“If you hadn’t noticed during our small expedition, there have been bombings here, as well.”
“Henry… I just don’t see this as a good idea.”
“We’re running low on ammo, and I want to be sure I have enough to take out Gunther and whatever army he has gathered.”
“I understand that. It just seems dangerous.”
Henry laughed. “Look around us, love! It’s dangerous everywhere.”
“Don’t be an asshole,” I grumbled.
Nick spoke up. “Maybe we could just drive past it and see what it looks like.”
“I guess that would be fine,” I mumbled. “I just want us to be careful.”
“Love, have you forgotten with whom you are riding?” A wide grin spread across his face.
“Oh, my god, Henry,” I groaned.
“Oh, love, I know you enjoy me thoroughly, but to call me a god? That’s a little excessive, don’t you think?” I crossed my arms and looked out the window. I was suffering from a range of emotions: anger, embarrassment, and irritation.
“Don’t flatter yourself, Mr. Daniels,” I growled.
“Oh! Burn!” Thomas yelled with a laugh. Sometimes I forgot that we weren’t alone.
“Shut up, Thomas!” Henry quipped. There was an eruption of laughter throughout the truck. Even Claire laughed. “We’ll just have to see about that next time, my love.” He put his hand on my thigh and squeezed it. A loud sigh escaped my throat.
“Keep it up, Mr. Daniels, and there won’t be a next time.”
“I better shut up then.” He chuckled.
***
As dusk arrived, Henry pulled the truck up to what looked like an abandoned farmhouse. The formally white, now grimy gray paint needed refreshing, the porch was tilting to one side, and some of the windows had cracks in them.
It was a chilly night. The south had been somewhat warmer than the north, obviously, but it was still pretty damn cold.
“Thomas, come with me. Nick, take care of the women.” Henry and Thomas checked their guns, then headed to the house. I saw the curtain draw back a little bit.
“Nick, there’s someone in there.” I rolled down the window. “Front left window!” The curtain fell back across. “Nick, what if they get hurt?”
Once again, my nerves were taking over. My stomach cramped when I saw Henry knock on the front door. I hid my face. I couldn’t bear to watch him get shot…or worse. Sometimes having faith in Henry just wasn’t good enough. Nick reached up and held my hand.
***
Henry acknowledged the yell from the truck with a wave. He approached the house carefully. He held his arm out, indicating to Thomas to stay behind him, then knocked on the door.
“What do you want?” came a woman’s voice from inside.
“Ma’am, my name is Henry, and this is Thomas. My crew and I don’t want to hurt anyone. We just need a place to stay for the evening.” There was a long silence.
“I don’t have enough food and water for everyone.” He could hear the contemplation in her voice.
“We have food and water. We can give you some of our supply as payment for allowing us to stay.”
There was another long minute before Henry heard the click of the lock. A worn, middle-aged woman stood before him. “Hello, ma’am. Thank you. I appreciate this tremendously.”
“I didn’t say you could stay yet.” She glanced past Henry and looked at the truck. “How many are there?”
“Five in total.”
“I have one spare room. The rest will have to sleep on the sofa or the floor.”
“That’s fine, ma’am. We would be grateful just to have a roof over our heads. It’ll be just for one night. We’re traveling to North Carolina to meet family. Well… hopefully meet family.”
“Your family?”
“Yes. Extended.” She looked at Henry and Thomas, debating on whether or not she should take them in for the evening. “Like I said, we won’t hurt you or use any of your belongings.”
“Can I meet everyone first?”
“Certainly.” Henry jogged back to the truck.
***
“She wants to meet everyone first. Proper behavior please…Elaina.” He raised his eyebrow at me. I snarled. I couldn’t understand why he would say that to innocent little me. The three of us got out and walked up to the front porch. Nick watched our surroundings.
“This is my fiancée, Elaina; her best friend, Claire; and that’s Elaina’s brother and Claire’s boyfriend, Nick.” We all put on our best smiles. She looked all of us up and down several times.
