Page 35 of Wildflowers

The man sighs. “Okay. They’re older, wiser, and Natalia has raised children and does know what she’s doing. But Soph chose you—”

“I was the first female that came along.”

“She seems happy with us,” he says. “It’s only been a day or so. But she’s eating and smiling and talking and doing all of the things she should be.”

“She’s also crying herself to sleep.”

“Of course she is. Everyone she knew is dead. Where is this coming from?”

“I don’t know.”

“Neither of us were expecting to become guardians to a nine-year-old. Do you really not want…” And he doesn’t finish the sentence. He doesn’t need to. “Or are you worried we’re going to mess things up?”

“The second one.”

“Are you worriedI’mgoing to mess things up?” he asks. “I’d understand if you are.”

“No. As strange as it seems, I do trust you on this. I know you’re on our side.”

“I think that’s what Soph thinks about you. She’s knows you’re on her side.” He narrows his gaze on me. “I don’t know, Astrid. I kidnapped someone for the first time last week. Not sure I should be giving advice on anything. Certainly nothing as important as she is.”

“Sheisso important.” I stare at the sleeping child. So angelic. “What if we just keep trying to do our best for now?”

“Sounds good to me.”

“It’s agreed, then. Good meeting.”

“Right.” He frowns and shakes his head. “Do you just like beating yourself up with ideas now and then or what?”

“I needed to be sure we were doing the right thing for her out of the options available to us.”

“Guess it’s good that you care,” he says. “That you’re trying to put her first. We need to be careful with anyone new coming in. Make sure they don’t hurt her. She’s been through enough.”

“Yeah. Gun lessons starting tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow.” He nods. “I can’t wait to see what you’re like when you’re armed.”

CHAPTER NINE

FRIDAY

“Front sight, ejection port, slide, and rear sight.” Dean points out each part of the weapon. “Safety lever and magazine release.”

Sophie is wearing headphones and sitting in the front yard of a house where we can still see her. We decided to hold firearm classes after breakfast and water duties were done. Water duties involve hauling buckets of water from the creek to the house to be used in a variety of ways. To fill the toilet cistern and to wash with and such. My arms are going to be so toned.

Modern society made things so easy. Running water, electricity, disposal of trash…so many daily conveniences are gone. I will never understand people who used to dress up and pretend they were living in the past. This shit is intense. Though there is a beauty to the peace and quiet of all of this. A sort of simplicity to living this way, with no social media or streaming, or other distractions.

At any rate, here we are by the ruins of the bridge. Just a few blocks away from our new home. I don’t recognize my life anymore. I barely recognize me with a gun in my hand.

The braided hair, black tee, blue jeans, and hiking boots aren’t wildly different from the old days. Which were only like a week or so ago. But the aching back from lugging buckets of water, with a child sitting nearby to worry over, and about to learn how to fire a gun kind of blows my mind.

“General warning,” he says, bringing my attention back to the task at hand. “Don’t draw it unless you’re willing to use it, Astrid. Guns almost always escalate a situation.”

“Understood.”

“That being said, we both know how dangerous things can be now. If you need to protect yourself or Sophie, please don’t hesitate.”

I just nod. We’re standing much closer together than normal. As if we’re trading secrets. And being close to him isn’t a big deal after all those days of being mooshed up against him on the motorcycle. No idea why I even noticed.

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