"You're a priest," he said, noticing her robes.
"Yes," Isabel said. "At least, I used to be."
He didn't say anything more. He just continued to look at her strangely. As if he didn't trust her. It was almost as if he was afraid.
"You're hurt," Isabel said, noticing the awful burns on his body.
He laughed, startling her. "I'll be all right," he said.
"No," Isabel protested. "It's not all right. You're badly burned. I need to get you someplace where I can treat you."
"What's your name?" he asked.
"Isabel. What's yours?"
"I'm called Black Hat."
She smiled. "I don't see any hat."
He groaned and sat up. "Damn," he cursed. "I liked that hat."
She helped him stand and had to take a closer look at his body. Just moments before he had horribly burned. Now she couldn't see the burns. Just a few scrapes and bruises.
He laughed again. "I told you I would be all right."
Isabel shook her head and smiled. "I think I've been out in the sun too long."
"So have I," said Black Hat. "I don't even remember how long I've been out here."
"What happened?" Isabel asked. "Were you onboard the train?"
"Yeah. I was on my way to the city. There was an explosion. That's all I remember."
"Lucky you weren't seriously hurt."
"Yeah. Luck."
They walked together, making their way once again south. Isabel was growing steadily more weary. Strangely the man beside her seemed to have found his second wind. His pace grew faster and his strides became longer. He seemed to have sensed that she was falling behind. He stopped and turned around.
"We aren't much farther from an old homestead. We can rest there."
She nodded and followed behind him. She was tired, but not so tired as to ignore the pleasing image of his strong form walking proudly in front of her.
They soon reached the house. From the looks of it, it had once been a farmhouse. The remains of a barn stood off to the side from it. The front door was missing and the windows were boarded up, but aside from that it looked solid. It didn't matter to Isabel what the place looked like. Just as long as it offered adequate shelter from the blazing heat.
Isabel followed Black Hat inside the house, stumbling across the threshold. He turned and caught her before she fell. Scooping her up into his arms, he carried her into the master bedroom. He laid her down on the bed and left. She tried to say thank you, but was too tired. She closed her eyes and immediately slept.