From The Ashes (Life After War) (26 page)

Dog’s expression was ugly, and the women moved away from Jennifer.

The wolf’s body had filled out with the extra food and constant exercise. His flanks and haunches bulged with muscles and gave him an even stockier appearance. It was enough to keep rookies jumping back when he came by on a patrol.

The wolf snarled angrily at the thoughts Charlie was flashing, and the women quickly began to deny that they were a threat.

“
We’ll leave her alone.”

“
We won’t bother her again.”

“
We were only talking.”

“
I think they’re lying, Dog. Teach them some manners.”

The wolf snarled obligingly, padding forward, and the bullies fled back into camp with Lilly in the lead.

Charlie patted the wolf firmly. “Nice.”

The wolf nudged his hand in agreement and they both turned to look at Jennifer, who was pushing herself off the ground.

Jennifer had already heard enough stories to already not be afraid of the big animal. After this, she was grateful. “Thank you. Both.”

Charlie shrugged, thinking Kyle would be pissed about the handprint across her cheek. “They deserved worse, but our rules are strict about not hurting women.”

“
He wouldn’t have attacked them?”

Charlie stared at the wolf. “I don’t think so, but it was my mom that Lilly threatened, so I’m not sure. Angie and Dog are close.”

Jennifer realized who her rescuer was. Rumors of Safe Haven having their own Witch were fleeting here, but in Cesar’s camp, it had been public knowledge.

“
She’s who he wanted. Why he attacked you guys.”

Charlie’s gaze hardened. “He paid for it. Unlike some people.”

Jennifer knew that wasn’t directed at her and knelt down. She held out a hand toward the wolf and was thrilled when she was allowed to stroke his soft fur.

“
Star had a litter last week. You could probably play with the pups.”

Jennifer smiled at the thought. “Maybe.”

Distracted from his own troubles by hers, Charlie stayed next to her as they moved back into view of the camp.

Dog stayed on her other side, and the trio drew attention from not only the herd and the Eagles, but also from the former slaves. It was clear that she had protection, and the hard glares she was receiving in return were enough to make Charlie silently ask Dog to travel with her for a while.

Jennifer declared her plan a success. She hadn't been able to ask for protection, but thanks to Lilly's actions today, she would now have it.

Charlie directed them by the area that Kyle was guarding, and was showered with the mobster’s relief and gratitude upon seeing that she was all right. Charlie sent a quick hand signal to forestall the questions about the handprint.
“Tell you later.”

Kyle stared until they were out of sight.

“
Busy?”

Kyle grunted at Daryl’s question. His new XO hadn’t had his say yet about Jennifer, but he was taking it now while they stood watch together.

“
Go on. Get it off your chest.”

“
I like her.”

Surprised, Kyle swung around with clenched fists. “She’s a kid!”

“
That’s part of why I like her,” Daryl stated.

Kyle tried to stay calm. “In what way do you mean that?”

Daryl shrugged. “As a person, of course. She’s tougher than the others we rescued. She’ll make a good addition... to
Angela’s
team.”

Moving off to do a foot patrol, Daryl left him standing there, speechless, with that thought beating through his mind.

In one short moment, his new XO had given him the answer to getting Jennifer accepted, and a vision of the future that Kyle hadn’t considered. If Adrian gave her a place among his army, the rights of an adult came with it. It would be her choice from there, with the full support of the camp, and it completed the plan he'd begun in that farmhouse.

Kyle hit his button. “Sit with us at Mess sometime, and I’ll treat you to a beer.”

Daryl’s satisfied tenor came right back. “You got it, Boss.”

8

“
I have to deliver trays. Want to help?”

Jennifer nodded, happy to have the distraction while Kyle was busy. The people they were passing were giving her appraising looks now instead of only hostility and she understood it was because of who was with her.

“
What were you doing behind the female showers?” Jennifer asked.

Charlie picked up a large box of trays that Hilda had waiting. The German woman's eyes went over them both with open curiosity.

“
I was headed for the trees to think when I found you. Call for Adrian next time. He won't tolerate stuff like this.”

Jennifer nodded, sure she wouldn't. Kyle was the only one she trusted that way.

“
Give Adrian time.”

Hearing that a second time in the same day caused Jennifer to overlook Charlie's mind-reading. “For what? What does he do with new people?”

Charlie led the way to the tents that were set up closest to the medical camper. “He'll find your purpose, what you're supposed to be doing. After a while, you'll settle in here, and it'll become home.”

Jennifer held the flap after Charlie's tap and call. She'd heard that a lot. Maybe it was true?

“
This is Rebecca Kelly.”

Charlie introduced the teenage girls as he set the box down and lifted a tray from it.

“
Rebecca, this is Jennifer Morgan.”

The flashes in Becky's mind were ugly and Jennifer paled, recognizing the main player. It sent the former slave straight back to her life with Cesar. Jennifer trembled.

Becky stared at the girl everyone was whispering about, feeling only sympathy and a bit of curiosity. After all the help her own Eagle was providing, Becky understood. “What's the slop tonight?”

Charlie grinned at Becky's joke, aware that the tension seemed to be building. “Ham sandwiches, juice packs, and peanut butter crackers. We're back to things that don't use as much water for cooking.”

Becky took the tray with a grimace. “Better than nothing.”

