CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE Blake

P lastic from a package of beef jerky was the only remnant that I had ever set up camp near the fire tower. Dirk and I stood quietly as we both looked around my former campsite.

"Not a damn thing," Dirk said. "It's as if you were never here."

In another hour I imagined we'd both be saying the same thing about my visit. "I at least thought my amazing sleeping bag would have survived," I joked. "My car keys were in the backpack," I added.

"Oh shit," Dirk said.

"I've lost a key before and that's why I have a spare inside a magnetic box stuck in the wheel well of the Subaru," I said, not exactly enthusiastic about having a means to leave.

"Well, that's good," he mumbled.

"Yes, I suppose it is."

I turned and headed back to the trail that started at the tower. It was a typical gray day in the Cascades and I was happy the rain had stopped. After fifty to sixty-degree overnight temps and a steady downpour of warm rain for the last eighteen hours or so, most of the late-season snow was gone.

"I can walk with you if you'd like," Dirk said. "I've got nothing going on and I could use the exercise," he added.

"If you're sure," I answered.

The morning had been a bit awkward with neither of us saying much after a night of cuddling and clinging to one another. I hadn't slept well in months and I figured I finally had due to the feeling of safety Dirk provided me while in his strong arms. We smiled sheepishly when our eyes opened and we remembered what we had shared. No words were exchanged about the evening or what our actions meant. Like my visit, the connection would be a fleeting memory soon enough.

We shared the trail in silence as each step took us closer to a goodbye that I didn't really want to exchange. Dirk had saved my life when he found me. The truth was he didn't even know he'd probably saved me twice. He woke me from a nightmare time and reminded me that my careless behavior could cost me new opportunities and that I had plenty of life ahead of me.

"I hope your friends don't see you in that Cougars sweatshirt," he teased. "For a Husky alumni, you'd be toast." He'd attended Washington State University in eastern Washington, and I was a University of Washington graduate. "Never shall the two mingle where friends are concerned," he added.

"I don't have many friends left," I divulged. "I guess I haven't been a very good one myself the past year."

"You'll figure things out, Blake," he encouraged.

I stopped mid trail and stared at him. "You say the nicest stuff," I said. "How'd you become such a good person?"

He waved at me dismissively. "Ask yourself the same question," he said, diverting his eyes and looking into the untouched growth of the forest. We both listened to the quiet sounds of our surroundings before he spoke again. "I was wrong about you, Blake," he began. "And I'm sorry I prejudged you."

"Me too," I acknowledged. "I'm afraid it's human nature to do so."

We continued through the woods, winding down and around enormous cedar trees as we made our way to the graveled road and my car. I wouldn't voice my feelings to a stranger because my personality and reluctance at being judged was too strong, but I had come close to spilling my guts about how I felt about him the night before. Instead, I would return home haunted by this interaction and would fondly think about Dirk and our brief encounter for the rest of my life.

"There it is," he said as we made the clearing. His truck and my car were parked twenty feet below the hill we stood on. We stopped walking and gazed toward them both. "Neither worse for the wear with the snow and all," he added.

"Nope," I agreed. "None the worse." My heart was about to be worse but that couldn't be helped. I wasn't the type who took care of love. Never had much success at it and my last attempt had died so the future seemed bleak.

"Let's get down there and make sure you have a key."

We jogged down the incline and stopped at the front bumper. "Hope she starts," I lied. "Alice is old so you never know."

He laughed. "Alice?" he asked. "Gotta be a story there."

"Not really. She's just an old tired car. Made me think she'd be named Alice," I stated. I bent down and reached under the wheel well and found the magnetized box that held the spare key. I held the key aloft. "Got it."

We locked eyes and he smiled. I wondered what he was thinking as I unlocked the car and opened the door. "Check to see if it starts," he suggested, moving toward the open door as I slid into the seat. Alice fired up with zero problem. Bitch!

I remained inside and he came around the open door and extended his hand. "I'm glad I met you, Blake. Say nice stuff about me to your dad, will ya?"

"I'm sure he's already aware what a stand-up guy you are," I said. "I mean, you saved his only son's life."

We finally let go of each other's hands. "I guess I did."

I pulled my foot into the car and rolled the window down while he slowly closed my door. "See ya," I said.

Dirk tapped the roof of my car and then stepped back. "See ya."

I looked in the rearview mirror as I made my way down the narrow Forest Service road. He raised his hand once and waved as I disappeared.

"See ya," I whispered.