Page 24 of Brave Horizons (Barrington Billionaires #19)

ALEX

Scanning the area one last time before deciding on a spot to set up camp, Alex felt uncharacteristically undecided.

Finally he took note of the quickly setting sun and made a choice.

A small clearing, surrounded by thick trees offered some semblance of cover.

The ground was relatively flat, a rare find in these parts.

Despite the natural camouflage and relatively secure location, Alex couldn’t shake the unease gnawing at his gut.

He hadn't had time to properly inventory their gear since they left the last campsite. He was operating on instinct and muscle memory, which was usually reliable but felt insufficient now. Miranda had given them some supplies, but the rush and chaos of their departure meant they hadn’t been able to meticulously pack and prepare.

He glanced at the makeshift camp, taking stock of their situation.

The tent they had was only big enough for two people.

That meant two of them would have to go back down the trail a bit and sleep in the truck or take turns rotating into the tent for better sleep.

A thought that didn’t sit well with Alex.

The food storage container, meant to keep their provisions bear-safe, was too small to hold everything they had.

Some food would have to be kept in the truck, increasing the risk of attracting unwanted wildlife attention.

Alex set up the tent with Russ while Topeka and Hillary gathered firewood and got the fire going.

They were all jumpy, which was understandable and growing as the night fell darker.

He could see the exhaustion on everyone’s faces, the worry etched into their expressions.

He needed to keep them focused, to give them something to do.

“Alright everyone, gather around,” Alex called out as he finished setting up the tent. They formed a loose circle around him, their eyes reflecting the flickering light of the small campfire.

“First thing’s first,” he began, his voice steady despite his internal turmoil.

“We need to keep our feet clean and dry. Blisters can slow us down, and we don’t know when we’ll have to move quickly.

If you feel any hot spots on your feet, let me know immediately.

We need to treat them before they turn into blisters. ”

He demonstrated how to properly clean and dry their feet, showing them how to inspect for any potential issues.

“Change your socks regularly and try to keep your boots dry. If your feet are wet, take a moment to dry them out. I know none of us have a ton of clothes but Miranda sent a bunch of socks. She’s done her share of camping, so she knows. ”

Alex then moved on to talk about bugs and plants.

“There are a lot of insects out here that can carry diseases or cause allergic reactions. Use the bug spray Miranda gave us, and try to cover as much skin as possible. Avoid bright lights at night; they attract insects and you’ll regret it in the morning. ”

He picked up a nearby leaf. “As for plants, some can cause rashes or worse. Stay away from anything with three leaves clustered together; it’s probably poison ivy. If you come into contact with it, wash the area immediately. I’ve got some soap and sanitizer.”

“I thought camping was fun?” Hillary asked with a sigh.

“This isn’t camping,” Topeka said, and Alex smiled. She’d learned that tough lesson not long ago and now she was sharing it. “Its survival. But it gets easier every hour. You get used to it all.”

“Is there more?” Hillary asked, her face twisted up with unease. “I was proud to get the fire started. I didn’t know there was so much to learn.”

“You two did great with the fire,” Alex agreed.

“But there is a lot more to know. When you’re out here, it’s important to stay aware of your surroundings at all times.

Look out for signs of wildlife. If you see fresh tracks or droppings, it means there are animals nearby. Try to avoid those areas if possible.”

He glanced around the group, ensuring he had their attention.

“Stay hydrated, but make sure to ration what we have. We don’t know how long it’ll be before we can replenish our supplies.

If we run out of bottled water we need to be careful about where you get it from.

We can’t afford to get sick from contaminated water sources.

We’ll need to boil any water we collect from streams or rivers. ”

Alex paused, letting the information sink in.

“If we do encounter any dangerous animals, stay calm and don’t run.

Back away slowly and make yourself look as large as possible.

Use the bear spray if necessary. And remember, we’re a team.

If something happens, we stick together and help each other out. ”

Russ took a lighter tone, trying to remind them all it could be worse.

“I’d rather deal with bug bites and bear tracks than whatever was waiting for us down there.

” He gestured back down the way they came.

“But if one of you uses poison ivy for toilet paper, we are not a team anymore. You’re on your own. ”

The camp slowly took shape. The tent was pitched securely, and the fire crackled warmly, providing a small comfort against the encroaching night. Alex made sure the food was divided, with the most perishable items placed in the bear-safe container.

