My lips part and my eyes widen. “What are you saying, that, that if this place can’t heal me, I won’t be able to make my pitch?”
“That is exactly what we’re saying,” Allie says.
“But I’m not a veteran,” I protest.
Leo shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter. When you go to pitch this next month, you will be in a room full of skeptics that are, well … you. You need to become the living proof that Firebird Ranch is changing lives.”
“So go forth, walk with the horses, sleep under the stars, fall in love with a mountain man!” Allie shouts.
I chuckle. “A mountain man who still hasn’t signed his interview consent form. How can I tell the story of the ranch without the experience of the man who helped grow it?”
Allie wipes more sunscreen on her arms. “He’ll come around, but don’t let that be another roadblock for you.”
I lean back in the chair and let my gaze drift toward the mountains in the distance. The peaks are hazy in the afternoon sun, steady and unmoving, like they’ve seen a thousand people wrestlewith themselves and still keep standing. Maybe that’s the point of this place—it doesn’t demand belief, it just waits for you to find it.
For the first time, the thought hits me that maybe this campout isn’t a punishment. Maybe it’s my chance to see what everyone else already believes. If I’m going to tell this story—theirstory—I need to step into it myself.
I blink back to the present, to Allie and Leo sprawled across their lounge chairs, looking at me with so much patience and love that it hurts. “I don’t deserve either of you,” I say.
“Probably true,” Leo says, winking and reaching for my hand. “We love you anyway, darling.”
“I know, but I feel like you didn’t sign up to be my life coaches twenty-four seven.”
“How many times have you coached me through bad times?” Leo asks.
“You were my rock when Stewart left me for his boss, Amanda,” Allie says. “Remember how I never stopped crying for a month? After John slapped me across the face, you took me in immediately.”
I smile when she puts her arm around me.
“Rox, have you forgotten, I wouldn’t even be working at World Explorer if it hadn’t been for your recommendation?” Leo asks. “You also introduced me to Marcus. After my breakup with Troy, I basically became a shut-in—if you hadn’t dragged me to that fundraiser, I’d never have met the love of my life. We oweyou. Full stop. Now, go cook a trout and pee in the forest! My loving arms will be waiting for you when you get back.”
“Wait, you’re not going with us?” I ask.
“I’m staying behind to film in the kitchen and need to start some editing,” Leo says.
My eyes widen as I open my mouth to protest, but he puts hishand up. “You’ll have Al, and Rusty said I really couldn’t film much during the camp out. It’s a fairly private experience.”
“Okay. Fine,” I say. “Ugh, I don’t even know what to pack.”
“A little courage and all the bug spray you can find,” Allie says.
i love not camping
ROXANNE
I’ll never understandwhy people camp for fun. Human beings spent centuries improving shelter to get away from the elements—and now we call it recreation to sleep outside again. Hey, I love a good hike through a nature preserve, but I also lovenot camping.Give me a hot shower and a soft bed over a sleeping bag any day.
Still, an invitation to Fire Circle isn’t something I can refuse. So here I am, riding in the back of a Razor at high noon, bumping down a dirt road toward the woods for a two-day campout. My stomach’s a whole marching band of nerves, but under it is something else—a spark of resolve. I can do this. Iwilldo this.
I squeeze Allie’s hand so tightly she cringes. Duke drives Rusty, Allie, and me while Topper leads the second Razor with Garrett, Stedman, and Millie. Georgia’s Jeep cuts the trail ahead with another group of vets.
It's not so bad until the clouds start to build during our ride. That’s one thing I never forgot about Colorado. The rain comes in quick bursts in the summers. It never rains for long, but like clockwork, in the afternoon, storm clouds push their way over themountains, dump on you, make noise, and leave. My only hope is the weather doesn’t morph into a full-blown storm.
By the time we park the Razors and start the hike, my legs are already questioning my life choices. The trail is narrow and well-worn, shaded by towering pines that creak softly in the breeze. It should feel peaceful, but every crunch of gravel under my boots sounds like a countdown.
Allie and I pass the time by going over some of the production notes she has for the upcoming weeks. When Allie giggles, Topper glances over his shoulder and smiles. Though he’s hiking up ahead, Duke checked in with me when we first parked.
“You good?” he asked.
