Chapter Sixteen

Day 9

Deep snorts roused Storm from sleep well before the sunrise. Why were the buffalo outside making a racket so early? He listened for another minute before realizing the sound came from inside the cabin—Colleen to be exact. Laying on the bunk below him, she snorted again, startling herself out of her deep sleep, and then she moaned and rolled over.

He couldn’t stop the laughter. Delicate Colleen sounded like a bull in heat. Last time they’d shared a sleeping space, he’d been too exhausted to notice. Now, if she didn’t quiet down, he wasn’t sure if he’d get back to sleep.

An hour later, bright daylight startled him awake. He didn’t remember falling asleep again. Peeking over the edge of his top bunk, he saw Colleen cuddled under a mound of blankets.

She stirred and opened her eyelids. “Ugh,” she moaned, rubbing her eyes. “Why do I have to see your face first thing in the morning?”

He slid to the edge of the bunk and jumped to the floor. “Princess, you don’t look too hot yourself.” The morning air chilled the bare skin of his chest, so he grabbed the sweatshirt he’d thrown on the floor last night. “At least, I don’t snore.”

Colleen bolted upright in bed, nearly hitting her head on the beam on the top bunk. “I beg your pardon. You’re the one who snores.”

“No, my dear, you were so loud a group of male buffalo surrounded the cabin, looking for the female in heat.”

She huffed. “You’re teasing.”

Her hair stuck out in gravity-defying tuffs. “Argue all you want. I have recorded proof.” He pointed to the two cameras tucked in the corners of the cabin.

“I don’t snore.” Laughing, she climbed out from her blanket cocoon. Colleen tossed a pillow at his head, which he deftly dodged. In baggy fleece pants and a rainbow t-shirt, she looked like a preteen girl. His chest squeezed at the memory of her striding into their seventh grade classroom like she owned the world. Everyone wanted to sit beside her in class, eat lunch with her, and receive invites to her parties. Just like all the other kids, he also wanted to be in her aura.

Back in school, he was a kid figuring out where he fit into the big puzzle of life. Now, as a man, he saw her shine was an illusion. Colleen wasn’t perfect. And he’d come to realize she’d be the first to agree.

He remembered when she lost her mom in the car accident. They’d been in the first grade. She’d returned to school the day after the funeral with a smile, like her whole world hadn’t shattered. She’d tucked away all the pain and hid it deep inside.

After spending time with the adult version of Colleen, he saw her battle scars from childhood. He recognized the flashes of insecurity in her blue eyes, and then she acted like nothing bothered her.

If they weren’t competing against one another, nothing would stop him from pursuing a relationship. But they were competing. He would have to beat her in order to make his dream come true. When the competition ended, the bridges they’d built would blow to splinters.

His heart would remain closed. If a door opened and either of them crossed the threshold, he’d pay a high cost. One he couldn’t afford.

****

Colleen did not snore. Well, she was fairly sure she didn’t snore. Storm only wanted to rile her. But watching him hop down from the top bunk only wearing a pair of athletic shorts had done more to knock her off balance than any amount of teasing. The unobstructed view of his muscular chest nearly gave her fits—and his tattoo of the phases of the moon running down his spine—super sexy. Years of farm work blessed his body with angles and hard edges she’d love to explore. If he wasn’t her rival.

He’d been acting very nice the past few days, tricking her into thinking he’d put aside their past. But she still possessed a nagging doubt he used her to get ahead. A strategy serving two masters—victory and revenge.

After breakfast, she walked to the bathhouse. On the way, she noticed Storm standing in a clearing and working through a yoga flow. He looked like a reincarnated demigod—skin glistening with sweat. As she watched him hold a tree pose, balanced on one leg, arms stretched up to the blue sky, she experienced a head rush, a result of her quickening pulse.

