Each stop of the trip was near a road, to allow the cooks to arrive and make it possible for the campers to leave their sleeping gear with the four-wheel-drive vehicles.There wasn’t enough room for baggage, just the sleeping gear.It was nice not to have it in the boat, but right now, he wished they had something to snuggle under.
“Wait,” he blurted and leaped up.
“What?I wasn’t going anywhere.”She gave him a puzzled look.
“I might have…” He dug in the end pocket of his duffel.“Yes!”He held up something shiny.“I saw this the first night.I had forgotten about it.Thank you, Mom,” he grinned.“I have the best mother ever.”
“What is it?”
“It’s one of those survival blankets.I’m glad it’s here, though I don’t know why Mom stuffed it in.”He shook his head.Sometimes, he swore his mother was psychic…first the lighter, now the blanket.
“A survival blanket?”she repeated.
“Ya, it’s made of Mylar, or something like that.You wrap up in it, or cover up with it, and it traps your heat.It’ll be perfect for when it cools off tonight.”He pulled it out and wrapped it around her shoulders.
“Are there two?”she asked hopefully.
“Just one, but we can figure out a way to share.”He pushed his mind from the thought of cuddling up behind her under the thin sheet.Nope, not going there.“I’m going to gather some more firewood.Just to be sure we have enough for the night, in case nobody comes looking for us.”
Chapter Twelve
Wandalayawakelongafter Eric’s breathing had settled into what she thought must be sleep.She was cozy and warm, her left side warmed by the fire, the right by Eric.They lay side by side on a bed of mostly dry laundry, under his space-age blanket.It was toasty and warm, but sleep wouldn’t come.
She stared up at the stars; it was a beautiful, clear night.The air was chilly.Not cold enough to see her breath, but cool enough that she was grateful for the fire and the blanket.And, of course, for the man beside her.Off in the distance, the Big Dipper sparkled at her, though she couldn’t find the Little Dipper.Star watching was never about the constellations for her.It was about their infinite number, and how they somehow made her feel like she had a purpose.The Milky Way was bright, like an astronomer’s photograph.So stunning and inspiring.
Beyond the quiet crackle of the fire, the night was loud.Coyotes howled, wind rustled in the trees.An owl hooted.She had heard more night noises on this trip than she had in years.Unlike her first night, they didn’t bother her tonight.Maybe it was being so close to Eric that soothed her.Closing her eyes, she focused on the coyotes.A howl to her left.Three yips to the right.Another howl from across the river.It was like a symphony.
Wakingslowly,sheopenedher eyes.She was facing the fire pit.No flames danced within the border of stones Eric had created around it before they went to sleep.His arm was slung over her waist, his body pressed against her back.
She should get up.
Savoring the feeling of being cuddled up to Eric, she didn’t want to move.This trip had changed her first impression of him.He was a nice guy who’d looked after her last night and had comforted her against night noises while they were still at the lake…more than once.He was caring and giving.Sure, he focused too much on work.Way too much.
She moved away slowly, making space between them, and sitting up.As soon as she moved, needs that hadn’t bothered her through the night started demanding her attention.Her ankle throbbed, she was hungry, thirsty, she needed to go to the ladies’ room, and a pressing need to get out of there all made their presence known at once.
“Morning,” Eric mumbled huskily.He blinked several times.“It’s barely light.What are you doing up?”
“Leg hurts,” she gave him a partial explanation.No way was she telling him that she was mad at him for being a workaholic, thus putting him firmly out of reach.
Pushing back the covers, he hopped up.“Let me get you some pain pills.”He brought her backpack over and handed her the charred water bottle.He’d boiled water in it last night and set it aside to cool for this morning.
He helped her get up.She came back a few minutes later and looked around in surprise.While she was in the bushes, he had broken apart their bed, sorted their clothing, and stuffed his back into his duffel.Her folded clothing was in a pile beside her backpack.She realized that after she’d barked at him not to go in her bag, he’d respected that wish and brought it to her when she needed it.
“Time for breakfast…I guess,” she said and pulled out the candy bars.She split one and handed him the larger chunk.Men needed more calories.“What’s the plan?Do we sit and wait, or do we try and hike downstream?”
“We share that last apple, eat those cookies, and wait.First rule of being lost is to sit tight and wait for rescue.Unless you are in immediate danger, which we are not.We’ve got a couple bars left, clean water, fire, and a blanket.We’re good for a couple days.I’m sure they’ll find us today.”
“I hope so.”She settled down on a large rock, taking the weight off her throbbing ankle.“I thought they’d come yesterday,” she said sadly.
“Hey, it would have been late when they missed us, and it would be foolish to send out a rescue team in the dark.”After finishing his breakfast chocolate, he stirred the coals and got the fire going.“Might as well stay warm until the sun’s up.”
Her large rock was close to the fire, and once he had it built up, the warmth was soothing.She struggled for a topic of conversation, but her mind kept going back to waking up in his arms and how much she liked it.She stared into the flames.
“Wanda?”Eric whispered.“Stand up and look over there.To the left.”
She turned slowly, barely moving, and gasped.An enormous bear was about two hundred yards upstream from them, ankles deep in the river.“What do we do?”she whispered frantically.“Oh my God, he’s going to eat us.”
“No, it won’t.It’s far enough away that we can’t be between it and its cubs.If it’s a female.If it’s a male, he’s still a long way off.”He bent down and grabbed two fist-sized rocks and beat them together.The bear looked up and stared for what felt like an eternity.
