Best Dating Rules, Tamie Dearen [literature books to read txt] 📗

accepted the help and the antibiotic ointment with gratitude.

The next part of the trail wasn’t flat as promised, but it was broader and not nearly as steep as the previous parts. Comparatively, Emily guessed she could understand why Josh would call it flat.

At the edge of another drop, she looked behind her. “I’m surprised they haven’t caught up with us yet. We’ve been going pretty slowly, haven’t we?”

Josh considered her question. “Who is they? If it’s a large group and there are girls in the group, they may be slower than we were. No offense, but girls do tend to slow things down, especially when they’re carrying packs.”

“I’m really not sure what the group is like. I only know two people that were going. There’s at least one girl—probably more.” Her mind wandered. What would happen when Spencer caught up with her. She glanced at her filthy hands and clothes. She must look awful. Maybe she could wash her face and freshen up a little before she saw him. What if he refused to talk to her?

“Are you sure they’re camping at the main campground?” asked Brad. “They might go up the trail a bit to a more remote part. Sometimes the campground is crowded.”

“Crowded? That many people come up this horrible trail to go camping?”

Brad shook his head, chuckling. “No. But you can access the campground without doing the whole hike.”

“Now you tell me,” grumbled Emily, as she scrambled downward, leaving her skin on the rocks.*****

Despite their best efforts to hurry, it was twelve o’clock before Gherring and Spencer parked the car at the trailhead. Quickly shouldering their packs, they started out at a slow trot.

“Don’t take any chances,” warned Gherring. “We can run when the trail is flat, but not on the climbs and not when we hit the loose rocks. We can’t afford for either of us to be injured.”

“Agreed.” Spencer led the way with Gherring close on his heels.

They made steady progress, speeding along the broad, smooth areas, and making quick work of the climbs. In three hours, they were approaching the area Spencer expected the group to camp.

“We’re almost there, I think,” said Spencer, breathing heavily. “If she left early this morning, she’s probably already with the group. My biggest worry is actually Becca.”

“Becca? The Becca that went hiking with us?”

“Yes. She’s turned out to be sort of a... a witch.”

“A witch? Is that the word you really mean?”

“No sir. It’s not the word I really mean.”

“What did she do?”

“I can’t prove it, but now I think she’s the one who took your picture and sent it to the tabloid. And she took a picture of Emily cozied up to that Denning guy and texted it to me. And she and I had words this morning before the hike. She’s the reason I didn’t go. I... I think she hates Emily.”

Gherring’s eyebrows furrowed. “Hates her? Why? What did Emily do to her?”

Spencer felt his face heat up. “Becca’s jealous of her. She knows I like Emily.”

“Ah. Got it. Hell hath no fury and all that.”

“Right.”

“Well, hopefully we’ll get there in time to save Emily from the... uhmm... witch.”

“We should. I’ve never made a pace like this on a hike before. I’ve sweated all the way through my backpack.” Spencer picked up the pace as he spotted the camping area, praying the group had chosen to stop here rather than continue to the next area. Relieved, he spotted a familiar face.

“Landon! Hey!” He ran to his friend, frantically scanning the group looking for Emily’s face.

“Spencer? Hey, man. What’re you doing here? I thought you weren’t coming?”

“I came for Emily.” He doubled over, panting for breath. “Oh, man. I’m so tired. Have you seen her?”

“Who?”

“You don’t know her, I guess. But she was planning to meet me here, meet us here. Tall, pretty, brunette, with a long braid?”

“Uhmm, no I haven’t seen her. But we only got here ten minutes ago. Why don’t you ask around?”

Spencer’s heart turned over. Gherring was already making the rounds, calling her name. Where could she be?

“Spencer?” He suppressed a shudder as he pivoted. “You came!” Becca smiled as she threw her arms around him. “I’m sorry I made you mad.”

“Becca, do you know where Emily is?” He peeled her arms away.

“I have no idea where she is. That’s the truth.”

“She left a note saying she was going on the hike. But now I think about it, she didn’t know where the hike was going to be. Did you tell her?”

“I didn’t know she was going on the hike. I promise.” She jutted out her chin, and her lower lip quivered. “Why don’t you ever believe me?”

“Never mind.” He left her to join Gherring in his search.

“No one seems to have seen her. Maybe I should call and see if the girls have heard from her. Maybe she went back home.” Gherring dropped to a rock, rifling though his backpack.

“Spencer?” A petite blond girl walked over to join them. “Are you looking for a girl named Emily?”

“Yes! Have you seen her?”

“No, but... Becca was so mad after you left this morning,” She glanced over her shoulder at Becca and bit her lip. “She was ranting about a girl named Emily, and she said something about the Devil’s Path. I mean, I don’t know for sure. But maybe she went there instead.”

Spencer’s rage was building inside him—he could feel the blood pulsing in his head. He turned toward Becca, but Gherring stood, putting a hand on his shoulder. “No. Let me talk to her. Less emotion.”

Spencer followed as Gherring marched to confront Becca. He towered over her, his eyes harsh, his eyebrows furrowed, the muscles in his jaw bulging. “Becca. I’m going to ask you some questions. And you will tell me the truth. Where is my daughter? Did you send her to a different hike?”

She swallowed convulsively, and her pleading gaze darted toward Spencer. But he crossed his arms and glared back without sympathy.

“I... She said she wasn’t going on the hike.