“If you can’t convince them you’re meaner and bigger, all you have to do is act crazy. Anyone with sense is afraid of crazy. Remember, anything can be a weapon.”

Number Five crawled up in his lap and went to sleep, but the others listened and asked questions. They were little girls, too young to have to know all he said. But someday maybe they’d remember how to fight, and what he was teaching them might save their lives.

Chapter 7

Chapter 7

The moon was only a sliver in the midnight sky when One and Two took over the watch. Trapper planned to stay awake, but he dozed, knowing they’d wake him if so much as a twig snapped.

Two hours later Emery took over the watch.

Trapper tried to go back to sleep, but he couldn’t with her so near. They’d been little more than polite strangers for two days. He couldn’t make himself wish he hadn’t seen her almost bare, but he did wish they could go back to being close. He liked looking forward to her light kiss on his cheek, and the way she leaned close to whisper something. He liked watching her and seeing her smile when she caught him doing just that.

After a while he sat up and looked at her across a dying fire. “You going to talk to me ever again?”

“I talked to you today.” She didn’t look at him.

“Pass the bread. Tell Number Five to wash her hands. Do you want the last of the coffee?”

When she didn’t comment, he added, “All that isn’t talking, Emery.”

She didn’t argue. She wasn’t even looking at him.

He tried again in a low voice. “I can’t figure out what I did wrong. I didn’t cause the rain or the storm. I didn’t take off your clothes or tell you to come out to help. I couldn’t act like I didn’t see something so beautiful.”

She was silent for a while, then she answered. “You are right. It wasn’t your fault. I didn’t think. It’s all my fault.”

“So you’re not mad at me?”

“I’m not mad at you. I’m sorry, but you have to understand, it’s hard to talk to someone who has seen me like that. I’m embarrassed.”

“You have nothing to be mad or embarrassed about. You were just trying to help.” He stood and moved to her side of the fire. He sat a foot away from her. “So we’re friends again?”

She nodded.

“And you’ll kiss me on the cheek when we say good night.”

Emery leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I was never mad at you. I was mad at myself.”