“It’s not a contest,” Bea said, instilling a note of finality in her words. She hadn’t expected people to be looking for her, even if she’d hoped that Vienna was alive. Survival was survival; looking out for yourself was just the nature of the beast. And Vienna had Ledger to look out for too, so Bea did not blame her for her assumptions. Even if it struck her as something she would have assumed, not Vienna. She just needed to keep reminding herself that this was not the Vienna she had known.
Bea laughed. “I wasn’t expecting money,” she replied with a dismissive wave of her hand. “Hairpins and soap, depending on the type or brand are things I’d happily take, though.” There was still some of the nice shampoo Brandon had brought back in the supply room, but knowing Vienna, if she was anything at all like the old, anything she had with her would be nice. Expensive. Or maybe she really had changed enough that her taste level had diminished. But Bea seriously doubted it.
“I got it was joke.” She needed to remind herself that Vienna was being helpful in explaining that, not condescending.
Huffing a small sigh, Bea just shook her head; she couldn’t believe that Vienna had made that remark. Actually, she could. She used to do it when they younger. Didn’t make hearing it now any better. “Yep. Deal with it.” Bossy had saved her and others on more than one occasion; she was willing to accept it. “I like to call it decisive though.” She tried to keep the pace slow since they had the dogs and Ledger to account for.