by Matt Harris
James-ilooked-iover-iat-ithe-ibuilding,-iwhich-ilooked-iabout-ithe-isize-iof-ihis-ithumb-iat-ithis-idistance.-iHe-isquinted-ireally-ihard-iand-istrained-ihis-ieyes,-ibut-ithere-iwasn't-ia-ichance-iin-ihell-ihe-icould-isee-ianything-ithat-idetailed-iat-ithat-idistance.-iHe-ishrugged.
"No,-iI-idon't.-iI-iguess-imy-ieyes-iaren't-ias-igood-ias-iyours,"-iHe-isaid.
"Red-icircles-imark-ibrothels.-iIt's-ia-ipublicly-iunderstood-ibut-idiscreet-iway-ito-iannounce-ithe-iservices-iyou're-ioffering."-iRose-isaid.
"Oh."-iJames-isaid.
"And-iI'm-inot-istaying-iin-ia-iplace-iwhere-ipeople-ido-ithings-ilike-ithat,-iwith-ia-iperson-iwho-ipersonally-irequested-ius-ifor-itheir-isex-islaves."-iMaddy-isaid.
"Uh,-iwha,-iI-ididn't-irequest-iyou-ifor-isex-islaves!"-iJames-ispluttered,-ired-faced.
"Frumpkin-isaid-iyou-iwanted-ius-ifor-iyour-iharem.-iThat's-iwhat-ia-iharem-iis."-iMaddy-isaid.
James-ichoked-ion-ihis-iown-isaliva,-iand-istarted-icoughing.-iWhile-ihe-iworked-ito-itry-iand-iregain-ihis-ibreath,-iRose-ispoke-iup.
"Well,-iI-idon't-imind-istaying-ithere,-ibut-iobviously-iMaddy's-inot-iinterested."-iRose-isaid,-ishifting-iher-iweight.
James-iturned-ito-iMadeleine.-i"Alright-ithen.-iWhy-idon't-iyou-ipick-iwhere-iyou-iwant-ius-ito-istay-ithen,-iMaddy?"
The-iember-isprite-ilooked-iaround-ifor-ia-imoment,-ibefore-ipicking-iup-ithe-isack-ithat-ishe'd-idropped-iearlier-iand-iwalking-iback-ithe-idirection-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-ihad-icome-ifrom.
James-ilooked-iat-iRose-iwith-ia-iconfused-ilook,-ibut-iRose-ijust-ishrugged,-isheathed-iher-isword,-iand-ifollowed-iMadeleine-iback-itowards-ithe-iother-iend-iof-ithe-itown-isquare.
###-iChapter-i45-i--iSettling-iIn
Madeleine-iled-ithem-iback-ithrough-ithe-istreet-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-ihad-itraveled-idown-ipreviously.-iWhile-iJames-imade-ia-ipoint-iof-igingerly-iavoiding-istepping-ion-ithe-ilarge,-ifurry-icarcasses-iof-ithe-islain-ignolls,-iRose-iand-iMadeleine-iwalked-iover-ithem-ilike-ilumpy-ithrow-irugs.-iFor-isome-ireason,-ithis-imade-iJames-ifeel-ireally-iuncomfortable,-ieven-iin-ispite-iof-ihis-iefforts-ito-iremind-ihimself-ithat-ithese-isame-icreatures-ihad-ibeen-itrying-ito-ikill-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-ionly-ia-ifew-iminutes-iearlier.
When-ithey-ireached-ithe-icorner-iof-ithe-istreet-ias-iit-iturned-iright,-iMadeleine-istopped-iand-ilooked-iaround-ifor-ia-imoment,-ibefore-ifixating-iher-ieyes-ion-ithe-idoor-iof-ia-ismall-ishopfront-ithat-isat-ijust-iinside-ian-ialleyway-ion-ithe-ileft-iside-iof-ithe-istreet-ijust-ipast-ithe-iturn.-i
"This-ione."-iShe-isaid,-ipointing-ito-ithe-ipainted-igreen-idoor-iset-iinto-ithe-ibrick-iof-ithe-ialley-iwall.-iAbove-ithe-idoorway-ihung-ia-ismall-iwooden-isign-ithat-iswayed-igently-ion-itwo-ithin-ichains,-ipainted-iwith-ia-irudimentary-ipicture-iof-iwhat-ilooked-ilike-ibread.
