Dreamwalker's Bride - Chapter 252

Chapter 252: Next steps
Ford went to get his pack and ready himself for sleep. Mia had gone to the trouble of drying out the rest of their wet things by the fire, which he was grateful for.

It looked like his bedroll might even be toasty warm, which seemed incredibly inviting right now… though it would remind him of the night before, when his warmth had come from the soft, pretty woman in his arms.

He shot a look at Gary. The man was old enough to be Mia’s father, or at least uncle, but that didn’t stop any of the old miners from taking young wives for themselves if they could.

Ford had the urge to warn the man off from Mia, and hoped his glare would be enough to do it. Gary sighed.

“I suppose the gallant thing to do would be to offer my tent to the lady,” He announced, unprovoked. “I can tell by the size of your packs that you don’t have one to set up for yourselves… or perhaps a small one that you share?”

Ford wasn’t sure whether to resent the implication or embrace it, but Mia had already declared them to be friends. Gary didn’t seem convinced that they were only that.

“We don’t have a tent,” Mia said. “But I don’t want to take your sleeping place. It doesn’t look like rain tonight, I’m sure I’ll be fine by the fire.”

“I insist,” Gary smiled warmly, “Unless you find the tent unappealing in some way…”

“I like looking at the stars,” Mia replied easily. “But I thank you very kindly for your offer.”

Gary’s eyes flashed between the two of them once more before he relented and turned away.

“If you need me, you know where to find me. Don’t go digging until I’m up, understand?”

Mia nodded, but Ford watched her shoulders begin to relax more fully only when Gary was completely out of sight.

“You don’t entirely trust him,” Ford observed with satisfaction.

“Only because you’re so… paranoid,” Mia whispered. “You’re rubbing off on me, I suppose.”

Her words were accusatory, but Ford smiled in the firelight. “I’m glad.”

Mia stuck out her tongue at him in a childish display he hadn’t seen since he began working in the mines at an early age.

He wanted to find it irritating, but he found himself amused instead.

“Did you get everything figured out inside the cave?” Mia’s question was a natural one, but her voice seemed a little strained.

“As well as can be,” Ford shrugged as he spread out his bedroll. He sat down on it instead of crawling in immediately, wishing he had some kind of excuse to sleep close to Mia again.

He couldn’t think of one.

“The man is obviously not well versed in mining or digging. I don’t know what his job was before, but it clearly wasn’t this. He’s made the kinds of mistakes that have killed less lucky men… it was probably sleeping out here and not inside that saved him so far.”

“Is it really so dangerous inside?” Mia’s hands shook slightly as she spread her own things, and Ford paused.

“Are you frightened?”

“Yes,” She whispered. “I was already terrified, of course, but I thought coming here and seeing it for myself, all grown up, would make it seem less horrible. Now, I haven’t even set foot inside and I’m already a mess.”

Ford watched her evenly. He hadn’t hesitated to go into the cave, even after his experience being trapped in the mine under a mountain of rock. He’d never set foot back in that place. The natural feel of this cave was at least slightly different from the entirely man-made mines.

Enough to not immediately send him into flashbacks about the terrible experience. Mia obviously didn’t have the same luxury. He could see sweat forming on her brow as she looked at the entrance.

“I’m not going to let you inside until I’m sure it’s safe,” He told her in a moment of compassion. Her gaze shifted to him, perplexed.

“Really?”

“I know the signs of collapse,” He told her. “It’s not perfect, but especially once we break through to the main cave, it should be perfectly stable that far in. I’ll make sure you’re all right.”

Why was he doing this? He didn’t need her anymore. He’d found the cave, or at least the best way into it. He could abandon her entirely, let her wander off on her own, and not be any worse off for it.

And yet, he felt the need to comfort her, reassure her, and make a way for her to accomplish her goal of conquering her past memories and fears. What was compelling him to do this?

A tear slid down Mia’s cheek, and then another. Ford looked away, awkwardly. Dealing with crying women was not a skill he’d cultivated at all.

“Don’t cry,” He commanded flatly.

“Sorry,” Mia sniffled.

There was silence for a moment as they both looked into the flames.

“Should we gather more firewood?” She asked after a minute. “Since Gary has a tent, he probably banks his fires overnight and doesn’t leave them burning. We don’t want to run out of fuel and get cold…”

“Maybe you don’t,” Ford mumbled under his breath, and Mia looked at him curiously. He glanced away, not particularly eager to admit how much he wouldn’t mind her getting cold in the night and coming to him for warmth.

“I’m sorry, your leg is probably hurting terribly,” She stood and shook her head. “It was thoughtless of me. I’ll go gather what I can while you get to sleep.”

Before Ford could open his mouth, Mia was on her feet and walking away, poking around by moonlight to find suitable firewood. He doubted she would find much; surely in his years here, Gary had gathered everything reasonably close that would be useful.

Sure enough, after some time, Mia returned with nothing but a few handfuls of twigs gleaned from beneath bushes.

“This was all I could find…” She explained forlornly. “If you get too cold… let me know, I suppose.”