Blackbird's Fall - Jenika Snow Page 0,28

to her softness.

Marius pushed away a strand of hair from her face that had gotten free from her ponytail and smoothed his finger along her cheek and down to her mouth. He stared at her lips for a long while, but it wasn’t uncomfortable, and she didn’t feel like he was scrutinizing her. Maya felt like he was taking in every aspect of her, memorizing her.

“I know it’ll only be for a day or two, but I really don’t want to fucking leave you,” he murmured, seeming distant.

“I’ll be here when you get back.” She smiled. “Or you can stay, and we can figure out other things to eat.”

He shook his head. “No, baby, I need to find some protein for us, especially since I know winter is going to be a bitch.”

Yeah, winters in Colorado were hard below the mountains, but being this high up, she knew it could be brutal.

He leaned down and kissed her softly, and just when she was feeling that warmth rise to a fever pitch, Marius pulled back. “Watch yourself,” he whispered and ran his thumb along her bottom lip.

“You too.”

He nodded, and with one more look, he turned and started heading into the woods. She stared off after him, even when she couldn’t see him anymore. Finally, she turned around and finished chopping the wood. She gathered some of the wood and made her way toward the house. As she set the logs on the porch and went to head back to get more, something caught her eye.

Making her way toward the fence on the far end of the property, she saw that one of the posts was rotted at the bottom, which led to the wire coming loose from the wood.

Glancing up and around, she took note if anything was out of the ordinary, just in case. She didn’t get any weird feelings, which usually were her instincts telling her things weren’t right. But she didn’t know how long this post had been like this. If an infected came wandering through, they would have no trouble pulling this fencing right out and walking onto the property.

Sherman came running up to her and sat down beside her.

“We need to get this fixed, Sherman.” For a long time, talking to her dog was the only conversation she had, even if it was one-sided. Lifting her head, she stared out into the woods again. The sound of birds above her head could be heard, and of trees swaying, the bark creaking.

The fence temporarily forgotten, Maya really hoped Marius was okay and that their luck at not having any infected roaming this high up lasted. She was afraid Marius wouldn’t come back, or if he did, he’d be injured again.

And then there was the worry about the man who had stabbed him. Then again, that last part was furthest from her mind, because it had been weeks with no sign of him.

God, this changed world had the worry and fear people tried to keep at bay rising up and being paramount. But it was necessary in order to survive.

17

Marius had been hunting for the last day, and aside from a rabbit and two squirrels that were tucked in his pack, he hadn’t come across any other game… until now.

He crouched low and breathed out slowly. The buck was about twenty yards away, grazing but aware it wasn’t alone. Marius tried to calm his breathing and heart rate, tried to relax so he didn’t spook the animal.

Lifting his gun, he trained it on the buck. He didn’t want to shoot too soon, didn’t want to miss this one shot he had. The buck could feed them for the next several months if they rationed it well enough.

Inhaling deeply, he kept his gaze trained on the buck. He’d make the death painless, shoot the animal where it would die instantly. No point in making the animal suffer. And when he exhaled slowly, that was when he fired.

The buck fell to the ground, dead instantly. A thrill went through him, not because he killed the animal, but because he’d be able to bring meat home for Maya. He was providing for her, and to him that meant a hell of a lot.

Grabbing his things, he headed over to the animal. He’d dress it in the field and then carry it back to the house. It would be a hike, but he’d walk all night if he had to. He had this bad feeling in the pit of his gut,