Page 16 of Last Light

It’s actually a pretty good meal.

When we’re done, I pull out our new tube of toothpaste and rub some on my teeth, rinsing out my mouth afterward.

I’ve almost forgotten what it feels like to have a clean-tasting mouth.

Inspired by the toothpaste, I decide to bathe in the creek. I grab one of the towels and take a half-used bar of soap from my bag.

Travis is using the toothpaste when I stand up and say, “I’m going to wash up.”

He nods and grunts.

“I mean really wash up. In the creek.”

I see it register on his face. “Ain’t gonna look.”

“Thanks. Lord knows neither of us smells very good. You might think about washing up too.”

His eyebrows shoot up to his hairline.

“Not at the same time,” I explain hurriedly. “I mean after me. You could wash up after me. If you want.” Damn. How much stupider could I sound?

He makes one of those odd, soft snorts I’ve heard from him once or twice before. “Got it.”

The sky is getting darker, but it’s not pitch-black yet, and there’s plenty of light from the fire anyway. I walk to the bank of the creek and peel off my dirty clothes after verifying that Travis has adjusted his position so his back is to me.

I keep on my tank and panties since I can’t bring myself to get naked out in the open air. Then I wade in.

It’s a large creek, and the water is a couple of feet deep. There’s more than enough for me to get wet and then soap myself up and rinse off.

I enjoy it. A lot. Feeling all the dirt and sweat and grime of the past few days running off me with the cool water.

I squat down and lean over to submerge my whole head, unbraiding my hair as I do and looping the elastics over my wrist so I don’t lose them.

As I scrub my scalp, I wish I had shampoo. Lacking that, I lather up my hands and use the soap instead.

It’s not great, but it beats the alternative.

I feel better in every way as I stand up. The air is starting to cool as the day darkens, but the temperature is perfectly comfortable.

I look over toward Travis. He’s still sitting in the same position. His back is ramrod straight.

He probably isn’t even tempted to sneak a peek at me.

Whatever feminine charms I possess obviously don’t appeal to him.

I wonder what his wife looked like.

On that rather silly thought, I hear something. A sudden crack of sound that makes me jerk and cry out softly.

Travis has already jumped to his feet and strides over in the direction of the noise.

I wrap my arms across my middle and stand in two feet of water, wearing just a soaked white tank top and panties and watching as Travis investigates.

“Stay there,” he says curtly, continuing to walk toward the sound.

For a minute he disappears into the growing darkness and the trees.

I’m about as helpless as it’s possible for me to be, and I don’t like it, so I manage to wade out of the creek and grab my pistol from the holster next to my clothes.

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