Reckless Hearts

Chapter 34

It was late into the afternoon when you and Dutch emerged from the tent. Despite having spent most of the day in there, he still couldn't seem to keep his hands off you.

His hand, which would normally rest in the small of your back, gently guiding you where he wanted you to go, had slid up the back of your shirt. Resting directly on your bear skin. His hands were always so warm, you couldn't quite understand why. But they always managed to send a tingle through your entire body.

In usual Dutch Van Der Linde fashion, he called out across the camp.

"Attention, everyone. Stop what your doing and gather round. Quickly now!"

You felt his hand, stroking up and down your back. You looked at each other and smiled. Waiting for the rest of the camp to gather.

"Now as some of you may have noticed, Myself and Miss Finlay here, have been spending a little more time together of late..."

"Couldn't really help but notice, the noise that comes out of your tent," Sean shouted, and laughed.

You watched as Karen thumped him in the arm.

"Thank you, Mr Maguire..." Dutch retorted, with a sarcastic grin on his face.

"Well today, we are making it official!" Dutch hesitated, as he milked the applause.

"Tonight, we celebrate. Some of you may have noticed, the boar that Mr Pearson is preparing, tonight we feast like kings!"

Dutch turned to you, on hand still on your back, with the other he cupped your face in his hand. His lips met yours in a gentle and chaste kiss.

You felt your face flush, not because of the kiss but because it was in front of everyone. But mostly because everyone was whooping and clapping.

Dutch finally removed his hand from your back, and instead wrapped it around your waist. You both headed towards where the boar was being roasted.

As you approached, The smell of the wild boar cooking, suddenly made you hungry.

Pearson was already slicing pieces of wild boar, and placing them on plates.

He smiled, as he handed you and Dutch the first plates.

"The happy couple, should have first taste," he added.

Dutch put a piece of the meat in his mouth, "Mr Pearson, you have outdone yourself!" he exclaimed. "C'mon everyone, lets eat."

Hosea walked across camp, with a couple of the bottles of moonshine in his hands.

"I figured we could lose a couple of bottles," he chuckled.

Susan was following him with several cups, which she laid out on the table.

Hosea filled each cup with moonshine, and waited for everyone to take one.

Once everyone had a cup, Hosea smiled at you and Dutch.

"A toast, to Dutch and Kara. May they always be as happy as they are right now!"

You took a sip of your glass, you coughed like crazy as the burning liquid hit the back of your throat.

It didn't seem to affect everyone else in the same way, but this was your first taste of moonshine.

Everyone stood there laughing, including Dutch. After your coughing fit had ceased, you laughed too.

Sean, handed you a bottle of beer. "Maybe this is more to your liking," he chuckled.