Not trusting her judgment, she turned and jogged to the bathhouse. Maybe the water would wash away not only the dirt and grime from travel, but the feelings Storm stirred. She stood under the spray of hot water and turned her focus to the next leg of the race. The group of contestants slowly diminished with each elimination. Rob and Brad drove in circles around the Black Hills and Custer State Park until one finally stopped to ask for directions. They were too late, though, and had arrived as the last two.

After she got dressed, she returned to the cabin and repacked her backpack. The sound of Burt Blackstone’s voice shouting over a megaphone made her cringe. She stepped outside to see the host standing next to the open field behind the cabins.

“This morning is another team challenge.” Burt Blackstone pointed to the set-up behind him. “Each team will elect a captain, who will guide the rest of their blindfolded teammates to collect twenty-five puzzle pieces. After all twenty-five are in hand, the team will remove their blindfolds and put together the puzzle. First team to finish their puzzle correctly wins a one-hour head start.”

Colleen was placed on team One.

Storm sent her a challenging but good-natured grin when he was assigned to team Two.

When the time came to elect captains, Colleen stepped back. Could she manage and motivate her team? What if no one listened and just wandered around the playing field like a flock of stoned zombies?

A woman named Mai moved next to Colleen. Her black hair was pulled up in a high ponytail. “I vote for Colleen. She’s organized and loud.”

Colleen protested but the sound of agreement from the rest of her team silenced her. Guess she wasn’t as loud as everyone thought. Okay, I can do this. She climbed up a wooden ladder and stood on top of a platform overlooking the field. The flat land was divided into two sections. Her team stood below, chatting.

A bullhorn blasted. With a pounding heart and sweat dripping down her face, she yelled out directions to her five team members, who walked blindly with outstretched arms. “Amy, take five big steps to the left. There you go. Move a little faster.” She took a few deep breaths. “Lenny, you’re going in the wrong direction. Walk forward until you feel the tree. Turn so your back is against the trunk then keep walking forward until I say stop.” Like moving chess pieces around a board. If she took her gaze off any of her teammates for a few seconds, they’d walk in circles.

The other team captain yelled Storm’s name. She quickly glanced over to see him zigzagging around the field, not following directions. Typical Storm. Chuckling, she turned her focus back to her team.

After about ten minutes, her team had captured twenty pieces. Activity from the other side caught her attention. Shoot. The other team found all their pieces and ran toward the wooden platform to assemble the puzzle. Her team would lose if she didn’t get them moving quickly.

Two minutes later, Team Two cheered in victory.

Which meant Storm would get a head start while she was stuck at the campground. She stomped down the platform, frustrated by her failure.

“Good try.” Storm patted her on the back. “I’m serious. You did really well up there.”

“Thanks.” She didn’t want his false platitudes. “Bet you’re happy you can leave me in the dust.”

As he studied her, his eyebrows lowered. “I don’t want to leave you behind. You’ll have no problem catching up.”

She snorted.

“I’m serious, Colleen. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but you make the competition fun.”

“You must have hit your head last night.” She crossed her arms over her chest. A strange energy tingled over her skin.

“Maybe I’m just coming to my senses.” Storm stepped forward.

His eyes burned with an intensity that made her hot and cold at the same time. Not real. He was playing the game. Her chest squeezed tight with conflicting emotions. As his hand reached for her, Colleen stepped back. Walk away before you say something you’ll regret. She did and left him standing alone.

Each contestant was scheduled to spend ten minutes in the confessional booth, and she made an abbreviated visit. She couldn’t risk saying too much and inadvertently admitting her feelings for Storm on national TV.

At two pm Mountain Time, she ripped open the next clue.

Get ready to rock but careful not to roll. Climb the Needle’s Eye. Look for the red flag and take a picture from that spot.

Looked like rock climbing was on the agenda for today—something she hoped never to do. She needed to figure out where. The weather was sunny and warm today, but with luck, she’d overtake a Storm.

