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“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.
“Crap on a cracker!” Riley said. “What are you doing here?”
“It was getting dark, and we started to worry, so I came looking for you.”
“Well, you found me.”
“Evidently so,” Emerson said, staring at her breasts. “You look…cold.”
“Stop looking! And turn around so I can get dressed.”
Emerson turned around.
“I saw that,” Riley said. “You’re smiling, aren’t you?”
“Maybe a little.”
“Well, stop!”
“You should be happy I’m not Bigfoot come to have his way with you.”
Riley would have preferred Bigfoot. It would be less embarrassing. She didn’t care if Bigfoot got to see her naked. She didn’t have a professional relationship with Bigfoot, and Bigfoot was always naked. She tugged her jeans on and thought there was nothing worse than being the only one who was naked. Okay, maybe getting thrown into a pit with a couple dead, bloated buffalo was worse. Still, this was uncomfortable.
SIXTEEN
Dinner consisted of freeze-dried beef stew, Thai curry, and M&M’s.
“The fire is nice,” Riley said, “but I could see the glow from the lake. It might not be smart to let it burn all night.”
“There are other precautions we can take to ward off the animals,” Emerson said. “The book suggests that we mark our territory by relieving ourselves around the perimeter of our campsite.”
“Count me out,” Riley said. “I’d rather be eaten by a grizzly.”
“The book also says that you should seal up your food as airtight as possible and hang it from a tree a good distance from your tent,” Emerson said.
“You take care of hanging the food,” Vernon said, “and I’ll take care of peeing the perimeter.”
“It sounds like we have a plan,” Riley said. “We should douse the fire.”
