An Unyielding Desire (After The End Book 2) Read Free

stood up. “The lieutenant—I mean Shane—has called a meeting of our group with your father in a few minutes, to figure out the logistics of us all staying here.”
    “It’s nice to have more people.” She gave him a quick smile and a wave, suddenly having the urge to flee before she blurted out something embarrassing, like admitting she was glad to see some men around the place, even if none of them ever had a smidgeon of interest in her.
    In the house, she went straight to the pantry, pulling out the salvaged cardboard containers they used to store the eggs. Even in the heat, they would be well preserved in the cool, dark pantry for at least a month.
    “Are you okay?” asked Janie, who was tidying the kitchen. “You’re flushed.”
    “It’s hot out there,” she mumbled, rotating the newest eggs to the back of the stacks. A few deep breaths helped get rid of the jittery feeling that had invaded her, and she hoped she looked close to normal when she turned to face her mom. “I’m not looking forward to weeding today.” It was a tedious job in a backyard garden, but practically overwhelming on a working farm, especially with only seven adults available to help. “I sure hope some of those Army guys step up and volunteer to help.”
    Janie’s expression firmed. “Volunteer, my fanny, Mina. Your father is going to insist they all carry their weight around here. We’re glad to have extra hands, and more defense, but only if everyone involved is worth the extra expenditure of food.”
    She nodded, pained to hear her mom speaking so pragmatically. Once upon a time, her mother was the type who would have taken in anyone in need. A couple of times of being burned by the wrong people in the days following The End had left them all a lot more wary and cynical about providing a helping hand.
    There was one lone pancake left, and she rolled it up, taking a large bite before saying, “I’d better get to it. The weeds won’t pull themselves.”
    “Don’t talk with your mouth full, girl. You were raised better than that.” Janie waved her away, but with a smile to soften the rebuke.
    She finished stuffing the pancake in her mouth before joining her brother and sisters already in the field. Lia wasn’t present this morning, but she wasn’t annoyed. Most days, her sister strapped Ty on her back and was there alongside everyone else doing whatever work needed to be done. Mina supposed if her husband had come home after being missing for thirteen months, she’d want a day with him to herself too, and she didn’t begrudge her sister the privilege.
    She had to admit her heart ached with the concept of having a husband, or at least someone important in her life, almost as much as her lower back and fingers hurt after an hour of pulling weeds. A few months shy of nineteen, she should have been dating a host of boys in college and getting ready for the next phase in her life. As she’d given up on those dreams, one by one, Mina found herself searching for new dreams and new ways to make this new version of life enjoyable. Inevitably, she’d found herself drawn to the idea of a partner. Not just someone to share her body with, but her fears, doubts, happiness, and burdens too.
    Of course, the body sharing part was of particular interest. She was still a healthy young woman with the normal urges. Unfortunately, the choices were slim these days, with her world mainly consisting of her family and the very occasional passing stranger her parents allowed to stay for a night or two. None of them had been men anywhere close to her own age, and a couple had made her downright nervous. They were always denied the option of staying around, even for a meal, as though her father had a good sense of who was dangerous and who wasn’t , with the notable exception of a couple of thieves who had stolen from them in the beginning of the turmoil. Maybe that sense came from having four daughters and being an overprotective daddy.
    She