Dory could not remember if she needed to turn right or left at the fork. She’d left in hurry and had not paid attention to landmarks as she had put distance between herself and the camper. Now alone in the dark she became fully aware how absurd that course of action had been. There were no road signs, only lot numbers that identified each separate camping parcel. For the last 45 minutes she had been going around in circles. She soon became tired of seeing the lot with the carved wooden sign that proclaimed it to be; ' Sue & Tina's Hide-away'. Dory shook her head when she had circled back to the same fork in the road for the fourth time. Vehicle lights bore down on her and momentarily blinded her. She shielded her eyes trying to look beyond the headlights. With a slight skidding of tires the Mule came to a stop about five feet away. Petey stepped out of the UV and into the light of the headlamp so that Dory could see her. "Are you OK," Petey's concerned voice called out. "Don't you people believe in road signs?" Dory snapped. "I've been walking around in circles forever!" "It is one of the hazards round here" Pete agreed warily. "The owners are working on that problem, but it will take awhile." "In the mean time I suppose that guests are to walk around in a state of panic and risk exposure until you fix the problem" Dory's voice dripped with sarcasm. “Well,… we always tell the guests to look over the map and to not go wandering off until they have the lay of the land." Petey reminded Dory. “And although it is a bit chilly, I don't think that you will be risking exposure tonight." "Well I am tired and I am cold and I want to be taken back to my camper. Immediately!" Dory ordered. “You can drop the attitude." Pete said as she climbed back into the Mule. “I’m not impressed." Dory opened her mouth to zing off another cutting remark and thought better of it in light of her circumstances. She stomped her way over to the Mule and climbed in the passenger seat. Pete reached back into the bed of the UV and brought out an old quilted flannel shirt and offered it silently to Dory. "It smells horrid!" Dory turned up her nose. "Fine. Be cold." Pete shrugged her shoulders and started to toss the jacket back into the cargo bed. "NO!” Dory grabbed the offensive garment and put it on while Pete shook her head and grinned. Petey gunned the Mule in gear and swung it around and sped down the dark road while Dory hung on to the grab bar with white knuckles. With a devilish grin the blond pushed the UV to its maximum speed. Dory closed her eyes tight until the vehicle finally came to a skidding stop in front of her camper. She climbed out of the UV and stripped off the borrowed jacket and threw it onto the passenger seat. It was then that the door of the camper opened up and Rachel stepped out, the light inside the camper lit up the area. Dory stomped past her and up into the trailer without saying a word. “I found her wandering in the dark" Petey explained to Rachel's inquiring look. "She's overly tired. It's been a long trip getting here..." Rachel started to explain. Petey waved her off. "No explanations needed." She said simply. The sound of slamming doors reverberated outside. Rachel looked at the camper in exasperation, unsure as to whether she needed to go in and soothe Dory down or just stay out of the path of the oncoming storm. Petey went over to the wood pile and gathered an armful of wood for the fire ring. Within minutes she had a small pyramid stacked in the center of the circle. A handful of dry leaves placed underneath the kindling and with a strike of a match, Petey had a small crackling fire that blazed bright against the night. Its warmth was welcomed against the chill of the darkness and it drew Rachel over like a magnet. She hugged her arms close against herself as she sat down heavily on a bench. Her body language spoke of exhaustion that was both physical and emotional. “Thanks for finding her," Rachel said. "And for the fire." "You're welcomed for both" Petey flashed a wry grin. “You’ll probably be hearing about the crazy ride though" Petey warned. “I couldn't help myself," the blond shrugged her shoulders in resignation. “She kinda pushed the wrong button." "She has a knack for that" Rachel smiled ruefully. “I apologize for anything that she said that was out of line." “You have nothing to apologize for." Petey said earnestly. "She's a grown woman and her choices are her choices" Petey said simply. Dory peeked out the window at the two by the campfire. Part of her wanted to march out there and cause a scene. The other part wanted Rachel to come in so that she could have it out with her. She wanted to make Rachel feel guilty for bringing her across the country to this place. Dory was itching for a fight and she wanted Rachel to feel as miserable as she felt at this moment. But Rachel was, sitting out there with that blond bitch. How could that be? Dory wondered to herself. Usually Rachel fell all over herself to placate any hint of discord between the two of them. It was very disconcerting to Dory to feel that she was not the center of Rachel's world. Petey strode over to the Mule and rummaged in the cargo box and pulled out a small package. She walked back to the fire and handed Rachel the small bundle. "They are fire starters," Petey explained to Rachel. "They come in very handy when the wood is damp and there is a lot of moisture in the air." She took the bench closer to Rachel and stretched out her long legs. "Thank you" Rachel graciously accepted the gift. "We can sure use all the helpful hints you have. We are literally babes in the woods here" she motioned with her hands to the trailer and camp. "I have one important piece of advice if you care to hear it" Petey offered. “Please," Rachel all but begged. Petey turned in the firelight and leaned closer to Rachel. Her blue eyes were intense. There was a hint of a smile within them and Rachel felt herself drawn closer to look within the depths of those intriguing eyes. “Whatever you are running from, this is a safe place to sort things out and put them in perspective," Petey advised knowingly. It was her earnestness that floored Rachel. She had not realized that she had been so transparent to this young woman. It was always Rachel who was so adept at reading people. It was part of her training, part of her job. To find herself so easily pegged by someone she had known for less than a day was a humble experience. For a moment she did not know how to respond. It was then that the wood shifted in the fire ring and captured the attention of both women. Petey got up and added more wood to the fire. The flames shot upward and sparks sprayed around the ring. Satisfied that the fire was fueled she looked down at her watch and realized that it was time for her to head back to her own camper. With a very impish grin she shirked her shoulders with resignation. “It’s getting late. Time for the flannel and leather to retire," she lamented. “I’ll stop by tomorrow with another load of wood for you. Make sure the fire is out before you go to sleep. There is a bucket with some water already in it for dousing the ring." Petey walked over to the UV, before climbing into the seat she turned back to Rachel. "How would like to see the river at dawn?" she asked. “Dory does not do mornings. But I would love to see it." Rachel accepted the invitation. “Good, see you in the morning." Pete started the Mule and backed it up. When the lights faded into the night the door to the trailer opened up and Dory stood there. Rachel turned back toward the fire and sat down, it definitely seemed more prudent to enjoy the small camp blaze than to face the impending firestorm with Dory. Click On The River To Continue To Chapter 8 ©Labinky Park 2008 Labinky Enterprises 2008 |
Chapter 7
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