Page 21 of The Journey of a Lifetime (Tiny Homes and Happy Tails #2)

M aggie pushed herself up on her elbows and yawned. Walker had moved several times during the night and was currently positioned with his head draped over her legs.

She had a restless night of sleep and was in desperate need for coffee.

She eased Walker’s head off her body and crawled to the tent opening. Unzipping the opening, she clamored out.

Early morning light, purple and blue, filtered through the trees. In a few more minutes the sun would be rising.

Maggie looked longingly at the van. She desperately wanted a cup of coffee but didn’t want to wake up Cindy.

She heard a rustle in the tent and spotted Walker poking his furry head out of the opening.

“Want to go for a walk?”

Walker climbed out of the tent, sat and gave a toothy grin.

Maggie grabbed his leash and snapped it to his collar.

They made their way toward the nearby trail. Walker happily took the lead as he sniffed all the smells of the forest.

A squirrel stopped in the middle of the trail and looked at Walker. The furry animal lifted his back leg and scratched his ear.

Walker stopped and his ears perked up. Maggie tightened her hold on the leash. But Walker didn’t move.

Walker lifted his nose in the air and inhaled.

It occurred to her that Walker couldn’t see the squirrel ten feet ahead of them. But he could hear and smell the animal.

Her heart tugged for him.

“You smell him, don’t you, Walker?” she said softly.

Walker sniffed the air.

A twig snapped in the woods and Maggie turned her attention to the sound.

A small deer lifted his head in her direction.

Walker must have sensed him too because he turned his head toward the sound, the squirrel quickly forgotten. The deer looked almost magical against the soft dawn filtering through the woods.

Walker took a step, and the deer bolted back into the safety of the thick woods.

She looked down at Walker and rubbed his head. “Let’s head back and get some coffee. Hopefully Cindy is up. If not, we’ll have to be quiet.”

She led Walker back to the campsite. An early morning camper was milling about their camp drinking coffee and checking on their hookup. Kids were playing games on their phones and taking random pictures of the campsite and local wildlife.

Maggie reached the van and tied Walker’s leash to the picnic table. She carefully opened the van door and peered inside.

Cindy was still asleep, bundled in the sheets.

Maggie quietly grabbed the coffee pot, coffee, mug, and a large bottle of water and took everything outside. She grabbed an extension cord and hooked it up to the small outlet near the van door. She hooked the coffee pot to the extension and quietly shut the van door.

While the coffee brewed, she sat at the picnic table.

Her phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket.

Glancing at the message, her heart rate thudded in her chest.

We need to talk. Mason

She left him on read and started to shove her phone back in her jeans pocket but it buzzed again.

Maggie, where are you? You start work this week. ~Mom

She snorted and put her phone away. “So, it took you three days to figure out your daughter was not at home. That is very telling.”

Cindy poked her head out of the van. “Is that coffee I smell?”

Maggie smiled. “Almost ready. Grab another cup from the cabinet.”

A few seconds later, Cindy appeared in the same clothes she’d worn yesterday with a brown mug in her hand.

“How did you sleep?” Maggie stood and poured them both a cup of hot coffee.

Cindy gave her a sleepy smile. “Best night’s sleep I’ve had in a while.” She took a sip of her coffee and sighed. “How was it sleeping in the tent last night?”

Maggie arched her brow. “It wasn’t too bad. I didn’t get cold. Walker snuggled next to me all night.”

Cindy gave the dog a rub between the ears. “I’m kind of excited to sleep in the tent tonight. I haven’t slept alone in a tent. I always had … Tony.” She glanced away.

Walker let out a whine breaking the tension of the moment.

Maggie stood. “He’s ready for his breakfast. Be right back.” She disappeared into the van and reappeared with a bowl of food and a bowl of water.

“Here ya go, Walker.” She set the bowls down in front of him. “There’s a campground shower that doesn’t seem to be busy right now. Why don’t you go get a shower first and then you can watch Walker while I go.”