Leading-ithe-iother-itwo-ito-ithe-idoor,-iRose-itwisted-ithe-ihandle-iand-ipushed,-ibut-ithe-idoor-ionly-irattled-islightly-iin-ithe-iframe.
"It's-ilocked,-iMads.-iWe'll-ihave-ito-itry-isomewhere-ielse."-iRose-isaid,-iturning-itowards-ithe-iother-itwo-iand-ishaking-iher-ihead.
Madeleine-ijust-isighed,-iand-iput-idown-ithe-isack-ishe-iwas-icarrying.-iReaching-iinside-iit,-ishe-irummaged-iaround-ifor-ia-imoment-iin-iits-iclinking-icontents-iuntil-ishe-iemerged-iwith-ia-ismall-ileather-ipouch.-iWithout-isaying-ia-iword-ito-ieither-iof-ithem,-ishe-iwalked-iover-ito-ithe-idoor,-isat-idown-iin-ifront-iof-iit,-iand-iuntied-ithe-ileather-istring-iwrapped-iaround-ithe-ipouch.-iAs-iit-irolled-iout,-iJames-icould-isee-iit-iwas-ifilled-iwith-ia-ivariety-iof-ismall-ibent-ipieces-iof-imetal-iin-inumerous-ishapes-iand-isizes.-iHe-irecognized-ias-ilockpicks-ifrom-ithe-inumerous-igames-ihe'd-iused-ithem-ito-ibreak-iinto-iNPC-ihouses-ifor-iloot.
James-ilooked-iback-iand-iforth-ito-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem.
"Uhm,-iare-iwe-isupposed-ito-ibe-idoing-isomething-ilike-ithis?"-iHe-iasked.
Madeleine-ijust-iturned-iand-ilooked-iat-ihim-iwith-ione-iof-iher-iblank-iexpressions,-istaring-iat-ihim-ijust-ilong-ienough-ito-imake-ihim-iincredibly-iuncomfortable.
"Allllright,-isorry-iI-isaid-ianything."-iJames-isaid,-iraising-ihis-ieyebrows-iand-iexhaling-ibefore-ihe-ileaned-iagainst-ithe-ileft-iside-iof-ithe-ialleyway-iand-iwaited-ifor-iher-ito-ido-iwhatever-ishe-iwas-igoing-ito-ido.
Madeleine-ipeered-iinto-ithe-ikeyhole-ifor-ia-imoment,-ibefore-ilooking-idown-iand-icontemplating-ithe-ipicks.-iAfter-ia-imoment's-ideliberation,-ishe-ifished-iout-itwo-iof-ithe-itools-ifrom-ithe-ipouch,-iand-iset-ito-iwork-ifiddling-iwith-ithem-iinside-ithe-ilock-iwith-ia-ivery-idetermined-ilook-ion-iher-iface.-iJames-iwanted-ito-ilaugh-iat-ithe-iway-ishe-istuck-iher-itongue-iout-ithe-iside-iof-iher-imouth-ias-ishe-idid-iso,-ibut-ithought-ibetter-iof-iit.
After-ia-imoment-ior-itwo-iof-ijimmying-ithe-ipicks-iinside-ithe-ikeyhole,-ithere-iwas-ia-ifaint-iaudible-iclick-ifrom-ithe-idoor,-iand-iMadeleine-ileaned-iforward-ito-ipush-ithe-idoor-iopen-iwith-iher-ihead.-iThe-igreen-iwooden-idoor-iswung-igently-iinwards-iwith-ia-ifaint-icreak-iof-iold-iwood-iand-iunlubricated-imetal.
Madeleine-ilooked-iat-iJames.
"After-iyou."-iShe-isaid.
