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She turned the GoPro cameras on and swung the smaller backpack onto her back. Cash had claimed the larger one. Her pack was moderately heavy and stocked with water bottles, protein bars, jerky, hard candy, some medical supplies, a raincoat, and an emergency blanket. Cash had similar stock in his bag, but he also had knives, a pistol, bullets, a length of rope, the satellite phone, and some ‘grappling hooks,’ he’d called them. He’d grumbled about no harnesses, carabiners, or climbing equipment, but she’d rather avoid any sort of climbing if they could. She looked up at the sheer face of the waterfall and her stomach heaved again.
“We’re not fixin’ to risk our lazy kiesters goin’ up that there death trap,” she stated in a Southern accent. Not a question; a statement. She could not risk any chance of him saying they were, in fact, going up that death trap.
His smile crinkled his cheeks and his dark eyes sparkled. “How else are we going to get our first flag?” He strapped his backpack on and a sheath over top of that for the machete. Then he hefted the unsheathed, dangerous-looking machete, arm muscles rippling. He could easily take command of the entire world with his muscles and obvious training, but she was still more than willing to contradict him regarding climbing the face of that waterfall.
Channeling Scarlet O’Hara and trying to keep the panic from her voice, she said, “Bless your heart, my fine military stud. Therewillbe another path around. There simply must be a way to survive this perilous quest.”
“From what you were saying to Mercedes, I’m gathering that ‘bless your heart’ doesn’t mean you’re really blessing me, does it?”
She laughed. “Not usually. It can be a blessing, but more often it’s saying, ‘you’re really dumb and I feel such pity for you,’ or even more snarky, ‘I want to tell you to go to purgatory and never return, but my manners are too fine, so I’ll say it in a saccharin sweet way.’”
He smiled and then outright laughed. Passing a hand over his face, he said, “I’ve only heard the expression directed at me twice, but I gullibly thought the person was being kind.”
“Theymayhave been.” She shrugged. She doubted the person had humble and righteous intent, but sometimes … maybe. Toward him, they may have meant it kindly. Nobody would risk upsetting a man as tough and well-trained as Cash, and she didn’t see him as the type who did stupid things he needed his heart blessed for.
“Thank you for the enlightenment.” He glanced up the waterfall face and around the sides, obviously searching for an alternate route. She might truly bless him if he could find one.“Pathmight not be the correct word, but no, I won’t make you climb up that face.”
She let out a sigh of relief and her stomach settled a fraction.
“If we had climbing equipment, I’d be singing a different tune. Crazily enough, it seems Mercedes, for all her kindness, doesn’t want us to succeed. Good thing she’s not from the south or she might bless our hearts.”
“Ha! It’ll save the cheeky lass a million quid and make her barmy show for the telly even more smashing,” Brylee replied in her English accent. One of her favorites, as they had so many fabulous slang words. “Do you think we’re the first episode?”
“I know we are.”
“You know Mercedes a lot better than I thought.” He’d said he helped Mercedes pick the men for the other shows and he’d known her brother who’d died. How close were they?
Cash shrugged and tapped the side of the camera on the front of his backpack. Oh. He didn’t want to reveal all. Maybe late at night, in the tent, she could ask him searching questions. Mercedes was clearly involved with Shawn. Cash wouldn’t pursue her, would he?
Brylee looked around at the thick bushes, trees, and undergrowth. She couldn’t begin to name them all, but their leaves were massive. It would be breathtakingly beautiful, if they didn’t have to push through it. “Do you think there are snakes?”
“A lot of islands don’t have snakes, unless they’ve been introduced somehow.” He smiled. “But you have nothing to worry about.”
“Why’s that?”
“Because I’m a snake eater.”
“A snake eater? Gross!”
He only laughed, but something in his eyes said being a ‘snake eater’ meant something important to him. She couldn’t imagine what. So gross. She loathed snakes.
“I would say ladies first, but I doubt you want to lead the way this time.” He grinned and gestured with his machete toward that terrifying waterfall face.
“You’re right. As long as you promise to take a passable route. Swear it on your favorite grandparent’s grave.”
“No promises or swearing on graves,” he said. Her face must’ve looked as horrified as she felt because he held up his free hand. “I’m kidding. I’ll find a passable route, or I’ll make it passable. Let’s find this treasure.” He jabbed his machete into the air.
“While I can’t say I share your enthusiasm … lead the way, my friend.” She followed as he set off for the left side of the falls. Did this side look less steep? She couldn’t see much of a difference—thick, tropical, beautiful, and impossible to navigate summed up her current view. She said a prayer and hurried to keep up, staying close to his broad back.
They’d only gone about fifty feet when the jungle closed in around them. The bright tropical sun barely penetrated the thick trees, and the trail became impassable. Cash swung the machete over and over again, knocking down branches or breaking through the growth. He held branches out of her way and helped her scramble over logs and bushes with an offered hand, or sometimes he set his machete down and wrapped those large palms around her waist. She was grateful for long pants but wished she had long sleeves on her shirt as her arms quickly became scratched.
Cash shoved a tree limb to the side and ushered her through.
“You arequitethe gentleman,” she said.
“Thank you. My mom would be proud to hear you say that.”
“Where are you from?” Definitely not the south if it was ‘mom’ and not ‘mama,’ ‘momma,’ ‘mimi,’ or ‘meemaw.’
