Page 62 of Impossible Crusade
He didn’t say it, but she felt like he intoned … she’d need heavenly strength to survive once he left her again. This week of growing closer and knowing without a doubt he was the only man she’d ever love would make it even more devastating when he walked away. She’d be more broken than the shattered wooden lance.
She shivered and clung tighter to him, as if she could prevent the future separation from coming.
Chapter
Sixteen
Aiden slept fitfully. He enjoyed holding Chalisa close but didn’t like thinking about the questions she’d raised. What if he couldn’t do something on his own?
He was Captain Aiden Porter, son of Eisenhower Porter III, brother of Ike Porter, and second top security specialist in the world. He could conquer anything.
Yet he couldn’t conquer the separation from her, and it was creeping closer by the moment.
Finally, the sky lightened a fraction. He could move and not just stew on hurting Chalisa and himself by a vow he’d sworn at eighteen and reaffirmed when his dad died.
He gently slid out from under Chalisa. She sighed and cuddled onto her side. She was so beautiful. If only …
Aiden shook his head, edged to the bag, and pulled out one of the GoPro cameras with the head strap. Kingston had explained they had to wear the GoPros this morning. Thankfully, they’d had last night alone.
He turned it on and put it on.
There had been no stipulation that Chalisa had to kill or clean the turkey. Hopefully his prey was close by like Kingston had said. Slipping into his shoes and tying them, he pulled out the knife and slid it in his pocket, then strapped the rifle over his back.
Standing, he searched the woods, his eyes already adjusted, and then he slowly started moving. Time to find their breakfast. The wild turkeys nested in trees just like the ones down river. He would win this challenge, and then he’d have to say goodbye to the only woman he’d ever love.
The sky was still barely pink. Aiden had already found a young turkey in a tree, slit its throat, cleaned and skinned it, and had it roasting over a small fire a few feet away from Chalisa. He’d dug a Dakota fire hole, another small hole with a tunnel close to the fire to reduce the smoke. With any luck Lemuel and West wouldn’t realize he had the jump on them until too late.
She was still sleeping. He was glad she could rest. He washed up in the nearby river, filled up the waterskin and slung it over his back, and gathered some berries.
Returning to the fire, he rotated the meat. It was almost done. They would eat and hike out of here the moment the sun crested the mountains. He hadn’t heard any shots to indicate Lemuel and West had found and killed a turkey, but they may have used a knife and a fire hole like he did to keep them guessing. If they had, he and Chalisa were in trouble.
Aiden gently nudged Chalisa about twenty minutes before the sun would rise.
“Morning,” she whispered.
“Good morning.”
She looked around. “You’ve been busy.”
He shrugged. “I figured we’d get a head start. Ready to eat and run down a mountain?”
“Let’s do it.” She smiled sweetly and sat up, stretching.
He forced himself to look away. He had plenty of desire for her inside already. No need to make it worse.
“I’m going to sneak into the woods,” she murmured.
He smiled and stood, grabbing the pile of woolly lamb’s ear that he’d gathered. He placed it in her hand. “Toilet paper.”
“Thanks. Nice headband.” She smiled at the GoPro mounted on his head.
“I’ve got one for you that matches it.”
“I can’t wait.”
He smiled and watched her disappear into the trees. He busied himself ripping some meat off and blowing on it. He tasted it. Gamey, but not as tough as Prince Darian had said. It was cooked, and they could eat and be on their way the moment a bit of that sun appeared.
Chalisa came out of the trees, her face sparkling and wet. She wiped her hands on her joggers. “I washed up,” she said proudly.