that he’d dismissed her again, Silver considered what to do. “I think I’m full.” She faked a yawn. “Is it okay to use water directly from the creek?”
“I’ve got drinking water if that’s what you need.” He nodded over at the pack set up against one of the rocks.
“What about washing myself?” She’d already given up on the notion of having a proper shower.
“You can use it for that, too. I’ll fill up the bottles again tonight and add purification tablets so we’re good to go tomorrow.”
“I think I might turn in, then.” Silver stood up and stretched. “Do I need to set an alarm?”
“I’ll wake you.” He abandoned the fire, walked over to the pack, rummaged around for a few moments, and offered her a small plastic basin, a mirror, and a bottle of hand sanitizer. “I figured you’d need these.”
“Don’t most people?”
He grinned. “Not our guests. They tend to just jump in the creek, splash around a bit, and call it good.”
She considered calling his bluff and then took the proffered items. “Thank you.”
He followed her over to her tent. “Take one of the small lanterns, the water, and a torch in case you need to get up during the night.”
“I can use my phone if I need a light.” She looked up at him. “Speaking of which, where do I plug my adaptor in?”
* * *
Ben made sure he was well clear of their campground before he allowed himself to laugh out loud. Her face when he’d had to point out that there was no electricity had been priceless, like he’d offered to murder her firstborn child or something. She’d rallied fast and inquired about the availability of the Internet, and had taken the fact that it didn’t exist out here very well, considering . . .
Ben sighed and looked up at the stars. She wasn’t the first guest to have a complete freak-out when deprived of their daily barrage of social media. If she’d bothered to read through the package of information from Morgan Ranch, she would have seen that it clearly stated that Internet coverage was spotty on the trails and electricity hard to come by.
He continued to walk up the slope to the top of the hill and took out his radio to check in with BB who was acting as his base camp buddy. He’d set up a series of talk windows every evening to share information about his current position. If he missed the half hour check-in time, BB would assume something was wrong and attempt to get to him as soon as possible.
For his part, BB would relate current weather conditions, any fire risks, and anything else that might cause problems along the way. It was a system that worked well, and so far, apart from the bratty family insisting on returning to the ranch early, they hadn’t had any major issues.
Ben paused to look up at the sky, seeking out the familiar constellations his father had shown him when he was a kid. After their mother left, at his sister’s urging, Jeff had made the occasional effort to do stuff with them that wasn’t directly related to work on the ranch. He’d been really bad at it, but looking back, Ben appreciated that he’d made the effort.
His radio crackled and BB’s voice came over loud and clear. Seeing as they were still on Morgan Ranch land, there wasn’t much to talk about after Ben updated BB with his position and the route he intended to take the next day. He ended the exchange and leaned back against the rock wall, his keen gaze sweeping the land below him. In the distance, a pack of coyotes howled, and he decided he’d better get back in case Silver woke up and wondered why the hell it sounded like babies screaming into the void.
After telling her there was no electricity, he’d braced himself for her demanding to go back to civilization, but she’d surprised him by laughing and going into her tent. She was a mass of contradictions. Sometimes, he felt like she was trying on different roles waiting to see which one worked on him, and then occasionally she’d laugh at something and he’d get a glimpse of what he thought of as the real woman.
She’d asked him if she was pretty. . . .
He thought about that as he walked down the slope. She wasn’t conventionally pretty, but when she smiled she was so damn beautiful he couldn’t look away. And somehow, when she was on screen, that ability to hold his attention was magnified a thousandfold. She had that “it” thing that made you want to keep looking even when you knew you were way out of your league, and she was your client, and you had to remain professional.
Ben stopped walking on the edge of the camp. When the hell had his musings become so personal? She was a famous actress; he was a professional trail guide, and that was how it was going to be until he delivered her safely back to her father, happy and healthy in less than two weeks.
Chapter Five
“Did you say coffee?” Silver croaked as she crawled out of her tent on her hands and knees and headed for the fire, not caring what she looked like or what Ben might think of her.
“Way ahead of you.” Ben, who was looking remarkably bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, pointed at the metal pot sitting over the fire. It was already sunny and the birds were singing so loudly they hurt her head. “It’s cowboy coffee, nothing fancy.”
She used the thick cloth to lift the pot and poured the dark brew into the cup Ben had left for her, almost salivating at the aroma. She clutched her mug hard and looked over at him.
“This morning I think I might love you.”
“For my coffee?” He chuckled. “You’d better taste it first.”
She took her first sip and felt the caffeine shudder through her veins. “Perfect.”
“I’m impressed.” He threw the coffee grounds from the bottom of his cup onto the ground and checked the fire. “I’ve got high-protein pancakes and maple syrup coming up for breakfast.”
“Gluten-free?” Silver said hopefully.
He gave her a pitying glance and slid a plate over to her before turning to eat his own.
“Did you sleep okay?”
“Yes.” Silver couldn’t actually believe it herself. “I’m not used to all this fresh air.”
“Your dad said you hadn’t been well.” Ben cut into his second pancake.
“Did he?” Her goodwill toward him over the coffee dissipated slightly and her stomach tightened. “I wonder why he told you that?”
“Was he not being truthful?” Ben met her gaze. “If you do get sick, or need medical assistance, tell me as soon as possible.”
“I’m perfectly fine.” She faced him. “My dad is a terrible worrier.”
“Why’s that?”
“Ever heard that story about the goose who lays the golden eggs?”
His brow creased. “I’m not following.”
“I basically support my whole family. I have since the age of seven when I was cast in my first major
