by AJ Adaire
Murdoch pulled up short. His soft ruff alerted Paige, who hurried to the front of the line. “What’s up, boy?” Murdoch pounced on his two front feet. Paige followed his gaze over to a log barely off the path. The sun shone brightly on the two snakes coiled there. Paige laid a calming hand on her dog’s head. “Good boy. Now, sit.”
Paige approached the edge of the field slowly. Curled in a hollow log, warmed by the morning sunshine, were the snakes. “Well, look at you two lovebirds all cozied up together.” She turned to the others. “Have you seen these snakes before?”
Keeping her position, Kim shook her head.
“What kind are they?” Peri asked. She inched forward to stand next to Paige.
“These two are Northern ring-necked snakes and are a pretty good size. Their maximum length runs up to about two feet. These aren’t quite that big. They will bite if annoyed. Luckily, they’re not poisonous, a statement true of all snakes native to Maine. Of course, you never know if some nut hasn’t let his poisonous snake go. So it’s wise to always be cautious.”
“Well, that’s good news.” Kim grimaced.
“You said lovebirds. Are they male and female?” Peri leaned over slightly hoping for a better look.
“I’m no expert in determining the sex of snakes.” Paige contemplated making a joke. Seeing Peri’s serious expression caused her to change her mind. “I think it’s a male and a female. See, the tails are shaped differently.” She pointed at the snake closer to them. “This one’s tail tapers more abruptly and the other one is longer and thicker. So I’d guess they are male and female. Don’t bet your first born on it though.” At her mention of firstborn, a brief frown appeared. Soon, a hint of a smile replaced it, as she recalled Hildie’s serious little face as she asked question after question. On her own, Hildie had differentiated between Maria and Paige early on, naming Maria mom and Paige mum. “My daughter was in a scouting program and studied snakes. I remember her asking me, ‘Mum, is it a boy snake or a girl snake?’ Knowing I was on shaky ground, I referred her to my wife.” Paige chuckled and brushed the fly away from her ear. “I do remember that its belly color matches the ring around its neck, just in case anyone was wondering.”
Leaving the snakes behind, they trudged onward following Joe’s directions. They hiked for two more days, sleeping in rough camps overnight, taking turns watching over the others as they slept. Despite seeing no sign of any other people, they remained vigilant.
“We should soon be coming to the corner where Joe told us the logging trail and snowmobile trails will be. Keep an ear open for the sound of a creek.” A cloud passed over the sun. Looking across the field at the mountains on the horizon, Paige straightened. “Looks like there might be a storm brewing over there.” Peri and Kim followed Paige’s gaze to the thickening clouds. “Let’s keep lunch simple and push on. We can have an energy bar and keep going. If we end up getting rain, maybe we can find a good, protected spot to camp tonight, before it hits.”
The group picked up the pace. Paige took the lead again, and her long legs ate up the terrain. Stiffer breezes helped drive the flies away and offered a welcome relief from their incessant attack.
“Hey, you with the six-foot long legs,” Peri panted. “Are you forgetting about this height challenged person back here?”
“Oh sorry.” Paige stopped and turned to acknowledge the red-faced, shorter woman. “I tend to get into a groove and go numb. Thanks for reminding me to be more considerate. I sometimes get lost in thought and forget to pay attention. In this situation, it’s not a good thing to do.”
Kim pointed to the sky. “Wind’s been picking up and clouds are looking serious. Want to think about finding a campsite?”
Paige nodded in agreement. “Next break I find in the woods, we can head back in and find a protected place for the night.”
