She went to the side of the chicken coop where a bag of feed sat on a shelf and scooped out a large cup. She also grabbed a wire hanging on a peg. “It makes you wonder how we’ve survived as a species. Even small things can outrun us, and we don’t have claws or sharp teeth.”
Enzo straightened, finally catching his breath. “It seems like you’ve given the survival of our species a lot of thought.”
“You’ve got to think about something when you’re weeding all day and your phone is so old the battery life is approximately two minutes.”
He walked closer. No, not walked. Sauntered. Even when he’d been running around the field, his stride still had a slight swagger. “They make solar-powered phones, you know.”
“So I’ve heard. I’ve just never seen one I could afford at a market.”
He glanced at the cup of feed in her hand. “You’re about to show me there is an easier way to do this, aren’t you? And I would’ve known it if I wasn’t a city boy.”
He didn’t sound too mad. That was a good thing. “Yeah. I’m sorry my brothers were jerks and didn’t tell you how to do this. Although, if it helps, they’re impressed you managed to catch one.”
Enzo regarded Milo and Gregor sitting on the rise. The two waved at him, grinning. “Are they jerks to all the new hires or just me?”
She tossed the chicken feed onto the ground near their feet. “Which answer would make you dislike them less?”
“I guess the first.”
“Then it’s definitely that one.”
He grinned. He had a beautiful smile with even white teeth.
“They’re not so bad.” She shot her brothers an aggravated look. “Most of the time.”
The chickens had either forgotten or forgiven Enzo for chasing them and came bustling over to peck at the feed.
She showed him the wire, an old coat hanger with the end bent into a small U. “This is like a shepherd’s crook for chickens. If they see you reaching for them, they’re going to bolt, which is why you have to grab them with the hook in one quick motion.” To demonstrate, she hooked a nearby chicken’s ankle and yanked the wire up until she could grab the bird by the legs. It squawked in protest and flapped its wings.
Enzo stared at the hen, his mouth slightly ajar.
“It doesn’t hurt them,” she assured him. “Just wounds their pride.”
“Ah, I have something in common with that chicken right now.”
She laughed and carried the bird to one of the cages. “I’m sure your pride will recover. Want to give it a try?”
She handed him the wire and the cup of food. He examined the hook. “All of the chickens just saw what happened to their friend, and they’re going to keep eating this feed anyway?”
“I never said they were the smartest species.”
“Right. Well, I think the mystery of how humans survived has been solved.” He hooked one of the chicken’s ankles but didn’t pull it upward fast enough. The bird slipped away and darted off, clucking resentfully. Enzo sighed. “You made this look easy.”
“It takes a little practice. You’ll get it next time.”
“Or I’ll create a flock of crippled chickens. Are you sure you want me to try again? Is the entertainment value really that good?”
She shrugged. “I already told you that my phone stinks. You’re all the entertainment I have right now.”
He chuckled. A good sign. “Well, I’m glad I have some value since I clearly don’t have many poultry skills.” He hooked a second chicken and pulled the wire to his hands in one smooth motion, this time managing to grab the bird’s legs. It flapped in alarm, squawking.
He shoved the chicken into the cage, shut the door, and took a small bow. Charity obligingly clapped. He went back to the flock, gripping the hook. “My name is Enzo, by the way.”
Right. She wasn’t supposed to know that already and felt awkward that she hadn’t asked him his name. “I’m Charity.”
He hooked a second bird. “I know. Milo told me your name while he warned me not to touch you.”
Milo had said that? Granted, with truth serum as a threat, the family avoided touching strangers, but Milo should’ve known better than to warn off Enzo. “He’s just cautious. Out here on the road, we have to be careful. You hear all sorts of stories about the government using truth serum on people. It’s made him a little paranoid.”