Paulie, despite her practical reasoning to the contrary, made sure Kell was stuffed full of things to eat. Not that she cooked (Alan's forte), but she mothered him in her own abrasive way. She also took him out to the garage to help him equip for the trip. Kell tried to cry off, but there were many items she and Alan could do without or had extras of that would be handy for him to have. The backpack she gave him had belonged to Jeremiah, Paulie explained, as had the hunting knife and other items. If Paulie had a problem gifting her dead son's possessions to Kell, she showed no sign. The backpack was loaded with useful items. The knife, of course, but also a small but well-stocked medical kit, water purification tablets, a tarp, a blanket, fishing line and hooks, enough food to see him through several days, up to a week if he rationed and went hungry often. The only thing he really needed that they didn't jam into that pack was clothes, but horses didn't wear them, and they were the only ones of a matching size.
