The Long Road Home

Chapter Thirty Two

Page was not sure is she wanted to laugh or cry. Kidd stared at her with big eyes and a look only a heartless bastard could ignore.

'Please?' He asked in a tiny voice that told her if anything but the word yes came from her mouth, he would be devastated. Page sighed and looked to the puppy in his hands. It was an adorable little fluff ball that just hung in Kidd's arms wagging its tail. He was fawn in color with a black muzzle and mask over his eyes. Kidd said he was an Anatolian shepherd pup.

'Kidd, what about the rippers?' She started, but his eyes lit up.

'Jimbo says the rippers are afraid of dogs.' He said excited. 'They don't like animals at all and that will help keep them away from us.'

'And what about food?' She asked trying to keep the amusement from her voice. It was clear the boy had done some heavy thinking over this matter. 'That pup's paws are huge, which means he is going to be huge and he will out eat both of us.'

'I will catch meat for him, and when we are in towns, he can eat canned food.' Kidd said setting the pup on her lap. 'Jimbo says he will even show me how to make a harness so when he gets older, he can pull a cart for us.' Page smiled and the little thing licked her hand as she pet him.

'Okay,' She told him and he grinned. 'But he is your responsibility little man.' Page warned. Kidd gave her a gentle hug and scratched the pup's head. 'So what are you going to call him?'

'I'm Kidd, he's Dogg. Spelled D-O-G-G' Kidd told her with a grin. Page shook her head smiling.

'I like it.' She said and made to stand but Kidd took her arm.

'Sara says you promised stay off your feet for three days.' He said worried. 'What do you need? I can get it.'

'I need to pee.' Page told him amused 'Let's see you do that for me.' Kidd giggled and let her go. Once Page finished she was pleasantly surprised to find the sink not only worked but the water was hot. After she washed up, she left the bathroom to find the house had been raided by two boys and a little girl. The three were on the floor with Kidd playing with Dogg. Page smiled and limped back to her chair. The kids all went quiet watching her with wide eyed fascination as she eased back down.

'Don't mind me.' she told them amused. The three got up and went to her.

'You're the real Page Gallagher?' The little girl asked. 'The one Mr. Mouth talks about on the radio?' Page was saved from answering when the sat phone tweeted like a bird. Kidd jumped up and grabbed it from the cart.

'Thanks Kidd.' Page told the boy accepting the phone. She pressed the green button. 'Hello?'

'Hello Page,' Came Ty's deep voice. 'I need some advice.' Page frowned worried. 'We've found an empty town. It's big and prime for a rippers hang out, but the place is untouched. Looks like the people just left and other than the dust, they could come back any second. You ever hear of anything like this before?'

'I've run into it a couple of times.' Page admitted 'It's freaky, but a blessing. I spent a week ripper free on the road.'

'No idea why they avoid the area?' He asked

'No clue.' She sighed 'I was anxious to get back on the road at the time and didn't bother to look around for an explanation.

'Does she know?' she heard Theo ask in the background. Ty repeated what she told him.

'Did you tell Mouth about it?' Ty asked after a moment.

'No, at the time Mouth wasn't on the air.' Page said 'Even if he was, I didn't know about him until last winter.'