“I'll hold you to that promise.”
“You do that.”
They leapt about as Ethan drew near, and he saw them. The helicopter hovered beside them, the rotor blades causing the water to roll.
“Come back for us!” Brad roared as Jake leaned out. “Someone is shooting at us!” Macy watched as he mimicked the action a gun would make, and then pointed to the trees.
Jake talked to the others, and then the helicopter rose and hovered over them. The first thing that came down was a gun, which Macy stayed away from as it landed with a thud some distance away. Brad picked it up. A blanket followed, and then a small sack.
“Follow lake! Trees! Hide!”
Macy heard Jake's roar, and then the bird was rising and leaving them once more.
“I feel sick.”
“I said I'd keep you safe, Macy. Trust me, okay. I was a Boy Scout.”
“I can't believe you're making a joke right now.”
She clutched the sack while he wrapped the blanket around his neck and tucked the gun in his waistband.
“Think of it as an adventure.”
He held out his hand and she put hers in it, and then he led her back to the trees.
“I don't want an adventure, I want to go home,” she said, and knew she sounded pathetic.
“And there was me thinking I had you pegged as a strong girl.”
“No one thinks I'm a strong girl.”
“Only because you don’t show them that side of you. Now be quiet and walk, woman.”
They walked, keeping hidden as best they could. Brad kept hold of her hand, but neither of them spoke. The trees seemed to be getting denser, and he searched for any trails that would lead them to a clearing.
“I don't think anyone's following us now, Brad. After those initial shots, I think whoever was behind that gun thought they’d done their job.”
“Which was scaring the shit out of us.”
“That’s my take,” Macy said.
“Yeah, I think you're right there, so now we just need to find a clearing.”
They walked until they came to a stream, he urged her down beside him and cupped his hands for her to drink. Macy then did the same for him.
“You okay? Not too tired?”
She washed her face in the water.
“No. You?”
“No.”
“I’m not into exercise, but I do a bit of walking so now we’re not running, I’m good.”
“Not one of those gym bunnies?”
He didn’t give big smiles like his brother, just small gentle ones. Smiles that made Macy’s toes curl in their sneakers, and her heart thud a bit harder.
