Page 10 of Protected

He makes a summoning gesture with his hand andthen turns, assuming I’ll follow him. A little part of me wants to rebel, but I’m still worried about getting on the wrong side of these people and Deck helped me out big-time last night. I go with him to a quiet spot blocked by trees.

He holds up a finger—not like he’s shushing me but like he’s indicating the number one—and then he carefully moves my body so I’m facing a tree.

I’m more confused than scared, so I look back at him.

He makes that gesture with his finger again. Then reaches down to lift one of my feet, angling it so the flat of my foot is near his crotch.

I understand.

He’s showing me one thing I can do if a man grabs me like Pete did last night.

I don’t ever want to feel like that again. Like I’m completely at the mercy of anyone who grabs me. For no other reason than I’m small and too stunned to react or fight back. So when Deck taps my thigh, I kick back the way he showed me.

He nods his approval. Then lifts two fingers to signal he’s showing me a second possible move.

He’s got six moves to teach me. We spend the rest of our lunch break practicing them.

4

I wakeup the following morning when something nudges my leg.

I grumble. Who wouldn’t? My sleep might not be peaceful—it’s been tense and fraught for the past two years—but it’s still sleep. And I’m not ready to wake up yet.

More nudging.

Opening my eyelids enough to squint, I glare up at the nudger.

Deck.

Predictable.

He’s standing above me, as shaggy and unkempt as ever. Most of his features are covered by his long brown beard and the hair hanging around his face, but his eyes are clearly visible. Peering at me impatiently.

I scowl.

He scowls back.

Irrationally amused by our interaction, I hide it as I sit up, pulling my leg away from his big, well-worn hiking boot.

I had to sleep in my jeans last night with my loose T-shirt. We traveled all afternoon, stopping occasionally to search for supplies, but as the sun was setting, there were no nearby buildings or structures to spend the night in. So we camped outside in a clearing near a creek, and I slept on the ground like everyone else.

It’s not new for me. It’s how Hal and I were sleeping for at least a year. But without something over my head like in the den, I was anxious and exposed. And it’s weird to have so many people around.

I stretch out my back. Glance around to see that everyone else is already awake and getting ready for the day.

Jumping to my feet quickly, I say, “I slept too late.”

Deck frowns and shakes his head, using a finger to make the symbol for one.

“One minute?”

He shakes his head again, still holding up the one finger.

“One hour?”

He nods.

“Okay. Good. Then I’ve got plenty of time to get ready.” I wince when a roll of one shoulder provokes a stab of pain. I crane my neck to peer at my back and catch a glimpse of blood on my shirt.

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