Page 80 of Freeing Lark

“If I remember right, there’s a cabin ahead.”

“How sure are you?” she asked, her breath coming in short, rapid gasps.

“Pretty sure.”

“Pretty sure?” she questioned.

“About seventy percent.”

She snorted. “That’s reassuring.”

“It’s the best you’re getting at the moment.”

They climbed. The slope grew steeper, forcing Lark to brace herself against trees as she trudged along beside him. Hoot’s vision began to blur at the edges. He ignored it. He couldn’t afford to stop. Not yet.

Then he saw something through the trees. A roof, overgrown with vines, it was old and sagging. But it was there.

Hoot stopped. “There.”

Lark followed his gaze. “Is that it?”

“Yeah.” Relief nearly buckled his knees. They reached the cabin a few minutes later. The door was hanging crooked on its hinges. Drawing his knife, he reached out to push it aside. “Stay behind me.”

Lark frowned. “You’re wounded.”

“And you’re not. I’d like to keep it that way.”

“I could help.”

“You can help by staying behind me.”

She rolled her eyes. “Bossy.”

“Occupational hazard.” He pushed the door open. The cabin was dark and empty. At least, as far as he could tell. He swept the room carefully. One large room, with an old fireplace taking up one wall. A broken table and dusty furniture comprised the room’s contents. No signs anyone had been there recently.

Hoot finally lowered his knife. “Clear.”

Lark stepped inside. The relief on her face was almost painful to see. She immediately moved toward the fireplace. “Can we make a fire?”

Hoot hesitated, worried about the smoke being spotted, but conceded. The storm would conceal most of it. “Probably.”

She looked over her shoulder. “Probably?”

“I’ve been shot. My brain isn’t operating at full capacity.”

“Good. Because I’m pretty sure mine left somewhere around the time I jumped into the river.”

Despite everything, Hoot smiled. A real one. Lark stared at him. “What?”

“Nothing.” But her smile told him she liked seeing it.

Hoot leaned against the wall. The moment he stopped moving, the pain hit him full force. His knees nearly buckled.

Lark was beside him instantly. “Cormac.”

“I’m fine.”

She gave him a flat look. “Don’t.”