Read The Grace Series (Book 2): Tainted Grace for Free Online

felt odd having strangers in the cabin, especially since we knew danger lurked nearby and we weren’t entirely sure these men were not responsible.  My gut told me they were ok, and in need of our help in some way.
    Boggs had come back inside first, leaving Susan and the new man alone.  I asked him if he thought that was smart, leaving her alone with him, somehow feeling protective of Susan.  He assured me she was a big girl and just fine.  Finally I heard Susan and Nathan join us back inside the cabin.  I began working on a meager but hot meal in the kitchen to welcome the two strangers. I set water to boil for pasta that we had salvaged from a bed and breakfast that was closed for the season.  I decided on macaroni.  I also set a pot of water for tea.  I could hear Susan in the background showing Nathan the basics of the cabin. She was showing him to the shower so he could clean up before dinner. As I was at the stove watching for the water to boil, I felt Boggs slip his arms around me. I smiled to myself.  He brushed my hair to one side and nestled his nose against my neck lightly.  I cringed at the coldness of his skin.
    “You’re freezing!” I startled, my voice high-pitched with surprise.
    “It’s gotten so cold out, Zo.  I’m hoping spring comes along soon.”
    “Hungry?” I asked.
    “ Very,” he moaned. “The venison’s going to be awesome once it’s ready.”
    “Mmm.   I can’t wait,” I said.  “I just wish we had fresh veggies to go with it.”
    “Someday we can plant a garden,” I heard Gus add from the back of the room.  “Bill, this is our kitchen.  Zoe, whatcha makin’ Darlin’?”
    “Pasta, tea, smoked fish, and I thought we’d splurge and have the last couple of cans of peaches for dessert.  To celebrate new friend s,” I added.  I turned away from the stove and smiled to myself. Nathan and Bill were both standing near Gus at the back of the kitchen.  They had shined up nicely after their showers, but both still wore their beards. Nathan had also changed into clothes we had on hand. 
    “We have a few things in our packs we’d be happy to add to the meal,” said Bill with a wide grin.  His teeth were bright white, seemingly more so against the darkness of his skin. He was one of the darkest black men I think I’d ever seen.  His skin was pretty, if you can call a man’s skin ‘pretty.’ “We dug up some potatoes and carrots from an old garden, and we have eggs.”
    “Eggs?” Emilie squeaked with delight.  “Where’d you get eggs?”
    Nathan chuckled.  “We gathered them from the lakeshore.  I just wish we could have snatched the duck that laid them too.”
    The tension that had been palpable upon the arrival of the strangers was beginning to dissipate.
    “Uh, what if they have baby ducks in them?” I asked, horrified at the thought.
    “You know, Zoe, balut is a delicacy in the Philippines,” added Gus.  “I tried it once when I was overseas.”
    “What’s balut?” asked Susan hesitantly.
    Gus chuckled quietly.  “Uh… hard-boiled duckling.  They cook the eggs once the duck fetus is eighteen days old.  It’s supposed to be an aphrodisiac.”  He waggled his eyebrows at Em.
    I tried to not gag at the thought. 
    “Yuck,” said Emilie, wrinkling her freckle-splattered nose.
    “Let’s not ruin their appetite,” said Boggs. 
    Gus yawned and stretched.  “Sorry,” he mumbled and followed with a sly smile.
    “Why don’t you men sit and I’ll bring tea over,” I suggested.  “Dinner won’t be much longer.”
    “Zoe, want some help?” asked Emilie. 
    “Sure, thanks Em.  You can add some macaroni to the pot once it boils.”
    “Do we have anything to add to it?” she asked.
    “Stewed tomatoes.   There’s a jar in the cabinet above the sink.  My mom used to make it like that.  Sounds kind of gross, but it’s not bad.”
    “Hmm,” she said.  “Ok.”
    “I’ll grab what we have on hand,” said Nathan.