pulled out splinters as she fought not to cry out with each tug. He really was trying to be gentle.
“Here you go. It’s cold, but edible. Sorry we don’t have any bread, but we’ve run out of supplies for that. Going to make a potato soup later, but this should tide you over until then.”
Travis set a bowl of what looked to be green beans in front of her. She all but fell on the bowl, shoveling the contents into her mouth as fast as she could chew and swallow. She was embarrassed at her manners, but it was the first decent thing she’d had to eat in days.
“How long has it been since you’ve had anything to eat, hon?” Benton asked.
“Don’t know. Two, maybe three days. I’ve been eating barriers when I find them and chewing on pine nuts.”
“There should be plenty of potato soup for you to have a good bowl full tonight. Let’s get you cleaned up, and you can rest while we get it ready.”
“Thank you. I was starving.”
“I can believe it. Drink all the water you want, we’ve got plenty stored and can go to the stream to get more should we need it.” Travis stood up with the dirty bowl of water and walked over to the sink to pour it out.
“Where are you from, hon?” Benton asked her.
“Originally from North Carolina, but not much left of it anymore. I’ve been living with some other people on a farm near Iowa when so
me men took me. I’d been riding with them for about a week, then managed to get away a few days back. I’ve been on my own since then.”
“They took you? Like kidnapped you from where you were living?” Travis asked.
“Yeah. I was out picking blackberries, and they snatched me. One of them put his hand over my mouth and dragged me off to where they had their wagon waiting. I never even managed to scream for help. The people I was with probably think I wandered off and got lost or something.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that. You’re safe here, Gail. No one will hurt you with us around. Let’s get you settled in the living room while we cook up the soup.” Benton helped her to her feet and half carried her into the other room that looked to have already been cleaned up.
She was fairly sure they’d been sleeping in there from the pallet on the floor in front of the fireplace. Benton had her recline on one of the lounge chairs and wrapped a light cover over her lower body.
“Warm enough for now?” he asked.
“I’m fine. Thanks.”
Gail watched as he nodded then walked back into the kitchen were the soft murmur of voices let her know she wasn’t alone anymore. Could she trust them? Right then, Gail didn’t think it mattered. She’d been fed, and they hadn’t attacked her. For now, she felt she was safe. If things changed, she could always run away again. She wouldn’t be used by anyone else.
* * * *
Travis looked over his shoulder at the raven-haired beauty reclining in the other room. Her long black hair needed brushing, and there were more than a few twigs and leaves in it, but it looked thick and would be gorgeous once washed and brushed out. The long tresses would probably reach mid back. Her pale porcelain skin held reddened scratches and cuts, looking like cracks in a china doll. He hated seeing the bruises and injuries on her delicate skin.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she,” Travis said.
“Yeah. She is. It sounds like she’s been through a lot. We’re going to have to be careful around her so she doesn’t bolt and end up dead somewhere running from us. We’d never hurt her, but she doesn’t know that.”
“You’re right. We could be as bad as the men who kidnapped her.” Travis stirred all the ingredients in the big pot before carrying it outside to sit over the fire they’d started.
They hadn’t finished cleaning out the fireplace yet to use it for cooking. It wasn’t quite large enough for anything other than a skillet. They had plans to open the hearth up on one side to add an extension for holding pots over the fire. As long as they kept the structure for the chimney intact, it shouldn’t cause a problem with smoke billowing into the room. For now, they were cooking outside over an open fire.
Once the potato soup was ready, Travis ladled some up and carried it along with a glass of sun tea to their guest. She’d been dozing on the chair most of the time it had taken for the soup to cook. She came awake with a start when Travis called her name.
“Sorry. Didn’t mean to scare you. I have your soup and some tea for you.” He waited while she settled herself before handing the bowl to her.
“This smells good. Thanks.”
He nodded then strode back toward the kitchen to get his. She was polite and seemed awfully young to be out all alone in the woods running for her life. He would be surprised if she were more than twenty-two or twenty-three.
Benton returned with him, and the two men sat on the couch across from where Gail sat eating and making the cutest moaning sounds. Travis’s cock grew hard at the soft sounds. He cursed under his breath and shifted to alleviate some of the discomfort the zipper of his jeans caused.
“I know it’s not much, but we haven’t hunted the last two days. We’ll go out and get some meat tomorrow. That will help with healing those scrapes on you, as well,” Benton told her.
“It’s really good. I haven’t had much to eat in a while. Those assholes barely fed me at all. I think they thought if I was weak I’d be easier to handle.”
“You’re probably right,” Travis said. “We’re just moving into this place and haven’t gotten it all cleaned out yet. You’re welcome to stay here as long as you like. We won’t hurt you. You’re probably safer with us than out on your own.” He smiled.
“Thanks. I honestly don’t know what to do anymore. Nothing is like it used to be, and everyone I used to know is dead. The others at the farm I was living on were all strangers, drifters like me looking for somewhere to live.” Gail’s voice cracked with the emotion he could see in her eyes.
