Page 16 of Max
“Can you also erase that avatar bitch who was such a messed-up version of me? I know we just met, but you don’t have to hide from me. We have great sex, and I like you. That’s as good a start to a relationship as any.”
Before Falyn returned to her task, she caught Max’s pleased expression. The only positive thing about the flawed avatar was that she could just be herself, and Max would still want her.
“Deleted.”
Falyn knew he meant the avatar and gave him a warm smile. From the open admiration in his gaze, that seemed like a done deal.
“I’m surprised you have solar panels, electricity, and a milking machine for goats.”
“That’s because great-great-grandfather was a serious prepper. There was a lot of unrest in the world during his lifetime. He thought it was only a matter of time before something happened to take down civilization and leave us to fend for ourselves. He set up this homestead so we could fend for ourselves and thrive.”
“You are here alone, though,” Max observed.
“Yes,” she said with a sigh. My parents died about four years apart… Dad first, then Mom. They got sick from things that would have been cured by state-of-the-art medicine in great grandpa’s time. But they didn’t have that. All we had was a few antibiotics and natural remedies. That’s all I have, now.”
“Not anymore,” Max assured her. “You will have the same nanites that heal me to heal you. If you need more than that, I will get it.”
Falyn stopped the milker when she saw it was no longer pulling any milk from the little goat. Unhooking it, she set the goat back on the barn floor. As she straightened to locate the next goat, Max slid his arms around her, pulling her against him. Falyn didn’t discourage him, pleased to see that he was becoming confident to do so.
She put her arms around his neck and looked up at him expectantly. He didn’t disappoint, bending to press his lips to hers in a light, affectionate kiss. Falyn smiled at him as he held her gaze afterward, realizing how much she enjoyed this gorgeous male.
Alas, she still had two more goats to milk, so she pulled back reluctantly to finish the job. She glanced at him intermittently, and he seemed content to watch her finish the chore.
Three little goats didn’t produce much milk but more than enough for one person. When she finished the milking, she poured the milk from the stainless-steel canister through a filter in the milk room processor that would pasteurize and cool it. She would retrieve it later.
Next, she fed the chickens and collected the eggs. She would wait until dusk to feed the horses a measure of grain to give them the incentive to return to the barn. Keeping them in the barn at night would protect them from mountain lions and wolves.
Falyn stopped on the way back to the house to pick some fresh vegetables from the garden for dinner. She carried the eggs and some of the vegetables back to the house, and Max took the rest.
“The vegetables were an afterthought,” she said as they walked. “I should have brought a basket.”
“Next time,” said Max. “This place is amazing… And you take care of it all by yourself?”
“I have an antique solar-powered garden combine that saves me a lot of work. It’s fully automated once I set it.”
“How did you get such a device? After the bombings, everything shut down.”
“Great grandfather stocked a fleet of them before the war. He bought a new one every couple of years, but he never used the new ones until the old one didn’t work anymore. Mine is the last one.”
“What you have here is exactly what the Enclave has envisioned for the rebuilding. Homesteads like this are everywhere back east.”
“From when I was old enough to walk practically, my entire education was homesteading. Reading and arithmetic were coincidentally useful for reading all our books on preserving, soap making, and caring for livestock.”
“‘I did notice the entire wall beside and above the fireplace in the living room was all bookshelves filled with books,” said Max.
“Those plus working alongside my parents were my education. I haven’t read them all, but I’m still working on it.”
“That is quite a collection. You can access the latest information on the tablet I will give you.”
They entered the house through the kitchen door. Falyn set the egg basket and the vegetables on the counter beside the sink. Max put the rest beside hers.
“I am going to my hybrid cycle to get that tablet for you. I want us to be able to contact each other while I’m on the job.”
Falyn nodded. “I will wash these and start a stir fry.”
She let out a sigh as he left. She wasn’t looking forward to his leaving, wondering how long before she would see him again. Falyn knew she couldn’t go with him to the ruined cities. They were far more dangerous than going to town, which hadn’t worked so well this time.
She didn’t know how to fight and wasn’t that good with a gun. After shooting Max by accident, she didn’t trust herself with one. It didn’t matter. There was far too much work at the homestead for her to be away for more than a day.
