"It was a good hunting day," Kelli said, excitement in her voice. "Five bucks. Big ones, too. Looks like you were good luck!"
Lana said nothing but touched Jack's scruff, nervous around all the people. She feared staying here too long and wondered again how she'd cross the river.
They left the town and joined those in the field beside the river. Five bonfires had sprung up, each one with a massive spit turning a large deer in its center. A cool breeze swept over the river, and Lana shivered until they neared one of the spits, the one with the least amount of people there. Kelli greeted one of the men with a kiss and a quick hug before going to the woman cutting chunks of meat off the deer. Lana stood to the side, watching Kelli prepare two plates. Beside the spit were two kettles over smaller fires. Kelli ladled out the contents of the kettles onto each plate. When she returned, Lana identified rice and beans.
"Enjoy," Kelli said. She plopped a piece of flat bread over the top then sat down with her own plate.
Lana hesitated then sat, watching Kelli use the bread in place of utensils to eat her dinner. She mirrored the movement, feeding meat to Jack as she ate. The meat was well cooked and tender, which made up for the lack of seasonings. The rice and beans were bland until mixed together. Lana found herself eating faster than she should have, hungry for real food after ten days of appetite suppressants and the dehydrated staples that she'd stuffed her bag full of. She had enough for a month, but after a few days, she found herself wishing for real food instead of the stale bars.
Several soldiers-two in grays and three in black uniforms-approached the bonfire, speaking with the men gathered in a group on one side. Lana's eyes settled on them, and she found herself tensing. She'd seen what the PMF did to feds; if not for Brady, she'd be raped and dead by now. She knew nothing of the military regulars aside from the very few she'd met.
And Brady, who had been in both worlds.
Her gaze dropped to her plate, and she stared at the runny beans and floating rice. She'd tried not to think of him while traveling. She didn't want to admit he was dead. She didn't want to think about losing the man who made her feel something so strong for the first time in her life.
"I need to cross the river," she told Kelli.