James-ilooked-iat-iher,-ithen-iover-ito-iRose,-iwho-ijust-ishrugged-iagain,-iand-iwalked-iinto-ithe-idarkened-iinterior-iof-ithe-ishop-ifront.-iNot-iwanting-ito-ibe-ileft-iout,-iJames-ijust-isighed,-iand-ifollowed-iher-iin.-iAfter-ia-imoment,-iMadeleine-ihad-ipacked-iher-ithieve's-itools-iaway-iinside-itheir-ipouch,-iwound-ithem-iup,-iand-istuffed-ithem-iback-iin-ithe-ilarge-ilumpy-isack-ishe-ihad-ibeen-icarrying.-iSlinging-ithe-ibag-iover-iher-ishoulder,-ishe-ifollowed-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem-iinside,-ipulling-ithe-iwooden-igreen-idoor-iclosed-ibehind-ithem-iwith-ia-ifaint-imetallic-iclick.-i
###-iChapter-i46-i--iSettling-iIn-i(part-i2)
The-istorefront-ithey-iwalked-iinto,-ifrom-ithe-ilimited-iamount-iof-ilight-icoming-iin-ifrom-ithe-iroom's-imultiple-ilarge-iwindows,-iwas-iobviously-ia-ibakery,-ias-ithe-isign-ioutside-ihad-iindicated.-iImmediately-ito-itheir-ileft-ias-ithey-ientered,-iand-iencompassing-imuch-iof-ithe-iroom-ito-ithe-ileft-iof-ithe-idoor-iwas-ia-ikitchen-iarea,-iseparated-ifrom-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-iroom-iby-ia-iwooden-icounter.-iOn-itop-iof-ithe-iU-shaped-icounter-ispace-istood-iperhaps-ia-idozen-ibaskets-iand-icrates,-ias-iwell-ias-ia-icouple-ismall-icabinets-iwith-iglass-ifronts,-ieach-iappearing-ito-icontain-isome-ikind-iof-ibaked-igood-ilike-ibread-ior-ipastries.-iDirectly-iin-ifront-iof-ithem,-iand-ioccupying-ithe-ilarge-imajority-iof-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-iroom-iwere-ia-iseries-iof-isquare-itables-iand-irough-hewn-iwooden-ichairs-iand-istools-iset-iaround-ieach-iof-ithem.
It-iappeared-ithat-iseveral-iof-ithe-itables-ihad-ioil-ilamps-iset-iin-ithe-imiddle-iof-ithem,-iand-ifor-ilack-iof-ianything-ibetter-ito-ido-iin-ithe-imoment,-iJames-iwalked-iover,-iand-ilifted-ithe-ibrass-itop-ioff,-ibefore-iciting-ione-iof-ithe-icomponent-iwords-ifor-ifire,-iand-isparking-ithe-ioil-ilantern's-iwick-iwith-ia-imatch-sized-ibit-iof-iflame-ifrom-ithe-iend-iof-ihis-ifinger.
Immediately-ithe-iflame-itook-ito-ithe-ioil-isoaked-ifiber,-iand-ithe-ilamp-iemitted-ia-iwarm-iyellow-iglow-iaround-ithe-icenter-iof-ithe-iroom,-icasting-idark-ishadows-ibehind-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-iagainst-ithe-iold-iwood-ipaneling-iof-ithe-iwalls.
After-isparking-ithe-ilamp,-iJames-islid-iout-ione-iof-ithe-ichairs-iand-iflopped-iinto-iit,-isetting-ihis-iaxe-ion-ithe-itabletop,-iand-ileaning-iback-iinto-ithe-ichair-ias-iit-isettled-iin-ia-ichorus-iof-iwooden-icreaks.
He-iwas-itired.
He-ihadn't-ieven-inoticed-ior-irealized-iit-iuntil-ijust-inow,-ibut-ihe-ifelt-iexhausted.-iThinking-iback,-iit'd-ibeen-ian-iincredibly-ieventful-iday.-iThey'd-ihiked-ian-ientire-iday,-iforded-ia-iriver,-iand-ifought-ioff-ian-iattack-iparty-iof-igiant-idog-imen.-iThe-ifact-ithat-ihe-ifelt-iso-idrained-imade-iperfect-isense.-iIf-inot-ifor-ithe-iend-iof-iit,-itoday-iwould-ihave-ibeen-ione-iof-ithe-ibest-ihe'd-iever-ihad.-iAs-iit-istood-inow,-ihowever,-ihe-ifelt-idefeated-iand-idowntrodden.
