Nora nudged herself off his lap. “I most certainly can. You might be hotter than hell, Sam, but I’m accustomed to the cold. I’ll do just fine without hopping into the sack with your hotness, thank you very much.”
Sam leaned back, stretching out his long legs. “So you think I’m hot?”
She rolled her eyes and scooped up her mug. “It’s time to go, Sam.” She squirted just enough water into her cup to rinse it out, then stored it along with her burner back inside her pack.
Wordlessly, Sam followed her lead, cleaning up the remnants of his breakfast. He quickly stowed everything in his pack, as if she’d take off without him. He was right. That was her plan.
“Here, girl. Tut, tut, tut.” The high pitch of his tone and clicking noises made it clear he was talking to Arwen, not Nora. The beautiful black and gray shepherd darted to his side, allowing him to stow her bowl and water bottle in her pack.
“She’s a good dog. Large even for a German shepherd, isn’t she?”
Sam stroked Arwen’s head. “She’s part timber wolf. You should see her brother. Some folks have mistaken him for a wolf. Best trail dogs I’ve ever had.”
“Oh … Where’s her brother? Do you only track women down with one dog?”
Sam stared up at her, not a shred of guilt visible. “No … I usually bring both when I go on a hike. But Strider was sick. Probably ate something he wasn’t supposed to.”
“Strider … and Arwen.” Nora felt her cheeks lift. “You’re a Tolkienist?”
Sam laughed. “Well, I wouldn’t say I’m a Tolkienist, but I’m definitely a Ringer. My mom gave me a copy of The Hobbit in ninth grade, and I was hooked.”
Nora nodded. “Strider was my favorite too. As a teenager, I was a bit jealous of Arwen, though. She was so beautiful … and Strider loved her so much.”
Sam stood and took a step toward her again. “You’re just as beautiful, Nora. More actually.” Instead of throwing one of his mind-blowing kisses on her again, he snatched up his pack and hefted it to his back.
He strode off, again, as if he knew exactly where he was going.
Nora didn’t have a choice. Since he wouldn’t leave her, it only made sense for her to follow him. Eventually, he’d fall asleep, and she would find her way — without Sam. Without his wonderful words … without his sexy kissing.
Chapter 9
~ Sam ~
Sam stepped up his pace, attempting to make it at least halfway to the cabin before nightfall.
He hadn’t been lying when he told Nora bad weather was coming. He felt it in his bones. While his barometric altimeter didn’t report a drastic change in the weather, he knew it was coming. If not today, definitely tomorrow. They could make camp tonight, then set out early tomorrow before whatever was coming hit.
Once again, they hiked in silence. It seemed that every time he broke through Nora’s guard, another shield went up. She certainly didn’t seem to be thinking about another man when he was kissing her. When they stopped kissing, though, she put her mask back on. Perhaps he was right. Maybe they would do better if they spent a week in bed. If he kept kissing her, she couldn’t think about leaving for whatever home she wanted.
Sam glanced over his shoulder. Nora’s steps had changed. “You okay?”
“Fine.”
He turned. “What happened?”
“I’m fine.”
“Do you need to stop?”
“I said I’m fine, Sam.” She waved him forward, so he continued.
While he usually enjoyed hiking, he found he wasn’t paying attention to the beautiful vistas. All he could concentrate on was every sound Nora made. Every time she stopped, he stopped, making sure she didn’t turn back.
The hours stretched, and Nora gave no indication of wanting to stop. Even Arwen seemed to slow. As much as Sam had tried to stay hydrated, he didn’t feel the call of nature, which was bad. He glanced at his watch. Ten p.m. If they made camp now, they could be up by five.
“There’s a clearing overlooking a valley about twenty minutes ahead. We’ll stop there and camp.”
“Okay …” was all Nora said.
She didn’t argue with him. Didn’t ask how he knew about the clearing. Just a soft murmured one word. Why was she fighting so hard to get lost?
He shook his head and trudged forward.
