I tensed out of habit, and because the younger-looking man did have a rifle, though it wasn’t pointed at us. The other man was lanky and rawboned, but it was the woman I paid the most attention to. Her brown hair was in a ponytail, and though she didn’t look very old, a few gray strands poked out from the sides. She might’ve been pretty once, but her face was lined with creases now, her mouth pinched and severe. And her eyes told me that, without a doubt, this was the person in charge.
“Joe!” cried the woman, flinging herself at us. “Oh, thank goodness! We thought you were dead.” And despite her words, she looked as if she would have slapped him if it wasn’t for his injuries. “What were you doing, going into the forest by yourself, you great damn fool? Never mind! Don’t answer that—I’m just relieved you’re home. And—” her shrewd brown eyes suddenly fixed on me “—I see I have some strangers to thank for your safe return.”
“Be nice to them, Patricia,” Joe gasped, making a feeble attempt to smile. “They saved my life. Killed a rabid pig without blinking an eyelash—damndest thing I’ve ever seen.”
“Did they now?” the woman continued coolly as Joe was taken by the two men and limped back into the compound. “You don’t say. Well, the Lord works in mysterious ways.” Her sharp, no-nonsense gaze fixed on us. “My name is Patricia Archer,” she said briskly, “and I don’t know who ya’ll are, but anyone who takes care of one of mine is welcome here.”
“Thank you,” Zeke said solemnly. “I’m Zeke, and that’s Allison.”
“Pleased t’ meet you,” Patricia shot back, leaning forward and squinting at us. “Let me see you better—my eyes ain’t what they used to be. Lord have mercy, you’re young. How old are you, boy? Seventeen? Eighteen?”
“Seventeen,” Zeke replied. “I think.”
“Well, ya’ll are extremely lucky, traveling through the forest alone without running into rabids. They’re quite the menace ’round these parts.”
Menace? I thought. Like raccoons and rodents are a menace? A rabid boar nearly took off a man’s leg.
“What are y’all doing way out here, anyway?” Patricia continued, but not in a wary, suspicious tone. She just sounded curious. “The pair of you could be my grandchildren. Oh, it doesn’t matter.” She waved her hand in front of her face. “Stop being nosy, Patricia. Let’s get inside afore we attract rabids. I insist you get a hot meal and some sleep. We have a couple of empty rooms. And we can heat a few pots of water for hot baths, as well. You look like you could use one.”
A hot bath was a luxury I’d only dreamed about in the Fringe. People said they existed, machines that heated water so that it came out at whatever temperature you wanted. I’d never seen one, myself. But Zeke shook his head.
“Thank you for your kindness,” he said politely, “but we should go. We have people waiting for us in the forest.”
“There are more of you?” Patricia blinked, looking up toward the trees. “Well, goodness, they can’t stay out there, boy. David, Larry!” she called, beckoning two men down to the gate. “There are more people out in the woods,” she announced sternly as the men scrambled out, each carrying a rifle. “As soon as the sun comes up, find them and bring them back. In fact, wake Adam and Virgil—tell them to help you, too.”
“There’s really no need—” Zeke began, but she shushed him.
“Hush, boy. Don’t be silly. Ya’ll helped one of mine, now I’m going to do the same. It’s not like we see other humans around here. Where did you say the rest of your group was?”
Zeke still looked reluctant, unwilling to give up the location of the others or hesitant to accept help from a total stranger. But I glanced over the trees, to where the sky was beginning to lighten, and my nerves jangled a warning. The stars were fading. Dawn was on its way.
“About three miles southeast of here,” I said, making Zeke frown at me. I ignored him, meeting Patricia’s worried gaze. “There’s about a dozen more out there, though half of them are kids. You might need to convince the preacher, though. He can be stubborn.”
“A minister?” Patricia’s eyes lit up. “Oh, that’s wonderful. He can come pray over Joe. And you say there are children out there? Lord have mercy. Well, what are you two waiting for?” She scowled fiercely at the two men, who immediately muttered a hasty “Sorry, ma’am” and hurried back into the compound.
“Now.” Patricia smiled at us, though her face looked as if she hadn’t done it in a long while. “I’m sure you two are exhausted. I’ll show you where ya’ll can rest, and if you can wait an hour or two, breakfast will be ready.” She blinked, as if something just occurred to her. “Oh, goodness, I guess I should go help Martha with the food this morning, shouldn’t I? We’re going to have a lot of guests. This way, if you would.”