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“Smashing!” she exclaimed, walking up to the bubbling rock, squatting low, and taking a drink from the spring. “I could ruddy get used to fresh liquid like that. Brilliant.”
“Drink up.” Cash grinned at her.
“And I will.” She smiled at him and drank her fill of the fresh water. The water in their reusable water bottles had been lukewarm for a few hours now.
Brylee splashed her face and let the cool liquid wash over her hands and arms. “Can I take my blasted shoes and socks off and wallow in this delightful freshness?” She probably stunk from the exertion and the tropical warmth. Their path had been mostly shaded because of all the trees, but she still had sweat in places she’d never thought sweat could form.
“We might have a slight problem,” Cash said. He pulled the empty water bottles out of his bag and started filling them up in the spring. He was close. She liked him close.
Brylee waited for him to expound on his ‘slight problem,’ but he didn’t.
“I don’t actually enjoy problems.” Brylee hoped her voice sounded light and teasing, even though her pulse skittered. “I enjoy my feet cooling off in this beautiful stream.”
Cash smiled, but then he gestured to the spring and around at the thick forest dropping away from them to the west. From here, she could see to the west and back along the stream the way they’d come, but not much the other directions. The trees were really tall and thick.
“We can’t keep following the stream, unless we want to turn around and climb back down the side of the waterfall.” His brows rose as if he knew exactly what she’d think of that plan.
“Thank you, but no. Other options?”
He smiled, secured the lid on a bottle, and picked up another one. “I’ve been watching for any kind of geographic features we can exploit, signs of trails, even game trails, and so far, nothing. I think we should head toward the west since the beach is closer in that direction, make a trail and hopefully find more flags, then circle back south to camp for the night.”
“That sounds like a plan I can live with.” She paused and looked him over. How did he look so strong, fresh, and perfect when she probably looked like a wilted ginger plant? “What was the problem? Maybe don’t use that word again unless absolutely necessary.”
He chuckled and then set the water bottle on the rock and drew his machete out of its sheath, straightening to his full height. He looked dangerous and inspiring holding that thing. “We have to make a trail, and I’m praying we don’t run out of daylight before we get back. No time to soak those lovely toes of yours.”
“Ah, that is a problem. We’ll soak them in the stream by our camp tonight.”
“Perfect.” He set the machete down on top of the holder and finished filling up his water bottle. She pulled hers out and hehelped her fill them. Their arms brushed. Her heart took off at a rapid gallop. He smiled gently at her and stowed the water bottles back in her pack or in their holders on the side. Then he splashed some water on his face and arms like she’d done and drank from the spring.
Brylee stared. With an open mouth. She was certain she had not looked like that when she’d been rinsing off and splashing. He glistened, sparkled, shone. The striated muscles in his arms rippled under smooth, tanned skin. She licked her lips, and at that unfortunate moment he turned to her.
His brows lifted. “Are you all right?”
“I’m right as rain, ma brave buddy ole pal. I’m a gonna …” She searched for something to say or do. All she wanted to do was splash some water on him, have him return the favor, tease back and forth in a water fight until he picked her up and threatened to dunk her, then he’d get distracted having her close. He’d lower his head and kiss her until the sun went down. She wouldn’t even care that they had to camp right here, because he’d hold her close and fight off all the spiders and snakes.
He stared at her as if even more concerned. “Maybe you need to rest. We could make camp here.”
“No! No, sir.” Her fantasies aside, she wanted to eat some of the real food at camp and sleep in the tent. They’d still be close together, and different fantasies could happen. “I’m gonna tell you some tall tales while we hike our sorry keisters down this mountainside and keep ya happy and entertained and grateful you have the likes of me along, I can tell you what.” She pitched her voice up at the end and was rewarded with his smile.
“Tall tales, eh? So I can’t trust your stories.” He lifted her backpack and walked to her, sliding it onto her shoulders. Brylee thought she’d faint from the brush of his hands on her arms.
“Thank you kindly, sir. Of course ya can trust my tales. At least to keep you smilin’.” She winked.
“You do keep me smiling.” His voice was serious, though, as if he was surprised or thought he needed to be more serious.
He lifted his backpack and slid it on, then strapped the machete sheath over it. Holding on to the machete, he turned to the west, looking like her version of every good superhero. He was Captain America with a rough edge. He was ideal.
“That is a thick nightmare,” he murmured, looking over the growth. “I hope we get you back to camp tonight.”
“Ah, where’s your faith?” she tried to quip, but she was terrified of the same thing. They hadn’t seen any dangerous animals, but she really wanted to sleep in that tent, not in the wild with snakes and spiders and scorpions crawling over her.
“You pray and I’ll chop us a path.”
“Us against the world.” She smiled at him, she hoped bravely. He was perfect, and she was a wimpy and inexperienced girl relying on this macho man.
“That’s right.”
Turning, Cash started hacking the trail. She followed, but not too close as the machete was a little terrifying.
