Read Online The Survivors Book III: Winter by V. L. Dreyer - Free Book Online Page B

was unexpected and took me by surprise, but not for long.  Michael was not one to stay silent; he was a deeply expressive man, who tended to take things to extremes.  Whether he was laughing or crying, he never hid himself from me.
    " Hey, it's okay," I whispered, wrapping my arms around his broad shoulders.  "I'm fine.  Everything is fine.  You made it in time."
    Michael drew back and looked down at me, then let out a low, deep sigh.  "I know – but I almost didn't.  I've been kicking myself that I didn't notice when you fell behind.  I could have lost you, and never known what happened."
    " Better to never know than watch me get torn apart, right?" I answered with my usual dry sarcasm, but the look that he gave me immediately made me regret my choice of words.  It was a look of total horror.  It took a moment for me to put together what I'd said with what he had seen when Sophie died.  "Oh my God, I didn't mean it like that!  I'm sorry, honey.  I-I didn't mean--"
    " It's okay," he answered, cutting me off mid-stammer.  "I know, it was supposed to be a joke.  I'm just… having trouble with this whole situation.  I feel so helpless."
    " You saved my life once again," I reassured him, gently reaching up to grab his shoulders.  "Again and again, you're there for me.  Honey, you're the strongest man I know.  Please don't doubt yourself like this, because I don't.  I have absolute confidence in you.  I trust you.  You know better than anyone how hard it is for me to say that."
    He nodded, his expression softening.  "Yeah, I do.  It means so much to me to hear you say that.   But, still… it's hard to feel in control when you have no idea where the enemy is going to strike from next."
    " I know what you mean."  I sighed heavily, turning away to stare out the little window at the dark sky, and the ashen ruins of our former home.  "I haven't felt like I'm truly in control of my own destiny in a long time.  Hopefully, this voyage south will change that.  No more waiting."
    " It's going to be a hard trip," he said quietly.  I felt his warm body come up behind me, and his arms slid around my waist.  "For everyone, but especially for the little ones.  Do we even know where we're going?"
    " No, not really."  I shrugged and leaned back against him, drawing comfort from his strength.  "I figure that we head for Wellington, and see where the winds take us.  We'll stop by that corn field along the way and stock up on food.  That'll keep us going for a while."
    " I've never been to Wellington," he said, resting his chin comfortably on my shoulder.  I shot him a glance, and saw his dark eyes were distant, focused on nothing.
    " I have – well, I've been in the area."  I nuzzled his cheek and then closed my eyes to think.  "It's been a long time.  If we stick to the areas that used to be farmland, then we should have an easier time foraging along the road."
    " We could find boats, and take the river south," Michael suggested.
    I opened my eyes and gave him a curious look, then shrugged.  "Maybe.  They can't follow our tracks if we're on the river, but the river would only take us part of the way and then we'd be stuck scavenging for trucks in an unfamiliar location.  We're heading through Arapuni, so we can check while we're there.  I don't want to leave without offering Rebecca and Jim the chance to join us."
    " It can't hurt to ask."  Michael smiled at me, and gave me a gentle hug.  "You know, I can hardly believe how much you've changed since we met."
    " For the better, I hope?"  I laughed and nudged him in the side.
    He chuckled back and nodded.  "Of course.  I fell in love with you just the way you were, but this person that you're becoming… I love her, too.  You're metamorphosing before my very eyes, from someone that was impressive to begin with, into someone truly amazing.  Words can't express how glad I am that we met."
    " And to think, if it hadn't been for these undead, then