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"Sounds like a plan." You gave Steele a firm nod before picking up on the last sentence. "But Mary's staying asleep. I don't see why she's entitled t' any less rest than us."
Steele moved to object, but you continued. "I'll just build us a fence 'r two. Should do us nicely for now."
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You drew a hand across your sweaty forehead, proud of your work, finally free to relax as the final stake was laid in the dirt surrounding your camp. A spiky circle of logs pointed outward in a circle, their small branches and bits of bark providing extra protection against any foes who tried to climb the fence. It was a shame that you couldn't find enough logs to close any of the substantial gaps between your spikes, but you figured that the stacks of rocks substituted just fine. It'd take quite the effort to knock those over, as it did to bring them to the area in the first place, and they would give you more than enough forewarning if anyone tried.
The fence wasn't stellar-- hell, you could see a few glaring flaws already-- but it'd do for one night. As much as you didn't want Steele to be right on this front, Mary would help compensate for any of the fence's flaws if you needed help.
Steele noticed your pause and motioned for you by your small campfire where he'd been joined by Mary and, after a brief glance around to make sure that the three of you weren't being watched, you joined him.
"At last, the palisade stands! Good job, young man." Steele gave you a hefty slap on the back and smiled. His hand was a lot heavier than you'd expected it to be and it took some genuine effort not to cough under its weight. Mary seemed mildly alarmed at the action but calmed down when you showed no explicit sign of pain. "Now, have you any dinner for the pair of us?"
His question was promptly answered with a meal in his lap. "How very considerate of you! I hadn't expected an entire sandwich tonight!"
It was a good thing his tone was so overtly enthusiastic. Had that come out of someone else's mouth you'd have been offended.
You rubbed your nose and took the first bite of your legume-laden concoction. "It's just beans 'n bread, Steele. Not hard t' make."
"Don't downplay yourself lad! You put in effort to make our night a safe one, and I want to admire the perserverance that took." Steele chomped down on his own sandwich, splattering bean water across his mustache and partly on his suit. He wasted no time in taking a handkerchief to the suit but seemed unfazed by the mustache.
A glance up and down Steele's quickly-staining attire left you with a question. "May I ask-- why're you wearin' a suit for a trip like this? For dinner, too? We haven't got any washin' stuff for it out here."
