Ruby’s POV
Roger sees me coming and looks like he’d rather walk straight into a fire than stay where he is.
He’s standing near the supply bundles with the ledger open in one hand. Cindy is beside him, one hip against a crate. Around them, camp keeps moving in low practical lines. Stakes. Water. Shelter cloth. Fire.
Roger shuts the ledger halfway when I stop in front of him.
“Ruby.”
His tone is careful. Too careful.
“We need to talk.”
He glances toward the nearest fire, then toward Tyler on the outer line, then back to me. “Now?”
“Yes. Now.”
He tucks the ledger under his arm. “Walk with me.”
We go toward the darker edge of camp where the firelight thins but the main house is still visible.
Cindy comes too without asking. I don’t stop her.
Somewhere behind us, Duke barks a short
