Chapter Fifteen

Day 8

The next morning, Storm awoke feeling like he’d slept with his head stuck in a vise clamp. A deep throb pulsed behind his eyes. He rested in bed for an extra few minutes, unwilling to move and cause more pain.

When he finally rose, nausea rolled from his stomach up to his throat. He couldn’t get a migraine. Not now. Rummaging through his pack, he found the plastic lunch bag his mom insisted on packing. Stored inside was a packet of dried tea leaves wrapped in cloth. When he opened the bag, a spicy scent tickled his nose. Rose might lack in many areas, but she did know natural medicine.

He descended the wide front staircase and headed straight for the kitchen. After asking their hostess for a mug of hot water, he dipped the homemade tea bag into the steaming water and inhaled. The familiar aroma of chamomile, ginger root, and lemon balm eased the pain in his head.

He hadn’t experienced a migraine in a long time. The stress of the race, along with his unresolved feelings for Colleen, made him more susceptible. His first migraine had appeared in grade school. Recently, they’d all but disappeared. Storm attributed the relief to his uncomplicated lifestyle as an organic farm consultant. The fresh air and freedom had done wonders to improve his mental and physical health.

Once he owned his own farm, he wanted Harper to learn the gift of nature. She’d witness the miracle of growing something from seed to something good to eat and use the earth’s resources to protect tender plants from insect damage and disease.

By the time he left the Safe House, the tea worked its magic. With his headache reduced to a shadow of its former self, he drove to the hot air balloon site. He crested the final hill, and a large field spread out, spotted with bright, rainbow-colored, hot air balloons. His stomach plunged, churning with nerves. An early morning fog rolled over the valley. Storm counted five balloons at various levels of inflation. He parked then joined Colleen, Brad, and Rob. The colorful balloon loomed high above, with a basket tethered to the ground by thick ropes. Roars from the propane burners echoed across the field.

“We’re the first ones here.” Colleen patted Storm’s arm. “The basket can hold four, plus the balloon operator. You can come up with us.”

“Are they almost ready to go?” The thought of ascending inside a flimsy wicker basket terrified him. He imagined falling to his death, and a cold sweat dripped down his face.

“The balloon dude just went to his truck to get something.” Rob took a slight step toward Colleen. “As soon as he gets back, we go.”

Wonder what the ‘balloon dude,’ as Rob so eloquently stated, needed to retrieve from his truck? A parachute? His last will and testament? Bile rose in his throat.

Their flight operator returned, wearing a wide smile. “Can’t forget the barf bags.” He waved the small, paper sacks then motioned toward the basket. “Climb on in.”

Storm entered into the basket. A man, whom he considered smarter than the rest of them, stayed on the grass to untie the ropes from the posts on the ground. As the balloon slowly rose, the ground underneath him fell away. Parked vehicles, trees, and people were reduced to miniature versions, like the diorama he’d made in the third grade—the one Colleen spent hours helping him construct.

With discretion, Colleen reached over and held his hand. She stood side by side and pointed to the sun hovering just above the horizon. “The view is beautiful up here. You doing okay?” she whispered.

He didn’t turn, because if he did, he’d lose the composure he struggled to maintain. His fear of heights was nothing compared to the surprising strength of his emotions toward Colleen. The woman he’d dreamed about loving for so many years was right here, holding his hand in reassurance. In that moment, he was back in their kindergarten classroom—a scared little boy, too afraid to close his eyes. Colleen’s warm hand soothing him. She whispered everything would be okay.

Did she realize back then how much he’d loved her? To a five-year-old boy with no other friends, Colleen had been his personal angel. As she had watched over him, her hair fell around her delicate face with an unearthly glow.

Later, her cruel teasing ripped out his little heart. Besides Harper and his mother, he didn’t believe he could love another woman. Not with all his body and soul. Colleen had been the one to kill that part of him. Was she the only one who could bring it back to life?

****

The hot air balloon ride was amazing. Colleen couldn’t get over the feeling of floating through the air with the ground so far below. The cars and people looked like insects, scurrying about their morning tasks.

Now, with her feet firmly planted on the soft grass, she collected a hot air balloon magnet and a piece of paper.