Thirty minutes later, they made it to the ridge. Although she hadn’t asked him, he slowed his pace. She was in pain. She’d been hiking days longer than he had, and those days had obviously caught up with her, even though she refused to admit it. As a fighter, she was accustomed to pushing through the pain, he was certain, but there was no reason to push herself out here. At least, she wouldn’t give him a reason.
Nora heaved a heavy sigh as she dropped her pack and walked to the ridgeline.
Although it was still light out, the sun had dropped behind the western mountains, and the view was spectacular, something you couldn’t see from the trail.
“Oh my …” Nora said. “It’s amazing.” She lifted her gaze to the Alaska Range and sighed.
Sam stepped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Denali will come out to play, I promise.”
Nora leaned back against him, her head resting against his chest. “How can you promise that, Sam?”
He pressed his lips to the side of her head. “Because I know the weather. Three days. You’ll be able to see the peak in three days.”
Nora turned in his arms. “And if it doesn’t?”
“Oh … you want to make a wager?”
She smiled. “If your weather forecasting skills are anything like your pool game, sure.”
Sam lowered his head to her forehead. “I wouldn’t bet against my forecasting skills, honey, but go ahead.”
She released a long breath. “I better not. You didn’t seem to have any trouble finding this spot, so I’m guessing your outdoor skills are better than your indoor skills.”
He laughed. “Not all of them …”
“My, my, Sam. You’re awfully cocky.”
“Isn’t that what a fighter does, Nora? Put on a show?”
“Something like that.” She leaned back in his arms again and gazed out at the splendor of Denali. “Do you ever get used to it?”
Sam tightened his arms around her. “Never. In my opinion, I won the lottery by being born in Alaska. I wouldn’t live anywhere else in the world.”
She shrugged beneath his embrace. “How do you know? Where else have you lived?”
Sam sighed. “I’ve traveled. When I was in my twenties, I used to take my dogs on rescues. Before I had to take charge of the family business, that is. Besides, more than half a million tourists visit Denali yearly. Obviously, there’s a reason. You’re here. With your connections, you could go anywhere, and yet, you chose here.”
Nora nodded, but didn’t respond.
Sam had said he wouldn’t push her, and he wouldn’t. He dropped his arms, allowing Nora a moment to adjust so she wouldn’t fall backward. “Well, I’m going to set up camp, and I’m starving. How ’bout you?”
“I could eat.” She stepped to her backpack and pulled out her burner and a soup packet. She tore open a protein bar while she waited for the water to boil.
“No MREs?” Sam asked.
“Too heavy. I prefer the protein bars, and the soup is great. Warms me up.”
Sam scoffed. “Not many calories in them, though. Want one of mine?”
Nora shook her head. “I’m fine, Sam. I have all my calories planned out for the day. I know how much I need to keep going.”
“Okay, okay.” He held up a hand. “I’ll stop questioning your skills. Obviously, you’ve made it this far.”
While his meal heated, he pulled out his tent and backpack.
Nora strung up a hammock between two trees and then unrolled her sleeping bag in it. Next, she strung a tarp above her makeshift bed.
Sam watched, waiting to see if she was going to bring out a tent. When she finished sett
ing up the bag, she returned to her soup. She made herself comfortable on the bear canister he’d seen earlier, and started to eat.
“No tent?”
“I thought you were going to stop questioning me.” She peered at him through the wafting steam of her soup. “No tent. I prefer a hammock. It’s more comfortable and lighter.”
Hmm … While he’d heard of folks camping only with a hammock, he couldn’t imagine it. Not that a tent offered any protection, but he felt safer shielded from the elements. Warmer too. Especially with Arwen at his feet. He always had to leave the flap open, though. If she heard something, she’d crash through the tent.
Sam carried his bowl and bear canister to where Nora sat. “You want a fire?”
“Sure. Did you bring marshmallows?”
“’Fraid not.”
“Oh, well. It’ll still be nice. I haven’t bothered with a fire.”
Sam scooped up the rest of his beef stew.
Nora took the bowl from him before he could set it down. “Tell you what. I’ll clean the bowls while you make the fire.”
Sam smacked his fist to his chest. “Me make fire.”
