Page 73 of Freedom Fighters
Minnie conversed swiftly with Rubén, as they counted out the number of rooms the motel offered. Then they moved down the line, grouping people into the right number, then giving them a room number. People streamed along the verandahs and up the stairs to the next flooras they were assigned a place. Most of them walked with one shoulder turned into the wind to stop themselves from staggering.
Téra watched them struggle to move against the wind and wondered how the rest of the army would fair.
Minnie touched her arm. “We’re in the command center,” she said, lifting her voice. “The motel reception area.”
Téra nodded and held out her arm. “Hang on to me. You’llget blown away otherwise.”
Minnie laughed, but took her arm. “I’m just glad we can stop walking. My feet are hurting.”
“You’re the one who got knocked up,” Téra pointed out.
Minnie didn’t respond. Her smile, though, was warm and small. Being pregnant suited Minnie down to the ground, which had been a surprise to Téra. Her first impression of her future sister-in-law had been a petite womanfar too interested in her own appearance, a mismatch for Duardo’s obvious infatuation. However, Duardo had been right all along. Minnie had hidden depths Téra was only starting to learn. The way she organized the supplies for the big house was astonishing. They had wanted for little since she had taken over the task.
“I hope they left behind the furniture,” Téra told her. “Then you’ll have acomfortable chair to sit in.”
“Any flat surface behind a vertical one that stops the wind is all I need,” Minnie said. “I never thought wind would drive me crazy, but it never stops, does it?”
The reception area and the offices behind it had been stripped of anything useful. All that was left was permanently nailed down or built-in fixtures, such as the big reception counter. Carpet coveredthe area that had been a lounge bar, off to one side of the reception area.
Téra helped Minnie settle down at the back corner of the lounge, where the two walls would give her back some support.
“Don’t stay near the windows,” Calli warned as everyone spread out, looking for a comfortable spot. There were ten people, including Rubén Ray, Mama Roseta and other key personnel who helped run thebig house.
Téra would never say it aloud, but she was relieved Rubén had been left behind. At least one man with a gun strapped to his hip was a comfort. There were two privates Rubén supervised, who had mild injuries and were in recovery. They were also armed, although they had been equally helpful with the children.
Téra moved over to the heavily carved teak bar at the back of the room. Therewere no windows nearby, so she stepped around the bar and studied the narrow area. The floor was vinyl tiles that looked clean.
She settled herself on the floor, her back against the shelves under the bar. There was nothing on the shelves but dust and there was just enough room to extend her legs. Later, she could swing herself around and lie on the floor. The bivouac would give her some privacy.Possibly, it was the most luxurious accommodation anywhere in the motel.
She rested her head back, closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh.
A squeak of shoe leather jerked her eyes open. Rubén Rey stood at the end of the bar. He’d moved around it to check behind. He raised his hand. “I see I’m not the only one who thought this would be a good place to hide. I am sorry I disturbed your sleep.”
“No, wait,” Téra told him. “You’re welcome to hang out here too, if you want. As long as you don’t mind me snoring next to you.”
He hesitated, his dark eyes behind the glasses studying her. “I wouldn’t presume—”
“Come and sit down,” Téra said and closed her eyes again.
“Téra,” he said quietly and much closer to her.
She looked. He had moved silently and now crouched just in front of her. Hewas studying her again.
“I wish you wouldn’t do that,” she said tiredly.
“Do what?”
“Examine me, like I’m a line of code or something.”
“You’re neither code nor something.” He rested his arm on his bent knee. “That’s why I don’t think I’ll stay here in this little nest of yours.”
Téra sat up straighter. The exhaustion she had been feeling fled. Her heart thudded. “I don’t understand.” Only,shedidunderstand. She could see it in his eyes. If she played dumb, it would delay what he would say.
Rubén smiled. It was a wise expression. He knew she was being deliberately stupid, too. He bent closer and touched his mouth to hers.
As a kiss, it barely qualified. Her heart zoomed, anyway.
As he pulled away, she found her voice, which had momentarily fled. “Rubén, I—” she began.
