"You wouldn't?" she asked curiously.

"I'd miss seeing your face, but I wouldn't go into fits," Nathan said.

Turning her head and looking off at a distant house, she said, "You still think of me as a burden, don't you?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"Yes," he said truthfully.

Not able to help it, she smiled and chuckled. "At least you're honest."

"Hey, you asked. If you don't want to know, don't ask," he said.

They walked for a few more minutes and she finally blurted out, "Why did you give in and let me join you?"

Letting out a big sigh, Nathan admitted, "Call it a moment of weakness. If we would've gotten into an argument it would've drawn more attention I didn't want. And you had drawn several admirers. You would've never made it back to that camp, at least not without being attacked," he added.

Hearing that sent a chill up her spine. "I saw the two on the porch across the street. I could've out run them," she said, sure of herself.

"There were two more with them looking out the window, but you had six following you from that little store we walked by before stopping," he said.

"No, they were just done," she said.

"Sure, empty-handed after standing in a long line only to browse. And it was six men," he pointed out.

A chill ran up her spine as she realized she'd missed that. "You brought me just to protect me?" she asked.

"No, to get you out of a tight spot," he said. "But you listened as we left and didn't put the group at risk," he said and she giggled.

"John started shaking when I held his hand," she said, giggling and looking back to see him bouncing along and smiling ten steps away. When he saw Jasmine looking at him he blushed and waved at her. Turning back around, she said, "The next morning when we started walking and Amanda grabbed your hand I tried to hold his because you said to act like yesterday.' John kept whispering at me that Amanda always held your hand to let you know when she saw something. She would squeeze your hand and he would cough. I almost had to wrestle that boy to hold his hand," she admitted, still giggling.

Nathan laughed with her and then she became serious. "Why don't you see me as an a.s.set?" she asked. "I'm strong, smart, and I may not know the woods like you but I've hiked a lot," she pointed out.

"Yes you are, but I drew the wrong first impression. I thought you would want to be catered on and we don't have the time for that," he said. "Next, you draw attention I really didn't want. You're a very pretty girl," he added.

She didn't like the way he cla.s.sified her as a girl.' "How about a pretty woman?" she corrected.

"How about a young woman?" Nathan amended. Nodding her head that she would accept that, he continued, "Beauty is an a.s.set but also a curse, and I've seen too many marked since this has started because of it."

"I'm sorry I'm a pretty young woman,'" Jasmine said, smiling.

"Don't be," Nathan said. "But don't flaunt it and draw attention we don't want."

"I will try to look horrendous then," she said with a smirk.

Looking over his shoulder, Nathan motioned John forward and waited till he kept pace just behind him. "John, Jasmine wants to shave her head and pull all her teeth out to look ugly so n.o.body looks at her," Nathan said over his shoulder.

The smile on John's face fell off, hitting the ground with a clank. "No!" he whined.

Jasmine turned around and hugged him, "Don't worry, I won't," she said, and his smile jumped back on his face as Amanda came over and joined the others. Ares was a few steps in front of the group, gazing longingly into a field where some sheep were grazing. He wanted badly to chase the fluffy things.

Jasmine moved back beside Nathan. "Okay, so I keep baggy clothes on, what else?" she demanded.

"When we talk to others, especially around groups, don't talk. Don't look down, either, because that shows submission. Keep your hair pulled back, sungla.s.ses on, and we have to find you a hat. Always appear confident even if you don't feel it. In other words, look like you're ready to fight at the drop of a hat," he said.

"I hate hats," she mumbled. "Why not talk?" she added.

"Two reasons. One, I don't want people to focus on you. Second, I will probably be lying and don't want you s.c.r.e.w.i.n.g it up," Nathan explained.

"Hey, I can stretch the truth with the best of them. I can't tell you some of the excuses I've come up with for turning in papers late at school," Jasmine admitted.

"We might use that later, but you will have to look the part first," he said.

She looked down at the camouflage clothes she was wearing and the gun sticking out of her waistband. "I don't look mean enough now?" she wondered. She thought she looked like a total bada.s.s.

