Free Of Eternal Life by Micah Persell Page B

supported his head.
    “So, how’re you doing? You need a break? Want to switch?” Eli asked.
    “I’m fine.”
    Eli squinted out the front windshield, searching for some indication of where they were. He’d been in his own little world since they’d set out, and she could have taken them to Canada for all he knew.
    “Where are we?”
    “Somewhere in Oklahoma.”
    Eli recognized their location and gestured to the approaching exit. “Take this one. I need to stretch my legs.”

Chapter Ten
    Abilene craned her head back. And back. She brought her right hand up to shield her eyes, and was finally able to make out the facial features of the twelve-foot tall statue of a Native American before her.
    She flicked her eyes sideways and caught Eli’s form in her peripheral vision. He was waiting for her to say something, bouncing around on the balls of his feet.
    “Wow,” she said. “That’s really — ” She paused to clear her throat. “He’s really something.” What else could she say? The statue was so far from politically correct it redefined boundaries.
    Eli hadn’t noticed her cautious tone, thank goodness, and bounced once more before settling back on his heels. “Isn’t he? Trust me, he’s even more impressive when you’re nine.”
    “You’ve been here before?” Abilene asked.
    Eli nodded. “When I was a kid….” He drifted off, then cleared his throat. “Come on, let’s check out the trading post. We can get lunch.” Eli walked back to her, grabbed her hand without ceremony, and tugged her toward the dilapidated shop behind the statue.
    The smell of animal skins bowled her over as they strode into the trading post. She skidded to a stop. The trading post was filled with wall-to-wall souvenirs, each marked with a sign reading “Authentic.” She smiled at Eli’s obvious excitement. This trading post was no more “authentic” than Lucille Ball’s trademark red hair.
    He nudged her with his shoulder. “Go on. Look around.” Where his shoulder had innocently touched her, she burned. Throughout the day, the tingles of this morning had morphed into something much more serious. Every contact ended in physical pain. It was not the contact itself that was painful; it was the withdrawal that nearly did her in.
    This realization caused her to clutch at his hand when he dropped her own. He looked at her when he noticed as she grimaced against the uncomfortable sensations coursing through her.
    “I’m fine,” she assured him through gritted teeth. His expression said he didn’t believe her, but he gave her some space anyway, walking away from her to look at some tomahawks. She exhaled in relief. It was just unfair that touch seemed to affect him so little.
    She continued to watch him as he moved throughout the shop, finding more joy in observing his child-like reactions than she would find in her own window shopping. He had to trail his fingers over everything as he walked. Abilene found herself irrationally jealous of a pile of rabbit pelts, a box of arrowheads, a bow and arrow set. When she found herself envying a stuffed beaver, she knew it was time to snap out of it.
    She walked over to a display of turquoise jewelry. She became enthralled with the depth and beauty of the stones as her thoughts turned inward.
    Today, things were different. Eli was treating her differently. He’d always been polite and considerate, even when she’d been nothing but a kidnapping victim to him, but today, he was kind . She wasn’t an idiot; she could tell he’d turned on the charm, but why he had decided to charm her was still a mystery. Abilene just hoped it wasn’t for the sole purpose of getting into her pants, because, God help her, she could barely resist him as it was, even knowing she had to remain professional.
    “Hey,” Eli said at her shoulder, startling her from her revelry and causing her to jump. “Whoa, sorry,” he offered as he casually brushed her lower back with the flat of his palm.