Hunt and Pray by Cindy Sutherland Page A

wouldn’t look at Drew as he spoke. Instead, he kept his eyes on Drew’s legs as he returned to working the knots out of the muscles. “I haven’t touched a lot of people—kind of goes along with the whole ‘not trusting people’ thing.”
    Drew let his head fall back and closed his eyes. “You’re really good at it.”
    He could feel the temperature dropping and the humidity rising and knew it was time to get under cover. He sighed and opened his eyes. “We should get back under there. The rain is gonna start soon.”
    Chance nodded, pulled one of Drew’s feet out of the water, and dried it with his T-shirt, arching his eyebrow at Drew when he tried to protest. He grabbed a few large leaves off a nearby tree and set them on the ground before setting Drew’s clean foot on them.
    He repeated the process with the other foot, and once he was done, he threw the shirt over his shoulder and stood, then bent to take Drew into his arms once more. He carried him back to their little space and set him down carefully and Drew found it hard to let go of Chance’s warm body.
    Chance didn’t say anything, but grabbed his pack from where he’d set it down and pulled it open. He took out the first aid kit and gave Drew two of the pain pills that were left, then gently smeared the antibiotic ointment over the sores on Drew’s feet before he wrapped them loosely in gauze.
    “That should keep them clean for the night. I’m going down to wash our socks in the stream so we can hang them to dry.” Chance didn’t look at him as he gathered everything together, returned the kit to the pack, and then stood to leave.
    “Thank you, Chance. I appreciate it.” He smiled up at Chance and was rewarded with a gentle smile in return.
    “You’re welcome.” He stood there like he might say more, but then turned and hurried down to the stream.
    Drew leaned back on his elbows and watched Chance slip off his boots and socks before washing both pairs in the stream along with the shirt he’d dried Drew’s feet with.
    Watching him walk around half naked was no hardship, but Drew was worried about what would happen when the sun went down and it started to get cold.
    The shelter they’d chosen was perfect, but unfortunately, he knew rattlesnakes would think so too. It was going to be a long night.
    He looked up as Chance returned, his feet stuffed into untied boots, and laid the dripping clothes on a rock to dry.
    “I’m gonna grab some wood and start us a little fire. It’s going to be too cold to go without, especially with the rain coming.” Chance turned to leave but stopped when Drew reached up and grabbed his hand.
    “Is it going to be safe?” He was worried about being left alone, but he was also worried about Chance stumbling around in the near dark.
    Chance nodded. “I think so. I’m sure the colonel and Ezra would have gotten ready to get out of the rain, and I don’t think there’s any way they could spot the fire in here.”
    Drew squeezed Chance’s hand and let him go. “Okay. I’ll be here waiting.”
    Chance grinned and walked out of the shelter.
    Drew settled in to wait for him, trying to pretend he wasn’t afraid and failing miserably.

Chapter Nine
     
    C HANCE returned about twenty minutes later, just as the rain started to fall. He had a big armload of wood, and he walked over, waving Drew down when he started to stand to help unload it.
    “I got it, don’t worry about it.” The other man put the wood down and climbed wearily to his feet. “Just wait until you see what I found!”
    He was excited, that much was clear. When Chance returned, it was with more wood, although not as much this time, and a big piece of bark that was lined with leaves and full to the brim with berries.
    Drew took the offered bark bowl and blushed when his stomach growled. Chance set the rest of the wood down and kicked off his boots before settling beside Drew.
    “Chance, I don’t mean to doubt you, but are you sure these are