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( chapter seven, dead fathers and closed caskets. )
SADIE CRINGES AS vomit spews out of Nick's mouth, her moving backward in her seat away from the sight as he falls back on the bed with a groan. "Morning, sunshine." She greets with a grimace, trying to smile but falls short at the smell of his vomit. She grabs a rag from beside her, wiping his mouth as he mutters, "It's kind of like old times."
She laughs, throwing the rag on the bed by his feet as she reminisces, "Oh, yeah like the time you threw up on my couch. I still haven't gotten over that, ya know." Nick gives her a look, sweat lining his brow and his short mop of hair clinging to his forehead.
Her mouth opens but then promptly closes as her head whirls around, Madison and Troy step into the tent with her mother stating, "It's anthrax." Her words cause Jake to pause, his eyes widening as he walks closer to the two. "Did Ofelia tell you?"
Madison shakes her head, "No, I returned her to the Black Hat. Walker told me." Sadie stands, hands wringing in front of her as she mutters, "He could be lying." Her mother turns to her, her eyes soft as she states, "Those who don't die will be too weak to hold a gun. They'll attack while we're down." Sadie sighs, mouth pulling into a thin line as Troy shrugs, "Well, at least we know what we're dealing with."
"All right, well, gather what's left of the militia." Jake orders his brother and Troy shakes his head, "Jake, there's not much besides me–" "Just do what the hell you can, Troy." Jake turns toward him, eyes narrowed, "Do something."
"Recruit the able-bodied." Jake scoffs at Madison, "Madison, I'm talking to my brother. You don't lead this ranch." Sadie's blue eyes turn to slits, anger from before beginning to fester like an open wound as Madison calls out, "Jake–" The eldest Otto brother interjects, yelling, "You don't lead this ranch!" He looks around the infirmary before storming out in a huff. Alicia follows after him, giving Sadie a small smile as she does.