As-ihe-isat-ithere-isinking-iinto-ithe-ichair-iand-irubbing-ihis-iface-iwith-ihis-ihand,-iMadeleine-iwalked-iover-ibeside-ihim.-iWhen-ihe-ilifted-ihis-ihead-ito-ilook-iat-iher,-ihe-iwas-imet-iwith-ia-ilarge-ipastry-ibeing-ishoved-itowards-ihis-iface.
"Mmfh."-iShe-isaid,-ishaki
ng-ithe-ipastry-iin-iher-ihand.-iShe-ihad-ia-imatching-ipastry-ihanging-iout-iof-iher-imouth.-i
James-ishook-ihis-ihead.-i"No-ithanks,-iMaddy.-iI'm-igood."
The-igirl-ijust-ilooked-iat-ihim.-iShe-ishook-ithe-ipastry-imore-iinsistently-iat-ihim,-iuntil-ifinally-ihe-icaved.
James-isighed,-iand-ithen-ismiled-i"Fine.-iThanks,-iMaddy."
He-ireached-iout-iand-itook-iit-ifrom-iher-ihand.-iIt-iwas-icovered-iin-isome-ikind-iof-isticky-isyrup-imaterial,-iand-ismelled-ivaguely-ilike-iapples.-iHe-ibrought-iit-ito-ihis-imouth-iand-itook-ia-ibite,-iand-ifound-ithat-iit-itasted-ia-ibit-ilike-ian-iapple-ifritter,-iwhich-ihe-iliked.-iMuch-ilike-isitting-iin-ithe-ichair-ihad-ibrought-ito-ihis-iattention-ihow-itired-ihe-iwas,-ieating-ithe-ismall-isyrup-covered-ibun-ibrought-ito-isharp,-iglaring-irelief-ijust-ihow-ihungry-ihe-iwas-ias-iwell.-iHe-idevoured-ithe-iwhole-ithing-iin-ia-ifew-iravenous-ibites,-iand-ilooking-iover-ito-ithe-ibins-iand-ibaskets-ion-ithe-icounter,-ihe-igot-iup-iand-iwalked-iover-ito-ifind-isomething-ielse-ito-ieat.
Over-ithe-inext-iseveral-iminutes,-ithe-ithree-iof-ithem-icollectively-idestroyed-ia-idozen-ipasteries,-itwo-iloaves-iof-ibread,-iand-ipart-iof-ia-imeat-ipie-iRose-imanaged-ito-idiscover-iin-ione-iof-ithe-icabinets.-iAfter-ithat,-iMadeleine-imade-iher-iway-iover-ito-ione-iof-ithe-idarkly-ilit-icorners-iof-ithe-iroom,-ipulled-ia-ibedroll-iout-iof-ithe-ibag-ishe-iwas-ihucking-iaround,-iflopped-iit-ion-ithe-ifloor,-iand-ilaid-idown.-iShe-iwas-iquietly-isnoring-iwithin-ia-iminute,-ileaving-iJames-iand-iRose-ialone-iaround-ithe-ismall-iwooden-itable.-i
###-iChapter-i47-i--i"Hold-iMe"
The-itwo-iof-ithem-isat-ithere-iin-isilence-ifor-iseveral-iminutes.-iRose-istared-idown-iat-ithe-itable,-iher-ibrow-ifurrowed-iin-ithought.-iJames-ileaned-iback-iin-ithe-ichair,-ihis-ihands-ifolded-iover-ihis-ilap,-iand-iclosed-ihis-ieyes-ifor-ia-imoment.
"Do-iyou-ithink-iwe'll-iget-ito-iher-iin-itime?"-iRose-isaid,-ibreaking-ithe-isilence.
James-iopened-ian-ieye-iand-ilooked-iat-iher.-iShe-iwas-istill-istaring-iseriously-iat-ithe-itable-isurface,-iher-ihands-iclenched-iinto-ifists-itight-ienough-ito-iturn-iher-iknuckles-iwhite.-iHe-isighed-iand-ileaned-iforward,-ihis-ichair-icreaking-ias-ihe-idid-iso.
