Page 83 of Second Chance Savior

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Charlotte

We spentthe next hour packing for the journey.

River’s cabin truly was well-appointed. He had everything he needed at his fingertips. After a quick shower, he tugged on a pair of dark green tactical pants and a stretchy tee that hugged his muscles. Then tied the laces on his pair of dusty, well-worn hiking boots. Meanwhile, I was still picking through the clothes Hodge had so generously given me. Unfortunately, he hadn’t been planning for a camping trip.

I settled for a pair of jean shorts and a T-shirt. I paired those with my combat boots. My boots were more fashionable than tactical, but they were better for hiking than the slip-ons I’d gotten from Hodge’s sister. Not ideal, but it would have to do.

We ate a quick lunch. River loaded up the 4Runner with hiking backpacks. I grabbed a couple of days’ worth of MREs from his supplies. While I tossed those into my pack, I saw River laying out his weapons. The same handgun he’d used at the fundraiser, which he’d cleaned after we arrived. Plus a rifle. Knives. Ammo. A lot of ammo.

The last time I had gone camping, which had admittedlybeen years ago, I hadn’t brought an arsenal with me. But I also hadn’t been traveling with River Kwon.

“How much weaponry do you need?” I asked. “Jud might be armed, but he’s not exactly Rambo.”

He opened the chamber to his handgun. “I’m not going anywhere without the ability to protect you to the fullest extent. I’d prefer to bring more, but I don’t have much combat gear. We’re better equipped at Last Refuge.”

“Got a bow and arrow in your supplies? If we’re going in armed, that’s my weapon of choice.”

Now he looked up and smiled. “Sadly no. It’s possible we won’t be needing any of this.”

“Right. Contingencies. But is this really about protecting me? Or is this your prep work for murdering my ex-boyfriend?”

River just laughed.

And I was kidding.Mostly.

A few minutes later, he declared us ready to go. Then we were driving along the dirt road, heading toward Silver Mountain.

As I had expected, we planned to drive most of the distance using forest access roads. The police were searching for us so we still had to stay out of sight, but we didn’t expect that we’d run into any traffic going this way. This was wilderness. Uninhabited for miles around.

Before long, the path climbed. By distance, it wasn’t far. But the unpaved road was pitted with potholes, rarely maintained, and we bounced in our seats as River drove onward. Around curves and through dense forest.

I tapped my fingers on the passenger-side door. River held out his hand, and I grabbed it, squeezing as I held on tight.

It was late afternoon when we pulled off the road and unloaded our packs from the trunk. Then covered the 4Runner with branches just in case anyone wandered by. We still had about ten miles to hike, around Silver Mountain and down the other side to my parents’ place. We’d find a spot to camp for the night somewhere along the way.

River checked over his gear, then tightened the straps on his pack. “We’ll be hiking through woods and up steep slopes. No trails. You’re up for that, right?”

“I wouldn’t have insisted on coming if I wasn’t.”

He winked. “Just checking, Charlie-baby.”

“River,” I grumbled. “Can you not? I’m tense enough as it is.”

“This was your idea.”

“Yes, thank you for reminding me.” I was one hundred percent committed to this mission. But itwasa risk. I hadn’t forgotten that for a moment. If we found Jud and got some answers, it would be worth it. “Can we get moving?”

“Jeez, slavedriver.”

I felt stiff the first few miles. My underused muscles protested. Working out in my gym back home didn’t compare to being out in the wild, climbing over real obstacles and forging a path through the forest. Much less while wearing a heavy pack.

And of course, River wasn’t even breathing hard.

But eventually, my tension dissipated. I couldn’t help it. Being outside like this, miles away from any civilization, reminded me of so many happy memories from growing up.

“You introduced yourself as Charlie when we were talking to Trace,” River said suddenly.

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