Part V

Author's Note: The updates might be slow in coming as I am doing NaNoWriMo... again...

Arthur crept back a little ways. He stomped on a few sticks to let Sabrina know he was there. She jumped up startled, hiding her cell phone behind her back before tucking it in her back pocket.

“Arthur, I didn’t see you there. What are you doing here?”

“You were gone a long time. I got worried. James is worried too.” Arthur held out his arms and Sabrina walked over. She hugged him tight. “I was worried about you and the wild animals. I know you aren’t always the most careful person and I didn’t want you to get hurt.”

Sabrina smiled. “I’m not hurt. Come on, it’s getting cold. Let’s go back to camp.” She took his hand and walked back to camp with him. James had moved to sit closer to the fire. He stood up when the couple walked into the circle of light. Walking over, his arm swung back and slapped Sabrina. A stunned silence followed the crack of skin on skin. Sabrina’s hand slowly came up to her cheek as her mouth dropped open. Arthur felt his hand ball in a fist and he punched James before he could think.

“Thit! Artho! Wha was that fow?” James held a hand to his nose as blood streamed in between his fingers. “I dink you bwoke my dose.”

“Why did you slap Sabrina?” Arthur asked, shocked at his own behavior.

“She’s wowking wit Cal!” James pointed a bloody finger at her.

"No, I’m not! Why would— How would— What? No.” Sabrina’s hand moved from her face to her hip.

“I ‘eard you on da phone. You were talking to him!” James yelled, his head tilted back. His nose had slowed it’s bleeding for the most part.

“She was talking to her mother! She doesn’t even know Cal’s number,” Arthur replied angrily.

Sabrina glared at the men. “You were both listening to my private conversation?” James and Arthur nodded, Arthur sheepishly, James proudly.

“Do I listen to your conversations?"

“Yes, you do,” James pointed out.

“Not on your private conversations!” She stomped over to James and Arthur and slapped them both.

James grabbed her forearm roughly. “If you have nothing to hide, who were you talking to?”

“My mom, like Arthur said.” She struggled to get out of his grasp.

“Are you damn sure that’s who?”

“Yes, she is. Let her go,” Arthur said dangerously. James glared at them, but let go. Sabrina rubbed her arm.

“I believe you, I suppose.” James walked over to the tent. “I’m going to bed.”

Once he was gone, Sabrina threw her arms around Arthur. “Oh, Arthur! I was so scared! He may look wimpy, but he’s still so strong! Thank you for saving me.”

Arthur grinned. “You’re welcome. I’d do anything for you.”

“I know you would and I don’t know why it’s taken me this long to realize it.” She looked into his eyes and pulled him closer.

“Realize? Realize what?” he said nervously, looking down at her.

“That I love you.” Sabrina stood on her tiptoes and kissed Arthur gently. Arthur hesitantly put his arms around her waist. This was all that he had dreamed about but something seemed wrong… out of place in a way. As Sabrina deepened the kiss and slid her hands down his chest to stray under his shirt, Arthur grabbed her hips and pushed her away gently.

A look of annoyance mixed with confusion colored Sabrina’s face. “What’s wrong?”

“I… This isn’t how I wanted this to happen.”

“What?”

“I’ve loved you for as long as I can remember and if we are going to do… this… I’d want it to be perfect.” Arthur looked at her hopeful that she would understand.

Sabrina studied him for what seemed like forever before hugging him tight. “You’re a good man, Arthur Galba.”


The next morning Arthur woke to a faintly warm spot next to him and the smell of cooking bacon. Apparently, Sabrina was already up. Arthur crawled out of the tent to find a roaring fire and Sabrina cooking bacon and eggs.

She was dressed in pastel colors; a green and yellow flowered flowing skirt and a short sleeved button up pink shirt. Arthur watched as Sabrina bustled about making sure none of the food was burning. She would often sit down on a camp chair and sigh with a blissful smile on her face. She looked positively radiant.

Arthur walked over and put his arms around her from behind. “You look delectable enough to eat.”

“As will you… once you get cleaned up.” She turned and kissed him tenderly before pushing him away. “I found a pond this morning and got cleaned up.”

“Where’d you get the clothes?” Arthur asked, taking off his shirt.

Sabrina eyed his body appreciatively before replying, “I had them at the shop and got them when we got the camping stuff.”

“Oh. I don’t remember seeing you get them. You know, a skirt isn’t very good for hiking.”

“I know, but it was that or wear my tattered clothes some more. Now, to get to the pond, just walk northward and you’ll find it.”

Arthur hesitated, his shirt still in his hands.

Sabrina pushed him. “Go before James wakes up and I make him go wash with you.”

