Chapter Eighteen
From the second that Aspen’s eyes opened, lazy and heavy in the midmorning glow, she could feel her soul yearning.
Usually when Aspen woke up after a night of sex with a woman, she was satisfied.
Light, centered, emotionally ready to return to her regular activities.
But in this instance, all she wanted was for this moment to never end. To have more of Mo.
Aspen assessed herself. She was naked, overly warm, and slightly slick from the humidity of the tent.
Even so, she was beyond comfortable in the gentle arms of a softly snoring Mo Reeves.
The same Mo who spent most of the night giving her unfathomably good orgasms. That would have been good enough for Aspen a few weeks ago, but Mo had stepped it up by also making her feel like she was the most important person in the whole world.
It was an experience that Aspen hadn’t even considered possible, seeing as all her intimate moments always naturally came to their logical end.
An exchange. A transaction. Nothing more, nothing less.
“Morning, gorgeous.”
Mo’s words had a bittersweet ring to them. Aspen moved only as much as needed to look into Mo’s hazel eyes, delighted to see affection reflected back at her. “It’s hot.”
Mo shuffled a bit, looking toward the tent flap before asking, “Want to go outside?”
“No.” Aspen giggled, shifting closer into Mo’s arms. “Too comfy.”
Aspen felt Mo’s gentle chuckle at her indecisiveness before she pulled her in even closer.
Aspen rewarded the action with a contented sigh, reveling in the wonderful feeling of warm skin on skin.
She never wanted it to end. But even as that urge sat front and center in her mind, another thought pulled itself forward, pushing all her feelings to the side.
“I think today is the day,” Aspen announced, giving perspective to the thought.
“Huh?” Mo mumbled into her hair.
“Today is the day you talk to Annie.”
“Is it?” Mo pulled back a tad, rolling their bodies so she could get a good view of Aspen’s face.
“I feel it.” Aspen smiled softly up at her, watching as Mo searched her eyes. “Somewhere close by is Annie’s perfect tree, and I am going to find it.”
The left corner of Mo’s mouth curled slightly, and Aspen resisted the urge to kiss it, instead lightly kissing the tip of Mo’s chin.
She pulled away from her, disappointment chilling her body as she shimmied out from underneath the sleeping bag.
With a quick movements, she threw on a shirt before she fumbled around in the tent, looking for her pants.
“I believe you,” Mo finally replied, and Aspen heard shuffling behind her, letting her know that she was following suit.
“Thank you,” was all Aspen could think to say as she pulled up her pants, not worried about finding her missing underwear. “Southwest egg scramble sound good? It’s one of my favorite dehydrated meals, but I only had one more when I packed for this trip. I’ve been saving it for phone day.”
“I can whip it up this time, if you want.”
Aspen swung around just in time to watch Mo grimace as she pulled her arm through her sleeve. “Oh, no you’re not. You still need to rest.”
Mo pouted. “In here?”
“No, you can sit out there with me, but you shouldn’t be doing anything but looking pretty.” Aspen pushed herself to her knees, the deep ache of the previous night’s fun radiating from her arms and thighs. “Which reminds me.”
“That you’re the pretty one?” Mo interjected playfully.
“No. I will need to call for reinforcements. There’s no way you’re hiking back out of here in your condition, so I’ll need to contact Betty.
” Aspen unzipped the tent door. “I looked at the map a little bit last night, and if I’m right, we’re pretty damn close to one of the access roads.
I’ll arrange for her to come and get us tomorrow morning.
I can hike both of our packs a few miles without issue, but I definitely don’t want to hike out the way we came in. ”
“Are you sure?”
“Totally. Won’t be difficult at all.” Aspen gave her best confident grin, hoping her eyes didn’t give her away, before grabbing her map and satellite phone. She then scrambled out of the tent and off toward the creek to make her call.
For some reason, instead of going straight into the woods, Aspen’s feet took her right to where Mo had almost drowned.
She stopped just inside the cool creek water and closed her eyes, feeling it trickle in through the holes in her Crocs.
She reveled in the coolness, allowing herself a few deep breaths before she opened her eyes again.
Aspen scanned the shimmery surface, unable to find the exact spot where Mo was struck.
Nature was funny that way, its violent change always blending in seamlessly afterward.
After a few moments, she cleared her throat before lifting up her phone, dialing Betty’s number.
“Aspen?” Betty’s concerned voice answered in under two rings.
“Hey, Betty.” Aspen tried to sound calm and in control. “We hit a bit of a snag—”
“A snag? Are you okay? Did she—”
“No, we are both okay. Well, actually, the windstorm from yesterday injured Mo’s shoulder.
