Chapter Four

The afternoon passed quickly for the ones fishing, but dragged for Lena. She alternately read her book and watched for snakes. Refusing to sit on the rock again, she stood in a cleared patch of dirt near the water. When her legs grew tired, she sat on the bare ground for a while but couldn't rest for fear of the snake coming back.

Walker checked with her often to be sure she stayed put. His concern would have been touching if it didn't make her feel like a kid. Of course, he also checked on Derek, so she tried not to let it get to her.

By the time Walker called a halt to the fishing, everyone except Derek had caught and released several fish. With faces sunburned and feet wet, most of the hikers looked tired but content as they filed past Lena to start back to camp. She brought up the rear and helped Derek as much as she could. It had sort of been her fault he got hurt and she felt responsible.

As they neared camp, Derek's limp became more pronounced. Lena wrapped his arm across her shoulders and insisted he lean on her. They didn't take more than a few steps when Walker dropped back to see about them.

"Go on ahead, Lena. I'll help him." Walker took her place. Then he almost regretted it as he watched her nicely rounded derriere swaying along in front of him. A good butt got him going every time, and Lena's looked exceptional in her tight-fitting, stylish jeans.

He cleared his throat and struck up a conversation. "So, Derek, what are you going to major in at college?" By the time they reached camp, Walker knew more than he wanted to about advanced computer engineering classes versus a business degree. The bad thing was he still couldn't get Lena off his mind.

While Walker started dinner, with the help of Helen and Janie, Eileen taught Lena the joys of pan bathing. Feeling like she just relocated the soil from one spot to another with a damp cloth, Lena didn't really see the point. But she soon realized she did feel better and more refreshed after the effort. Clean clothes helped her disposition a lot too. She joined the others in gathering fallen limbs for the campfire and sat chatting until the food was done.

No one had to encourage her to accept a full plate after this crazy day. Rob laughed at her as she wolfed her food like a farmhand, but then he attacked his and gobbled it down just as fast. The great outdoors and hiking made the food irresistible.

"Walker, that's the best steak I've ever put in my mouth," Clark declared. "You could work at a five star restaurant."

"Glad you like it. And thanks, but I'll just keep my job here." Walker joined them, his own plate piled high with food.

"How long you been doing this?" Rob wanted to know.

Lena stopped chewing to listen to the answer. Despite her original feelings over Rob's hero-worship, she found herself fascinated by this guide and wanted to know anything she could learn about him.

Between bites, Walker told them a little about himself. "My grandfather was a logger and a woodsman. I grew up taking wilderness trips with him, scouting out timber stands. Then I went to college and stayed away for a while. Got a job in a big company, but I began to miss those trips with Papaw. I started hiking and fishing on long weekends, but dreaded leaving the woods for work. One day, about five years ago, I just didn't go back. A buddy and I started a guide and whitewater rafting business. Three years ago, we went our separate ways – he took over the whitewater part of the business – and I relocated up here to become a full-time guide."

Walker took a long drink of water then asked, "What about you, Rob? What brought you up here?"

The conversation continued with all of them telling why they were on the trip and where they worked. Then everyone looked to Lena.

"I'm a shopper. And I came because Rob surprised me with the trip. Sorry, but I have no interest whatsoever in the great outdoors or fishing." She gave a shrug and a small smile of apology.

Everyone but Derek stared at her, surprised by her open admission.

"You're actually a shopper? You mean, like you buy things all the time?" This was from Derek as he shoved a large hunk of fire-roasted potato into his mouth.

"Yes, and it's not as easy as it sounds. I shop for people who are too busy, too old, or too sick to do it for themselves. They keep me pretty busy, especially around the holidays. Now, if someone will tell me how to go about it, I'll help with the dishes." Lena stood and carried her plate toward the area used for cooking. Let them make what they want out of that.

Kevin joined her and soon had her elbow deep in a metal dishpan of warm, soapy water. "I think it's great you help people out by shopping for them. With my landscaping business, a lot of my customers are seniors or the disabled."

Chatting about their clientele and the problems of running a small business, they worked until the last pot was scrubbed and stacked to air dry.

Walker gathered up food supplies and packages then added them to the pile on a tarp. When done, he carefully raised the edges of the tarp to form a large bundle, hooked it onto a rope, and raised it high into the tree.

Curious, Lena walked over to watch. "What are you doing?"

"If I don't secure the food, the night critters will help themselves and make a mess of our supplies."

She swallowed hard. "Night critters? What kind of critters are we talking about?" Lena uneasily looked at the ground around her. "Not more snakes?"

With a chuckle, Walker tied off the rope to keep the supplies secured in the tree. "No, not snakes. We have our share of raccoons and possums that love to steal food. Even an occasional coyote will wander through." He didn't dare mention the bears, wolves, or wildcats.

"Do they bite?"

"Only if you corner one and try to make it a pet," he laughed.

Kevin wiped his hands on a dish towel as he walked over and looked up into the tree. "Yeah, that should keep the bears and the mountain lions out of it."

Walker groaned as he shot Kevin a pained look.

"B-b-bears?" Lena rounded on Walker. "You didn't say anything about bears. And mountain lions? Tell me he's joking. There aren't really bears and mountain lions? Tell me!" Her voice grew shrill and she almost shouted.

"Calm down, Lena. I just didn't want you to worry. The large animals are afraid of the fire and of people. They very rarely bother a camp unless we carelessly leave food out. The smaller ones are much more likely to become brave and get to be a nuisance coming around looking for handouts."

"I am not sleeping out here with bears and lions." Lena crossed her arms and stared defiantly up at Walker.

Kevin shook his head and, backing away, left Walker to it as he returned to the campfire. He had a sister and knew when retreat provided the smartest option.

"Okay," Walker calmly accepted what she said.

"Okay. Okay? What does that mean?" she demanded as she braced her hands on her hips and glared at him.

Walker stood there looking down into her angry, heart-shaped face. Her brown eyes snapped at him in the glow from the campfire and her short brown hair brushed her jaw-line with every movement of her head. He fought off the unaccustomed urge to haul her up against him and kiss her senseless while promising to keep her safe from whatever frightened her.

"It means you don't have to sleep if you don't want to. But you slept last night and nothing bothered you. You've walked around out here and eaten several meals with nothing bothering you—"

"Except the snake," she interrupted.

"Okay, except the snake." He grinned at her. "You can keep watch all night, or you can go get some sleep like the rest of us – your choice."

Lena gave him a final deadly look then turned to head for the tent. "Fat lot of choice... Men! What did I ever do to deserve this?"

Walker laughed again when he heard her muttering as she stomped away. He took a deep breath and tried to relax. What was it about the city gal that had him so tied up in knots? It had definitely been a while since a woman got under his skin this bad – and never this fast. Maybe that was the trouble. He'd been too long out in the woods, alone.

When he took this group back to town, he'd spend a few days there and socialize a bit before his next trip. With that decision, he rejoined the remainder of the group who sat around the campfire, talking about the day's fishing.