Arthur smiled, kissed her again and left to go bathe. While he was swimming around the pond, he washed his clothes and left them out to dry. It was a hot day and his clothes dried quickly.

He was putting his pants back on when he noticed a dark blue coat hanging on a branch. He reached up and pulled it off. It was too high for Sabrina to put up there unless she had thrown it and since it wasn’t at her eye level she probably hadn’t noticed it anyway. Must be someone else’s. It was expensive wool and lined with white satin. Whoever this belongs to will probably come looking for it. Better put it back where I found it. He hung it back up.

He was putting on his shirt when James stumbled into the clearing from the east. “Thank God. I’ve been stumbling around this damn forest for nearly thirty minutes!”

“Have you had your coffee this morning?” Arthur asked putting his shoes on.

James looked sheepish. “No.”

“Thought not. Get washed and when you’re done, just follow this trail, there will be some ready for you.” Arthur smiled and walked back to camp.

Sabrina had cooked up enough food to feed a small army—just enough for Arthur and James. She looked up as Arthur walked in and handed him a heaping plate of bacon and eggs.

“James ever make it to the pond?”

“Yeah, just as I was leaving. I told him about the trail to get back. Hopefully, he won’t get lost again. Powdered eggs?”

Nodding, Sabrina nibbled on some bacon. “Do you think we are very far from Cal?” She paused, glancing at Arthur. “I’m worried about the world.”

“Prob’ly on’y abou’ a days jou’ney,” answered Arthur, his mouth full of food.

“A day as in a day and a night or a day as in if we got going to day we could make it today?”

“Honestly? I have no idea, but judging by the time it took the helicopter to get to us, I would say a day and a night and a day. We should get there tomorrow… if my calculations are correct, which they probably aren’t.” Arthur looked at his plate. It was empty. “Can I have more?”

Sabrina grinned, laughing. “You eat too much.” She loaded up his plate a second time.

Arthur was halfway through his second plate when James burst into their clearing. He was holding the coat that Arthur had seen.

“How do you explain this, Sabrina?” he said shaking the coat at her.

“Um, someone forgot their coat last time they were here?”

“This is Cal Hardwick’s coat!”

“So?” Arthur said.

“I found it by the pond that Sabrina ‘found’ this morning.”

“Yeah and?” Sabrina said. "What are you trying to say, James?"

“He was the one that took you to the pond! He found it, not you!”

“James, listen to yourself…” Arthur said. “You’re just jumping to conclusions.”

“Yeah, maybe you are the one who is in cahoots with Cal.”

“Why would I do that? He got me fired!”

“He does have a good point…” Arthur pointed out.

“So, you’re on his side now?!” Sabrina accused.

“No, no, no. I’m just saying that I don’t think that anyone is on Cal’s side. Cal is evil, conniving, malicious and friendless.”

“Then, where did this coat come from?” James said, shaking the coat.

“Cal probably left it last time he was here.” Arthur suggested.

James sighed. “I suppose that could be true. He doesn’t live that far away.”

Arthur grinned weakly. “Good. Are we still going on… as a team?”

Sabrina and James shrugged and hesitantly shook hands. James exhaled noisily. “I still think you are on Cal’s side, in spite of everything, but I’ll help you. Maybe Arthur can do something about it when we get there since I won’t rely on you.”

“Good!” Arthur clapped his hands together. When did things get so chaotic?

James brusquely sat down and started helping himself to a plateful of food.

Sabrina smiled coyly and took Arthur’s hand. “Come with me.”

Arthur grasped her hand and followed Sabrina blindly into the forest. The oaks stood majestically; their branches lifted to bathe the forest floor with sunlight.

Arthur watched the woman in front of him with rapture. She had her hair down for once. Sabrina turned, her hair splaying in the light, the light singling out the blonde in her hair, and flashed him a smile.

She was wearing the perfume that Arthur loved -- the vanilla berry. Sabrina tugged on his hand more insistently. Her hand, warm in his, it was soft to the touch, like baby skin. The wind rushed past his face tickling him into blissful oblivion. She was the only thing that existed; her smell, her touch, her beauty.

They reached a meadow filled with soft downy grass and the smell of wildflowers. Sabrina immediately slipped out of her shoes and ran, twirling, into the friendly sunlight. She held her arms outstretched, her face turned toward the sun. Her dress flared out, washing her in an ethereal glow.

Arthur was afraid to blink for fear of missing something. He drank in the sight of her, completely at ease, frolicking joyfully around the meadow. Sabrina scampered over to him and held him close. Arthur enthusiastically wrapped his arms around her petite frame. He rested his cheek against her head. He felt her eyes close against his chest; her breath warming his skin; her chest heaving against him from her exertions. Arthur had just closed his eyes to savor the moment when a growl came from behind him.