The granite faces of four former US Presidents gaze over the Black Hills of South Dakota. Take a selfie with them and find the clue placed along the President’s Trail.

She pulled together Rob, Brad, and Storm. “Look, I suggest all four of us stick together for this leg.”

The guys nodded.

“The next group is just going in the air right now.” Rob pointed up. “We’ll have at least an hour jump. Let’s go.”

They headed toward their separate cars then drove in a convoy through the plains and alongside the rocky Badlands of South Dakota.

The landscape was desolately beautiful. Jagged rock stacked with layers of color pushed toward the sky. Lines of red, orange, and tan striped the side of each hill. How many years had they stood here, beaten down with the erosion of weather and time? She stopped at a gas station in Wall to fill up and grab a sandwich. Before hopping back in the car, she snapped a few pictures of the surrounding rock formations as a souvenir.

The prairie landscape morphed into sharp hills and valleys, tall Ponderosa Pine flanked the road. When Colleen finally pulled into the Mount Rushmore Visitor Center’s parking lot, she exited her car, causing her numb legs to rejoice. Grabbing her camera, she walked toward the granite mountain and shook out her legs. Wake up! Time to go to work. Her thick sweatshirt and cap protected her from the cold, mountain air, but she still couldn’t stop the shivers that vibrated her body.

Storm walked beside her. His sandy blond curls poked out from underneath his knit cap, and she itched to wrap a finger around a lock and pull him close. When they got to the lookout spot, she took her selfie with the stone presidential faces looming over her shoulder. A show producer handed her the next clue.

Arrive soon at the Stockade Lake South campground in Custer State Park. This stop is a Time-Out. Last two contestants to arrive will be eliminated.

Colleen raced after the guys, who’d taken off at a breakneck pace. Rob and Brad drove off before she reached her car—deserters. She never went anywhere unless she was confident of her route. The trip to Custer State Park might be relatively short, but out here were a million ways to get lost.

A bang on the window startled her heart. She jerked her hands, along with the map she held. She turned to see Storm.

His mouth was set in a tight line. “A couple of fair-weather friends.” He motioned his thumb toward the dust cloud kicked up by Rob’s and Brad’s cars. “I’m learning the method to your madness. You get your bearings before heading out. Smart.”

“Thanks.” Wow, a compliment. She glanced up to make sure the sky wasn’t falling then ran a finger along a thin line on the map marking the road to Custer State Park. “This road is the most direct route, but when you take into account the hilly terrain, I’m not certain. What do you think?”

Storm opened the door and leaned in. His face was inches from her. Inside the small confines, she became dizzy with the sensory overload. Between his sensual male scent, the heat radiating off his skin, and the small stubble lining his jaw line, she could barely breathe. His lips were so close. If she wasn’t such a coward, she’d shift over to connect their lips with a kiss. She could almost taste the mint on his mouth.

“I think you’re right.” Storm straightened. “This other road loops around too far to the west. You mind if I follow you?”

“We’re wise to stick together out here. Wouldn’t want to get lost and have to spend the night with the bears and buffalo.” Her solid map-reading skills didn’t steer them wrong. She and Storm arrived at the campground tied for first place. Looking around at the buffalo herding in the vicinity of the contestants’ cabins, she felt a shot of excitement. She loved seeing pockets of the country she might never experience otherwise.

Six cabins were available for the twelve remaining contestants. Cameras were set up inside, not only to capture any backstage drama but to dissuade bad behavior. Big brother was always watching.

“You want to bunk together? I promise not to invade your space again.” Grinning, he hitched his pack onto his shoulders.

Why was Storm acting sweet and harmless? What did he want?

What did she want? In reaction to her initial answer, warmth spread through her body. Her mind said spending time with Storm, especially at night, was not a wise strategy. But her assertive heart had other ideas. “Okay. I’m so exhausted I could sleep anywhere, even next to you.” She had a comfort level with Storm she didn’t have with anyone else. They might have issues, but she couldn’t deny he was the only person she wanted by her side.

“I’m sure we’ll have our own beds.” He bumped her with his hip and winked.

She turned her head so he couldn’t see her blush. Inside her chest, a warm tenderness expanded—the same deep attachment she’d only felt once before as a young girl. Darn. She’d gone and fallen in love—again.