Page 22 of Burning Escape

That was it. Tori might need to find a place outside to sleep tonight. She shoved a big piece of bread into her mouth.

Tori tried to finish her food quickly. Hannah excused her from helping with the cleanup and suggested Tori and Orion turn in early. Tori would’ve taken off in a dash if she could’ve, but it was rather slow going, leaning on Orion’s good arm to get to their cabin.

“We need to get out of here.” If she sounded like she was grumbling, so be it.

“Easier said than done. You can hardly walk, let alone hike miles and miles.”

Tori huffed. “We don’t belong here.Idon’t belong here. If these people knew me at all?—”

“Hey.” Orion stopped, faced her, and rubbed his warm hands down her chilled arms. “We’ll get out of here. And I promise, I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I bet after a good night’s sleep resting that ankle and my shoulder, we’ll be strong enough to leave soon.”

“We better.” Tori looked off into the distance. Strange animal sounds from the dark forest beyond the river only added to the uneasiness setting her on edge.

“We just have to pretend a little longer. Come on,honey.”

Maybe it was the teasing challenge in his voice or the crooked grin, but either way, something settled deep in her bones.

If she had to be stuck anywhere, being stuck with Orion at least made it better.

FIVE

Oh,he was in big trouble.

Standing in the middle of the commune with the low sun shining down on Tori’s blonde hair, the feel of her slender arms under his fingertips as he tried to comfort her, had Orion forgetting all about the agony of his shoulder and the throbbing in his head. He just wanted Tori to feel safe.

And it would be for the best if he could forget that pesky kiss they’d shared on the night they’d met.

Tori never seemed rattled to jump out of a plane at three thousand feet or to face down a raging fire. But in this backwoods community, even now, knowing they were a peaceful group, she was more spooked than he’d seen her.

Maybe it was just the thought of pretending they were married. Which weirdly didn’t freak him out like it probably should. If Orion were ever to marry, it would hopefully be to someone as strong as Tori, with her tantalizing mixture of fun and fierce. But it needed to be someone who shared his faith too. And Tori had made it clear that she didn’t.

So he really needed to watch himself. Especially when all he wanted to do was hold her in his arms again. And here, like the couple across from them at dinner had shown, everyone would probably cheer them on.

“Come on, let’s get settled for the night. I’ll sleep on the couch, and you can have the room.”

And maybe he should dunk himself in the cold river first.

As they walked to the cabin, others milled around in the evening breezes. The Alaskan summer sun wouldn’t set for quite a while. Everyone seemed to enjoy the fresh air. Kids ran around, playing and giggling. A few couples sat in the grass, watching them. No one was in a hurry to turn in. But Jeremiah stood on the porch of the dining hall, leaning against the log post and staring at them.

Staring at Tori.

Orion would definitely be locking the cabin door and checking the windows.

In the little log cabin, Tori brewed an herbal tea from a mix Mara had given them. Orion found a stash of quilts in a closet. He took one of the pillows from the room and made himself a bed on the couch of the of the small living area while Tori left to use the outhouse one more time. Orion wished he could light a fire in the stove that nestled in the corner between the living area and bedroom. The air was already chilly. Maybe he could?—

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts.

Shoot. He grabbed the pillow and blankets he’d just laid out and threw them into the bedroom. If it was Mara, she would want to come inside.

But it wasn’t Mara. Instead, Amos stood at the door with another man and a young teenage girl. “Sorry to bother you, Orion, but this here is Hiram and his daughter Abigail. They came back earlier than we expected.”

Hiram? Oh. “This is your cabin.” Orion backed away from the door to allow them in. “We can go somewhere el?—”

“No need.” Hiram smiled through his bushy beard. His eyes crinkled in the corner, giving him a jolly Santa-like appearance. “I would bunk with the bachelors, but there really isn’t a place for Abigail and my wife to stay. My wife is just catching up with Hannah. She’s here too.”

Tori came in the back door and walked over. Orion made introductions and explained the situation.

“Orion and I can sleep on the floor somewhere. Even the dining hall if needed.” Tori leaned on the chair closest to the door, staying off her sore ankle. Even though she smiled at Abigail and Hiram, it wasn’t nearly as bright as her usual grin. She had to be tired and in pain.

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