Nothing there. Just the empty dirt clearing and—
"Sadie! Sadie, get back here!"
A golden retriever bounds into view, racing toward the distant RV where someone stands in the doorway, waving.
I exhale a laugh that sounds more like a gasp. See? Dog. Just a dog. Totally normal. Totally fine.
Paranoia's getting to me. This skin-crawling feeling makes everything seem like some monumental problem instead of just some random neighbor's dog coming around to sniff the new arrival.
Caine watches me carefully but doesn't comment. After a long moment, he says, "I need to make a supply run, but it's at least a fifteen minute drive to town. I'll be gone about an hour."
"You're leaving?" My voice pitches higher than I intended.
"There's no indication we were followed." His tone is calm and measured as he explains, "We need water and fuel. I won't be long."
