Outbreak: Brave New World Read Online Free PDF Page B

heat of the rounds being fired.
    “I’m gonna catch a fish!” Paul announced with a big grin. The boy paused and looked at the damp cheeks of the two women and frowned a little bit. He went over and pressed his cheek against Frannie’s bicep, his little hands wrapping around her fingers as he looked up at her with big puppy dog eyes. The boy tugged on her arm, trying to pull her to her feet. “Come fishin’ with us, Frannie!”
    Frannie laughed and looked at the boy’s mother. “Maybe a little later, buddy.” she said as she gave him a hug and kissed the top of Paul’s head. “Catch a big one, little man.” Jessica and Frannie smiled as the others started herding the children across the deck. Laura looked over her shoulder at Frannie and made a face like she was going to say something but decided against it.
    Jessica and Frannie exchanged amused little glances as Lacey , Carl and George helped the others across the gap between the deck and the cement landing and the stairs that went down to the lake. “That little boy’s got a crush on you.” Jessie said with a smirk. She sipped her coffee and glanced at the young woman sitting next to her.
    Frannie smirked and nodded in agreement. “I think Carl does too.” she said quietly as her fingers climbed up the craggy side of her throat. Rodriguez scratched the scars on her cheek then looked at the planks between her feet and sighed, making a conscious effort to stop.
    “You noticed t oo, huh?” Jessica said and smiled as she finished her coffee. The older woman smiled uneasily. “Listen… We don’t know each other, so…”
    Frannie snorted and furrowed her brow. “Oh, God. No! He’s like half my age!” she exclaimed. Jessica noticed an offended expression coming across the younger woman’s face before she could hide it. Rodriguez rolled her eyes and turned her attention to the others down by the water. “And now I feel old all of a sudden…” she mumbled and shook her head. Frannie found herself wishing that Amy would come out or her mother would go inside so this woman would leave her the hell alone.
    Amy folded her arms across her chest and sighed. Her feet already felt better but they still looked kind of nasty, like uncooked sausages on the ends of her legs. She frowned and glanced at the cup of coffee resting on the end table behind her head. Frays glanced at her watch and furrowed her brow. Not even two hours in and I’m already bored out of my skull! the young woman thought with a little bit of irony. She could not help but think about the teacher’s lounge at the school where they had holed up, which in turn led her thoughts back their trip to Fort Devins and clammy grasping hands snapping teeth and oh God the stench… Frays blinked then shook from head to toe and forced herself to focus her attention on the two people sitting on the other side of the glass doors.
    Rodriguez a nd Mom were talking on the deck. The two of them seemed to get along pretty well. The Laceys were with Dad and Carl down by the dock, probably having fun trying to catch a fish or three for dinner. She wrapped her arms around herself, aware of the fact that this was the closest she had been to being alone in almost a month. It felt…kind of strange, really.
    For a brief moment the desire for a cigarette flared up so bad that she could almost taste that sweet, sweet nicotine. Frays’ eyes flitted towards Rodriguez’s Kevlar on the floor next to the blue recliner across the room and, more importantly, the half empty pack of Marlboros stuck in the elastic band around the outside of the helmet. Amy grumbled under her breath and jammed her hands into her armpits, her frown deepening into a full on scowl.
    The door slid open and Jessica came inside. The two of them looked at each other for a minute before Jessie smiled awkwardly. “How are you, Amy?” she asked and sank into the rocking chair next to the couch. “ Feeling okay?”
    Amy sighed and rolled her eyes.