The Lost Sea by Toby J. Nichols

Author:Toby J. Nichols [Nichols, Toby J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Horror, Dinosaurs
ISBN: 9781922323675
Amazon: 1922323675
Publisher: Severed Press
Published: 2020-07-21T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

It was several seconds before the captured cow went silent. Jessie remained frozen, staring at the tree line. Rory lowered the rifle with shaking hands. Jessie was glad Rory hadn’t shot it—how many bullets would it have taken to kill it, and would he have been quick enough before it got to them?

How long had the cows been here and how many had it eaten? Standing on the beach, they were an easy dinner.

“What was that?” Baz asked next to Jessie.

Jessie nearly jumped out of his skin; he hadn’t seen his stockman get up. He drew in a breath. “No fucking idea.”

“Nothing good,” Rory added. “Maybe staying near the cattle wasn’t a smart idea.”

“Ya think?” Jessie couldn’t keep the sarcasm from his voice. Not that they had many options. “I don’t think anywhere here is safe.”

The cattle formed up into a herd but stayed close to the ute, like the humans could offer them protection from the dinosaurs.

“What’s going on?” Mike stuck his head out the window.

“Nothing, just the cattle getting spooked,” Jessie lied.

Baz shook his head and got back into his swag.

Jessie lowered his voice. “I had been planning on sleeping by the fire.”

Rory gave him a somber nod. Then smiled. “It’s cold in the tray. Better share a blanket.”

Jessie wasn’t sure he’d get to sleep if Rory were pressed close to him, and he sure as hell didn’t want to set the ute rocking. He still wasn’t sure about any of this, even though it felt right, like he didn’t have to force it and pretend to be someone else. Had Amy felt him trying too hard?

“I’d better get my shoes.” He didn’t want to lose them. “Spot me.”

He slid off the tray. While the stars and fire illuminated the night, Jessie didn’t know if he would be fast enough if a dino came out of the trees.

He walked through the cattle, not wanting to spook them, then sprinted the last couple of meters to the fire. He didn’t kick sand over it, just swept up the clothes and shoes and socks.

His heartbeat drowned out every sound and he ran back to the ute like his ass was on fire.

“I’m not sure this is any safer,” Jessie panted. Especially not now that the cattle had moved in close.

“It’s not, but we can pretend it is.” Rory put the rifle down between them. “I’ll keep first watch?”

“Are you sure? I don’t know if I’ll be able to sleep anyway.”

“I’m sure.” Rory leaned over and placed a light kiss on Jessie’s cheek that did nothing to calm him. Then he shrugged into his fire-warmed shirt, that Jessie had been wearing only hours ago, and picked up the rifle.

Jessie lay down, expecting to stare at the stars all night with fear and lust coiled tight in his gut. But he must have nodded off because at two, Rory shook him awake and handed him the gun. Jessie wiped the grit from his eyes and sat up. He wanted a drink, but until they found more water, he didn’t want to indulge just because he wanted to wet his lips.

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