fine. Go!”
Sela nodded, and as the women got into her Honda, Ben lifted her into the passenger side of his truck. She was definitely sore from Lawrence’s kicks, her side and thigh deeply bruised. Barb had made a couple of poultices that had helped ease the soreness, but she still felt it.
“The community patrol met this morning,” Ben said as he pulled onto the road.
“I didn’t know. I would’ve been there.”
“You needed your rest,” he grumbled. “We voted on what to do with Jeremy. Tomorrow morning a group of us will escort him a few miles out and see him on his way. He’ll have a couple bottles of water and some food, but from there he’ll be on his own. I voted against the food, but I was overruled.”
“Banishment.”
“Yep.”
“A bullet to the head might have been kinder.” She could not imagine being on her own in this world.
“I brought that up, too.” His voice was grim. “If Darren had died there probably would’ve been more votes for execution, but he’s going to recover.”
Just ahead, Olivia carefully guided Sela’s SUV onto the side road that would take her and her passengers home. She even used her turn signal. She likely wouldn’t see—Sela hoped she was paying attention to the road instead of watching her rearview mirror—but Sela gave her a thumbs-up.
“We’ve also decided to block off all the roads coming into the valley,” Ben continued. “That won’t keep everyone out, but we won’t have anyone driving in once that’s done. And we’re going to set up lookouts.”
She could only imagine a group like Lawrence and his friends with a handful of vehicles, goodness knows how many weapons, and plenty of gas. The damage they could do would be unimaginable. Access to the valley had to be controlled, because their lives could depend on it.
Ben turned onto Covemont Lane and they headed home. Home. She hadn’t moved her things there, not yet, but she had no doubt that whatever they had was important, and permanent, and that his home was now hers.
Maybe it didn’t make much sense, given what had happened in the past few days, but Sela knew she’d be fine. Carol and Olivia would be fine. Josh would come home when he could, and he’d be fine. They couldn’t know what the coming months would bring, but with Ben by her side she could do anything.
She had never felt so strong.
He deftly steered the truck over the big rock, then they crested the steep drive and reached the house. “Stay there,” he said, and came around the truck to lift her out of it.
“I’m okay,” she said mildly. “Sore, but okay.”
“Humor me.”
They went up the steps to the porch, and the spectacular view took her attention. The valley spread out before them. “I should’ve packed a bag,” she said as she walked the porch to the prime spot where Ben had positioned a couple of chairs. They would sit here a lot, she imagined.
“Tomorrow,” Ben said. “I have an extra toothbrush and I promise you won’t need pajamas.”
No, she wouldn’t. “What’s the condom count?”
“Zero.” He didn’t sound concerned.
She sure wasn’t.
The valley below looked so peaceful from this vantage point. It wasn’t, not really, and wouldn’t be for some time. They would have quiet days and days that were not so quiet.
Practical matters intruded on her thoughts. When Carol’s house had been set to rights and she, Olivia, and Barb had moved back into it, Meredith could stay and live in Sela’s house. She might want a roommate, and it wouldn’t be impossible for her to move in with Carol, but it would be crowded. That would be up to the women involved, not her decision at all, but she could certainly offer her house to the new widow. She knew she herself wouldn’t be living there anymore.
Harley’s widow had family in the area, but still, it was only right that others help her out, when and if she needed it. Did she have heat? Plenty of food? Sela had known Harley a lot better than she knew his wife, but now the widow was on her list of responsibilities.
The Livingstons hadn’t been at the funeral. That wasn’t reason for concern, but she did want to check on them. Maybe tomorrow, when she went to her house to collect a few things.
Ben wrapped his arms around her. “What are you planning?” he asked, rubbing his chin against her temple.
“What makes you think I’m planning anything?” She folded her arms over