Half an hour later, they heard the stream and turned toward the sound. The path into the denser woods was more difficult travel than the path along the wooded edge of the pastures. Cutting through the forest, they came to a small creek and followed it for a short distance. Fallen trees caused detours they had to climb over or hike around, but they always returned to follow the water’s path. They passed outcroppings of rock, covered with fine moss. The creek opened into a faster moving body of water. They hiked a bit farther into the forest, away from the underbrush, and found a huge fallen tree that had tipped over. A long section of the trunk leaned across two outcroppings. The rootstock was wedged securely into the earth at the base of the rocks. A sheltered space offered five feet of standing room beneath the three-foot diameter trunk. Paige paused and looked at the other two women. She gestured at the rocks to her right. “These should provide a nice break from the wind and the rock overhang should protect a fire from the rain. We can lay one tarp beneath us and tent the other over us. This could work. What do you think?”
Affirmative comments indicating agreement by both women met with a long sigh from Paige. “Good. Let’s get things set up before the sky lets loose.” She slipped the pack from her back and helped the other two remove theirs. She leaned in different directions to stretch out her aching muscles. “Who wants to do what to set up camp? We might have to stay here tomorrow if this rain continues, so let’s make things comfortable.”
“I can make a mean latrine,” Kim offered, proud of her abilities.
Peri volunteered next. “I can gather wood and build a good fire.”
“All right then. That leaves it to me to make the lean-to.”
Without further discussion, things began to take shape. Kim tossed the tarp, rope, and some stakes to Paige, before setting about her task. Peri began collecting wood for the fire. She dug down beneath the duff, and used the loose rocks she found there to build a U-shaped, protective enclosure. Peri crisscrossed tiny twigs over a pile of leaves and dried moss. Getting low to the ground to blow on the kindling, she soon had a blaze going. Standing up to get some dry branches, she chuckled and turned to Paige. “Today, when I was sweating my ass off in the sun, I never expected a fire would feel good. The temperature has to have dropped twenty-five degrees in the last hour.”
“Yeah.” Paige scanned the threatening sky. “I think it’s fixing up to give us a good dousing tonight. Let’s check to see how Kim is doing.”
Together, they skirted around the outcrop of rock protecting the camp. Kim was putting the final touches on an expertly constructed toilet area.
“That looks fantastic.” Paige admired the structure. “It looks as comfy as one we’d sit on at home.”
“Thanks. I need one more flat rock.” Kim pointed at the foot tall structure she’d built around the shallow pit she’d managed to scrape out of the rocky soil.
“Here’s one that should work.” Peri laid the last rock in place.
“Since we have a nice fire going, maybe we can make a hot meal tonight. I’ll go collect some water. We have those pouch meals. I’ll purify some water for our canteens while I’m at it. It’ll save us some time tomorrow.” Kim collected the collapsible bucket and looked at it with doubt. “This should take about fifty trips to get all the water we’ll need.”
Paige looked around. “Maybe you should take a pot with you too. I’ll collect some pine boughs and needles for our sleeping area. A nice bed of them will help keep us up off the ground and dry.”
“I’ll help you.” Peri offered.
Kim set about her task, as did the others.
“That should about do it.” Paige straightened up after depositing the last few handfuls of needles. “Thanks for the help. The pine needles under the tarp should help keep us comfy and dry tonight, no matter what Mom Nature throws at us.”
Peri inhaled. “They smell good, too.”
Glancing toward the fire, Paige said, “How’s it going, Kim?”
As they approached the fire, Kim extended a cup to Paige.
Paige looked into the cup, then up in amazement. “Hot tea? Thanks. How’d you pull that off so fast?”
“Very clever.” Kim beamed at receiving Paige’s genuine praise. “Thanks for the hot tea. I’ve missed it. Tea helps take the chill off the night air.”
The rain held off long enough for them to finish eating. They each used the new latrine, washed up, and took shelter at the exact moment the sky opened up to dump rain in buckets and sheets.
“Looks like we should stay pretty dry,” Kim said. “Nice job on the shelter, Paige. These pine needles are pretty comfortable too. And they smell good.”
Peri laughed. “I said the same thing.”
“Thank you. We all seem to make a pretty good team.”
They fell silent, staring into the fire, each absorbed by their own individual thoughts.
