Page 94 of Sass in the Grass

“Yeah. Okay.”

“Ass,” he said, then laughed and pushed Cherokee a little. “Go. Let’s find her and make sure she’s not heading to the camp.”

“Yes, sir. You sure are bossy all of a sudden.”

“I’ve always been. But to catch you, I stifled that some. Fooled ya!”

“Ass.”

When they finally found the mountain lion, sure enough, she’d caught a huge jackrabbit and was carrying it back the way they’d all come. Cherokee and Jovian were crouched in some bushes, waiting for her to pass.

The lion moved so gracefully, muscles moving under her beautiful fawn color coat. The rabbit hung heavily from her jaws,and as soon as she was out of sight, Cherokee took the phone from Jovian.

He called True, letting him know the danger had passed. “Yeah, just maybe still keep them in the Mess Hall for now. I’ll follow her back past the trail to my cabin and then circle back to the camp.”

“Be careful.”

“We will.”

“We? Is Jovian with you?”

“He is. He insisted.”

“Wow. That’s surprising. Good for him. See you soon!”

“Sure thing.”

After ending the call, he handed the phone to Jovian. “This should be quick. You want to head to the camp from here?”

“No. I’m still not leaving you.”

Cherokee kissed him sweetly. “Now can I say it?”

“Say what? How brave I am? How good I look while helping you track?”

“No, dumbass. That I love you too.”

“Too? I didn’t…wait. Did I?”

“You did. In the middle of one of your tirades.”

He was perplexed, but he was also blushing wildly. “I didn’t mean to say it like that.”

“I don’t care how you said it.”

Jovian wrapped his arms around Cherokee’s neck and held him for a moment. “I do. A lot.”

“I know, baby boy. And, by the way, I’m very proud of how brave you are.”

He pulled back, grinning and shining like he was on stage with a hundred spotlights on him. “Yeah?”

“Yeah. Very brave.”

“Wait ‘til I tell Kathy, Mike and Alan!”

Chapter Twenty-Three

Theytrekkedalltheway to the other side of the trail that led to Cherokee’s house, then flipped around and went back to the camp. He found his friends in the Mess Hall and told them all about his adventure, down to telling Cherokee those three important words.

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