Page 24 of A Wilderness Within

“Joanie, hon, we’re fine. Put that away.”

Joanie slipped a hand through her long black curls, eyeing them carefully before she set the gun down on top of the cooler beside her tent.

“This is Caroline and Lincoln.” Glenn nodded at them.

Caroline smiled at Joanie, and to her relief the woman smiled back.

“Sorry, can’t be too careful these days.”

“I get it. I was robbed of everything not long back. It’s hard to know who to trust.” Caroline glanced at Lincoln. He was standing silent and serious, his hand close to his hip where he could reach his pistol.

“You two are welcome to stay here for dinner, if you like,” Glenn offered.

“We can’t stay the night,” Lincoln said. “Got a lot of miles to cover.”

“How about lunch?” Caroline suggested. He answered with the barest hint of a nod.

“Lunch it is.” Joanie waved to Caroline. “Want to help?”

“Sure.” Caroline followed her toward the back of the couple’s small indoor camp, where they started sorting out canned vegetables. Lincoln stayed with Glenn, but she could still feel his eyes on her.

“Glenn said you guys have been here for a few weeks?”

“Yep.” Joanie handed her a can of creamed corn. “We came here from Blair. We thought a big city would have more supplies, but we soon learned we were better off on the outskirts. What about you?”

“Chicago. I’m from Missouri originally, though.”

“And Lincoln? Where’s he from?” Joanie asked.

“He is…well, North Carolina is where his family is, but he’s sort of from all over the place. He was coming back from Turkey when Hydra struck. He’s…”

“A soldier?” Joanie offered.

“Yes. How did you know?”

“Not many men can sneak up on my husband. He’s a hell of a hunter. Stalks bucks for days like a ghost.”

“How did you know Lincoln snuck up on him?”

“Because Glenn wouldn’t have brought you back here unless he felt he had to,” Joanie said more quietly. “We both know about the roving gangs. He wouldn’t put me at risk like that, which means your man caught him off guard. But he seems to trust you right now, so I’ll do the same.”

“Thank you,” Caroline whispered, unable to stop thinking about how Joanie had called Lincolnherman. “It’s so nice to see someone after all this time. Well, someone normal. I only met Lincoln a few days ago. Before that…” She trailed off.

Joanie patted her hand. “Lonely. I know. Even with Glenn, I still feel alone. We all do.” Joanie collected some plates, and they settled down by a gas-powered stove. Joanie and Caroline open the creamed corn and poured it into the pot. Caroline sought out Lincoln in the small space Glenn and Joanie had created. He was standing beside Glenn. Their guns were out but set on the table as the two seemed to be comparing weapons. Glenn said something, and Lincoln suddenly laughed. The sound made her heart flutter wildly as she watched him, seeing him again as the man she’d danced with last night. There was something about that beard and those muscles and the intensity…she just couldn’t help but get lost in fantasies.

Joanie nudged Caroline in the ribs. “Only a few days, you said?”

“Hmm?” She turned back to Joanie, not understanding the woman’s question.

“You said you’ve only known Lincoln a few days?”

“Yeah.”

Joanie’s eyes twinkled, and she brushed her curly hair back.

“You’ve got it bad, hon.”

“Got what bad?”

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