Page 79 of Wilderness Daddy

Chapter Seventeen

Akari

I keep watch while Landon goes back and forth to the river, wetting his T-shirt with the cold water to use as a compress for the woman. It isn’t far from camp, but in the dark it seems to take forever.

He’s removed the shelter top over the bed and built another fire further away so the girl won’t get too much of the heat. She’s been moaning and crying out a lot in her sleep and while Landon is gone and I’m alone with her I imagine what those men have put her through and it gives me shivers. It could be me on that bed.

“You okay?” Jumping at Landon’s words, I shoot around.

“Sorry. Just thinking.”

He comes to the log I’m sitting on and sits beside me, pulling me into him. “You’re safe, honey.”

“But I wouldn’t be without the Sasquatch and you.”

He squeezes me tighter and kisses my head. I melt further into him, instantly calmer.

“I still don’t know if I believe in Sasquatch, but whatever he is, he’s good.”

“Will you come back with me now that we have the girl?” I ask in a whisper, untucking myself so I can look at his face. The firelight flickers, giving me shadowy glimpses of his expression.

“I will, but if the authorities need my help, I won’t hesitate to come back here.” He looks over at the shadowed lump on our cot and then back to me. “I want the men that did this.”

I nod. “But you won’t be alone then.” I nuzzle into him. “I can handle that.”

He brushes his hand over my hair. “I adore that you watch out for me, honey. Now get some sleep, okay? Nothing more we can do tonight. I’ll keep watch.”

“But you’ll be exhausted,” I protest.

“I’ll be fine.” He tugs my hair. “Maybe a bit short-tempered though. Better watch that ass tomorrow.” He chuckles and I shift and lie down on my side on the log and put my head in his lap.

“I love you.” I close my eyes as he strokes my hair, weaving his fingers through it so his nails gently scratch my scalp. “I thought love was stupid. Not real. But this feeling you give me... Not. Stupid. At. All.” My middle warms at his chuckle.

“And I love you, Kari.”

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