Page 45 of Refuge for Flora

Everything was laid out on the bed, and she sat down on the side to wait for him. When he stepped into the bedroom, he looked like a completely different human. “God, I was freezing! Feels good to be warm and clean. So you’ve got stew?” he asked as he dragged his clothes on.

“Yeah. And cornbread. And I think we’ve got some lettuce and tomato if you want a salad.”

“Nah. The stew and cornbread is fine. It’s hot, and that’s all I care about right now.”

“Okay. I’ll go warm it for you. Should only take a minute.”

“Thanks, babe.” She was almost to the door when he grabbed her hand and spun her to kiss her. “And I’m kinda glad I missed dinner at Mom and Dad’s.”

“Oh, that’s not right. I bet they missed you.”

“I got a lecture about how I should find a job where I’m not slogging around out in the swamps.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and looked up into his face as his grip around her ribcage tightened. “So what do they think you should be doing?”

He just shrugged. “I dunno. My dad works for the post office. He thinks I should be content to do something like that. But I’d feel like the walls were closing in on me. I’ve always preferred to be outside.”

“You played sports in high school, I bet,” she said and pressed her cheek into his chest.

“Yeah. Football. Wide receiver, then running back, and I was the quarterback my senior year.” Feeling the vibrations his voice sent through his chest made her feel safe.

She tried to keep the sarcasm out of her voice when she said, “Ooooo, got all the girls.”

“Yeah. Thought I got one of them pregnant, but I didn’t. Got caught making out with one in the janitor’s closet, and another one in the girls’ locker room in the gym. I had my fair share.”

“Sounds like it.”

“Yeah, Zyan won’t admit it, but he was the same way. I didn’t think he’d ever get married, but when he found Landee, I mean, it was like love at first sight for that ol’ boy. He’s crazy about her.”

“That’s good.”

“And now, pretty lady, I’m starving. I’ll be right there. Putting on some socks so my feet don’t freeze.” He slapped her butt before he turned her loose and she giggled. “You’re adorable, know that?”

“Awww. Thanks. You just haven’t seen me in the morning,” she said as she stopped at the door again.

His voice was so low that it was barely audible. “No, but I’ve seen you after sex, and you looked pretty damn fine.”

Flora chuckled. “You’re awful!”

“I’m awful cute.”

“Oh, god, and conceited too. I’ve got to warm your stew or the stud muffin will starve.”

“Starved stud muffins are no fun,” he said with a pretend frown. She just shook her head and rolled her eyes as she closed the door.

The pretty soup bowl was sitting on the table and a small plate with two pieces of cornbread sat next to it when he made his way into the kitchen. “Oh, god, that smells delicious.”

“I hope you like it. I started it early this morning so it would have plenty of time to cook.” As soon as he sat down, she pulled a soft drink from the refrigerator and set it down in front of him, then sat in an adjacent chair. “So did you get the guys?”

“The guys?” His eyebrows pitched downward the bridge of his nose, and then shot upward. “Oh! The guys we were chasing! Yeah, we got one of ‘em. And about fifty beaver and fox pelts too. They’re in a lot of trouble.”

“It’s illegal to hunt them?”

“There are seasons and restrictions. These guys decided to recognize neither. And if they took any in LBL or the national wildlife refuge, they’re toast.”

“LBL?”

“Yeah. Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area. It’s federal land. You’ve never been there, have you?”

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