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2
Rebecca
As I locked up the apartment, my neighbor in 2C bumped into me on his way down the hall.
“Excuse me,” I said.
He put his hand up like he was waving me off. The rude jerk didn’t even apologize. Men really were jerks. I rarely saw him, but he was never friendly and always in a hurry. If he wasn’t careful, I’d sick Matt on his trail. He’d been a cop for about seven years now.
I shook my head and let it go. Karma can have her way with 2C. I wasn’t about to let him ruin my trip.
The Arizona sun blazed overhead as I loaded the last of my bags into the rental SUV, beads of sweat sticking to my forehead. I slammed the trunk closed and wiped my brow with the back of my hand. “Alright wilderness, here comes Rebecca, 28-year-old fearless adventurer,” I mumbled to myself, climbing into the driver's seat. I started the engine and cranked up the air conditioning, relishing in the cool breeze that hit my face. Phoenix had been sweltering lately, and I was eager to escape to the lush haven of the forest near Flagstaff.
I fiddled with the GPS until it recognized the timeshare's location. With a satisfied nod, I eased the car onto the open road and merged onto the highway, ready for some peace, quiet, and—hopefully—better weather. The thought of escaping my mundane accountant life and failed romantic endeavors brought a smile to my face.
“Nothing but trees, trails, and solitude,” I said aloud, imagining the crisp mountain air and the sound of birds singing in the trees.
As I drove along the winding roads, I couldn't help but notice how the landscape shifted from arid desert to dense forest. The vast contrast of nature never ceased to amaze me. Wonder and excitement stir within me. Maybe Candice was right. This was exactly what I needed.
My phone buzzed with a text.
MOM: Hey, honey, are you coming over for family dinner tonight?
Oh, shit. I forgot to tell Mom I couldn't make it.
ME: Sorry, Mom. I'm going camping.
MOM: Why? You hate camping. Who are you going with?
What the hell was I supposed to say? She was going to freak!
MOM: Why aren't you responding? Are you going alone? Rebecca Marie Grant. You better be going with someone.
ME: I'll be fine, Mom. I'll touch base when I get back to civilization.
And then my final bar went away—and I'd never been so glad to have bad service.
My eyes scanned the roadside when something caught my attention—a female, adult mule deer’s carcass lying motionless on the side of the road. My heart clenched and a wave of sadness washed over me. As much as I tried to keep my focus on the road, my gaze kept drifting back to the lifeless deer. It wasn't fair for any creature to meet such a tragic fate.
“Rest in peace, beautiful girl,” I murmured, sending a silent prayer her way as I continued on my journey. The image of the deer stayed with me, reminding me that life was fragile.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a golden glow over the dense forest. I sighed in frustration as I pulled over onto the shoulder of the road, realizing I was completely and utterly lost. The GPS had led me astray, and to make matters worse, my cell signal was spotty at best.
“Great,” I muttered, biting my lip as I fumbled with the map on my phone. “Just what I need right now.”
As I tried to pinpoint my location, movement caught my eye. I looked up to see a fawn struggling with a wire fence nearby. My heart ached for the poor creature, and without thinking, I turned off the car so as not to scare it.
“Hey there, little one,” I whispered softly, inching closer to the distressed animal. “Let's get you out of this mess, okay?”
The sweet baby deer was stuck in loose wire from the fence, its liquid brown eyes pleading for help. Carefully, I pulled her foot free, but there was quite a wound on her forefoot.
I stepped away but kept an eye on it. It tried to stand up but fell down again. It bleated and my heart squeezed. Poor thing looked so helpless. I read somewhere that fawns hid in plain sight. The mom had to be around here somewhere.
I shuffled further away, listening and watching. The pitiful creature continued to cry out, but no other animal came. The image of the lifeless doe I'd passed earlier haunted me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this little one had been orphaned.
A hint of wet earth filled the air. Thick dark gray clouds cloaked the sun. Damn, I’d checked eight years of historical data—it was only supposed to rain like two days in April. Did today really have to be one of them? Thunder cracked overhead.
“Shit,” I cursed under my breath, my heart racing as the fawn cried out but couldn't flee. I couldn't just leave it there—it needed more help than I could provide on my own.