"Not really, but we will work on that," Nathan said, spotting the town up ahead. "Alright, in this village, same as always. Amanda, clip the leash on Ares and stay next to me. I've seen him eyeing some sheep here lately. John, behind Amanda, and Jasmine, behind me. If either of you see male attention directed at Jasmine, hold hands. As usual, if something happens pa.s.s by me to the rally point. I'll meet you there," Nathan said, finished giving out instructions.

They all moved into positions and Amanda put the leash on Ares, who groaned. "He wouldn't really chase the sheep, would he?" Amanda asked.

"Not when he's working, and he knows he's working now. But that is his weakness, chasing sheep," Nathan said. "He doesn't even try to catch them. Just chases them and makes them freak out." Amanda pulled down her hat and grabbed onto Nathan's hand. She thought it would be pretty funny to watch Ares chase the sheep.

It was only mid-morning when they entered the small town but there were people scattered about and they all noticed the strangers walking down the road. Nathan didn't like it because he could see resentment and outright hostility on many of their faces. He glanced down to make sure his badge was prominently displayed and it was.

By the time they were in the center of town they had all eyes on them and very few people were talking, just staring at the group. Nathan led the group to the side twice so a truck could pa.s.s them then he moved them back away from the sidewalk. Everyone he saw was armed with some type of gun and he wanted distance from them.

No one in town made a threatening gesture, but it was very clear they weren't welcome. When they pa.s.sed the last building Nathan fought off an urge to pull down his pants and moon the a.s.sholes but it would've been too much trouble. As they left town the people walking into town moved to the side of the road, giving them harsh looks.

When they were almost to the Interstate, Jasmine asked from behind him, "What the h.e.l.l did we do?"

"Have no idea, but we won't be staying close again," he said.

Amanda looked at a motel off the Interstate, "I wish we could stay there," she said.

"It's not worth it; no air conditioner," Nathan said.

"Speak for yourself," Amanda popped off. "I want to sleep on a bed. The ground sucks," she said.

"How in the h.e.l.l would you know? You spend half the night on me or Ares and the other half on both of us," Nathan said.

"Well, y'all move," she said as if that explained everything. Nathan shook his head as he was learning a valuable lesson. Don't argue with a teenage girl: they are always right and love to prove it. He decided to keep his mouth shut.

They walked under the Interstate, only encountering a few people and those were all heading south. At noon they left the road and sat down in the trees just far enough away that they couldn't be seen easily but could see others on the road. As they ate a couple of trucks and a car pa.s.sed.

"Is it me, or are there more cars working here?" John asked.

"No, we've seen more vehicles moving since we entered Alabama," Nathan confirmed for him.

"Why?" he asked.

"Don't know. The EMP might not have been as strong here, or maybe because they had more time to work on them," Nathan offered.

They sat and ate, each going over their personal thoughts until Nathan leaned back on his elbows. "Out of all the foods, I'm going to miss chocolate the most," he said then added, "and then my Dog Tag."

"We have chocolate, and why would you want to eat a dog tag?" Amanda asked.

"Dog Tag is a beer that I like. It's made in Montana. Yeah, we have chocolate for now, but cocoa's only grown around the equator and it will be a while till we get some more," Nathan said with a sigh.

Amanda sighed. "I'm going to miss Taco Bell," she said.

"Soda pop," John said.

"Coffee," Jasmine said.

"Well that just makes sense," Nathan said, laughing.

"What?" Jasmine asked, wondering what he found funny.

"At home we have greenhouses that are full of coffee plants," Nathan said, still laughing.

"Oh I'm so there," Jasmine said, smiling. "I just have to wait till they grow, huh?"

"No, they are all seven years old and last year we got almost nine hundred pounds," Nathan said.

She sat up. "How the h.e.l.l did you grow coffee in Idaho, even with a greenhouse?" she wanted to know.

"Wasn't easy," Nathan admitted. "Took us a while to come up with a heating system that would keep the plants warm but not use much energy, human or power."

"Can I just ask why and you not make me feel stupid?" Jasmine asked, cringing.

"I'm sorry if I've done that," he apologized. "Think about it, Jasmine. If you could grow coffee, what the trading power of that would be if things went bad? That's why we put a lot toward it."