Nora just laughed. “Yes, caveman. Go make fire.”
Sam stood and Arwen hopped up. He held up his hand at the same time he gave her a command. “Bleib!”
Nora raised her eyebrows.
“The breeders I rescued her and Strider from taught her in German. Damn idiots were running a puppy mill, treating the dogs like … Hell, I’m not sure any living thing deserves the horrid condition those poor dogs lived in. Took me weeks to get them to come near me. Not sure how it benefits a breeder to abuse their dogs. The two of them were nearly skin and bones. Strider still scarfs down all the food, then tries to empty Arwen’s bowl.”
Nora scrunched up her nose. “I hate when people hurt animals — innocents of any kind.”
“Me too. You should have seen them …” He shook his head, then reached for Nora’s Nalgene bottle. “I’ll fill it up with filtered water.”
Nora downed the last bit of water and handed him her bottle. “Thanks. It’s probably better I didn’t see Arwen like that. A professional fighter going off on people doesn’t go over well with judges. And I don’t have any patience with those who hurt innocents.”
Sam raised his head in agreement. “I don’t either. I’ll be right back, okay? I won’t go far.”
She huffed out a breath. “Sam, I’m fine. I’ve made it this far without you.”
“I know … It’s just …” He sighed. “Nora, there are good reasons that you’re not supposed to go off the path. I’m humoring you, but this is dangerous. And not just bears. Plenty of people head off into the Alaska frontier, and they’re not all good. Keep an eye out, okay? Never assume someone is a friend.”
~ Nora ~
“I’ll keep that in mind.” She waved him off, then rested her hand on Arwen’s head. “You’ll protect me from the big bad moose, won’t you, girl? Go find wood before it gets dark, Sam.”
Sam rolled his eyes, but then finally walked off, leaving her to her own devices.
She could leave now, head in the opposite direction. But her feet were killing her. She’d bit down on her lip more than a few times when they traversed a particularly difficult rock formation. She managed okay on the flat path. But when the trail required that she boulder or was too steep, the blisters made her feet feel on fire.
Sam had looked back at her a few times, and she’d just swallowed the pain. If she tried to leave now, he’d easily catch her.
No, the better plan was to wait until he was deep asleep. She’d store all her belongings before she went to bed, so all she’d have to do was unhook her hammock. Once she got far enough away from Sam, she’d roll up the hammock along with her sleeping bag.
Nora strolled away from the camp in the opposite direction Sam had gone. Just far enough to empty their bowls. Arwen trotted next to her without being asked, staying at her four o’clock. Not in front of her, not behind her, and not directly to her side. She must be used to Sam’s other dog following at his side.
Nora scanned her surroundings; the forest was alive with clicks and chirps. As she walked, the chirrups dissipated, the insects falling silent as she passed.
When she stooped to wash out the bowls, Arwen held fast, her nose testing the scents around her. The dog’s head dropped an inch as she stared into the trees.
Nora followed Arwen’s line of site, but saw nothing. Sam had been able to trace the outline of the antlers when she hadn’t even seen them, and the bear — as large as he was — had come within fifty feet of her before she’d seen him. Sam was right. She needed to keep a closer watch of her environment if she planned to survive in the wild.
In fear of alerting whatever Arwen was watching, Nora backed up slowly without a word. She lightly patted her leg, quietly instructing the dog to follow. Arwen tossed a look behind her, but then swung her head back in the direction of the sound.
Nora scanned the surrounding area again. More than likely there was always something nearby. Funny, she thought she would have liked having a dog for company, but Arwen was actually putting her on edge.
“Come on, girl,” Nora whispered, backing her way to the campsite.
Arwen snuffled but then, thankfully, followed.
Back at camp, Nora felt safer. She wasn’t sure why, since it was the same woods. But Arwen had settled, and Sam was closer.
She stowed her bowl and cup, setting Sam’s bowl on his pack.
Next, she deciphered which direction the wind was coming from, deciding where the campfire should go. She excavated a wok-size hole, then enclosed the circle with rocks. Behind the fire, she piled up more rocks, making an oven of sorts so the heat would bounce off the rocks, keeping them warmer.
