Page 54 of Omega's Refuge

And that’s what I was going to do.

Chapter Nine

The camping spot Rex chose was one of his favorites. It was nestled in a small clearing surrounded by towering pines and aspen trees. The ground was a patchwork of soft grass and scattered pine needles, with flat rocks providing seating around what appeared to be a fire pit.

Jagged rock formations rose nearby, with patches of early snow stubbornly clinging to the stoney nooks and crannies. There was even a stream in the vicinity, winding through the trees, its gentle babble adding a soothing rhythm to the quiet wilderness around us. I could see why Rex liked the spot. It wasn’t just functional, it was breathtaking.

The first thing Rex did was build a fire. Then, while he set up the tent, I gathered kindling and bigger pieces of wood to keep the fire going.The crisp scent of pine mingled with the smell of woodsmoke from the fire, and the evening breeze carried the promise of a chilly night.

When my stomach growled, Rex glanced over, grinning. “Are you hungry?”

I laughed, patting my stomach. “A little. But my stomach is always noisy, even when I’m full.”

“You’re in for a treat. I’m making Mountain Scramble for dinner.”He straightened, eyeing his handiwork with the tent.

“What’s that?”

He ticked off the ingredients on his fingers. “It’s steak, sausage, and veggies grilled over an open campfire. There’s also a special ingredient, which I can’t share.”

“Mountain Scramble? You made that up, didn’t you?”

He twisted his lips. “No. It’s a recipe passed down for generations in my family.”

“I can’t shake the feeling you’re full of shit.” I grinned.

He chuckled. “I’m not, I swear. My mom used to take my younger brother, Jack, and me camping, and she’d always make us Mountain Scramble. She tweaked her grandmother’s original version, which had rabbit, and substituted steak instead.”

“Huh.” I studied him, taking in the teasing tilt of his mouth. “But you won’t tell me the secret ingredient?”

“Nope.” He shook his head. “I’m sworn to secrecy. Only Jack and I know what it is. Maybe one day I’ll pass it down to my offspring.”

“You take this recipe very seriously.”

“Yep.” His smile turned melancholy. “Those trips were a special time with my mom. She’d take us out into the desert, hoping to instill a love of the outdoors in us. It worked too. Both Jack and I love camping in the outdoors.”

“I didn’t know you had a brother. Are you close?”

“We are.” He poked at the fire. “I don’t see him as much as I’d like because he lives in Texas.”

I was happy he brought up his family because I knew very little about him. I was curious about his life, but hesitant to be too nosy. After all, our relationship was supposed to be casual and maybe he didn’t want to tell me too much about his family. But since he’d volunteered some personal stuff, I was more emboldened to ask more.

“Did your dad go on those trips too?” I asked.

He shook his head, hands on his hips. “No. Dad wasn’t interested in anything but making money. Spending time with his kids and his wife was the least priority in his life.”

“I’m sorry.” I frowned.

He shrugged. “It’s just who he was. Money and power were everything to him. He loved us, but he wasn’t great at showing that.”

“Are your parents still alive?”

He faced me, his expression grim. “Unfortunately, no. They both died last year, a few months apart from each other.”

“My condolences.”

“Thanks.” He sighed. “Anyway, you want to help me make dinner?” He moved to a small ice chest near the tent. “I’ll cook everything if you help me chop stuff up.”

“Deal.” I was sorry he’d changed the subject. I’d enjoyed learning about his family. But maybe it was painful talking about his parents since they were both gone.

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