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Eve shook her head emphatically "Promise me, Trav You have to protect Cammie And yourself That means you keep her away fro"

Travis closed his eyes and bowed his head in resignation "I proinally better now that she had his promise, she shifted Cammie in her arms and took the drink from Travis’s hand totoo," she said quietly to Travis "I left enough out on the counter to erator, thanks to Donovan Eat nohile we have time We may not have that luxury over the next few days"

Still, Travis hesitated It broke Eve’s heart that he often went hungry and without because he placed Cammie’s--and Eve’s--needs above his own He of all of theular oing froht of five foot six to nearly six feet And it was obvious that he was undernourished His tall, lanky frame showed his thinness With adequate nourishment, he’d be a broad, much thickerman It was hard to envision hirow up and e and experience of the evil in the world thatEve did, she was going to ensure that they had a good place to live, or at least an adequate place, and food so Travis and Ca without herself

"Eat," Eve proently "There wasn’t roo to waste Eat asto be on the move for the next several days, and we’ll have to eat e can and sparingly so we stretch the food as far as possible before we have to buy ?" Travis asked as he rose

Eve started to shake her head The thought of food hts were in turmoil over what they faced for the next days But she also knew that she couldn’t very well convince Travis of his need to eat if she refused to eat herself

She forced a smile in Travis’s direction "That would be nice Just make e that I couldn’t fit in the suitcase Why don’t we drink those before we head out?"

There was still enough of a boy in Travis to be happy over the "treat" offered to hi as simple as a sandwich and a can of soda would be a luxury often denied them

"What do you want on yours?" Travis asked as he headed toward the kitchen

"Oh, one of everything," Eve said with a s the rest of the food with us Ca so on?"

"Can I have another grilled cheese?" Cammie asked around her thuent smile "I’ll heat the pan while I ether on the couch and wait for the stororously

"Trav, make sure you eat plenty," Eve reood"

He grinned "Don’t have to persuadethe brief moment of normalcy It was easy to pretend that they weren’t in a run-down trailer living hand to mouth or in constant fear of discovery For the space of a few stolenas siether

Eve co days would bring theth not only to survive but to be strong for her siblings They needed her She was the only constant in their lives and they were the only constants in hers

CHAPTER 11

EVE roused from sleep and panicked as she realized that they’d all fallen asleep on the couch after eating Travis was leaned over against the arm, his head lolled to the side Cammie was nestled in Eve’s arms and draped across Eve’s body

She lifted her watch but couldn’t see the time in the darkness At least it was still dark and they hadn’t slept through the night She strained to listen for the sounds of rain, but quiet had descended It was als or crickets that usually perht

The air was thick, the hu to get a better look at her watch Cammie stirred in her ar for Travis’s arm

"Trav Trav," she said a little louder "We have to get up and getwe slept"

After eating their ainst the tin roof and the wind rattling the s in the trailer Realizing the storested they try to get in a little sleep She hadn’t intended to drift off, though She’d wanted Ca days of walking, but she’d wanted to limit it to an hour at the most

Travis stirred and then i to Eve’s

"Sorry, Evie I shouldn’t have fallen asleep like that," he said in a regretful tone

"Shhh, you needed it," she said "But if you can help me with Cammie, we can be on our way She needs her shoes and the shorts and T-shirt you laid out for her"

Travis got up and reached for Cammie, as still half asleep Sheto Travis’s neck as he carried her to the bedroo away the heavy veil of fatigue as she mentally prepared herself for what lay ahead No matter that they’d led this life for the past several months, she still wasn’t used to it She still couldn’t shake the fear that uncertainty brought She was in way over her head She wasn’t qualified for this, but then as?

She stretched and then did a quick check toimportant Her mother’s jewelry was secure in the suitcase Eve’s wallet with their precious hoard of cash was on the counter, and she shoved it into the backpack, where she’d also put drinks for Caed snacks that Donovan had brought

Donovan’s face flashed in herher pause Indecision flickered and she shoved it away She couldn’t afford to second-guess herself Not now