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“That's not true. He’s just one of those guys who likes to think he can have any girl he likes because of his face and body and general hotness. Besides, he moves away from me like I'm contagious or something any time I get too close so you're way off," I said, hoping I hadn’t been that obvious in my minor infatuation with our tour guide as it seemed.
“Well maybe there's a reason for that. Like he doesn't think you feel the same or... he might be in a relationship with someone else at his camp," Laurie said, casting about for excuses.
“I don't doubt he has someone waiting for him," I replied.
“With a body like that," Laurie added as we both checked him out and burst out laughing.
Coal looked over his shoulder at us with a frown.
“What's so funny?" he asked and we laughed harder.
Coal shook his head and moved on, picking up the pace so that we struggled to keep up and I tried not to stare at his ass as I followed him. I failed. But the point was, I tried.
***
The day wore on and the dappled light filtering through the canopy overhead shifted, making our shadows stretch out before us. My feet were throbbing and I yearned for a soft bed and to take off my boots.
“It's not much further, maybe another hour," Coal explained as he took in our clearly exhausted expressions.
I was pretty sure we were holding him up, though he didn't say it outright.
“It's getting dark already - is it safe?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at the trees around us.
"It won't be fully dark for a while, it's generally still safe at this time," he reassured me but his eyes, which were darting back and forth around the trees constantly, betrayed his real feelings.
“Last night I thought I saw something on the riverbank, watching us as we crossed the lake," I said, moving close enough to Coal to be sure that Laurie wouldn't overhear.
He nodded, making no attempt to deny it.
“And did you think that it was aware of us?" he asked, his gaze flickering around even quicker than before.
“I got the feeling I was being watched," I agreed.
"Damn, I'd hoped it hadn't noticed us. But if it did then it’s probably on the hunt already," Coal cursed. "Kaloo!" The big dog turned her head towards us with her tongue lolling to one side. Taylor was still bumping along in the litter behind her but the beast didn’t even seem tired. Coal reached out a hand and laid it on her head. "Go home girl," he commanded. After a pause, Kaloo took off into the dense evergreen at speed and disappeared from sight, taking Taylor with her.
"Where is she going?" I demanded, my heart leaping as my best friend was stolen from me.
“She'll get him to safety. Can you manage a run?" Coal asked seriously, his tone quieting my protests.
He checked his weapons were all securely strapped down and I chewed my lip as I felt the tension rising. I evaluated my body, feeling the aches and fatigue from walking for two days straight over uneven ground but there wasn’t anything that would stop me from running.
“If it's necessary," I replied, though I didn't relish the prospect.
“Laurie, how are you doing, do you think you can run the last leg?" Coal asked her, beckoning her over too.
“What's happened?" she asked, her gaze sharpened and her hand moved pointlessly towards her empty gun holster.
"Nothing yet, can you run?" he asked again.
"Yes," she said without pause. It was easy to forget sometimes that Laurie was a trained soldier but one look in her eyes at that moment was an enough to show me what she was made of.
Coal took Laurie's pistols from his belt and handed them back to her.
"I guess this means I trust you, don't make me regret it," he said, meeting her eye as he released his hold on the weapons.
“You won't, I'm a great shot." She smiled as she fastened them back into her holsters, looking instantly happier than she had all day.
"Stay close, shout if you start to fall behind," he said as he turned away from us.
