Chapter Three
L ittle blisters split open underneath my arms, the moss withering away after the consistent use over the past three days. Murphy had replaced the moss each morning for me, but by midafternoon, it was always gone; the wood rubbing my underarms raw.
However, I knew it was better than the alternative. The morning we had left the clearing, the sun had barely risen above the horizon, the sky gray as we left. Not wanting to hold everyone back with the slow pace of crutches, I had foregone them. Unfortunately, that lasted about three hours of mostly uphill hiking when the pain had gotten unbearable and my left leg had given out.
Murphy had rushed to my side, the others not far behind. Of course, Warner had simply glared, thrusting the crutches into my arms. Since then, the two sticks had become an extension of me.
“My legs are tired,” Lucas groaned from next to me and the two of shared a kindred smile. You and me both, kid.
At Lucas’ complaint, all the adults turned, taking pity on the three of us lagging behind. Just me and the kids once again, it seemed.
“We should be nearing town, right?” Murphy asked, glancing at Warner and Aiden.
Although I had also been a part of the little group that trekked from the camp back to the others, I wasn’t surprised Murphy hadn’t asked me. I would have loved to say that due to my multiple trips back and forth, my sense of direction had improved, but it truly hadn’t. If anyone asked me where we were right now, I’d have one simple answer. Surrounded by trees.
“I’d guess about a few more hours. It took the five of us almost three days. But we’re walking a little slower right now.” Aiden politely didn’t look my way as he uttered the last sentence and I was thankful he was trying to ignore the fact I was the reason for the slow speed.
“Then let’s take a break. We don’t want to be in town until dark has come,” Rainer said, already dropping his pack and grabbing out the water and food.
Before anyone else could give an opinion, he was walking off into the woods, most likely to grab kindling for a quick fire. He had been silent most of the trip, probably pouting that he hadn’t gotten his way. But I also knew it was more than that. I knew he cared about all of our safety.
As everyone else followed suit, dropping their packs, I hobbled on my crutches after Rainer, hoping to catch him before he got too far. Murphy caught my gaze as I rushed off, raising a brow in question, but I waved him off.
Ever since Warner had brought up his concerns about the cottage, a sense of dread had been traveling up my spine. I didn’t want to think Emmanuel and Elizabeth were purposely leading us into a trap, but I also had seen what kind of desperation a situation like this brought on.
Doing my best to not trip over branches sprawled across the ground, I spotted Rainer’s light hair and called out his name. He turned at my voice, pausing his steps. As I approached, I thought of Warner’s other statement about mountain men. In this moment, Rainer truly fit the bill.
His shaggy hair was nearly to his shoulders and his slightly darker beard was scruffy and long. Dark blue eyes met mine, questioning what I was doing.
“You should be resting with the others. We both know your legs are more tired than even the twins,” he said, his voice gruff with concealed concern.
“Then let’s sit down.” Without waiting for an answer, I dropped the sticks, plopping onto my butt and stretching the sore muscles of my legs.
Letting a deep sigh, Rainer dropped down as well, stretching his legs until the outsides of our thighs were touching.
“I was getting firewood. We need to boil more water.”
“And someone else can do that,” I said, ignoring his excuses to leave this conversation.
We were silent for several minutes, birds chirping around us, before Rainer sighed once more.
“As much as I love trying to guess what you’re thinking, Less, why don’t you tell me what’s going on? I can’t imagine you followed me to ask how my day is.”
Smiling cheekily, I leaned forward, gripping my calves and stretching further. After another pause, I looked into Rainer’s frustrated gaze. “How’s your day, Rainer?”
He tried to frown, he really did, but he couldn’t help when his lips turned up and a laugh bubbled from his mouth. Shaking his head, he said, “I have no idea what to think of you sometimes.”
Grinning, as if it was a compliment, I responded, “Well, I know exactly what to think of you.”
“And what’s that?” He asked, his thigh pressing tighter against mine.
“You want to keep us safe.” My teasing tone changed to serious and Rainer sensed the change, his back straightening and his lips flattening.
“Do you think we’re in danger?” His head turned from side to side, as if the danger was approaching at this very minute. Although, if Warner’s musing held any truth, the danger was right under our nose.
“I want you to remember that we all agreed leaving the woods was the right choice. And no matter what I tell you, I still think it’s the right choice.”
I waited for a rebuttal, but Rainer simply nodded, letting me know I could continue. Not wanting to throw Warner under the bus, considering he had no ties to any of us, I chose my next words carefully.
“I was thinking about the cottage we’re going to. And how it seems strange that Emmanuel and Elizabeth didn’t go there to begin with. And that maybe there’s something going on that we don’t know about.”
I waited for Rainer’s reaction. I expected some sort of outburst, maybe an insistence that we stay right where we were. But he continued to surprise me when he only arched a brow, his body relaxing.
Pulling his legs up to his chest, he slung an arm over them. “That’s it?”
Shocked at his reaction and maybe a little pissed he wasn’t taking it more seriously, I pulled my knees up as well, flinching when the movement irritated the wounds. Rainer noticed the face I made, grabbing my ankles and tugging my legs back straight.
“That wasn’t the reaction you were looking for,” he stated, slowly removing the touch from my ankles.
“I thought you’d be concerned. Maybe punch a tree trunk.” I shrugged and my irritation grew when he laughed at me.
His laughter was deeper than his voice, echoing against the trees and bouncing right back to me. “When have you ever seen me punch a tree?” He managed to sputter out between laughs.
“That’s not the point,” I snapped, and my tone finally had him sobering.
“Alessia, it’s not that I’m not concerned. But it was my first thought when Emmanuel brought up the cottage. Murphy and I already have a plan in case things go south.”
Dueling emotions coincided inside me and I couldn’t decide if I was frustrated that he was one step ahead once again or annoyed that he hadn’t had the audacity to fill me in. At least Warner had the good nature to warn me of his concerns.
Realizing that there was no use in being frustrated that I was the na?ve one of the group, I settled on annoyance.
“And if it did go south? The two of you were just going to take off and leave the rest of us behind?” My voice raised as I spoke, growing louder and louder with each syllable.
Maybe I didn’t have a right to be so angry. We didn’t owe each other anything. But how many days and nights had I spent at that camp, waiting to get back to them? I could pretend it was all for the twins, but it was for me as well.
Rainer, intuitive as always, reacted to my words, reaching forward and grabbing my ankles once again.
“We weren’t going to leave you behind. You have to know Murphy would lose his shit if we did.”
I didn’t know anything, but I wasn’t surprised to hear the words. Murphy blamed himself enough for my first disappearance, it made sense he would struggle if something happened again. But Murphy’s feelings on the matter didn’t mean Rainer felt the same way.
“And you?” Even if there was some sort of understanding between us now, it didn’t wipe away the months he had been an asshole, all but pushing me away from the group.
Rainer turned away so I couldn’t see his face, shrugging his shoulders. “You’ve grown on me.”
My lips started to tilt up into a small smile when he continued, “Sort of like a rash you can’t get rid of.”
My mouth quickly slanted into a frown and I pulled my legs away, exerting myself as I stood up, grabbing the crutches on my way. “Glad to know where you stand,” I huffed out.
Walking as fast as I could with the crutches, I headed back toward the others, leaving Rainer to do whatever he needed to do. I was nearly out of sight when I turned back once more, spotting Rainer still sprawled out on the ground. And if I didn’t know the man better, I would have sworn he wore an ear splitting grin.