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

so simple, and so intricate at the same time.

Booker, Caitlin, and Nathaniel would take the stolen mustang and lead the caravan.

Max would follow in one of the Rejects’ hatchbacks that got better gas mileage, with Nicole and Edward.

As soon as the mustang entered the camp, they’d take out the guards on gate duty, leaving an opening for the others to sneak in on foot. While most of the group made their way into the building to start locating people, Max would hotwire one of the buses used for transport and wait at the back of the compound to get people on as quickly as possible.

It wasn’t perfect, and there were plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong, but they’d have the element of surprise on their side.

“We should get there before dawn,” Booker said, crossing his arms. “Shift change’ll be at seven. Most people will still be in their bunks, easier to track ‘em down and less commotion in the halls. And we can use the dark as cover.”

Nathaniel checked his watch and nodded. “It’s about four hours from here to Des Moines.”

“I doubt they’ll be in a city,” Booker countered. “Even with their radio transmitter, it’s too risky.”

“They’re probably right over the border,” Max said. “Graceland University has a nursing program, and it’s in a lower populated area.”

Booker smirked. “Gotta love the name.”

“It’s just after six now,” Nathaniel said. “If we want to get there before dawn, we have to leave no later than two.”

Edward snorted a laugh. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’m not going to be getting much sleep anyway.”

“You should try,” Caitlin said. “We’ll need to be sharp for this.”

If they timed it right, they’d have thirty-seven minutes total, from the second they got in, to the moment they needed to leave.

Thirty-seven minutes to find Scott, and all the other family members on the list they were compiling.

Thirty-seven minutes to make it out alive.

Weeks of searching and hoping, boiling down to a little over half an hour of courageous effort.

Caitlin glanced at Nicole, noting her trembling fingers as she listened to everyone plan.

Her white gold wedding ring glittered in the setting sun.

It would be worth it.

Whatever happened, it would be worth trying.

* * * * * * *

“Booker, you in there?” Caitlin asked as she approached their borrowed tent.

He pushed the door flap aside in response.

“Where’s Nicole?” He asked.

“She said she was too anxious to sleep yet, so she’s helping with perimeter duty.”

Partially zipping the opening behind her, Booker leaned down to kiss her.

“Y’worried about tomorrow?” He asked, pulling away a fraction.

Caitlin let her hand linger at his neck, faintly registering the steady pulse under her palm.

“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.”

Booker hummed in agreement, gaze falling to her shoulder.

“C’mere,” he murmured. “I got somethin’ for ya.”

“Is it dirty? ‘Cause if so, I should finish zipping up the door.”

Even in the dark she could sense him rolling his eyes.

“Nothin’ like that,” he said. “Here, sit down.”

Offering his hand, Booker helped ease her onto their shared sleeping mat before going over to his pack.

“I was waitin’ to give this to you, maybe after things had quieted down or we weren’t on the move every day,” he said, digging around in the front pocket. “But I realized now’s as good a time as any. Especially given what we’re about t’go do.”

He straightened, crossing the short distance to squat in front of her, hand closed in a fist.

“Close your eyes,” he said.

With a nervous tremor in her stomach, Caitlin did as he told her.

His warm fingers wrapped around her wrist, turning her palm up and placing something metallic in the center.

“Alright, open ‘em.”

It took her a moment to adjust to the dim light again as she stared down at her hand.

“It’s…” Carefully, she picked up the chain, lifting until the delicate pendant swung free.

A small bird in flight, cast in silver, spun at the end of the necklace.

“I know it ain’t a ring,” Booker said softly. “And I do plan on gettin’ you a ring soon. But I saw this and thought…” He paused, smiling tenderly. “Well, it just felt like you.”

Caitlin couldn’t breathe.

This tiny bird—this symbol of a name given to her by the man she loved most—had rendered her silent and overwhelmed.

“Do you like it?”

Finally, she managed to blink. Looking up from the necklace, she held his gaze for two full beats of her heart.

Just as uncertainty started to creep across his face, she sucked in enough air to speak.

“Jack, it’s perfect,” she whispered. “I… I can’t believe you got this for me.” She furrowed her brow. “How did you get this?”

Taking the chain from her, he undid the clasp and looped it around her neck.

“Remember that strip mall in Arkansas we scavenged?”

“The one with all the Geeks in the pet store?”

“That’s the one,” he said, securing it and pulling her hair through. “When I told you I was goin’ around back to relieve myself, I was actually sneakin’ into the jewelry store at the end.”

She breathed out a laugh. “Jack…”

His fingertips grazed her skin as he adjusted the pendant, causing sparks to dance along her collar bone.

“I still wanna get you a ring,” he said. “Somethin’ that makes it… official. But until then…”

Caitlin bolted forward, cupping his face as she slanted her mouth against his.

Tangling his hand in her hair, Booker held her close, deepening the kiss until they were both desperate for air.

Desperate for each other.

“I love it,” she murmured. “I don’t care about a ring. This is perfect.”

Smiling, Booker dragged his lips over the hinge of her jaw, up to her ear.

“Still gonna getcha one