fifteen

So over the next couple of days while Romero and Sana helped them look after their daughter, Hummingbird, Raven and Windsong taught Romero and Sana a few things. The first thing Romero wanted to learn was how to tan and soften animal skins. He had a few rabbit skins from hunting for Sana. Raven and Windsong were impressed with how quickly both Sana and Romero learned. Romero especially rarely needed to be told or shown something twice. Sana had some questions for Windsong regarding how to deal with her cycle out here. It wasn't a current issue, but it would be a future concern. Then Romero wanted to know how to make a bow and arrows. The guns were tucked under their mattress in case of emergency.

Romero showed Raven his spear. Raven had been impressed that Romero had been able to hunt and fish very effectively with the spear. Raven asked how Sana and Romero got out here since he didn't see a vehicle. Romero explained that their vehicle had died and that they'd had to walk the rest of the way. He left out the part about they were being pursued by soldiers out in the desert and that the vehicle hadn't belonged to them. Romero didn't wish to tell a direct lie. Plus, then he had to explain to Sana how he explained it and he didn't want her to have to tell a direct lie either. And he didn't care if there wasn't a document that said Sana was his wife. As far as he was concerned, she was his wife just like Windsong was Raven's wife.

On the Blackbird family's third day there, Romero informed Hummingbird's parents, "She's doing fine. There is absolutely no sign of infection. She's alert and trying to do things for herself. She may still need help dressing and stuff, just don't let her play hard for another week. The stitches should be falling out by then."

"So we can return to our cabin," asked Windsong.

"Sure," said Romero, "I know you're anxious to get back to your regular lives. But we're here if anybody needs us. Or just drop by and say hi. It's good to see friendly faces once in a while."

"We'll check on you," Raven told Romero and Sana. Romero and Sana watched the Blackbird family pack up and depart quite quickly and efficiently. They waved as the Blackbird's disappeared into the forest. Then it was just Romero and Sana, they had been there a week and there was no sign that anyone knew they were there other than the natives that lived in the area.

"I still think we should ask them about Naomi and Eugene," Sana told Romero, "They have family out here somewhere worried about them."

"I know," Romero sighed. "We'll ask if they come back for a visit. I was just afraid of what types of questions it might bring up. I don't want to lie to them, but I don't want to give them too much information either. We don't know how much contact they have with the modern world. There's a school that's open for their children in the spring and the fall."

"I know," responded Sana, "And Windsong mentioned a woman that trades with them. They trade handmade baskets and blankets for jeans, solar powered portable lights and food items that can't be gathered or grown here like rice."

"I'm sure that just like your parents are looking for you, the military is looking for us," Romero told Sana. "They're probably expecting to find our bodies in the desert. But when they don't find our bodies in the desert, they may widen their search. By the way, have you heard anything from your parents," asked Romero. "I know you've checked a couple of times a day."

"Oh, I just upset them," Sana shared a bit distressed. "My mother responded and she wants to know who I am... She's begging, that if I know something, to tell her... I can't tell her it's me. I can't tell her where I am. I'm not even sure of exactly where we are besides west of the Mojave Desert." Then she sobbed, "I can't even tell her she's going to be a grandma."

Romero hugged her, "You'll figure out what to say to your mother to assure her and make her feel better. As for Naomi and Eugene, we'll ask if they knew them next time we see them. We'll just tell them that we weren't the couple that was originally supposed to be here, which is true. So, we find ourselves here on short notice which is why we're so unprepared, which is also technically true."

He held her as she sobbed. When she seemed to be finished crying, he asked her, "Do you feel any better?"

Sana nodded, "I'm fine. I'm just going to sit down at this desk and figure out what to say to my mother."

Romero got her a glass of water. Then he went out to check the shed. He leaned the jeep hood against it the day they arrived, but hadn't had a chance to check it out. They were organizing the home the first couple of days. Then they heard the little girls screaming, and had spent the next three days making sure Hummingbird was recovering properly. It had been Romero's first contact with people that had nothing to do with the mall and he had been very worried that he would do or say something wrong or odd.

But Sana was kind, loving and patient. When he did or said something people didn't normally say or do or did it or said it in an unusual manner, she always found it humorous, not annoying or strange. And she always took the time to explain to him how he should of said it or did it so he didn't make other people uncomfortable or seem strange to them. Everything wonderful in his life revolved around Sana. He loved her so much there just weren't words enough to express it.

