raisins, apples, apricots, and nuts. Elodia who had not felt hungry ate quite a bit of the food offered.
Eli cut a piece of one of his blankets and very gently washed the blood, dirt and dried pine needles from her feet. Elodia watched in fascination as he washed her feet. Her feet hurt so badly yet his gentle touch was comforting. He ended the washing by leaving a kiss on top of both feet. Then cutting his blanket intro strips, he wrapped her feet, covering them to just above her ankle.
"Such pretty little feet!" he teased.
"Such big stinky feet," she teased back, laughing.
"It's good to hear you laugh again Elody."
"I didn’t expect to be found."
"I found you, sweetheart," Eli whispered as he hugged her again. "Are you hurt anywhere else?" he asked noting the dried blood. Elodia shook her head and clung to Eli. "It will be dark soon. Let's share the blanket. I'll keep you safe and warm." Elodia snuggled as Eli covered her and wrapped her in his arms. She did feel safe and warm as sleep claimed them both.
When Elodia woke she saw Eli sitting by a small fire roasting a squirrel he had caught.
"Good morning Elody."
"I think I'm hungry Eli."
"I've got dried fruit, cheese and a fat little squirrel."
"Why did you let me sleep so late?" she asked.
"You looked so cute sleeping, I just didn’t have the heart."
"I can't walk, what are we are going to do."
"I have a safe house arranged for you. It's almost a week journey with me carrying you." Elodia started to object but Eli silenced her with a kiss.
"I've been given two weeks to get you settled. Then I need to return to finish my apprenticeship. I'll be back for you in three and a half months."
They sat and quietly ate the food Eli provided. Elodia was deep in thought. Eli seemed so assured of his plan and he had found her.
"Ok, Eli I agree to the plan. But promise me if I become a burden you will leave me."
"I love you Elody, I will never find you a burden."
"Promise?"
"Absolutely."
"Then I will do the cooking," Elodia said firmly.
"Great, I tend to burn everything."
"I noticed that," Elodia teased. "What about sleeping arrangements."
"We can share the blanket, I will treat you with respect and refrain from anything inappropriate."
"Inappropriate thoughts too?" Elodia teased.
"Heavens no, every time I see you or even think of you, my mind fills with inappropriate thoughts."
"Really?" Elodia laughed with delight.
"Trust me. I will never do anything to hurt or compromise you."
"I do trust you."
They packed up and Elodia wore the backpack as Eli carried her piggyback style while they continued west. They made their way slowly as the route west was gradually sloping up as the approached the mountains. Early in the second day, they saw the mountains as the trees gave way to grassy savanna. Elodia also developed a fever late on the third day and was too weak to hold on to be carried. Using two poles and the blanket Eli improvised a litter and they continued west. Eli had no way to treat the fever and worried about her. Then refusing to stop for the night on the fifth day, he continued on, reaching a small log cabin in the foothills.
"We made it, sweetheart to the safe house," Elodia smiled as he hugged her, too weak for much more.
Chapter 4 Safe House
"A unt Myrtle this is Elodia, the woman I intend to marry."
"Is this your first declaration Eli?"
"Yes, it is!" Eli smiled brightly as he caught the meaning of the question.
"First declaration?" Elodia whispered, her voice slurred. Her thoughts barely coherent.
"Yes Odie, once more and we are wed," Eli whispered as he kissed her hand.
"Declare away Eli!" Elodia smiled then lost consciousness as the fever claimed her.
"Carry her to that bed. Then you can undress her and..."
"I think it would be better if..."
"Nonsense Eli, you have been traveling together, you have declared your intentions. My hands are crippled with arthritis. I will direct."
Eli covered Elodia with a soft blanket, then working
Eli cut a piece of one of his blankets and very gently washed the blood, dirt and dried pine needles from her feet. Elodia watched in fascination as he washed her feet. Her feet hurt so badly yet his gentle touch was comforting. He ended the washing by leaving a kiss on top of both feet. Then cutting his blanket intro strips, he wrapped her feet, covering them to just above her ankle.
"Such pretty little feet!" he teased.
"Such big stinky feet," she teased back, laughing.
"It's good to hear you laugh again Elody."
"I didn’t expect to be found."
"I found you, sweetheart," Eli whispered as he hugged her again. "Are you hurt anywhere else?" he asked noting the dried blood. Elodia shook her head and clung to Eli. "It will be dark soon. Let's share the blanket. I'll keep you safe and warm." Elodia snuggled as Eli covered her and wrapped her in his arms. She did feel safe and warm as sleep claimed them both.
When Elodia woke she saw Eli sitting by a small fire roasting a squirrel he had caught.
"Good morning Elody."
"I think I'm hungry Eli."
"I've got dried fruit, cheese and a fat little squirrel."
"Why did you let me sleep so late?" she asked.
"You looked so cute sleeping, I just didn’t have the heart."
"I can't walk, what are we are going to do."
"I have a safe house arranged for you. It's almost a week journey with me carrying you." Elodia started to object but Eli silenced her with a kiss.
"I've been given two weeks to get you settled. Then I need to return to finish my apprenticeship. I'll be back for you in three and a half months."
They sat and quietly ate the food Eli provided. Elodia was deep in thought. Eli seemed so assured of his plan and he had found her.
"Ok, Eli I agree to the plan. But promise me if I become a burden you will leave me."
"I love you Elody, I will never find you a burden."
"Promise?"
"Absolutely."
"Then I will do the cooking," Elodia said firmly.
"Great, I tend to burn everything."
"I noticed that," Elodia teased. "What about sleeping arrangements."
"We can share the blanket, I will treat you with respect and refrain from anything inappropriate."
"Inappropriate thoughts too?" Elodia teased.
"Heavens no, every time I see you or even think of you, my mind fills with inappropriate thoughts."
"Really?" Elodia laughed with delight.
"Trust me. I will never do anything to hurt or compromise you."
"I do trust you."
They packed up and Elodia wore the backpack as Eli carried her piggyback style while they continued west. They made their way slowly as the route west was gradually sloping up as the approached the mountains. Early in the second day, they saw the mountains as the trees gave way to grassy savanna. Elodia also developed a fever late on the third day and was too weak to hold on to be carried. Using two poles and the blanket Eli improvised a litter and they continued west. Eli had no way to treat the fever and worried about her. Then refusing to stop for the night on the fifth day, he continued on, reaching a small log cabin in the foothills.
"We made it, sweetheart to the safe house," Elodia smiled as he hugged her, too weak for much more.
Chapter 4 Safe House
"A unt Myrtle this is Elodia, the woman I intend to marry."
"Is this your first declaration Eli?"
"Yes, it is!" Eli smiled brightly as he caught the meaning of the question.
"First declaration?" Elodia whispered, her voice slurred. Her thoughts barely coherent.
"Yes Odie, once more and we are wed," Eli whispered as he kissed her hand.
"Declare away Eli!" Elodia smiled then lost consciousness as the fever claimed her.
"Carry her to that bed. Then you can undress her and..."
"I think it would be better if..."
"Nonsense Eli, you have been traveling together, you have declared your intentions. My hands are crippled with arthritis. I will direct."
Eli covered Elodia with a soft blanket, then working
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