She looked off thinking about that for a minute and nodded. It would be worth a lot. "You guys thought of a lot," she said.

"Yeah, but we didn't do cocoa," Nathan said, getting to his feet. "There are about a thousand other things I would've added," he said, stretching. The rest of them joined him, grabbing their packs. "Before we disembark I need to take care of some business," Nathan said, walking to the woods.

"Me too," Amanda said.

"Count me in," Jasmine said. Since Amanda didn't grab the paper she pulled it out of her pack and followed her as John and Ares followed after Nathan.

Several minutes later they hit the road and continued walking on through the rolling hills. Small mountains to the rest of the group; just foothills to Nathan. They pa.s.sed a few other people heading toward town and none of them showed any signs of anger toward their group. "Guess we haven't p.i.s.sed these guys off yet," Amanda pointed out when the last group pa.s.sed by.

"What did we do that was different?" Jasmine asked.

"I have no idea," Nathan said, trying to figure it out. Suddenly Jasmine came up beside him and looked at his vest, making him look down as well. "What? I got food on me?" he asked, making brushing motions.

"Your badge. It's covered up," she said.

"Well yes, unless we're in a town I keep it covered. Makes a good target out here," he said.

"That's what's different," Jasmine said, smiling. Nathan looked at her unconvinced. "Nathan, it's the only thing different," she told him.

"She's got a point," John said. Nathan was sure if Jasmine said it was daylight at midnight John would agree.

"Okay, why?" he asked her.

"s.h.i.t I don't know, but they don't like the fact you're a cop," she said, looking at his badge. "Or a type of cop," she added.

"Come again," he said.

"The word Sheriff' on the back is covered up. All the people can see is a man with military gear and a badge," she said. "I saw some like that but they had different clothes on."

He nodded. She had a point. "Yeah, they could see I'm a fed, but why show that much hostility anyway? I know country people don't like the government but d.a.m.n," Nathan said.

"Well, since I didn't make it to the quilting party last night I don't know," Jasmine said.

"I think I'm going to spit in your ear," he said, reaching for his can. Amanda and Jasmine grabbed his arm.

"Please don't put that nasty c.r.a.p in your mouth?" Jasmine begged.

"I'm going to throw it away," Amanda threatened.

"Don't even think about it. I only have two cans left and I want to enjoy it," Nathan said, moving his arm away from his pocket.

They left him alone so he wouldn't get a dip and followed along. Mid-afternoon they came upon a small country store. Two young men were sitting on the porch in chairs with a real old man. "I think I hear banjos playing," Nathan said, looking around.

"I don't hear anything," Jasmine said and the others agreed.

"Deliverance," Nathan said, looking at Jasmine.

"From what?" she asked.

"Never mind," Nathan said, suddenly feeling very old. "Let's keep close together. I want to see how they act around us to see how far away we move to make camp," he said, continuing on to the store.

The three men just smiled pleasantly at the group as they walked over and Nathan swore the first person that said he had a pretty smile was getting shot. All three men had a rifle beside them and didn't seem the least bit scared of the group, which settled Nathan somewhat.

"Afternoon," Nathan said, stepping onto the porch and nodding his head. The three nodded at him and said hi.

The door of the store opened and the ugliest old woman Nathan had ever seen or could've imagined walked out. "If ya come inside, leave the packs," she said gruffly.

"Ma'am, we can't leave our packs out here unattended. We've learned several valuable lessons lately; let nothing out of your sight being one of the first," Nathan said.

"Young man, if somebody can take those packs off this here porch with them three sitting then you ain't goin' to do any better," she let him know right fast.

"Yes ma'am. We would like to fill up our water and buy some food," he said and that perked her eyes up.

"Pump is out back and I cut up seven pounds of bacon this morning after Paw and the boys slaughtered the hog. I've been sellin' BLT's," she said.

"You have power to store meat out here?" he asked.

"Yep, propane. Don't like firin' up the lectric genny, makes too much noise. Drawin' in all kinds of folks. Had a group of colored boys here two days ago drivin' an old car that could jump up an' down, believe it or not. But they wanted to take some stuff from us and not pay for some gas," she told them.