Page 89 of Wilderness Daddy

“Besides the hunters, there’s a cougar that comes around here. She never bothers me, but keep an eye out. I don’t know how she’ll be with you two.”

“Will do.”

I follow Akari outside. Although we’re under a canopy of towering pines, the area is lit already in the early dawn.

“Anders has opened his home for us and that can’t be easy for a reclusive man that’s been living alone in the mountains for the last ten years. The last thing any of us should be showing him is disrespect.”

“You’re right. I said I was sorry. I just have to go and it’s a private thing.”

“I understand but you can afford to give up some privacy for safety.”

She nods at my words, crossing her legs and wiggling.

“Stay close. Close enough for me to hear you call out, yeah? And be careful, there’s a steep drop just on the other side of those trees.” I point but she’s not really paying attention to me.

“Yes, yes, I will.” She’s desperate. And the way she walks away with a squirmy wiggle makes me chuckle despite our dire situation. At least she’s not heading the way I pointed.

Scanning the area for anything dangerous, I wait, quietly contemplating. Is the search team out yet? Will they find us today? Will Lucy make it another day?

It’s crisp this early but nowhere near as cold as it was when I first came into the mountains. Spring is well under way now. A good day for hiking down the mountain if we decide we can’t wait.

Peeking in the direction Akari went, I call to her. There’s no answer, so I call again. When there’s still no answer, I growl and start walking. We’re too far from the cabin and it puts me on edge. We won’t be heard if we need help now.

“I said close, Kari!” I shove back branches and push through bushes trying to find her. “Where the hell are you?” I curse as I trip on a root in my haste. “You better answer cause I’m on my way and you’re in serious trouble if you’re messing around.”

“She’s already in serious trouble.” Gillie’s arm is around Akari’s neck in a headlock, his elbow tight enough around her throat that she’s red in the face. Her panic-stricken expression hits me in the gut like a sucker punch.

“Let her go, Gillie.” I take a step forward and he squeezes harder.

“I’ll snap her neck.”

“You have no reason to harm her.”

“I do, though. You came up here after my Sasquatch! You overheard us at Stella’s and decided you wanted in on the action.” He sticks out his tongue and licks Akari’s face.

Her fingers are clawing at his arm for air and I want to rip the asshole limb from limb.

“I don’t take kindly to anyone takin’ what’s mine. So I’m takin’ what’s yours.” He releases the pressure on Akari’s neck slightly and she sucks in a desperate breath.

“There’s no Sasquatch. It’s just a man like Stella said. A man who’s been up here so long he looks wild.”

“Bullshit! You’re just trying to trick me. No man is that big.”

“You think if it was a Sasquatch, it would let you live? And what about the girl? Would he let her live? A beast?”

“Shut up! It’s too late. You’ve all seen too much. Talked too much. We ain’t going to jail for protecting what’s ours.” He yanks Akari’s hair hard and she yells. “And your fucking videos have ruined everything! Every Tom, Dick, and Harry will be up here now.”

An opportunity comes when Red calls out and Gillie looks toward the holler. Akari drops, all her weight yanking him forward, knocking him off balance. I rush him, knee him in the face, and get one arm up behind his back. I yank, moving his arm up unnaturally until he’s screeching and dancing on his toes.

“You okay, baby?” I glance at Kari, who’s rolled away from the commotion. She’s panting and coughing, holding her throat, her eyes bulging in fear, but manages to squeak out a reply.

“Kay,” is all she manages.

The worry and stress of the last few days along with the sight of Kari on the ground, red-faced and hurt, builds in me, turning into a violent storm inside and I yank on his arm again, making him shriek louder. It’s not satisfying enough, but I check myself. I could easily break it, make him pay, but I don’t want to be like him and hurt someone just for satisfaction. But what about for retribution?

I release him, shoving him forward, watching him stumble and fall forward onto his face. “Don’t get up,” I say with a growl. “You stay down and I’ll keep my hands to myself.”

If he doesn’t submit, I’ll have my excuse. And God, do I want him to make a move.

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