Page 64 of Cavern of Silence

He gives in and does as she asks.

Julieta pulls out a bunch of metal clamps. She folds the front of the tarp a few times then clamps it above the windshield. We cover the roof with the rest of it. Julieta and Vanessa get into the Jeep, and Hunter and I secure the tarp by shutting the door on it.

Hunter gets in next, and I'm last. After I secure my side of the tarp in my door, I turn to Julieta and wiggle my eyebrows. "Time to see what this Jeep can do."

She quietly claps, and a massive grin overtakes her face.

She's an adrenaline junkie.

And she just got sexier.

"Don't be so excited," Hunter grumbles.

What is up his ass?

Vanessa replies, "It's going to be fun."

At least Vanessa has a good attitude.

"Think of it as a roller coaster," Julieta offers.

I start the Jeep and slowly move forward.

We are about a third of the way when we get to the biggest hill. Almost as soon as we go over the top, our speed increases, and we slide.

Julieta's comparison of a roller coaster is correct.

I grip the wheel while Julieta and Vanessa scream and my gut drops.

We hydroplane near a tree, but I regain control just in time for us to not smack into it and get us back to the middle of the track.

The rain is steady, but at the bottom of the hill, we fly through a muddy swamp and spin out. The vehicle makes several full circles, and my heart about pounds out of my chest.

Thick mud covers the windshield. The inside of the Jeep is darker, and I turn to Julieta. "Everyone okay?"

Julieta puts her arm in the air. "Woo-hoo!" Her face lights up, and it's the happiest I've seen her look.

She leans over and kisses me on the cheek. "Nice driving."

"Add it to my list of skills."

Her face reddens, and she bites her lip and softly laughs.

I'd pay big money to see her like this more often.

"Let's hope we have enough fluid to wash this off. I need to see to get out of this mud pit." I spray the windshield for several minutes until the fluid is all gone. It's semi-clear. Not great but enough to see.

We're in a swamp, so I can't get out to add more fluid. I move the gear and turn the vehicle about ninety degrees then continue forward.

Hunter calls out, "Julieta, can we eat now?"

"Yep. That's it for the adrenaline rush."

I get us onto firm ground. The rain helps wash the mud off, and we decide to take advantage of it and stay put to eat breakfast.

Julieta distributes food, and Vanessa fills our coffee mugs.

After breakfast, I drive until we reach a gate. The rain has stopped, and we remove the tarp. I refill the wiper fluid. Hunter grabs the red fuel can from the trunk area and fills the tank.