“Feels nice to have someone to be alone with. Thanks for sharing your loneliness with me, Ranger. I can already tell this is going to be a trip to remember.”
13
EASTON
It’s beentwo days since that night after the sing-along.
Two days of questioning if I shared too much.
Honestly, I don’t know what good it did, seeing as how our friendship here isn’t lasting.
But I’d be lying if I said it didn’t feel good to talk to someone about it.
Collie and I have spent the past two days getting a lay of the land in Yellowstone. I could call it exploring, but we more so just scoped things out we knew we wanted to prioritize, and got some insight from a few locals.
Surprisingly, a lot of the other couples crashing at the campsite are from Wyoming, giving us some pretty promising recommendations themselves.
Back home in Salt Hollow, there are dive bars and breweries galore. I was stoked to hear from Wendy, the excursion specialist, that there’s a well-known cowboy bar called High Noon Hideout that’s worth checking out.
Collie seemed to be down for it, too, for when we next find ourselves back in town.
Today, we’re headed to the outskirts of Yellowstone tovisit a well-known ranch for horseback riding. This is the one and only excursion I knew I wanted to make a priority when Sydney planned the trip.
I may not know much about computers and all those gadgets, but I’m a fucking boss in the outdoors. I was born to work with my hands and take pride in a day’s hard work.
It’s just as much a part of me as my own family is.
One of the first things my dad did with me as a kid was teach me how to fish and gig. He’d say, “If the world went to shit tomorrow, you gotta know what it takes to survive, son.”
Knowing we had to get a move on around sunrise, I planned to wake up early and attempt to make Collie and me some breakfast over the fire while she slept a little longer.
But the natural go-getter beat me to it.
Not with breakfast, I mean. But by the time I opened the hatch to the camper, wondering where she had run off to, heavy footfalls sounded from behind me, revealing Collie in all her glory.
When I say in her glory, I mean in black skintight workout clothes, an athletic jacket, and a gray beanie on her head.
Fuck. She’s cute. And that’s every reason for me to stay away.
She swore she didn’t mean to wake me, but wanted to get some miles in before we started the day.
Can’t argue with that, especially if this is the view I get to wake up to.
After chugging some water, Collie had herself ready to go in minutes when I told her what we were doing. She’s always down to make the most of everything, and I admire that.
That’s why I know today is going to be one for the books. Horses in Yellowstone just sound like such a vibe.
We have yet to talk about our night under the stars, andit’s probably for the best. But I will say, I sense a newfound understanding between us. One that’s very much unspoken about and feels sacred.
We know things about each other, and I have a feeling there’s much more to learn about Collie Meadows. Life stories and challenges I’m adamant to learn about during this trip, then intend to take to the grave with me.
After eating breakfast, I secure the van. It’s the first time since we’ve been here that we’re using it for something other than sleeping and storing.
Time to take Clementine off-roading. I didn’t know what to think when Collie named our van, but it fits. And now I’m out here calling her by name.
Clementine—the vessel holding all our secrets, if I’m being technical.
We’re heading down a road just off the East side of the campsite, close to five miles on the outskirts. Just the drive so far has been nothing short of incredible.
