Chapter 54
The pair rested against the mechanic shop for several hours.
Kate fell asleep in Nick’s arms as he kept watch, awaiting the return of the foul man.
The encounter reinforced the fact that society was no more.
Now, entire groups could move and sell people without a second glance.
Trading sex for supplies could be brought up in casual conversation.
Fort Vanguard had to be righteous, a sanctuary for the weak, a bulwark for the strong, a place people could come and know that they were not merely surviving.
They were part of a community that would be the pillar of a new world, one that respected life, protected it.
Nick vowed that it would be a place where everyone could be kept as safe as possible from the corruption of the new world.
When Kate awoke, most of her pain had subsided. They continued toward the military base, maintaining a quiet journey. The evening descended upon them, and they should have been close to reaching Fort Vanguard, yet they had lost much time to Kate’s stomach pain.
Nick broke down a side street, leading him and Kate through a subdivision in search of a home to rest in for the night.
Nick and Kate paused as they closed in on a cul-de-sac. Something stood in the middle of the road. Kate’s eyes widened with glee, and she strode toward the creature. A dog.
“No fucking way.” Nick grabbed Kate’s wrist, but she slipped out of his grasp.
“Hey there, buddy,” Kate cooed as she crept toward the dog, who stiffened at the sound of her voice. Nick blew out a frustrated sigh.
“Come here, boy.” Kate bent at the knees and patted her thighs, trying to coax the dog to her.
She took careful steps toward the animal as Nick stayed on her heels.
The silver lab with bright, wild eyes stepped backward, leaning down on its haunches, and growled.
Nick turned the rifle around on his chest and fixed it on the animal.
“Put that thing away.” Kate pushed the muzzle of the gun to the side. She unzipped Nick’s pack and sifted through the contents until she found an MRE. With an outstretched hand, Kate offered the tuna sludge inside to the dog.
“That’s people food,” Nick groaned. Kate ignored him and squatted down, softly pleading with the animal to approach her.
The dog eyed the MRE, its rumbling growl eking out.
Lifting its nose to the air, it caught the scent of the food.
The dog stepped toward Kate with hesitance until it was inches from her hand.
Nick raised the rifle in silence so as not to alert Kate to his action.
He put his sights on the dog's head. Just in case.
Kate squeezed the brown package so that some of the tuna oozed from the opening.
The dog sniffed the tuna, then sent out a cautious tongue to get a taste.
One lap of the meat was all it took before the lab was licking at the MRE ravenously.
Kate turned back to Nick and smiled. He rolled his eyes and shook his head, though an amused expression hid behind his annoyance.
As the dog continued its meal, Kate reached out a hand and scratched behind its ears.
The lab drew back, inspecting her hands, so Kate let him smell her knuckles.
The dog looked between her hand and her eyes, then continued its meal.
“That’s it. Good boy,” Kate said. “Can we keep him?”
“Keep him? Keep him where, Kate?” Nick asked, narrowing his eyes at her. Kate squeezed the remainder of the MRE packet out and set it on the ground, allowing the dog to eat the rest on its own. She stood, moving the gun barrel out of the way again, and pressed a hand to his chest.
“We can take him back to the fort with us.” Kate’s eyes were wide and full of hope. Nick fought against them as he thought of all the repercussions of bringing back a strange dog.
“Babe, we don’t know his temperament. He could have a disease. What if he bites someone?” Nick said, pleased with how confident he sounded. Surely, she would see reason and leave the dog behind.
“Please?” Kate smiled a toothy grin at him. Her hands intertwined behind his neck, bringing her face closer. The feel of her fingers at the base of his hairline sent shivers through him.
“Fuck, how do you do this to me?” Nick’s clenched jaw gave way to laughter. “Fine. But one more growl, one slightly aggressive movement, and I’m putting a bullet in that thing's head.”
Kate’s nose crinkled in a smile, and she pressed a quick kiss to Nick’s lips.
“You’re the best,” Kate said.
“I’m a sucker. That’s what I am.” Nick shook his head while one side of his lips curled into a smirk. Kate knelt and called for the dog, who ran excitedly into her embrace. For the next several moments, she ran her hands across the dog’s matted fur, petting and talking to it.
“I’m going to call him Loko,” Kate decided.
“You’re loco,” Nick retorted. Kate stood and cocked her head.
“So? You love me.” Kate displayed a tormenting smile that sent Nick’s desire for her into overdrive.
“Yeah, I do.” Nick leaned in and brushed his lips against hers, pulling away just before they connected. “Let’s pick a house and get settled.”
“Eenie meenie miny mo?” Kate asked, pointing at a house with each syllable.
“Just pick, Kate. We both know I have no say-so in any of our decisions,” Nick said.
“That’s not true! You, umm. Well, you…”
Nick grinned and lifted Kate’s chin so that his lips were close to her ear.
“Letting you take the reins on things, it’s not a complaint. You can order me around all day. I like the way it brings you to life.”
The decisions Nick was having to make as of late were fatal.
If things kept on this way, the dread that rose up in him each time a choice was to be made would have his hair turning gray in a month.
Nick was content letting Kate decide. He would call them small things, except they were far from it.
Nick called the shots that kept them alive.
Kate chose the things that made living worth it. Both mattered. God, both mattered.
“I order you to escort Loko and me to…that one,” Kate giggled and pointed to a home on the left side of the cul-de-sac. She took off, calling for Loko to follow. Nick shook his head and tried to hide the smile forming on his lips.
“Damn dog.”