3
“You don’t know how good this is.”
Jessa smiled back at the older woman. She had white, red-tinged hair and reminded her of her own grandmother. Jessa hadn’t seen her in years. It was nice to see another woman, particularly one who wasn’t trying to give her away as a mating prize. Jessa didn’t realize how much she had missed female companionship until Michael told her that they were there. There was the instant worry she’d had initially, about whether or not she would have to protect herself and her son, but then the next immediate thought was that she would finally have someone to talk to.
It was a strange mix of feelings, but Jessa was happy that they had met. She felt bad about leaving them out under the stars the night before, but she could understand the sentiment. For some time it was just her and her son. There was safety in numbers those days and she knew that it must be hard for someone of Carin’s age. Her grandson was in that stage of not knowing what quite to do yet, but so close to being a man that he thought he already was. Jessa had thought of how her own son would grow up and she hoped that he would be more like Milo. Still, she could tell that Jason was trying as well, though he had taken the more confrontational approach.
Jessa smiled and nodded when Carin took a deep inhale of her coffee. “Oh I do. I went a couple of years without coffee. It was just impossible to get a hold of, but there is some trading across the border.”
“Well I can’t even imagine. I guess that those old lines don’t really matter anymore.”
“Have you been out of this area? Where are you from?”
Carin sighed. “We have been here for many years. We used to live in Texas, but we had some problems and we had to leave.”
“What kind of problems?”
Jessa saw the way that Carin looked at Jason and then back at her. “Sorry, I don’t know why I am being so nosy. It’s just that you’re the first female I have seen in a while. Well, the first one that I could talk to anyway.”
Carin waved her hand. “No, it is okay, really. I understand. Jason wants to know what else is going on around here. He wants to leave for somewhere better.”
“I can’t blame him. There are some strange tribes around here that I would not want to run into again.”
Carin nodded in agreement. She had almost run into the same group of cannibals that Michael had, and she shuddered at the memory. “Yes, but I worry that there is worse out there.”
Jessa understood the fear of putting her grandson in the middle of some terrible situations, but Jessa still thought that it could get better. She had more faith that there was better out there. There had to be better, she just knew it.
“We are going to the coast. I have heard there are some settlements there. There is trading coming from across the ocean and there are more people there.”
Carin had heard many schemes. There had been more than one group that had come through looking for the promised land. She wasn’t sure if it was even real or not, but she knew that people needed hope. If there was no hope, people just gave up and Carin wasn’t ready to do that either. But there was a fear deep down in her heart that was impossible to deny.
“That’s what Jason wants to do. I have seen many people take the journey somewhere else.”
“What happened to them?”
Carin shrugged. “I’m not sure. I never saw them again. I guess they are either doing well or they never made it. Most days I like to think that they are going well.”
“Everything is a gamble anymore. I was with a settlement southwest of here that wasn’t so bad.”
“But you are here now, so it couldn’t have been that good.”
Jessa nodded and pushed her long, auburn hair back from her face. “No, it wasn’t that good. But there always seems to be those men that make a good thing bad.”
Carin didn’t need any more information. Being a woman was even harder nowadays than when she was younger. There was respect for women when she was Jessa’s age, but now there was none. Being a woman was a liability and she couldn’t imagine having a child to boot. Jason was twelve when his parents were killed and she remembered how hard and daunting it had been in the beginning. Now that he was older, it was almost harder, but the older woman couldn’t imagine if he had been a young child.
“Yes, I know exactly what you mean. We have met a few on the way. That is part of the reason I just decided to stay put. There is less chance of running into someone like that here. Jason tries to be the man, but he is not quite there yet.”
Jessa felt for her and could imagine what it had been like for them. There were many people that made hiding a way of life. Milo came to mind and she was starting to have the same sentiment as she did for him.
“You should come with us. Everyone is stronger in numbers and we would love to have you.”
“But you don’t even know us.” Carin was shocked with the offer. It was not given lightly and it wasn’t taken lightly either. What she had always wanted was just a little safety and she knew that Jessa was right.
“It doesn’t matter. We haven’t tried to kill each other yet, so that is a good sign.”
