Page 113 of Beautifully Wild

When we reach the outskirts, the children run to me and bounce up and down. They giggle and shout to me with big smiles across their beautiful faces. I laugh along with them, waving enthusiastically. “Hello, hello,” I say to them all.

Samuel is frowning at the kids. He raises a hand in a gesture to stay away. “Senke awarö,” he repeats.Near, bad.“They have to wait before they can touch you.”

Inside the village barrier, there’s a change in my sense of gravity. With every step, I’m light on my feet, so light I’m walking on air, and at the same time grounding me to the earth. I match Samuel’s stride with the grace of his step. We take a path around the outside of the village, avoiding as many people as possible until we reach his hut. He’s still holding my hand as he takes the steps inside. He lets go and places my pack in the corner. It appears the same but different. One striking change is the whiter twine of a second hammock strung next to his. “This is new.”

“I began to weave it while you were here. Finished it months ago and hung it in hope… want to give it a try?” He lifts me onto the edge, and it swings with my weight. He holds it steady before he slides on and settles beside me.

“Hoping for a wife?” I rasp, remembering how simple it is to be married here.

“Hoping the person I intend to marry returned.”

I stare into his beautiful blue eyes, my heart thumping in my chest. “I promised I would one day, but you also said you’d come find me. I thought I’d see you in Australia before I visited again.”

He stares into my eyes, and his eyes flick over my face.

I reach out and touch his cheek. “Luckily, I had a change of heart.”

He nods once, kisses my lips, and slides off the hammock. “Give me time to speak to the shaman and chief.”

When Samuel disappears from the doorway, I scramble out of the hammock and walk the length of the hut, noting a new string of red and black beads, animal teeth, and bones hanging on the wall. I question the significance—is this a promotion of sort? My hand lowers and rests on my stomach, a habit that’s a reminder to myself and a protective touch to my unborn child. A fluttering makes me smile. Sensing another presence, I turn to the door to a figure watching me. I gasp athispresence, and in the few steps it takes for me to reach the doorway, the shaman has disappeared from sight.

Admittedly, he still freaks me out a little. I’m surprised he didn’t say anything, or maybe he didn’t know I was here. Seeing him unsettles me, and I’m glad Samuel has gone to talk to him. At least he kept his distance, although I don’t expect any affection from him like a hug. Come to think of it, I have never seen the shaman embrace anyone, not even Kaikare.

Unsure how long these discussions will take, I climb into his hammock. I inhale so that his scent fills my head, and I’m transported back several months in time. I close my eyes and imagine my time here will be different. I’ve returned a wiser woman.

Samuel returns and stands in the doorway holding a wooden type cup. God, the sight of him has my ovaries exploding. There is a little dirt around his shins and knees. His hair is a messy bed-sex style. I can see every outline of muscle when he moves. Those blue eyes lock with mine. “The shaman wants you to drink this in case you’re carrying any viruses.”

Oh right. I scramble up, and my hand goes to my stomach out of habit when I get up.

“Is your hammock comfortable?” He raises one eyebrow and hands me the cup.

“Yes. I just wanted to lay in yours for old time’s sake.” I smile at him and then take a whiff of the tea.

Ugh. I grab my stomach and heave. It doesn’t take much to make me nauseous. I cough to get the vile smell out of my throat. Over the months, I’ve been careful about what I eat and drink for the baby. Staring into the cup, I ask, “What is it? What if I react?”

“Eden, I don’t make the rules, and please be thankful for the leniency they’re already showing you.”

“I can’t.” I shove it toward him. “I can’t risk it.”

For a moment, our eyes lock before his lower to where my hand rests under my naval. His eyes widen, studying me. His mouth gapes, and he stumbles back a step.

“Mine?”

I take a step toward him. “Of course.”

Samuel takes the cup from me and places it on the ground, then he wraps his arms around me. His kiss is hot like wildfire. Warm lips dot my cheeks and neck before finding their way back to my mouth.

Samuel pulls away, out of breath. “I’m sorry I wasn’t thinking straight. You must be hungry since it’s dinner time.”

“A little.” I shrug. More for him.

“I can’t wait for Kaikare to see you.” His voice holds the excitement like a boy meeting his idol.

“Shouldn’t I remain here?”

“You can keep your distance. “I’ll tell her no hugging.”

“What about you? You’re with me and then—”

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