Page 97 of Forever After All

The heavy beat of a drum pounded in her ears as the grass on the other side of the creek moved slightly. Something crouched in the thickets.

“Mountain lion,” Linc whispered as he stepped in front of her, blocking her view of the predator.

He’d barely got the words out when the big cat pounced, clearing the creek with its focus locked on Linc.

Chapter29

Linc

Linc raised the shotgun and fired straight at the mountain lion, praying the shaking in his hands didn’t cause him to miss.

The animal continued rushing toward him, and Linc stepped to the side just in time, swinging an arm behind him to push Jess out of the way too.

The mountain lion landed on the edge of the bank and didn’t move. Jess let out a strained gasp behind him.

“Is it…”

“It’s gone,” Linc said. The electricity pulsing in his veins didn’t let up, even though the danger was over. The arm outstretched in front of Jess shook.

It had come too close. Linc had been too close to losing her. He’d been in his fair share of life-or-death situations, but none of them had shaken him like this.

Understanding dawned on him. He’d felt an undeniable urge to follow Jess to the creek. Had God led him here with a purpose?

Jess’s breaths came in a quick, shallow rhythm. “I can’t believe it.”

Linc looked over his shoulder and turned to her, dropping the gun beside him. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah. I’m fine. Thanks to you.”

She was shaking too, and he didn’t hesitate as he wrapped his arms around her shoulders. Her arms slid around his waist, and he tightened his hold.

He wasn’t sure how long they stood there, but he didn’t loosen his grip on her until her shaking stopped and her muscles relaxed.

“Are you okay?” he asked as he slid his hands down her arms.

“Yeah. Just shaken up. Whew.” She blew out a long breath.

Linc turned around to look at the cat that almost got them. “We’ll have to get rid of that. It’ll lead other predators here, and it’s too close to the camp.”

Jess wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. “Probably need to burn it.”

Linc nodded. “I’ll take care of that.”

She propped her hands on her hips and stared at the path where Liberty had made her escape. “Looks like we’re up a creek without a horse.”

“It’s up a creek without a paddle,” Linc explained.

Jess tilted her head and furrowed her brow. “Why would we need a paddle?”

Linc grinned and picked up the gun. She was so cute he wanted to squeeze her again. He’d never thought of a grown woman as cute before, but Jess had an innocent quality that made it impossible not to like her.

“If you’ll take Thunder back to camp, I’ll be there shortly, and we can go look for Liberty together.”

Jess nodded and reached for Thunder’s lead. “Be careful.”

“You too.”

After what just happened, he didn’t want her walking away from him again. He wanted her in his sights at all times. Two were better than one, right?

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