Surviving Seduction by Maia Underwood Page A

now, she could only sit dumbstruck and stare in fear and awe. The procession of cattle had stopped. As the dust was carried away by the wind, she saw tents sprawled out in every direction. There were far more than she could count, and throngs of busy people were pitching them for the evening.
    Selena’s vision was suddenly unclear and for a moment, she thought she was having another attack. But when she blinked, moisture fel from her eyes and she wiped it away quickly. Her heart was racing and she squeezed her grip on the reins as if it would help her get a grip on herself. She’d never seen this many people in one place in al her life, not even in her vague memories of her life as a very young child before the Crash.
    Several men on horseback seemed to be forming a ring around their vast herd of cattle, which stood peaceful y now that evening had begun. She felt a little relief when she spotted six or seven children running and playing games boisterously around the outskirts of the camp while the adults worked to get things settled for the night. She studied as many of the latter as she could. They didn’t look any more menacing than her friends in Brian’s Crater, but there were so many .
    Her heart seemed to hammer faster when she realized that Dan would judge them safe enough to approach. She had been hoping to see some menacing quality that would make him change his mind. No such luck.
    “They look okay to me,” Cal said, breaking a very long silence.
    “Better than I expected,” Dan answered. “Anything else you want to tel us?” He turned to eye Jack pointedly.
    “Nope,” he answered.
    Selena was too transfixed to raise a brow. If there was something Jack was keeping from them, it was not going to become evident anytime soon. Even the issues or history he might have with these people could not distract her now. Their inevitable approach loomed and she wished desperately that she could slow time. She tried to remind herself that Jack was not afraid of them, but she knew her fears were not al that rational.
    “If anyone has anything to say, now’s the time to say it,” Dan told them. Maybe he was asking in the hopes that she would lose her nerve. Her mouth opened silently as she contemplated staying behind, but she knew she wouldn’t let him go alone.
    When they al remained silent, Dan urged his mount forward. Selena steeled herself for whatever might come and fol owed behind.
    With Jack to her left, Cal to her right and Dan in the lead, she should have felt much more confident than she did. Her wits were arguing with her instincts and for some reason the latter rang out much clearer, but it was too late reason the latter rang out much clearer, but it was too late to back out now.
    They moved in the direction of the Grazers at a walk.
    The rhythmic thumping of the horses’ hooves sounded suddenly surreal and although they moved slowly, the noise of the cattle seemed cacophonous within just a few heartbeats. The dry grass hissed against the horses’ legs as they marched forward uneasily. They too were unaccustomed to the din and visual chaos that grew before them. Buck was the exception. His bearing was eager rather than fearful. Selena wondered if each horse could sense its rider’s emotions. If so, she felt sorry for Star.
    A wiry man on horseback issued a complicated whistle when he saw them. Moments later, four men joined him and Selena held her breath as the strangers rode out to meet them.
    They came at a canter, each side by side, like a moving wal . If the idea was to intimidate, it was working, at least on her.
    “Whoa,” the wiry man cal ed softly. They came to a halt when there was only ten feet separating the two groups.
    “Is there somethin’ we can do for ya?” His tone was confident, but not menacing.
    Selena peered around Dan meekly. The leader was tal and very thin, but he looked strong. His long, gaunt face held quick eyes and there was a grim set to his thin mouth.
    A brief scan