Free Lightning by Bonnie S. Calhoun Page A

he wouldn’t give her away.
    â€œHe would probably end both of our miserable existences if we let anything happen to you,” Treva said. “I don’t suppose Glade or Bodhi are aware of your little trip, are they?”
    Selah lowered her eyes. “They’re headed north for a fewdays to do some exploring, so I couldn’t tell them.” She ended the conversation by placing her backpack up in the wagon and grabbing some packages of dried meat and fruit to help stow. Cleon went back inside the depot and came out carrying a high-tech-looking crossbow, a compound bow, and several quivers of arrows.
    â€œWow! Those are pretty nice-looking weapons,” Selah said. “I’m a little jealous. I’ve been learning hand-to-hand combat, but I sure miss my kapos.”
    Cleon grinned broadly, laid the weapons in the wagon, and reached behind him to pull a soft leather case from the waistband of his pants. He held it out to Selah. She looked at him and furrowed her brow.
    â€œOpen it.” Cleon shoved it in her hand and dropped his fists to his hips. “It’s not going to open itself.”
    She slipped the flap open and started to laugh as she pulled out a half dozen of her favorite throwing knives. “Have I told you how much I love you, my brother?”
    Cleon smiled. “I love you too, Sissy, and I knew you’d be happy to be reunited with your beloved kapos. When you gave them up, I secretly took them for safekeeping.”
    Selah nodded. “And here I thought all this time it was Glade keeping me from carrying them in town.”
    â€œWe may do some hunting between here and there. Tenderizing is one thing, but I didn’t want you to use any of that hand-chopping stuff on unsuspecting animals.”
    They both laughed. Cleon was used to making trips in these areas to trade livestock and seed bundles. He knew all the easiest routes, the best places to camp and catch game.It amused her that since coming north, he had started eating meat, thanks to Treva. She was good for him.
    Treva exited the depot with the last of the supplies and stowed them and the bows in their respective compartments in the sides of the wagon. Selah looked around. It was pretty exciting to use a vehicle like this. There was a canopy, retracted at the moment, that would protect them from inclement weather and provide sleeping quarters at night. They had bedrolls, a built-in water purifier, and even navigational equipment.
    â€œAre we ready to go? I’m kind of anxious to get started,” Selah said. In her mind she had already found and rescued her parents and her brother Dane and was planning what to say to her stepfather to smooth over the disaster she’d created for them. After all, she had fumbled through and fixed a lot since leaving home.
    â€œWe’re only waiting for one more person. We got a navigator so we didn’t have to wait for the caravan that leaves this afternoon. Besides, they’re taking the land-only route to go the long way around,” Treva said.
    Selah didn’t trust the look on her friend’s face, but there was no reading her mind-thoughts. They didn’t do that to each other without permission.
    She furrowed her brow and folded her hands behind her back. “Okay, if it will save us time, but you didn’t mention anyone else.” She didn’t want anyone else going with them. This was private family business, and she was sure they could traverse the shortcut without help. Coming north hadn’t been too hard. “Who are we waiting for?”
    â€œMe,” a voice said.
    Selah turned, prepared to rebuff the interloper and send him packing to seek another ride. Jaenen Malik strolled across the lot, crossbow slung over his back and a travel bag in his right hand. Her feelings moved from irritation to acceptance in an instant as she watched Cleon and Treva duck out of sight.
    â€œJaenen, what are you doing here?”