“Well, you’re welcome here,” Benton told her.
“Want another bowlful?” Travis asked as he stood up with his now empty bowl.
“No thanks. I’m full after the beans I had earlier. Do you mind if I sleep in this chair?”
“Not at all. We’re sleeping on the floor in front of the fireplace. Make yourself at home. I’ll get another blanket so you don’t get cold.” Travis hurried back into the kitchen to rinse out the bowls and go in search of another blanket and a pillow off one of the beds.
When he returned, it was to find Benton sitting on the coffee table next to the recliner talking with Gail. They appeared to be getting along fine. He liked that. If she was comfortable around the big man, she’d be comfortable around him. He liked her and didn’t want her to decide to leave. She’d die for sure out on her own.
“Here you go. The pillowcase is fresh.” He handed the pillow and blanket to her.
“Thanks. How long have you guys been out here?” she asked.
“We met up about fourteen years ago and have been traveling together ever since. Spent the first eight or so years out east in Kentucky and Indiana, but the fighting and disease got to be too much so we started making our way out here,” Benton told her. “Just decided to settle down in this house a few days ago. Took a while to find one suitable to our needs.”
“What do you mean?” Gail cocked her head. “Wouldn’t any house in good shape work?”
“We didn’t need anything too big to keep up or we’d spend all our time on maintenance. We needed one with a large enough back area for a garden and clear skyline for the solar panels we plan to put in. The front needed some shade to make part of the house cooler in the summer months.” Benton smiled when Gail nodded. “We also wanted to be close to a creek or stream for fishing and water. This place fit the bill.”
“I tried catching fish, but wasn’t very good at it. I didn’t have a hook, and trying to catch them by hand only got me wet and cold.” Gail settled the blanket around her.
“We’ve got fishing supplies here that we can use, so that won’t be a problem. All we have to do is dig for worms or find some bugs.” Travis smiled. “I’ll take you fishing for tomorrow’s meal, if you like.”
“Thanks. I’d like that. It would make me feel good to catch one after all the times I lost out on a meal.”
Travis couldn’t help but grin at her shy smile. She was so pretty with the sharp contrast of dark hair and white skin. He couldn’t wait until all the terrible scratches and scrapes healed up. There was something about her that made him want to protect her in a fierce way. He looked over at Benton and noticed how the other man looked at her with the same expression of determination that Travis felt. They’d protect her with their lives, if she’d stay with them.
“Get some sleep, Gail. We’re going to finish clearing things up outside and bank the fire. We’ll try not to wake you when we come to bed. Night.” Benton stood up and nodded at Travis.
“Goodnight, guys. Thanks for everything.”
Travis followed Benton into the kitchen and then out into the back yard lit only by the dying fire. Benton crouched by it and started banking the coals with the rocks they’d accumulated to hold the embers inside the ring. Once they were covered, Benton stood up and stretched.
“You know the way things are out here, Travis. With few women, men share. Are you going to be good with that if she allows it?” he asked.
“I guess I hadn’t though
t much about it. I was just hoping she’d stay first. It’s too dangerous for her out there alone. She’d never make it.”
Benton nodded and peered out into the darkness. “Not sure how she’ll think about us sharing her if we get to that point. I’m mixed race, where you’re not. I might have brown hair and hazel eyes, but my skin is a lot darker than yours. Think she’ll care?”
“I don’t think that matters to her right now. I guess only time will tell what she thinks. For now, I doubt she’s thinking about anything other than survival,” Travis said.
“I think you’re right about that. I still can’t believe she’s been on her own for two or three days. That means those men aren’t far from here. We need to be on the lookout for them. They might wander this way.”
Travis hadn’t thought about that. Now, he worried about sleeping while they could be outside roaming around.
“I’ll take first watch. You can relieve me after midnight.”
Benton nodded. “Good idea. Until we’re sure they aren’t anywhere close, we’ll keep watch. Help me move these boxes over to the discard pile, and I’ll go settle down for the night.”
Travis watched as his friend disappeared inside the house, leaving him to find a good spot to keep watch. He checked that his knife was strapped to his side and carried his bow and arrows over to climb into one of the low hanging branches of a cedar tree. There he sat and waited while the night grew deeper. He hoped that Gail would agree to be their woman. They could keep her safe and provide for her. Together, Travis was positive they could make her happy. Sharing didn’t bother him really, but he wasn’t sure how she would feel about it. Taking on two men was a big step for a woman alone these days.
The idea of a real family after years of drifting from one place to another sounded like heaven to him. They needed to get the house in good shape and the ground broken and ready to row up come spring. The winter would be tough for all of them without much outside of what they killed to eat, but they could make it if they were careful. He hadn’t worried so much when it was just himself and Benton, but with Gail as part of their group, new worries presented themselves.
