Page 15 of Married in Misty Mountain

Marrying someone from the same cult that I came from is unthinkable. How do I know he doesn’t still hold onto the same patriarchal belief system? He was shunned, after all. He didn’tleave because he was standing for something. I don’t know his inner thoughts.

And he never came back to try to rescue any of us.

But that’s not entirely fair, is it? It would have been dangerous for him to return. Hurley was shunned because he was just too likable and popular. All the girls had crushes on Hurley in school.

Not me, of course. No one who calls me a giraffe on roller skates is the least bit attractive.

And evidently he still enjoys poking fun of me. Not in the same childish way as when we were kids, but still. He’s insufferable. Exasperating. Bossy. And thinks he knows what’s best for me.

Something in the back of my mind nags at me.

That still, small voice says it plainly: he’s not like them. He’s bossy because he cares. He’s the only one who understands, and he’s willing to go to an outrageous length to keep you safe.

At this point, it seems that I’ve refuted all my own arguments against Hurley’s proposal.

But no. My first instinct has to be the correct one. I can’t marry someone I don’t even like. Even if it’s life or death.

I can run away again.

But how long and how far can you keep running, Shenna Blake?

Chapter Six

Hurley

“Okay, I’ll do it.”

We’re halfway down the mountain when Shenna makes her proclamation.

Lisa and Dave are ahead of us, pausing at Whispering Falls to take selfies.

“You’ll do what?” I ask, sure that she’s not talking about what I hope she’s talking about.

“Marry you, dummy!”

I stop and turn around to study her. I gotta make sure she’s not joking. The sun is hitting her annoyed face in a way that lights up her eyes, and I finally notice she’s taken out those god-awful colored contacts. Her cheeks are flushed from the fresh air and the effort of the hike.

I knew it.

I knew it this morning when she let me change the bandages on her blisters and didn’t argue when I applied blister pads and moleskin. She seemed … softer this morning.

“You took out your contacts,” I say.

Shenna squints at me. “No doy. And I got rid of the lashes, okay? It’s the best I can do.”

“You look good.”

I turn and keep heading down the trail.

She scoffs. “Aren’t you going to say anything?”

“About what?” I keep my eyes on the hikers ahead of us so she can’t see me smile. Because it’s a huge, dumb, dufus-y smile, for some reason.

“Me accepting your proposal!”

“I’ve got clients up ahead who haven’t been instructed on waterfall safety. I need to catch up before they accidentally discover the dangers of slippery algae and currents. We can jump up and down and squeal about it later, okay?”

“My word, you’re an ass,” Shenna replies. I can’t see it, but I can hear the smile she’s hiding, too.

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