She was a little skeptical of his assertion that he would be fine on the morrow, no matter how decently the stew had turned out. He was going to be stiff and sore, just how much pain remained to be seen and how much it would slow them down as also up in the air. He hadn’t complained much so far, but it was still the first day. Tomorrow was another matter. But there was little to be done but see. Well see what tomorrow brought after she’d rubbed him down. She was no mean hand at massage, not like Rick. That man had a set of hands that could set a camel’s back straight. He’d taught her some of his art, not enough in her opinion and she’d learn no more from him now. But she would put what she knew to use to ease her employer and speed their journey. It was a paltry tribute to the man, but it would have to do. 

She looked up from scraping her bowl clean when the Alexi spoke to her speaking of her ease on the road. She nodded her thanks. She was a fair hand at the setting up of camp, but then she’d had to do it often enough. She used to grouse that it was because she was a woman and they were making her do it because she was supposed to be domestic. But in truth it had been because she was the youngest, the newest among them for a long time. Then Timmons had joined them and the baby-faced youth had proved to be a terrible hand at the camp tasks and she had taken back over the job just to avoid eating what he cooked. It was more than that, she knew. So much of what she did was bits and pieces learned at the knees of better men then she would ever be, even if she’d had the proper equipment to be a man. 

“Thank you.” She said, strangely choked up by the compliment, a tightness that transmitted to her voice. Those men had touched her life in so many ways, changed the course of her life and now she would be forever without them. Friends and family of her choice, all gone. 

“I had good teachers and plenty of motivation to learn.” She took another long swig from her flask and then stood, taking his empty plate from him. 

“I’m going to see to your back now, your legs too if you’ll permit me. It will help with stiffness and soreness for tomorrow and it might grant us a few more miles.” 

She hoped it did, though she wasn’t holding her breath. She feared he’d balk and try to be stoic on her if she said it was simply to ease his pain.