The Middle of Somewhere(38)

It was a shame they would arrive at Muir Ranch tonight, having just found their stride.

Then again, a hot shower sounded like nirvana.

From Selden Pass the trail dropped three thousand feet into the valley holding Muir Ranch. A third of the way down the switchbacks began, wending in long arcs across a nearly treeless slope of manzanita bushes. After two switchbacks, Dante asked her to stop.

“See those people down there? Is that Payton?”

She could make out three figures on the far side of the slope, perhaps two switchbacks lower. Judging by size alone, Payton was among them. “I think so. And Rodell’s sitting down?” The third person faced the other way. All they could see was a backpack.

“I guess we’re about to find out.”

In five minutes they were close enough to hear raised voices, and Liz had identified the third person as Brensen. If he was in one of his moods, it had all the makings of a sticky situation.

Payton noticed them first. Frowning, he lifted his hand in greeting. His brother’s right leg was propped on a boulder, and his mouth was twisted in a grimace. Brensen stepped off the trail on the uphill side so Liz and Dante could join them.

“Hey,” he said. “How are you guys?”

“We’re great,” Dante said. He pointed at Rodell’s leg. “You okay?”

Payton said, “He took a hard fall. Wrenched his knee.”

Liz said, “That’s too bad. I’ve got an ACE bandage if you need it.”

Rodell pulled up his pant leg to expose a neatly wrapped bandage. “Thanks, but we’ve got that covered.”

“Problem is,” Payton said, “he can’t carry his pack down the mountain. And this fellow here”—he jutted his finger at Brensen—“isn’t inclined to help us out.”

“I have to ask,” Liz said. “Did this have something to do with a dare?”

Payton gave his brother an I-told-you-to-keep-your-trap-shut look. Rodell shrugged and rubbed his knee. “Like he said, I fell.”

Brensen shifted his pack. “And like I said, I don’t see how that’s my problem.”

“Liz,” Payton said, “you’re an experienced backpacker. Perhaps you could inform Hollywood here of the unwritten code of the wilderness.”

“You mean, you should dig a six-inch hole before you poop?” The older Root brother was correct about the code, but she was not going to take his side without making him work for it. If only he were the injured one. She’d kick his good leg as she marched past him on her way to a hot shower and a real meal.

Payton nodded, as if taking her measure.

Dante, allergic to conflict, turned to Brensen. “I think what he means is that out here, where there are few resources, we are obliged to help our fellow hikers in need.”

“Yeah, I’ve already heard the lecture. But it doesn’t change the fact that there’s no way in hell I’m going to carry anything more down this f*cking mountain than I have to. I’m older than all of you. I’ve got my knees to think about.”

“Your mistake,” Payton spat, “is forgetting it could’ve been you instead of Rodell here. Anyone can fall.”

The obvious truth of the statement didn’t make it any less chilling.

“If it had been me, I wouldn’t be sitting here. I’d have ditched my goddamn pack, hopped or crawled or whatever to Muir Ranch and called my f*cking agent to get me the hell out of here!”

Dante perked up. “There are phones at Muir Ranch? What about Internet?”

Payton was determined to have the final word. “Listen, Hollywood. Liz and Dante might give us a hand and they might not. But remember, from now on you won’t be a couple hours’ walk from getting bailed out by your agent.” He pointed his meat slab of a hand south. “Down that way is nine days’ worth of nowhere. What’re you going to do if you get into a mess?”

Brensen flicked his hand impatiently. “I’m tired of standing here. You all enjoy the rest of your day.” He trotted past Rodell and headed down the trail, Payton’s eyes drilling into his back.

Liz was relieved it wasn’t her. “Rodell, how heavy is your pack?”

“Forty-five pounds give or take.”

She wouldn’t have been surprised at that figure immediately after a resupply, but today everyone’s packs should’ve been at their lightest. “You’ve gotta be kidding. What you got in there?”