Truehearts & The Escape From Pirate Moon by Jake Macklem (ebook audio reader TXT) 📕

this moon?” Excitement and hope filled her voice as she turned back to the cowboy.

The first real emotion she’s shown. “Yeah, hopefully for both of us.” I hope she doesn’t kill me. Maybe I should just shoot her now.

“I’m gonna stand up now and I don’t think this sheet is gonna cover my backside too.”

“It barely covers your…” Cam flushed red and cleared his throat. “I’ll be out front.” He started through the doorway.

“What’s your name, cowboy?”

He stopped, turned, and tipped his hat with a smile. “Shaw. Camron Shaw.”

“Thanks.”

Cam nodded and started to turn.

“I want to do the right thing too, Shaw.”

He took a moment before exiting the hut. I have no idea what that means. Is she going to kill me or not? He walked a few meters away from the entrance to where he had kept his gear, ready to be packed and loaded in a hurry.

He began loading his kit and the collection of tagged containers, distributing some to his utility harness and carefully stowing the rest in his pack. He took special care tucking away a small pouch he had crafted from the hide; a bag of gold nuggets from a small vein he had surveyed. After he had brought Red back to her shelter and secured her for safety, he had spent a few days tending her health and nursing her through the effects of her diet. When he was able, he had scouted the immediate area, gathering samples and noting features of interest.

When Cam had finished, he watched the darkening sky—the night was fast approaching. The white heat portion of the day is getting longer, by almost an hour and a half since I got here. He looked at the spinning device. Atmospheric pressure is dropping. Looking through the branches and leaves of the tree, he watched the fast-floating clouds, yellow on top, red on the bottom. Storm’s coming. This moon just keeps heating up with the longer days. Changes the weather and causes the rains. Rain brings the floods.

Cam heard movement behind him and sighed in relief. She’s not gonna kill me. I wouldn’t have heard that coming. Turning, he smiled and took in his handy work. The purple and blue scales of the hide covering her arms and shoulders and chest looked good. Her midriff was exposed, and the skirt sat comfortably on her hips, coming down to just above her knees with a vent halfway up on both sides for movement.

“How do they fit?” he asked.

Ace tugged at the edges of the top. “I had to squeeze the girls in … but yeah, fits good.”

He ignored her comment and pointed. “There’s some MREs in that pack.” Cam watched her eyes light up. She quickly opened and reached in, tearing through the contents of the bag. “Take whatever one you want, Red.”

“I can have the one with the brownie dessert!” Ace pulled her head out of the pack. “Are you serious?”

Cam smiled. “Go for it.” Watching her dive back into the bag reminded him of Verseday mornings and the boys opening their presents. She emerged with the MRE and pulled the white loop handle. The chemical reaction cooked the food inside. It’ll be the first meal she’s had on the moon that’s not poisoning her.

As she lifted the lid, the steam and smells billowed out from underneath. “I’m so hungry.” Wasting no time, she shoveled the food into her mouth. She barely paused to chew.

“It’s not gonna run away, you can slow down enough to taste it,” Cam teased.

Ace chewed her mouthful and looked at him. “So, Shaw, you know I’m a kidnapped girl that escaped from pirates. What’s your excuse for being on this marble?”

“Working for Sol Mining and Surveying. Last of my contract is this little paradise.”

“How long you been on this moon?” She asked in between mouthfuls.

“Twelve days. Came across your ship on day six.”

“What was your drop date?” she asked casually.

She’s about to figure out how long she’s been on this rock, and she’s acting like she’s asking about yesterday’s weather. “Earth date, July 7, 3224.” He watched her face for any reaction, any change at all. Like a rock. “How long you been here?”

She picked up the brownie, a smile spreading across her face. “One hundred and ten days.”

Cam’s eyes widened, his stomach tightened. “I’m sorry.”

Surprised she looked at him and asked, “For what?”

“For you… uh… being kidnapped and crashing here. It had to be a waking nightmare.” Not many would have endured.

“Cowboy, you just gave me a shanking brownie, you got nothing to be sorry for. I’d say I owe you one.” She opened her mouth and closed her eyes.

“Think you could do me a favor then, Red?” Cam leaned forward. There are some things I cannot abide.

Ace’s face went slack. “If you ask me to shank...”

Cam’s face flushed as he jumped up. “No!” He stepped back “For all that is good in the Verse! No.”

Ace’s surprise turned to embarrassment. “I’m sorry. That was wrong.”

Cam shook his head. “It’s okay. Really.”

“No. You’ve been real kind. It was a stupid shanking thing to say,” Ace rambled. “It was just… girl talk. We can be pretty rank.”

“It’s understandable. Lots of unsavory types in the world.” If only Gwen could see me now. She’d never let me hear the end of it.

“Well shank yeah,” she agreed, “but you haven’t acted weird at all.”

“And I won’t,” Cam stated matter of fact.

“Yeah?” Ace asked.

“Yes, ma’am.” He smiled.

“So, you said something about getting off this shanking marble?” Ace took a bite of the brownie.

“I did. Three hundred kilometers or so that way, which I have been referring to as—”

“East, because the sun rises that way?” Ace snarked.

“Sorry, been doing video lessons for the boys and… well…” Cam