But I needed to find a way to keep these growing feelings at bay. At least until we got back to civilization. The last thing she needed was to feel uncomfortable because I kept staring at her like a man dying of thirst, stranded on a raft at sea for weeks.
So caught up in my thoughts, it took a moment for the scuffle outside to fully register. My head came up, my brows drawing together.
I glanced at Lana.
She, too, frowned and stared toward the forest.
Clutching the stick I used as a crutch, I swung toward the cave wall and my rifle that was propped against it.
“Come back here,” I said, my voice low.
Lana retreated immediately, stepping backward as she kept her eyes facing the trees.
A branch snapped, then one of the spring triggers released.
Logs and rocks clattered to the ground to the left just out of view as the sapling we tied down shot skyward, its branches clicking together.
I raised the rifle, ready to stop whatever loomed just out of sight.
Chapter 14
Toren
The quick sidestep of hooves was my first clue to what was just out of view. A moment later, a bull moose trotted around the opening to our shelter. His head jerked right as he smelled us, and one foot slid in the snow as he came to a halt.
My grip tightened on the rifle. I did not want to shoot him, but if he charged us, I might not have a choice. We had nowhere to go inside this alcove.
But after staring at us for several tense moments, he turned away and ran off into the forest. In seconds, the trees swallowed him up, and he disappeared from view.
I lowered the rifle and blew out a breath of relief, trying to calm my heart now hammering away in my chest.
Behind me, Lana let out half laugh, half sob and sank to her butt in the dirt. “Holy crap. That could have been so bad.”
“Yeah.” I hobbled over to the wall and set the rifle against it.
She got to her feet. “I’ll run out and reset that sapling trigger.” Turning, she reached for her jacket, hanging on a stick near the fire.
“I’ll come with you.” I picked up the rifle again to sling it over my shoulder and across my chest.
“You don’t need to. It won’t take long.”
I sent her a quick, annoyed look. “I’m not that crippled. I can help.”
She smiled. “I didn’t say you were. But we both know rest is good for you right now.”
“Maybe so, but I’m still not letting you wander out there without me. You need someone to watch your back while you work. Moose aren’t the only dangerous thing roaming through these woods.”
Her expression sobered at the reminder of what we were up against.
Leaning heavily on my crutch, I followed her out of our shelter, being careful to place my makeshift crutch through the snow onto solid ground. The last thing I needed was to have it slip off a rock and send me flying. The injuries I had were enough. Thankfully, it wasn’t far to the trigger the moose tripped.
Despite telling her I was just along as protection, I helped her tie the sapling back down and re-stack the logs and rocks. Between the two of us, we made quick work of it and were finished in just a few minutes.
Lana straightened after placing the last rock on the pile and dusted off her hands. “There. That should do it.”
I grunted, my hand tightening around my crutch as pain radiated through my leg and hand. I probably should have stayed behind as she suggested.
“You can put the murder face away now, you know. We’re safe.”
