Life After The Undead (Book 2): Death to the Undead (33 page)

Pam
was
at one
of the
rings,
setting
a
coffee
pot in
the
coals.
She
nodded
as
I
approached. “How’d
you
sleep?”

I
massaged
my
sore
shoulder
and
pulled
my
head
to
one
side,
an
attempt
to
stretch
the
muscles.
“Not
good.
I
don’t think
my
shoulder is
ever
going
to stop
hurting.”

“Oh,
sure
it will.
You’ve
got
to
give
it
time.”
She
signaled
for
me to
come
closer.
“Let’s
have
a
look
at
it.”

I
sat next to
her
and
slid the
sling
strap
over
my
head.

My
arm
felt
weak
and
exposed,
as
if
I
removed its only
protective
layer.
Sharp
pains zipped
through
my
back
as
I
attempted
to
remove
my
shirt.
Pam
helped,
but it
was
still
excruciating.
She
ran
her
fingers
over
my
skin.
It
felt
like
static
electricity. Sparks
of
pain
shot across
my
shoulder. Instinctively,
I
moved
away.

“You’ve
still
got
some
swelling
back
here.
I
would
tell
you
the
best
course
of
action
is to stay
at
camp
and
rest,
but
I’m
sure
I
would
just be
wasting
my
breath.”

I
attempted
to pull
my
shirt
back
on.
“Yes,
you
would. You know
I
can’t just sit
around.”

Pam
clicked
her
tongue. “Well,
at
least
put
an
ice
pack
on it while
you
eat
breakfast. I’ll
get
you
one.”
She
stood.

“Hey,
Pam,”
I
called
after
her.
She
turned to look
at
me.
“Where’s
Tanya?
I
thought
I
told
you
to keep
an
eye
on her?”

“Why?
What’s wrong
with
Tanya?”
A
voice
asked
behind
me.

I
didn’t have
to
turn
to know it
was
Quinn. Dang it!
That
was
the last thing
I
wanted
him to
hear.
I
scrambled
for
an
excuse.

“She’s
just
been
having
a
hard
time
adjusting,”
Pam
spoke. “Krista
wanted
me
to
make
sure
she’s
all
right.”

I
mouthed
a
thank
you
to
her.
Quinn
sat
down next
to
me.

“Oh.
I’m
sure
she’ll
be
fine.”
He
picked up a
stick
and
stirred
the
fire.

“I’ll
go
grab
an
ice
pack.”
Pam
pointed
over
her
shoulder,
then
left.

“How
are
you
doing
this morning?”
Concern
laced
his
voice.

I
winced. “I’m
all
right.
I
just wish
my
stupid
shoulder
would
heal.”

He
wrapped
his
arm
around me
and
pulled
me close
to him. I
snuggled
into his
chest.

“It’ll
heal
in time.
You
know, Pam
was
right.
You
really
should stay
here
and
rest.”

I
pushed
myself
up so
I
looked into his
eyes. “I’m
not
staying
in
camp.”

Quinn
chuckled.
“I
am
well
aware
of
that. But
if
you
won’t
rest,
then
you
can’t
complain
about
the
pain.”
He
raised
his
eyebrows.

I
rolled
my
eyes
and
settled
back
against
his
body.
“Fine.
I
won’t
complain
about
the
pain.”

Pam
returned
with the
ice
pack
and
an
Ace
bandage
and
strapped
the
pack
to
my
shoulder.
It
was
uncomfortable,
but the
coldness did
take
away
some of
the
pain.
Quinn
opened
a
can
of salmon
and
heated it
over
the
fire.
The
salty
aroma
of
fish
filled the
air,
and
my
stomach
growled.
When it
was
heated
through, he
handed
me a
plate
filled
with pink
meat
and
crackers.
I
greedily
scooped
the
food into
my
mouth.

Tanya
showed
up
when
I
was
half
way
through
my
breakfast.
I
stared
at
her
as
she
sat
across
from
me,
my
eyes
narrowed.
I
hoped
my
brain
waves
penetrated
her
mind
and
she
would
remember
our
conversation
from
the
night
before.
The
last thing I
needed
was
for
her
to say
something
to Quinn. He
handed
her
a
plate
without
saying
a
word.
She
picked
at
it
delicately,
her
eyes
flicking
from me
to Quinn. I
knew she
wanted to
say
something.
I
really
hoped she
didn’t.

We
finished eating,
and
Pam
removed
the
ice
pack
from
my
back
and
helped
me
back
into
my
sling.
My
arm
felt
better,
the
pain
subsided. I
knew
it wasn’t
going
to
last,
though.
I
knew once
I
stood up
and
walked
through
the
cave,
the
irritation
would
return. Maybe Pam
and
Quinn
were
right.
Maybe
I
should stay
in
camp.
I
was tired,
and
I
needed
a
nap. But
I
knew
I
wouldn’t
sleep. I
knew
I
would
lay
awake,
wondering
what
Quinn
was
doing,
hoping
he
was
safe.
The
pain
was
intolerable,
yeah,
but it
wasn’t
as
overbearing as
worrying
about
Quinn. I
had to
go
with him. I
had
to know
he
was
safe.
I
couldn’t
stand
to lose
him.
He
was
all
I
had
left.

Quinn stood
and
stretched.
“I
guess
we’d
better
head
out. I
want to take
care
of
this in the
daylight.”