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“I would have, too. People need a few pleasures. ”

“I think they’re gonna set up a beauty shop. ” Ed’s craggy face broke into a slight smile.

Nerit laughed. “Honestly, I think that may help morale. Life has felt pretty heavy lately. ”

In the distance, cold rain was falling in a gray curtain over the hills.

“My boys were hoping I’d ask you out. ”

She choked on the smoke billowing out of her lungs. “Oh. ”

“I told them that you’re too much of a man for me. That you could probably kick my ass ten ways until Sunday. ”

Half-coughing, half-laughing, Nerit grinned. “Probably. ”

Ed crossed his arms over his chest and planted his feet firmly apart. “I ain’t gonna ask you out, Nerit. I admire you something fierce and yer my friend. Knowing my boys, they’ll be dropping hints like crazy. I thought you should know. ”

“That’s fine, Ed. And I am flattered. ” Nerit smiled slightly, trying not to think of Ralph and her own adult children. She had hope that her children and grandchildren were still alive in Israel, but hope was all she really had.

“Storm is going to hit hard. Better sound the alarm and get everything tied down. ”

“Agreed. Please take care of it,” Nerit said.

Ed stared at her, studying her calm countenance, then nodded. “You got it. ”

Nerit continued to stare at the small fire. She was in pain and didn’t want Ed to know it. Her hip and leg were throbbing, and she was afraid to move. There was no way she would show weakness. The people in the fort had elevated her to a legendary status, and she would not disappoint them by appearing fragile.

As he walked away, Nerit relaxed a little.

A few minutes later, Travis joined her. He slid an arm over her shoulder and gave her a light hug. Despite her resolve to be a hard ass, she rested her head on his shoulder for a few seconds. He reminded her so much of her eldest son at times. It was nice to feel comforted.

“What’s the status?” Travis asked.

“One dead. Six permanent new members. And one guy with a bag of grenades passing through,” Nerit answered. “The salvage team managed to get into that gun store in Emorton without bringing the entire town down on them. So we should be set for at least six more months as long as we don’t get hit too hard. More boxed and canned food. Two generators. Fuel. And beauty supplies. ”

Travis laughed. “Let me guess: Lenore?”

“Ed said it wasn’t a big thing. He looked the other way. ”

Travis shook his head slightly. “Well, it didn’t cause an issue, so we’ll look the other way, too. ”

“Bob is still out there,” Nerit said after a long pause.

“I know. I spoke with that new guy, Dale, and he said there are quite a few bodies out there. He said that they came from a rescue station outside of Waco. Two vans made it away when they were overrun. He says the other van got ahead of them and must have had someone inside with a bite. It went off the road and they were swarmed. ”

“Ed said there were runners and older zombies. That one area is badly infested thanks to the migration from Hackleburg,” Nerit sighed. The migrating zombies were the result of the fort rescuing survivors under attack by the now defunct bandits. It had been a risk they decided to take.

They had managed to rescue four people, but now the shambling dead were wandering through the hills seeking them out. “I think we should take a break during the bad weather to get our bearings and decide what our next steps are. We’ve been in overdrive, and I think people are worn out and cranky. ”

“Why don’t we meet up after the weather clears up? Gather up the council and brainstorm?” Travis tucked his hands into his jacket as he gazed toward the approaching storm.

“I think that would do us a lot of good. ” Nerit admired Travis. He was not a

natural born leader, but he was doing his best. “Having our attention focused on specific goals may help shake people out of their malaise a little. ”

“And we all prefer that to having a horde of zombies show up on our doorstep to get the old blood pumping,” Travis joked.

“Well, this old blood is going in before the sleet gets here,” Nerit said, patting his shoulder. She was relieved when her legs moved without much of a limp.