Blood Moon by Gwendolyn Harper (books for students to read .TXT) 📕

but it happened. Your group is strong and skilled, and I know in my bones they’ll find you again.”

The others were quiet as they considered Nicole’s words.

“We should put it to a vote,” Luna whispered to Trish.

Nodding, Trish said, “Tonight at dinner.”

“I’ll cast my vote now,” Nathaniel said. “I’m going with them to the Ark camp, even if everyone decides to leave.”

Luna blinked at him, stunned. “But, Nate…”

“I know. I’m an elected official and I should stay with the group,” he folded his arms across his chest. “But I’m a good fighter and I know most of the guards from the last camp I was in. It’ll help them plan.”

Propping his elbows on his knees, Booker looked up at Nathaniel.

“You sure? It ain’t gonna be an easy mission, and you’ll be leavin’ this group without a medic.”

“It’s not like I’m a real doctor,” Nathaniel said. “Scott is my best friend, and if there’s a way to get him out of that camp, I’m going to take it.”

Caitlin saw the faint smile Nicole offered him, grateful to have him.

“Max knows the terrain,” Nathaniel continued. “I think he’ll want to stay with us. A few of the others are great shots, and I think they’ll want to help. Booker and I will be able to lead point.”

“And we’ll be there,” Nicole said, gesturing to Caitlin.

The flash of dark humor and curl to his lips made her stomach clench.

“Uh, I mean… I can see why you’d want to be there,” Nathaniel said, nodding to Nicole. “But… Caitlin, you were an ad executive. You’re not exactly a fighter.”

The tent went deadly silent.

“Excuse me?” She said, barely above a whisper.

“I didn’t mean it as an insult,” he said. “I just know you and—”

Caitlin sneered. “I don’t think you know anything about me. Not anymore.”

Rolling his shoulders, Nathaniel inhaled. “Look, I’m just saying this is going to be a lot—it’s a dangerous thing we’re trying. You’re going to have to be able to hold your own.”

Letting out a low whistle, Booker shook his head. “Whew, buddy. Do you have it twisted.”

Furious, Caitlin dug her nails into her palms. “Exactly how do you think I made it this far?”

Nathaniel’s gaze shifted from her to Booker and then back.

It was the subtlest of expressions, but it was enough.

“I mean… I know people do what they have to to survive,” he said, attempting to be diplomatic. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Bolting up, Caitlin squared her shoulders, pegging him with an enraged glare.

“You’re right, Nathaniel,” she snapped. “I have done some pretty awful things to survive. But choosing to be with Booker wasn’t one of them.”

Turning to Luna and Trish, she attempted to tamp down on the anger threatening to boil over.

“I go where Booker goes,” she said. “That’s my vote, if I’ve even earned a place in this group to get a vote yet.”

Wrenching the tent flap to the side, she strode out without a second look.

It wasn’t until she was halfway across the field that she realized Booker and Nicole were behind her.

* * * * * * *

Caitlin spent most of the day away from the camp, patrolling the wooded boarders.

She knew she couldn’t be within striking distance yet.

Not when Nathaniel’s perfectly unpunched nose was just right there waiting.

She thought about offering to go on a supply run but she didn’t want to leave without Booker or Nicole.

Didn’t want to be away from them at all for very long—a fact she discovered as she made her fourth loop back to the tent, just to check in or ask if they needed help with laundry or weapons cleaning.

Finally, to put her out of her misery, Booker and Max asked her to come with them back to the main road to do more recon on the Geek herd.

She’d never been happier to go searching for the undead.

With Fancy darting between the trees and Max struggling to keep up with her, Booker and Caitlin were relatively alone as they hiked.

To his credit, he lasted longer than she thought he would.

“Ya wanna talk about it?”

“Nope,” she answered, avoiding a cluster of roots sticking up through the mud.

“Alright.”

Three… Two…

“Just, ya know,” Booker continued. “Y’can’t exactly fault the guy.”

Caitlin whipped her head around. “Are you serious? He basically called me inept—”

“That was a poor choice on his part, I’ll give ya that.”

“And he heavily implied I was only with you as some kind of survival method.” She nearly spat the words out like they tasted foul. “The nerve he has…”

“I ain’t sayin’ he’s right,” Booker said, winding around a larger tree trunk. “But I kinda feel for him.”

She was going to give herself whiplash if she wasn’t careful.

“How on earth can you have sympathy for him right now?”

“Cae, the poor guy loved you,” Booker said. “He thought he lost you, and then you show up and you’ve hitched your wagon to some Texan hick he’s never seen before. That’s bound to smash a fella’s heart.”

He wasn’t wrong, but damn did she hate that he had so many good points.

“I know if the tables were turned, if I’d lost you and you showed back up with him on your arm, I’d be a wreck in need of a bottle of Jack and alotta Johnny Cash.” Booker adjusted the strap of his rifle on his shoulder. “’Cause I’d know I’d lost the best thing t’ever happen to me.”

Caitlin chewed the inside of her bottom lip, cursing how, despite the anger she felt, she was starting to see Booker’s point.

“He wasn’t the best thing to happen to me though,” she said, glancing over at him. “And he’s just going to have to live with that.”

Smirking, Booker nodded. “I’m