Page 58 of Finding Her


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"I'm sorry. Did I hurt you?" She asked.

"Hurt me, no. But you sure as hell did something. And I don't think I'm going to get better for a long while." He leaned and kissed her again.

This time she surrendered to him, letting him have his leave of her. She moaned softly as his lips went everywhere, over her face and she sighed his name. "Oh Aiden," she sighed once more.

He kissed her nose and stared into her blue eyes.

"Can you get sick from kissing?" she asked as he looked into her eyes and fingered her hair.

"Oh yeah, but one day, we'll be very well. It's just not gonna happen here and now. I promise you though, I'll make you very well… before too long." He smiled.

"I don't understand… "

"I know, but you will. Goodnight sweetheart." He said and got up slowly, walking as though almost in pain to his own blanket.

"Sleep well, little one." He smiled as he glanced over his shoulder at her.

She laid there staring and wondering what he was talking about. Remembering the sweetness of his kisses, she closed her eyes and dreamed of good things.

Chapter Thirteen

The next morning at breakfast everyone was still talking about the Cougar. The women were distraught, and this time Lucy was more upset than any of the others.

Aiden knew she sensed something, and it disturbed him greatly as Lucy was able to feel things and see things before, they happened. He remembered long ago, when her father was bit by a rattler, she'd seen something before he left camp that morning and told Aiden. Aiden thought nothing of it, as he didn't know her powers. But sure enough, he'd been bitten, and another warrior brought him back to camp that same day. Lucy doctored him and prayed over him and the old man recovered. Now she was back into that state of knowing and it bothered him.

What could he do?

He felt they needed to leave but it might mean disaster if they tried it.

Angus poked his head out the cave and turned around to stare into the Cougar's face. He stood there staring for some time, then slowly eased himself back inside.

"He's hungry, he's very lean, I saw no blood to indicate he'd eaten anything."

"That's not good." Aiden shrugged.

"No, it isn't." Angus agreed.

"What are we going to do?" Gloria fretted.

"The longer he goes without food, the worse things will get."

"I agree."

"We can't try it yet," Lucy came up to them, her worry for everyone in her eyes.

"Honey, we have to do something. The hungrier he gets, the worse it might be. And our own food supply won't last long if we don't start watching it. We've still got a ways to go and we need to preserve as hunting isn't always possible or good this time of year."

"This cat has been pushed." Angus told them. "He had to be, he's so lean, and he's very hungry. Either he's traveled a long way, without much nourishment, or he hasn't eaten in a long time. He's probably the runt of his bunch and had to compete with his siblings for food and territory."

"What do you mean?" Frank asked him.

"Cougars are competitive with other males. Every now and then there is one that can't hold his end up, he doesn't get his kill, and so he gets hungrier. The other Cougars push him. He's starving, and we are his meal." Angus told him.

"My God, isn't there anything we can do?" Frank asked his concern genuine.

"Cougars don't attack a man unless they are completely desperate. They'll kill cows, deer, small animals, anything rather than attack a man. They are usually a shy animal. We are on his territory or at least what he's claiming. That puts us in a dangerous position. Unless they are starved and beaten out of their own territories. It's a cold winter and there's little to kill to keep him satisfied. If we go out, we must be very quiet, stand tall or ride our horses out very slowly. Running will make him attack. Crouching down will make him attack. Even if we manage to best him, he could come back with another attack. You must not cower in any way around them. Look them in the eye, never run, but walk away."

"How could I look a Cougar in the eye, when I know he could kill me?" Gloria asked.

Source: www.allfreenovel.com
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