****

After consulting with the Park Ranger at the State Park’s main office, Storm learned the Needle was a rock formation inside the park. The drive looked short on the map but with all the twists and turns going up the mountain, the trip took longer than he’d expected. Once he arrived, he glanced up at the tall rock standing perched next to a steep drop-off and swallowed hard. He wasn’t a big fan of heights but had rock climbed before. Just don’t look down. The climb wouldn’t kill him, or at least he hoped not. The red flag stuck in a crevasse almost at the top, waving in the breeze.

While Storm stood on the safety of the pavement, the climbing instructor gave him a crash course in face climbing—showing him the equipment and safe climbing procedures. Storm changed into a thin pair of rock shoes, strapped on a helmet, and waited for the instructor to secure his harness. After one last tug on the rope secured above, he was off.

The granite face of the Needle’s Eye was filled with jutting rocks, giving his hands and feet secure holds. As he moved upward, he wouldn’t allow himself to glance down or, even worse, out over the rugged valley spread out far below. Heights made him dizzy. Rock climbing and dizziness did not mix well.

His legs burned with the effort of pushing the weight of his body upward. The small muscles in his feet and hands ached from the strain of grasping at the rock. Up above, the red flag waited. After about a thirty-minute climb, he reached the flag and sighed in relief. He took hold of the envelope with the next clue then hung out there for a minute to catch his breath.

The fresh air filled his lungs, helping revive the blood flow to his tired muscles. Hovering high on the rock face, he let his gaze wander to the landscape surrounding him. His stomach buzzed for a moment then settled. Granite spears jutted out of the ground like the surface of the moon.

Storm repelled down, meeting Colleen at the base. With his feet back on the ground, he unhooked then walked to where she stood. “You can do this.” He squeezed her shoulder. “Take one step at a time. Before you know it, you’ll be at the top.”

Sweat beaded and rolled off her face. “What if I fall?”

He pinched her chin and lifted her face to meet his gaze. “If you lose your hold then hang there until the climbing instructor comes to help.” Storm fought the urge to stay and encourage her to the top. He had to keep moving. With a pat on the back, he gently urged her toward the rock. After glancing back one last time, he slipped out of his climbing gear and took the next clue.

The mile-high city is your destination. If you’re a fan of the Star Wars movies, you’ll love where we’ve hidden the clue. Grow wings and fly over the Rockies.

Okay, the only thing he knew for sure was his next destination was Denver. Easy enough. The Star Wars reference and growing wings were still a mystery. He’d ask for help once he arrived.

He glanced at the Needle’s Eye and saw Colleen take her first step up the rock face. She looked so determined to conquer the climb—a very different person than the girl he knew. One who had everything handed to her. Now, she struggled to overcome her fears in order to reach her goals.

Maybe he should wait. A few minutes’ delay won’t hurt. Harper’s cute little face flashed in his mind’s eye. She cheered him on, her chubby hands clapping. The one person he couldn’t bear to lose. He sprinted back to his car and started toward Denver—another step closer to the journey’s end and his one-million dollar prize.

****

Colleen would never rock climb again. Her hands throbbed, her shoulders ached, and the arches of her feet cramped with evil delight. Once she reached the flag, she grabbed the clue and returned to the ground.

The instructor helped her out of the climbing equipment and gave her some encouraging words. Save the platitudes for the next contestant, who looked to be Lenny.

The large African American man gave her a quick wave as he ran over to the Needle’s Eye.

“Good luck,” she hollered. She liked Lenny. His huge smile and baritone laugh could break down the strongest of defenses. She’d even seen Storm befriend him.

Storm’s armor had shown weakness to the point he’d been kind, even sweet. But his new-found civility hadn’t kept him from leaving her while he chased the next clue. All’s fair in love, war—and one-million-dollar prizes.

After climbing into the car, she turned the ignition and pulled out her trusty map. The time was now three-forty-five. After a few calculations, she decided she couldn’t make it to Denver by the eight o’clock curfew. She’d be satisfied if she could get to Fort Collins before stopping for the night.

