positively beaming at me.
“This is Ida,” Logan explained.
“I’m Haven,” I choked, trying to smile.
“I know! Max caught me on the way in . . . said you survived an attack in the woods and Amory removed your Citizen ID?
I nodded.
“Oh, how awful. And whose idea was that?” She threw a sideways look at Logan, who flushed.
Ida made a tsking sound. “Always the excitable types, you and Roman,” she said to Logan. “I just always thought there had to be another way.”
I looked at Logan, feeling uncomfortable, but Ida changed the subject masterfully.
“Haven, dear, did Amory feed you when you arrived?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said. “He made me some eggs.” It seemed as if it was best to be forthcoming with this woman.
“Eggs? In the afternoon?” Ida turned to Logan, looking aghast. “That young man fed our newest patriot eggs ?”
Logan nodded grimly, but I could see a laugh threatening to burst forth from her lips.
“Thank god Max is roasting a chicken tonight. I wonder if he can make some of that rhubarb pie I like to go with it.” She smacked her lips with relish before releasing me and strode out the back door.
“She’s not going to slaughter a chicken, is she?” I asked.
“No, Max did that this morning. It’s quite the production.”
I must have looked queasy, because Logan laughed.
“Everything is as fresh as it gets out here.”
Although I desperately wanted to explore the house and the farm some more, Logan made me go directly back upstairs to sleep until dinner. Her reasoning was that between my encounter with the carriers and my “hack doctor surgery,” I had lost a lot of blood and probably had a concussion.
I didn’t argue with her. After everything that had happened, I still felt weak and exhausted. Now that I was cleaned up and no longer bleeding — and, most of all, safe — I wanted nothing more than a nice long nap. I sneaked another piece of the delicious bread Amory had offered me earlier and climbed the stairs to my room. Curling up under the quilt that smelled like cedar and fresh air, I breathed a sigh of relief and fell asleep.
I awoke to the smell of roasted chicken wafting up from the kitchen. I rubbed my eyes and got out of bed. Although I’d eaten a lot earlier, I felt ravenous again. Judging by the darkness of the house, I had slept for hours.
Walking down the hall toward the kitchen, I could tell the mood in the house had changed completely since I first arrived. I could hear laughter around the table, the happy sounds of pans clanking on the stove, and Frank Sinatra belting from the record player.
“I hope you’re hungry!” said Ida when she saw me, opening her arms invitingly. “Maxwell has prepared an excellent feast.”
Max grinned up at me as he bent to pull the chicken out of the oven. The scent was enough to make my mouth water. I hadn’t tasted chicken in months.
I followed him to the dining room, which was illuminated by a huge brass lantern. The walls were papered in a loud paisley pattern that gave the room a homey feel, and a long table was laden with heaps of mashed potatoes, two fresh loaves of rosemary bread, green beans, and roasted carrots.
“Dinner is served,” Max said with an air of ceremony, giving a ridiculous little bow and gesturing to the table.
I grinned and hovered awkwardly next to the table, waiting for the others to claim their seats. A moment later, Logan and Roman trickled in. Logan rolled her eyes but smiled indulgently at Max, and Roman looked about as friendly as ever.
Max lunged around me to pull Logan’s chair out for her, and she sneaked a glance at him before taking her seat. I took the chair across from her, as far from Roman as possible.
Ida came in carrying a steaming rhubarb pie. “Life is too short. I just prefer to start with dessert sometimes.”
Finally, Amory strode in looking distracted. His hair was damp, and he smelled like soap — something woodsy and refreshing. He
“This is Ida,” Logan explained.
“I’m Haven,” I choked, trying to smile.
“I know! Max caught me on the way in . . . said you survived an attack in the woods and Amory removed your Citizen ID?
I nodded.
“Oh, how awful. And whose idea was that?” She threw a sideways look at Logan, who flushed.
Ida made a tsking sound. “Always the excitable types, you and Roman,” she said to Logan. “I just always thought there had to be another way.”
I looked at Logan, feeling uncomfortable, but Ida changed the subject masterfully.
“Haven, dear, did Amory feed you when you arrived?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said. “He made me some eggs.” It seemed as if it was best to be forthcoming with this woman.
“Eggs? In the afternoon?” Ida turned to Logan, looking aghast. “That young man fed our newest patriot eggs ?”
Logan nodded grimly, but I could see a laugh threatening to burst forth from her lips.
“Thank god Max is roasting a chicken tonight. I wonder if he can make some of that rhubarb pie I like to go with it.” She smacked her lips with relish before releasing me and strode out the back door.
“She’s not going to slaughter a chicken, is she?” I asked.
“No, Max did that this morning. It’s quite the production.”
I must have looked queasy, because Logan laughed.
“Everything is as fresh as it gets out here.”
Although I desperately wanted to explore the house and the farm some more, Logan made me go directly back upstairs to sleep until dinner. Her reasoning was that between my encounter with the carriers and my “hack doctor surgery,” I had lost a lot of blood and probably had a concussion.
I didn’t argue with her. After everything that had happened, I still felt weak and exhausted. Now that I was cleaned up and no longer bleeding — and, most of all, safe — I wanted nothing more than a nice long nap. I sneaked another piece of the delicious bread Amory had offered me earlier and climbed the stairs to my room. Curling up under the quilt that smelled like cedar and fresh air, I breathed a sigh of relief and fell asleep.
I awoke to the smell of roasted chicken wafting up from the kitchen. I rubbed my eyes and got out of bed. Although I’d eaten a lot earlier, I felt ravenous again. Judging by the darkness of the house, I had slept for hours.
Walking down the hall toward the kitchen, I could tell the mood in the house had changed completely since I first arrived. I could hear laughter around the table, the happy sounds of pans clanking on the stove, and Frank Sinatra belting from the record player.
“I hope you’re hungry!” said Ida when she saw me, opening her arms invitingly. “Maxwell has prepared an excellent feast.”
Max grinned up at me as he bent to pull the chicken out of the oven. The scent was enough to make my mouth water. I hadn’t tasted chicken in months.
I followed him to the dining room, which was illuminated by a huge brass lantern. The walls were papered in a loud paisley pattern that gave the room a homey feel, and a long table was laden with heaps of mashed potatoes, two fresh loaves of rosemary bread, green beans, and roasted carrots.
“Dinner is served,” Max said with an air of ceremony, giving a ridiculous little bow and gesturing to the table.
I grinned and hovered awkwardly next to the table, waiting for the others to claim their seats. A moment later, Logan and Roman trickled in. Logan rolled her eyes but smiled indulgently at Max, and Roman looked about as friendly as ever.
Max lunged around me to pull Logan’s chair out for her, and she sneaked a glance at him before taking her seat. I took the chair across from her, as far from Roman as possible.
Ida came in carrying a steaming rhubarb pie. “Life is too short. I just prefer to start with dessert sometimes.”
Finally, Amory strode in looking distracted. His hair was damp, and he smelled like soap — something woodsy and refreshing. He
Similar Books
