asked, aiming his rifle.
“Go for it.”
A few seconds later the gun went off, the crack echoing in the night. The wolf ran, whining, heading deep into the trees.
“You hit it?”
Chase shook his head, “No, just scared it away.”
“Dustin?” Kate shouted as we ran toward the tree. We stood underneath the limbs, waiting to help the girls down.
“Yup,” I tried not to act overly concerned as Kate climbed down and allowed me to help her to the ground.
“What the hell took you so long?”
I grinned, “You’re welcome.”
She crossed her arms and nodded, “Thanks.”
I returned the nod, “You okay?”
“Fine,” she smiled. “Except for the part where I grabbed the wrong gun!”
I grimaced. “Great, let’s check the rest and make sure they’re loaded when we get back.”
“My idea of camping is the Holiday Inn. But at least I’m trying.” Briar nearly leapt into Chase’s arms.
Chase started back to camp hugging her to his side. “Next time, let me go to the bathroom with you.”
She nodded, “I will have to insist, trust me.”
I started after them, but realized Kate hadn’t followed. “You coming?”
“Yeah,” she grabbed the empty shotgun off the ground and started toward me. “I’m beat, let’s get some sleep.”
“After we check the guns.” I squinted, in the dark it was hard to tell, but my attention was drawn to her feet. “Are you limping?”
“Maybe,” she sighed, heading up the dirt path past me. “It’s not a big deal.”
I pulled a small flashlight out of my pocket and illuminated the ground. “Shit, what happened to your leg?”
“He didn’t break the skin. I’m fine.”
Stubborn female. First the woods, and now this. What was I going to do with her? “Damn it, Kate, we need to work on your communication skills.”
She rounded on me, “I am fine. Okay? You’re worrying like an old woman too. Maybe worse than Chase. If you don’t remember, I used to be just as tough as both you cowboys, and if you keep treating me like I’m totally city now… Why are you smiling? I’m serious. I’m going to slap that grin right off your face!”
I kept smiling. “You done yet?”
“No! And if I want to wander alone into the woods, it’s my life, my choice! I’m not your girlfriend, so I’m not your concern.” She started back on the path.
My next move would get me slapped. I was sure of it.
But I did it anyway.
I grabbed her arm, turned her to face me, and laid a quick kiss on her lips.
Kate growled, but before she could do anything, even register what happened, I tossed her over my shoulder and headed back for camp.
“Dustin!” she protested, smacking my back. “Put me down. Crazy, controlling, thick headed…just put me down!”
“Nope.”
“Caveman.”
“And proud of it.”
When I got back, Chase and Briar were in their tent, done for the night. It was zipped shut. I walked to the other side of camp, unzipped the little blue tent Kate had set up, and practically tossed her in.
She opened her mouth to start on me again, but I added fuel to the fire by putting one finger over her lips and shaking my head. She’d be even more upset, but I was past the point of caring.
“Let’s get something straight,” I knelt in front of her, trying to keep my face serious, when all I wanted to do was smile at her chagrined expression. “I know you’re not city. You’re as tough as any cowboy, but for God’s sake Kate, the way you’re acting is what’s got me acting like this. You’re not yourself half the time. I don’t know why you showed up here, but I’m not stupid. I’m smart enough to know it’s got more to do than some fan that’s a little too into you. You’ve got bodyguards and people you hire to take care of that. So just cut the bullshit and figure out a way to tell me the truth, or I’ll find out myself one way or another. If I have to get Cheyenne on the phone and tell her you’re here I will.”
“Dustin, please. Don’t
“Go for it.”
A few seconds later the gun went off, the crack echoing in the night. The wolf ran, whining, heading deep into the trees.
“You hit it?”
Chase shook his head, “No, just scared it away.”
“Dustin?” Kate shouted as we ran toward the tree. We stood underneath the limbs, waiting to help the girls down.
“Yup,” I tried not to act overly concerned as Kate climbed down and allowed me to help her to the ground.
“What the hell took you so long?”
I grinned, “You’re welcome.”
She crossed her arms and nodded, “Thanks.”
I returned the nod, “You okay?”
“Fine,” she smiled. “Except for the part where I grabbed the wrong gun!”
I grimaced. “Great, let’s check the rest and make sure they’re loaded when we get back.”
“My idea of camping is the Holiday Inn. But at least I’m trying.” Briar nearly leapt into Chase’s arms.
Chase started back to camp hugging her to his side. “Next time, let me go to the bathroom with you.”
She nodded, “I will have to insist, trust me.”
I started after them, but realized Kate hadn’t followed. “You coming?”
“Yeah,” she grabbed the empty shotgun off the ground and started toward me. “I’m beat, let’s get some sleep.”
“After we check the guns.” I squinted, in the dark it was hard to tell, but my attention was drawn to her feet. “Are you limping?”
“Maybe,” she sighed, heading up the dirt path past me. “It’s not a big deal.”
I pulled a small flashlight out of my pocket and illuminated the ground. “Shit, what happened to your leg?”
“He didn’t break the skin. I’m fine.”
Stubborn female. First the woods, and now this. What was I going to do with her? “Damn it, Kate, we need to work on your communication skills.”
She rounded on me, “I am fine. Okay? You’re worrying like an old woman too. Maybe worse than Chase. If you don’t remember, I used to be just as tough as both you cowboys, and if you keep treating me like I’m totally city now… Why are you smiling? I’m serious. I’m going to slap that grin right off your face!”
I kept smiling. “You done yet?”
“No! And if I want to wander alone into the woods, it’s my life, my choice! I’m not your girlfriend, so I’m not your concern.” She started back on the path.
My next move would get me slapped. I was sure of it.
But I did it anyway.
I grabbed her arm, turned her to face me, and laid a quick kiss on her lips.
Kate growled, but before she could do anything, even register what happened, I tossed her over my shoulder and headed back for camp.
“Dustin!” she protested, smacking my back. “Put me down. Crazy, controlling, thick headed…just put me down!”
“Nope.”
“Caveman.”
“And proud of it.”
When I got back, Chase and Briar were in their tent, done for the night. It was zipped shut. I walked to the other side of camp, unzipped the little blue tent Kate had set up, and practically tossed her in.
She opened her mouth to start on me again, but I added fuel to the fire by putting one finger over her lips and shaking my head. She’d be even more upset, but I was past the point of caring.
“Let’s get something straight,” I knelt in front of her, trying to keep my face serious, when all I wanted to do was smile at her chagrined expression. “I know you’re not city. You’re as tough as any cowboy, but for God’s sake Kate, the way you’re acting is what’s got me acting like this. You’re not yourself half the time. I don’t know why you showed up here, but I’m not stupid. I’m smart enough to know it’s got more to do than some fan that’s a little too into you. You’ve got bodyguards and people you hire to take care of that. So just cut the bullshit and figure out a way to tell me the truth, or I’ll find out myself one way or another. If I have to get Cheyenne on the phone and tell her you’re here I will.”
“Dustin, please. Don’t
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