Chapter 30
The next morning, Maia pulled on warm clothes suitable for running.
Henry opened his eyes, the flash of gold making her smile. His hair stuck up, and he had a cute boyish look, offset by his slight frown. “What are you doing?”
“I’m going for a light run to warm up my muscles. Besides, I’m so excited, I can’t keep still. I wonder if anyone else made the selectors’ squad? I guess I’ll find out this morning.”
“Wait, I’ll come with you. I worry about you.”
“I’m capable of using good sense and running in safe places.” She took a breath to control her irritation. Henry stressed if she was even a minute late or on her own. He meant well, but this overprotectiveness was wearying. “Stay in the warm.”
“Don’t forget you have someone harassing you.
My job is to get you to your trials in one healthy piece.
Besides, any time spent with you is worthwhile.
” Henry slid out of bed and stretched, his arms high above his head.
He must’ve caught something in her expression, and he sighed.
“You think I’m overreacting. Perhaps I am, but I can’t stop until I know you’re safe.
I told you about Jenny. Her ex murdered her, and I couldn’t stop him.
I worry I might fail you in the same way, and I… I panic.”
Maia stared at him. “You didn’t fail Jenny. You were at a town event where everyone was having fun. The person who failed Jenny was the man who murdered her. Please remember that. I am taking care and doing everything right. Mostly I run with other people or in places that are well-frequented.”
“Please. I understand what you’re saying, but I like you.”
“Aw, you say the sweetest things,” Maia said, her gaze drawn to his splendid naked body. She fluttered her lashes. “Such a beautiful sight.” There was nothing about Henry that suggested old.
“So you’ll let me run with you and help you make the team? Excellent to hear,” Henry said as he pulled on clothes.
“Okay. Okay. You’ve worn me down.” Maia laced her running shoes, fizzing inside and having difficulty keeping still. Henry liked her. She was a lucky woman. “Even if I miss selection, I’ll be closer to my goal. It’s an opportunity to learn.”
“Given your playing form, I think you’re underestimating your chances. Stay healthy and uninjured, and you’ll be a Black Fern. I want you to grasp your dreams, so I’m crawling out of a warm bed to run with you.”
And to protect her, but she didn’t say that aloud. She’d cut him some slack because this situation must be bringing back horrendous memories for him. Maia skipped across the room and kissed Henry on the cheek. “Thank you.”
“You are welcome,” Henry said and held out his hand. “Let’s do this.”
This set the strategy for her week. She was never alone.
Megan and London dropped her off at her Dunedin training and picked her up again after doing the weekly shop.
She’d showered at home, gladly escaping the disquieting atmosphere of the changing room because the selectors had only picked her and Jan to attend the training camp.
Some were openly envious, and team tensions resurfaced.
Currently, she exercised with energetic boys and two girls. Despite the steep hill they were tackling, the kids chattered with each other, trading jokes and insults and scarcely puffing. They impressed Maia because she was feeling the burn and running out of puff.
A flash of black in her peripheral vision had her head swiveling. She blinked but didn’t spot whatever had caught her eye. Must’ve been a rabbit or another animal. Henry had told her wild goats lived in this area.
“I see the obstacle course,” one boy hollered.
The pace increased a fraction, and again, the kids amazed Maia. Levi had proudly told her their team hadn’t lost a single game since they’d started training with her.
“I thought you might’ve turned back,” Maia said, panting.
“No!” the boys and girls shouted in unison.
She grinned. “Let’s see if the obstacle course sorts you out.”
“Nah!” Levi boasted. “We’re as fit as you.”
They jogged down the hill and climbed the gate into the obstacle course paddock.
“Dad said they’re gonna have another zombie run soon,” a girl said. Her black ponytail bobbed up and down with each step while her green eyes flashed excitedly. “We could have teams of kids.”
“Yeah,” a boy shouted.
“I’m sure you could,” Maia agreed as they approached the spaced tires. They’d done the course before. Twice, in fact, and it made a change from continually running. Maia loved the challenge of the obstacles as much as the kids. “Who wants to go first?”
“Me!” Everyone shouted at once.
Maia had experienced this before and had a strategy. “Today, the shortest person goes first. Line up in height order. I guess that means I go last,” she said, laughing. “No photos of me messing up the obstacles, guys.”
“Nah!” a short boy shouted, placing himself at the front of the line.
“We don’t have a phone,” Levi cried.