Cindy studied the ground. “I don’t have any clean clothes.”

Maggie shrugged. “I’ve got some clothes you can wear. I’d say we are the same size.”

Cindy looked up at her, eyes wide. “You’d let me borrow your clothes?”

Maggie walked over to the van. “Of course. Let me see what I’ve got.” She climbed inside and quickly found some gym shorts and T-shirt. She poked her head out of the van. “I picked out shorts since it looks like it’s going to be hot today. Is that okay?” She held up the clothing.

Cindy stood. “That’s great. I’ll make sure to get them clean before I give them back.” She took the offered clothes.

“Wait. Here’s my shower bag.” She held out a mesh bag with shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, and her toothpaste. “I don’t have an extra toothbrush but I can run to the campground store and pick one up.”

Cindy shifted her weight. “I don’t want to be a bother.”

Maggie grabbed Walker’s leash. She started walking toward the store before Cindy could argue. “No bother. I’ll get a shower after you are done.” Maggie strolled toward the store.

Walker stopped to sniff a couple thatches of grass and peed on a tree. Once they got to the store, she hesitated, unsure they would allow dogs inside.

A woman walked out the door with a large Great Dane in tow.

Maggie chuckled. “I guess that answers my question.” They walked inside. A cold blast of air skittered across her skin. She headed down the short aisle and quickly found the toothbrushes before heading back to the front.

“What a beautiful dog,” the cashier gushed. She was an older woman with salt and pepper colored hair. “What’s his name?”

Maggie handed her a ten-dollar bill and looked down. “His name is Walker.”

The cashier handed her change. “I bet he’s a good boy. Are you traveling with family?”

Maggie hesitated. “Nope, just me and Walker.”

The cashier nodded. “It’s good you have a dog with you. I bet he gives you peace of mind and protection.”

Maggie laughed. “And lots of cuddles.”

The cashier grew solemn. “Just be careful. There are so many young women that go missing every day. Just look at our bulletin board. We print out Facebook posts about missing young girls in hopes one of our travelers spots them.”

Maggie glanced over at the bulletin board by the door. “That’s a great idea.”

The cashier gave her a warm smile. “Be sure to check it out on your way out.” She glanced at Walker. “Do you mind if I give him a treat? We keep them behind the desk for extra special doggos.”

Maggie nodded. “Of course. He would love one.”

The cashier reached below the desk and retrieved a small dog bone-shaped treat. Walker gently took the offered treat out of her hand and headed for the door.

Maggie stopped short of the door and glanced at the bulletin board. A lot of the missing women looked underage. Her heart sank when she thought about these girls who had found themselves in danger. She took a step and stopped when she spotted a picture of a young blonde woman.

She glanced back. The cashier had left her position behind the register and was restocking the cooler with waters.

Quickly Maggie removed the post of the missing girl and folded it before putting it in her pocket. She quickly headed back to her van. Cindy wasn’t back from showering.

She loaded Walker into the van and closed the door. Sitting on the unmade bed, she unfolded the piece of paper.

It was a Facebook post about a woman who had gone missing while camping. Her boyfriend had posted it under a camping page. She pulled out her laptop and looked up the boyfriend on Facebook.

A shiver ran down her spine as she recognized the man. It was Tony, and he was looking for Cindy.

God only knew what he would do once he found her.

The door of the van flew open, and Maggie jumped. Cindy’s hair was up in a towel, and she had Maggie’s clean clothes on. “It’s your turn.”

Maggie folded up the paper and stuffed it in her jeans pocket. She jumped up and quickly grabbed some clothes. “Great, I won’t be long. Hey, do you mind staying in the van with Walker? I don’t think this heat is agreeing with him, and I want to keep an extra eye on him.” She lied.

Cindy’s smile faded. “Of course. Should we take him to the vet?”

Maggie shook her head. “No, I think he just needs to stay inside where it’s cool.” Grabbing her clothes and the shower caddy, she stepped out the door. “I’ll make this quick.” She shut the door behind her.