Page 107 of Axe Backwards
He remained perfectly still, his body language unthreatening, just kneeling on the rocky shore, waiting for the wildlife.
Clive nudged the baby again. This time, it pushed itself up on its front legs, and when it stood, it wobbled but didn’t fall. It took several slow steps, then stopped.
Keep walking. Just keep going. Go back into the woods now.
It took a few more tentative steps, looking more and more steady with each one, heading toward the tree line. Clive followed behind, but before he could disappear into the forest, he stopped and turned. Looking at him head-on like this, I had no doubt his rack was the width of a car.
The beast froze like that, looking straight at Noah.
Oh shit, was he gonna charge?
Before terror could overtake me completely, Clive turned and lumbered into the forest.
Body shaking, I hugged Tess tight. She pulled at my hair and squirmed in my arms, her little feet banging against my hips.
Once they’d disappeared completely, I eased back down the large rocks to where Noah still sat, soaked and out of breath.
“You idiot.” I looped my free arm around him and squeezed. “You could have gotten yourself killed.”
He gave me a cocky smile. “You were worried about me.”
Rearing back, I punched him in the arm. “Of course I was worried about you, hotshot.”
I had a quick dry towel in my pack, and the spare T-shirt I had on hand was comically small on him, but he wore it and his boxer briefs while he put his own shirt and cargo shorts on a rockpositioned in the perfect spot to get the best of the sun’s rays to dry.
We sat on the riverbank, willing our hearts to settle and the adrenaline rush to abate, eating snacks while Tess threw rocks into the river and made piles of small sticks I’d gathered for her to play with.
“You scared me.”
“I’m sorry. But I saw the moose, and my training kicked it. My brain was clear and focused, and a plan formed so perfectly.” He sighed and took a long drink from his water bottle. “I’m not…” His throat worked and his shoulders slumped as he turned away, looking over at Tess. “I’m not in a good place today.”
I squeezed his hand. “You can be sorry you scared me,” I said, kissing his knuckles. “But don’t be sorry for being a hero. Don’t be sorry for being so good at what you do. You literally save lives.”
Head lowered, he gave it a shake. “I’m not good at it.”
“You are.” I peeked over at Tess, who was sitting with her sticks, poking at the ground. “You may have lost your confidence, but if today showed you anything, it’s that you still have a lot of gifts to share with the world.”
He glanced over his shoulder to check on his little girl, then angled in and kissed me softly.
I tangled my fingers in his damp hair and kissed him back. The connection was exactly what I needed after so much adrenaline.
“Thank you,” he whispered against my lips. “For bringing me out here. For getting me out of my head for a bit.”
There was nothing I wouldn’t do for him or his sweet little girl. Until this moment, I hadn’t been ready to admit that to myself, let alone say it out loud. But after what I’d witnessed, itfelt crucial that I tell him the truth, no matter how terrifying it was.
I opened my mouth, but before I could get the words out, Tess stood all on her own.
“Oh my God,” I whispered, my heart soaring.
Noah whipped his head around, his body going rigid.
“Is she—”
“Walking?” he finished.
We were both frozen, terrified to move, lest we startle her or discourage her.
Tess was still standing, swaying a little and looking at the ground as if contemplating her next move.