Chapter Nine
RAIN WAS STILL FALLING in a fine mist. Paige opened her eyes and tried to wiggle her toes on her right foot, sending pins and needles from her crotch to her toenails. Murdoch was still asleep on her leg and had managed to cut off most of the blood supply below. She moved her leg again. Murdoch shifted, returning circulation. A few minutes of patient waiting allowed for feeling to return and the pins and needles to disappear.
Paige slipped from the shelter, hoping not to disturb the two sleeping women. She visited the latrine, washed up, and cleaned her teeth. Murdoch raised his head at the sound of his name. It took him a few minutes to leave the comfort of the shelter. Once up, he trotted to her side.
Peri opened her eyes and smiled up at Paige. “Everything okay?”
“I’m going to go scout around,” she said in a hushed voice. “When she wakes, you and Kim can organize breakfast, if you don’t mind. Everything is soaked, so no sense in building a fire. I guess it’ll be a cold breakfast. At least the rain slowed. Maybe, when it stops, we can build a fire with the wood we put aside last night.”
Paige and Murdoch took a trip around the perimeter of the campsite. They hiked out to the fence line and surveyed the area, finding nothing. Paige followed the stream back and paused to observe the activity in the camp. The two women stood in front of the rock fire pit Kim had built the night before. Kim had one arm draped over Peri’s shoulder as they spoke in casual conversation with each other. Kim threw her head back and laughed.
A pang of loneliness gripped Paige’s heart. Her eyes filled, as she thought of her family. She especially missed her daughter, and longed for a meaningful connection. The time she’d spent with Peri at the Hall’s place had been a wonderful respite from the emptiness. Peri had been kind and supportive of her, as she’d told her of her sadness. She realized that she’d been selfish by not asking Peri anything about her experiences with the illness. Nor had she spoken with Kim about anything other than functional things since that day.
The two women laughed again. Paige smiled. She’d grown fond of her two traveling companions. Both were hard workers and eager to do their fair share of the labor. Neither ever complained about discomfort from the heavy packs. Nor did they mention the worry they all shared about encountering other travelers. They laughed again, drawing her thoughts back to the pair. They’re lucky to have each other.
“Murdoch, go to camp,” Paige whispered. He turned in a circle and preceded Paige into the campsite, announcing her return. “Good morning ladies.” Paige’s cheerful greeting enticed the two women to turn around, each with a smile on her face.
“The weather isn’t encouraging. It’s going to be a miserable hike today, unless you want to do what we mentioned last night and take a day off. We’ve got comfortable accommodations here, and a rest wouldn’t hurt any of us. It appears we’re safe here. Murdoch and I had a good look around and we saw no sign of anyone nearby. What do you think?”
“I think I’m in love with you,” Kim said, her face serious until she broke out into a grin.
“That’s the best suggestion I’ve heard in days.” Peri put her hand on the small of her back and bent backward, as she beamed a smile at Paige.
Paige swallowed hard. “Good. It’s agreed then.”
Large raindrops started to splat on the ground around them, confirming their decision to remain in camp another day. They hurried to get under shelter as the sky opened.
A brief burst of conversation about the weather soon faded into silence. Each woman stared at the camp, as the rain fell in sheets. Murdoch leaned against Paige. “I know boy. I’m not crazy about all this wet stuff either.”
Kim sighed. “I miss my wife. We had this second-floor bedroom that had a huge skylight. Weekend rains were the best. Becky and I would crawl into the bed and look up at the rain coming down. It was like being in the middle of a rainstorm while remaining dry. It’s the little things like that I miss the most.”
Paige leaned forward and looked at both women, puzzlement on her face.
“What?” Kim and Peri said in unison.
“I thought you were a couple.”
“Us?” Peri laughed. “Oh Lord, no.”
Kim’s head snapped around in Peri’s direction. Her expression intense, she shot back, “Hey. What’s wrong with me?”
“Nothing, nothing at all.” Peri and Kim were so focused on the conversation they were having, it was as if Paige had faded away into the background. “You know I love you. I, well, it’s just that we’ve been friends for so long.” Peri shrugged. “I’m sorry. Both of us had partners, and I just never thought of you in a romantic way.”
