red hill - jamie mcguire

and sneaking around to spend time with Joey after dark.
Just as I could barely stand to look at myself, Scarlet could barely stand to look at the hill another
day. The sight of it made her angry, and she began spending more and more time watching the same
spot for signs of her children. Her moods shifted in an instant, and after a while, even Nathan’s level
head and smooth voice couldn’t keep her calm.
She quit allowing him to wait with her, but he would wait on the arm of the couch, right next to the
door, in case she would break down into tears, and occasionally she did.
After three weeks of watching Scarlet wait, I watched her walk in and grab her rifle and a
backpack, filling it with ammo.
Nathan stood from his perch on the couch. “Scarlet”
She shoved a few more boxes into the pack, a bag of chips, two bottles of water, and then zipped it
up. “I just saw another ted heading south in the field.”
“What are you going to do, chase it down I thought we agreed that was an unnecessary risk.”
Scarlet slid the pack over her shoulders, and then grabbed a hatchet from behind the front door.
“My girls are out there, Nathan.”
“Yes, but you don’t know why they’re not here yet, or when they’ll show up.”
“Maybe they can’t get here. Maybe they’re alone and are too scared to pass Shallot. I can’t just sit
here anymore.”
Nathan sighed. “Okay. I understand that you’re frustrated, but we need to talk about this.”
Scarlet frowned. “What is there to talk about I’m going.”
“Okay, you’re going, but we can’t talk about it first Get a plan together”
Scarlet shrugged. “Walk the roads and shoot teds. What other plan do I need”
“It’s not safe to go alone.”
Scarlet shook her head and reached for the door. “I’m not going to be responsible if something
happens to you, Nathan. You have a daughter to take care of.”
“You have two.”
Scarlet looked around to the rest of us. “Will someone please tell Nathan this is a bad idea”
“I’m going with you,” Elleny said quietly.
Scarlet smiled and touched her cheek. “I need you to stay here where it’s safe. I can’t concentrate
if I’m watching out for you, too. Got it”
Elleny clearly didn’t like it, but she nodded.
Joey stood up. “I’m going, too.”
Scarlet held out her palm. “Now him I’ll take. You,” she said, pointing her palm at Nathan, “are
staying here.”
“Don’t make me do this,” Nathan said. He took the few steps to stand next to her, touched his
fingers to her arm, and spoke with subdued desperation in her ear. He was becoming agitated, and
that wasn’t like him.
“Do what” Scarlet said, instantly defensive.
“Choose between you and my daughter.”
Scarlet was speechless, like the rest of us. Finally, she spoke, pulling away from him. “I would