She hauled a log opposite the firepit and then snatched her sleeping bag off her hammock, along with a clean pair of socks and her Crocs. Sam could do the rest of the work while she watched. Instead of getting inside her sleeping bag, she nestled it around her and backed up against the log.
As much as she didn’t want to look at her feet, she took off her boots and inspected the blistered areas. The bandages had held, so she didn’t bother removing them. Instead, she just replaced her socks and slipped into the Crocs, setting her boots near the pit. Drying them for a few hours would be a great idea.
A nearby bush rustled, and Nora gripped her bear spray. The only thing that moved on Arwen was her tail, though, so it had to be Sam.
His smile sent instant warmth through her, even without a fire. “Perfect. Do they have Girl Scouts in Argentina?”
“Of course … Asociación Guías Argentinas, but I wasn’t one. My dad taught me.”
Sam dropped the wood next to the firepit. “That’s great he did that. Any brothers?”
“Nope. Just me.” Nora hoped her short reply discouraged Sam from asking more questions. The last thing she wanted was to start talking about her family … how she’d left her mother and grandmother in Buenos Aires. What had happened to her father …
Seeming to notice, Sam busied himself with arranging the wood. He dug into his pocket, pulled out a lighter, and set fire to the kindling he’d coiled throughout the sticks of wood. He leaned forward and blew softly.
Within seconds, the fire caught, but Sam stayed with it, adding oxygen via soft breaths every few seconds. When he was satisfied that the fire had caught, he got to his feet and headed for his tent.
He dug inside, coming out with his arms full. Sleeping bag in hand, he walked to where she’d bundled up and slid down beside her. “Is this seat taken, ma’am?”
Nora couldn’t help but smile. While Sam was easy-going and laid-back, he was also a charmer. She couldn’t help but wonder how many women he’d seduced and then tracked down. Maybe since he was a tracker, it was a game for him.
Curious, she turned to him. His strong jaw blazed copper from the campfire. The beginning of a dark beard glistened, beckoning her fingers to run t
he length of it. Obviously sensing her gaze, he turned. Those brown eyes of his looked like warm melted chocolate.
“Sam?”
He smiled. “Yes …”
“I’m just wondering … How many women have you just happened upon, not once, not twice, but three times after they attended your refresher course?”
He dropped his head, shaking it. “Can’t say that’s ever happened. Sure, I’ve run into folks at the outdoor store. Even breakfast. As I said, the place I took you is world-famous. But rarely do out-of-towners go to Grizzly’s.” He raised his hand to her cheek. “And to answer your real question, no, I’ve never tracked down a woman … unless I was requested to find her.”
Nora gnawed on her bottom lip. “Then why me?”
Sam shrugged. “I told you why.” He withdrew his hand from her cheek, lifting a finger. “One, you stood me up. Two, you said we’d talk later. And three …” He draped an arm around her shoulders, coaxing her into his arms. “You can’t tell me what I’m feeling is one-sided.” He touched her cheek, tilting her head up to look at him. “Or … tell me, Nora. Admit you’re not interested, and I’ll back off. I’ll get you safely to wherever you’re going, and you’ll never hear another word from me.”
Nora dropped her gaze, but rested her head on his chest. How could she deny it? He’d see right through her if she did anyway, she was certain.
Sam stroked her hair. “That’s what I thought. It’s okay, honey. You don’t have to admit it. You don’t have to tell me anything you don’t want to. I’ll be here when you’re ready to talk.”
Nora released a soft sigh. “Thank you, cariño.” She stared at the fire. Her eyelids felt heavy. She hadn’t slept well in days. But out here where no one could find them … curled up in Sam’s arms, she felt the safest she’d felt for days — rather, months. Bears, moose, wolves … strangers … None of those things scared her.
The only thing on this earth that scared her was Sergio. For the first time in seven years, though, it felt like the strings that had held her captive were actually loosening, fraying at the edges. But she wasn’t free. Not yet. Soon, she’d be free.
Sam's Folly (Midnight Sons Book 1) Page 10
