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“I’ll go first. I’m a good swimmer.” I took a deep breath, shoving the anxiety down to the pit of my stomach. “Throw my duffel bag across.”
He hesitated, but did as I said, hurling the bag across the water. It landed a good three or four feet from the edge of the water and I nodded in approval. I took one step, my hiking boot landing on the slick bark. It slid a good six inches at the pressure, and I cringed.
This might really not work.
“I’ll hold them,” Wade’s voice came from behind me. “Do you want to take the dog, or do you want me to?”
“We can toss him,” I choked out, my fear beginning to build as I saw how quickly the water was moving below the little bridge. It wouldnotbe good if one of us fell into the water, Takoda included. “I’m going to go.” I forced the words out before I could chicken out, and Wade dropped down to his knees to steady the trees.
Taking one last deep breath, I took off down the trees, feeling them sway and give to my weight. I wasn’t that heavy. I was close to one-thirty-five from spending so much time on the road, and it showed as I nearly lost my balance when one tree bent enough to catch the water.
“You got it!” Wade called out from behind me, and I let that drive me forward, jumping the last few feet onto the other side.
“I don’t know if the branches can hold you,” I called across the water to him. “It wasn’t nearly as sturdy as I thought it would be. I don’t know if it’ll work.”
“Nah.” He shook his head, giving me a reassuring smile. “I can make it across.” He swept Takoda up into his arms.
“Are you going to toss him?” I asked, readying myself to potentially catch my twenty pound dog, and hopefully not drop him.
“I’ll carry him,” Wade said, giving me a small smile. “Don’t you worry. Just hold the trees steady and I’ll be over there in a flash.”
I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest—maybe even a little harder than it had when I had crossed it myself. “Okay, come on.”
He wasted no time, moving quickly across the trees, cradling Takoda under his arm. When he reached the place where the trees had nearly buckled, he did what I would’ve done, too.
He jumped.
And I held my breath—it was a good ways away.
His boots narrowly made it onto the firm ground on the other side, but the moment they hit, he dropped Takoda and let out a holler. “Yes!”
I held up my hand for a high-five, a huge smile of relief on my face. “Nice job with that jump.”
“Nice job on this idea.” He slapped my hand lightly but left it there. Instead of pulling away, he intertwined his fingers with mine. With a slight tug, Wade brought me to his chest, leaning down and kissing me softly. Surprised, I hesitated in the kiss at first, but then gave in.
And I thought this would never happen again.
His tongue caressed mine as he wrapped his arm around my waist. I clung to his shirt, the same one that he had worn the day I met him. I didn’t care—the passion burning hot between us in the moment.
But then the thunder cracked overhead, and we both froze.
I pulled away, looking up at him. “How much farther did you say we had to go?”
His face dropped as his head tilted up toward the storm clouds filling in what was left of the fading blue sky. “I would say about three miles, probably. We’re going to have to move fast if we’re going to make it.”
“Okay, then I guess we need to get a move on.” I stepped away from him, letting the contact between us end. Disappointment panged through my chest, but I ignored it. I didn’t need to be growing attached to Wade anyway. I was leaving and starting a new life...
I don’t need to complicate my life.
“You know what sounds good to me?” Wade cut into my thoughts, and I looked over at him as we squished through the mud, heading across an open field.
“What would that be?”
“A fuckingshower.” He laughed, shaking his head as we continued to tromp onward. “I have no problem with going showerless for a few days, but I’ve hit my limit, and the rain isn’t cutting it.”
“I’m getting pretty tired of dry shampoo and makeup remover wipes.” I shuddered, instantly feeling the oil in my hair. “Do you think they have power back at your family’s ranch?”
“I have no idea, but there’s gas heat and a solar powered well, so there’s water and heat. Worst case scenario, I’ll have to settle for a bath. I haven’t taken one of those since I was a kid, but at this point, I’ll take any form of physical cleansing.”