"I-ithink-iEllie's-ia-itough-igirl.-iShe's-icertainly-itougher-ithan-iI-iam."-iJames-isaid.-i"I-imean,-ishe'd-ihave-ito-ibe,-igrowing-iup-iwith-iyou."
He-isaid-ithis-ilast-icomment-iwith-ia-ismile,-ibut-iRose-igave-ihim-ino-iresponse.-iAfter-ia-imoment's-iawkward-isilence-ihe-ispoke-iagain,-iscratching-ihis-ihead-iuncomfortably.
"I-ithink-iwe-ineed-ito-ihurry.-iI-ithink-iwe're-igoing-ito-ido-iour-ibest."-iHe-isaid.-i"That's-iall-iwe-ican-ido,-ireally..."
Rose-ibrought-iher-ihands-iup-ito-iher-iface,-iburying-iher-iface-iinto-ithem.-iAfter-ia-imoment,-ishe-ibegan-ito-isob-iquietly,-iher-ibody-ishaking-igently-iwith-ieach-ibreath.
Seeing-ithis,-iJames-ifelt-ian-iinstinctive-iurge-ito-ireach-ihis-iarms-iaround-ithe-igirl-iand-icomfort-iher,-ibut-ihis-ipainful-iexperiences-iwith-iphysical-icontact-iwith-ithe-igirls-imade-ihim-ithink-ibetter-iof-idoing-iso.-iAll-ihe-icould-ido-iis-isit-ithere-iand-ifeel-iuseless.
As-ihe-isat-ithere-iand-ilooked-iat-iher,-ihe-inoticed-ithe-iwound-ion-iher-isword-iarm-ifrom-iearlier.-iIt'd-inever-ibeen-ibound,-iand-ihe-icould-isee-ithat-iit-iwas-istill-islowly-iweeping-iblood,-iand-istarting-ito-ibecome-iinflamed.-iJames-iwasn't-ia-imedical-iexpert,-ibut-ihe'd-iread-ia-icouple-ibooks-iabout-ifield-imedicine-ifor-ia-igame-ihe'd-ibeen-iplaying-ia-ifew-iyears-iback,-iand-iwhat-ilittle-ihe-ihad-ilearned-itold-ihim-ithat-iif-iit-iwasn't-icleaned-iand-ibandaged-ipretty-isoon,-ithe-ichances-iof-iit-igetting-ibadly-iinfected-igot-imuch-ihigher.
He-ilooked-iaround-ifor-imoment-ifor-ihis-ipack-ito-igrab-isome-iwater-iand-ilinen-ifrom-iit,-iuntil-ihe-irealized-ithat-ithey'd-icompletely-iforgotten-ito-ipick-itheir-ipacks-iback-iup-iafter-iEllie-idisappeared.-iWhich-imeant-ihe-iwas-igoing-ito-ihave-ito-ihead-iback-iout-ithere-iand-igrab-ithem,-iif-ifor-ino-iother-ipurpose-ithan-imaking-isure-ithey-ididn't-iunexpectedly-iend-iup-itaking-iup-ilegs-iand-iwalking-ioff.
James-isighed,-iand-istood-iup.-iRose-ilifted-iher-iface-iup-ito-ilook-iat-ihim,-iher-iteary-ieyes-ilooking-iat-ihim-iquestioningly.
"We've-ileft-iour-ipacks-iback-iat-ithe-ioutskirts-iof-ithe-icity.-iI've-igotta-irun-igrab-ithem-ibefore-ithey-idisappear."-iHe-isaid,-iturning-ito-igo.
"No,"-iRose-isaid,-ishaking-iher-ihead.-i"Stay,-iplease."
Without-ithinking,-ishe-ireached-iher-ihand-iout-iand-igrabbed-iJames's-iwrist.
James-iwent-ito-ipull-iaway,-ibut-istopped-ialmost-iinstantly-iwhen-ihe-irealized-isomething-istartling.
She-iwasn't-iburning-ihim.
Her-ihand-iwas-istill-ivery-iwarm,-iborderline-ihot,-ibut-iit-iwasn't-iscalding-ilike-ibefore.-iAs-ihis-ieyes-ishot-idown-ito-iher-ihand-iin-ishock,-iRose's-ieyes-igrew-ihuge,-iand-ishe-ijerked-iher-ihand-iaway.