“We’ll keep watch in shifts,” he continued. “Topeka and I will be in the truck first and armed while in camp. Hillary, Russ, you each get a can of bear spray. It’s easy to use, just point and spray if you see any large animals. Hopefully, we won’t need it, but better safe than sorry.”

Hillary took the can of bear spray from Alex without argument, her exhaustion evident. She glanced at Russ and then back at Alex. "So, I guess Russ and I will take the tent for the first shift?"

"Yeah," Alex confirmed, handing the other can of bear spray to Russ. "Is that okay?”

Hillary nodded, too tired to care about who she’d be sleeping next to. "Fine by me. Just need some sleep. I think I’m getting used to his snoring."

Russ shrugged, accepting the arrangement. "Make all the jokes you want, but if a bear shows up, my snoring might be enough to scare him away. Then you won’t be complaining.”

"Get some rest,” Alex said, practically an order. “Make sure the tent is secure the way I showed you. I’ll wake you up around two in the morning and you guys can take watch for a while. Don’t spray me with bear spray. Do you understand. I am not a bear.”

"Will do," Russ said, already moving to the tent. “I mean won’t do. Won’t spray you.”

Hillary gave a weary smile. "Just to be clear, you don’t want to get sprayed. Sorry it’s so hard to keep up with the rules.”

“Goodnight,” Alex called over his shoulder and he and Topeka headed for the truck.

“I reclined the seats the best I could,” she said as they climbed in. “You’ve been driving so much lately you must be sick of sitting in that seat.”

“If you could see the places I’ve had to sleep in my life, you’d know how luxurious this seems. And the company is much better than I usually have.”

“I’m not scared you know,” she said, turning in her chair to look at him full on. “If you feel like you have to be brave for me, don’t. I’m really confident in this plan.”

“It’s going to work. All of it.” He reached over and took her hand up to his lips to kiss it.

“So you’re not scared?” she asked, a playful smile. “Of course you’re not, you never get scared, right?”

Alex took a deep breath, his eyes scanning the dark trees outside the truck.

“I’m scared right now, Topeka. Not just because of the danger we’re in.

I mean, that’s part of it, but there’s more.

My face is all over the news. That burns me with Kinross.

It’s in the terms and conditions of the contract.

If my identity is compromised, I’m a liability.

You don’t get more compromised than national news.

I won’t be able to safely and covertly help anyone in the future.

I’m done after this. That scares me more than anything. ”

“You still have your work on the rig, though. That’s a lot of responsibility and adrenaline. I know this part of your life matters too but?—”

Alex shook his head, his expression somber.

“I’m done on the rig. We all got notice two weeks ago that drilling is paused in that area.

There won’t be work for at least nine months.

It worked out great for this mission. I wrapped up what needed to be done there.

But now, I’m not sure what life will look like for me. ”

Topeka’s eyes widened in surprise. “That must be terrifying. I’m so sorry that happened. That you’re on the news because of me and it closes a door you weren’t ready to close.”

“Yeah,” Alex confirmed, his voice tinged with uncertainty. “I thought I had time to figure out my next steps, but now... everything’s up in the air. The rig was my backup plan. It’s always been there, a constant in my life. Now, I don’t know what’s next.”

Topeka squeezed his arm gently. “I wanted to know what scared you. I thought it would be spiders or something. This is real life stuff. It’s complete shit really.”

“Thanks for not saying, everything happens for a reason. That never helps.”

“I never liked that one either. If everything happened for a reason, I’d have a lot of questions about the shit I’m going through right now. Maybe there is a way you could do something else with Kinross? They have quite a network.”

“It’s not only losing my work with Kinross or the rig.

It’s the uncertainty. I’ve always had a plan, always had something to fall back on.

Now, it feels like everything is crumbling, and I don’t know what’s next.

The thought of not being able to do what I’m good at, what gives me purpose. .. it’s terrifying.”

Topeka nodded, understanding his fear. “I get that. But you’re resilient, Alex. Look at how you’ve gotten us out of every bad spot so far. We wouldn’t have made it this far without you. You marched the three of us up a damn mountain today.”

“Now I have to find a way to safely keep you all up here. I guess that’s the good thing. My job isn’t quite done yet.”

Topeka leaned in closer, her presence a soothing balm to his frayed nerves. “You don’t have to have all the answers right now. Sometimes, it’s okay to be scared. It’s okay to not know what’s next. What matters is that you’re here, and you’re trying. That’s enough.”