” Aspen felt the guilt creep up again. “A large limb fell directly on her, and while I don’t believe her shoulder is broken, she’s injured enough that she can’t carry her pack.
I checked the map, and we’re very close to an access road that ends near the stream past Bridge Creek—”
“Coordinates,” Betty demanded gruffly, and Aspen heard papers being shuffled and a few clicks of a pen.
“According to my satellite phone we are at—”
“Actually, just give me the decimal degrees. I’ll look them up on my computer.”
“Got it. Uh…41.189597, -123.971968. That’s where we are currently, but where I want to meet is close by. It’s the access road that ends at the stream behind us and to the west,” Aspen said, hoping Betty would check on the computer.
“Ah, yes. There is Bridge Creek flowing southwest, then there is a smaller stream flowing south…” Betty trailed off, clicking her tongue as Aspen imagined her surveying the map. “Well, I’ll be damned. Access road drives almost right up to it.”
“Yeah, my map doesn’t name the stream or the road, but it would be the easiest way out.” Aspen hesitated. “If you are willing to come and get us, of course. Or you can send someone, I’m not picky.”
“Naw, I’ll do it. Let’s make the meeting time around one-ish. I’ll go to 44 Camp and get some stuff done in the morning,” Betty said.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Aspen almost squealed. “You’re my hero, Betty.”
“Naw, kid. You’re the smart one. Injuries happen. But rarely do the injured parties plan their own rescue. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Sounds good. Thanks again, Betty.”
“Don’t mention it,” Betty finished curtly before hanging up.
* * *
“Are you sure you can hike?”
“Aspen,” Mo warned. “My legs work just fine. Besides, you cooked breakfast, made me a makeshift sling out of one of your shirts, and packed our little day pack. I should be good.”
Aspen put her thumb between her teeth, anxiously biting at the cuticle as she considered Mo’s words. “You’re right. I’m sorry, I just—”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Mo reminded her, stepping a few feet closer. “Now, where were you thinking we should look?”
“Uh…I have it marked,” Aspen mumbled, kneeling down in front of the day pack.
She flipped open the top, pushing the blaze-orange phone to the side to grab her map.
Aspen unfolded it completely, then refolded it so their area of the trail was visible, and found her penciled star.
“Around the bend on the opposite shore is a little stream. If I remember correctly, there are plenty of big-leaf maples and coastal Douglas firs over there. They kind of hug the stream and are surrounded by redwoods, but they have a nice view of the river bend.”
Mo looked toward the bend for a few moments before asking, “Is it toward where I was hit?”
“Uh, yeah. Darn, I didn’t consider that. So, actually we don’t—”
“No. I want to.” Mo smiled confidently down at Aspen, offering her uninjured hand. “Let’s go.”
“All right. Yes, ma’am.” Aspen took it, letting Mo help her to her feet. She slid the map playfully under Mo’s slinged arm, then pulled the small bag onto her back, nodding toward the wading point. “Shall we wade?”
“Totally, but you are taking point this time.” Mo laughed, following Aspen to the edge of the water.
The levels were a tad lower today, but Aspen still rolled her shorts up, taking a quick glance up at the treetops before entering. She walked the same path as Mo had, turning to look back at her companion every so often to make sure she was okay.
“I’m good,” Mo announced, reading Aspen perfectly. “It’ll be good to finish it. Wouldn’t want the river to think I’m a wuss, ya know?”
“Oh, too late for that.” Aspen snickered. “Mother Nature almost had you. And just so you know, she never forgets.”
“Well, that’s comforting.”
“I can think of worse fates.”
“Mmm,” Mo replied absentmindedly.
“Fuck,” Aspen swore under her breath, understanding how Mo received her words. “I’m sorry, Mo.”
“Don’t be,” Mo replied, a lightness in her voice. “You are a lot of the reason this trip wasn’t that.”
Aspen slowed her pace, even as the dry bank was right in front of her.
A warm, fuzzy feeling welled up in her chest at Mo’s words, leaving her a tad speechless.
The sloshing sounds got louder as Mo came alongside her.
Aspen felt a warm hand slide up and down her left arm, and she looked over at Mo, tears welling behind her eyes. “I’m glad. I’m glad I could help.”
“Me too.” Mo smiled, her face filled with gratitude. “I’m gonna tell her.”
“Huh?” Aspen blinked a few tears away, picking back up her pace.
“Annie,” Mo said with certainty.
“Oh, well I’m sure she would be grateful that you didn’t…you know.” Aspen waved her hand around, turning to walk backward across the sandy bank and watch Mo exit the water.
“Kill myself?” Mo filled in, her voice deep.
“Yeah.”