“Last one in, close the door,” I said as I led the way below, my companions close on my heels.

I had a great two hours of especially deep sleep that left me rested and ready for a new day. I let my comrades sleep a little longer as I went to the galley and busied myself with fixing a large breakfast. I was sure the guys were as hungry as I was. The passage we had made during the night, though not hazardous, was mentally taxing and hence quite tiring. That few hours’ sleep, followed by a hearty meal, was just the thing to put us all back in top form.

While I cooked, I also thought. And I came to the conclusion that perhaps it was best that I find Parker and Danny Ray another place to stay—at least for a while.

Leon’s firebombing of the auto shop was an attack directed against me, but these two men had taken the brunt of it. Until Leon was run to ground, or I had a face-to-face confrontation with him, anyone close to me was in possible danger.

Just as I was pouring the eggs into the skillet, my two friends made their daylight appearance.

“Is that the aroma of biscuits I detect emanating from the oven?” asked Parker as he came into the galley.

“That’s a keen nose you have there,” I said as I sprinkled cheese into the eggs and gave it all a stir.

“Should be, it’s large enough,” he replied, reaching up and touching the organ so obviously in question.

Danny Ray went to the counter and poured a couple of cups of coffee. Passing one of the cups to Parker, he then proceeded to set three places at the galley table.

“Morning, Danny,” I said as he went about his task.

Danny looked up and gave me a grin, which I returned with a nod and a smile of my own. Speech is always a difficult matter for Danny Ray, but especially so in the morning.

“Eggs are ready,” I said, setting the skillet on a cold eye of the stove before taking an oven mitt and removing the pan of biscuits from the oven.

“Eggs, biscuits, bacon, and grits—grab it and growl,” I announced as I picked up a plate and began to fill it.

We ate in contented silence, and then, when we had finished the meal, I told Danny Ray and Parker the thoughts I’d had about their safety. Danny Ray looked not at me but at Parker, who, taking a sip of coffee, finally spoke in response.

“Last night, right after the fire and before you arrived, Danny Ray told me you would feel that way—that you would want us to remove ourselves to another location.”

Danny looked over and gave me a short nod.

“And we determined right then that we were going nowhere.”

I started to interrupt, “But I need to tell—”