Asp

by Kris Michaels

  "The food is good. Thank you." He took the stew from her and tried to eat like a civilized person. He managed it...maybe.

  "Would you like more?" Lyric held her hand out to him for the cup.

  He glanced at the small pot over the fire and back at her. "Have you eaten?"

  "I have. The stew is for you." She tipped her head toward the fire. "More?"

  "Absolutely, thank you."

  She filled the cup again and walked it back to him. "Are you feeling better today?"

  "I am. I'm still weak, but I'm feeling better." He took the cup and waited until she sat down across from him. "How did your grandfather find me? Did you ever say?"

  She looked at him and tipped her head as she considered her answer. "I think I did, but it could have been while you were unconscious." She shrugged and began, "He travels to this valley once a year. He and my grandmother would come here when she was alive. It was something special between the two of them. He still comes. He watched you fall from the top of the ridge, then watched you struggle to get to the cave. The men that were looking for you passed by because he concealed your trail. He waited until they'd gone before he came into the cave. You'd passed out. He did what he could for you until we got worried about him. I came up to find him."

  "We?" Husband? Boyfriend? Asp had a thousand questions, but for some reason knowing who 'we' was seemed to be the most important. He held his cup and spoon suspended halfway to his mouth waiting for an answer.

  "My father and me. We live on Grandpa's farm since we moved from America."

  "Ah, that's right." Asp filtered through the conversation they'd had...or she'd had, whatever. The flare of jealousy died, and Asp stomped out the coals it left. He could not afford to get involved. He needed to remember that. "You were born in America?" He slipped into English.

  "Damn straight." She returned in English, laughed and shrugged.

  "Do you ever think about going back?" Asp scraped at the bottom of the cup as he spoke.

  "It was all I thought about until my mom died. Now?" She shrugged her shoulders again. "Life has a way of sucking your dreams away from you."

  Asp put his cup down and waited until she looked up at him. "I am sorry for your loss. Believe me, I understand your feelings better than you think." He cleared his throat and continued, "I've lost both of my parents. The hole that leaves in your soul never goes away. "

  She nodded slowly. "That’s true. Who shot you?"

  "I don't know." Whoever was up on that ridge was damn good, though.

  "Fair enough. Why did they shoot you?" She tipped her head to the side and studied him. “Who are you, Isaac Cooper, and what do you do that people want to kill you?”

  "You don't want to know the answer to that question." He blanked all emotions from his response.

  "I don't?"

  “No.” Asp held her stare as he spoke, "I am poison, Lyric. I am pure, unadulterated evil, and I have more enemies than you can possibly imagine. You endanger yourself and your family by helping me. Pack your belongings and go back to the farm with your family. Forget I exist. Leave before someone finds out you're helping me."

  He watched as her eyes widened when his words registered, but she didn't get up and start packing. Instead, she reached over and grabbed his cup, went to the fire, filled it and handed it back to him. Her voice remained level and calm as she spoke, "Poison and evil? I don't believe it for a second. You are polite, well-mannered, and begged me to take care of Mrs. Henson, no wait...Mrs. Henshaw, because her children wouldn't. You wanted to buy KD a birthday gift and you felt guilt about missing the party. You're not evil, Isaac Cooper. You may have a dangerous job, but you are not evil. I don't scare easily so stop trying. Nobody should find you here. I have been very careful. In fact, if I suspect there are others in the area, there is no reason to leave this cave. I don't go out into that valley unless I'm sure it is safe. Now if you’re done trying to protect me, finish your food and then lie back before you fall over."

  She got up and went to the fire, keeping her back to him. Asp literally snapped his mouth shut. That beautiful, angelic woman had just handed him his ass. Politely. He blinked from her to the stew in his cup back to her. Well shit. His respect for the woman toggled up twenty notches.

  "Stop thinking so hard and eat." Lyric's voice floated to him from the front of the cave.

  Asp narrowed his eyes at her as he finished his stew in three bites, drank some water and lay flat on the pallet. He followed her directions because he was hungry and tired. No other reason.

