Page 15 of Stuck with My Bossy Protector

I pull my backpack off and rummage around for one of the bottles of water. “Drink,” I tell her.

I pull out one of the Clif bars and give it to her.

She takes it, only a moment of hesitation crossing her face before she smiles weakly in thanks. We sit on a downed tree, our backs against a small outcrop of rock, and for a time, the world is quiet except for the sound of us chewing and the occasional gust of wind that whips up snow around us.

“Thanks,” she says after we finish our meager meal.

“It’s my pleasure,” I reply. “Feel better?”

She nods and glances over at me, her eyes softened by the shared experience. After a while, she stands up and brushes off the snow, clinging to her clothes. “Best get going then. Every second we dally is another second that we’re not in the cabin in front of a warm fire.”

I nod, pulling myself to my feet with a groan. “Let’s do this.”

I pray the cabin is closer than I think. The last thing I want to do is spend the night out here. It’s not just about the cold. It’s the animals. This is not the kind of place a person sleeps outside with no protection.

Chapter seven

Mia

Iwatch as he stands, brushing off the snow that has accumulated on his legs. There’s a conviction in his eyes that gives me hope. We will get through this. We have to. He shoulders his heavy bag and leads the way, plowing a path through the thick snow for me to follow. I pause for a moment to admire his strength before picking up my own bag and pressing on.

The snow is deep and heavy, and every step is an effort. But I can’t afford to stop or slow down. We need shelter, and we need it soon. The wind is picking up, making the trek absolutely miserable. Every so often, he looks back to check on me, a look of concern etched on his face. “Good?” he asks.

I nod my assurance, not trusting my voice to carry over the wind. The snow is relentless. The wind blows the soft power into our tracks almost as soon as we make them, erasing our progress and making each step a battle against nature. The cold is biting. It cuts through our clothes and seeps into our bones, chilling us straight through.

Suddenly, it stops. I look around, not understanding what’s happened. “What was that?” I ask.

He glances over his shoulder. “What?”

“The wind was howling, and it’s just gone.”

He smiles. “Mother Nature. I would think that with all your time traveling the world, you would be used to the constantly changing weather.”

“It’s just weird.”

“Has your friend mentioned grizzlies around his cabin?” Noah asks.

“Not specifically, but I would imagine they are here. Aren’t they everywhere out here?”

“Yes and no. Are you worried?”

I smile, thinking of the many animals I’ve photographed. “Not too much, but I’d rather not be a grizzly snack.”

“You’ve photographed them?”

“Yes,” I nod. “A long time ago.”

“From afar?”

I laugh again at the incredulity in his voice. “Far enough. When I have my camera in my hand, I feel protected. Right now, with me, you, and nothing else, I don’t think I’m ready to meet a grizzly—or a wolf.”

“I guess you do have some sense,” he teases.

People always think I’m crazy for what I do. But there’s a thrill in capturing the raw beauty of nature, the untamed wilderness, and the creatures that inhabit it. I like the adrenaline rush of staring into the eyes of a dangerous wild animal, albeit through my camera. When I’m looking through the lens, I feel connected to them, even though they have no idea I’m there. I get the rush of feeling like I can reach out and touch the beasts, but the danger is minimized. I’ve seen the world in ways most people can only dream of. Yes, I get into some wild situations, but I live for the power and unpredictability of nature.

Currently, I’m not feeling the adrenaline or excitement. Right now, I’m cold, thirsty, and starving. But I don’t dare complain. For one thing, it won’t help. It will only draw attention to my discomfort. I need to focus on something else.

But what?

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