Grace Lost (The Grace Series) Read Free Page B

until two boxes
were filled with canned goods and boxes of crackers and cereal.  Silently,
Boggs left the room while I searched the cabinets for any hidden
treasures.  I found a bag of brown sugar and tucked it into an empty spot
between green beans and canned pork. I wondered to myself if anyone really eats
canned pork. Boggs reentered the kitchen, holding a large blue and white
Coleman ice chest that was familiar to me from camping trips our families had
taken together in years past.  For the first time, it made me think about
my own parents.  I felt guilty for feeling grateful they had died three
years ago.  They wouldn’t have to face the horrors we were now witnessing.
    I looked at Boggs to break my
train of thought.  “Do you want me to fill the cooler?” I asked him.
    He nodded yes in reply. 
“While you do that I’m going to the garage to get the rig ready. If you need
me, if anything happens, I’m just down the hall.”  He picked up one of the
boxes of food and carried it with him.  I opened the freezer first, and
picked through what I thought might benefit us the most.  I tossed in four
packages of frozen bratwurst, and all the ice that was in the bin.  I
figured we could eat the brats cold since they were
pre cooked.  I left the popsicles and ice cream, already melting, behind.
Boggs must have been eating well while his folks were out of town because
pickings were slim.  The refrigerator wasn’t much better, but I found a
tub of margarine, nine eggs, some Swiss cheese slices, a head of lettuce, three
onions, and cranberry juice.  There was a twelve-pack of Coors Light tucked into the bottom crisper drawer, and I topped
the cooler off with eight and secured the lid.  I set three more on the
counter and popped the tab on the last remaining can.  I drank from it,
only stopping once to breathe.  The feel of the cold beverage in my
stomach made it grumble loudly in protest from not eating.  I decided to
get the mint chocolate chip out, and a spoon. I sat at the kitchen table,
spooning the melting treat into my mouth.  Boggs walked back in and
cracked a small smile.
    “I have gear packed. Sleeping bags and a two man tent.   We can add the
cooler and rest of the food last. Can I have some?”  He gestured toward
the ice cream.
    “Ya, it’s melting.  Grab a
spoon.” 
    Boggs took the spoon out of my
hand, something that was like him to do. He grinned and shoved a scoop of green
into his mouth.  “Thanks.”
    Usually I’d smack his arm and
smile, but not today.  We finished the partial container of ice cream in
silence, taking turns with the spoon.  I set the empty carton and the
spoon in the sink.  Boggs had popped open his own beer and was nursing
it.  Things had quieted a bit outside, but we still heard the occasional
moan and growl.  I sighed a bit louder than I meant to, and walked back to
the window. 
    “Where will we go?” I asked.
    “I think we should head
south.  Then take Highway 2 east toward the mountains.  I guess it
depends on what we can find out about what the hell is happening.”
    “I guess we should head out then, huh?”
I said, trying to sound brave.  The thought of leaving the house was
scaring the daylights out of me.  I turned back from the window to face
the inevitable.  “What else do we need?”
    “We need to fill some bottles with
water.  I’ll do that.  Can you run upstairs and grab some towels and
toilet paper?”  He looked at me a bit quizzically, not sure if it seemed
prudent or not.
    “Good idea.” 
    “I haven’t pulled the shades up
there. Keep away from the windows, ok?”
    “Kay.” 
    “And Zoe…”
    I looked back at him.  “Hmm?”
    “Hurry?   I want to get out of here.”
    “I will.”
    I redid my messy ponytail, and
quickly ascended the last short staircase in the tri-level home.  Once at
the top, I made my way down a short hallway toward the bathroom that sat at the
back of the house.  It had a small window