Chapter 18
Morning took forever to come. Though I was snug and warm in my bedroll with a wolf on each side, I tossed all night. Will’s kiss had my head spinning and my heart soaring. What was he trying to prove? Did he kiss me because he sensed my need to put Josh on notice? Or maybe he found me irresistible and couldn’t help himself?
My heart and head collided in a wash of sad regret. Maybe it was simply a “goodbye” kiss and I was reading way too much into it. I sighed and threw off the covers. Bo and Pappy snapped to attention. I lifted the front flap to a gust of fresh morning air, and they stampeded over me to make their exit and go look for breakfast. The smell of bacon and maple syrup made my stomach grumble and my mouth water.
I fell back on my mat, kicking the blankets off entirely and fighting the urge to sink into another fantasy vision of Will’s lips on mine. I didn’t want to face him again in daylight, but worse was thinking that he might already be gone.
I tugged on a pair of baggies and tied the draw string, wishing for a hot shower and a mirror. Since that wasn’t likely to happen for the next couple of days, I’d make do washing up at whatever watering station was available. I grabbed my shoulder pack and dragged myself out into the humid air. The sun was just rising above the buildings and already the camp bustled with activity.
I layered a light weight tank top with one of Sam’s plaid shirts. Then I raked my hands through my long bangs, slicking them back against my head. With my hat on and eye-shields, I’d blend in with all of the other merchants and their kids, and the androgynous society that seemed to have taken over the city.
“It’s about time you drug yourself out o’ that tent.” Rudy stalked over to me, leaving the trailers behind, both hitched to his truck and waiting to leave for the warehouse district. “I want to get headin’ downtown in a few minutes, before the street vendors start slowing down traffic.
We both knew that it would be sheer chaos down at the marketplace, no matter how early we got there. I peered around Rudy, and saw Will’s tent…gone. An instant dread hit me in the chest and I slipped on my eye-shields, trying to hide the tears that welled to the surface. “Did you see him before he left?”
Rudy’s face softened. “Oh, jeeze-Louise, he ran off before daybreak. Told me to give you this, though.” A beefy hand reached out, holding a piece of paper crumpled into a ball. Rudy handed it off to me and turned away abruptly. “Be leaving in ten minutes, Missy. You be ready ‘cause I’m not waiting on you and those dogs.”
“Yes, Sir,” I said absently as I unfolded the paper and the small wooden whistle fell into my hand. I examined it, blew a shrill blast that turned several heads my way, and then tucked Will’s whistle into the deep pocket on the side of my pants. I smoothed the paper out on my thigh and held it up to read the small fine print.
Lily,
I’m sorry we didn’t meet when things were different. If I could change anything it would be that. I hope you’ll accept this gift. My dad gave it to me when I was little. He said if I ever got lost, I should blow the whistle and he would come and find me. I think I’ve all but worn the dumb thing out. It’s never done much for me. Maybe it will work better for you.
Will
I sniffed and wiped my cheek, folded the paper, and stuffed it into my pocket next to the whistle. Straightening my shoulders, I cleared my throat and headed for the caravan, hoping like heck my day would get better from there.
“You’re delusional.” Garnet sniped across the picnic table at Josh and Luke Johnson who were elbowing and intermittently punching each other between bites.
“The Scorpions are total grabbers,” said Josh. Luke nodded agreement.
“You’ve got to be kidding. The Howlers are like the best band around.” Garnet bit into a thick slice of bread slathered heavily with peanut butter. I hadn’t seen real peanut butter in ages. It was one of those hard to come by products unless you traveled south or had a big trade item. My mouth watered as I approached the group eating breakfast.
Josh shoveled in another mouthful of pancakes, reaching for a slice of bacon. “I suppose The Howlers are okay if you like animal calls and gorilla costumes.”
Garnet turned to me as I sliced off a couple of pieces of fresh bread from a loaf that Mrs. Higgins had provided. “You decide, Lily. The Howlers or the Scorpions? Which do you like best?”
“I don’t listen to much music,” I said honestly, hurrying to down a cup of cider and spread the chunky peanut butter on my bread. “Do you want to ride into the marketplace with me?” I asked Garnet halfway through a bite. The gooey sweet taste of peanut butter coated my mouth, making it hard to swallow or talk.
Garnet and Josh glanced at each other and then at me. “My dad wants me to stay close to him. You know how overprotective he is.” She shrugged it off, but I knew there was more to it than that. Her dad had been present when I’d healed one of the Ferris twins over in Newtown the summer before, and he hadn’t looked at me the same since. Several of Stanton’s townspeople had either seen me in action or been the recipients of my gift. They kept quiet about it since most of them had secrets of their own, or saw the benefits of having a local healer to call on if someone got hurt or sick. But it seemed like Mr. Perkins would rather have Garnet steer clear of me.
Josh eyed me curiously as he nodded past me to the place where Will’s tent was conspicuously absent. “Where’s the grifter this morning? Already high-tailed onto the next scam, huh?”
“That’s none of your business,” I said, venom infusing the words before I could hold them back.
“No need to get hostile. It was just a question.” Josh shook his head, smiling and looking far too pleased with himself. “I told you he was trouble. You should have listened to me.”
I grabbed my bread, filled my water bottle, and turned my back on the table, which had gone silent with Josh’s verbal assault. Besides the waste of energy it would take to argue, I didn’t want anyone to see just how hurt I was that Will was gone. I glanced over my shoulder. “I’ll see you later, Garnet.”
“Later,” she said, her voice hitching slightly as if she wanted to say more but didn’t want to challenge Josh.
I waved off the sting of resentment that festered inside as I crossed the camp and hopped into the back of the last trailer behind Rudy’s thundering biodiesel. Will’s absence hung over me like a cloud.
The wolves hadn’t returned, but I figured they wouldn’t be far away. I slipped under the tarp and pulled it over me, keenly aware that just yesterday, Will had been snuggled beside me, letting me feel the warmth of his shoulder and hear the beating of his heart. It was the closest I’d ever come to feeling like I belonged, or knowing that I truly had a friend.