“You’ll be gone around daybreak?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Henry was really working his charm.
“Okay then. But I assure you, I can defend myself.”
“Without a doubt.” Henry smiled again. “Can we bring in all of our belongings? We can’t afford to have any of it stolen.”
“Yes.” She stepped back from the door and waved us in. Claire and I went inside, but Henry, Nick, and Thomas went to unload the truck.
“Thank you for allowing us to stay the night. We are so very grateful.” I looked at Claire, wondering if she was impressed by my wonderful words. She raised an eyebrow at me.
“Yes, thank you. I didn’t catch your name.” Claire was as sweet as pie.
“Addie.” She was curt and all business. I could tell she wasn’t pleased with us being there.
“Well, we should probably help the boys get our things.” Claire turned to head back out the door, and I grabbed her shoulder.
“Why don’t you sit down? I’ll help.”
“I can help.”
“I just…” I noticed Addie was watching us. “Okay.” We both went out to the truck, only for Nick to pull Claire aside and whisper to her.
“Stop treating me like I’m helpless!” she growled.
Nick grabbed her arm before she could turn away from him. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself or the…”
“Let…go…of…me.”
“Just let her help,” I said. “There’s no sense in fighting her and getting her all riled up.”
“Fine.” He let go of her arm and handed her a couple blankets.
It took us about fifteen minutes to unload everything and bring it into the house. Addie had directed us to drop our belongings into a corner of the living room. Henry opened the box containing our dwindling food stock, handing her a couple jars and bottled water.
“I apologize that I can’t spare more. We haven’t had much luck finding more food as of late. We hope that, once we get settled somewhere, we’ll be able to plant a garden.”
Addie hesitated. “Why don’t you keep these then? I have a garden out back. I also have a couple chickens, and by the looks of y’all, I think you could use a nice meal.” My mouth watered.
“Oh, that sounds fantastic!” I couldn’t control myself.
Henry glared at me. “Now, love, we’re asking a lot from her already. Let’s not put her out any more.”
“No. No. It’s fine. I insist. I miss cooking for a crew.” Addie smiled at us for the first time. “Would one of you girls like to come with me and keep an eye out while I slaughter the chicken?” I shuddered.
“I’ll go.” Thankfully, Claire volunteered or I might have thrown up. I had been getting used to the blood being passed around in front of me, but I really didn’t think I could handle slaughtering a chicken.
“Alright. Follow me.” Nick handed Claire his gun. Addie grabbed the supplies she needed out of the kitchen, and they went out the backdoor. I was a little nervous with Claire out there by herself. I wasn’t sure if Addie was packing some heat, besides the giant butcher knife she took with her. I stood there chewing my lip, keeping an eye on the situation. I felt Henry’s presence behind me.
“She’ll be fine,” he said in a hushed tone as he wrapped his cool arms around my body. He nestled his face into the side of my neck and laid soft kisses on it, letting out a groan that tore through my body.
>
“Henry, stop!” I swatted at him.
“You tease me all the time. The way you walk when you know I’m behind you. The way you flip your hair. The way you purposely bend over in front of me. It kills me. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten hard just watching you.”
I smirked. “I would never do that.” I tried to sound as innocent as I could. He was swaying back and forth. He kept moving his hands up and down my sides in a sensual manner.
He groaned again and whispered, “I want you so very badly, my black-haired beauty.”
The rasp in his voice could make me buckle at the knees. His tongue traced up my neck to my ear. His cool breath made me shiver. He pressed his hips into my lower back, and I felt his arousal. I had to pull away before I dragged him somewhere and released my pent up tension.
“Quit distracting me!” I swatted at him again. “I’m trying to keep an eye on Claire. Go sort your socks or something.”
He smirked at me, then slapped me on my ass. “Later, love.” I turned around and gave him a dirty look. He laughed and left the room. I looked back out the door and watched Claire. She stood there, tall and strong, watching for undeads, chatting it up with Addie.
