****
"How are the bruises?" Avon asked the next morning.
"Barely visible and the pain is nonexistent," Jeremy answered. "Iramy has some remarkable skills. I'm surprised some lucky man hasn't snatched her up."
"You interested?" Avon joked.
"If I was a bit older, maybe," Jeremy chuckled. "She's a well-rounded woman. Beautiful, a fantastic cook and damn can she take care of herself. I wouldn't want to be the man who pisses her off. She'd removed his balls."
Avon busted out laughing. "I believe she would. The more I've learned about her this summer, the more I want to be like her. I don't think I could ever be as good as her with a rifle or a sword. She makes it look so easy."
"Well, she's had a lot more practice than you," Jeremy reminded Avon. "So do you want to practice this afternoon? We need to do some weight training this morning. It will help."
"My shoulders are still a bit sore," Avon replied rolling her shoulders back several times.
"Then it will be good to stretch them out, especially after carrying a full pack this morning."
"And just when I thought life was getting a little easier," Avon laughed.
"Well, I do have some good news," Jeremy announced. "I talked to your father last night and he sent me the coordinates for a place we can go camping. It's actually on your property about five miles from here. There's even a river nearby so we will be able to fish and hunt; learn to live off the land."
"A river?"
"You haven't explored the property?"
"No."
"Well, we're about to. Quite a bit is wooded so maybe we'll be able to do a little hunting. I'd like it if we didn't have to carry in a week's worth of rations with us."
"Rations? You mean U-Rats?"
"Yepper," Jeremy chuckled. "Military Universal Rations. The meal of champions."
"Yuck," Avon grimaced, about to gag. "I hate those things."
"It's either that or starve."
"You don't give a girl much many options do you?"
"I'm afraid not princess."
Now Avon was pissed. She hated being called princess. "When are you going to cut the princess crap?"
"As soon as you prove to me you're a soldier and not a debutant."
"Just wait until this afternoon then," Avon chuckled. "Suddenly my shoulders aren't hurting so much. I think we need to see a little bamboo action."
"Only if you are up to it princess."
Raising Avon Page 20