“I’d love that, but first I need to go pee.”
“Don’t go far,” he called out as she got to her feet and moved out of his line of sight.
“I don’t suppose you can dig us up something to eat the way you dug up that water, can you?” she asked from a few yards away.
“Unfortunately, tarvid trees don’t bear fruit. Drink some more water.”
When she returned, he realized she only wore his tunic. Fortunately—or would that beunfortunately?—it was big enough on her to where the bottom hem hit her mid-thigh, giving her womanhood ample coverage. At least, the moon and the stars were visible tonight, which meant he could see her clearly, as well as the landscape around them.
“In the morning, we’ll need to keep a lookout for any game returning to this area…” His voice trailed off. She was staring at something just past and behind him. He started to turn around to look when she stopped him.
“No! Don’t! Move!” she whispered.
“What is it?”
“Shh!”
Slowly, she bent down to slide her sword from its scabbard. Holding it in her left hand, she balanced it blade-down on the outer edge of the cuff covering her wounded wrist and carefully advanced toward him. Mattox froze in place, moving only his eyes as he tracked her progression.
She suddenly lunged, thrusting the sword forward. He felt it graze the side of his leg before it struck something with a sound he was familiar with—the spongy wet noise a sword makes when it spears flesh.
She was breathing heavily from the rush of adrenaline when she smiled triumphantly. Lifting the sword, she swung the snake’s carcass over and dropped it between them. She withdrew the tip from where it had pierced the thing behind the neck. It was a good kill shot, but it wasn’t enough. Mattox was about to tell her as he reached for his knife when the creature started curling up, as if readying itself to strike, but Caralas was prepared. This time, when she brought her sword down, she severed the head from the body. She then used her weapon like a bat to swat the head, sending it sailing into the distance.
“That…was close,” she breathily remarked.
“And that…” He pointed to the creature’s remains. “Is dinner.”
Her eyes widened. “You’re not serious. Are you?”
Mattox chuckled. “Have you ever eaten snake before?”
“If I have, I didn’t know it.” She wrinkled her nose. Her face reflected her battle between starving and eating something she wasn’t familiar with. Starvation lost. “Do we have to eat it raw?”
Mattox lifted his face to the skies and laughed. Everything about this woman fascinated him. “No. We can grill it over an open fire first.”
“What fire? I don’t have anything make one with. Do you?”
“I always keep a piece of flint in my pocket,” he admitted. “If you’ll go gather up some wood, I can get us one going. A snake this small won’t take long to cook.”
“Let me guess. Carrying a piece of flint around with you is something your mother taught you?”
He knew she was teasing him, but it wasn’t malicious. It was then he realized that every time she brought up his mother, it was to make him remember something good about her. Something Atty had done to make him feel better. A way for him to rejoice in the fond memories, and to help him through his grieving process.
As if I couldn’t love this woman any more.
“Yes, it is.”
“All right. I’ll go get the wood, but you have to clean that thing,” Caralas offered.
“I’ll be right here waiting for you,” he promised.I’ll always be here for you. You have my word…and my heart.
25
Decision
Atty remained on her horse as Paxton went to investigate. It didn’t take him long to check out the body part they’d come across. It was one of several, whole and partial, they’d found while following the storm’s trail. This time, when he managed a weak grin as he strode back to their group, she gave up another prayer of thanks.
“It’s not one of ours, and I didn’t recognize the uniform,” her second informed her, holding up the emblem he’d torn off the body. “Do any of you?” When no one spoke, he shoved the piece of material into the scabbard and tossed the weapons belt he’d confiscated off the remains onto their supply wagon, along with the other weapons they’d found.