All of a sudden, she collapsed. I burst through the door without even thinking. As I ran to her, I pulled out my Sig, ready to take out whatever hurt her.
“Claire!”
***
“So, Addie, this is your home?” Claire was trying to make small talk, while continuously watching for undeads in all directions.
“Yes. I’ve lived here my entire adult life.” Claire heard the sickening whack of the butcher knife. An intense wave of nausea rushed through her body. With her stomach being off, she was afraid the slaughtering of the chicken would send her over the edge.
“You okay? You look a little peaked.”
She put her hand over her mouth, and couldn’t hold back any longer. Claire fell on her knees and heaved. Addie ran over to her and grabbed her ginger locks and pulled them back.
Once Claire finished, she sat back and began crying, her hands covering her face. “Sweetheart, it’s alright.” Addie stroked her hair and face.
“No. It won’t be alright.” She continued to cry into her hands.
“How far along are you?”
Claire pulled her hands away from her tear-streaked cheeks. “I’m not even sure if I am.”
“I have a knack for these things. Between your family there treating you like a delicate flower, your rosy complexion, and the fact that you just vomited, I have a good idea that you’re with child.” Claire looked into Addie’s eyes and broke down. Addie wrapped her arms around her. “Shhh… It’ll be okay.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be burdening you with my problems.”
“You’re not burdening me. I have a daughter who’s missing. Now you know one of my problems.” Claire smiled through her tears. “She would have been seventeen.” Addie smiled, trying not to show any signs of weakness. “Does he know?”
“Yes.”
“Is the baby his?”
“Yes.” Claire wiped the tears off her cheeks.
***
“Claire! Claire!” I ran as fast as my legs would go which, incidentally, had improved since this whole thing started. “Get away from her, or I will kill you!” I screamed at Addie. She stood up and backed away.
“Elaina, stop! It’s fine. Put the gun away.” Claire stood up. I looked between her and Addie. Claire could see the concern on my face. “Really, Elaina, it’s okay. I was just sick. That’s all. Addie was trying to help me.”
I felt my face flush in embarrassment. “I’m sorry. I thought that…”
“It’s fine. I understand. I really should get back to this chicken so I can get y’all a nice meal before it gets too dark.” Addie went back into the barn, coming back out with a basket. “Here, Claire, go gather some vegetables from the garden, if you feel up to it.” Claire took the basket and walked to the garden that was about twenty feet away. I stepped a few feet into the barn so I could still keep an eye on Claire.
“Please accept my apology. Here you are, opening your home to us, cooking us a meal, and I nearly blow your head off.” My voice was low and riddled with shame. Addie looked up from the chicken.
“I understand. It’s crazy out there, and no one knows who is trustworthy.” She looked back down, continuing with the chicken. I heard someone running toward me. I turned out of the barn and aimed my Sig in the direction it came from.
“Jesus, Elaina! Don’t shoot me!”
“Sorry, Nick.” I put the gun back down.
“What’s going on out here? I heard you yelling.” His breathing was a little labored.
“Claire got sick. I saw Addie over her so I made the assumption…” Nick’s body language said it all: throwing the head back, the eye roll, the hands on the hips. “Look, I know, and I apologized.”
Addie yelled from the barn, “Yes, she apologized, and I accepted! Everything’s fine!” Addie walked out with two buckets, a bunch of feathers clinging to her clothing. “I’m going to rinse this off at the pump and then we’ll get started.”
“Yes, thank you,” Nick said politely, glowering at me. I was feeling a little self-conscious. “Go back inside, you trigger-happy nut. I’m going to go check on Claire.” I took the walk of shame back into the house. I sat down at the kitchen table and pouted. Henry came in and sat down with me, a bottle of vodka in tow.
“We have to be careful. You can’t be so trigger happy.” I rolled my eyes. He had no room to talk. He took a long pull from the bottle, which was becoming a regular thing with him. I wondered what he would do when he ran out.
