One By One by Freida McFadden(38)

Warner snorts. “As a teacher. I’m a surgeon, Claire. There’s no comparison.”

My face burns. I know he’s upset about everything that’s happened so far, and we’re all thirsty and hot, but this guy is really showing his true colors right now. Sometimes hardship brings out the worst in people.

“Hey,” Noah says sharply. “Claire works really hard at her job, you know.”

I didn’t expect him to stick up for me. I can’t remember the last time he’s defended me. Usually I’m defending myself against his insults.

“I’m sure.” Warner rolls his eyes. “I’m sure babysitting a bunch of grade-schoolers all day is life and death.”

Noah’s face darkens, and his right hand balls into a fist. I take a step back, worried this conversation isn’t going anywhere good. In all our years of marriage, I’ve never seen Noah throw a punch, and I have no idea if he would ever do something like that. But judging by all those muscles in Warner’s chest, I’m not sure how well Noah would fare if it came down to it.

Fortunately, Jack bursts back out of the trees at that moment. His eyes are bloodshot and puffy. Was he crying just now? Is that why he left us?

“All right.” His voice is shaky. “Let’s go.”

“Jack,” I say gently. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” he snaps at me. “I said let’s get going.”

Apparently, he doesn’t want to talk about it.

We still have a little while before the water is safe to drink, but we decide to get going. And now, of course, it’s back to the same. Jack and Warner (with his shirt thankfully back on) looking at the map, then studying Jack’s compass, then telling us what direction to walk in. I try to keep up with them at first, but then I end up hanging back like before. They walk faster than I do and it’s hard to keep up.

Unfortunately, this means I’m alone with my thoughts. Every time I shut my eyes for a moment, I think of Lindsay’s pale body lying on the ground in the woods. I couldn’t find her again if my life depended on it. I still feel sick that we left her there.

It’s amazing how easy life can come to an end. Just a handful of berries, and that’s it. Done. She’s gone forever.

I could have eaten those berries. I’d be lying in the dirt next to Lindsay if that happened. Noah told me he was glad I didn’t eat the berries, but I can’t imagine him crying if I died yesterday. The kids would care, my parents would care, Penny would care, but Noah? I don’t know.

Well, I can’t let myself think that way. I did survive. I got a second chance at life, and I don’t want to blow it. I realize now what’s important. Getting home and seeing my kids again. That’s all that matters anymore.

I lift my eyes—the men have gotten way ahead of me. My heart jumps in my chest and I quicken my pace. I don’t want to fall too far behind. I don’t want to disappear like Michelle did.

At the end of the hour, we sit down and drink some of the muddy water. It tastes about how you would think it would taste. I gag slightly, but it’s better than the alternative. We eat a bit more of Jack’s beef jerky and some trail mix.

“How much more food do you have?” I ask him.

Jack rifles through his backpack. He looks a lot calmer than he did this morning, like his mini-breakdown never happened. “If we conserve, maybe another day’s worth.”

Another day’s worth. We’ve got to find the inn or at least something in that time, right? “And then what?”

“Well,” Jack says thoughtfully, “there are some plants here that we could safely eat. Also, I could try shooting a rabbit.”

I clutch my chest. “You’re going to kill a bunny?” Killing Thumper would be almost as bad as killing Bambi’s mother.

“Alternatively,” he says, “we could eat bugs.”

I roll my eyes.

“I’m serious!” Jack doesn’t crack a smile—he may really be serious. “There’s nothing wrong with eating bugs. In other countries, people do it all the time. I don’t know why bugs are so taboo in this country.”

I make a face. “Because they’re super disgusting?”

Warner smirks. “I don’t think Claire is going to eat bugs.”

“I can cook them,” Jack says. “That will entirely change the taste. I mean, you wouldn’t eat raw meat. Cooked insects are actually not too bad. I ate them a bunch of times in the scouts.”

I genuinely don’t think he’s teasing me. He think we’re going to be lost long enough that we’re going to have to cook and eat insects.

I don’t understand how we’re still lost. Warner has a map and Jack has a compass. Between the two of them, we should be able to find something. Jack was a freaking Boy Scout, as he has told us a million times before. Why is he unable to follow a simple map?

After the brief rest for sustenance, we get up and start walking again. But this time, Noah hangs back with me.

“Hey,” he says. “Can I talk to you?” He glances up at the guys a few yards ahead of us. “Alone?”

“Okay,” I say.

My heart speeds up. I touch Jack’s sweatshirt, which is tied around my waist now that the sun is high in the sky. Is Noah going to tell me he knows all about me and Jack? I don’t want to have that conversation right now. If he asks me, will I admit it? I don’t know. I don’t want to lie to him, but a revelation like that is going to make the next week very uncomfortable.