  Chapter 10

  Lyric kept her eyes on the front of the cave listening to the soft roll of thunder. She'd spent the morning foraging the area over the ridge for bananas, mangos, guanabana and several shoots and roots to add to their very small stores, but the torrential afternoon rains should obscure any tracks she'd made. Isaac’s appetite had returned, and she was glad she'd taken the time to gather her large backpack full of fresh food. She leaned against the side of the cave and watched the rain. She'd been cautious, but what if someone actually was looking for Isaac as he suggested earlier? She could handle the threat, but if she led his enemies back to her family? No, that wasn't acceptable. She wouldn't be the reason someone else in her family died. The guilt of her mother's death still hung over her. She couldn't be responsible for putting what was left of her family in danger.

  She knew the FARC were reorganizing again. There were many who were unhappy about the way the government handled the disbanding of the group. No doubt anyone looking to gather malcontents would find more than enough willing to volunteer. She'd spent ten years in this country. She knew the horror stories, and yes, they put a healthy fear into her, with good reason. Many women had been abducted from their homes and brutalized. Lyric suddenly wished she'd kept the handgun with her instead of sending it back down to the farm with her grandfather. But, it was better the men had the protection while harvesting. She glanced at Isaac’s rifle propped against the wall. He'd had her bring it to him as soon as he could sit up and had spent an hour cleaning and checking the weapon. She wouldn't even know how to begin to load it, let alone shoot the thing.

  Isaac tried to scare her away this morning. His words alarmed her, but she wouldn't run away, not when he needed help, and despite his bluster, he did need her help. Her only hesitancy in throwing his words back in his face were thoughts her family might be put in danger by her helping him.

  She narrowed her eyes and stared hard through the rain, seeing nothing as her mind tumbled over what might happen in the next two weeks. Two weeks was a long time to look for someone. Adding another two weeks, considering how fast he was healing, would make it a month since he'd been shot. Would the men that hunted Isaac still be looking by then? She shoved her hands into the back pockets of her jeans and drew a deep breath. She'd be more careful about leaving any indications she'd been harvesting fruit around the valley and make sure Isaac rested and regained his strength.

  "Do I hear water running?" Isaac's voice behind her sent her catapulting into the wall of the cave.

  She grabbed her shoulder where she slammed into the unforgiving rock and spun around. "That is the second time you've scared me enough to make me abuse myself." Her eyes flitted from his face, pale and drawn to his bare chest. He'd found his jeans and pulled them on over his injury. They were zipped but not buttoned. His muscles rippled under his skin as he lifted his arm to brace himself against the wall.

  "Second time?" His drawn face held a quizzical expression.

  "Once when I was asleep. You spoke loudly, and it jolted me. I bumped my head." She reached back and felt the still tender spot.

  "I feel like I should apologize."

  "For having a fever? No, you don't need to do that." She shook her head. "You shouldn't be up."

  "I won't get stronger if I don't push myself."

  "You push yourself too much and you'll set back your recovery." She pointed toward the pallet. "Go lie down."

  He smiled and no
dded outside. "Nature calls." Lyric felt the blood rush to her face. She'd taken care of him while he was unconscious, but of course, he wouldn't want...no...

  "How strong do you feel?"

  "I'm managing." She waved towards the back of the cave. "There is a way out of the cave toward the back. It is very secluded. I've dug a trench." She didn't wait for him to answer but went to her pack and pulled out the flashlight before she took the kerosene light and lit it. Her embarrassment at the memories of his body...his entire body, fueled her flurry of activity.

  "If we walk slow, I should be able to make it." He limped from the wall towards her.

  Lyric swore bitter words to herself. She was so lost in her own embarrassment she hadn’t thought to offer him help. "Here, lean on me for support. I'll go at your pace."

  His heavy arm draped over her shoulder though he wasn't leaning on her much, more like using her for balance. She didn't care, as long as it assisted him. She wrapped her hand around his waist. The light of the flashlight in her hand bounced with his step sending weird illuminations against the wall and the small waterfall that fed the pool of water. The size of the cascade and the resulting pool had gotten considerably bigger with the recent afternoon rains. He stopped and scanned the inner chamber of the cave. She allowed him to take it in and catch his breath.

