Read Online Slade (BBW Bear Shifter Moonshiner Romance) (120 Proof Honey Book 5) by Becca Fanning - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Becca Fanning
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radio’s back panel. It read: Property of Fairhaven Park Rangers. Not for public use.
“What the heck…” she murmured, reading it again.
“I’m glad you have that thing,” Bud said, not hearing her mumblings. “Makes me feel safer. You mind if I do the descent with you, so you can radio for help when I inevitably break my leg?”
Karina chuckled.
“Sure thing,” she replied. “Ready when you are.”
“Really?” Bud asked. “Wow. You must be really fit to carry on without a big break.”
Perhaps it was adrenalin, or the pride she felt from reaching the top, but Karina really did feel strong again. She was looking forward to picking her way down the slope with gravity on her side for a change, leading her into the shady side of the peak where cool water and dense trees awaited.
“I guess it’s beginner’s luck or something,” she said, her cheeks flushing a little.
Bud held his hands up at once.
“I’m not hitting on you, by the way,” he said, sounding suddenly worried. “I have a wife back at the campsite. You seem like you could get me back to her in one piece.”
“What’s her name?” Karina asked.
“Susie,” Bud replied.
“I’ll do my best to return Susie’s property in good condition,” she jibed.
They set off then down the slope, Karina padding ahead whilst Bud carefully followed her footsteps. It was a strange position to be in, guiding someone else when she just about knew what to do herself, but it filled her with pride. She was used to leading and being in charge, never challenged or argued with. Bud was a patient and pleasant follower, and he made her journey pass a little quicker. Though, in all honesty, his brand of placid agreement was kind of boring. Now and then, as the forest grew thicker and the day grew darker, Karina found herself wishing for a certain acid-tongued person to appear and spice up her day.
***
Bud was hoping to return to Susie tomorrow, but now that he’d met Karina, he didn’t seem to want to go back alone. Somewhat reluctantly, she’d agreed to walk part of the Level 1 path with him the next day to get him back out of the section before she continued on her own journey. She found that her kindness was rewarded when Bud set up her tent for her and produced a tiny campfire to cook them some dinner. After that, her little follower took himself off to his tent to read, and Karina was left alone with the mild climate of the night. She could see the dim white glow of Bud’s electric lantern inside his tent, illuminating his shape as he craned over a book.
Outside, however, the light show was far more spectacular. The sky was lit with a magnificent array of stars, in constellations that she’d always meant to learn but never gotten around to. When she was a child, her father used to point them out to her, and now she wished she’d paid him more attention. Karina craned back to look up at the sky, and eventually she gave in and lay on the grassy ground outside her tent, just drinking in the solitude of the night. This was the kind of peace she’d been looking for.
A rustle in the bushes destroyed the moment entirely.
It brought Karina back to the reality of being alone in the forest, with nobody but Bud to turn to for help. The thought did not comfort her in the least. Slowly, she rose from her position on the ground, allowing her eyes to adjust to the dark shapes around her. The trees suddenly seemed longer and taller than before, their branches leaning in to surround her from her right. Further left, the babble of water caught her ear and she listened for the sound of animals who might be approaching it for a late night drink.
At some point during Karina’s stargazing, Bud had put his light out, and a moment of concentration allowed her to tune in to the low hum of his snoring. Perhaps it was only Bud that had turned over in his sleeping bag, making noise. But then the snap happened, the clear snap of a twig coming
“What the heck…” she murmured, reading it again.
“I’m glad you have that thing,” Bud said, not hearing her mumblings. “Makes me feel safer. You mind if I do the descent with you, so you can radio for help when I inevitably break my leg?”
Karina chuckled.
“Sure thing,” she replied. “Ready when you are.”
“Really?” Bud asked. “Wow. You must be really fit to carry on without a big break.”
Perhaps it was adrenalin, or the pride she felt from reaching the top, but Karina really did feel strong again. She was looking forward to picking her way down the slope with gravity on her side for a change, leading her into the shady side of the peak where cool water and dense trees awaited.
“I guess it’s beginner’s luck or something,” she said, her cheeks flushing a little.
Bud held his hands up at once.
“I’m not hitting on you, by the way,” he said, sounding suddenly worried. “I have a wife back at the campsite. You seem like you could get me back to her in one piece.”
“What’s her name?” Karina asked.
“Susie,” Bud replied.
“I’ll do my best to return Susie’s property in good condition,” she jibed.
They set off then down the slope, Karina padding ahead whilst Bud carefully followed her footsteps. It was a strange position to be in, guiding someone else when she just about knew what to do herself, but it filled her with pride. She was used to leading and being in charge, never challenged or argued with. Bud was a patient and pleasant follower, and he made her journey pass a little quicker. Though, in all honesty, his brand of placid agreement was kind of boring. Now and then, as the forest grew thicker and the day grew darker, Karina found herself wishing for a certain acid-tongued person to appear and spice up her day.
***
Bud was hoping to return to Susie tomorrow, but now that he’d met Karina, he didn’t seem to want to go back alone. Somewhat reluctantly, she’d agreed to walk part of the Level 1 path with him the next day to get him back out of the section before she continued on her own journey. She found that her kindness was rewarded when Bud set up her tent for her and produced a tiny campfire to cook them some dinner. After that, her little follower took himself off to his tent to read, and Karina was left alone with the mild climate of the night. She could see the dim white glow of Bud’s electric lantern inside his tent, illuminating his shape as he craned over a book.
Outside, however, the light show was far more spectacular. The sky was lit with a magnificent array of stars, in constellations that she’d always meant to learn but never gotten around to. When she was a child, her father used to point them out to her, and now she wished she’d paid him more attention. Karina craned back to look up at the sky, and eventually she gave in and lay on the grassy ground outside her tent, just drinking in the solitude of the night. This was the kind of peace she’d been looking for.
A rustle in the bushes destroyed the moment entirely.
It brought Karina back to the reality of being alone in the forest, with nobody but Bud to turn to for help. The thought did not comfort her in the least. Slowly, she rose from her position on the ground, allowing her eyes to adjust to the dark shapes around her. The trees suddenly seemed longer and taller than before, their branches leaning in to surround her from her right. Further left, the babble of water caught her ear and she listened for the sound of animals who might be approaching it for a late night drink.
At some point during Karina’s stargazing, Bud had put his light out, and a moment of concentration allowed her to tune in to the low hum of his snoring. Perhaps it was only Bud that had turned over in his sleeping bag, making noise. But then the snap happened, the clear snap of a twig coming
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