"Oh-ino!-iI-iforgot!-iI'm-iso-isorry!-iAre-iyou-iokay?"-iShe-isaid,-iher-iface-ibecoming-ieven-imore-idistraught.
James-ilooked-iat-iher-ihand,-ithen-iback-ito-iher-iface,-ibewildered.
"No,-iI'm....-iI'm-ifine.-iFor-isome-ireason,-iyou...-ididn't-iburn-ime."-iHe-isaid.
Rose's-iface-ishifted-ifrom-ione-iof-ishock-iand-iworry-ito-ione-iof-isurprise-iand-iconfusion.
"Wait,-iwhat?-iReally?-iI-ididn't?"-iShe-iasked.
James-ishook-ihis-ihead.-i"No,-ireally,-iyou-ididn't.-iI'm-ijust-ias-isurprised-ias-iyou-iare."
The-iifrit-ilooked-idown-iat-iher-ihand,-ithen-iback-ito-iJames,-iher-iface-itaking-ion-ian-ialmost-iunreadable-iexpression.-iShe-ilooked-idown-ialmost-ishyly.
"In-ithat-icase....-iwill-iyou-iplease-ihold-ime?"-i
###-iChapter-i48-i--iBedrolls-iand-iBandages
James-ilooked-idown-iat-iRose-ifor-ia-imoment-iin-idisbelief,-iand,-iwithout-isaying-ia-iword,-ireached-idown-iand-ipulled-ithe-iifrit-iinto-ia-ihug.-iRose's-ibody-iwas-itoasty-iwarm,-ialmost-ifeverish-ifeeling,-ibut-ithe-ifeeling-iwasn't-iunpleasant.-iThe-igirl-ithrew-iher-iarms-iaround-ihim-iand-ipulled-ihim-icloser,-ipressing-ithe-iside-iof-iher-iface-iagainst-ihis-ichest.-iMuch-ito-iJames's-isurprise,-ithe-igirl-istill-ifelt-isoft-iin-ihis-iarms,-idespite-iher-imuscular-iphysique.
They-istood-ithere-ilocked-itogether-ifor-iseveral-ilong-imoments-iuntil-iRose-isighed-iwarmly,-iand-isniffed.-iShe-ipulled-iback-ia-ilittle-ibit,-iand-ismiled-isoftly,-ithe-itears-iin-iher-ieyes-istarting-ito-idry.
"Thanks.-iI-ineeded-ithat."-iShe-isaid.-iShe-ireleased-ihim,-iletting-iher-iarms-idrift-igently-iacross-ihis-ifor-ia-imoment-ibefore-idropping-ithem-ito-iher-iside.
"I'm-ihappy-ito-ihelp."-iJames-isaid,-ifeeling-ihis-iface-iflush.-iHe-ireally-ihoped-ishe-ididn't-inotice-ihim-iblushing.
"Man,-iI'm-itired."-iShe-isaid,-iyawning-iand-irubbing-ithe-ilast-ibits-iof-imoisture-ifrom-iher-iface-iwith-ithe-iback-iof-iher-ihand.
"I-iam-itoo."-iJames-isaid.-i"It's-ibeen-ia-ilong-iday."
"Where-idid-iwe-ileave-iour-ipacks-iagain?-iI-iactually-idon't-ireally-iremember-iafter,-iwell,-ieverything."-iShe-isaid.
"They're-istacked-itogether-ibehind-ia-ibarrel-iwhere-iwe-imade-ithe-iplan-iagainst-ithe-ignolls."-iJames-isaid.-i"It's-inot-iterribly-ifar...-imaybe-ia-iten-iminute-itrip?"
Rose-ishifted-iher-iweight-iforward,-iclasping-iher-ihands-itogether-iover-iher-ichest-iand-iadopting-ia-ipitiful-ilooking-iexpression.
"Will-iyou-iplease-igrab-imy-ipack-ifor-ime?-iPretty-iplease?"-iShe-iasked,-icartoonishly-ibatting-iher-ieyelashes-iand-isticking-iher-ibottom-ilip-iout.-iThe-ilook-iwould-ibe-icute-ion-ianyone,-ibut-ion-ithe-iotherwise-iless-ifeminine-iof-ithe-ithree-isisters,-ithe-ieffect-iwas-iabsolutely-iadorable.