Charlie wasn't used to being around females his own age, and he lingered over the stop. He sensed there might be a lot to learn here.

Jennifer stayed by the flap, busy reading Becky's thoughts, her pain. Rick's ghost was in the back of it all, whispering awful stuff.

Becky frowned. “You got a staring problem?”

Jennifer shrugged. “Sorry. Trying to figure something out, is all.”

Becky stood up, crossing her arms over her chest. “What?”

“
If we could be friends or not, because we've been through the same hell. You're fourteen, right?”

Becky nodded, surprised out of her anger. “Until October.”

Jen's eyes lightened a bit. “I'm the day before Halloween.”

“
I'm the day after,” Becky muttered slowly, not sure if that meant anything.

She hated being by herself, but it was even worse when Seth was in the training tent. She still had the urge to sneak close and watch. She just wasn't sure she could handle seeing Neil laughing and living like nothing had happened.

“
Maybe we could hang out,” Jennifer offered.

She is trying to make friends
, Becky realized.
She's wasting her time. I don't need one.

“
Everyone needs friends.”

“
I'm on. It makes me temperamental.”

Charlie was trying to interrupt the coming fight. He succeeded.

Both girls turned to look at him with incredulous expressions.

“
You're what?”

“
Excuse me?”

Charlie picked up their thoughts about periods and shook his head, cheeks reddening. “Not like that. I mean my birthday is on Halloween. Girls always think the grossest stuff.”

Both females caught his mind reading... Becky traced it back to Jennifer's.

Charlie realized what he'd said, and then picked up their shocked awareness. They were special, all of them.

The trio stared at each other in stunned surprise.

Jennifer recovered first. Adrian had said there were a lot of people here like this, but she hadn't considered that Charlie was one of those despite who his mother was. Her own hadn't had a gift.

“
Shoulda known by the wolf,” Jennifer stated, waiting for Becky to get upset. She clearly didn't have the same powers, though Jennifer thought maybe the redhead didn't need a mental ability to be dangerous.

“
So what happens now?” Becky asked slowly. “You guys tell Adrian?”

She is hiding something
, Jennifer thought, shaking her head. “Not me.”

Charlie was way ahead of them. His own gifts were known and being used. Their abilities were secret... He grinned suddenly. “Maybe Adrian will put us in classes together.”

It was something the girls hadn't considered yet and the food trays stayed undelivered as the teens began to discuss sneaking over to the training tent to observe. Seth would have told them it was a bad time. The Eagles weren't adjusting to the changes as well as Adrian might have hoped.

9

“
She refuses to even try. She waits and runs the set alone every time.”

“
Same way with the other one. She won’t listen, won’t do it our way, unless a team leader insists.”

“
I don’t know how he thinks this will work if they refuse to cooperate with us.”

The training tent was full of Eagles supposed to be preparing for their upcoming mission and level test, but work had been delayed for conversation.

“
They aren't like Angie.”

“
They won't work with us at all.”

“
Have you wondered why they won’t?”

Stopping by on his rounds, Zack’s question filled the long canvas with loud, crude suggestions.

After a minute of not responding to the complaints, the trucker chose not to inspect inside. The only thing wrong in here was all the male whining.

“
Would you bother with a bond if you’d never use it?” Zack snorted. “Stop thinking of them as women bent on infiltrating. Think of them as a new generation of Eagles, searching for where they belong.”

His repetition of Angela’s words right before her first test drew attention from those who didn't know. Since when did Zack support Angela?

“
What do you mean, they won’t work with us?” Seth asked, giving backup to Zack when it appeared that no one else was going to.

“
They will,” Kenn confirmed from a back corner where he was sorting through equipment and being ignored. “They don’t know it yet. When they do, you’ll get their cooperation.”

“
They think they’ll be on all female teams!” Lee exclaimed. “That's why they don't care.”

Kenn was grateful his days of blind rage were over. Now, he could do his job. “Yes. Angela hasn’t gotten to settle their place yet. She’ll handle it. In the meantime, make it clear that they will work with you and things will improve. As soon as they know they need a bond, they’ll make one. They want to be here as much as we do.”

Kenn ducked out of the tent behind Zack, hiding a smirk. Wait until they found out about the other females who were going to join the mix. Then they’d really have something to adjust to.

Movement near the medical tent drew Kenn, and he watched the usually invisible bubble over Safe Haven glow brighter. He’d noticed the shield not long after the senior Eagles had, a couple weeks now, but it was still hard to ignore. The curiosity it caused was maddening. What was it for? Would it work if they were attacked? The bubble was shielding the camp in small ways, like keeping the cicadas out of the trees inside their perimeter. The camp hadn't noticed the insects leaving, but the Eagles had. Even wildlife on the ground avoided it.

As he had the thought, Kenn noticed a small brown snake slither to the edge of the shield and immediately flinch in another direction on stubs. Only the size of half a thumb, the stubs were scaly, and in time, might even function.

The snake ignored the migrating cicadas that littered the grass, coming straight toward the shield a second time, only to repeat the same behavior.

But, we can walk through the shield.
Kenn’s mind was too intrigued to be revolted by the newest mutation. He headed for Tonya's tent with wild thoughts flowing. He was hoping to steal some time alone, but Kenn knew where his mind would be. Would the shield work against bigger problems... like other people?

Chapter Eight