Page 16 of Danger in the Wilderness (National Park Protectors #1)

Forty minutes later, Blaire and Dekker trudged through the deep forest, heading toward the cave in question.

They’d been hiking for twenty minutes, and the day’s heat was taking its toll.

“Can we stop? I need to eat something and have a drink.” Blaire wiggled out of her backpack, dropping it on the ground.

“Good idea. We still have another forty minutes before we reach the cave, and the hike to get there is challenging.” Dekker rubbed his left arm.

She leaned against a tree. “Are you in pain?”

He released his arm. “I’m fine.”

“Well, according to Jayla, that means you’re not.” She reached into her bag and brought out painkillers, handing the bottle to him. “Here, take a couple.”

His eyes widened. “No.”

“What? Your male pride won’t let you get a little help?”

He brought out a granola bar. “It’s not that. I can’t take meds.”

“Why? You allergic?”

“No. Just can’t.” He clamped his mouth shut.

Clearly, he wasn’t going to tell her the reason. There’s a story there.

Secrets. She hated secrets.

You have your own, remember?

She tossed the meds back into her bag then unclipped her water bottle and took a sip.

“Sorry, I’m frustrated. I didn’t mean to take it out on you.” He bit into his bar.

“I understand. I’m hating all these dead ends too.” She let her question regarding the painkillers go. He obviously wasn’t ready to share.

Blaire unwrapped her energy bar and devoured it in a few bites. The fresh air had increased her hunger pains more than she realized. “That was good.” She stuffed the wrapper into her bag.

“You ready for the tough hike now?”

She strapped her backpack on and gave him the thumbs-up. “Let’s do this.”

“Stay close as there are lots of jagged rocks and some cliffs in this area.”

“Good thing I have my hiking boots on.”

“Yup. Don’t leave home without them when you’re hiking in a park filled with dangerous surroundings.” He pointed to a trail. “This way.”

She followed him down the crushed stone path. “This isn’t so bad.”

He glanced over his shoulder. “Wait for it.”

Moments later, the stone path turned into rocks, large protruding roots and a hilly landscape, leading upward. Not for the faint of heart.

Blaire’s breath became short and ragged, her pulse intensifying.

Dekker stopped fifteen minutes later. “You okay back there?”

She halted. “Just need to catch my breath.” She bent over, hands on knees, and inhaled deeply.

“We’re getting there. The path is going to get even more dangerous. You up for it?”

Did she have a choice at this point? And her take-charge attitude wouldn’t let her stop now. She unhooked her water bottle and drank.

Dekker did the same.

“I will be. Tell me what’s next.” Her breathing regulated, and she clipped her bottle onto the backpack.

Water sounded somewhere nearby. “Wait, I hear rapids. Are we close to the river?”

“Yes, and a waterfall. The scenery is breathtaking but also dangerous. The landscape is about to shift into a single-file path next to cliffs. Stay behind me, okay?”

She nodded.

They continued on their trek to the cave, and as Dekker mentioned, they exited the forest onto a narrow path close to the cliff’s edge.

A stream of sunlight glistened in the waterfall ahead, creating a rainbow.

Blaire whistled. “You weren’t kidding. It’s breathtaking.” She fished out her cell phone. “I need a picture. Can we do a selfie?”

“Now you sound like a tourist. Don’t you know selfies in front of cliffs is a bad idea?”

Right. What was she thinking?

The wind ushered clouds into the region like an accelerated motion picture—quick and steady. They’d soon lose all sunlight. “Hurry, it’s clouding over. I’ll just take one of you with the waterfall in the background.”

He rolled his eyes. “Do you have to?”

“Yes.”

“We need to keep going. Those clouds don’t look good.” He posed, and she took the picture.

She turned back toward the direction they’d come from and snapped more before tucking her phone away. “Let’s go.”

“You sure you’re done, Miss Tourist?”

She loved his teasing attitude, even amidst his angst. Blaire guessed he was struggling to function with his father still out there somewhere, alone and in the hands of a serial killer. “Ready. Lead on. Let’s check out this cave before whatever is brewing in those clouds hammer us.”

More rough terrain, jagged rocks and a steep cliff later, Dekker pointed to a dark opening in the rock formation ahead. “There it is.”

They inched closer to the cave, but Dekker stopped. He unclipped both his bear spray and flashlight. “Stay here. I want to make sure we don’t disturb any bears. Please don’t wander far. Remember the cliffs.” He ducked and entered the cave.

Blaire braced herself against the cave’s wall and waited, swiping through the photos she’d taken. She stopped at one picture of the tree line. “What is that?” She enlarged it and pushed off from the wall.

A figure dressed in black loomed in the forest’s shadows.

Blaire drew in a sharp breath and studied the direction they’d come from, but whoever had been watching was gone.

Trepidation spiked the hairs on her arms.

Her radio squawked, and she flinched at the interruption.

“Teams…storm…moving…” Supervisor Nicols’s voice cut in and out. “…everyone…back…need…” The radio hissed before totally cutting out.

Blaire looked upward.

Eerie clouds fully blanketed the sky, threatening the region.

Anxiety rose, and she hit the button. “Come again.”

Only static crackled the airwaves moments before a bolt of fork lightning hit a nearby tree, splitting it in two.

Thunder exploded, echoing throughout the area. Rain fell in sheets and pummeled Blaire, instantly drenching her hair. No way would they get off the mountain any time soon.

She scooted into the cave to find shelter, praying any bears or shadowy figures were taking refuge elsewhere.