Page 173 of Mountain Grump
He sets the backpack at my feet. “Arm.”
I slide my arm through the sleeve as he holds the flannel up.
Ethan circles behind me to my other side. “Other arm.”
I try to start the buttons, but my hands have started trembling.
Warm fingers grip my chin, and I lift my eyes to Ethan’s. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“I know,” I whisper. “I don’t mean to be scared.”
“It’s okay to be scared, Starlight.” Ethan leans in, pressing his lips lightly against mine. “But right now, you don’t have to be. I’ve got you.”
Starlight.
He seems to only call me that when he’s being sweet.
And I love it.
“Tell me you believe me.”
I force my shoulders to relax. “I believe you.”
Ethan nods, then drops his hands to the front of my flannel. But instead of buttoning it, he ties the bottom corners together, cinching it around my waist.
He steps back, taking in his handywork. And the edge of his mouth turns up. “Cute.”
I start to smile back.
But then I hear it.
Thewhomp, whompof an approaching helicopter.
Chapter 92
Ethan
I hand Tilda her backpack.“Stay here.”
She nods, and I jog into the center of the clearing.
It’s a natural break in the trees. An easy spot to see from above and close to the cabin, so these are the coordinates I have memorized.
Squinting against the sun, I look up. And a second later, a helicopter flies low into view.
I raise my arms and slowly wave them back and forth, my red flannel visible among the trees.
The chopper does a tight circle, letting me know he sees me, then I drop my arms and jog back to Matilda.
She’s hugging her little backpack to her chest, and she’s put her sunglasses on.
She looks nervous. And it makes my stomach ache.
I take her hand, and her fingers tremble against mine. But she doesn’t pull away.
Taking my own aviators out of my pocket, I put them on, and together we watch the helicopter land.
The skids touch down, the helicopter aimed right at us. But the pilot doesn’t get out. He just waves us forward.
