CHAPTER 102
DAKOTA
We make it back to the bookstore before the sun sets. To my surprise, Aggie is tending to the fire, and she has some of the meat cut into strips and smoking. The cats are nearby, rolling around on the concrete with empty plates nearby, and she’s got a calico in her lap.
Murr shifts forms after dropping me off and heads inside the store to find a loin wrap. Aggie arches her brows at me, petting the cat. “You forgot his kilt.”
“It flew off when we were in the air,” I lie. Jeez, does she have a horny sixth sense or what? “But good news—we found some interesting stuff!”
I sit down in a chair beside her and pull everything out of the bag, showing her the packages of medicines I’ve brought.
She holds one at arm’s length, squinting as she tries to read the writing on the side of the packaging, then gives up and hands it back to me.
“I did some reading while you were gone. Stella’s not much company with her babies just yet, so I had to keep myself entertained.
” She picks up a large book under her chair and shows it to me. “There’s good news and bad news.”
The book has a big cow head on the cover. I take it from her, flicking through the pages absently. “What do they say?”
“Well, that just because it’s antibiotics for livestock, it doesn’t mean that it’s safe for humans. It hasn’t been tested, and the amount needed would be different. Basically it’s still an antibiotic, but what it will do is anyone’s guess.”
“I’m not too worried about that,” I admit, closing the book. “Every medication we take is expired anyhow. We’ll let Dottie and Samir decide if they want to roll the dice on trying the antibiotics. If they don’t, then we’ll go out looking some more for human-grade antibiotics.”
“Or…” Aggie prompts.
That makes me pause. “Or what?”
“If you wanted to trade with the fort, it kinda sounds like you know where an entire herd of beef cattle is. I’m just saying.” Her brows go up and she gives me an expectant look.
Oh.
Oh, that makes so much more sense than my plan. “I might have let the cattle go before we left…”
“Well then you can just find them again, can’t you? They’re cattle. They always return to the scene of the crime.”
“Do they?” I really don’t know anything about cattle.
Aggie shrugs. “Eventually. Plus, if there’s as many of them as you said, I can’t imagine it’d be that hard to find.”
“Maybe you’re right. It’s an option, at least. We’ll go back tomorrow and talk with them about options. See how Dottie’s feeling.”
“She’d better be feeling better or I’m going to kick her ass,” Aggie grumbles.
“You and me both.”
Aggie pauses, then strokes the cat in her lap again. It lifts its head so she can keep scratching its ears, but Aggie’s attention is focused entirely on me. “Do you want us to stay there?”
I fiddle with the edges of the heavy book in my lap.
Maybe if we do “trade” the cattle we can throw in a few books on how to take care of them.
Heck, we have a bag full of medicine for the cattle, too.
I’m thinking about the possibilities so much that I miss the weight in Aggie’s words. “What do you mean?”
“At the fort? I know we’re old, me and Dottie.
I know we’re extra mouths to feed, and it wouldn’t be the first time that we put too much stress on those around us.
We aren’t going to get younger or healthier.
This is about what you get when you’re our age.
A day you can get out of bed is a good day, you know?
This won’t be the last time someone needs medicine.
We’ll understand if it’s too much for you and Murr.
Heck, I get it even if you just want privacy for the two of you.
I’m just saying that it won’t hurt my feelings if you tell us we need to go. ”
Is that what she’s worried about right now?
Seriously? I reach over and take her hand in mine.
The cat on Aggie’s lap gives us an indignant thump with its tail, as if we’re ruining her massage.
“Don’t be ridiculous. You and Dottie are family.
If we have to go out every day to get medication, then that’s what we do.
I want you two to be happy. If you’re happy with us, I’m thrilled.
If you’re happiest in a fort, I would make sure you’re safe and secure there. Family is family.”
She gives me a soft smile. “I just don’t want us to be a bother.”
Over her head, a large, golden hand thumps down on top of our joined ones. “Family,” Murr adds. “No bother.”
I laugh. “What Big Meat said.”