My heart froze within me and I stood as still as a statue as it came towards me. It would do no good to run, but the nerve to remain still was vanishing quickly.
"Stay still!" Came the hissed out command from nearby.
In relief my eyes drifted over to see Colt standing not ten feet away from me. The big cat had stopped at the voice and the appearance of the second individual.
The big cat looked undecided as to what it wanted to do. It had a sour look to it as it hissed heavily at us disgruntled.
Colt's big hand curled around my waist and I went willingly as he pulled me behind him. A sense of secure peace occurred then as I pressed up against his back as he stared down the big cat that probably weighed as much as both of us put together and more.
Peering around Colt's side I saw the big cat toss its head disgustedly before it ambled leisurely off into the jungle. I breathed a little more freely after I saw its tail retreat from view.
Colt turned to me and I found that I couldn't meet his eyes.
I brushed at my hair and stepping back I winced, which he immediately noticed. A hand closed over my shoulder and I found myself sitting on the ground with my foot grasped in both of his hands before I knew it.
His unexpected touch was startling!
He looked from my foot down to me and all the warning I had of his intentions was a cryptic, "You can't walk on this."
He stooped down and his hands settled around my waist and he rose back up abruptly and I found myself draped over his shoulder. I'd never in all my adult life been so manhandled before!
"Hey! Let me down! You can't……"
Smack!
I jumped in startlement at the smarting contact of his hand with my bottom.
"Pipe down or I'll give you another one." Came his correspondingly terse comment.
In fury I drew my elbow back to smash it into the location of one of his kidneys off to the side of his spine. I thought twice about my action though, when his palm suggestively cupped over the other cheek of my bottom, as he made his way through the jungle.
The message was clear. I hit him and I'd get one back myself.
I had no desire to experience the stinging burn again that half my bottom had already suffered. I let my drawn back elbow relax, as I endured the embarrassment of my situation.
"I hate you!" I said meaningfully and then unable to help myself I elbowed him hard in the kidney.