Ill Take Forever

roughly putting his hand beneath her sun-top.
    'Kyle, don't.' Jenny's hands ineffectively fluttered against his.
    'Someone's coming, Jenny. We need a cover.' He leaned over her, capturing her mouth with his, moving his lips against her as she felt the hard metal of the gun pushed beneath her bottom with his other hand.
    'Keep on this. Sit still, if it comes to it. If you're forced to rise, try to drag the blanket over the gun. Got it? Don't let anyone know we have it,' he said against her mouth.
    Jenny nodded, the gun an uncomfortable bulge beneath her. Her heart tripped rapidly now, but not in anticipation. She strained to hear what Kyle had heard. Soon footsteps climbing the rocky hillside were audible.
    Shasta stood and barked, his eyes on the trail leading the clearing.
    Kyle raised his head and glanced over his shoulder as if hearing the intruders for the first time. He glanced back at Jenny and winked.
    'We've got company!'
    He turned and sat up, drawing on his shirt, shielding her as the two men continued to climb towards them. Jenny recognized Nate Fisher and Bart Cameron, a man who worked at the lumber mill on the far side of town.
    She snatched her top closed, buttoning it and sitting up, conscious all the while of the gun hidden beneath her. She called to Shasta who came promptly to her side, still barking. Jenny watched apprehensively as the men drew close and stopped.
    ‘That’s enough, Shasta, they are friends.’ She grabbed the dog’s collar and held on. Shasta sat and stared at the two men.
    'Hi, Jenny, Kyle.' Nate spoke first, a sly smile on his face.
    Jenny wondered what role was she to play. Confused embarrassment, she guessed.
    'Hi, Nate, Bart.' Jenny nodded at the other man, bright color high in her cheeks.
    'Out for a picnic, I see,' Nate said, then scanned the area. 'I would have tried for a nice meadow, green grass, not so much rocks.'
    Kyle shrugged and looked around as well. 'We didn't see any on the way here. Know of one for another time?'
    Nate looked at him for a moment, tense and poised, then shook his head. 'Nope. Some nice ones on the other side of Jenny's place, near the river. Not on this hillside.' His glance moved to Jenny, back to Kyle.
    'It's a long trek back, let's get started, Kyle.' Jenny's low voice broke the tension. He looked at her and smiled.
    'Sure. I'll carry the knapsack. You carried it on the way here.'
    She nodded and smiled shyly at Nate and Bart. They watched as Kyle gathered the remnants of lunch and stuffed it into the backpack.
    Jenny pulled on her long-sleeved shirt, trying to button it with fingers that shook. She hoped the two men wouldn't notice. Why were they here? Were they involved with the marijuana? Or just out for a hike? She was suddenly glad they'd had the picnic. Even if Nate and Bart were involved in marijuana, they wouldn’t suspect Kyle and her of spying. They'd see it as an innocent outing. What if he had come alone?
    Kyle took the corner of the blanket and pulled it up.
    'I need to pack the blanket, Jenny,' he said, his eyes trying to convey a message.
    She nodded, wondering how to get up and not expose the gun.
    'Shasta, go get your bone,' she said as she rose to her knees. The two men swiveled to see the dog, then turned back to her. It was enough time. Kyle had the blanket bunched up and was stuffing it into the backpack.
    'Come on, boy. Bring the bone.' Jenny stood up and coaxed Shasta. He picked up the bone and pranced over to them.
    'Enjoy your hike.' Jenny pasted a smile on her face and reached out her hand to Kyle. She was trembling, wanted to run away at full speed, but hoped it didn't show. He took her hand, squeezing it reassuringly when he felt her fingers tremble, the backpack slung over his right shoulder.
    'Be seeing you,' Kyle said to the two silent men. They moved slowly away.
    When they were out of hearing, Jenny said softly, out of the corner of her mouth, 'Are they still watching us? Do you think it's them?'
    'I've no idea, but it raises interesting possibilities. And yes, I think they'll watch us off the mountain.'
    He stopped and turned to her, pulling her into his arms and kissing her. With his eyes open, he glanced back to where they'd been. The two men were still watching.
    'They're still there,' he said against her mouth. 'Let's go.'
    The rest of the way home was silent. Jenny alternated between wishing Kyle’s kisses had meant something, and wondering if Nate and Bart were really involved in drugs. She hadn’t