The pallet began to descend and Katie sobbed with relief.
"Katie! Katie! Katie!" Jenni's voice wafted up to her.
Suddenly hands were all over her and for a moment, she had one of Travis' waking nightmares, and she thought they had her. But when Travis let go of her, she fell into Juan's arms. Jenni was next to him, tears on her cheeks, and she grabbed Katie's bruised hands.
"You made it!"
Katie felt wet tears flowing down her own face as she nodded and pulled Jenni into a tight hug. Jason threw his arms around both of them in a tight hug and Jack, at her heels, barked for attention.
Katie kissed both Jenni and Jason on the cheek firmly then hugged them both to her again. It felt delicious to be alive and with them once more.
Travis swooped down and hugged them all at once in a big bear hug.
Jenni threw her arms around his neck and kissed him.
"You saved Katie!" Her expression was one of absolute joy.
Travis shook his head. "Nah, she saved herself. She had such a tight hold of me, I think she broke my wrist. "
Jason didn't smile at Travis, but he hugged Katie again and whispered,
"I'm so glad you're back.
Katie grinned at him and kissed his cheek again. She was amused when he blushed.
Juan walked up to them and looked toward the pallet. "Okay, I gotta ask.
Did anyone get any smokes?"
There was a pause before Katie burst into laughter. She felt overwhelmed with emotions. Happiness, sadness, fear, relief, remorse, guilt all mingled together. But she let her relief override all of them and she flung her arms around Juan and kissed his cheek.
"What? What? Why are all of you women crazy? I just want my smokes,"
Juan protested.
Travis just shook his head, his arm slung around Jenni's shoulders. "One track mind…one track mind. "
Katie slung her arm around Travis' waist and gave him a sideways hug.
"Thanks, by the way. "
Travis kissed the top of her head. "Sorry, but I'm not going to let you die. "
"Good," Jenni said happily and grabbed Katie's hand.
"Seriously," Juan said again. "Did anyone grab some smokes?"
2. Dead of Night
Night finally descended, pushing back the heat, and letting the cool evening breeze waft into the fort. It would have been even more welcomed if it hadn't brought the stench of the dead in with it.
Travis stood out in the middle of the construction site, drinking a soda, and surveying the property with Juan. Juan had done a good job of getting it a bit more organized, even creating one corner specifically as a living area.
The lunch wagon, two portable office buildings, and a variety of chairs and tables had been arranged on what remained of the old building's foundation.
Blue tarps were made into makeshift tents. Everything that could be useful had been organized in another area. Building materials, tools, machinery, anything at all that could be used to defend the fort was neatly organized in another corner. It was all about imagination and making do at this point.
Travis had been damn impressed with the spiked perimeter. He had never thought of breaking down the wrought iron fence for something like that.