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What the fudge? I bounced on the seat, and my head landed on something hard. Without opening my eyes, I felt with my hand and realized it was someone's shoulder. Double fudge. I was sleeping with my head on Chance Munroe's shoulder. How the heck did that happen? I realized I was enjoying feeling Chance's muscles until his hand grabbed mine. "Much as I might be enjoying your little exploration, I don't think we should let it go too far," he said, moving my hand back to my own lap. "I don't mix business with pleasure," he said.
"So, which is this?"
He just glared at me.
I stayed put another minute, then sat up, yawned, and stretched. "Oh, sorry, Chance. I guess I moved in my sleep," I said. "You should have just pushed me back the other way." I sat up straight and moved back to my side of the truck. "Want more coffee?" I asked.
"Sure." He handed me his cup. I refilled his coffee and poured myself a cup of English breakfast tea with sugar and milk.
After sipping in silence for a bit, I asked, "Can you explain what the plan is for today?"
"Once we get to the trailhead, we'll park the truck and gear up. We'll have about six hours of hiking before we stop to set up camp."
"Six hours? Isn't that a lot?"
"Less than on the easiest hunting trips I offer," he said. "Think you can handle it, City Girl?"
"I'll handle it. So why are we going to wherever we're going?" I waved my arm around. "Looks like there's wilderness everywhere out here."
"Your Uncle left specific instructions."
"Where? When?
"Once you agreed to the arrangement, Jim gave me a letter from Harry. It laid out the details of our trip as well as what wilderness skills I'm supposed to teach you each day. The note said Harry always hoped he'd get the chance to take you on this trip himself, but since that didn't happen, he wanted me to do it."
This new information added to my curiosity about why Uncle Harry wanted me to do this. I sipped my tea and tried to figure out what Uncle Harry was up to.
"Why do you think Uncle Harry put this stipulation in his will?" I asked.
"I knew Harry pretty well. He was my dad's partner, and after Dad died, Harry and I did some hunts together. I figure he wanted you to understand him better and learn enough to survive up here, if you plan to stay."
"Maybe," I said. "But I think there's more to it. Why would he care where in the wilderness we went? I could learn the skills he wanted anywhere. If he laid out our route, I think there's a reason he wants us to go to this place. Is it someplace you're familiar with?"
"Not exactly. It's in an area where my dad and Harry said they had a run in with some aggressive grizzlies. The area has been off limits for anyone around here for years."
Then why would he send us into a dangerous area? It makes no sense.”
We talked more about it, but didn't really come to any conclusions, before Chance pulled the truck into the trees and turned it off. "We walk from here," he said. We left the pavement behind a couple of hours after leaving the cafe. I was glad to get out of the truck and stretch. I changed into my hiking boots, and we filled our go cups from the thermoses one last time.
"Ready?" Chance asked.
"As much as I'll ever be," I said. I walked over to where my pack was leaning against a tree. The last time I carried a backpack was in high school and even then, I seldom wore it with both my arms through the straps as it was designed. This pack was much larger. I got exactly the type Chance suggested and packed my gear inside it based on a diagram provided on his website. It looked huge.
"Turn around, and I'll help you get the pack on," Chance said, walking up to stand beside me. I was quickly learning that Chance likes to give orders.
I poked my arms through the straps while Chance held it. When he let go, I started to fall backward, but he caught me and held on until I was steady on my feet. He walked around in front of me, fastening the straps and tugging on things none too gently.
He grabbed his own pack and slung it onto his back with no effort at all, snapping the straps across his chest and waist as he started up a barely discernible trail. "Take it slow until you get used to the added weight."