Losing You (Finding You Series Book 2) by Amanda Mackey Page A

none.
    “I don’t really know exactly, but when you come to visit, I’ll let you taste some and then you can judge for yourself as to whether you’ll have any more or not.”
    We slid into easy dialogue, discussing all the good things that modern life had to offer. There was so much Daniel wanted to know, sopping it up like a sponge. I rattled on and on as long as he wanted to listen, like an out of control train. There was no stopping me. I was as eager to converse as he was to listen.
    Out of that morning a friendship formed. We were both outcasts on the island and so gravitated to each other for camaraderie. Friendship had no limits like age, color, or creed. I was only too happy to teach the youngster about anything that interested him.
    We’d been chatting for quite a while when Daniel’s father roared out of the bushes. It was native tongue so I couldn’t understand what he was yelling.
    “Oh no! It’s my father! I was meant to be collecting fruit for lunch. I haven’t got any.”
    “It’s okay! I’ll cover for you. Go, quickly! That way.” I sent him downwind and around the bend out of sight and harm’s way. He didn’t need to be asked twice as he scampered away.
    I stood, moving out from the rock, bracing myself with the crutches, not knowing what would transpire.
    The silverback gorilla barked out words deafeningly, approaching in strides down the track towards me.
    His black orbs tore strips off me, his hands clenched at his sides. I bit my tongue at the venomous sounds leaking from his mouth. He looked furious.
    This was the man that had saved me? It didn’t make sense. Why had he bothered? Early on I’d wanted to thank him, but not anymore. I was staring at this hulk of a man who not only wouldn’t understand a word of my gratitude but who didn’t deserve an ounce of it. It had to have been the other fisherman he was with that pulled me into the boat. The maniac standing before me wouldn’t have bothered.
    His face moved within inches of mine and at first it appeared that he was going to bite my nose off or kiss me. Neither option was thrilling.
    He roared again in my face. It took everything I had within me not to cower down.
    I stood like a stunned mullet, desperate to say something but not coming up with so much as a, boo.
    He hissed again.
    My ears rang. I took a step back, hoping I didn’t lose my balance. He followed, erasing my ability to think. I instantly recognized it as fear. My dear, old friend.
    His chubby sausage fingers poked into my shoulder, sending an electric shock through me.
    “I don’t know where he is! I haven’t seen him!” It was all I could say. I assumed he was calling for Daniel, obviously assuming I must know where he was.
    It failed to get him off me. In fact those same chubby fingers that had poked and prodded my shoulder now slapped my face, hard and fast. I recoiled in stunned disbelief and horror as my hand dropped one of the crutches to nurse my stinging cheek, triggering a fall flat on my backside. I was too astonished to cry as I waited for him to come at me again, but he didn’t.
    Instead, he spat on me. Literally, a big golly rolled out of his enormous, swollen lips and landed on my arm, then oozed like honey down and around the crease at my elbow. Happy with that, he stormed off as if I was some lower gutter trash, on my butt where I belonged.
    “You bastard! If my fiancé was here he’d rip you a new one.” It came a little late but I was too shaken to worry about such trivialities.
    Staying low, feeling my lips tremble, my eyes welled up. I slammed my fist into some sand, whimpering and afraid. This was worse than I first thought. Daniel must be petrified. I was petrified for him. That malicious troll would give my ex-husband a run for his money. I had to save Daniel. I was the only one prepared to try. I couldn’t let my own fear of the man stop me from my ultimate goal.
     
    ***
     
    I halfheartedly made my way back to the hut. My space. I