Page 102 of Hero Mine

For one terrifying moment, she didn’t respond. Then her lips curved into a smile so bright it rivaled the afternoon sun.

“I love you too,” she said, soft but certain. “Have for a long time.”

Relief and joy crashed through him. He leaned across the console, one hand cupping her cheek as he kissed her softly. She tasted like sugar and cinnamon and everything right in his world.

A knock on the window broke them apart.

Mrs. Fuller stood outside, peering in with unabashed curiosity, her shopping bags clutched in one hand.

Joy burst out laughing while Bear rolled down the window, fighting a grimace.

“Afternoon, Mrs. Fuller,” he said.

“Bear Bollinger, I thought that was you.” Her gaze shifted between them, shrewd and knowing. “What are you two doing parked across from the diner? Your truck isn’t exactly inconspicuous.”

“We’re just…enjoying the view,” Joy offered, still struggling to contain her laughter.

“Mhm.” Mrs. Fuller clearly didn’t believe that for a second. “Well, don’t let me interrupt. Though you might want to find somewhere more private next time.”

She patted the doorframe once before continuing on her way, humming to herself.

“So much for our covert surveillance,” he muttered.

“Your reputation as a superspy is forever tarnished.” Her eyes danced with mirth.

Movement across the street caught Bear’s attention. “Okay, they’re coming out.”

Aaron, Kyle, and the other boy emerged from the diner carrying takeout bags. A few minutes later, three more teenagers joined them in the parking lot—Bear recognized them as classmates from the high school track team.

“Looks like they’ve got a crew,” Joy said.

The boys talked for a few minutes, gesturing animatedly, before piling into two vehicles. Aaron’s truck led the way, with a blue sedan following close behind.

Bear started his engine. “Let’s see where they’re headed.”

They followed at a distance as the teenagers drove toward the outskirts of town, eventually turning onto a narrow dirt road that bordered town property. The road wasn’t regularly maintained, forcing Bear to slow considerably to avoid bottoming out.

“Pretty remote,” Joy observed, bracing herself against the dashboard as they bumped over a particularly rough patch. “Good place for an obstacle course.”

The teens’ vehicles disappeared around a bend up ahead. Bear pulled over, tucking his truck behind a dense stand of pine trees.

“We’ll go on foot from here,” he said. “Less chance of them spotting us.”

They hiked through the woods, following the sound of distant voices. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the canopy of trees, dappling the ground with patches of gold. Bear moved with practiced quiet, his footsteps deliberately placed to avoid snapping twigs. Beside him, Joy matched his careful pace.

The voices grew louder. Bear signaled for Joy to slow down, approaching a small ridge that overlooked a clearing in the trees. They crouched behind a fallen log, peering over the edge.

“Whoa,” Joy whispered.

The scene below was impressive. Lincoln, no surprise, had been correct: an extensive obstacle course sprawled across the clearing, constructed entirely from the items stolen around town. Tires were stacked and secured to form scaling walls. Wooden pallets created makeshift bridges spanning between tree stumps. Metal pipes had been fashioned into monkey bars. Plastic barrels were positioned as hurdles. The stolen ladder was part of a complex climbing structure.

Six teenagers moved around the course, working in teams to add new elements. Aaron stood in the center, holding what appeared to be rough sketches, directing the others.

“Look.” Joy nudged Bear, pointing toward the diagrams in Aaron’s hands. “Those look a little like your designs from the Linear Tactical course last summer.”

She was right. The crude drawings mimicked the layout Bear had created for the youth camp. These kids had clearly been paying attention during the demonstration day.

“I’ll be damned,” Bear muttered. “They’ve put some real thought into this.”