#pulsecharged

Footsteps behind her drew her attention for a moment, and she turned to see Matty approaching, and the dogs all running to greet him.

“Hey,” Matty spoke over the excited yips and whines from the dogs, “Heard you met a Gunner today.”

She half turned, and gave a nod.

“You alright?”

“I’m fine. He didn’t do nothin’ but run his damn mouth,” she scoffed, unable to bring herself to tell him the kind of shit he’d said. The implications. It made her skin crawl, and it would only piss him off, “Already talked to Betty about it. She’s  dealt with him before.”

“He been a problem?”

“Not that I’m aware. Besides being a fuckin’ pig, anyhow,” Holly shook her head, “We’re puttin’ more folks on patrol, Keepin’ a close eye on things just in case.”

Matty nodded, and took a seat on a nearby stump, “You sure got shit luck with assholes, don’t you?” a pause, while he rubbed his face, “Speakin’ of...found out a little ‘bout the other shithead.”

Holly stopped, and turned to face him squarely, “Yeah?”

“Not a helluva lot, sorry to say,” he let out a breath. Duke rested his head on Matthew’s thigh; a request for ear scratches, which Matthew was happy to give, “‘Parently he’s part of a group that calls themselves The Saints. They all wear purple, so you know who they’re with, I guess. They’re fairly new to these parts from what I’ve gathered, just gettin’ set up. Fella givin’ you trouble does go by Boss.”

She rolled her eyes, and made a sound in the back of her throat and grumbled, “Stupid fuckin’ name.”

Matty chuckled, and nodded, “Gotta agree with you there.”

“You know where they’re holed up?”

“Not for sure. Nobody I talked to knew much on that account. Best guess, somewhere not too far from Diamond City, but there’s a whole lotta places they could be, I’ll have to do some more pokin’ around,” he shook his head, “But, from what I gather, they’re havin’ a pissin’ match with local raiders and Gunners in the area, so gettin’ in to look around ain’t gonna be easy.”

Fear flickered across Holly’s features, and her stomach did a quick twist. Even without the raiders and Gunners, it would have been hard to do much recon without getting shot, but with all of that going on too? Holly swallowed against a knot in her throat. After everything else, everyone she’d already had to bury, she could not bear the thought of having to dig a grave for Matty too.

“Don’t...” her voice broke, and a brief moment passed before she was able to continue, “D-Don’t go pokin’ too much. That little puke’s off his damn rocker.”

He studied her for a moment, face solemn, and then shook his head, “Ain’t gonna set to it just yet, but I’ll be careful when I do. I promise. I reckon if he was gonna try’n come at you again right away, he’d woulda done it by now. We’ll keep the Shepherd’s around for a while longer, if they’re willin’. Once you’re ready to go out scavvin’ again, Starling says she’ll go out with you. Grant and Slim too. Reckon you got plenty-a folks who’d be willin’ to go with you.”

“That’s a while off,” she said quietly, now turning back to the cinder blocks. Holly lifted another, and placed in line next to the last one, taking care to butt them right up against each other, “I’m tired, Matty.”

“I know,” he spoke gently, There was no condescension in his tone, only sadness, “You been walkin’ a rough road for good long while. Ain’t no shame in takin’ a breather.”

Holly did not answer, and instead studied her assortment of blocks. It was not going to be enough, not just yet She’d need two rows stacked up at least. Three would be better, to get a nice bed of coals going. Two that she’d dug up earlier were broken, and might not end up working. They could be used for something else, but probably not for this. Holly let out a long sigh, and grabbed one of the blocks that was whole.

Duke had settled in the grass for a nap, and Matthew stood, and coming closer to look at her project, “Whatcha workin’ on here?”

“Smokehouse,” she nudged the cinder block into place with her foot, “Like the one we had back home.”

“Gotta good start on it,” he smiled, “Be nice to have some smoke meat over the winter. You want a hand?”

“Nah, I’m alright. Might get you to help later though...when I’m doin’ the walls. You was always better with a hammer’n nails than me.”

“Sure, be glad to,” Matthew looked up at the darkening sky, “I’ll go get some supper goin’ while you finish up.”