me the way, happy to have both. When
I get back to camp, Kyle is messing
with a campfire. Someone left a few
sticks of firewood, he says. Nice of
them. Too dark to be hunting for it now.
I sit on a big log, watching him work to
start it. Before long, a small flame slithers
up thin sticks of kindling, licking at a log.
Kyle’s face is handsome in the building
firelight. Rugged. “You remind me of
a cowboy. Or maybe a fur trapper.”
He laughs, sits next to me. Guess that
makes you the lonely schoolteacher
waiting for me to come ravage you.
He kisses me, and it is sweet, despite
the smell of his smoke-stung clothes.
Too soon, he pulls away. Hungry?
I nod, and he goes to the truck,
brings back nuts. Jerky. Water
to wash both down with. I chew
for a while. Finally I notice Kyle
hasn’t touched the skimpy feast.
“Aren’t you going to eat?” I ask.
He shakes his head. Maybe later.
I’m not really hungry right now.
He goes to poke at the fire.
I close the bags carefully. Gulp
water, wishing I’d thought to buy
a toothbrush. “Are you scared?”
You kidding? Even if we get caught,