Chapter 25 Lissa #2
“I’d like to check out Fort Robinson before we light a fire and settle in,” Lissa said.
“We need to know what they’re up to.” The planned Slains’ expansion was the fly in the ointment of their homecoming.
She shook her head, refusing to dwell on her worries.
Together they’d solve this problem. She was no longer facing this alone.
“I agree. I’ll transport my stuff, and then we should go. I won’t be long.” Cam kissed her again and left and strode out the door, a smile on his face.
Lissa ran upstairs to the window she’d left ajar for her cats.
Clumps of black and gray fur lined the edge of the window and its frame.
More than when she’d left. The tight band of anxiety about them loosened in her chest. The cats had been coming and going this way.
At least spring hadn’t been too cold. They should be fine.
She headed downstairs, through the pantry, and into the garden.
She wasn’t surprised to find Luna sunning herself in a patch of midday sun, stretched to her maximum length in the grass.
Seeing Lissa, the tabby stood, stretched, and twined around Lissa’s ankles with a soft meow.
She bent down to pet her kitty. “I missed you.” Her cat meowed as though in answer.
Lissa picked her up and snuggled against her soft fur.
She didn’t hold her long, so Luna wouldn’t squirm.
She set her down just as Mira jumped from the roof to the ground to join them, coming to bump Lissa’s shins with her head as if to request a cuddle as well.
Lissa’s throat choked up. She’d been worried about leaving them for so long, but they seemed none the worse for the experience.
She gave her cats attention for a few minutes, stroking under their soft chins and scratching by their ears.
When they wandered away, she collected the large blue water jugs from inside the door and got to work.
It took longer than usual to fill the containers because she only raised half buckets of water, so she didn’t overexert her shoulder.
Pouring water one-handed also required adjustments, but she managed, even if she doused her jeans.
Once finished, she surveyed her garden. In the raised beds, her potatoes had two boxes to themselves, and they’d self-seeded, as usual, the dark green leaves bursting through the rich soil at random intervals.
No matter how carefully she collected the potatoes each fall, she missed some.
Every spring, the plants sprouted again on their own.
Examining the recent growth, she needed to plant only six or seven hills in the spaces between existing plants.
Lissa scanned the rest of her garden with satisfaction.
The lettuce and beans were also thriving despite her absence.
Her carrots hadn’t come up, but the seeds had been old.
Cam had tucked a selection of seed packets into his pack, so they could add to their garden for variety.
Including more carrots. Hopefully, tomorrow would be a planting day.
With a shorter growing season because of her delayed return, they needed to make the most of the warm weather.
A knot of worry reasserted itself. They wouldn’t know what to expect from the future until they walked to Fort Robinson. If the conditions were right, they would speak to Rod and Amanda. With luck, Cam and Lissa could stay without worrying about their neighbors being with the Slains.
Lissa glanced at the sky—blue with scattered white clouds.
The weather was fine, and the hour must be approaching late morning.
They’d left xTerra at daybreak, so they’d have a full day after their two-hour journey by vehicle.
It was difficult to believe how quickly the trip had been on the return, even with a more circuitous route, considering the three long days’ trek of her original journey.
Though they’d traveled the common route, they had seen no sign of the Slains, despite knowing they were out there, somewhere.
Since the interception of the explosives and confiscating the xTerra supplies from their hidden cache, watch patrols confirmed the Slains had retreated.
No one was foolish enough to believe it was the end of the war, but xTerra had earned a reprieve.
Cam appeared in the open doorway to the garden, where he collected the full water containers she’d filled. Without her asking, he slung the water jug over his shoulder and transported it inside. He returned for the second.
“I also refilled the wood box,” he said a few minutes later, poking his head outside.
“But I agree with you about not lighting a fire, even to cook. The smell of smoke travels, and Rod and Amanda might not be alone anymore. I’m being overly cautious, but we should check out the fort first. Ready for the walk? ”
Lissa jumped to her feet, brushing dirt from her jeans.
The damp patches had already faded, drying in the warm sun.
Both cats remained stretched in patches of sunshine, their eyes closed in contentment.
The sooner she and Cam took care of their mission at the Fort, the sooner she could return.
She bit the inside of her cheek, hoping the conversation went well.
She didn’t want to abandon the house or fight the Slains. Her stomach churned at either prospect.
She held Cam’s hand for the walk through the forest, stopping to swipe her sweaty hands twice during the hour’s walk.
With excess nervous energy, her sweat glands seemed to work overtime.
The closer they got to the fort, the more she wanted to fidget.
Where the trail narrowed and they drew near the cliffs overlooking the site, she dropped his comforting hand.
She swallowed, thankful she didn’t have to face strangers on her own.
They stopped at the edge of the bluffs, where they’d met the first time, and peered over the side, toward the buildings of Fort Robinson.
White smoke furled from the chimney, and the window shutters had been flung wide.
A single vehicle remained parked in front of the building.
She exhaled. She’d worried several additional Slains would have arrived during her absence.
A young boy, perhaps seven or eight, ran around the corner, pursued by a taller girl of twelve or thirteen, her long braids streaming behind. They hardly seemed threatening.
“Little Rod and Daisy,” said Lissa softly. “Robin said they’re nice kids, and smart.”
“We talked about this,” said Cam. “If you aren’t sure, I can still go on my own. At least at first.” He wanted to protect her, but she needed to do her part in keeping her home safe. Even if meeting potentially dangerous strangers was far outside her comfort zone.
Lissa shook her head, not taking her eyes from the children below.
“On your own, you might seem dangerous,” she said, repeating her argument from the car ride.
She and Cam were equal partners, and she couldn’t sit on the sidelines.
After years of isolation, she wanted to be actively involved in the fate of her home.
“Fine.” Cam exhaled loudly. “Shall we?”
“Let’s go.” Lissa descended the cliff-side path, the dry ground crumbling and sliding under her feet.
Cam followed. When they reached the harder, flat ground, he took her hand again.
He must have known she was nervous, but he didn’t make a big deal.
Threading their fingers together, they walked through the new grass toward the building and the playing children.