Page 38 of Survive the Night
Otto looked at her resolute face and knew that she’d made up her mind. Nothing he said was going to budge her. He knew, though, that he couldn’t abandon Xena when she had nowhere else to go. “I’ll take her.”
“What?” Nan looked surprised, as if she hadn’t been expecting him to offer. “Are you sure?”
He wasn’t sure whether taking home a fearful pit bull mix was a smart idea, not when he had the puppies to bottle-feed and Sarah to guard and skeleton-staffed night shifts to cover, but it was the only option. He wasn’t about to give up on Xena. “Yes.”
After Nan eyed him for several moments, her shoulders sagged and she leaned back in her seat. “I’m so relieved. I hate turning any dog away, but there are just so many kennels and only so much time.”
Otto dipped his head in acknowledgment, but he was anxious to go. The thought of Sarah had awakened the anxiety he’d pushed back before working with Xena. He needed to get home, to check on her, to make sure everything—and everyone—was okay. Now, he needed to get Xena to her new home, too.
“Leash?” he asked, reaching for the doorknob.
“Here.” Nan pulled one off a peg on the wall and handed it over. “Sorry about this, Otto. If there was any other way…”
“Not your fault, Nan,” he said truthfully. “Like you said, there’s only so much room.”
Leash in hand, he made his way through the kennel, not even hearing the volley of barking this time. Otto was too busy trying to figure out how he was going to save everyone he was now responsible for. If he screwed up and dropped one of the many balls he was juggling, someone could get hurt—or killed.
* * *
It was hard for Sarah not to run out to greet Otto when he got home, but she managed…barely. It had been a long night. She’d slept a little in the safety of the bunker, but the cot had been hard and narrow—especially since she was sharing it with Mort and Bob.
Instead, she focused on scooping the egg mixture into tortillas. She’d gathered eggs out of the nesting boxes in the chicken coop earlier, getting a thrill with each egg she’d found. It was such a simple thing, but it felt so much more rewarding than pulling a carton of store-bought eggs from the fridge.
Otto’s kitchen was well-stocked, and she’d had no problem finding all the ingredients for breakfast burritos, plus fresh fruit she’d cut up. Sarah had always enjoyed cooking. It centered her and calmed her racing thoughts. Now, though, with everything that was going on, she knew it’d take a lot more than just throwing together some breakfast burritos to give her peace.
“Morning,” Otto said, standing right at her elbow.
Sarah jumped, bumping the plate on the counter in front of her. Even though she’d seen Otto’s truck pull up and knew he was there, she’d expected to hear him walk in. “Oh! Wow, you’re stealthy.”
“Yeah.” Otto snuck a piece of orange and popped it into his mouth. “Hugh tells me that all the time. Says I’m part Paul Bunyan and part ninja.”
Sarah smiled. “That’s actually a really good description. Are you?”
“Am I what?” he asked absently, his attention focused on stealing another piece of fruit.
Sarah put the plates on the table. “Part Paul Bunyan and part ninja.” When he just shrugged slightly, she asked, “What were your parents like?”
“Not sure.” Although his words lit a fire under her curiosity, she had a feeling she shouldn’t push any further. “Breakfast looks great. You didn’t have to cook, though.”
She accepted the subject change easily as they both started eating. She of all people understood not wanting to talk about family. “Figured I’d pay you back for lunch and dinner yesterday—well, partially pay you back.” Everything was made from his groceries, after all. “I’m going to town tomorrow to do some shopping and look for a job.”
Otto paused, his forkful of food halfway to his mouth. “To town? That’s not safe.”
“Why?” It was Sarah’s turn to stop eating as she stared at him, worried. “Did someone see Logan? Has he been hanging around?”
“No, but it’s better if you stay here, just in case.” He resumed eating, but Sarah laid her fork carefully on her plate.
“All the time?” She hadn’t left one prison just to live in a second. “I can’t do that. I sold some of my jewelry, so I have a little money, but it’s not much. I need to find a job.”
His brows drew together as his mouth tightened with resolve. Even his chewing was resolute. “You don’t need money. Whatever you need, I’ll get it for you. It’s safer here.”
Sarah knew Otto was just looking out for her, but the restriction chafed. “Thank you, but I need to start working. Aaron’s been arrested, and Logan’s long gone. It’s safe enough in town, especially with you, Theo, and Hugh right there if I need help. I’ll go crazy without anything to do all day, and I can’t mooch off you until I leave Monroe.” The idea made her cringe.
“You wouldn’t be mooching,” he argued. “You can help with the animals and…” He paused, looking around as if searching for something else to suggest. “Cooking. This is really good.”
“Thank you, but I need to be independent. It’s important.” Her tone was firm, shaking just slightly, even though her stomach churned. She’d never stood up to her father or her brother. Despite Otto’s gentle manner, it was still terrifying to hold her ground.
He frowned at her before stabbing another bite of burrito with his fork. “Fine, but I’m going with you.”
