“What?”she jerked upright from spreading the tent on the grass.
“The directions are attached to the bag!”he looked up.She was already spreading out the tent and putting in stakes.
“I’ve got this.Can you sort those poles?They’re tagged with colors on the ends.Each color corresponds to the color of the webbing they’re threaded through.”
“Obviously, this isn’t your first tent.”He set the bag down and picked up a set of interconnected poles.“Where do I put it?”
“On the ground, on the left, beside the matching color.”
“Yes, boss.”
“Isn’t that my line?”She cast him a sly look.
Laughing, he responded, “Not this time.I bow to your superiority.”
“Oh, like you did when I kicked your butt at Sylvan Lake?I totally put you to shame.”
“That wasn’t my fault.I was winning until that family got in the way.”He laughed along with her.Her easy teasing was delightful.
“Sure.Sure.And that kid knocked you into the water, too.”
“Okay, I’ll give you that one.The first time I went into the drink was my own fault; I was cocky and wasn’t expecting that kid to slow me up.However, the next time I went in was entirely your fault.”He picked up another pole and laid it in place while Wanda pegged the tent floor in place.
“Oh, boo hoo.Did you need a Band-Aid for your wounded ego?”She grunted as she tried to push a plastic peg into the grass.
“My ego is just fine, thank you very much.I can help you with that, if it won’t hurt your ego.”
“Actually, that would be nice.I don’t have the hand strength, and there isn’t a hammer.”
He circled the large, flat tent and carefully stepped on the peg, using his weight to drive it deeper into the hard ground.After a moment, it slid in.“I guess we’re lucky there wasn’t a rock there.”
She sat back on her heels and looked up at him.After pushing her hair out of her eyes, she agreed and added, “That’s the last peg.Now for the poles.”
Faster than he thought possible, the tent was up, and they were loading their packs inside.“Hey, look at this.It’s a wall.It hangs down here and clips there.This is a two-bedroom tent.I’m glad we’ll have a bit of privacy.Although it won’t help if you snore like you did on the bus.”
“Funny.Very funny.”She slipped through the door and threw his pack at him.
“Huh.Must have been that mouse you keep in your pocket.”
She shuddered.“Do.Not.Talk.About.Mice.”She shivered and pushed a flat, yoga-style mat at him.“Here’s your sleeping pad.”
She slipped past him and entered the other room.“I’ll sleep on this side.You can have the door side.”
“You’re leaving me on security.Why does the man always get door duty?It’s not fair.”
“Life’s not fair, Mr.CEO.Men are bigger and stronger.Besides, I’m sure the biggest worry is the four-legged animal, not the snake on two legs type.Didn’t you notice the gate and fence surrounding this place?”
“How could I miss it?We’re safer here than in a bank vault.”Thinking about the four-legged creatures she mentioned made him realize he would be woefully inadequate and unarmed if something wild decided to come into the tent.He pushed the unease aside.Surely the camp wouldn’t have stuck them in a tent if there was a wildlife danger.Right?
Chapter Six
Wandasmoothedhersleepingbag, stood, and stretched.
With the tent set up, they went outside and doused themselves with the herbal mosquito repellent Wanda had brought along.“My friend has an organic chemical company.She makes lotions, shampoo, cleaners, and this bug stuff.It’s a marigold base, and much better for your body than the toxins in typical repellent.”
“It smells decent at least.Thanks for sharing.Let’s go find the others.We don’t want to miss any more exciting team-building events.”His wry tone made her laugh.
“Hey, this is your company, and I repeat what I said on the bus.I am here under protest.I can’t afford to lose my contract.”