  "Beautiful, isn't it?" She looked up at him and smiled. "You can see through the surface to the very bottom. It is clear, pure and beautiful."

  His gaze fell to her, and he blinked before he spoke. "Yes, beautiful."

  Lyric narrowed her eyes. Was he going to pass out? Why did he sound like that? She motioned toward the back of the cavern. "Can you make it?"

  "I will."

  She suspected his answer resulted more from determination than ability, but she helped him to the back of the cavern and a narrow walkway. "Use the walls for support, they are mostly smooth. The walkway is about ten feet and then two sharp turns to the right. At that point, the sun lights the interior of the cavern enough to see, even with the rain clouds. I'll be waiting here. Call me if you need me." She gave him the flashlight and sat the kerosene lamp down on the floor of the cavern near her feet.

  He nodded, took the flashlight and braced himself against the walls of the narrow passage. He was shaking. The flashlight danced wildly as he shifted his hands and stepped forward. She watched with growing concern until he turned the corner and then lifted her light and quietly trailed after him, wanting to be closer if he needed her. She stood in the fissure and waited...and waited...just when she was ready to go out and check on him, she heard him coming back. She retreated to the main cavern before he reached the turn. He was soaking wet when he threw an arm over her. His hair was plastered to his head as if he'd wiped it back. His beard was soft and full, and he looked completely exhausted

  "What happened? Why are you soaked?"

  He leaned against her, heavier than before, giving her more of his weight, making her clothes wet from the contact. "I couldn't stand the smell of myself. There is another waterfall just outside your bathroom area. I took a shower. Well, that's not true. I stood under the water, clothes and all."

  Lyric looked up at him. "Well, you know our bathrooms have all the modern conveniences. Next time I'll bring you soap and a towel."

  "Deal." He leaned against her, and they slowly hobbled back to the front of the cave. He glanced at the bed and then at his wet jeans. He ran a hand over his face and sighed, "Fuck, didn't think that one through, did I?"

  Lyric grabbed one of the blankets off his pallet. "No problem, here, hold this." She wrapped the material around his waist and waited for him to grab the gathered area. Before he could object, she reached in between the folds, unzipped his pants and slid her hands inside his waistband, pulling them down to his feet. She kept her eyes trained on his upper body in case he started to topple, even though she'd love to see the man standing...naked and standing. She flushed at the thought and tapped his ankle. "Lift your foot."

  Isaac put his free hand out to the cave wall and leaned against it before he lifted one foot and then the other. Lyric pulled the wet and now sandy jeans out from under the blanket. She threw them on top of a rock where they wouldn't get dirtier and stood up. "Now, that is enough of an outing for you. Time for you to lie down."

  Isaac stared at her for a moment before he nodded. "Okay, but only because I'm going to fall down if I don't."

  She smiled. "Well, thank you for admitting that. Go ahead, lie down. I'll take your jeans over by the fire and get dinner started. You rest." She helped as best as she could during his controlled fall to the pallet and draped the other blanket over him. His eyes closed almost immediately. She was tempted to brush his wet hair from where it was plastered to his forehead. Her time of touching him because she wanted to give him comfort was coming to an end. She gave in to the urge and pushed his wet bangs away from his eyes. His eyes opened briefly, and a smile flitted across his face. Lyric stood and turned to the tasks at hand. He was healing, and she would be gone soon. There were only a handful of days until she walked away from him forever. An ache took up residence in her chest. So, she did what was right. She shoved those feelings down, grabbed his jeans, and went to work.

  Two hours later he woke, silently. She'd have missed it if she hadn't been watching him. He was quiet as his eyes scanned the cave, finally settling on her.

  "It’s not freaky at all that you're watching me sleep." The chuckle from his chest rumbled through the cave.

  "Sorry, the television didn't have anything interesting on. Hungry?"