As she drove, the flat landscape lulled her into daydreaming. She pictured her veterans’ retreat, built on the perfect piece of land she’d found outside of Liberty Ridge. Imagining the soldiers she’d help, she made a mental checklist—staff to hire, ADA facilities to be constructed, and the different activities offered. The whole program was coming together—except for the annoying part about funding the project. The rise in the suicide rate for the country’s veterans made her even more determined to win.

When the low gas chime sounded from the car, she jumped. Shoot, shoot, shoot! She was in the freakin’ middle of nowhere and would run out of gas within thirty miles. Praying for a gas station sighting, she eased her foot off the pedal.

Just as she passed a billboard for a rest stop five miles ahead, she heard the chug of the car’s engine, and then silence. She coasted off onto the shoulder, wanting to cry. How could she be so stupid not to check the gas gauge?

Pull yourself together. Get out and flag down a passing car. Hopefully, a kind person would take pity and stop. A scene from the horror movie The Hitchhiker’s Grave flashed in her mind. The poor girl in the movie never stood a chance against the mass-murdering truck driver.

Colleen swallowed her fear. She stood on the side of the road for fifteen minutes before a minivan pulled over. Okay, a minivan. Probably a nice family. Behind her back, she crossed her fingers.

The passenger side window slid down to reveal a smiling woman. “Honey, you havin’ car problems?”

Colleen looked inside to see the driver, a seemingly normal-looking man, and let out a breath. “I ran out of gas. Would you be kind enough to take me to the next gas station?”

“Hop on in,” the woman said. The back door glided open, and a little boy with dark curly hair waved from his car seat. “That’s Jack. I’m Monica. My husband’s Travis.”

“Nice to meet you.” Colleen climbed inside and seat belted herself in.

Little Jack offered to share his Cheerios, which she politely declined. He started to cry, so she took a few circles of cereal out of his sticky hand and popped them in her mouth. Jack smiled, now seemingly appeased.

When they pulled to a stop, Colleen climbed out of the van. “Thanks for the ride.”

“Oh, honey. We’re not leaving you here. Travis, go help her get a container and fill it with gas. We’ll drive you back to your car. You never know what kind of crazies are hanging around a place like this.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, she followed Travis into the station. Before long, she was back inside her car with enough gas for a return trip to the station to fill up. She’d made a stupid mistake in not keeping at least a half tank of gas. In order to win, she couldn’t make another.

After refiguring her distance and time, Colleen realized she’d only make it to Cheyenne by eight. Luckily, a Safe House was nearby. She decided to stay there for the night and save money. Tomorrow, she’d have to make up the lost time.

The Safe House was a rustic lodge, featuring a large moose head hanging on the stone wall of the lobby. She checked in then went to find a nearby restaurant. When she entered the fast food establishment, she saw two other contestants sitting in separate booths and decided to join Niko. From the interaction she’d had, Colleen knew he was Puerto Rican and had a great sense of humor. She went to order, waited for her food, and then took a seat across the table.

Niko smiled as she sat. “Hello, darling. Good to see a friendly face out here in the wild, wild west.” He waved his hand around the room filled with glassy eyed animals.

Someone around here must love taxidermy. “They’re kind of creepy, huh? How was your day?”

As they chatted, she grew sleepy, and fatigue crept into every bone in her body. The rock climbing and stress of running out of gas on the interstate had taken its toll.

After dinner, she headed straight to bed. Setting her alarm to the ghastly time of five am, she moaned then burrowed under the covers. She thought of Storm and her time with him in the cabin. Did she really snore? Of course not. He was such a tease.

The constant adrenaline rush over the last nine days had taken a toll. She was overtired but couldn’t fall asleep. What if she became physically unable to keep up and quit? How would she go home with the knowledge she’d failed? She had to find a way to power through the tough times when a little voice inside her head sounded, telling her to take the easy route.

Could she fight the urge to give up until the very end, while each day with each challenge, the temptation grew stronger?