Chapter 6

"Jodie? Are you in there?" Cory asked from behind the wall where the banging had come from. "Paw asked me to check on you and make sure you were okay."

I could breathe a little bit easier. "Y-yeah. I'm fine."

"Are you decent?" he asked.

"Yeah." I put the necklace up around my throat and started to latch it.

Cory's face appeared above the swinging door. He gave me a small smile. "Paw wanted me to check to see if your injuries were better. I also have more paste to put on your cuts."

I smiled, big. "Hey, I'm not arguing that. Your magic paste is some pretty powerful stuff. What's in it?"

"Family secret," he said with a smirk. His eyes followed my movements. "Here," he said with a nod at my necklace. "Let me help you with that."

I took the bowl of paste from his hands as he took the necklace from mine.

"Turn around," he said softly as he stepped into the shower, making it feel less cavernous.

I turned around and pulled my hair to the side.

"You know," he started as his fingers fumbled around with the latch of the necklace, "I like your hair long. It's nice."

I didn't really know how to take the compliment, so I just smirked. "It's nice and hot. I think we'll have to take those sheep shears to my head before I die of heat."

He held the door open for me on the round enclosure. I handed back the bowl of paste as I passed him.

"Why don't you go sit under the tree next to the water spigot? I filled a bucket of water there in case you missed any dirt in your cuts."

I walked over and sat down on the plastic crate that I had sat on last time when we ate lunches together.

Cory handed me the terracotta bowl of paste. "I'm going to go get some fresh bandages from the house. I'll be right back."

"Are you sure?" I called after him. "I can take care of these myself. They're no big deal. Really."

He didn't even think about it, waving off the idea before it was fully out of my mouth. "Just sit tight, Jodie."

My eyes caught a glimpse of the corral in my peripherals. "Hey, why don't I come inside? We can do this in there."

"Nah," he grinned, walking backwards with confidence that only came from someone who lived in the same place all their lives and knew their home so well. "You sit and rest. You don't need to move too much."

I stayed where I was, uncomfortable. I could almost feel Jay's presence, and it just reminded me of the conversation between the two of us. One of the few reasons I had tossed and turned last night.

Cory was back out quickly, followed closely by Paul. Paul had a large pot with him along with some tin containers.

Paul set the containers down with some spoons. "Are you hungry?"

"Sure," I said. I gave a short laugh, not remembering how long it had been since I had actually eaten anything but the snacks from the gas station the day before. "Starving, actually."

Paul grinned wide. "Good." He scooped me out a bowl. "It's not the best thing in the world, but it is nutritious."

The soup consisted of a brownish, watery substance with chunks in it. It had orange slices of carrot and smelled of a variety of spices.

"This smells delicious, Paul." I took a sip, chewing slowly on the hunk of meat. "What is it?" I asked, eating with vigor.

"Jack rabbit soup," Paul said, scooping some out and holding the tin container to Cory.

Cory put his hands up. "I've got to dress Jodie's wounds."

Paul smiled a little. "Jodie's wounds aren't going anywhere." He placed the bowl into his son's hands. "Besides, it will do them some good to be aired out a little. Give them a chance to dry." He scooped another bowl. "Jay!"

I heard footsteps coming our way. I turned to watch Cory as he filled tin mugs with water from the pump for everyone.

I thanked him, drinking deeply and enjoying every sip. It wasn't long before I finished off the soup.

Cory finished his quickly as well. The next thing I knew, he was in front of me, setting out the bandages next to me on the crate. "I'm going to check out your leg now. See how it's healing up."

I nodded and started rolling up the pant leg for him, glad now that he had grown so much. I was able to roll it up high enough on my thigh to give him plenty of room to work.

"It looks good, Jodie. Your leg is healing nicely," Paul remarked.

Cory nodded in agreement. "You did a good job keeping it clean too." He took some of the green paste out of the ceramic bowl and spread it on my leg. It was cool and felt good. It smelt strongly of sage.

Cory had me lift my leg so that he could wrap the bandage around my leg. He secured it with some metal clips. He patted my thigh when he was done and smiled at me. "All better."

"Actually, can I have some of that magic paste on my side? I have some scrapes there that-"

I hadn't even finished talking before Cory was pulling the borrowed shirt up to get a look at my stomach. He winced at it. "Ouch." He poked at the area a bit, searching for dirt. "Why didn't you mention this last night?"

I shrugged, holding the shirt up out of the way for him so he could dab at the abrasion with both hands. I hissed softly when he hit a particularly sore spot, cutting off my shrug mid-motion. My voice was tight as I spoke through clenched teeth. "It didn't hurt so bad yesterday. Your magic goop might be turning me into a major wimp."

A soft sigh escaped me, my eyes drooping closed in relief as the cool paste covered the stinging, burning pain on my waist.

"They need this stuff in the army," I joked.

Cory's fingers stilled.

My knuckles whitened as my grip clenched tight around the bunched up material. I didn't want to open my eyes. I was afraid it would invite their questions, questions I hadn't meant to bring up-ever. I moved to drop the shirt back down and get some space, but Cory resumed spreading the paste out without a word.

I still didn't dare to look. I could feel the stares directed my way. The clinking and knocking as Paul and Jay ate their soup had stopped and hadn't resumed after my small slip up. I was sure that they had both gained way more information from that careless statement than I was comfortable with.

