Dangerous Minds (Knight and Moon #2)(34)

Wayan Bagus gave a small apologetic head bow. “It would not be appropriate for us to share a tent,” he said to Riley.

“I understand,” Riley said. She turned her attention to Emerson. “It seems my choice of a tent mate is limited. Do you sleep in the nude?”

Emerson hesitated. “Would you like me to?” he finally asked.

“No!”

“Anything else?”

“I don’t want to wake up and find Post-it notes stuck to me.”

“He does that to me too,” Vernon said. “He leaves me notes that say there’s a zebra in the house or we’re all out of orange marmalade. When I wake up, first thing I do is check my forehead for a sticky note.”

By the time Riley and Vernon had the tents set up, Emerson had a decent-sized fire started and enough dry wood gathered to keep it going until morning.

Riley sat down next to Emerson. “What are you reading about now?”

“Bear safety. We need to be especially careful through the night.”

“Do you think we’re in danger?” Riley asked.

“Not just from bears. There are other predators out here too. The fire should keep them away. It’s important we take shifts to keep it burning until dawn.”

Riley took the book from Emerson. It was open to a section on what to do in a bear encounter. “It says identify yourself by talking calmly to the bear, and stand your ground.”

“Running is one of the worst things you can do,” Emerson said. “Grizzlies can move at thirty miles per hour, uphill or downhill.”

“And if talking calmly doesn’t work?”

“If a grizzly attacks you, play dead. Get onto your stomach with your hands around the back of your neck. Spread your legs so the bear can’t roll you over too easily.”

“Why on the stomach?” Riley asked.

“Harder for the bear to rip out your intestines.”

Vernon sat down next to them and blew out a raspberry. “I reckon it’s not the bears we need to worry about. These here woods are well-known to be infested with Bigfoots. And let me tell you something. Getting on your stomach and spreading your legs is the last thing you want to do around a Bigfoot.”

“I’m almost afraid to ask,” Riley said.

Vernon nodded his head solemnly and looked a little choked up. “Yep. I was nearly raped by a Bigfoot.”

“You should tell Riley the story,” Emerson said. “After all, it just might save her life.”

“I reckon that could be true,” Vernon said, staring into the fire as if that would conjure up the memory. “When I was just turned twenty, I was out camping with my uncles and their buddies. It was a dark night. No moon at all. Couldn’t see nary a thing that was more than six inches in front of your face. Just like tonight.”

“The sun has barely set,” Riley said. “And it’s a full moon tonight.”

“Even worse,” Vernon said. “Bigfoots are especially ‘active’ during a full moon. Anyways, we’d all retired to bed after a late night of camaraderie, and by that I mean heavy drinking. I was sound asleep when the Bigfoot crashed into my tent and tried to have his way with me. I fought him off, and he kind of staggered away into the night.” Vernon gave a shiver. “I tell you I’m under no illusions what would have happened if I’d just spread my legs and played dead.”

“Thanks, Vernon,” Emerson said. “I think we’re all safer armed with the knowledge of how to properly fend off a Bigfoot attack.”

Riley rolled her eyes. “Personally, I think we’re all safe unless any of Vernon’s drunk uncles show up.”

Vernon ignored Riley. “Yellowstone has the biggest, meanest, rapiest Bigfoots in the world. And, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking you’ve got a fifty-fifty chance that it will be a Bigfoot of the female persuasion, but let me tell you they’re the worst of all. They’d sooner rape you than look at you.”

Riley stood up. “On that note, I’m going down to the lake to wash up before dinner.”

There was no trail to follow, but the slope of the land was gentle. The vegetation was mostly scrub grass and ground cover. She reached the lake and walked a short distance along the shoreline. The sun had disappeared, but the sky was glowing with shades of orange and purple. She dipped her hands into water that was crystal clear and still warm from the afternoon sun. She looked back toward their campsite. It wasn’t visible from the lake, but the location was marked by a stand of birch trees. She could hear the faint sounds of Emerson, Vernon, and Wayan talking around the fire.

Her intention had been to rinse her hands and splash some water on her face, but she realized she was totally alone and could actually wade in and get clean. She could wash the sweat and grime and fear away. Modesty wasn’t an issue for her. She’d done her share of skinny-dipping in Texas.

She stripped and cautiously stepped into the water. Once she adapted to the chill it felt great on her skin. She swam out, floated around a little, and swam back. The moon was low on the horizon. The stand of birches was clearly visible, and Riley could see a small ambient glow from the campfire.

She stepped out of the water and stood for a long moment, air-drying. When she moved toward the rocky outcropping where she’d placed her clothes, something rustled through the tall grasses just in front of her, and Emerson emerged, almost bumping into her.