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“Forrest get here yet?” Lu asked as she came inside

“Not yet,” I replied

Cecilia dropped onto the recliner, covering her face with her hands

“She needs a break,” Lu said quietly to ht”

“No idea,” I replied “I just keep thinking if we can get her home, she can rest But I don’t know There’s a lot of history up there, so she’ll be safe, but—”

“E “Well, we’ll deal with that when it comes”

My phone rang in my pocket and for a second, I froze

“Answer it, duhtly

Pulling the phone out of my pocket, I checked the caller ID

“How’s it going?” I asked Josiah as I walked out to stand on the back deck

“We’re on the road,” he replied

“He even boughthappily

“Oh, great,” I muttered “I’m on speakerphone”

Josiah laughed “We got her stuff packed up,” he said “Did you know she keeps a bug-out bag? No shit Found it in her closet Spare change of clothes, extra un and a box of shells, couple of burner phones, the works”

“I’ift from her dad”

“Father of the Year,” Josiah said approvingly

“No doubt,” Eph agreed

“You’re headed north?” I asked

“Yeah, ene toet there?”

“Get a cheap room and wait,” I said “Not sure e’ll be there, but we’ll get there eventually”

“You know, rainy ass Oregon is not where I’d choose to go on a winter vacation,” Eph said conversationally “I like the sun”

“Yeah, h

“Just fuckin’ with you,” Eph said with a laugh “I’ll be a happy man if I can find a place with a hot tub and room service”