Mitch drifted, rudderless, his mind empty, some part of him reaching in wordless desperation for the light, for the sound of her voice. It carried him like a warm current, lifted him up, filled the emptiness, chased the darkness away.
Mitch and Megsstayed at their private camping spot for several days. They climbed together, shared meals, and talked. Occasionally, they kissed, but Mitch did his best to ensure it was rated PG and not R.
God, it was hell keeping his hands off her.
When she was ready to face the others, they hiked back to Camp 4.
He did his best to encourage her. “Just remember that you didn’t do anything wrong in any of this.”
She walked into camp, chin up. “I might punch Gridwall, too.”
“Let me know if you want me to hold him.”
That made her smile.
But Gridwall and Accardo were gone, apparently too ashamed of themselves to hang around. The others did their best to act as if nothing had happened. But somethinghadchanged. The men had quit making sexual jokes about her or teasing her for being a girl—at least when Mitch was around.
Dean welcomed Megs back with a big hug. “Glad to have you back. Don’t let these knuckleheads get to you, okay?”
Megs had regained her sharp tongue. “I make no promises in that regard.”
Dean held up his keys. “I’m driving to my brother’s place in SF to pick up a new tent I ordered. I’ll see you two when I get back.”
“Mind if I tag along?” Mitch had an idea.
“That would be cool.”
Megs’ expression fell. “I wish I could go, too. But I have to be at work at five-thirty, and there’s no way you’ll be back by then.”
Mitch hugged her. “Don’t worry about these guys. Just do your own thing. I’ll be here when you get back from work—and I’ll have a present for you.”
Her face lit up. “A present?”
“You’ll see.” He kissed her cheek and walked with Dean to his van.
“Drive safe!” she called after them.
Dean popped in an eight-track. “This is Peter Frampton. The album just came out toward the end of last year. He’s pretty good.”
“I want to thank you.”
“For what?”
“For keeping your promise to Megs. For not telling me when I asked about her. I hate that I found out the truth the way I did. She was hurt enough as it was, but it would have been much worse if that betrayal had come from you.”
Dean grinned. “For a college boy, you’re pretty smart.”
Music blasting, they left Yosemite behind, heading almost due west. Three and a half hours later, they pulled up in front of Dean’s brother’s house. Three small children burst out of the front door and ran toward them.
“Uncle Dean!”
Dean climbed out of the van, scooped up his niece and nephews, and gave them hugs. “How are my favorite rug rats?”
He introduced Mitch to his brother, Chris, and his sister-in-law, Renee, then disappeared in the back with his brother to retrieve the tent.
“I hope the two of you will stay for dinner,” Renee said when Dean returned, large box in hand. “I’m roasting a chicken.”
“We probably ought to get back.”
