Chapter Nineteen

Day 12

Storm woke up with a jolt. Opening the curtains to his hotel room, he looked out over a dark street. Inside his mind, the clouds of his earlier dream dissipated—a dream which had been more of a nightmare. Harper was lost inside a large garden maze, and her cries echoed through the area. He searched for what seemed like hours, unable to find his baby girl.

Out of the mist, Colleen appeared, beckoning him. The temptation to follow Colleen away from the cries of his daughter grew strong. He was forced to choose between two conflicting halves of his heart. In the end, he left Colleen standing alone in the garden and found Harper lying cold in a flower bed.

Coming into a sitting position in bed, he rubbed at his face. Was his subconscious announcing his foolishness? He was convinced he could have everything he wanted—win the money to make his dream a reality and Colleen’s heart. A million landmines were placed along the way. One wrong move and any hope of being with Colleen died. She didn’t trust his motives. To win the competition, he might end up justifying her feelings.

Would he be forced to choose one or the other? Maybe. And if push came to shove, he’d place Harper first every time.

After a shower, he dressed and went downstairs to the lobby for a quick breakfast. At seven-fifteen am, he stepped onto the mat next to Colleen, and the host handed them their clue.

The Colorado River carved this natural world wonder. South Rim Village is your destination.

Colleen jumped. “I knew we’d be sent to the Grand Canyon. It’s only an hour and a half drive to the South Rim.”

He ran over to the new car he’d been provided and discovered one of the staff placed inside a hiking pole, water bottles, salty snacks, a flashlight, a small first aid kit, and a plastic, zip lock bag—all the makings of an awesome hike. Storm arrived at the Grand Canyon at nine. He grabbed his gear and raced over with Colleen to the Village to find the next clue. Signs led him to the Kolb Studio—a brown wood building constructed on the canyon’s ledge. Inside, he found a wicker basket, which held six envelopes. Someone else had arrived first.

“Lenny must still be ahead of us.” Storm pulled out the card.

Hike the Bright Angel trail to the Phantom Ranch. For safety reasons, you must embark on your hike before noon, otherwise wait until six am the next morning. Bring along the items located in your vehicle. Sunset is at five-fifty pm.

He placed his heavy backpack over his shoulders then helped Colleen with hers. With all the extra gear, the pack must now weigh thirty pounds. A short walk brought him to the Bright Angel trailhead. For the first time, he took a good look over the edge of the canyon. His heart hitched. The image spread out before him resembled a painting. Swirls of orange, red, rust, and brown decorated the rock in horizontal gradations. The bottom of the canyon seemed incredibly far away. He tracked his gaze along the ridge for as far as he could see. The landscape was breathtakingly big and beautiful.

“You won’t push me over the edge, will you?” Colleen leaned forward, peering over the drop off.

“Maybe back when we were sixteen.” He laughed and took hold of her hand, which felt warm and solid in the vastness of their surroundings. “Remember the time you convinced everyone in our American History class I had a fear of speaking in public and I silently farted when I talked because I was so nervous? For the longest time, I couldn’t figure out why everyone in class laughed whenever I answered a question.”

As she giggled, tears rolled down her face. “Oh, Storm. I forgot about that prank.”

“Your word was law back then.” He swiped a thumb over her cheek, cleaning off a damp tear. “We were such troublemakers, you and I.”

“Thankfully, we can finally look back on those days and laugh. But you still didn’t answer my question. Am I safe with you now?” Taking a step back, she kept hold of his hand and glanced up.

“You’re safe. I promise.” Storm squeezed her hand and stepped onto the trail, which snaked down the side of the steep rock face. He shifted his gaze between the path below him, the view around him, and Colleen’s pretty face. As they dropped in altitude, the temperature steadily grew warmer. After hiking for an hour, he suggested they stop for a drink and brief rest.

He shrugged off his jacket, sat on a small bench set off to the side, and enjoyed the view. “God’s paintbrush.”

She wiped off her face with the sleeve of her shirt and pointed to a cliff face to their left. “Look—mountain goats.”

Several white animals stood on impossibly small rock outcroppings. Nature and its ability to adapt never ceased to amaze him.

Condors floated above, riding warm air currents.

A bird’s view of the canyon would be both magnificent and terrifying. Noticing the sun’s high position in the sky, Storm pushed onto his feet. “Time to roll.”

Someday soon, he’d reclaim a life existing in harmony with nature. Witnessing the beauty of the world over the last twelve days only fueled his craving.

****

By the time Colleen stopped for a break at the Indian Gardens, a little oasis in the otherwise barren canyon, she was exhausted. She sat in the shade of a Cottonwood tree and rested her shaking legs. The water in her canteen was now warm, but the liquid still refreshed her dry mouth and throat. “How much longer?” She glanced over at Storm, who sat beside her.

He ripped off a piece of beef jerky with his teeth. While chewing, he opened the trail map and spread it over his lap. “We’re about halfway to Phantom Ranch. The worst is behind us.”

“I hope so. I don’t even want to think about the return climb.” She pulled out a bag of trail mix from her pack, shook out some, and popped a handful into her mouth. The salty sweet flavor satisfied her hunger.

Storm stood and held out his hand. “Let’s get moving. We might not have to hike back up. The Colorado River is another way out.”

Fear replaced exhaustion. “I don’t know what would be worse—hiking out of the canyon or whitewater rafting?”

“I’d vote for the rafting. The trip’s a total rush.”

“You said rock climbing would be fun, and I still have nightmares.” Colleen lifted her pack and set it on her shoulders—an added weight for her already tired legs. What qualified as a rush from Storm proved terrifying for her.

Once past the Indian Gardens, the trail eased. After a short uphill climb, the trail snaked back and forth in a valley created by tall canyon walls, which rose high above on either side.

She walked with Storm in mostly silence—an unspoken treaty, of sorts. She knew their time working together was coming to an end. Soon, every player would compete solely for their own best interests.

Despite their renewed friendship, an emotional distance had developed, like a river carving out a canyon. With the pressure of the contest, erosion was inevitable. All she could do now was enjoy the time she had together. Maybe once they returned home, they could build on what they’d started. Unlikely, though, if she won the money and Storm lost out on building his dream farm. Surely, he’d resent her even more if he also lost custody of his daughter.

When the Colorado River came into view, she exhaled a deep sigh of relief. She wanted to burst out into the Hallelujah Chorus when she saw the Phantom Ranch appear over the bridge.

With each step forward, she gained a renewed energy, like a light bulb given a jolt of electricity. Her skin warmed with the glow of the red and orange rocks all around her. Tipping her head to the sky, she spread out her arms and turned in a slow circle. Look how far I’ve come. Canyon peaks and spears rose high above, like they attempted to punch holes into heaven. Tall Cottonwood trees loomed over stone buildings—their leaves golden with the change of seasons.

She practically skipped down the trail toward the Phantom Ranch, while Storm lagged behind. His laughter was contagious. She stopped and waited in front of a large sign—Phantom Ranch Welcomes You.

A red flag marked their clue.

Welcome to the Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the Grand Canyon. Your accommodations are in the dorm. Rest and eat. At six am tomorrow, be ready to leave.

Colleen checked her watch—two-thirty pm. Plenty of time to eat and rest. Thank goodness.

Inside the dorm, she found Lenny sleeping on the bottom mattress of a bunk bed. Tomorrow, she vowed to be the leader at the end of the day.