James-iscratched-ithe-iside-iof-ihis-ihead.
"Well,-iyou-isee,-ithat's-ikinda-ithe-ithing...-iThere's-ifour-ipacks-iand-ionly-ione-iof-ime.-iI'm-inot-istrong-ienough-ito-icarry-iall-ifour.-iSo-iI-ieither-ineed-ihelp,-ileave-isome-ipacks-ibehind,-ior-imake-imultiple-itrips."
Rose-ijust-isighed-iplayfully-iand-ihung-iher-ihead.
"Fiiiiine.....-iI'll-ihelp."-iShe-isaid.
Over-ithe-inext-ififteen-ior-iso-iminutes,-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem-iretrieved-ithe-ifour-ipacks-if
rom-itheir-ihiding-ispot,-iand-ireturned-ito-ithe-ibakery.-iMadeleine-iwas-istill-ifast-iasleep,-iher-ibreath-icoming-iin-isoft,-irhythmic-iflows.
James-igently-iset-ihis-ipack-inext-ito-ithe-icounter-iby-ithe-idoor,-iand-ipulled-iout-ihis-ibedroll.-iHe-ilooked-iover-iat-iRose,-iwho-iwas-idoing-ithe-isame,-iand-imotioned-ito-iher-iarm.
"We-ineed-ito-iget-ithat-ipatched-iup-ibefore-iyou-igo-ito-isleep.-iIt-icould-iget-iinfected-iif-iits-inot-icleaned-iup."-iJames-isaid,-ilaying-ithe-iroll-ion-ithe-iwooden-ifloor-iwith-ia-isoft-iflump-ia-ishort-idistance-ifrom-iRose's.
Rose-ilooked-idown-iat-iher-iarm-iwith-ia-iconfused-iexpression,-iwhich-ishifted-ito-ione-iof-irealization-iwhen-ishe-isaw-ithe-igash.
"Oh,-iI-ihad-icompletely-iforgotten-iabout-ithat-itoo."-iShe-isaid.
"Yeah,-ihow-idid-ithat-ihappen?"-iJames-iasked,-ipicking-iup-ihis-ipack-iand-isetting-iit-ibeside-ihis-ibedroll.
"It-iwas-ithat-ilast-ignoll.-iWhen-imy-isword-igot-istuck-iand-iI-ihad-ito-idrop-iit,-ihe-icaught-ime-iwith-ihis-icleaver-iwhen-iI-iwas-ipulling-iaway."-iShe-isaid.-iShe-iinspected-ithe-iwound,-ipressing-igently-iaround-iit-iwith-iher-ifingertip-iuntil-ishe-iwinced-iand-isucked-iair-ithrough-iher-iteeth.-i"Yep,-ithat-istill-istings."
"Well,-isit-idown-iacross-ifrom-ime-ion-iyour-ibedroll,-iand-iI'll-itake-icare-iof-iit-ifor-iyou."-iJames-isaid.
"I-ididn't-iknow-iyou-iwere-ia-ihealer."-iRose-isaid-ias-ishe-isat-idown.
"I'm-inot-ireally."-iJames-isaid,-ishrugging.-i"I-ijust-iread-ia-ilot-iabout-iit-iwhen-iI-iwas-iyounger."
Rose-ishifted-iher-iposition-ito-isit-icross-legged,-iher-ihands-iresting-iloosely-iin-iher-ilap,-iand-iher-ibody-iturned-islightly-iso-ithe-iwounded-iarm-ipointed-ia-ibit-imore-itowards-ihim.
"Alright,-iwell,-iI-itrust-iyou."-iShe-isaid.
###-iChapter-i49-i--iBedrolls-iand-iBandages-i(part-i2)
James-ireached-iinto-ihis-ipack-iand-ipulled-iout-ihis-iwaterskin,-iand-irummaged-iaround-ifor-ia-imoment-iuntil-ihe-ifound-ione-iof-ithe-ihandkerchiefs-ithat-iSimon-ihad-iinsisted-ihe-itake-iwith-ihim-iwhen-ithey-iwere-ipacking-iup.
