Page 4 of Wounded Hero

I didn't know. I thought she said she worked at the library.

"You moved the furniture?"

"I once worked for a Feng Shui consultant and they gave me some tips."

"Just how many jobs have you had?"

"Oh, too many to count. I just haven't found my place in the world, you know, that one thing that makes me happy."

I don't understand. I always knew I was going to be in the army. I didn't love it. I don't think you're meant to love every damn thing you do in this life. I don't love anything and I get along just fine.

"You can't just walk into a man's house and mess everything up."

Her shoulders drop as quickly as the friendly smile disappears from her face. "I'm sorry. I'm not very good at doing nothing. Or just sitting around. I sort of need to keep busy."

It feels like a horse has kicked me in the guts. "It's fine." I say with a grumble. "Just make sure everything goes back where it was."

The smile is back in seconds, her upset gone like a cloud passing in front of the sun.

For dinner I serve up the stew I have made. I give Cora the plate and the fork while I eat mine from the bowl with the spoon.

“I guess you don’t get many visitors up here?”

I give her a dark frown. “I like to keep to myself.”

“Is that something left over from being in the army?” She asks.

I raise a questioning eyebrow.

Her cheeks go pink as she puts her plate down on the makeshift table she made.

“If I’m honest, I have heard a bit about you. From working at the library, we are organising a fundraising event for the Smith family. When I heard that there was a reclusive billionaire livingalone up here in the mountains I thought you might be like Batman.”

I let out a snort. “I don’t fight crime.”

“So you’re not denying that you could be Batman?”

“Batman’s not real. And you shouldn’t be out here walking around by yourself. There are some bad people up here in the mountains. And I haven’t seen any superheroes up here.”

She gives a little shrug. “I can look after myself.”

She sounds defensive. But after the weak punch she threw when I pulled her down from the tree, I know she doesn’t know the first thing about defending herself.

“I could teach you. I could teach you a few moves so you could defend yourself.”

What the hell am I suggesting? But a girl like Cora seems like she could get into trouble. And I don’t like the idea of anything bad happening to her. But, Hell, I am meant to be keeping my distance. Not suggesting I teach her self defence.

Chapter 5

Cora

I have been in some strange situations before but I have never been so filled with anticipation, excitement and maybe a little fear. Owen is a big guy. I can't believe I am squared off with him, about to get a lesson in self defense.

He looks very serious and slightly uncomfortable. "Right, the first thing you need to acknowledge is that I am big and you are small."

"Noted." I nod with a grin.

"You need to know how to hurt me when your opponent has the upper hand in size and strength."

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