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“Why?”
“I’m not sure, but I can tell you that when someone is alone for so long, and they finally get a glimpse of heaven? …Well, we just do stupid things,” Gideon said softly, causing Lena to look at him in alarm – only to see that he was looking past her.
“… A lot of stupid things,” he repeated numbly and then shook his head. “I’ve gotta go. I’m walking Christina back to the cabin. Let me know if you need any help with him when he gets back.”
“Will do – and thank you.”
“You betcha.”
Lena watched as he moved slowly toward Christina and leaned forward to kiss her cheek before the woman nodded and they walked off into the darkness toward their cabin. She stood there in the moonlight, feeling so dejected as the truth of Gideon’s words hit her like a ton of bricks.
Was she so easy to read?
She had struggled with wanting to fit in, to be a part of something, to have someone at her side for so long, that being partnered with Jake had seemed like a blessing and a curse – but could it be the same for him? Why would someone deny him the chance to talk to someone, to have someone who would cheer him on or support him?
Maybe there was something wrong with thebothof them?
And turned, hearing a noise behind her.
Houghton was helping Jake walk as he stumbled forward, his head lolling. She hurried to his side – the injured side – and felt him pull back protectively as he looked at her with glassy eyes.
“You,” he said in a garbled voice.
“What’s wrong?” she asked Houghton openly, her voice laced with concern as Jake closed his eyes again and snored for a second before jerking back away.
“Durn fool is pushing himself too hard. When I told him he was on wood duty, I told him to pick up sticks or chop up anything that was already splitting due to decay. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that Idiot #1 and Idiot #2 would try to incapacitate both of themselves,” Houghton growled angrily, pulling him toward the cabin. “Gideon knows better than to put weight on his leg, but he was trying to show off… and this one knew better than to strain himself. Picking up a tree the size of a Buick with three fractured ribs and one held together with paperclips is not what I told you to do, moron!”
“Awwwwman,” Jake uttered plaintively. “Now you hate me too? Nobody likes me. You, Logan, Lena… I just don’t get it. I keep trying and…”
“What’s wrong with him?”
“He didn’t break anything, but he did pull several muscles in his chest and tried to give himself a hernia,” Houghton grumbled. “He’s lucky he didn’t rip something vital or…”
“What’s wrong,” she repeated as Jake sagged again… and then jerked upward.
“I’m awake!” he blurted out for a second before closing his eyes. “Ugh, I hate pain pills and muscle relaxers. I feel so ooopey-doopey.”
Lena froze as Houghton looked at her.
“I can keep them at the main house if it’s too much,” Houghton said quietly as she moved to open the door for the duo. “But it’s only going to tide him over for about four or five hours. I hate for him to wake up in pain again – and then have to walk over to get them.”
“No, leave them,” she whispered. “I’m scared of them, scared of myself, but I don’t crave or want them. I never really did – it was more of a way to stave off the effects of detox that comes with getting off of the pills. I would rather he not be hurting when he wakes up.”
“Are you sure?” Houghton asked again. “I would not give a former alcoholic dying of dehydration a bottle of whiskey… so the idea of leaving the pills here doesn’t sit too well.”
“Take ‘em,” Jake slurred and sagged against him. “So sleepy and can’t do that to my favorite roomie.”
“It’s fine,” she promised. “Count the pills, leave one of each for him when he wakes up, and he can get the others tomorrow if he needs them.”
“Deal.”
“Nooooo,” Jake groaned in protest as they helped him sit down.
Ignoring him, Houghton looked at her.
“Are you good? I don’t think I can get him up there like this.”
“I’m just going to make him comfy here,” she suggested, immediately kneeling in front of him and taking off his boots… only to feel a hand touch her head. She looked up to see him looking at her, frowning as he tried to focus, and there was such sadness in his eyes that it nearly broke her heart.
