Free The Break Free Trilogy (Book 3): Through The Frozen Dawn by E.M. Fitch Page A

and she was wearing a faded red flannel shirt. Kaylee was instantly reminded of her mother. The gentle eyes, the slight pull of her mouth as she watched the beat up survivors, this woman was a mother to someone, or she had been. "My name is Rebecca, I'll get you some food."
    Several people watched the exchange, some with hostility, some with restrained curiosity.
    "Food would be wonderful," Kaylee said. Her stomach was already folding over at the thought of the venison.
    "Water, too," Anna added in a low voice, "if it's not too much trouble."
    Rebecca smiled and turned away.
    Anna squatted by Andrew's head, adjusting the water bottle drainage system and murmuring lowly to him. When the food came, she encouraged him to take a few bites. He managed to, propped up by a stray backpack. But his head was drooping and it was only a matter of moments before he was asleep.
    "That's a pretty impressive piece of work," Rebecca said, pointing a bent fork towards Andrew. Anna offered a strained smile in thanks. Rebecca had brought them four plates of food, one for each and one for herself. She sat next to Kaylee, not speaking as Anna coaxed Andrew to eat and Kaylee inhaled her food. The venison was tough but flavorful. Kaylee tried to focus on chewing slowly, not gulping the bites of meat down. She knew her stomach would pay for it later, letting the food slam into her empty belly. But hunger struggled to overrule senses and she ate faster than she wanted to. Still, with the rush of sustenance entering her blood stream, she felt sated and at ease. Andrew was asleep, but breathing easier.
    "He's better," Kaylee said, letting her eyes drift over him. "How long does the tube have to stay in?"
    Anna shrugged. "I'm really not sure. It could be a day, it could be a couple of days."
    "Not a couple of days," Andrew muttered, his eyes still closed. Anna frowned.
    "You're supposed to be asleep," she admonished, shushing him.
    "Michael said he rescued you all from those men at the Wal-Mart," Rebecca said softly once Andrew quieted down again. Anna nodded. "I hope you're not hurt too badly?"
    Kaylee let her eyes drift back from Andrew. She caught Rebecca's eye. She wasn't looking to the battered boy, her eyes rested firmly on the girls in front of her. Kaylee stiffened. "You know them?"
    "Too well," Rebecca murmured. There was an old sadness there, one Kaylee and Anna recognized without ever having had to experience it.
    "Sorry," Kaylee murmured.
    "It was a long time ago," Rebecca answered, shrugging. There was a tightness at the corner of her mouth that suggested that no matter the length of time, what happened would never be forgivable. "Are they dead?"
    "Most of them," Anna answered. "Some escaped. At least, we hope some did." Her eyes flit over Andrew and Kaylee was sure the same thought was racing through her mind. Bill.
    "How is it here?" Kaylee asked, mostly to cover the awkward pause. The rest of the group seemed to drift to their own pursuits. There was still a small cluster of women around the cook fire. The venison had been removed from the spit and was being carved on a flat slab of rock nearby. People were starting to line up, dented tin plates and tupperware lids in hand. Some had utensils, pocketknives, most seemed to use their fingers as Kaylee and Anna had.
    "No one will attack you," Rebecca rushed to say. "I mean, it's safe. Enough."
    "We met Michael," Anna prompted. She still had some food left on her plate and she was chewing slowly.
    "Yeah, Michael usually leads the raids. James and Patricia run things in the Circle."
    Kaylee looked up and felt her eyes drift to who she felt must be James and Patricia. Set a little apart, they stood, leaning close to each other, but with their eyes roving the crowd. They were similar in features, their skin was dark and beautiful, almost blending with the beige fatigues they both wore. They both had short, cropped black hair. The only distinguishable difference was that there was no mistaking