Carin simply nodded. It was strange what was seen as a good day. They had seen so many come and pass, and if she had been able to meet them and they had been as agreeable and kind as this group were, she was sure that they would have been safer traveling together than they were staying in the same place. There was certainly strength in numbers, and the thought that she might not have to worry so much about Jason was groundbreaking. She had never thought about being part of a group like that before.
“Don’t you have to talk to your people?”
Jessa just shrugged. “They don’t mind. We picked up Michael and Milo on the way. It’s kind of snowballing. And the more the merrier as far as I am concerned. When it was just me and my son on the road…well let’s just say I know how it feels. I felt far more vulnerable than I do now. I hate to think that having men around helps, that we can do it as women and all of that, but it just isn’t the case. We are stronger in numbers and I would be happy to bring you along.”
Carin bit her bottom lip. “I will have to talk to Jason about it. I know that he is still young, but he likes to think of himself as a man. It’s a big decision he would like to be included in.”
“Well we were planning on leaving today, but we can wait around a day if you want to get your things together. You guys think it through. I think it could be better for all of us. And,” Jessa said with her eyes glittering. There is a little more coffee.”
Carin smiled back. She was already thinking about what it would be like to have someone to talk to again. It was a lonely world; most people were gone, and the ones who were left were generally the worst sorts. She had forgotten that people could be like Jessa. “But like I said, wouldn’t you have to talk to your people about it?”
Jessa shrugged. “My son is always up for more people to talk to. He will talk your ear off if you let him, or if you know anything about machines. I think the rest are feeling the same way. There is strength in numbers and we have a long trek ahead of us. I have already decided that if there isn’t a settlement there, I will just start one. Someone has to, and six is better than four to start. Everyone has strengths and knowledge that together can become something wonderful.”
Carin liked the idea of it, but she wondered if Jessa wanted a pipe dream. Maybe it was one, but if there was no hope, what was the point?
“Let us stay the day and I will talk to Jason. I like the idea of it. We can’t stay here forever. There are not a lot of resources here and we are having to go further and further out just to get enough to eat.”
Jessa agreed and her mind went to all of the stocks that they had. That had taken them some time and energy to get. She wanted people like that. People who could see beyond the next day or week and into the long term. It was all about the long term. Another strong back and some old knowledge were always needed in this new world.
***
“Are you really sure you want to invite them along?”
Jessa turned towards Michael as she got out of the bathtub. It had taken her over an hour to heat enough water to actual submerse in, but it was worth it. When she finally got out, her body was soft and relaxed. Michael’s blue eyes darkened suggestively, and she giggled, squirming under his intense gaze.
“Will you hand me a towel?”
He shook his head no, not wanting her to cover up her body just yet. It had been only a few hours since he had her last and he was already aching for more. She gazed at the tenting in the crotch of his pants and she sighed to herself.
“Please?”
“I love when you beg.”
“We have people around and this is their house.”
“See, this is why I think we have enough. At least with Milo we can still sneak around.”
She giggled and started to reach for the towel herself. He stopped her with a hand on her wrist, her body open and dripping wet for him. “Are you really going to stop me from getting dressed?”
“Are you really going to stop me?”
Michael moved to kiss her and she relented as her lips opened to his insistence. Soon he had her moaning, forgetting everything but the heat between them. All she could think about was him and his touch, his hands on her. Michael turned her around until her back was to him. His hands were moving in between their bodies, and before she could stop him, she was bent over and filled with his need. He covered her mouth as he slammed into her over and over again. The vanity shook and the slapping of their bodies echoed in the small, tiled room.
Jessa had her eyes closed and found herself gasping for breath when he finally pulled free from her body. Her face was flushed and she couldn’t help but smile to herself. He felt too good, and there was nothing else she could do but succumb to his urges. There was no saying no to Michael. There never was a time that she had been able to tell him no before. He was impossible to resist, and the longer she was with him, the harder it became.
He finally handed her a towel after she climbed out of the tub. She had to rinse some of the sweat and his seed off of her. That time he didn’t try to stop her, kissing her instead as he watched her cover her curves with water.
“You know that I love you right?” Michael’s soft voice purred.
She laughed quietly as she dried off. “Yeah I think you have mentioned it before.”
“I don’t ever want to leave you, Jessa.”
Jessa thought it was an odd thing to say.
“Then don’t.”
She couldn’t even imagine her life without him and she didn’t want to.