Free I Will Breathe (Forbidden Book 1) by Regina Puckett

up. She grinned as she bounced up from the bed and rubbed Boy’s head. “I’ll be right back. Don’t go anywhere.” She slipped her shoes on and ran all the way back to Patch’s workshop.
    “Did you build all these robots?”
    Of course Patch was surprised to see her back so soon, but he took the unexpected company in stride and invited her to join him in a meal of indeterminate ingredients. Whatever they were, they had been boiled into a lumpy, brown, greasy stew.
    A look of pride crossed Patch’s face. “I did.”
    Not wishing to insult his hospitality, Liberty somehow managed to swallow most of the food without throwing up. She set the nearly empty bowl down and told him, “I have a robot that was submerged in sea water. Mender tried to repair him. He even added a dehumidifier, hoping that would eventually dry him out, but even though I wind him every day, he hasn’t worked since.” She nodded toward Patch’s robots. “It occurred to me that since you build robots you might be able to fix Boy.”
    “Boy?”
    “That’s the name his father gave him.” Liberty slipped a hand behind her back and crossed her fingers. She was afraid to tell him how much she cared for Boy in case he thought her insane.
    Patch spooned another mouthful of stew into his mouth and chewed. After swallowing, he dabbed at the corners of his mouth before saying, “I’ve never heard of anyone naming a robot, but then I’ve also never heard of the inventor of one calling himself Father. Highly unusual, if you ask me.”
    “Really? Mender calls his robot Robbie. I just thought everyone named them.” She stepped closer and placed a hand on Patch’s arm. “Boy’s quite an unusual robot. His father downloaded thousands of images to him, to safeguard, ones of the world before the Great War . Not only does he mean a lot to me, but he’s now the Keeper of our past. I really need your help. I have food I can give you, not only to fix Boy of course but also for caring for Justice.”
    Patch patted her hand but then moved off, chewing on his bottom lip as he wandered past his inventions. Liberty watched him study each one but she had a strange feeling he wasn’t really seeing them.
    He finally stopped and turned to face her. “Of course. Let me gather a few tools together, and if Justice feels up to it, we’ll take him back with us.”

Chapter Fourteen
    “For pity’s sake, don’t pace. You’re going to wear the planks to sawdust, and you’re giving me a damn headache.” Mender rubbed his forehead.
    Robbie walked over and stared at Mender’s mouth.
    Mender threw up his hands and grumbled, “Now see what you’ve done. My damn robot’s at it now.” He glared until Robbie backed up a couple of steps.
    “It’s not my fault. You’re the one who’s taken up cussing. Maybe you should watch your language.” Liberty looked toward her cabin for the hundredth time since Patch had come that morning.
    Mender snorted. “Me, watch my language? That’s great advice from a woman who curses every other word.”
    Liberty rolled her eyes and shot him a skeptical look over her shoulder as she walked by – yet again. “That’s an over exaggeration. I’ll have you know I’ve been cutting back on my cursing. I’m trying to set a good example for my younger brother.”
    This time the snort came from Justice.
    Liberty only stopped long enough to point a finger at him. “And you should be in bed. Just a few hours ago you were unconscious, and you still look like death warmed over.” She stopped pacing long enough to push a long, red lock of hair back from his eyes. His face was covered in raw, open cuts. She was very much afraid that some of the gashes were going to leave lasting scars.
    He pushed her hand away. “I’m fine. Mother always told me I had a hard head. It will take more than a few wooden crates falling on me to kill me.”
    Liberty threw up her hands. It was useless arguing with any of them. And what was taking Patch so