Page 155 of Into the Mist (Into the Mist 1)

Her upraised hand stopped him. “Only tell me about alive things.”

“Well then, I can tell you that there are a dozen chicks alive in this cage, and inside the store there are also about half a dozen ducklings and four really cute rabbits.”

“Oh, Ford! That’s fantastic! The kids will be so excited.”

“I’ll be excited too, when they start laying eggs. I can make a mean frittata.” Ford carefully put the cage in the bed. “Now all we need are some goats and horses.”

“Goats are easy. They eat anything. But horses? They take grass and hay and tending to live,” said Mercury as she reached her finger between the wires of the cage and stroked the yellow down of the nearest chick, who chirped at her.

“Well, good thing there’s lots of seed inside that feed store, including hay and grass, and I happen to know several ladies who have a way with growing things. Can you ride?” Ford asked her.

“I’m from Oklahoma. I think it’s a requirement. Yes, I can ride. I was raised with horses. That’s why I know they need to graze and have hay and grain to supplement that grazing.”

“But if they have those things they’re self-sustaining—unlike that truck. We’ll eventually run out of gas to syphon, and before that it may just stop working,” Ford said.

Mercury’s brow raised. “Huh. I honestly hadn’t even thought about that. I guess I’m too used to going to a gas station to fill up and buying a new car when my old one gives out. But you’re right. We need to see the big picture.”

“How about as soon as things get settled in the hills, you and I make some day runs to find livestock?”

“I’d like that,” Mercury smiled up at him.

“Me too, Bellota. Very much.” He returned her smile as he pointed to a corner of the bed of the truck. “Check out what I found.”

Mercury gasped. “Ford! That’s a boom box!”

“Yep, even older than the one in Madras, but it’s battery powered. I also found a stack of CDs.” He met and held her gaze. “‘Strawberry Wine’ is on one of them.”

Mercury’s stomach was filled with fluttering butterflies. “Are we going to dance again?”

“I’m counting on it.”

“Hey, did y’all hear that?” Stella dragged two baskets loaded with groceries to the truck and stopped as she stared off into the distance.

“I didn’t hear anything,” Ford whispered.

“Hear what?” Mercury asked softly.

Stella shook her head. “I don’t know. I don’t hear it now, but I could’ve sworn it was an engine. So, you two need to stop making goo-goo eyes at each other and get this truck loaded. I’m ready to leave this graveyard.” Stella glanced in the bed and her frown changed to a brilliant smile. “Ooh! Chickens!” Then she clamped a hand over her mouth.

“I know,” Mercury whispered. “I did the same thing. Okay, come on, y’all. Let’s get this done! Uh, Ford, did you put those big metal troughs in here for the goats and horses we don’t have yet?” She pointed to the troughs that were already filled with bales of straw, bags of sand, and several boxes of seeds.

Ford grinned. “No, Bellota. Livestock can drink from the creek. One of those troughs is to keep water in for cooking. The other I thought you ladies would like to use for baths. I also found a bunch of metal buckets so you could warm water and then dump it in the trough.” He disappeared back into the feed store.

“Damn, Acorn, I really like your man.”

“I really do too,” said Mercury.

They worked quickly and quietly. Soon Ford was securing the pile of supplies with bailing twine. The baby chickens and ducks made happy little sounds as Ford gave them and the rabbits grain and water for the trip, and then covered their cages.

“I think that’s a pretty good first haul,” said Ford as he finished knotting the last tie-down.

“Yeah, it was particularly cool to find all those sleeping bags and tents,” said Mercury.

“Don’t forget the coffee!” said Stella.

“Never forget the coffee,” agreed Ford. His dark brows lifted to his hairline.

“We also found a bunch of old grapes in the grocery part of the store. And they aren’t seedless!” Mercury grinned victoriously. When Ford didn’t appear to get it, Stella spoke up.