Page 46 of Riverbend Gap (Riverbend 1)

“Doing what?”

“Twitching your lips every time someone calls me that.”

She gave a helpless shrug.

The group finished their supper and made pleasant conversation. Then they washed the dishes and readied for the night.

Kate checked Topknot’s wrist, which had been giving her a little trouble. She wrapped it with an Ace bandage, diagnosing a minor sprain, and suggested the girl get it checked out once they reached Riverbend.

On the trail, sleeping schedules went by sunrise and sunset. The Cooks hung their food bags on the mouse lines, then arranged their sleeping bags, leaving space at the end for Kate and Cooper.

Cooper set his bag along the wall, hoping to spare her from the mice that tended to scamper along the perimeter. This put her beside Mama Goodstuff, whom Kate had hit it off with. The two kids were next on the platform, and Daddy Bear bookended the bunch.

When it grew dark the Cooks doused themselves liberally with insect repellent, visited the privy one more time, and bedded down.

Cooper and Kate sat at the picnic table awhile. The glow of the campfire flickered on her pretty face as they talked about everything from religion to politics to all the places they wanted to visit someday.

But as time wore on and as much as he was enjoying their conversation, he could see the day had taken its toll. Her eyes grewheavy and her chin rested on her fist. Tomorrow would be difficult for her, and she needed her rest.

“You about ready for bed?” he asked.

“I’m bushed.”

They quietly made their way up the platform and to their sleeping bags. Kate squirmed into hers, but Cooper left his open, enjoying the coolness of the evening.

“Good night,” he said, once they’d settled.

“Night.”

Nocturnal sounds were loud. Cicadas buzzed, a cricket chirped nearby, and somewhere in the distance a lonely owl hooted.

“Cooper?” Kate whispered a few minutes later.

“Yeah?”

“Thanks again for coming with me.”

Warmth flooded through him at her heartfelt tone. “You’re welcome.”

Sometime later Cooper turned onto his back, trying to be quiet to avoid waking the others. He wasn’t used to going to bed at nine thirty, but apparently the Cook family was.

Though Kate had tossed and turned a bit, there hadn’t been so much as a rustle down the row for the last half hour. The smell of burning wood hung in the air and the oscillating call of insects filled the forest. The moon had risen above the treetops and glowed white beyond the shelter’s opening.

It had cooled considerably, but he still had no use for his sleeping bag. Kate, on the other hand, was snuggled up in hers.

She rolled over, facing him. A quiet sigh escaped.

“Doing okay, Skittles?” he whispered quietly enough not to wake her if she was asleep.

“Just thinking about tomorrow.”

The moonlight kissed her face with a faint glow. “How are you feeling about it?”

When a long pause followed he said, “We don’t have to talk about it. You’re exhausted.”

“I don’t mind. I can’t sleep anyway. Mostly I’m looking forward to laying him to rest where he wanted to be. I’ve been thinking about this a long time.”

“Closure?”