The Proverbial War

He nodded briefly before saying, "Don't get me wrong baby, I like that you have spunk, but you'd be best served to not practice anymore of it on me!"

"What would you do?" I asked unable to help myself.

"I'll set you down on your bare feet on this rough terrain and let the open wound on your foot come in contact with all the bacteria and who knows what else this sunken land is harboring. Is that what you want Princess? Do you want to see your foot rot and have to have it cut off?"

"No." I said biting my lip, as I realized what a fool I had made of myself.

What he was saying was the truth. I wouldn't have been able to keep up with him on my own anyway and I very well may have fallen victim to pirates lagging behind. Instinctively I knew that was a far worse fate to be considered than whatever Colt might require of me.

Colt started out again and it wasn't long before he was breathing heavy again. It was hard work carrying me and the two packs that he had slung on his other shoulder uphill as he was.

"I'm sorry." I said softly against his back.

He stopped and leaned one shoulder against a tree for a moment and huffed out, "Me too. I smacked you too hard that last time."

I blinked slowly in realization of what he was apologizing for. Then again as I realized that he was actually apologizing for something. Strangely the stinging burn I was feeling on the posterior end and the resentful anger that it had inspired went away.

"I was wrong about you." I said softly, as he started out walking again.

There was a wry note to his voice as he asked, "Oh and how's that?"

I was way out on a limb here, but I stuttered out my thought in hopes that I was right, "I don't think you're the type to force yourself on an unwilling woman."

He snorted derisively in response, which had me wondering if I was right.

"I'm right though, aren't I?" I asked more hesitantly than I wanted to.

There was a sour note to his voice as he said, "I should've gagged you."

"Why?" I asked curiously, but he didn't answer. He just kept trudging on through the thick vegetation holding me firmly in place over his shoulder.

I hoped I was right, but when it came to this caveman there was very little that I could be sure of, as he didn't fit the mold that most men I had met were made by.