Page 68 of Wilderness Daddy

“I can track animals, and trust me, little one, you leave a prominent trail.” He chuckles and I do too. Maybe a bit too loudly.

“Daddy?” I say it tentatively at first but then again with more intention. “Daddy?”

“Yes, baby?” He doesn’t even look back.

“I think...” When he does look back now, I hesitate again. “I think I was saved by a Sasquatch.”

He stops, turns fully, and looks me in the eye. He reaches forward and cradles my chin in his hand. Narrowing his eyes, he examines me. What’s he looking for? A head injury?

“I saw it,” I say, stammering. “Half man, half beast.”

“I know you’ve been through a lot, but we have to get you back to our camp. You need to be quiet now.” He leans forward, pecks me on the lips, and smiles. Pointing at the action cam clipped to his coat, which is on me, he says, “I want to hear it all, babe, I do. And I want to love you, smack your ass good for fun, and then love you all over again, but we need to go.”

I nod, smirking down at the camera, and follow him, picking up my pace to keep up.

We’ve been moving swiftly through a steep part of the mountain and just when I think I can’t take another step without a break, he throws his arm out in front of me.

“Get down!” His whisper is sharp and I don’t question him, just drop to the ground. He crouches beside me. “I heard something.”

I look at him, my eyes wide. “Animal? Or human?”

“I’m not afraid of the animals, honey.”

I swallow hard and nod once, tucking myself closer to him, thankful for the first time in my life to be small.

The seconds tick by and I try to quiet my breathing so I can hear, but it’s futile. Between the fear and the uphill hike, my heart is pounding too hard, my lungs working to get oxygen in. The damp earth is pungent in a pleasant earthy way so I close my eyes and concentrate on that instead of the fear.

Landon puts his arm around me and pulls me tight against him. His lips brush my head softly and I lean into him, thankful for his quiet strength. But then I hear it too. The clomping of boots and faraway voices.

“It’s them!” I say, trembling but trying hard to keep the shake from my voice.

“I’ve seen them before... in town and up here.” His arm tightens around me. “Idiots, but dangerous.”

“They have a blonde woman tied up. That’s what I wanted to tell you,” I whisper. He holds his finger to his lips. The footfalls are getting closer. Landon looks around, guides my face to his, and points to a clump of brush. A few freshly felled trees, with lots of greenery coverage. He releases me, grabs my hand and, staying low to the ground, brings us to the sheltered area.

“This should help keep us hidden,” he whispers as we tuck into the hiding spot. “Don’t move at all.”

I nod.

He’s covered in goosebumps and his skin is red where branches have scratched him. I want to give him back his coat at least but when I move even a tiny bit, he shoots me a firm look. The kind that back home, in civilization or at camp, where I feel safe, would have my gut flipping and my panties dampening. But here, hiding from the crazy men, I feel only fear.

We are still and quiet so long, my legs have fallen asleep, when Landon squeezes my hand.

“Okay, baby, it’s clear.”

I blink a few times and let him help me up. The tingling numbness in my legs makes me clumsy. “They’re gone?”

“Yeah, for a while now. I wanted to make sure they weren’t lying in wait.”

“They’re after me, Landon.” A wave of nausea rolls through me. “They were excited to have another plaything. An exotic one.”

“They’ve shot at me too.” He tugs me faster. “Come on. They’re predators, not out for food or survival, but sadistic enjoyment. And they’re searching for a Sasquatch.”

“I knew it!”

He looks back at my words, putting his finger to his lips. “There’s something out here.” He looks into the expanse of forest thoughtfully. “A wild man could easily be mistaken for a Sasquatch, especially if no one’s really gotten a good look at him, but I’d never discount anything completely. I’ve spent too much time in the wilderness to do that.”

He says no more, just tugs me along heading back to camp. I shake off a shiver, looking behind me, wondering what else could be lurking.

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