Rachel's eyes fluttered open. She pushed herself up slightly on one elbow and looked between me and the entrance of the shelter where Maya still stood, clearly uncomfortable.
"Dexter… help Boss. What are you thinking, just sitting there? Can't you see she's waiting?"
I nodded, got to my feet, and walked over to Maya. She was standing with her thighs pressed tightly together, her face still burning with embarrassment, shifting her weight from one foot to the other in small, restless movements.
Without a word, I moved toward the dying fire, found a suitable length of wood, and carefully bound a still-glowing piece of charcoal to the end of it so it could serve as a makeshift torch. Once the light was steady, I turned back to her.
"Aunt Maya, let's go. The sooner we finish, the sooner you can come back and rest."
