Page 30 of His Hawaiian Heart
“They do so much more,” I said sincerely. I could talk bugs all night but didn’t want to overwhelm the poor guy. “Does that help?”
“Yes, though it also serves to make me even more aware of how much I don’t know.”
“About the world or about Samantha?”
This time I wasn’t the only one who turned their head to look at Katrina. She obviously knew she’d sounded a bit, well…
Bitchy.
I couldn’t argue with that.
“Sorry, I’m just tired, please, go ahead.”
If she was just tired, I was just too dumb to know a lie when I heard one. And while I might be a lot of things, dumb wasn’t one of them. But this wasn’t the time nor the place to have that discussion.
While Beth seemed oblivious to the undercurrents, I’d seen Josh look between Katrina, Sam and then land on me with a look that told me we’d most likely be having that “just because” chat sooner than I’d planned. Not wanting to encourage scrutiny, I gave Beth a big smile. “Don’t hold back. If you have something to add, please feel free to jump in. Asking questions is really the best way to learn.”
“Great! I mean, I really don’t have a question, though I guess it could be considered one.”
I waited, but it took me saying, “What can be?” to have her continue.
“Oh, right. Even though I’m not a fan of cannibalism, I’d like to volunteer to help,” Beth said, then quickly added, “I mean, if that’s okay?”
“Wait, so does that mean when Samantha said ambush his prey, she actually meant he’s a carnivore? I didn’t imagine that Mr. Eupithecia ate that ant?”
I saw Katrina’s eyebrow raise and knew it wasn’t because of his question, but the fact he’d used an actual honorific for what would be nothing more than a bug to most. Before I could answer, Beth laughed and took my journal from Josh who’d been looking through it.
“Nope. Sam even has pictures! Here, look for yourself.”
Sam took it and flipped the pages back to the beginning and started going through them, studying each one.
“These are really, really good.” He flipped another page. “I watched a caterpillar eat an ant,” Sam said, a trace of wonder in his voice, then he jerked a bit as the clang of a bell sounded.
“Dinner!” Josh said as he and others began to stream toward the mess tent.
“You coming?” Katrina asked.
I wasn’t sure who she was directing the question to, but when I said, “Yes,” Sam said, “No.”
“You aren’t joining us?” I asked, no longer giving a damn what Katrina was doing or thinking.
“I’m afraid I can’t,” Sam said as he closed the book. “I’ve got to get McNut back.”
I hadn’t considered that but seeing as it was beginning to get darker, I understood. “Well, thanks for today.”
“My pleasure. Walk with me?” He held out his hand, but not to hand me my book. That he still held but offered me his other.
I took it and when his fingers entwined with mine, I felt the connection deepen between us. We reached the spot where we’d left McNut way too soon, but I had to admit the horse had to be ready to get home and eat more than macadamia nuts and grass.
“Thank—”
We both paused and laughed as once again, we’d said the same word at the same time.
“You first,” Sam said with a grin.
“For everything,” I said. “For giving us a second chance, for sharing your horse, for taking the time to research our bug, for the picnic, the waterfall… but mostly for just being you.”
He smiled. “Funny, we don’t have to actually say the same thing to actually say the same thing.”
