The Hunted: The Fallen Series Book Two by Tara Ellis

Author:Tara Ellis [Ellis, Tara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-05-25T00:00:00+00:00

BUG

Off Highway 70

Outskirts of Joseph, Utah

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

It was a short trek to the barn, which was fortunate since it didn’t give Bug too much time to think. Thinking was a dangerous pit she was afraid of falling into, but it was there, gaping in front of her, and what Bug needed was a distraction. Or sleep.

“You’ll understand if I keep my distance,” Howard said, stopping short of the double doors and waving them off. “In case there’s any chance I managed to avoid this…mutation.”

“Of course,” Kora said, quick to take the lead. “We appreciate the hospitality.”

“Oh, this isn’t about charity,” Howard chuckled.

Bug didn’t understand the man. He’d basically been handed a death sentence and he was acting like it was no big deal. It helped to ease her conscience but added to her growing confusion. Maybe he was crazy after being alone for so long.

Chewy nudged up against her leg and Bug automatically dropped to wrap an arm around the dog’s neck. He seemed perfectly normal, which helped to calm her nerves further, but she fully expected a white rabbit with a watch to come running through the grass.

“What did you have in mind?” Adam asked.

“Nothing nefarious, Major. Don’t get your hackles up,” Howard said with a weary sigh. “Since you distracted me from my chores, how about you bring in the horses and then we can discuss the terms of a trade.”

“I know horses,” Cass offered, stepping away with Adam and Maverick. “I can help.”

“We didn’t have many horses where I grew up in Russia,” Dev explained when Howard turned to him.

“Then how about you grab some wood from the pile alongside the barn and bring it inside?” Howard said, pointing him in the right direction. “I’ve got a woodstove you can get started. There’s still a chill in the air at night.”

Mav hesitated, turning back to look up at the exhaust pipe on the roof of the barn. “Aren’t you worried about The Variants spotting the smoke?”

“You mean the Wildlings?” Howard asked. “That’s what we’ve taken to calling ‘em around here. We found it more fitting. And no, not if there isn’t anything to see. I keep my fires small, burning hot, always lit after dark, and snuffed by dawn. Now get moving and don’t turn your back on the black horse.”

Desperate for something to do that didn’t involve being near Howard, Bug dropped her backpack and then ran after Dev to help with the wood collecting. Standing there as he stacked a few small pieces onto her outstretched arms, Bug was struck by the normalcy of it. Surrounded by the long grass and tucked into the valley, it would have been easy to pretend like everything was okay and the world hadn’t fallen apart. More so than at First Mountain, which was filled with too many reminders of what had been lost.

A warm breeze wafted around the barn, carrying with it some Earthy smells that Bug couldn’t identify. Breathing it in, she closed her eyes and slowly counted.

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