The morning was punctuated by the sound of horses calling to one another, small fights and two stallions battling over something. The sun was barely up when Jeremiah climbed out of the tent, looking rumpled as usual. Several people sat around the fire as breakfast was being started. Mal came out of one tent a few minutes later, looking a bit wet as if she had just finished a bath. She smiled at Jeremiah as he saw her with her hair unbraided. She was in the process of brushing out the wet strands before braiding them. He was shocked to see how long her hair really was. He realized he was staring and blushed a little as she chuckled at him.

"You slept well?" she asked as her fingers seemed to make quick work of the first braid as if by practice and repetition.

He nodded and yawned, "Yeah. Was nice to not have to take a watch shift during the night. First night in over a month that I've had a full nights sleep." He said as he stretched.

Her eyes appraised what she saw as he stretched and she raised a delicate eyebrow but said nothing other than nodding. She finished off the second braid and tied off the end. She pulled on a hand made blanket coat and her worn out brown hat. She pointed to their tent, "You have breakfast and then we trade. Of course, you could always stay a few days to help with camp and herds to pay for the gas instead." She said with a grin.

Jeremiah raised an eyebrow in turn. "Perhaps but we've got news to deliver to those that sent us."

Mal watched him for a long moment and he realized that her eyes were a gray-blue color and not brown like he thought the day before. Finally she spoke, but it was in a much more serious tone than he was used to her speaking in. "Yes, you have much to tell of your travels that will help in the future to come. Those in the mountain that thunders will soon find themselves at war with the demon of the east." She stated.

She was quiet a moment longer then shrugged. "So…breakfast first. We have eggs and oatmeal. Protein and starch for a long day of work and travel, yes?" she commented as she went over to the fire to see what was available. She soon came over with a bowl of oatmeal, a spoon standing up in it, and a piece of flatbread filled with eggs. She handed them to Jeremiah, "The oatmeal looks bad but it is very tasty with spices and honey. Trust me…I won't lie to you." She said with a wink as she turned and went back to get food for herself.

Jeremiah took a hesitant bite and after he managed to get it to dislodge from the roof of his mouth he had to admit that she was right. He came over and sat by the fire as he ate, enjoying the warmth found there as he watched the camp come awake. Mal sat across the fire from him, silent and thoughtful looking for the time being. He enjoyed the early morning silence that came out in the open like this. There were small noises but the overall clamor and chatter of Thunder Mountain or even Millhaven was loud compared to what little there was to hear in this camp.

Kurdy and Mister Smith soon joined him at the fire and each got the same that Jeremiah did. Several of the Indians laughed at the face Kurdy made when he took the first bite of oatmeal and it seemed to stick his mouth together. Jeremiah noticed that Mister Smith seemed preoccupied with staring at Mal. She seemed to notice it but then chose to ignore it as she went back to her camp when she was done eating. The three men decided it was time to find out what the gas would cost them and what they had to trade when Mal finally reappeared, pulling on an old leather duster and hat. "Gonna rain today." She said as she looked up at the clear morning sky.

The three men looked up and blinked at her before trying to ignore that statement. Jeremiah stepped forward with his pack, "So, what can we trade to you for the gas? Anything you need?" he asked.

Mal looked up the hill at their truck and then back at them. She seemed quiet for a minute and then spoke, a serious tone to her voice again. "Take what you need that will get you back to Colorado. Call it a favor to you from me. Never know when some day we or I might need a favor, yes?" she said as she looked at each of them.

Jeremiah blinked, "Surely we have something to trade for the gas or something we can get you."

She shook her head, "I have a dry place to sleep each night, warm blankets for when it gets cold, clothes on my back and food in my belly. I have friends and horses. I consider myself rich. What else do I need?"

Jeremiah looked at Kurdy who raised an eyebrow and shrugged. "Sounds like you pretty much have it covered. Are you sure we can take what gas we need?" he tried to verify one last time.

She nodded, then smiled that interesting smile of hers that wrinkled the lines around her mouth and at the corner of her eyes. She looked about to say something when Mister Smith spoke up, almost in an even voice. "God says to tell you this. You know your way to where you must go. But the road before you will be treacherous and you must be ready to make sacrifices for the common good of all." Mister Smith then blinked as if suddenly aware of what was around him.

Mal was watching him with eyes that were half shaded by her hat, making it hard to truly read them. She was silent for the longest moment and then nodded. "Go in peace and prosperity. May your travels be safe." With that, she turned and headed off at a liesurly pace towards the horse herd and the riders already setting up to help bring in other herds and keep them corralled.

Krudy gave Mister Smith a 'look' and got a shrug in return. Jeremiah turned and headed up the hill to the truck. When they reached the top, they saw the six trucks sitting off to the side near an old ranch house who's roof had fallen in years ago, possibly even before the Big Death. After a quick check, they found five of the six to be filled with gas, most tanks running about half full. They quickly got the draw lines set up and the gas cans were being quickly filled. They only drained two of the five active haulers and then prepared to leave.

Jeremiah went back over to the hill top overlooking the valley. He saw a small herd of horses being driven into the area and in the distance he heard a low rumble that made him look to the south west in time to see a distant strike of lightening and the heavy gray clouds that heralded rainy weather. He sighed and they quickly got in the truck and took off for the last leg of their journey.