Chapter 10: Sisters and Brothers

The Focus glided to a smooth stop in a large grassy clearing beside a distressed wooden barn-like structure. Sarah bent to replace the Reeboks on her feet while Brady exited the vehicle, inhaling deeply through his nose, savouring the fresh air. Brady walked around the rear of the Focus and opened Sarah’s door for her. She finished tying the laces and swung her legs from the car as she gathered her sketchbook. The scents of pine, grass and woodsmoke met her nostrils as she straightened. Brady grasped her hand.

“Nervous?”

She nodded. The butterflies refused to vacate her stomach.

“Don’t worry. Everyone will love you,” Brady said easily. With that, he led her to the front of the barn.

A small gathering of people stood in a semi-circle as they rounded the corner of the structure. Perhaps fifteen folks stood quietly talking and clearly waiting for Brady and Sarah. Most of the circle were women, but there were also three men scattered between. Everyone wore simple blue coveralls and work boots, except a few women in matching jeans, checked shirts and dusty runners. Sarah felt oddly out of place wearing the blue dress, but nobody stared at her attire; most of the women openly eyed her with curiosity, but Sarah detected no hostility in the gazes.

One freckled brunette woman bit her lip and then strode forward. She wore her hair about her shoulders, slightly shorter than Sarah’s unstyled hair, and her lips formed a relaxed smile. The approaching woman wore jeans, not coveralls. Brady smiled as the woman approached.

“Sarah,” Brady said when the brunette arrived, “this is Rebecca. You’ll be bunking with her tonight.”

The unease increased as she processed Brady’s introduction. Perhaps it was presumptuous, but Sarah expected to be bunking with Brady. Apparently, this wasn’t the case.

Sarah began to extend her hand, but the girl smiled large and threw her arms about Sarah before she might protest. Sarah wasn’t much of a hugger, but her mind remained a little foggy and the unaccustomed familiarity seemed folksy, somehow intimate. Rebecca’s body pressed firmly against Sarah. Sarah’s body tingled, even as she stood there rigidly until Rebecca released her. The effervescent tingling in her skin surprised her.

“Welcome to the Shelter,” Rebecca laughed, sensing Sarah’s discomfort. Her laugh was infectious and Sarah found herself smiling despite the butterflies.

Rebecca melted back into the small crowd as they followed her lead. Some of the women hugged her, most simply shook her hand or patted her shoulder; all welcomed her warmly. Rebecca, Keisha, Chloe, Brandy, Stephanie, Laura, Susan, Leslie, Patricia, Linda, Hua, Uma, Winona, John, Ivan, Lawrence, and more.

Sarah had no hope of remembering all the names, but she would learn them as time progressed, assuming that she chose to stay.

Brady stood with John, Ivan and Lawrence, at least half a head taller than the tallest of them. He touched Ivan’s shoulder briefly and then turned and walked back to Sarah.

“Dinner is in an hour,” he said. “We’ll have a campfire tonight, after dinner.” He looked around and spotted Rebecca. He called out to her: “Rebecca?” He gestured her over. “Can you settle Sarah and make sure she gets to supper?”

Rebecca smiled and nodded. “Of course.” She grasped Sarah’s hand and tugged it gently.

“I’ll see you at dinner,” Brady said before returning to the group of men. The remainder of the welcoming committee began to wander away in different directions, some waving to Sarah as they left.

Sarah followed Rebecca across the compound. The trails under her feet were dusty and primitive. Various wooden structures stood haphazardly near the paths. In perhaps a hundred metres, Rebecca stopped in front of a long narrow building with dusty windows. It reminded Sarah of army barracks.