Despite their lack of height, the kids had a natural athleticism that they applied to each obstacle. She’d struggled with a couple. Never mind. Optimism spurred her onward. This time, she’d ace them all.
“Right,” Maia said once the kids stood in a line. “Our last time over the eight obstacles was over an hour. Let’s see if we can beat that today. Once I say go, I’ll start everyone at five-minute intervals. Remember, if anyone is having trouble, ask for help. We’re a team. Ready, steady, go!”
The first boy raced off like the wind. Five minutes later, the next kid—a girl—sprinted toward the tires and navigated them without hesitation.
One by one, the kids started until she was on her own.
Gleeful shouts rode on the wind, making her smile.
These kids made training fun when, in the past, some days had been a grind.
Maia glanced at her watch and waited ten minutes before starting.
Her legs were longer, and she should catch the kids easily enough.
She sprinted for the first obstacle and ran through the tires, carefully placing her feet.
She scanned the area, looking for the kids, but they’d scampered through the trees toward the next obstacles, and she grinned on seeing flashes of red, blue, and yellow in the distance.
Their laughter floated toward her, and she ran with a broad smile.
The next challenge was a giant rope web pegged to the ground for the competitors to crawl beneath. Maia smiled ruefully. Her mature curves were not as suited to slithering along the ground beneath the woven obstacle.
It was slow going since her butt dragged along the rope barrier. She hit a muddy puddle, and frigid water soaked into her clothes. She bit back a curse, forcing her mind to tropical beaches and warm seas. It was her happy place when the frigid Otago chill nipped at her face and limbs.
Maia got stuck again and had to back up before progressing forward. At last, she clawed from under the webbing and jumped to her feet. She ran, steadily jogging up and down inclines.
She increased her speed to a sprint when she reached the flat and kept up this pace until she reached the next obstacle—a wall with a rope webbing.
With a leap, she grasped the rope halfway up the wall and started climbing.
Her warm muscles worked to haul her body upward.
All those hours in the gym had helped her upper body strength, and right now, she was thankful for the habit of physical toil.
At the top, she searched for the kids and spotted one or two running along the path through the trees.
This wasn’t the regular obstacle course route, but the water crossing wasn’t safe during the winter, and Gerard had suggested dodging the trees, stones, and branches on the path was an acceptable contest.
Now that she’d spotted the kids, she thought she’d made up time and was catching them. She flung herself down the other side, ran along a gravel track, and down another incline before reaching the flat paddock. The native trees, on the other side, were her goal.
“Hurry, Maia is catching us.”
She grinned, her competitive streak urging her to hurry.
The grass was spongy beneath her feet, and mud splattered up to coat her legs. Her close-fitting top clung to her skin with an unpleasant dampness as she raced across the paddock toward the trees.
The kids had gone silent, and she slowed to listen. She frowned because they were usually a noisy bunch. Were they playing a trick? Maia scanned the area and spotted nothing out of place.
The sun disappeared behind a cloud, and the cheer drained from the day. A shiver ran through Maia, but she forced herself to focus on her surroundings. The last thing she needed was an injury.
She entered the trees, and the temperature dropped. Fern leaves brushed her legs, the dampness soaking into the muddy fabric. She jumped over a fallen log and almost tripped over a rock. Her heart tried to leap up her throat, but she regained her balance after windmilling her arms.
“Crap,” she muttered, slowing and testing her legs for signs of pain. A lucky escape.
Maia slowed again, deciding she could take the kids’ ribbing. She’d rather their teasing than an injury. A blur of black and white had her screeching to a halt. She jerked, wary at the silence in the trees. No birds. Strange since she’d heard muted birdsong earlier.
Maia frowned. Was someone there?
“Are you kids playing a trick on me?” Her voice emerged with a quaver, and to her dismay, not a single child answered. Had she been mistaken, and they’d surged ahead?
Maia continued along the path. Now and then, she spotted a marker Gerard had placed to guide them through the trees.
She picked up speed but took extra care with her foot placement when she reached a swampy part.
Footprints showed in the muddy ground. The kids’ mothers would undoubtedly curse her when washing the dirty clothes.
She imagined smeared footprints in halls and entrances when the kids forgot to remove their shoes.
She’d been that child at one time.
The blow came out of nowhere. A tree branch. It clipped her arm, and pain radiated to her fingers. Then, a body blocked her way, and Maia lurched to a halt. She gaped and wondered if she was imagining things.