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“My place?” she asked.
I smiled. I had planned to invite her in as soon as we got back, but I hadn’t been sure how she’d respond. Her invitation soothed the bundle of nerves and butterflies that were swirling in my stomach. I didn’t want to take things too far, too quickly again, but I was itching to take her. To have all of her again.
Samson took the lead back to the truck. Trotting ahead of us, while Helen and I followed, flirting the entire way back like we were still in high school. I ran the back of my hand over hers and she turned her palm over, an invitation to grab it. Instead, I rubbed my fingers over her palm and up her forearm, teasing. She teased back, grazing my elbow with hers. Then she leaned into me just a little before pulling back.
By the time we got back to the truck, I was ready to take her right there and then. I considered tying Samson to a tree and guiding us to the back seat. I imagined the positions we’d find pleasure in back there, but then I stopped myself. I wanted to do it right this time around, so I’d wait until we got back to her place. I’d give myself to her properly this time.
Helen helped Samson into the truck and got in herself. I put the key in the ignition and turned, and then turned it again, and again. The engine sputtered over and over, but never started.
“Shit,” I muttered. I tried a few more times, but to no avail. It was getting dark fast now. I told Helen to wait in the car while I checked the engine. After a couple minutes of tinkering with things, still nothing. I heard the passenger door slam and footsteps round the car.
“Anything?”
“Nope.”
“Shit.” Helen looked around us at the apple trees that now looked eerie in our circumstances. “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but can we walk?”
“It would take us over three hours to walk back from here, and it wouldn't be safe. It’s nearly impossible to navigate the hills, with exposed tree roots and coyotes out here at night.”
“Well we have Samson.” Helen pointed at my dog who was currently upside down in the back seat, all four legs sticking straight into the air. His tongue hung out of his mouth along with a string of drool.
“Yeah, that’ll do us a lot of good.”
“Ugh, well we have to do something. I can’t stay out here all night!”
Helen’s arms were flailing and her eyes were as wide and green as I’d ever seen them. She was breathing heavily and pacing around the car.
“Oh my god. Oh my god.” She kept repeating.
“Helen!” I yelled and pulled her out of her panic. “It’ll be fine.”
I reached out to hold her arms, rubbing them up and down.
“I have a tent in the truck from my last camping trip. I’ll pull that out and we can make camp for the evening. Tomorrow morning we can hike back in the daylight.”
“Camp?! No way in hell!”
“What do you suggest then?” My voice was slightly raised, frustrated at her stubbornness and continued dismissal of the outdoors, despite my best efforts to make her comfortable here.
“I don’t know! I just want to be in my bed! I’m not cut out for this, Brenton.”
“Relax. Camping is one of life’s great pleasures. Surrounded by nature, among fresh grass and under bright stars. And I have a roomy tent. Plenty of space for the three of us!”
“Three?” She asked.
“Samson.”
“Ugh!”
I ignored her mini tantrum and made my way to the cargo bed where my tent was tied up. I even found a few insulated blankets hiding back there. Helen let Samson out of the truck and got back into the passenger seat, crossing her arms in defiance. I just shook my head and got to work setting the tent up.
“One step forward and three steps back,” I said to Samson as we worked.
In just under 45 minutes, I had the tent up and ready, blankets laid out side by side for Helen and me. I walked over to the passenger side of the truck and tapped the window. She tried to roll it down but then remembered our predicament. I opened the door.
“Everything is set up.” I held my hand out for her but she didn’t take it.
“Can’t coyotes get to us in a tent too?”
