Page 111 of Tangled up in You

Mark secured the mules and walked over, kneeling in front of her.

With his pack on.

Moving like it weighed nothing and it looked even bigger than hers.

“You doing okay?”

She hated the concern in his tone. “I’ll live.”

“There’s no shame in taking breaks,” Christopher added.

“The good news,” Mark said, “is we’re making excellent progress. If we maintain this pace we might make the first site even earlier than I estimated. So we can slow down.”

She shook her head. “No, let’s keep moving.”

She wasn’t even able to enjoy the landscape because she was increasingly finding herself focusing on the ground in front ofher, of carefully picking where she put her feet out of fear of stumbling or turning an ankle.

I am in so much trouble.

Her dad might get his wish for her to take a long vacation, because she might need a couple of weeks in a hotel room to recover from this. The thought of getting in a car and driving to Spokane right now nearly drove her to tears.

I can do this.

“Want me to fill your water bottle for you?” Chris asked her.

She nodded. “Thank you.” At least she’d purchased the right water filter.

He and Mark headed just off the trail to a small spring.

I am soooo out of my league.

She could have asked anyone on her engineering team do this, but her plan all along was to do it herself, to prove to the world at large that she was capable. It was her design, her programming.

Her reputation in a field where douchey tech bros were all too common.

Christopher brought her water bottle to her. “Thank you,” she said, taking it.

Christopher smiled, sitting next to her. She realized he still wore his pack, too. “You’re welcome.”

Mark was a few yards away and checking the mules’ harnesses. She dropped her voice. “Is he aggravated at me yet?”

“No! You’re doing fine.”

“You’re a horrible liar, Christopher.”

He smiled. “So I’ve been told.” His smile faded. “Seriously, ask to take breaks if you need them.”

“I’m sure I’ll sleep well tonight,” she said. “Tomorrow I’ll do a lot better. I should be acclimated to the altitude by then.”

He nodded. “Just remember there’s no shame in resting.”

CHRISTOPHER

While they were refilling the water bottles, Mark dropped his voice. “Honest opinion?” he asked, tipping his head to indicate Jesse.

“She’s determined and stubborn, that’s for sure.”

“Do you think she’ll make it the whole way?”

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