"All finished," Cory said softly.

"Right, thanks. Well, better get back to work. Paul, you want me to get some hay for the churros?" I asked, gesturing over my shoulder at the barn. I jumped to my feet without waiting for an answer and headed that way.

"Shit," someone mumbled, followed by the clattering sound of tin as the person threw their bowl down to chase after me.

I picked up my pace, unable to run-and not for lack of trying.

I was already in the cool, shade of the barn when the hand gripped my upper arm and spun me around fast enough that I twirled into a hard chest. The air was forced from my lungs at the impact.

"Jeezus, Jodie, you can't go around lifting heavy shit like it's nothing. You're healing."

"Look Jay, I'm just trying to help out. I know life has been hard on your dad since his mom died. He saved my life when he let me in his home, and I paid him back by getting Shimasani killed."

Jay stepped back, holding me at arm's length to study my face. "You feel guilty," he surmised, his eyebrows lifting in realization. "Jodie, you have nothing to feel guilty for. Shimasani was 93 years old. She died as part of a ritual to heal our lands. Other dineh families have moved back to the lands, thanks to the ritual you two completed. 93 years old," he shook his head. "And you gave her a warrior's death. That's more than most people can hope for."

He moved his hands up to my throat and cupped the back of my neck. "You have no reason to feel guilty. So go. Go inside. Get some sleep. I know you didn't sleep very well last night."

I started at that, raising an eyebrow at him.

Jay had a hard time meeting my eyes, rubbing the back of his neck. He cleared his throat twice before he could speak. "My room's next to yours…"

He trailed off at that, looking even more uncomfortable when I didn't reply. I couldn't help it though. My mind was stuck on how natural he had sounded when he called their guest bedroom mine.

I smiled. It was small and didn't quite reach my eyes, but it was still there.

Cory came up to us then before I could think of what to say. "Hey guys. What's up?"

Jay spoke quickly before I could do more than open my mouth to respond. "Jodie was about to go to bed. She didn't sleep last night, and she's still healing."

I shot him a warning look before mentally shrugging. "Yeah, I'll probably head in now."

Cory nodded. "Great. I was going to ask you if you wanted me to put something over the top of your wounds. I'll walk you in."

My smile morphed into something more genuine when Jay looked slightly annoyed that his little brother for whatever reason.

Cory put his arm around my shoulders and walked with me inside. I didn't mind the embrace. It didn't feel like he was trying to boss me or help me because he thought me incapable. Jay had good intentions, and I liked him, a lot, but his brother treated me more like an equal.

"How old are you?" I asked, because I could estimate, but I wasn't entirely sure. "I'm sorry if that seems random...it's just, I didn't stay around here very long before, and I was curious."

Cory's grin popped a dimple in his cheek on one side. His black eyes lightened to a dark coffee color as they landed on me. He squeezed his arm causing me to stumble into his side some more. "It's fine, I'm 19. Turned it last month."

"Oh, happy belated birthday."

We entered the hall, adobe on one side and wood slats on the other from where they'd extended the small, one-bedroom home, probably before the boys' time when Paul was still young and Shimasani grew mute.

"Well," Cory prompted, drawing me from my thoughts.

I frowned. "Well, what?"

"Are you going to tell me your age?" His grin became impish. "And don't tell me that you'd have to kill me if you did."

"Huh." I twisted the handle and entered my room. "Well that's not why I won't tell you."

"Wait, what?" He jumped from his frozen state to follow me into the room. "You're not going to tell me? Why not?"

"You're not supposed to ask a lady her age." He scoffed at my response. Hiding my smile, I raised an eyebrow as I turned to him. "Why do you want to know?"

His eyes widened, his cheeks flushed a lovely dusky color on his beautifully dark skin, and he toed the floor as he rubbed the back of his neck. "Err-well, I uh…"

I was distracted from his awkward behavior by the heat. I fanned my face, noticing how different it was in the house when it was full daylight outside. My breath fanned out of me, heating the already hot air. "It's hot in here."

"Lay down on the bed," Cory suggested. "You'll feel better when you get still."

I gave him a doubtful look, but did as he said. "If you say so."

I stripped down the jeans, knowing I was already facing an uphill battle of falling asleep. I stripped my bra off from underneath Cory's loose shirt, and plopped back on the creaky bed. The handwoven blankets felt even more irritating in the excess heat. At least at night, I wasn't so sweaty in the cool, desert air.

I turned and flopped, trying to get comfortable. The springs screeched with each movement.

I'd lived on the streets, for crying out loud. Why couldn't I get comfortable? I huffed in irritation at my own body.

"You know," Cory's voice drew me from my musings. "You could sleep in my bed. It has real sheets. We haven't had guests in years, so we just put Shimasani's hand woven blankets in here for emergencies, although, at this point, we can pretty much just call this your room now."

"Sorry, I'm not trying to be ungrateful or anything, and, trust me, I've slept on a lot less and a lot worse-"

"Have you?"

I paused, realizing that I would be revealing more of my past. At the same time, he had to have guessed at least part of it. I'd shown up at their house on foot with nothing but a backpack the first time. I sat up, crossing my legs and patting the space next to me. Maybe I could share this little piece of me. Jay was probably right, after all. If I didn't learn to open up, I'd end up all alone. And I knew I couldn't handle that. I took a deep, steadying breath and patted the bed next to me.