I looked upward to the shifting clouds and listened to the crash of the waves for a moment. All that was missing from this idealic scene was the blue sky and the proverbial corona sitting in an ice bucket.
I glanced over to Colt, only Colt wasn't there!
I abruptly lunged up to my feet and glanced around in panic. My hand rose to my chest as my panic abated at the sight of Colt approaching from down the beach. Introspectively I acknowledged how much I was falling for the big warrior without a cause.
There was something about Colt that seemed off and in concern I stepped out toward him, "What's wrong Colt? What did you see?"
He shook his head and made to pass by me to grab up the pack, but I grabbed his shirt and he stopped. He glanced at me and then he really looked at me. I mean really looked at me.
"What?" I asked hesitantly.
He was slow to speak, "I'm worried that I won't be able to protect you."
The words came from deep down and I knew it cost him being the dominant macho type that he was to admit to such a weakness.
"I'm not worried." I said softly.
"You're not? Well you should be!"
He looked away and I pressed again, "What did you see Colt?"
His jaw muscles bunched for a moment before he spoke, "Do you remember that luxury cruise liner that we saw come down through the whirlpool with us?"
I nodded.
"Well I found it. It ran aground up ahead around that headland. I smelled something when we stopped here and I waited until you fell asleep before I went to investigate."
His eyes came back to mine as he flatly said, "They're all dead."
"Pirates?" I asked somehow knowing.
"Looks like it." He affirmed.
I could only imagine the grisly scene that he had come across, but it didn't explain his reaction. He seemed unsettled on a far deeper level than this occurrence should have gotten him to.
"You were a soldier; surely you've seen such sights before?"
He sort of shrugged in agreement before saying, "It was pretty bad back there actually."
I shook my head, "Were there women?"
He nodded.
"You're imagining me in the hands of those pirates aren't you?"
He nodded again and looked away.
I stepped closer and brought my hands up to his face to turn it to mine. He looked shocked.
"I've never felt safer in life than I have when I've been with you."
His face was gripped by raw emotion, "I've never had anyone like you in my life. I don't want to disappoint you!" He said with emotion.