Page 5 of The Maverick of the Mountain
Jade shrugs. “Just make sure to head back at the first sign of a drizzle. Storms can pick up steam quickly. Might not make it to the wedding with a working camera if you do.”
She nods to Candy, and I can hear her begging me to stay in her case, where it’s nice and warm.Dry.
“A little rain won’t hurt her. She’s weather sealed.”
Mostly. I’m not sure if I want to test it before the wedding, so Jade has a point. But so does my tattoo…
She slides a piece of paper to me. “Well, here’s my number in case you get lost. Reception’s a little spotty, depending on where you go.”
I smile. I’ve only been in town an hour, and I’ve already made a friend. “Thanks. And I promise, I’ll be careful.”
Jade smiles, tucking that stray curl behind her ear again before pushing up from the table. “I expect to see some pictures when you get back.”
“Of course.”
I never thought I’d like living in a town like this, but I’m coming around to it, thanks to Marge and Jade. And I’m coming around to the idea that I can tackle this mountain, chipmunks and storms be damned.
With bear mace in one hand and a bear claw in the other, I don’t see how I could fail.
Chapter 2
Corinne
“OH SWEET JESUS, CANDY!”
Apparently, I went too far after taking a right at the rock formation that looks like George Washington’s nose, because I’ve stumbled across a roaming band of surly chipmunks. Marge’s map was spot on. If anything, Marge and Jade were underselling these vicious little woodland creatures’ tenacity and aggressiveness. These little suckers are mean, and I’m pretty sure one of them’s wearing an eyepatch. I didn’t get a good look at them as I strolled into what I can only describe as a trap.
A baby chipmunk was crying in the middle of the trail, and I was going to feed it some of my bear claw. But once I started rummaging through my pack, it shot to its feet, screeched a few times, and then a horde of chipmunks descended from the pines.
Which leads me back to my uncertain present situation—attempting to flee the angry horde.
CHCKCHCKCHCKSkkaaaareeeeee!The chipmunks sound like they’re out for blood.
I chuck my half-eaten bear claw over my shoulder, my arms and legs pumping faster than they ever pumped as I leap over logs, duck under branches, and pray to the mountain gods that someone saves me.
Unfortunately, the gods answer with a crash of thunder and a stitch in my side. If I make it out alive, I plan on upping my nonexistent cardio game. But the likelihood of leaving this mountain alive is slowly dwindling.
I chance a look and see the largest chipmunk raising the bear claw like some spoil of war. And he does have an eye patch—black fur slices through and circles one of his eyes as he stares me down.
I pause for a brief moment to catch my breath as he distributes the bear claw to the rest of his clan. They devour their pieces in seconds, turning their attention back to me.
Great.Justgreat. And to top it off, the rain is coming down hard. Jade was right, the storms move fast. But apparently, not as fast as these chipmunks.
“We’re not going to make it,” I huff to Candy in between breaths. She swings indifferently from my neck.
Chipmunks. Who’d have thought? Not bears. Not mountain lions, Bigfoot, or a misplaced step sending me careening down the mountain. Chipmunks will be the cause of my demise.
I blink away the rain stinging my eyes as I hear the chipmunk crew gaining on me, their chittering growing louder by the second.
Off in the distance, I see George Washington’s nose. I’m close. And—I have bear mace.It’s clipped to the side of my jeans. I unhook it as one of the little suckers leaps onto my leg. I shake it off, still running as I turn, aim, and blast a stream of hideous liquid behind me.
The chipmunks scatter, scampering up trees, all the while cursing me. The pirate chipmunk raises a tiny paw at me, and I let another spray rip in his direction. It sends him higher up the tree and me leaping into the air.
“Eat it, you little savages!”
If someone were to come across me right now… hoo boy. I know I look insane. I feel insane. But also accomplished in staving off a rather formidable foe.
I sigh, walking backwards slowly to make sure I’m not followed. Thankfully, I’m not. The chipmunks stay in their trees, and I head back to my car as the wind picks up and the rain slams against me.
