“I never want to stop practicing,” she admitted, feeling his muscles quiver in response to her gentle scratching. “In fact, I think I’m ready for a session right now.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHANCE WAS SO ANGRY and frustrated he could spit—that is, if he could work up enough moisture in his mouth to form any spit. Even at the rate they’d agreed on—one swallow every two hours—the second water bottle was almost empty.
He kicked the wall instead, but it didn’t make him feel any better and only hurt his toe. He’d promised Kyndal he’d find a way out or find some water today and now the day was almost over. Failure—both counts.
The muscles in his legs and back cramped as though he’d covered miles, squeezing through gaps, crawling through holes, climbing over boulders. Nothing. No hint of moisture. No sign of light. No flicker of hope to ease the panic pounding in his temples.
Each time he went back to check on Kyndal, she looked so hopeful. And each time, he faced the disappointment in her eyes. No tears. Probably too dehydrated to make any. She smiled and said it was okay.
But it wasn’t okay, damn it. Damn it to hell, it was not okay! Fifteen hours of exploration should’ve brought him something other than sore muscles and an aching toe. He should be able to fix this. His dad would say he shouldn’t have let this happen. What kind of man was he that he couldn’t get them out of this? Guilt slammed a one-two punch into his empty gut.
He kicked the wall again with his other foot.
Almost eight o’clock. Water time. The last one. He’d lie and tell Kyn he’d already taken his turn. That would leave one more, and he’d make her go first next time.
He followed arrows he had scratched in the dirt back to his coins. From there he knew the path by heart, he’d followed it so many times today.
In the big room—Kyndal’s name for the cavern they’d fallen into—he stopped under the hole in the ceiling and let go a few blasts on the whistle. He listened after each one, hoping someone would hear and call out. There was no answer.
He trudged past the spiderweb, admitting defeat. Tomorrow he would explore the area on the other side of the big room.
There had to be a way out, and if it was there, he would find it.
He took a deep breath and settled his face into what he hoped was a look of confidence before crawling once more through the T-shirt covered hole. “Honey, I’m home.”
The air in their niche was several degrees warmer than outside—or maybe being near Kyndal warmed him up.
“And I’m glad, but don’t expect me to be cooking your dinner. You promised we’d go out tonight.” Her voice sounded scratchy, but she smiled. The light illuminated her dirt-smudged face and the dark circles under her eyes, but she was still beautiful. Maybe her attitude added to the allure. All day, she’d been excited and hopeful every time he returned. Not once had she whined or cried or complained. She smiled and joked like now, no doubt trying to make him forget she was in pain.
Nothing could make him forget what a miserable failure he’d been today.
“You’re not going out again, are you?”
He shrugged. Now that he’d seen her, he wasn’t nearly as tired. He might be able to manage one more excursion.
“Please don’t go. I feel totally useless sitting here.” She combed her fingers absently through her hair. “You’re giving it all you’ve got, and I’m sitting here doing absolutely nothing.”
“Quit berating yourself. If you could, you’d be out there with me in a heartbeat.” He handed her the water bottle. “How’s the ankle?”
She eased a pill from her jeans’ pocket and popped it into her mouth, taking a small sip to wash it down. “It hardly hurts at all unless I put direct pressure on it.” She held the bottle out to him.
“No, thanks. I’ve already had mine.”
“You’re lying.” Her eyes narrowed to slits, and the bottle didn’t move. “You haven’t been drinking your share. I’ve been watching.”
“And you’re lying about your ankle not hurting.”
The corners of her mouth turned up. “Okay, we’re even. Drink the water, and no more lying.”
Why did the woman have to be so pigheaded? He took the bottle and swallowed the last bit of water then threw the bottle against the wall. It bounced back at them defiantly. He caught it the instant before