Free Sole Survivors: Crux Survivors, Book 2 by Dani Worth Page B

abruptly cut off. “Bet you don’t come outside alone at night very much.”
    “I do sometimes, but no, not a lot.” Keera frowned. “I have more trouble with them in the summer when the rabbits come out in droves for the garden.”
      Jenna sniffed. “Speaking of garden, your food smells like heaven. I see steam too.”
    Keera laughed. “It’s getting close, but there are still a few minutes.” She turned to Chase. “There should be enough hot water if you want to go ahead and take a shower now. I left some clothes I had stored in the house for you. They’re yours to keep. I have enough clothes here to share with everyone.”
    Chase slowly stood. “Thanks again. I’ll take you up on that.”
    Keera watched Chase walk into her house. A tiny thrill went through her when she imagined what it would be like to always have him, always watch him walking into that house to shower. Or walking into it to shower with him. She was so involved in her fantasy that she jumped when Jenna spoke again.
    “Did you ever wonder why the Crux took so many more women than men?”
    Keera hoped it was too dark for Jenna to see her blush when the other woman chuckled at her response. Yeah, she’d been caught ogling Chase’s backside.
    “Not really,” Keera answered. “I barely remember the days when we still had television and in my experience, it took just as many men.”
    “How long did you say you’ve been alone?”
    “Three years. My father was with me a long time. He survived two waves of the illness, then died from an infection after breaking his leg. We had Dax, my husband, with us but only for a few years. That was a long time ago.”
    “I’m so sorry.”
    “It’s easier now, but sometimes it feels like the grief is never ending.”
    “Dorian and I were nine when we lost our families. I can still remember the smell of my mother’s hair. It hurts to this day, but there’s a kind of numbness there—I think it’s because we lost so many so fast and then there were such hard, hard times afterward.” She sent an affectionate smile across the fire. “I’m not sure Dorian and I would have survived if Ross hadn’t found us. We were all kids really, but he stepped in, protected us, then years later found our home. When he came home with a bad infection not that long ago, it scared us to death. Dorian managed to get it under control. He’s good with plants, reads a lot of medical journals.” She looked back at Keera, stared. “I can’t imagine being alone that long. For so many years, it was just Ross, Dorian and me and at times, it felt so lonely, keeping our spirits up was hard. But we had each other.”
    “My dad and I were loners pretty much before the infection. He was a survivalist. I have an emergency bomb shelter here and it’s full of things.” Keera pointed to Jenna’s boot with the hole in the side. “I bet I have boots down there in your size.”
    Jenna sat up. “Seriously? We could trade. We have supplies we’ve picked up on the truck. But better yet…” She trailed off, bit her lip. “You should come with us. Like I said. You and Chase and Tripp.”
    “You do realize I don’t know them. Just met them too.”
    “Ross always says the more people we have in our community, the safer we’ll be. We all have different strengths, so another person who’s good with plants is a real plus for us. Dorian is there for medical needs and he’s a dream of a gardener. Looks like you are too. I hunt. Georgia sews and thankfully, Lynn cooks.”
    “Georgia and Lynn?”
    “We have Georgia, Lynn, Jake and three kids.”
    “There are children?” Keera’s heart clenched. She hadn’t seen a child in so long. She’d loved children.
    “They’re great kids. One of them is new so I don’t know him well yet. He’s the one I said Cadmar helped escape.” She suddenly smiled. “Damn, Caddie sure is hitting it off with Tripp. How old did you say Tripp is?”
    “Like I said, I just met them. I think he’s