And the second was she’d never allow other people to make judgement calls for her again, no matter how much others trusted them.
The reward didn’t outweigh the risk.
Chapter Thirteen
Oklahoma
One week later
Their salvation came from an overrun trailer park.
It wasn’t perfect by any means, but it was better than lean-tos and sleeping in shifts inside the bus, huddled under flimsy blankets for warmth.
Luna had been against clearing the trailers, saying she didn’t want to risk more lives.
Booker and Caitlin volunteered easily.
Since the blow up, they’d taken to keeping mostly to themselves. Nicole and Scott stayed close of course. And no matter how little they had, Caitlin always found something to share with Max, David, and Matilda.
Desi always found her way back to them for one reason or another. Tutoring with Nicole and Scott, playing with Fancy, helping Booker to keep the Jeep running, sitting quietly and reading while they planned their next scouting trip.
Caitlin was aware they were closing their own ranks, choosing who was part of their inner circle over others, but she couldn’t bring herself to stop.
She’d brought dozens of people out into the apocalyptic wilds and had failed to keep them safe like she’d promised. The less people she had to worry about, the better her odds were of keeping the ones she loved alive.
Luna had argued with them about going into the trailer park alone, telling them it was too risky. That was when Nicole stepped up, saying three was better than two.
It wasn’t easy, but in under an hour the grounds of the Sunny Ridge mobile home park were Geek free.
Most of the trailers were double-wides, with plenty of space for families to bunk together. A few were in dire need of repair, and a particularly ancient trailer that looked like it had been there since the seventies had a caved in roof and dead raccoons inside.
They left that one alone.
Sticking to the edge of the park, Booker and Caitlin took a small single with a steel fire pit set up near the front under what was left of an awning.
They were a little surprised that Nicole and Scott took the trailer to their left, and even more shocked that Max and David had chosen the one to their right, away from the new homes of the elected officials.
It wouldn’t be a permanent homestead, but it would keep them alive for winter.
They hoped.
Sister Agnes took to watching over the trailer with the orphaned children like it was a summer camp, setting them all up with their own sleeping areas and giving them daily activities and chores.
On the second night, after everyone had gone to sleep, a knock sounded at Caitlin and Booker’s trailer door.
Sitting up with a start, Caitlin stared at the door like she expected a monster to burst through.
“’S alright,” Booker told her, climbing out of the twin sofa bed. “I got it.”
Peeking through the window, he scowled and opened the flimsy wooden door a crack.
“Desi? What’re you—”
“I can’t sleep,” she said, sounding so small it broke Caitlin’s heart.
Quickly, Booker ushered her inside out of the cold.
“Ain’t you supposed to be with Sister Agnes?” He asked, watching Desi shuffle into the narrow kitchen-dining-living area.
Desi glanced from Caitlin to Booker. “I don’t like it over there.”
Rubbing the sleep from her eyes, Caitlin said, “Sister Agnes will be worried about you when she sees you’re gone.”
“I left a note on my pillow,” Desi said with a casual shrug.
“Oh, well, if ya left a note then…” Booker muttered, walking back to the edge of their fold out cot.
Big hazel eyes tracked him. “Can I stay here with you?”
Before either of them could argue, she added, “Please?” with the most sympathetic pout Caitlin had ever seen.
Sighing, Booker looked over his shoulder at Caitlin and lifted an eyebrow.
Couldn’t hurt.
She tilted her head.
I’m fine with it if you are.
“A’ight,” Booker said, patting the flimsy mattress. “But if ya kick me in your sleep, I’mma kick ya back.”
Desi smirked. “No you won’t.”
Caitlin covered her mouth to hide her grin. The girl sure could go toe-to-toe with Booker.
Just before she could climb into the middle of the bed, another knock at the door brought all their heads around.
“Well ain’t we popular,” Booker said, going to answer it for a second time.
Caitlin expected it to be Sister Agnes looking for Desi, but when she heard a man’s voice she went perfectly still.
“Hey…” Nathaniel greeted, keeping some distance away from their stoop.
Crossing his arms, Booker leaned his shoulder into the frame. “Bit late for a social call, ain’t it?”
“Yeah, I know. Sorry,” Nathaniel murmured. “I, uh…” He cleared his throat. “I need to talk to you. Both of you.”
Booker frowned. “’Bout what, exactly?”
“About something I’d rather other people didn’t overhear.”
After a beat of consideration, Booker exhaled and stood up straight. Stepping to the side, he gestured for the other man to come inside.
As Nathaniel entered, he glanced at Caitlin and immediately blinked in surprise to see Desi settling under the blankets.
“She couldn’t sleep at Sister Agnes’ place,” she explained. “So we told her she could stay with us tonight.”
Nodding, he didn’t comment. Looking at Booker, it was obvious he wanted to speak as privately as possible with the two of them.
Placing a pillow behind Desi, Caitlin whispered, “Why don’t you get cozy and rest your eyes, okay? We’re just going to be right over there talking.” She pointed to the small built in kitchenette table and bench seats a few feet away.
“Okay,” Desi said, already rolling onto her side and pulling the blankets up to her chin.
Climbing out of bed, Caitlin adjusted the waistband of her
