Big Man’s Claim by Wylder, Penny (new ebook reader TXT) 📕

enough. Trust me, the last thing you want is him sitting you down and asking you what your intentions are with me.”

She smiles, but my heart sinks. It's like a double edge sword. I'd love for us to be able to be open with our relationship, but I don't want to reopen the wounds of my past.

“Well, you ready?” Quickly changing the subject, I hop out of bed and grab some clothes. “I'd like to get to the falls before noon.”

Her voice changes, and I know she can sense the shift. “Uh, yeah, sure.” Her tone is off, layered with questions she isn't asking, or just doesn't know how to.

But I don't offer a chance for her to even try. Getting dressed, I stuff my feet into my boots and head downstairs. Putting on a pot of coffee, I pour us each a cup and wait for her at the table.

She's pulling her hair back into a ponytail as she comes down the stairs. “Smells good.” Taking her cup, she sits in silence and drinks her coffee.

Her eyes fix out the window, steady and still. Leaning back in the chair, she crosses her arm over her chest almost protectively. The cup is against her lips as she sits in silence.

“It's going to be gorgeous out today,” I finally say, ending this awkward quiet. “You have a suit to swim?”

“Suit,” she says with a grin, finally glancing at me from the corner of her eyes. “Who needs a suit?”

Whatever she's thinking about, whatever was on her mind, seems to disappear.

Smirking, I lift my coffee cup and cheers the air. “I can't argue with that.” Grabbing an apple from the bowl in the center of the table, I roll one her way, and take one for myself.

Melody smiles with thin lips, rubbing the apple against her chest and taking a bite. “I'm ready when you are. I've been itching to get back out there for a real hike. No more of these casual walks in the trees. Give me something with a climb.”

“I think this hike will give you what you want.” Nodding my head, I set my cup in the sink and move for the door. “Let's go.”

The air is already hot and muggy. It smacks me in the face the second I open the door. A light sweat beads up across the back of my neck as the sun hits me from behind. But it feels so good to be here. To be hiking with Melody for real. Just the two of us, no one else.

Mel stops after a few minutes, adjusting her boot. She's still wearing a bandage around her ankle, which makes me a little nervous. I know she can handle this trail, but I don't want her to push herself too hard.

“You all right?”

“Yeah, I'm fine. Why?” she asks, popping back up and tightening her ponytail.

My eyes drop to her leg. “Does it still hurt?”

“A little, but I'm okay.” She gives me a reassuring smile, pressing on ahead of me. Spinning around, she walks backward. “I think you might have a hard time keeping up with me.”

“Is that right?” My tone drops playfully, and I take off in a sprint, darting past her. “Look who's in the lead now.” Turning to face her, she's laughing.

“I'm not running,” she says with a shake of her head. “I might feel better, but I'm not stupid.”

Stopping, I wait for her to reach my side. “Seriously though, this is a bit of a tough hike, you sure you're up for it?”

Eyeing me, she purses her lips. “Yes, Bran, I can do this.”

“Good. Don't be afraid to let me know if you need to stop for a break.”

“I won't.”

The first half the trail is easy. The path is wide and flat, only sloped uphill a little bit. Once we hit the second part of the trail, it changes completely. It's steep as shit, thinning against the wall of the mountain.

It's wide enough you don't need to press your back or chest against the mountain, but high enough that one misplaced foot could send you tumbling down into a pretty deep ravine.

“Careful over her, it's a little rocky and uneven.”

“I can see that,” she says over her shoulder.

I follow closely behind her, aware of every step she takes. I don't want to be the reason she gets hurt again.

“It's a little tighter around this bend, stay closer to the inner edge.” Giving her directions, she shoots me an annoyed glare over her shoulder, but doesn't say anything.

Pressing herself in closer, she steps on a rock and it wobbles.

“Careful,” I bark quickly, grabbing her around the waist and pulling her closer to the rock wall.

“Bran!” she yells, prying herself free. “Stop treating me like I'm made of glass! I don't need you protecting me like this.”

“I'm sorry, I just don't want you getting hurt again.”

Looking back at me, her eyes soften. “I know that, and I appreciate it, I really do, but I know what I'm doing here.”

“You're right.” Holding up both my hands with my palms out. I wave the white flag. “I'll stop. I'm taking a step back.”

“I know you want to keep me safe, and I love that about you. I just need you to trust me when I say I'm fine. Yes, I fell hiking. Yes, I could have died, but I didn't. I just hurt my ankle and it's much better now. I wouldn't even be doing this if I felt I couldn't.”

Hearing her say that comforts me. She's right. I need to trust her. She doesn't need me standing over her, hovering like an overprotective brother. She already has one of those.

“Okay, I totally understand. I won't do it again.”

She smiles back at me, and we keep hiking.

It takes another hour for us to reach the falls, but you can hear them long before you see them. The sound of rushing water echoes through the trees, growing louder and louder until we’re almost standing under it.

The trail opens