"All right, Talks to Spirits." The sheriff nudged his hat back, intent gaze on me. "What're you doing here?"
"The spirits brought her," Fighting Badger answered for me. "Did you bring me anything, brother?"
Brother?
"I did." The sheriff pulled a roll of leather from where it was tucked between his belt and pants. "This one is cherry flavored." He entered the cave and passed Fighting Badger the item. "I need to take Talks to Spirits home."
"Home? She's from …"
I held my finger up over my lips. "Our secret, Fighting Badger, remember? Friends keep secrets?"
He nodded. "Take her home, brother."
The sheriff all but hauled me to my feet and swiftly marched us out of there. The morning was cool and cloudy, the scent of rain in the air. He said nothing until we reached the top of the canyon. Then he spun on me and took my arms, glaring down at me.
"Do you have any idea how stupid that was?" he demanded.
My eyes blurred, and I nodded.
"Fighting Badger has … a problem. He's isolated for a reason. No one who goes to his cave comes out alive."
"I did." I swallowed hard and struggled to regain my composure. "We have something … in common." Wired and scared after the long night, I wasn't able to stop the tears. I covered my face with my hands, relieved to be free yet horrified by the experience.
The sheriff released me. "Miss Josie, please don't cry. I didn't mean to scare you. You don't have any idea what I'm talking about."
"But I do." I wiped my face and met his mint green gaze. "I know you hide him, I know he kills people and collects their spirits. I know one of his brothers fell from the sky the same way I did."
"How can you know this?" His look sharpened.
"Because I do. And right now, I need a hug."
His expression went from searing to uncertain. "From me?"
"Do you see anyone else out here?" If I wasn't so freaked out, I'd have laughed. As it was, I closed the distance between us and wrapped my arms around his lean frame. His scent, familiar in its own odd way, and the heat of his body brought me back from the scared place in my mind. I didn't try to stop the tears; they weren't going to leave me alone until I released them.
The sheriff hugged me against his hard form. "There's something special about you if you're still alive," he murmured against my temple.
You have no idea. The shakes and tears stopped soon after they started. "Good thing you're always around to rescue me," I joked weakly and lifted my head to see his face.