Page 92 of Love for a Lifetime

Lucas’s eyes widened, but he contained some of his shock. “Wolves?”

Everyone in town knew Lucas’s cousin, Hunter, had been attacked by wild dogs when they were younger. The scar on his face was hard to miss. I guess an event like that left a mark on everyone around.

“We hid out in the truck until Beau showed up this morning.”

Lucas shook his head slightly and turned to Beau. “Thanks for bringing these. I don’t think Lauren and Maddie enjoyed the air mattress too much last night.”

“No problem,” Beau said. “We’ll go get the other one after breakfast. I’m starving.”

Lucas hooked a thumb over his shoulder. “Lauren is working on some sausage and eggs. It smells like it’s almost ready.”

Dawson rubbed his hands together. “You don’t have to tell me twice. I hope she made extra.”

“Aaron and Noah are on their way, so I’m sure there’s plenty,” Lucas said.

Maddie and Olivia burst into the small cabin with their arms overflowing with sheets and pillows.

“Get out of the way, boys. We’ve got work to do,” Maddie commanded.

Dawson held up his hands and headed for the door. “I’m out.”

Betsy bounded up the steps, meeting him on the porch with Levi on her heels.

“Dawson! You’re back!”

Betsy jumped into Dawson’s arms, and he barely had time to shift the dog to the side as Levi crashed into him.

“I thought you were a goner,” Levi mumbled against Dawson’s shirt.

Patting Levi’s back, he swallowed the lump in his throat before speaking. “It’ll take more than a pack of wolves to get me down.”

“Wolves!” Levi shouted, looking up at Dawson with wide eyes.

Yikes. Probably shouldn’t have mentioned that to the kid. “They didn’t hurt us. We stayed in the truck. And they won’t venture into the campsite. We’re a little too loud for their tastes.”

Levi looked over his shoulder and scanned the tree line. “You sure?”

“Pretty sure. Plus, you’ve got us. We’ll protect you.”

Levi straightened. “I can protect us too.”

“Maybe don’t venture out of the camp area. Just to be safe.”

“Yeah. I won’t. Trust me.”

The terrified look on the kid's face said he wouldn’t be anywhere near the trees for the rest of the trip.

After they ate breakfast, Dawson and Beau brought in the other mattress with Levi’s help this time. By mid-morning, the cabins were cleaned and spotless. Dawson and Lucas had a wood-chopping competition that served as the after-lunch entertainment. Aaron and Noah showed up just before dinner and started cleaning up the brush that had crept into the clearing.

Dawson did an excellent job keeping his hands and lips off Olivia, but she had all of his attention. Every time a cabin door opened, he had to see if it was Olivia. It was easy to keep tabs on where she was in the camp because he felt her. There was a radar that pulsed from her, drawing him toward her at all times.

Having mountains of chores to do helped him stay on track, but his focus was divided. It was day one of life with Olivia 2.0, and ideally they’d be cuddled up by a fireplace kissing the day away.

He’d always gotten a good dose of satisfaction about a job well done. He was usually the first to volunteer to help if someone needed a hand. But as much as he loved working, nothing could hold his attention like Olivia.

As soon as the sun started dipping below the trees, Lucas and Maddie started cooking up supper, and everyone else headed to the creek to wash up. Dawson walked carefully behind Olivia, watching her movements more than his own as they made their way down the hill.

Olivia stepped, and her heel slid on the wet leaves. Dawson reached out and grabbed her arm before she went down.

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