WILLOW

People slept however they could, piled together like dogs in a solitary kennel. Eve had fallen asleep on Merle's chest, while Eric lay squished between them and Julia. The only one awake besides me and Croc was Tex, who insisted we not stop until we arrived. I yawned, longing to close my eyes, but I wasn't as prepared to risk waking up in the arms of a stranger. Odds were, I'd end up close to at least one, if not more of the massive men onboard. There was zero space to stretch out without snuggling up to a bear. I rested my arms over the rail and watched moonlight bounce off the waves. Cool air whipped over my face, keeping me from dozing off.

I rested my cheek on my arm and looked at Croc. He'd been fiddling with the keys he'd found for hours, totally lost in thought and a million miles away. I'd known leaving would be hard, but I hadn't expected him to react this strongly. After all, he'd learned so much in such a short amount of time. He'd adapted so easily. But I supposed a person could only take so much.

His thumb rubbed at the keychain, a steady back and forth, removing the thick grime imbedded into the wood. It didn't seem to be doing much good.

"Maybe they'll have something we can soak it in," I whispered.

Croc looked up as if only just realizing my presence. "Like what?"

I shrugged. "I'm not sure. Vinegar or something. You should give it to Julia when we get there. I bet she'd get it looking like new."

He nodded and looked back at the keychain. "There's letters carved into the back, but I can't make out what they spell."

I looked, but I couldn't see anything.

Croc sighed and shoved the keys into his pocket. "It feels so different out here," he murmured, staring out at the endless view.

I followed his gaze. It was different. Hollow. Lifeless. Dangerous. We were like rats emerged from our hiding place, waiting for the hawk to swoop down and snatch us. "It is different," I said. I couldn't lie, no matter how much I wanted to. He had to know the horrible reality, so he could keep himself safe. This wasn't a hungry gator, or a bad storm, or even a small army. "We aren't safe."

He took my hand. "You're safe with me."

I laced our fingers and leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder. No, I wasn't, and neither was he.

***

I drifted to sleep, lulled by the rhythm of the boat, and the steady caress of Croc's fingers over my scalp. When I opened my eyes again, the sun was rising. I sat up.

"Good morning," Croc said.

"Did you sleep at all?"

"I'll sleep when we get settled. Tex says we're almost there."

I took in our surroundings. The cypress trees had morphed, becoming towering pines. Their needles and cones littered the ground and floated in the water by the banks. "Where are we?"

"Tennessee river." Julia stepped into place beside me and extended a bottle of water. "Merle said the camp is right around that bend. Thank God. If I spend one more minute on this cramped boat, my joints are gonna rust."

I grinned, took a deep drink, then passed the bottle to Croc.

I wasn't sure what I expected to find when we set out on our journey. I'd imagined a cluster of tents wedged between thick trees. But when a boat ramp came into view, I realized I'd been wrong. When Merle said Tex had a camp, he meant it literally. It was the type of place families would go for a weekend trip. A gravel road led up a hill and looped around in a circle. Rusted grills marked each campsite, and a large sign full of arrows offered directions. Bathrooms and vending machines to the left. Swimming to the right.

Tex pulled to a stop by the dock, and the men set to work dropping anchor and tying the boat into place.

I stood, my legs aching. Perhaps Julia had a point, because my knees felt like they could use a heavy dose of oil.

A massive bear barreled out of the woods. "Tex! You came back!"

"No way would I run off and leave my favorite pain in the ass!" Tex called back as he hopped down and rushed to meet him halfway.

"Really? You're favorite?" the bear gushed.

Julia scoffed. "Now I've seen every-damn-thing."

More men approached from the camp and set to work unloading the vegetables. Merle and Julia gathered the kids. "C'mon," Julia said, taking my hand and tugging me along. "We need to hurry before Tex forgets he needs to give me a damn bed."

Merle chuckled and hoisted Eric into his arms. "You heard Granny Julia. If we don't hurry up and get her some beauty sleep, things are gonna get real ugly around here."

"Watch yourself," Julia warned.

I smiled and followed along, though, I wasn't sure I had much choice. Croc carried Eve in one arm, holding my shoulder with his free hand.

Tex was already off the boat and hugging the bear's neck by the time we reached the ladder. When he started to walk away, Julia shouted, "Oh no you don't! I want a tent and a bed before you do anything else!"

Tex froze, then turned back, grinning sheepishly. "That's what I was just doing."

Julia grunted. "That's what I thought."

We descended the ladder one by one, passing kids down like cargo until we were all officially on dry land. Merle bumped my shoulder as we followed Julia up the concrete incline. "I love watching her be scary, don't you?"

"So long as it isn't directed at me."

He laughed. "Can't say I blame you there."

Tex led us to the far side of the campground and motioned to two tents as if they were five start resorts. "We had them set up before we left. Best of the best for my favorite lady."

Julia pulled back the flap on one and poked her head inside. Two full-sized mattresses lay side by side on the floor, completely made in mismatched bedding. She nodded then looked in the other, finding a variation of the same set up. It wasn't five star, but it was better than I'd expected.

"Fine, I won't beat you," she said.

Tex winked at Merle. "Well, that's a relief."

Julia walked over and patted his bicep. "Now, show me what food you have and where you cook it."

"Yes, ma'am," Tex said, doing as he'd been told. "Can I stop to pee on the way? Is that allowed?"

"I guess if you have to."

Merle smiled warmly at their backs then focused on Eric. "Speaking of the little boy's room, I've got to pee like a race horse. How about you, little man?"

Eric nodded.

"Me, too," Eve announced.

"How about we just all go," I said. "It'll be good to know where it is."

"Sounds like a plan." Merle led the way to the massive block building. Empty vending machines formed a row between the men's and women's entrances. I took Eve in with me while Croc and Merle disappeared into the other. A row of stalls filled the left side, while sinks and mirrors line the right. Straight ahead, there were four curtainless showers.

A toilet flushed and Julia stepped out of the last stall. "Ain't this nice? Tex said it's all well water. It doesn't get hot, but at least it's clean."

"I've peed in worse places." Like outside, on myself, while a horde of alligators tried to bite my face off.

Eve sprinted to a stall, banging the blue swinging door as she closed herself inside. Tinkling filled the air. "I like it!" she announced, her voice bouncing off the walls.

I rolled my eyes, and Julia laughed.

When she stepped back out, Julia waved her over and had her wash her hands. "I'm hungry," Eve said.

"You are?" Julia asked. "Well, you're just gonna have to come with me then. I bet Tex has all sorts of goodies we can dig into." She looked at me. "I'm gonna take Eric too. Meet you at the tent."

I nodded and went to relieve myself. By the time I was done, they were gone. I washed my hands, staring in the mirror at my worn-out expression. I'd slept fairly good considering. For as rock hard as he felt, Croc made a surprisingly good pillow. The thought of having an actual bed made my body long to lie down. While the pallet on the roof wasn't the worst when it came to comfort, it'd been too long since I had something so luxurious.

I shook my hands dry then stepped out, determined to go enjoy it.

Then I ran into Reggie.

He paused, eyes dancing. "Fancy seeing you here."

"At the bathroom?"

He shrugged. "Don't really matter where; it is always nice to see you."

"The men's room is that way," I said, motioning in the opposite direction.

As if on cue, the men's room door swung open and Croc emerged.

I expected Reggie to back off. To end the conversation and go about his way. But, he didn't. He took one look at Croc, grinned like a gremlin, then started toward him. Face to face, Reggie was larger. At least a foot taller and broad. "Tell me," he said, clasping Croc on the shoulder as he turned to look at me. "Is she as good in bed as I keep imagining?"