Page 72 of Hero's Prize

He cupped her cheeks in order to force her gaze back up to his. “I’m sorry all of this has happened. But for right now, let’s just focus on the kids and this excursion. We are one hundred percent safe out here. Nobody here but our inner circle and these kids.”

Her eyes brightened. “You’re right. Nobody out here but us. That’s good.”

Seeing the stress slide away from her features just reaffirmed to Colton what he needed to do.

Get himself out of Oak Creek to make sure Ella was safe.

Compared to the people out here right now, Ella was never going to be a wilderness survival expert. Outdoor activities had never been her thing. She preferred cute dresses and desserts over dirt and campfires.

But she knew her presence here proved that anyone could do what the experts were teaching. Granted, Ella had been raised around Oak Creek, so she had been more exposed to outdoor stuff than a lot of people, even though it hadn’t been her forte. So, she had her own hiking boots and backpack and knew enough basics that she could keep herself alive if it came down to it.

But she wouldn’t like it. She preferred her comfy bed over a sleeping bag, and a three-course meal over food cooked on a campfire.

Regardless, she was glad she was here, even if it was only to see how much the kids were enjoying this. They were finally really loosening up. Her little buddy Ashley had stuck with her for most of the four-hour hike that had gotten them to the main campsite. Ella had enjoyed talking to the girl—had loved all her questions about recipes and flavor profiles. But Ella had also been glad when Marshall had come over to talk to Ashley. The two obviously had crushes on each other, and it was sweet to behold.

Bear and Lilah had used the hike as a teaching opportunity. They pointed out wildlife, poisonous plants, and different types of trees that would be good for fires and shelters. The kids not only were asking more questions now—not afraid to take up space that was rightfully theirs—they were cracking jokes and laughing. This was what Bear had envisioned for these kids, and she was so thankful he was getting to see it come to fruition.

And if she had to hide that she was a half breath from falling apart, so be it.

Colton was leaving. She’d known that was coming from the beginning so she shouldn’t let it upset her, but somehow it did. His casual announcement that he’d be leaving town, combined with what she’d heard in the bathroom, had made it clear exactly where she stood.

She’d always known this was temporary. Colton had never made any sort of indication otherwise. Yes, they had good sex. Yes, they had fun together.

But he’d probably had that with a hundred different women. He didn’t think of her in the same way as she thought of him. Never had. Never would.

But damn it, she was not going to fall apart here. This time was for the kids. There would be plenty of time to fall apart when she was back on her own.

Not to mention, if these were the last couple of days she had with him, she wanted to soak in this time. There was nobody around to judge like Crystal and Samantha in the bathroom. Nobody around to say he was slumming it by being with her.

“Are you okay, Miss Ella?” Ashley walked over with a hot dog that had been cooked on a stick. “I made this for you.”

The kids had been absolutely thrilled to learn about making fires. They’d each been in charge of collecting their own tinder and kindling, and then they had been required to use flint and steel to get a flame started.

Ashley had been one of the last ones to get a fire going, but everyone had cheered her on and encouraged her until she did.

“Did you eat a hot dog?”

The girl nodded enthusiastically. “Yes. And I don’t know what it is about Wyoming hot dogs, but that was the best thing I’d ever eaten.”

Ella winked at her. “Either that, or it has to do with the fact that you cooked it over a fire that you made with your bare hands.”

Ashley’s grin got even bigger. “Yeah, maybe. It felt really good to do that. I’ve never been camping before in my life, because my sister…” She faded off, and her smile fell away.

“Because your sister can’t, right?”

“Cancer has taken so much from her.”

Ella grabbed the stick with the hot dog Ashley had brought for her. “Cancer has taken a lot from you too. It’s okay to acknowledge that and be frustrated. It’s okay to feel a little cheated.”

“But I’m not the one who is sick.” Ashley sat down next to her.

“But you still got dumped with a set of circumstances you didn’t choose. Just because you don’t complain about it doesn’t mean it doesn’t suck. It’s okay to be angry about that sometimes.”

Ashley shrugged one small shoulder. “Sometimes I am angry. But mostly, I try to stay focused on the positive.”

Ella wrapped her arm around the girl. “Then you’re more mature than most adults, so congratulations.”

She took a bite of the hot dog. “That’s one of the best I’ve ever had. And I don’t think it has anything to do with this meat being from Wyoming.”

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