It bothered Romero that he really didn't know what Sana should say to her mother. He felt the only thing he could do for her was give her some privacy so she could think. He'ld keep himself busy outside for a little while. The shed was about the size of a one and a half car garage, a little large for just a shed. He opened the door and stepped inside. There were two horse stalls on the back wall. Two saddles and bridles were hanging on the wall by the door. There were some bales of hay stacked in a corner. A few field mice made a run for it. He grabbed the jeep hood, carried it inside and leaned it against a wall. There were a few storage totes stacked by the hay bales. He opened one and found it full of various types of seeds: grape, tomato, romaine lettuce, carrots, corn, celery, zucchini, yellow squash, and pumpkin. Eugene and Naomi were obviously planning a garden. There was a bag of fertilizer leaning against a wall.

Romero opened another tote and found oats obviously meant for the horses Eugene set free. And oats were in the last couple of totes. There would be plenty of grass in the summer. So he guessed the oats were for the winter. And the totes kept the mice out of the oats. He looked into the stalls and the ground was covered with a little straw and there was one old pile of manure in each stall. There was a wheel barrel, a shovel and pitch fork. Those seemed like good enough tools for cleaning out the stalls to him.

Sana stared at the message from her mother. She remembered her mother's voice clearly and could hear her pleading. Plus, she had viewed some of the news footage and had seen how upset her parents were. She wanted to ease her parents' minds, not upset them further.

Sana finally began typing:

"I'm so sorry. I did not mean to upset you. I only wanted to ease your minds. I am so far away from my parents and brother. I miss them so much, and I'm unable to communicate with them properly. They don't know where I am and I am unsure of my exact location. I just don't want them to worry about me, but I know they are. I want to tell them I am alive and well, but I can't. I want them to know, that except for missing them terribly, I am doing very well. I'm pregnant with their first grandchild and have no way to tell them. But my mother always told me I was strong enough to handle anything life threw at me, that God was always watching me. God is watching. He has kept me safe. And you are strong enough to handle anything life throws at you. Remember who you raised and how you raised her, because I am sure it has served her well. Razor-Ray"

Sana hoped that helped her parents and didn't upset them further. She sent the message, sat back in the chair and sighed. She hated knowing that her parents were worried about her. And she knew Carson in his own way was worried about her too. She was sure he was waiting for her every other Friday for his weekend visit with her. And she was certainly worried about them.

Then a request to chat popped onto the screen from her mother. Sana wasn't sure she should accept the request. But she wanted to talk with her parents so badly.

Sana accepted the request. The first thing that popped up for Sana was a question: "Who is this?"

Sana replied: "I'm sorry. I cannot divulge that information."

"Why not?"

"Safety concerns," answered Sana.

"Safety concerns? What kind of safety concerns?"

"To keep myself, my husband and our unborn child safe, I cannot divulge that information," answered Sana.

"Why do you call yourself Razor-Ray?"

"That's what my family called me when I was a little girl. Because my daddy said I was sharp."

"Sana Ray? Is that you?"

Sana shut the notebook off and shut it. She folded her arms on it, put her head down and cried. She wanted to say, "Yes, it's me, I'm fine," but she knew she shouldn't. She shouldn't have accepted the request to chat. She was tired more emotionally than physically, but went back to the family room and lay down on the couch.

When Romero stepped back inside, he noticed the notebook was shut. He found Sana sleeping on the sofa in the family room. It was the right time of day for her to have a nap. He was careful not to wake her as he leaned over and kissed her cheek. Sana murmured in her sleep, "I love you," and he whispered back, "I love you too."

He knew what they were having for dinner. He had gone hunting early that morning with Raven and his sons. He opened the notebook, turned it on and saw that Sana had been talking with her parents. He wasn't sure that was a good idea, but he wasn't upset about it.

A request to chat marked urgent from her mother popped onto the screen, Romero doubted it was truly urgent, but he accepted the request.

"Sana? Is that you?"

"I'm sorry," Romero typed, "Razor-Ray is unavailable."

"Who is this?"

"This is her husband."

"Where is Razor-Ray?"

"Taking a nap, pregnant women need their rest."

"How many months pregnant is she?"

"About five and a half."

"How did you meet her?"

"In the mall."

"Which mall? Where?"

"A mall in the desert."

"Is she happy?"

"She misses her family, her friends and her job, but she is happy and healthy. She is very much looking forward to being a mother."

"What happened? Why doesn't she come home?"

"She can't. We are safe for now. But we should not communicate this way. Your communications may be being monitored. She only wished for you to know she is well. But communicating this way could endanger her. Good-bye."

Romero hated to cut them off like that. But the military could be monitoring her parents' communications. Plus, he needed to start dinner.