“Why not?” Kim leaned forward and met Peri’s eyes. “I’ve always thought you were attractive. Becky was always a little jealous of you. Part of it was because we’ve been such good friends for so long.”
“Oh, you’re crazy. Becky wasn’t jealous of me. She knew Trish and I were happy.”
“No, I’m serious, Peri. Becky thought you were hot, too. We’d never have done it for real. Still, we used to tease each other. We’d, you know, talk about who we’d want to join us if we ever had a threesome. You got both our votes. We were unanimous in that.”
Peri’s mouth fell open at Kim’s revelations. “I can’t believe this.”
“You’re serious? You’ve really never thought of me in a romantic way?”
“No. Sorry.” Peri gave her friend’s hand a squeeze. “You know that there was nobody for me other than Trish from the day we met.” Her eyes filled. “I loved her so much.”
“I know. Things are different now, though. They’re both gone and the world is all wrong.” As if noticing Paige for the first time, Kim softened. “Can you believe it? She’s never been attracted to me. Ever since we met, I’ve thought she was so cute.”
“Hey, I never said you weren’t cute. I said I never thought of you in a romantic way before.”
Paige shook her head. “If it’s any consolation, I think you’re both cute, and useful to have around.”
“Geez. One isn’t attracted to me and the other finds me useful. I must be losing my touch.” Kim’s frown quickly disappeared. “So, Paige, what’s your favorite memory?”
“Hey, the rain’s letting up.” Paige rose to her feet. “I’d better take Murdoch out now, while we have a break.”
***
By the time Paige returned to camp, the rain had stopped and the sun was trying to overcome the clouds. Murdoch was wet and muddy, and she wasn’t much cleaner or drier.
“I heated us some water and we each washed up,” Peri said. “There’s some water left in the
pan on the can stove for you if you want it. It should still be warm.”
Paige’s eyes drifted to the pot of water. “Thanks. I can use it.” She returned her gaze to the two women. “Murdoch and I hiked up the stream. There’s a spot up there where there’s a pretty good view. I think I saw the road Joe mentioned. It looks like at least another day before we get there. Going through the woods is tough. There are lots of downed trees to clamber over. Our alternate is to stick to the bank of the stream. It’s pretty rocky and slick. Not sure which would be easier. I do think the woods provide us with more cover though.”
Paige set a bag on the rock next to the stove. “Oh, look at the booty I found. There was a little cabin tucked up in a lane, a little way from here. I found some food. There’s tinned tuna, some jam, and crackers. I picked up a couple of cans of soda too. Once we drink them, maybe you can do your magic, Kim, and make us a couple more stoves. There’s some hard candy too. Oh, and some honey.” She pulled the food from the bag. “One more thing. It’s small enough that it shouldn’t be too heavy to carry. It’s a grid from a small grill.” She held up the grill grate that was about as large as a sheet of paper. “It’ll be nice if we can catch some fish or game.”
“I hate to be taking people’s food like that.” Kim said.
Paige looked away. “I’m sure he won’t mind. He won’t be needing it.” She rummaged in the bottom of the bag. “Watch! The best part of my quest remains to be seen.” Clasped in her hand like solid gold, she pulled a telescoping fishing pole and reel from the bag.
“Hot damn! I see fish on our table soon.” A wide grin spread across Kim’s face.
“This rod is neat,” Paige said. “But wait, look at this other one.” She pulled a container the size of a large pen from the sack, and held it up in one hand. In the other, she held a small reel. “I haven’t seen one of these for years.” Her expression mimicked that of a small kid on Christmas morning, as she opened the pen-sized case and removed a mini rod. She attached the reel. “This is so cool. I know we can’t hope to land Moby Dick with this. I think it’ll work for some nice brook trout though. I also got some plastic worms and spinners. We can’t use the spinners here, not enough room. We can try these worms or dig up some real ones. I’m sure they’d work better.”