  He chuckled, "Always."

  Lyric smiled at the honesty of that answer. She gathered his food and brought it to him.

  "Have you eaten?"

  She nodded and pointed to her own plate beside her pallet.

  He glanced over as if making sure she'd actually eaten something before he picked up his food and consumed it. Quickly.

  "Who's KD?" Lyric couldn't stop the curiosity. Isaac wore no wedding band. He had never mentioned anyone other than his dead parents. Of course, he'd been asleep most of the time, but he did mention Mrs. Henshaw and KD.

  Asp kept his focus on his plate, but he didn't take another bite. "Why do you want to know?"

  "You wanted to get whoever they are a birthday present. What would you get?" Lyric hoped she could determine his relationship with this KD by contextual clues. She knew it was wrong to be jealous. He wasn't her friend, let alone her lover, but after taking care of him, nursing him back to life, she had a vested interest. At least, that was what she told herself. When had she allowed herself to hope for much more?

  Asp leaned back against the wall of the cave and stared at her for a moment before he shrugged. "I wanted to get her a pony. I figured her other...uncles wouldn't be able to top that."

  "Uncles?" A flutter of happiness winged around her heart and took a perch there. She refused to examine the reason why.

  He took a bite and nodded. "Kinda. I'm friends with her dad. He's the only one of us that has a family." He chewed his food and looked toward the front of the cave as if lost in thought.

  "Her parents would be okay with you buying her a pony?" Growing up in Jacksonville she knew most kids went through a phase where they asked for a pony. The issue was where to keep a horse, in the backyard?

  "Yeah. They live on a ranch out in the middle of nowhere. Her dad would be okay with it, but her mom, well, she hovers. Kadey was sick for a long time, but she's fine now. Her momma is protective."

  She saw his eyes soften and a smile played on his lips. "You like being an uncle."

  "I like having a family. It’s been a long time."

  "What do you do when you’re not working?" Lyric grabbed several bananas and peeled one open, handing the fruit to him. His hand was huge against the size of the fruit. She marveled again at the sheer size of the man.

  He ate the banana in three bites and took a drink of water. "I travel."

  "Where?"

  "What
do you mean?"

  "I mean, where have you been? I've lived in America, and we flew here. So, I've been to America and Colombia. Where have you been?"

  He leaned back against the cave wall and smiled. "Listing the countries I haven't been to would take less time."

  Wow, that was not the answer she expected. Her curiosity peaked. "Do you enjoy it? Traveling?" She’d never had the itch to travel, well except to go back to the US. Maybe she was a homebody. That was what her mom had called herself.

  "I did when I was younger. Recently, I've been sticking around my friend's place." He reached for the other banana and stripped it of its peel.

  "The one with the little girl?" Lyric wrapped her arms around her legs.

  "Yeah. Either there, or I go to the east coast and check in on Mrs. Henshaw. She's a cool old lady. She makes great cookies." He smiled before he took the last bite of his banana.

  "Cookies? Say it isn't so. Isaac Cooper has a sweet tooth?" She laughed when he blushed.

  "Hey, I get enough sh ... uh, crap from my co-workers. I have a healthy appetite. They like to point out how much I eat." He examined his blanket and shrugged. "They are good people."

  "I haven't seen you eat too much. You're hungry, but that is to be expected after being sick for so long." She couldn't imagine teasing someone because they were hungry. His friends sounded critical. She wanted to ask him about his co-workers but she suspected that was a forbidden topic.

  "How old are you?" Isaac asked.

  "Twenty-seven." She nodded at him. "You?"

  "I have you by about ten years. Married?" He examined his plate like he'd just discovered the Holy Grail.

  "No. I've never even been in a long-term relationship. My dad says it’s because of my temper. Not many men are strong enough to stand up to me." Isaac glanced up at her and she smiled at the flick of his eyebrows, as if he considered taking on the challenge. What she wouldn't give for that to happen. "Are you married?" She held her breath.

  "No. The job. It's not conducive to relationships." He shrugged and took a drink of water.