Free Wild Horses by D'Ann Lindun Page B

last second. They splashed out of the water and wrapped towels around their shoulders. Even from a fair distance, Jake could tell they looked frightened. He didn’t blame them. If he saw himself coming over a hill, he’d probably run away screaming like a madman. He held out his hands to show them he wasn’t holding a weapon and scrambled down the hill. Both women were blonde. One tall and skinny with a bellybutton ring, the other short with legs that were almost, but not quite, fat. Both had deep tans. Neither had a friendly look in her eyes.
    “Hi, girls.” He tried to look unimposing. “I seem to be lost.”
    The taller girl didn’t relax her posture even a fraction. “What happened?”
    He smiled sheepishly. “I got separated from my friend last night and have been trying to find my way back to him ever since.” Not the whole truth, but enough to make him sound honest. “Do you know where Dead Horse Canyon is?”
    Both shook their heads, shooting a look between them.
    He didn’t believe them.
    “Man, that water looks good.” He knelt at the water’s edge and leaned toward it.
    “What are you doing?” Bellybutton ring asked.
    “Drinking.” He could almost taste the icy drink now.
    “Don’t.” The tone of her voice made him look up. “It’s not safe. We’ll give you a bottled water instead.”
    He nodded, and then splashed his face. The icy temperature stole his breath and revived him a little. “Oh, that’s cold. Brrrr.” He took off his shoes and socks and waded into the stream. His aching feet almost cried with relief.
    Refreshed, he stepped out on the bank and sat by his discarded boots and socks.
    Bellybutton ring said, “We didn’t catch your name.”
    “Jake Brown.” He pulled on a sock. “And yours?”
    The fat-legged girl giggled. “Lacey.”
    “Heather.”
    “Can you help me get my bearings?”
    “We have a map back at the tent you could look at,” Lacey said.
    Jake pretended not to see Heather elbow her shorter friend. “That’d help,” he said.
    “Come on then,” Heather said without warmth in her voice or manner. She led the way up the incline, Lacey right behind her and Jake tagging along. Heather glared at him over her shoulder. “You can look at the map, but then you need to leave.”
    “No problem.” He didn’t blame her for wanting him gone. He was a stranger who’d appeared out of nowhere. For all they knew he could be a serial killer.
    At camp, Heather indicated he should sit on a pile of blankets and sleeping bags outside the tent. With a grateful sigh, he did as she asked. His eyes fluttered shut. It would be so easy to just lie here for a while. Both women disappeared into the tent. In a minute, Heather returned with a bottle of water and a granola bar. “Don’t fall asleep on me. You need to get moving.”
    He forced his eyes open and eagerly drank from the bottle, then unwrapped the snack and downed it in about two bites. He could’ve eaten a whole box of them.
    Lacey brought out a map and another granola bar and handed him the food. “Eat this so you have enough energy to keep hiking.” She sat next to him and spread out the map. Pointing, she said, “We’re here. We parked at Stoney Wash rest area and hiked up the trail then took the right fork. It was about ten miles.”
    “Where’s Dead Horse Canyon from here?”Heather found it on the map with little effort. “This line shows that Stoney Creek Trail edges the rim of Dead Horse for a ways, then either turns off into the forest or dives down into the canyon. The trail makes a big loop and we’re on the west side of the circle. Right here.” She tapped the map. “See?”
    Jake looked where she indicated. Somehow, instead of turning back toward the cabin, he’d gone the opposite direction. He had to backtrack about two miles, turn left instead of right, and he’d be back on the trail where he’d lost Rojo. The cabin was about seven or eight miles back to the east. “Thanks.” He