“I’ve already been lectured by Nick so, I don’t need to hear it from you, as well.” I crossed my arms and turned away from him. “I thought she did something to her.”
“Why would she let us stay the night and cook us dinner, only to kill us?” He had a snicker in his voice.
“Shut up, Henry.”
“Is this five-year-old Elaina that I’m speaking to?” I grabbed the towel that was on the table and threw it at him. “Apparently so.” He laughed. I wanted to throat punch him.
Addie, Nick, and Claire came back inside. Addie put the chicken down on a cutting board. Nick set the basket of vegetables on the counter, and guided Claire to a chair. “Sit down for a while. You need anything? Water?”
“Water would be great. Thanks,” she said in a low voice. Nick ran and retrieved a bottle of water. Thomas had followed Nick in, and sat down at the table.
Claire looked a little green and exhausted. Henry glanced at her when she moaned. He was nursing the bottle of vodka, and glared at me with a raised eyebrow. I felt it coming.
“Elaina, may I have a word with you, please?” Shit, I thought. I can’t lie to Henry. I suck balls at lying. Not to mention that I’m totally against it. I’ve avoided the whole conversation by not saying anything at all. I looked at Claire.
“I know it’s about me so I might as well fess up. Since everyone is here…” She paused, took a sip of water while searching for the words. “There’s a really good possibility that I’m pregnant.” She picked at the label of the bottle.
Henry choked on his last pull.
“How many of you knew?” He looked around at all of us. I meekly raised my hand like a scared kindergartener on the first day of school. Nick and Addie followed my lead. “You told a perfect stranger, but didn’t think that telling me, your leader, was important?!” Oh boy. It was not a good time for “Captain Henry” to make an appearance. Or “Angry Henry”, or even “Drunk Henry”. Oh, Christ, what the fuck did it matter?
“Obviously, I just found out. She was sick outside, and I put two and two together.” Addie went back to cutting the chicken into pieces.
“But you knew,” he stabbed a finger at me, then at Nick, “and you knew?”
“Yes,” I said, my voice shaking.
“And neither one of you felt compelled to
tell me?” When no one said anything, he threw his arms into the air. “Brilliant! Absolutely fucking brilliant!” It was a combination of “Angry Henry” and “Captain Henry”. I didn’t think I liked this new “Captain Angry Henry”. He drank some more. I was crossing my fingers that “Drunk Captain Angry Henry” wasn’t barreling in from around the corner.
“Watch your mouth, young man!” Addie scolded. “In my house, we do not use language like that. And I would appreciate it if you took it easy on the bottle.” I snatched the bottle away from him and capped it.
“I apologize,” he said with embarrassment.
“Accepted.”
“I’m not one hundred percent sure,” Claire continued.
“Whether you’re sure or not, I would think that someone would have said something to me!”
“Henry, calm down. Let’s not show Addie your temper. After all, she’s being a gracious host.” I scolded him like he did me.
He stood up, grabbed his bottle, pushed past Thomas, walking out the front door. I turned back to Claire and, of course, she had started to cry. Nick was furious. He stood up.
“Nick, sit back down,” I growled. I refocused on Claire. “Claire, I’m so sorry. I didn’t think he would act like that.” I rubbed her hand.
“I knew this would be a burden. I’m such an ass for letting this happen.”
“What?” Nick was upset. All aboard an emotional train. Our tickets may say Happyville, but watch us pass directly through Pissyville, and let’s not forget the all too important Melancholyville. It was odd to me that Addie just stood at the counter, prepping dinner, while our little soap opera was unfolding before her.
“I didn’t mean it that way. I meant the baby. We should have been careful.” The tears were flowing fast and heavy. I picked up the towel I had chucked at Henry moments before, and handed it to Claire.
“And how were we supposed to be ‘careful’? There isn’t exactly a twenty-four hour quickie mart open that I can drive to and buy a box.” Oh, yes, we were passing right through Bitterville, as well.
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