Free Harvest Moon by Leigh Talbert Moore Page B

reminding me I was a prisoner. I stepped back against the wall and held the rails instead of Gallatin.
    “I think if I move around, the stiffness will start to let up,” I said.
    “I’ll get you another set of clothes.”
    “Thanks.” I paused, not meeting his eyes. “And thank you for helping me. I can’t believe I swallowed that goo.”
    “I think the technical term is afterbirth , doctor.”
    “And to think I always wanted to be a doctor.”
    “An obstetrician?” he teased.
    My eyes rose then, and I studied him for a moment. He was smiling and being kind, and I didn’t know how to respond to this, even if it was my goal. Now that he’d saved me, now that I’d been in his room and spent the night in his bed, it felt strange. Too familiar and wrong. In light of what had happened with Cleve, the rumored mass graves and electrified chips, I wasn’t sure if I was ready to be friends with him.
    Internally, I shook myself. I had to be friends. I had to get the information I needed.
    I swallowed my emotions and smiled. “I pretty much gave up on that dream a long time ago.”
    “Maybe you shouldn’t have.”
    I shrugged, and he stepped to me. Then he crooked his arm and pulled my hand through it.
    “Let me take you back. You need to eat and then rest. I’ll take care of getting you a day off.”
    I took a step, then leaned heavily on him again as my hip flashed with pain. He slowly escorted me through the empty barn, and when the rising sun hit my face, it was already hot. No breeze moved the damp air.
    “It’s too bad we don’t have air conditioning,” I said. “But I guess in the shade, it’s tolerable.”
    “I’ll get you more water, and the medicine will help you sleep.”
    I nodded, and after many staggered steps, finally we were back at the entrance to the dorm. Everyone was gone to breakfast, and I stopped before entering, feeling like I should say something.
    “I’m glad you’re up and moving around,” he said. “Who else could help me finish my training?”
    “I’m not sure I’m such a great teacher. After all, I got flattened by a newborn.”
    He laughed gently, and my eyes met his. It was an unexpected, pleasant sound, and his smile softened his features, making him seem less threatening.
    He did resemble Cato. He had her same tall elegance, and this boy who saved my life was actually handsome despite his scars. In that instant, I felt my guard lower, but I quickly restored it. Getting soft toward him would only cause problems down the line, and my goal was to escape, to get out and find Jackson.
    Anyway, Gallatin and I weren’t really friends. When all was said and done, we were on opposite sides of the line. We were enemies, and for now, I was his prisoner.
    “Thank you,” I said and carefully pushed through the screen door, leaving him alone.

Chapter 11
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    A s I pulled on my coveralls, I noticed an ugly green bruise forming on my right hip. I was late for breakfast, but there was no way I was staying in bed all day. What would I do besides wait and think about how I wasn’t accomplishing anything?
    Still, being hunched over a milk pail probably wasn’t the best course of action in my condition either. I finished dressing and hobbled to where the rest of my team was almost through eating. Several worried eyes flew to me when I entered, but nobody dared approach me. I nodded and made my way to the empty seat between Flora and Yolanda.
    A plate was soon put in front of me along with an envelope. Gallatin had sent another pair of white pills with a note that said I didn’t have to report for chores. I slipped it in my pocket and slowly began my routine of cutting meat and sliding pieces to Flora, who kept nervously glancing at my face.
    “They said you helped bring a calf.” Her voice trembled as she whispered.
    I nodded, chewing slowly. My hip was hurting less because of the pills, but sitting was still uncomfortable.
    “You were gone so long,” she