Love in the Time of the Dead by Tera Shanley Read Free Book Online

long gray hair and laughing blue eyes that looked like they would crinkle in the corners when she was amused.
    “I’m Mona,” the woman said. She handed Laney a pair of cotton pants and an old, comfortable shirt. “I’ll have your other clothes washed and dried before your quarantine is over,” she promised. She turned to leave, but paused. “What’s your name?”
    Laney hesitated. Reactions to revealing who she was always varied, and she wanted Mona to like her.
    The woman smiled knowingly. “I already know who you are, dear. I just want you to confirm it.”
    She sighed. “Laney. Laney Landry.”
    “Nice to finally meet you, Laney.”
    Doc offered her a cot, and she fell asleep almost immediately, only barely able to resist the urge to zombie moan at her guards who scowled at her as she made herself comfortable. She wouldn’t miss them when her quarantine was over.
    Just as Mona promised, she came through with the newly laundered clothing, along with the news that Laney could leave the medical building, on grounds that she hadn’t tried to eat anyone as of yet. “You have to keep one of your guards, though,” Mona informed her as she scurried to get redressed.
    Laney grumbled but conceded. Every leader was different and every colony followed different rules. Apparently rule number one for Denver was don’t trust outsiders as far as you can throw them. And when one gets the chance…throw them.
    “Can I at least pick who I get?”
    “I don’t see why not,” Mona said, smiling.
    Laney squinted her eyes and treated her pick every bit like the beginnings of a terrible schoolyard kickball team.
    “I’ll take Chuckles over there.” She pointed to the stone-faced man who hadn’t said a word.
    “Thank God,” the other guard said and left without preamble.
    Laney glared after him in annoyance.
    “I think it’s time you met our fearless leader properly,” Mona said, opening the door for her.
    “Fantastic. I can’t wait,” Laney said sarcastically. She squinted into the bright sunlight. Damn, she wished she could have slept awhile longer. The exhaustion still pulled heavily at her injured and sleep-deprived body. She was so hungry that her stomach had finally given up on being fed, and now felt queasy instead of famished. If she knew her team, though, they were already trading and working for food and supplies for their next run. They always refilled quickly in case they needed to bolt. She just had to find one of them and mooch a meal.
    “Come on, then,” Mona said, no doubt seeing the look of escape on Laney’s face. “He doesn’t want to meet with you, so we will have to be clever about it.”
    “Great!” Laney said. “Neither one of us wants to meet, so let’s just not.”
    Mona gave her a patient look. “I think it’s important you two talk.”
    Laney bit her lip and held her tongue. She had a feeling Mona might be nice about it, but in the end this woman would still get what she wanted. Laney recognized a stubborn streak when she saw one.
    She followed Mona down a gravel path between buildings. People were gathered in small groups, talking and throwing unhappy looks in her direction. Laney sped to catch up to the fast-paced older woman. She wouldn’t be much good in a fight, but one warning glance from Mona was keeping the lynch mob at bay.
    They came to a tall, stone-bricked building in the middle of the colony, and Mona stopped so abruptly that Laney ran into her. “Sorry,” she murmured.
    Mona glanced at her with a hint of worry overshadowing her bravado. “Do try to act normal, dear.”
    “Oh, you mean like—” Laney waved her arms slowly in front of her and moaned “— braaaaaaaains. ”
    Mona stifled a giggle and swatted her hands down. “Do that in here and you’ll likely get yourself shot. Again.”
    “Right. Best behavior. Got it.”
    Mona arched an eyebrow skeptically but turned to nod at the guards posted on either side of a thick wooden door. “She’s with me.